A12167:65
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.
Lastly, A garden stands always in need of weeding §8and dressing; continual labour and cost must be bestowed upon it; sometimes planting, pruning and weeding, &c. So in the Church and ⟨p. 16⟩hearts of Christians, Christ hath always somewhat to do, we would else soon be over-grown and turn wild: In all which, and the like respects, Christ calleth upon the winds to blow upon his Garden.
Lastly, A garden stands alwayes in need of weeding §8and dressing; continuall labour and cost must be bestowed upon it; sometimes planting, pruning and weeding, &c. So in the Church and ⟨p. 16⟩hearts of Christians, Christ hath alwayes somewhat to do, we would els soone be over-growne and turne wild: In all which, and the like respects, Christ calleth upon the winds to blow upon his Garden.
If then the Church be a severed portion, then,1 We should walk as men of a severed condition from the world, not as men of the world, but as Christians, to make good that we are so, by feeling the graces of Gods Spirit in some comfortable measure, that so Christ may have something in us, that he may delight to dwell with us, so to be subject to his pruning and dressing. For, It is so far from being an ill sign, that Christ is at cost with us, in following us with afflictions, that it is rather a sure sign of his love. For, the care of this blessed Husbandman is to prune us so, as to make us fruitful. Men care not for heath and wilderness whereupon they bestow no cost. So when God prunes us by crosses and afflictions, and sows good seed in us, it is a sign, he means to dwell with us, and delight in us.