A12167:71
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, in that the Church is called Christs Garden, this may strengthen our faith in Gods care and protection. The Church may seem to lie open to all incursions, but it hath an invisible hedge about it, a wall without it, and a well within it.1 God himself is a wall of fire about it, and his Spirit a well of living waters running through it to refresh and comfort it.2 As it was said of Canaan, so it may be said of the Church; The eye of the Lord is upon it all the year long, and he waters it continually. From which especial care of Gods over it, this is a good plea for us to God, I am thine, save me, I am a plant of thine own setting, nothing is in me but what is thine, therefore cherish what is thine. So, for the whole ⟨p. 19⟩Church the plea is good; the Church is thine, fence it, water it, defend it, keep the wild bore out of it. Therefore the enemies thereof shall one day know what it is to make a breach upon Gods vineyard. In the mean time, let us labour to keep our hearts as a Garden, that nothing that defileth may enter. In which respects the Church is compared to a Garden, upon which Christ commands the North and South-wind (all the means of Grace) to blow.
Lastly, in that the Church is called Christs Garden, this may strengthen our faith in Gods care and protection. The Church may seeme to lie open to all incursions, but it hath an invisible hedge about it, a wall without it, and a well within it.1 God himselfe is a wall of fire about it, and his Spirit a well of living waters running through it to refresh and comfort it.2 As it was said of Canaan, so it may be said of the Church; The eye of the Lord is upon it all the yeare long, and he waters it continually. From which especiall care of Gods over it, this is a good plea for us to God, I am thine, save me, I am a plant of thine owne setting, nothing is in me but what is thine, therefore cherish what is thine. So, for the whole ⟨p. 19⟩