Elizabethan Bookseller Waukegan, Illinois
NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES.
PUKITAN PERIOD.
Mitlj (imral f nfate
By JOHN C. MILLER, D.D.,
LINCOLN COLLEGE ; HONORABT CANON OF WORCESTtR; BECTOE OF ST MAKTIN'S, BIBMINGHA.U
THE
WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES, D.D.
VOL. II.
COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION.
W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Tlieology, Congregational Union, Edinburgli.
JAMES BEGG, D.D., Minister of Newington Free Church, Edinburgh.
THOMAS J. CRAWFORD, D.D., S.T.P., Professor of Divinity, University, Edinburgh,
D. T. K. DRUMMOND, M.A., Minister of St Thomas's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh.
WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Church History, Reformed Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.
ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., Minister of Broughton Place United Presby- terian Church, Edinburgh.
General ©I) (tor.
REV. THOMAS SMITH, M.A., Edineukgh.
THE COMPLETE WORKS
EICHARD SIBBES, D.D.,
MASTER OF CATHERINE HALL, CAMBRTDOE ; PREACHER OF GRAY's INN,
LONDON.
^bifcir, imi]) Mmxoxx,
BY THE REV. ALEXANDER BALLOCH GROSART,
(Ct)R. JIKMB. SOO. ANTIQ. OF SCOTLAND) KINROSS.
VOL. II.
CONTAINING :
BOWELS opened; or, a DISCOVERY OF THE NEAR AND DEAR LO^TE. UNION
AND COMMUNION, BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
THE SPOUSE, HICR EARNEST DESIRE AFTER CHRIST A BREATHING AFTER GOD-
THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER
THE MARRIAGE FEAST BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
EDINBURGH: JAMES NICIIOL.
LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO. DUBLIN: W. ROBERTSON.
M.DCCC.LXII.
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CONTENTS.
BOWELS OPENED;
OR, Expository Sermons on Canticles IV. 16, V. VI.
Prefatory Note, ......
Dedication, .......
To the Christian K«ader, by John Dods,
A table of the chief heads and contents of the following Sermons
in this book — The introduction, ......
There is the same regard of the -whole chmx-h, and of every par- ticular member, in regard of the chiefest privileges and graces
that accompany salvation, ....
All creatures stand in obedience to Christ, The coiirses that Christ takes with his church may seem con-
trar}-, but by a wise ordering all agree in the wholesome issue, In what respects the Spirit of God is compared to wind. In what respects we need the blowing of the Spiiit, . In what respects the church is compared to a garden Christians should walk as men of a severed condition from the
world, .......
Christians planted in God's garden should be fi"uitful,
God cares for and protecteth his church.
We need not only grace to put life into us at the fii'st, but like-
Avise grace to quicken and draw forth that life we have, It is not enough to be good ourselves, but our goodness must
flow out, ......
Where once God begins he goes on, and adds encouragement
to encouragement, to maintain new setters up in religion, . "VMieresoever gi-ace is tnily begun, there is still a further desire
of Christ's presence, .....
Why the church is so earnest in desiring the presence of Christ, A gracious heart is privy to its own grace when it is in a right
temper ; and so far as it is pri\7, is bold with Christ in a
sweet and reverent maimer,
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vi contents.
Page It is the duty and disposition of the church of Christ to please
her husband, ...... 12, 13
The church gives all to Christ, . . . . 13
Comfort in the wants and blemishes of our perfonnances, . 13, 14 The resolution of tlie whole fifth chapter of Canticles, . 15 The order of Clod's hearing his church, . . . 15 God makes us good, stirs up holy desires in us, and then an- swers the desires of his Spirit in us, . . . 15 Why God hears our praj'ers, . . . . 16
Cases wherein one is unfit to pray, . . . . 17
How to know when God hears our prayers, . , . 18 Christ vouchsafes his gracious presence to his children upon
their desire of it, ...... 18, 19
The church is carried from desire to desire after the presence
of Christ, ...... 19
How to know that Christ is present in us, ... 19
Where Christ is present, there heaven is in some degree, . 19, 20
Having Christ's presence, we need fear nothing, . . 20
Christ is our brother, ..... 20, 21
The church's royal descent, ..... 21
The church is the spouse of Christ, .... 22
Resemblances betwixt the temporal and spiritual marriage. . 22
The comfort of Christ being our husband, ... 23 Christians being the spouse of Christ, should labour for chaste
judgments and affections, . . . . . 23
Our affections are as their objects, .... 23, 24
How to know whether we be espoused to Christ or not, . 24
Encouragement and direction to those who are not yet in Christ, 24
God accepts of the graces of his children, and delights in them, 25
Encouragement to be much in holy duties, ... 26 Our care must be to preserve ourselves in a good estate free
fi-om the guilt of any sin, . . . . . 26
Christ when he comes to a soul comes not empty, . . 26, 27
Exhortation to have communion with Christ, . . 27 We ought to rejoice in the comforts and graces of others, and
of ourselves, ...... 28-30