A12167:899
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.
He is not such a Monarch as loves to get authority by sternness like Rehoboam. But by those amiable graces of gentleness and love, all the excellencies of holiness, purity and righteousness, are sweetly tempered with love and meekness in him:1 you may see for instance how he takes his Disciples part against the Pharisees, 2(and the poor woman's that came to wash his feet and kissed them,) against the Pharisee that had invited him to dinner. The Church is a company of despised people, that are scorned of Pharisaical proud spirits, who perhaps have morality and strength of parts to praise them with. Now Christ takes part with the broken spirits against all proud spirits, howsoever he be gone to Heaven (where he is full of Majesty) yet he hath not forgotten his meekness nor changed his nature with change of honour. He is now more honoured then he was, for, he hath a Name above all Names,3 in Heaven or in Earth, yet he is pitiful still. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me? He makes the Churches case his own still, together with beams of glory there are bowels of pity in him, the same that he had here upon earth. Which makes him so lovely to the truly broken hearted believing soul, My Beloved is white and ruddy.
He is not such a Monarch as loves to get authority by sternesse like Rehoboam. But by those aimeable graces of gentlenesse and love, all the excellencies of holinesse, purity and righteousnesse, are sweetly tempered with love and meekenesse in him:1 you may see for instance how hee takes his Disciples part against the Pharisees, 2(and the poore womans that came to wash his feet and kissed them,) against the Pharisee that had invited him to dinner. The Church is a company of despised people, that are scorned of Pharisaicall proud spirits, who perhaps have morallity and strength of parts to praise them with. Now Christ takes part with the broken spirits against all proud spirits, howsoever he be gone to Heaven (where he is full of Majesty) yet he hath not forgotten his meekenesse nor changed his nature with change of honour. He is now more honoured then he was, for, he hath a Name above all Names,