A12167:607
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.
How graciously Christ doth deal with us, That he doth always leave some grace,1 before he doth offer to depart? Let us therefore for the time to come, lay, and store this up as a ground of comfort, that howsoever Christ may leave us, yet notwithstanding he will never leave us ⟨p. 261⟩wholly, but as he gave us his holy Spirit at first, so he will continue him in us by some gracious work or other, either by way of comfort, or of strength to uphold us. Perhaps we may need more sorrow, more humility, then of any other grace. For, Winter is as good for the growing of things as the Spring, because, were it not for this, where would be the killing of weeds, and worms, and preparing of the ground, and land for the spring; So it is as needful for Christians to find the presence of Christ in the way of humiliation, and abasement, causing us to afflict our own souls, as to feel his presence in Peace, Joy, and Comfort. In this life we cannot be without this gracious dispensation. We may therefore comfort our selves, that howsoever Christ leaves us, yet he will always leave somewhat behind him, as here he left some myrrh after him upon the handle of the door; some myrrh is left always behind him upon the soul, which keeps it in a state and frame of grace, and sweetens it. Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the holy oil, as it is Exod. 30. 30. and so this leaving of myrrh behind him, signifies the oil of grace left upon the soul, that enabled the Church to do all these things, which are after spoken of.
How graciously Christ doth deale with us, That he doth alwayes leave some grace,1 before hee doth offer to depart? Let us therefore for the time to come, lay, and store this up as a ground of comfort, that howsoever Christ may leave us, yet notwithstanding hee will never leave us ⟨p. 261⟩wholly, but as he gave us his holy Spirit at first, so he will continue him in us by some gracious worke or other, either by way of comfort, or of strength to uphold us. Perhaps we may need more sorrow, more humility, then of any other grace. For, Winter is as good for the growing of things as the Spring, because, were it not for this, where would be the killing of weedes, and wormes, and preparing of the ground, and land for the spring; So it is as needfull for Christians to find the presence of Christ in the way of humiliation, and abasement, causing us to afflict our owne soules, as to feele his presence in Peace, Ioy, and Comfort. In this life we cannot be without this gracious dispensation. We may therefore comfort our selves, that howsoever Christ leaves us, yet he will alwayes leave somewhat behind him, as here he left some myrrh after him upon the handle of the doore; some myrrh is left alwayes behind him upon the soule, which keepes it in a state and frame of grace, and sweetens it. Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the holy oyle, as it is