A12167:883
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 14: THE FOURTEENTH SERMON.Sermon 14: THE FOVRTEENTH SERMON.
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 the loveliness and beauty of Christ is especially Spiritual, 1in regard of the graces of his Spirit. A deformed person, man or woman, of a homely complexion and constitution, yet notwithstanding when we discern them by their conversation to be very wise and of a lovely and sweet spirit, very able and withal wondrous willing to impart their abilities, being wondrous useful: what a world of love doth it breed, though we see in their outward man nothing lovely. The consideration of what sufficiency is in Christ, wisdom, power, goodness and love, that made him come from Heaven to Earth, to take our nature upon him, to marry us and join our nature to his (that he might join us to him in spiritual bonds) ⟨p. 347⟩the consideration of his meekness and gentleness how he never turned any back again that came to him,2 should make us highly prize him, indeed some went back of themselves (as the young man in discontent) Christ turned them not back: nay he loved the appearance of goodness in the young man and embraced him. He is of so sweet a nature that he never upbraided those that followed him with their former sins; as Peter with denial, and the like. He is of so gracious a nature that he took not notice of petty infirmities in his Disciples, but tells them of the danger of those sins that might hurt them: being of so sweet a nature that he will not quench the smoking flax,3 nor break the bruised reed, his whole life being nothing but a doing of good, He did all things well (as the Gospel speaks) excellent well.
But the lovelinesse and beauty of Christ is especially Spirituall, 1in regard of the graces of his Spirit. A deformed person, man or woman, of a homely complection and constitution, yet notwithstanding when we discerne them by their conversation to be very wise and of a lovely and sweet spirit, very able and withall wondrous willing to impart their abilities, being wondrous usefull: what a world of love doth it breed, though we see in their outward man nothing lovely. The consideration of what sufficiency is in Christ, wisdome, power, goodnesse and love, that made him come from Heaven to Earth, to take our nature upon him, to marrie us and joyne our nature to his (that he might joyne us to him in spirituall bonds)