The Best Match, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Being a Call to and Treaty with Souls, in order to an Eſpouſal between Chriſt and them.
WEll, and what is the meaning of all this? Surely it ſhould have a mighty influence upon the Spirits of men to draw and allure them to Chriſt, to induce them at leaſt to look after an acquaintance with this bleſſed eſpouſal to him; and indeed I would take occaſion hence to treat with eternal Souls in order to a Match between Chriſt and them: And oh that I could do it effectually! Look, my Beloved, as David ſent his Servants to Abigail to commune with her, in order to his taking of her to Wife, 1 Sam. 25.39, 40. ſo has the Lord Jeſus ſent me, his poor unworthy Servant, to you this day to commune with you in order to the eſpouſing of you to himſelf; and oh that you would do in this caſe as ſhe did in that; for ſhe haſted ('tis ſaid) and aroſe, and went to David, and became his Wife, verſ. 42. Oh that you would all ariſe, ariſe out of your ſins, ariſe out of your unbelief, ariſe out of your carnal ſecurity, and go to Chriſt, and become his Spouſe: And not only ſo, but, as ſhe did make haſte in the buſineſs, cloſe ſpeedily with him in a Marriage-Covenant, even to day: O bleſſed day, might I ſucceed as they did! How happy would it be for you? how comfortable for me? and how joyful for us all in the day of the Bridegrooms coming! Sirs, let me ſay, Oh that I might ſay of you, at leaſt ſome of you, as Paul of his Corinthians here, I have eſpouſed you to one Husband, even to Chriſt: And why ſhould it not be thus? Why ſhould you not ariſe, and go with me to ſweet Jeſus, and be eſpouſed unto him? Can you make light of all that Love, that Comfort, that Sweetneſs, that Happineſs, that bleſſed Union and Communion, that Delight, Solace, and Complacency of Soul which this Eſpouſal carries in it? Or, is there any thing can make up the loſs of theſe? Can Sin and the Creature afford any thing comparable hereunto? Surely there is more ſweetneſs, more happineſs, in one kiſs of the mouth of this bleſſed Lord, in one imbrace in his Boſom, one moments communion with him, than in all the delights of Sin and the Creature: If you doubt it, come and ſee, experienced Souls will tell you, that one deſcent of love from Chriſt, one beam of the light of his Countenance, one turn with him in his Galleries, is infinitely beyond all earthly delights whatſoever. Again, can you be content to die, and periſh eternally, rather than live, and be made happy in ſuch a ſweet and deſirable way as this of being eſpouſed to Chriſt is? A more ſweet and deſirable way of being made happy than this of an eſpouſal to Chriſt, ſurely neither Men nor Angels could ever have thought on: And can you, O eternal Souls, be content to die, to periſh, to be damned and miſerable for ever, rather than be ſaved and made happy this way? If you get not Union with, and a Marriage-Relation to this ſweet Lord, you muſt die and periſh for ever; Know you not (ſayes the Apoſtle) that Jeſus Chriſt is in you except ye be reprobates, 2 Cor. 13.5. If Chriſt be not in us we are certainly reprobates, we are rejected of God, and out of his favour, and then ſurely we muſt periſh. Naturally we are all dead, all loſt, all condemned; Judgment is come upon all men to condemnation, Rom. 5.18. and we are all the children of wrath by nature, Epheſ. 2.3. And if ever we be juſtified and ſaved, it muſt be by a Marriage-Union and Relation to Chriſt. There is no condemnation, (ſayes the Apoſtle) or as the words are, nothing of condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, Rom. 8.1. But, as is there implyed, there is nothing but condemnation to them that are out of Chriſt Jeſus. Once more, can you be content to be ſhut out from the Marriage at laſt for ever? Think of that Scripture, and bear the dread of it if you can, Matth. 25.10. And they that were ready went into the Marriage, and the door was ſhut, ſhut againſt others who then would fain enter: To be ſhut out from the Marriage-Supper at laſt, is to be ſhut out from God, from Chriſt, from the Comforter, from all the Saints and Angels, from all happineſs, yea, and from all hopes of happineſs for ever: and thus you muſt expect to be ſhut out from the Marriage at laſt, if you come not into an eſpouſal to him here: And can you bear it, think you? Can you be content to hear Chriſt ſay unto you at laſt, Depart from me, depart? You would have none of me on earth, though I wooed and beſought you with tears; and therefore now you ſhall have none of me in Heaven: you might have been happy in a union and communion with me, and the arms of my love were open to have received you; but you would not, therefore now depart from me, I know you not: And can you bear this? Beſides, what is it that keeps your Soul from a cloſe with Chriſt in this Marriage-Relation? A vain World, a filthy Luſt, a painted periſhing Pleaſure, a ſenſual Appetite: And are theſe better than Chriſt? Are theſe indeed things to be laid in the Ballance by you againſt Chriſt, yea, and to down-weigh him in your values? O monſtrous ſtupidity! In ſhort, Sirs, the Matter I am treating with you about is no trifle, 'tis of no leſs moment and importance to you, than eternal Life or Death, eternal Salvation or Damnation comes to; your eternal All depends upon it, for you muſt live or die, be ſaved or damned eternally, according as you do, or do not cloſe in with Chriſt in a Marriage-Union and Relation here: Why then ſhould you ſtand off from him? Yea, why ſhould not this be the day of eſpouſals between him and you? Oh, be not ſhie, be not coy to Chriſt, but embrace his love: ſurely his Arms are wide open to receive you, his Heart is upon you, and his deſire is towards you; Lift up therefore the everlaſting Doors, and let this King of Glory in: Give up your Names and Souls unto him for ever. Some of you are young, and have your Affections green and freſh: Oh that you would now go with me to ſweet Jeſus, and become his Spouſe; you cannot love him, nor be married to him too ſoon: Oh, let him have your hearts before this World hath defiled and debauched them: Others of you are older, and have outſtood the Calls and Offers of Chriſt long; yet loe, he once more tenders himſelf to you: Oh now cloſe with him, and all will be well yet. But for the better ſucceeding of this Treaty, I ſhall, in the managing of it, ſpeak to three things. (1.) I'le ſhew you what manner of Husband the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is, and how he is qualified to render him deſirable in that Relation. (2.) I'le ſhew you what great things he does for all his Spouſes. (3.) I'le ſhew you how much his heart is upon a Match with you. And now as Abraham's Servant, when he was to get a Wife for Iſaac, Prayed ſaying, O Lord God of my Maſter Abraham, ſend me good ſpeed this day, Gen. 2.12. So would I, upon the bended knees of my Soul pray, O Lord God, the God and Father of my Royal Maſter, Jeſus Chriſt, ſend me good ſpeed this day, that I may win, through thy Grace, a Spouſe for him.