A12167:975
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.
In speaking of these particulars we are to be very wary, for we have not that foundation as we have in other generals: for no doubt but the Spirit of God here did more intend to set out the large affection that the Church had to Christ, then to insinuate any great ⟨p. 388⟩particularity in every one of these, therefore let us only cull out, and take those things that are of more easy explication.
In speaking of these particulars wee are to be very wary, for we have not that foundation as we have in other generalls: for no doubt but the Spirit of God here did more intend to set out the large affection that the Church had to Christ, then to insinuate any great ⟨p. 388⟩particularity in every one of these, therefore let us onely cull out, and take those things that are of more easie explication.
His lips are as lilies dropping down sweet myrrh.
His lips are as lillies dropping downe sweet mirrh.
That is, his doctrine is as sweet as the lilies, and sound as the myrrh, keeping from putrefaction, it being the nature of myrrh as it is sound its self so to make other things sound. In like manner the speech of Christ makes the soul sound that embraceth it. What was ever more sweet then the truth of Christ,1 when he spake himself, they all hung upon his lips (as the Phrase is in the Gospel) as a man hangs upon the lips of another whom he desires and delights to hear speak, and they marvelled at the gracious words that came out of his lips,