A12167:662
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
Sermon 10 › My soul failed when he spake.Sermon 10 › My soule failed when hee spake.
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.
But, There is a presence of Christ that is secret, 1when he seems to draw us one way, and to drive us another, that we are both driven and drawn at once: when he seems to put us away and yet notwithstanding draws us; when we find our souls go to Christ, there is a drawing power and presence, but when we find him absent here is a driving away. As we see here in the Church and in the Woman of Canaan, 2we see what an answer she had from Christ, at first ⟨p. 282⟩none, and then an uncomfortable, and lastly a most unkind answer. We must not give the children's bread to d•ggs. Christ seemed to drive her away, but at the same time he by his Spirit draws her to him and was thereby secretly present in her heart to increase her faith. When Christ wrestled with Jacob though he contended with him,3 yet the same time he gave Jacob power to overcome him, to be Israel a prevailer over him: so at the same time the Church seems to fail and faint, yet notwithstanding there is a secret drawing power pulling her to Christ, whereby she never gives over but seeks and calls still after him.
But, There is a presence of Christ that is secret, 1when he seemes to draw us one way, and to drive us another, that we are both driven and drawne at once: when he seemes to put us away and yet notwithstanding drawes us; when we find our soules goe to Christ, there is a drawing power and presence, but when we find him absent here is a driving away. As we see here in the Church and in the Woeman of Canaan, 2we see what an answer she had from Christ, at first ⟨p. 282⟩none, and then an uncomfortable, and lastly a most unkind answer. Wee must not give the childrens bread to dggs. Christ seemed to drive her away, but at the same time he by his Spirit drawes her to him and was thereby secretly present in her heart to increase her faith. When Christ wrestled with Iacob though he contended with him,