A12167:80
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.
2. Christs Invitation by the Church to come into his Garden. With the End thereof, To eat his pleasant Fruits.
Which words show, The Churches further desire sire of Christs presence to delight in the graces of his own Spirit in her. She invites him to come and take delight in the Graces of his own Spirit. And she calls him Beloved, because all her love is, or should be imparted and spent on Christ, who gave himself to a cursed death for her. Our love should run in strength no otter way, therefore the Church calls Christ her Beloved. Christ was there before, but she desires a further presence of him; whence we may observe, That,
Which words shew, The Churches further desire sire of Christs presence to delight in the graces of his owne Spirit in her. She invites him to come and take delight in the Graces of his owne Spirit. And she cals him Beloved, because all her love is, or should be imparted and spent on Christ, who gave himselfe to a cursed death for her. Our love should run in strength no oterr way, therefore the Church cals Christ her Beloved. Christ was there before, but she desires a further presence of him; whence we may observe, That,
Wheresoever grace is truly begun and stirred up, there is still a further desire of Christs presence,1 and approaching daily more and more near to the soul, the Church thinks him never near enough to her, until she be in heaven with him. The true Spouse and the Bride always (unless in desertion and temptation) crieth, Come Lord Jesus,2 Come quickly. Now these degrees of Christs approaches to the soul until his Second Coming are that he may manifest himself more and more in defending, comforting and enabling his Church with Grace every further manifestation of his presence, is a further Coming.