A12167:591
Bowels Opened
Bowels opened, or, A discovery of the near and deer love, union and communion betwixt Christ and the Church, and consequently betwixt Him and every believing soul Delivered in divers sermons on the fourth fifth and sixth chapters of the Canticles. By that reverend and faithful minister of the Word, Doctor Sibs, late preacher unto the honourable society of Gray's Inn, and Master of Katharine Hall in Cambridge. Being in part finished by his own pen in his life time, and the rest of them perused and corrected by those whom he entrusted with the publishing of his works.Bovvels opened, or, A discovery of the neere and deere love, union and communion betwixt Christ and the Church, and consequently betwixt Him and every beleeving soule Delivered in divers sermons on the fourth fifth and sixt chapters of the Canticles. By that reverend and faithfull minister of the Word, Doctor Sibs, late preacher unto the honourable societie of Grayes Inne, and Master of Katharine Hall in Cambridge. Being in part finished by his owne pen in his life time, and the rest of them perused and corrected by those whom he intrusted with the publishing of his works.
London: printed by George for George Edwards, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Well,1 for the third Point. That howsoever Christ be provoked by the Churches […] drowsiness, and careless carriage, […] regard of her feeling, and of inward comfort. […] notwithstanding he is so gracious, […] to leave some thing behind him, that shows indeed, that he had not left the Church altogether, but only in some ⟨p. 255⟩regard. For howsoever Christ (in regard of some order of his providence) leave it, yet in regard of another order of his providence, care and mercy, he doth not leave it, so as one way which he takes must sometimes give place to another way of his working in ordering things. Sometimes he is present in a way of comfort, that is one order of his dispensation: and wh•n he sees that that is neglected, then he withdraws his comforts and hides his gracious countenance, yet he is then present still in an other order and way, though we discern it not, that is, in a way of humbling the soul, letting it see its sin. So here howsoever Christ had withdrawn himself in regard of this manner of his dealing, in respect of comfort, that the Church did not now see his grace, favour, yet he left behind him a spirit of grace, to affect her heart with grief, sorrow, and shame, and to stir up her endeavours to seek after him, (as it is said here,) I rose to open to my Beloved and my hands dropped myrrh, and my fingers sweet swelling myrrh, upon the handles of the locks.
Well,1 for the third Point. That howsoever Christ be provoked by the Churches 〈…〉 drowsinesse, and carelesse carriage, 〈…〉 regard of her feeling, and of inward comfort. 〈…〉 notwithstanding he is so gracious, 〈…〉 to leave some thing behind him, that shewes indeed, that hee had not left the Church altogether, but onely in some ⟨p. 255⟩regard. For howsoever Christ (in regard of some order of his providence) leave it, yet in regard of another order of his providence, care and mercy, he doth not leave it, so as one way which he takes must sometimes give place to another way of his working in ordering things. Sometimes he is present in a way of comfort, that is one order of his dispensation: and whn he sees that that is neglected, then hee withdrawes his comforts and hides his gratious countenance, yet he is then present still in an other order and way, though we discerne it not, that is, in a way of humbling the soule, letting it see its sinne. So here howsoever Christ had withdrawne himselfe in regard of this manner of his dealing, in respect of comfort, that the Church did not now see his grace, favour, yet he left behind him a spirit of grace, to affect her heart with griefe, sorrow, and shame, and to stirre up her indeavours to seeke after him, (as it is said here,) I rose to open to my Beloved and my hands dropt myrrh, and my fingers sweet swelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lockes.