A12167:803
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.
An instance whereof we have in the Church here, who having lost her sweet communion with Christ, and so paid dearly for her former neglect and slighting his kind invitations, (as being troubled, restless in mind, beaten and wounded by the watch-men, bereft of her veil, &c.) Yet this heavenly fire of the blessed spirit, this water of life so restlessly springing in her, makes her sickness of love and ardent desire after Christ to be such, that she cannot contain her self,1 but breaks forth in this passionate charge and request,
An instance whereof we have in the Church heere, who having lost her sweet communion with Christ, and so paid dearly for her former neglect and slighting his kind invitations, (as being troubled, restlesse in mind, beaten and wounded by the watch-men, bereft of her vaile, &c.) Yet this heavenly fire of the blessed spirit, this water of life so restlesly springing in her, makes her sicknesse of love and ardent desire after Christ to be such, that she cannot containe her selfe,1 but breakes forth in this passionate charge and request,
- 1John. 4.
I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem if ye find my Beloved that ye tell him, I am sick of love.
I charge you O daughters of Ierusalem if ye find my Beloved that ye tell him, I am sicke of love.
Thus we may see that the way to Heaven is full of changes, the strength of corruption overclouds many times and damps our joys. How many several tempers hath the Church been in? Sometimes she is all compounded of joy vehemently desiring kisses of her best beloved,