A12167:992
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.
As a comment hereupon see Psal. 19. Where we have a high commendation of Gods excellency, first from the book of nature the works of God, the Heavens declare the glory of God, then from the word of God, and herein the Psalmist is wondrous large. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul, the testimonies of the Lord are sure making wise the simple, the statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart, the commandments ⟨p. 393⟩of the Lord are sure, and enlighten the eyes more to be desired then gold, yea then fine gold, sweeter also then the honey or the honey comb.
As a comment hereupon see Psal. 19. Where we have a high commendation of Gods excellencie, first from the booke of nature the workes of God, the Heavens declare the glory of God, then from the word of God, and herein the Psalmist is wonderous large. The law of the Lord is perfect coverting the soule, the testimonies of the Lord are sure making wise the simple, the statutes of the Lord are right and rejoyce the heart, the commandements ⟨p. 393⟩of the Lord are sure, and enlighten the eyes more to be desired then gold, yea then fine gold, sweeter also then the hony or the hony comb.
But mark the order,1 when is the word of God precious to us as gold2 sweeter then the honey or the honey comb, but when the former commendation takes place,3 where the word is perfect converting the soul, and where it is sure, making wise the simple, and where the fear of the Lord is clean, &c. There it is more to be desired then fine gold, and sweeter then the honey comb. So the Church here finding first of all the word to be a converting word, and giving understanding to the simple, she cannot but speak of the sweetness of the word of Christ,