A12167:84
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.
The end and Reason why Christ is desired by the Church to come into his Garden, Is,
To eat his pleasant fruits.] that is, to give him contentment. And is it not fit that Christ should eat fruit of his own vine, have comfort of his own Garden, to taste of his own fruits? The only delight Christ hath in the world, is in his Garden: and that he might take the more delight in it, he makes it fruitful, and those fruits are precious fruits, as growing from plants set by his own hand, relishing of his own Spirit, and so fitted for his taste. Now the Church knowing what fitted Christs taste best, and knowing the fruits of grace in her heart: desireth that Christ would delight in his own graces in her, and kindly accept of what she presented him with. Whence we see, That,
To eat his pleasant fruits.] that is, to give him contentment. And is it not fit that Christ should eat fruit of his owne vine, have comfort of his owne Garden, to tast of his owne fruits? The onely delight Christ hath in the world, is in his Garden: and that he might take the more delight in it, he makes it fruitfull, and those fruits are precious fruits, as growing from plants set by his owne hand, relishing of his owne Spirit, and so fitted for his tast. Now the Church knowing what fitted Christs tast best, and knowing the fruits of grace in her heart: desireth that Christ would delight in his own graces in her, and kindly accept of what she presented him with. Whence we see, That,
A gracious heart is privy to its own grace and sincerity, 1when it is in a right temper: and so far as it is privy, is bold with Christ in a sweet […] reverend manner. So much sincerity, so much confidence, If our heart condemn us not of unsincerity, we may in a reverend manner speak boldly to Christ: It is not fit there should be strangeness betwixt Christ and his Spouse; neither indeed will there be, when Christ hath blown upon her, and when she is on the growing hand.