A12167:605
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.
The finger of Christ is the Spirit of Christ, that is, a kind of Divine power goes from him in hearing and speaking the word of God, and in prayer, there is more then a mans power in all this, if these work any effect Christ must put his finger in, when […] are unfolded to us in the Ministry of the word, all is to no purpose, but the founding of a voice, unless the finger of Christ open the heart and work in the soul.
The finger of Christ is the Spirit of Christ, that is, a kind of Divine power goes from him in hearing and speaking the word of God, and in prayer, there is more then a mans power in all this, if these work any effect Christ must put his finger in, when 〈…〉 are unfolded to us in the Ministery of the word, all is to no purpose, but the founding of a voyce, unlesse the finger of Christ open the heart and worke in the soule.
Let us make this use of it therefore, not to rest in any means whatsoever,1 but desire the presence of Christs finger to moov•, and to work upon our hearts and souls; Many careless Christians go about the ordinances of God, and never regard this power of Christ, this mighty power, the finger of Christ. Thereupon they find nothing at all that is divine and spiritual wrought in them. For as it required a God to redeem us, to take our nature, wherein he might restore us; so likewise it requires the power of God to alter our natures. We could not be brought into the state of grace without Divine satisfaction, and we cannot be altered to a frame of grace without a Divine finger, the finger of God working upon our hearts and souls. This should move us in all the ordinances of God that we attend upon, to lift up our hearts in the midst of them: Lord, let me feel the finger of thy Spirit writing thy word upon my heart. Turn us O Lord, and we shall be turned. Pray for this quickening, and in livening; for this strengthening Spirit: all comes by it. 2. From this that it is said here, That Christ puts his finger into the hole of the door before he removed it and withdrew himself, Observe.