The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
Of Christs coming as a Bridegroom to his own.
SECT. I.
THat the Lord Iesus Christ shall come as a Bridegroom to his … people, Observation▪ 2.at his Second coming; that as it is said of the Sun, … ariseth as a Bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoyceth &c. so will the Lord arise upon the world at this day, Psal. 19. 5.
This Point will be cleared and proved by opening the several degrees wherein he will manifest himself to be a Bridegroom then to his people; not but that Christ is a Bridegroom to his people now, but then he shall be so also in a more eminent manner, and then the perfect accomplishment of all.
First then, the…re shall be a personal meeting between his Spouse and himself, as it is in mariage; before the mariage i… consummated, there are the friends of the Bridegroom and Spokesmen, and he sends letters and tokens, but then he comes himself; so here Christ sends his Spokesmen, 2 Cor. 11. 2. and his word and spiritual refreshings; but when this time comes, he appears himself in person, and both meet in person; 1 Th…ss. 4. 16, 17. here we meet the Lord spiritually in his Ordinances, but then visibly in the clouds; while we live in this world, it is a time of parting, 2 Cor. 5. 8. and when we come to dye, in respect of the whole man, it is so also; but then the whole man shall meet him; these eyes shall see him, and those arms shall imbrace him; you are left as Orphans here in this world alone; it will not alway be thus, for there is a time of meeting.
Secondly, Then all deformities shall be taken away from his people, and he shall adorn his Bride in perfect beauty; for this is one part of Christs con…ugal love to his Spouse and People, Ephes. 5. 25. different from other Husbands, who finde but do not make them beautiful; for if the Lord should meet his people, and they him with their deformities, they would do it unwillingly and with shame: as in this life why are Saints unwilling yet to be with the Lord? viz. because there be so many deformities and spots abiding on the Spouse; sometimes the soul would not have Christ, and such a heart too, though he offers himself to it; Lord depart, I am a sin…ul man, Luk. 5. 8. Oh but then all deformities shall be removed; Phil. 3. ult. Who shall change our vile bodies, not destroy them; and make them like his glorious body, which shines brighter than the Sun: Matth. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine like the Sun; is there any beauty like that of Christs? then shall they be like unto him; 1 Ioh. 3. 2. it is a dishonor for a mighty Prince on the day of mariage to let his Queen go in rags; they shall be Christs then; And look as it was with Ioseph, all his shame, baseness, imprisome…ts, did but …ake way for his glory; and hence he was delivered out of prison by the Kings command; now his apparel, and countenance, and name, and estate, and all is changed; so here, all your sheme, imprisonment in the grave-chains of sins, that enter into your soul, doth but make way for this certain glory; As it was with Iehosuah, Satan stood at his right hand to accuse him, he only stands before the Lord, at last the Lord saith, Take off these filthy garments; is not this a brand? So Satan and Conscience accuse often here, but then it shall be so that all thy filthy garments shall be taken away.
Thirdly, Then there shall be an open manifestation, and glorious declaration of the dearest love of the Lord toward them; before the great day of mariage comes, there is love expressed, concluded between the parties, and it may be some few know of it, as Friends, and some of the Family; but the open declaration is at the day of mariage; so Christ loves his people now, &c. and will not only love them then, but openly declare his love before all the world; Come ye blessed; he shall declare then his own love, Matth. 10. 32. Luke 12, 8. He that hath made it his glory to confess Christ in a holy life, Christ will confess him before God and before Angels; and so before all the world: Men in great place will not know their poor friends, especially in open places; but the Lord Jesus will, and he will divulge the Fathers love to them also, Act, 3. 19. You blessed of the Father, Ioh. 17. 22, 23, 24. I have given them that glory, united them and made them flesh of my flesh, that the world may know thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me. Here the Lord doth love his people dearly, but it is not so known; the Sun shines on good and bad; the world hates and persecutes them as Hypocrites; civil men think them like themselves; worldlings think them as little loved as any, their estates thrive not; Hypocrites bear a base esteem of them; and if they love them, 'tis because they love them; Saints themselves many times suspect them; or if not, yet they judge as well of others as them; nay it may be they are so disfigured sometimes by those sores that break out of them; that they know not themselves; but now the Lord will openly declare his love to them, and to all the world besides; These are the men which I have born on my brest, and caried on my shoulders; for whom I have built and planted Churches, and destroyed enemies, and trod the wine-press alone, and prefered above mine own life, and blood and glory; whose hairs have been numbred by me, whose walls have been continually before me. No greater misery to a holy heart than this: Psal. 42. 10. Where is now thy God? So when conscience saith, and men say it here: Oh what a mercy is it that then it shall be heard, I am now come to comfort thee!
Fourthly, Then they shall be brought into actual possession and fruition of all the glory promised unto them, of all their inheritance and portion: Before mariage there be promises made of such an estate; but when the day is come, then they come to actual and full possession of it, and become equal possessors of the estate; so much in this life the Lord doth promise to possess his people of; there be promises of peace, redemption, victory, and triumph over all enemies, fellowship with God, and all the Saints and Angels together, an incorruptible inheritance, and now they shall enter into possession of all these; nay, all that Christ hath, signified by that word Kingdom, Matth. 25. Come and take the kingdom prepared for you; 1 Cor. 15. 54. Then shall be brough… to pass the saying written, O death where is thy sting, &c. Isa. 25. 7, 8. So that reckon what Christ hath, you shall have it then. Much mercy the Lord shews to his people now, but Psal. 31. 19. how great is that which is laid up! then it shall be brought forth; now you shall have an end of all your desires, prayers, faith to feel that which you have believed, &c. as it was with Ioshua 23. ult. Not one thing whereof God hath failed. Here the poor hardly get bread; here many prayers get nothing, &c. but there, 2 Thess. 1. 9, 10. God doth then what he can for them and gives what he can give to them, then all treasures are broken open.
Fifthly, Then there shall ever be cohabitation and living with him, never to be any more parted from him, or he from them; for while any is a Suitor to one in a far Country, he comes and goes away again; but when mariage comes, then he carries her to his own house, and now live they must together; so the Lord in this life is somtime with his people, somtime absent from his people, but then they must cohabite together, and shall; 1 Thess. 4. ult. And then we shall ever be with the Lord. If the Lord should do all the former, and not this, it would be a bitter cut: When the Disciples had Christs presence for a time, it was sweet; but when parting came, that was bitter; but here is no more parting with the Lord; to be in a Kings dominon where peace rules, when other places are slaughter-houses, and Golgotha's, tis good; but to be with the King, and ever with him, and to follow him where ever he goes, and to be familiar with him, this is wonderful; Husbands depart either because not pleased at home, or because of business abroad; all such motion arguing imperfection; but now there shall be nothing in the Saints to displease; and Christ's business shall then be done, he shall have no more to do but only to give up the Kingdom to God the Father; that is the last work of Christ in this world: To see the Lord in his beauty of grace and love, will be wonderful; but for dust and worms to be with him for ever; the poor things of the world to be with him, when thousands are cast by! we say that's the beauty of a thing which no picture can express; now to see that beauty in Christ is marvellous; but to be in the bosom of one so amiable, how great is this?
Sixthly, Then shall the Lord rejoyce over his people, and they in him; Mariage day is the great day of joy, they long for it before; and when it comes, the longer it hath been deferred, the more feats of parting, the more are they affected with joy then; so here, the soul hath desired the Lord in grace first, and then in glory, Rev. 22. Christ hath been desiring after them in glory, Iohn 17. 24. now their desires being fulfilled, all his scattered lost Elect gathered, now he rejoyceth with exceeding joy; and the longer lost, and meeting deferred, the greater joy now; hence Zeph. 3. 11. he shall rejoyce over thee with joy, &c. Look as the Lord when they were but converted to him, poor, and miserable, and sinful, and some of them but very babes, Luk. 10. 21. yet he rejoyced in Spirit, and falls admi…ing of the Father; so here much more when they shall become glorious and perfect, and altogether at this day. If the Lord, Isa. 40. 1, 2. would have his Prophets speak to the heart of Ierusalem, when it had but Seventy years captivity, much more will the Lord himself then do it at that day; and look as it was with them, Rev. 19. 1. to 6. Alle…uja… for the destruction of Antichrist, and that Christ reigneth, Oh let us rejoyce; so shall all Saints meet him with joy, being delivered out of the hands of all their enemies; they shall cry Allelujah with joy to see them destroyed, and the Lord reigning; and then shall they up to heaven in a shout of joy with Allelujah, &c.
SECT. II.
HEnce see how ill the sin of worldliness or any sinful l…st suits with a gracious godly man:Use 1. Shall the Lord come as a Bridegroom to you, and will you run a whoring from him in this day? A man can bear it when others that he never set his heart upon, depart from him; but these to do it, it is a sin against his kindness, against his person most immediately, and against his name and honor. As a vertuous woman is a crown to her husband; so here. Covetousness is a vile sin in any, but especially in these; and hence Ier. 3. 4, 5. Wilt thou not from this time cry my Father. When Baruch sought great things, Wilt thou seek great things when God came to destroy all? so will you keep great things here when the Lord is destroying al…,Jer. 45. 5.when your Husband will be all in all? when a woman knows that a great Prince loves her, she scorns all other Suitors, &c. So should you be content, though poor, though sinful, &c. Col. 3. 4. 5. as long as Christ loves thee.
Hence see what a great sin it is not to receive evidence of mercy and comfort from any promise of Christ wherein he reveals his love to his Spouse;Use 2. if Christ shall come as a Bridegroom to you, by what promise soever (therefore) he shall manifest his love to you, receive it; some would not have Christians to receive evidence of Christ's love by any conditional promise; but remember this, that if Christ doth not speak them, if they be not the Bridegrooms voyce, or if not true, then do not receive them, or any evidence from them; nay if he doth not by his own Spirit clear them, and apply them; but if they be the voyce of the Bridegroom, if you be friends, or shew your selves friends, rejoyce at it, Ioh. 3. 29. As for that immediate revelation of his love, expect it at his meeting when you shall see him face to face; in the mean while if he by his letter reveals his love, Oh make much of it because it is your Bridegrooms; if the day of Judgement be come, and Resurrection past, and Christ seen immediately, then look not for your evidence from such Scriptures; but if otherwise, then own his love here if he speaks. It is true, it would be a sweet thing if that day would come; yet as Christ said to Tho… as so say I to you, Blessed are they which have not seen and yet believed; and therefore when ever the Lord doth this, first or last; hear his voyce, and believe his word. Do not say you see nothing in your selves; suppose a woman should make a match by love and consent, though hardly; she did …ath him, but he was so mighty as to prevail for her goodwill, and now she is comforted; and another should come and say to her, How do you know this? Why thus he sought me, thus I concluded with him, and so fixt: 'Tis no match; Why? You must see no consent, no love no imbracings, &c. would not such a one be counted a deceiver? 2 Tim. 4. 8.
Of Terror; Vse 3.What will become of you that refuse the Lords kindness now, that regard not the Bridegrooms voyce, that refuse to bestow your hearts upon the Lord! he shall never be a Bridegroom to you at this day, when others meet him in the clouds, &c, Now you see Saints absent from the Lord, …oor and mean, and question the Lords love to them; but then all shall be seen, and all this you shall lose, Ioh. 3. 32. No man receiveth his testimony, &c. you that never mourned as widows without him, never felt need of his love, what will become of you at this day!
Of Consolation to all those that be espoused,Use 4. and contracted to the Lord, who have chose him, who have given themselves to him, who look now no further but content themselves in him, or have a frame of heart so to do, though fears keep them from possession of him; Oh Christ shall come as thy Husband at that day. Many Christians fear this day, and hence do not sensibly love, nor long for this day, being under the whip continually of fears, and questioning their estate; but why do you fear, when the Lord shall come as a Brid…groom! Isa. 54. 4, 5. why dost fear, himself the Judge so holy, when he is thy Husband! thy chains and debts, and sins, when the Judge is thy Husband! thy accusers or enemies, when the Lord is thy Husband! You should rather long for this day, and rejoyce in it, because now comes your full Redemption from all sinnes, all sorrows; the coming of a Husband is sweet.
First, Though the people of God have weaknesses and wants, the Lord hath none.
Secondly, Though they must part for a little while, the Lord is ever with thee.
Thirdly, Though they car not help out of all evil, yet the Lord Jesus will. Oh they should rejoyce, that when he comes like a Judge, and all the wicked shall melt like wax before his presence, and burn up before him, Oh yet a Husband to thee!
SECT. III.
Object. IF I knew this!
Answ. Yes, you know it; but there be some things that are false Objections against it: as,
Object. 1. Because the Lord is such a stranger, and the Lord absents himself so much.
Answ. Is that a good Argument for a Woman? Isa. 54. 6, 7, 8. It is not the time of being ever with the Lord in his time of wooing; Iohn 16. 20. I will depart, and you shall mourn, the world will not, and your heart shall rejoyce.
Object. 2. Because my heart goes so soon, so oft a whoring from him.
Answ. It may be that you are sorely tempted, and thy heart may begin to be taken, &c. but yet if you cannot yield to lie in your falls, this is not an evidence of a breach of the match. Psal. 73. he was almost gone, yet the Lord recovers him, and saith he, the Lord is with me; therefore as it was with Christ, it was not possible that the bonds of death should hold him; so here shall it be with the poor doubting believer.
Object. 3. Because my heart cannot love him.
Answ. Why do you then sigh under captivity and bondage of your love? you cannot love him, other things do keep you under; oh but can she say she loves not her husband, that doth sigh in bondage to be with him… Consider how it is at Christs absenting himself from thee (as thou thinkest) at any time; for then love is seen, especially at the time of parting.
Object. 4. Because he is so unkinde to me, he hears not all my prayers.
Answ. This is a great Objection; if Christ would give them all their portion together which he promiseth them freely in his time, then they think he is kind, not else.
First, Though he doth not hear all prayers at once, yet he hath given thee that which is better than all prayers; (viz.) himself,1 Sam. 1. 8. and a pledge of all the rest, and this is better than ten sons.
Secondly, It would do you hurt; oh therefore rejoyce in this day, whatever thy condition be now: Give some women their will, and you give them your lives, and losse of all; so here, and therefore saith Christ, I will be Lord in my house.
SECT. IV.
OF Exhortation: To those that are out of Christ, or do not know that they be in Christ, to labour to get your souls espoused,Vse 5. and match't to the Lord Jesus; it is a laudable custome grounded on Scripture, that before marriage there is the time of espousals or contract; and such may know though there be absence for a time, yet that when he saith he will return to marriage, he will come as a husband, though others in the family cannot look for any such thing; so here the great work of the Ministery is to espouse people to Christ; now that they may be presented chaste Virgins unto the Lord Jesus, 2 Cor. 11. 2. you may look then that he shall come as a Bridegroom to comfort you; others cannot look for any such presence of Christ, to them that are not espoused to him now;—Now Christ is gone up to his Kingdom, but let base dust, and vile man hearken, the time is coming, that he shall come in glory to the amazement of the World; before whom all the wicked shall melt, but the Saints shall live in glory, caught up in the clouds of heaven; Christ infinitely rejoycing in them, and they in Christ. Would you have him come thus to you, or as a revenging Judge, and consuming fire for your contempt? …if so, then get your souls espoused to him now.
SECT. V.
Object. A las! What can I do? the Lord must do it.
Answ. True, but he doth it by means; the Ministry of the Gospel; else what need there be any Scripture writ, or Gospel preached? use you the means, and wait on the Lord thereby, for the effecting of this:
Quest. What should I do?
Answ. Look as it is in marriage here, or espousals here; there be but two things that make up the match.
1. Earnest suit on the one side.
And 2. Consent on the other; and therefore if any thing hinder, it ever lies either on the one side, the man is unwilling, he desires it not; or on the other side, if he be desirous, she is unwilling; but both these finish the business; if therefore you would be ever espoused to the Lord Jesus, look to these two things.
First, See evidently that earnest suit the Lord makes unto thee for thy consent, for thy good will; and this will appear by his own speeches, and this is a sufficient testimony; by what speeches? by his voice in these Scriptures; for is this the Bridegrooms voice or no? if not, away with it; if it be, and that they do breath the Holy Ghost, then know it, it is as if he spake from heaven to thee now.
Object. But he doth not speak to me there by name particularly; he speaks to others, not to me.
Answ. 1. The Lord when he calls any to himself, he doth not in his ordinary Call speak to them by name, and yet they have so received the Lord in the Word, as if he had called them by name; for look, as when the Law saith All that sin shall dye, the Lord speaks to all by name; and if conscience be awake, it will apply it, This sentence is against me; so when the Lord saith, All that will receive the Lord, shall live before the Lord; and therefore receive him; if conscience be awake, it will apply: As in the three thousand that were converted, What shall we do? they were not called by name; but when they heard that they that repented should live, because the promise was to all, they gladly received the Word; so here it should be so; and therefore we see when the Spirit makes particular application to a man, he so sets on a truth, as if the Lord spake to the soul particularly; and therefore if you do not, it is because you are left of the Spirit of God, and the power of the Word; for it is your duty so to do.
2. Though your names are not set down in the words of the promise, yet your names are wrapt up in the meaning and sense of the promise; and this is as good as that; for though the Lord doth not desire every man to keep the Sabbath by name, yet he means every man, and there your names are; so when the Lord Jesus makes suit to a wretched heart to receive him, he meaneth every man, as if he had named them; that which is set down in Scripture, and written to others, God means not them alone, but all others in like case;—as I…r. 3. 12. What the Lord spake to Israel to return, he meant especially Iudah; so Esay 2. ver. 1. to 5. There is a Prophesie of the Gentiles to flow to the Mount of the Lord; what means the Lord by that? the Lord meant hereby to stir up the Jews, and therefore he saith, Oh come house of Israe…, &c. And hence Rom. 15. 4. What is written, it is for our learning, that we might have hope; i. e. God meaneth us therein also, so that when you see the Lord calling the wretched Jews in his Word, the Lord calls thee; and when the Lord in his Ministery comes to them, he comes to you; and to have thy name in the sense of the Scripture, is most for the glory of the Spirit, and s…iting best with the work of faith, and most sure, and most sweet to you; but especially I say, when the Messengers of God come to you, they make things particularly clear, which were but generally set down: O consider therefore the Lord is earnest in his suit to have thee receive him.
SECT. VI.
1. IT breaks the heart of the Lord Jesus to see thee depart away, and go a whoring from him; when a man is so set in his desires that when he is crossed of his hopes in marriage, it makes him sick and pine away with grief, because he is very earnest for the match; so it is here, Ezek. 6. 9. And therefore we shall see Mark 8, 12. the Pharisees who had seen all his works, yet an adulterous generation sought after a sign, it is said Christ sighed deeply in sp…rit for this; nothing grieves the Lord so much as this; to despise any part of his will, or poorest member of his, grieves him; but to dispise himself, this much more; as we shall not find any joy in Scripture …ike this, when the Lord hath overcome the unkinde heart of a rebellious sinner;Isa. 35. 1. and hence heaven and earth and deserts are commanded to rejoyce at this: devise to grieve him, and you cannot do it so much as by refusing him.
2. The Lord is so desirous of it, that he will pass by all thy former lewdness, if now thou wilt receive him, Ier. 3. 1. with 4. men will not do so, yet the Lord will; what, when so many vanities are loved more than the Lord, can the jealous…e of Christ receive me? Yes that he can.
3. When the Lord hath cast off a poor creature for refusing him, yet then his heart yearns and his soul longs for it (many times) again, I a. 54. 5, 6. the Lord hath called thee as a wife of youth when refused; i.…. when God did appear to them, to refuse them; Oh wonderful! that when the soul hath refused the Lord, and the Lord it, and all creatures refuse to love it, yet these the Lord calls agan; and hence the Lord comes upon his people Isa. 50. that complained, God had utterly re ected them, and all the fault is …n him: no their sins had done it; but then he blames them that when he came, no man answered, &c.
4. All the anger of Christ, especially his greatest anger is expressed against a soul for want of this being willing to receive him; when you say How doth the Lord regard or desire me, when he fights against me?
First, Is there an evil not inflicted, but devised against thee? (as many a one fears what is not yet made known) this is to make you r…turne, Jer. 18. 11.
Secondly, Are there any sorrows upon thy conscience, upon thy outward man, that God takes all comfort from thee? Hos. 2. 9. 14. 16.
Thirdly, Are there any evils inflicted upon others in this life, especially whole Churches, their Ordinances broken, Temples consumed, and laid into dung-heaps? it is to get thy good will, Jer. 3. 8.
Fourthly, Are there any gone down to Hell, who did once flourish here, that you have even seen the flames and tears before you of crying Ghosts; if so, then know it, it is that thou mightest draw near the Lord, Psalme 73. 26, 27.
5. The Lord professeth that he will give the choicest of all blessings to them that receive him; and this argues strong desire, Psal. …1. 11, 12, 13. Honey out of the rock.
1. Thou shalt have himself taking infinite delight in thee, because he will make thee beautiful with his own beauty, and cloath thee with it, Psa. 45. 12.
2. All creatures shall be servants to thee throughout the world, Hos. …lt. As when one is married, all the servants in the Family are to serve her or him, so here it is in regard of the faithful: Oh that you could hear the voyce of the Lord Jesus, and his earnest suir to you herein. This you see is clear.
There now wants nothing but for you to give your consent unto him, and therefore this is that which the Lord lays to the charge of men, viz. …heir breaking off the match; and so Rev. 2…. 17. Whoever will, let him come and take; Prov. 1. 29, 30. they did not chuse the Lord, nor would none of the Lords counsel; and this made the Lord cast them off; so that now there is nothing but thy wll: Shall the Lord desire it, and wilt not …ou be glad of it? there is no beauty in thee, why he should do this to thee: there is in him beauty and excellency; Oh shall not this love win thee? Shall it be said another day, Wherefore is all this evil come upon such a one? had he not means? had he not offers? But this shall come against thee, You would not, Oh you would not.
SECT. IV.
ONly take these four Cautions concerning your consent.
Take heed that your consent arise not only from fear of misery, for this is a forced consent, and is ever naught, and it appears so when the misery is past; many do thus in fears of death, or times of calamity; Oh then the Lord, Hos. 8. 1, 2, 3. Psal. 78. 34, 35.
Secondly, Take heed it be not a conceit of your own making in days of peace; for that which you make from your selves, you will break also; but that it arise from the sence of thine own insufficiency to give consent, and the Lords Almighty power and infinite grace to work it, and then no powers of any creature can untie that knot.
Many hearing of this, Will you have Christ? Oh yes, withal my heart, and force a consent by their own labor; this is naught; and hence Ezek. 16. 60, 61. The Lord will receive that harlot but not by he… covenant, i. e. which she undertook in her own name; no, the Lord must work it, Ier. 3. 19. How shall I do this for thee, &c. Hos. 2. 19. I will …etroth her: For no creature can incline the heart to another but the Lord; there is a natural antipathy between Christ and the Soul; and hence we see it in many a Christian, ask him, Why cannot you love the Lord, nor cleave to him? Oh because I know not why; I cannot, I have no heart; the truth is, you have hearts that do loath him; unless the Lord overcome you, you can never submit indeed unto the Lord.
Thirdly, Look that your consent be not made according to your own terms and conditions; for look as it is with a woman, if she shall say she is content to love such a man; but if she keeps an open Inn to entertain all strangers, and love all commers, or if there is one she is in league with; there can be no mariage; so therefore the conditions are so, Receive the Lord, and give your consent to love him only, Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me, otherwise the match will never be made, Isa. 50. 1. if you keep your wretched, unruly, stu…bo… w…lls st…ll, never hadst thou, or shalt thou have the Lord; Let thy sin be never so little, so close, as (it may be) sloth, it is death to pray; it may be 'tis pride; or whatever else it be, you must have your hearts first divorced from them, or thou canst not have Christ.
Fourthly, Take heed then that sence of want of dowry, beauty, portion in or from your selves, doth not hinder you from consent; for the Lord requires no such thing of you; hence M…tth. 22. 4. All things are ready in Christ to receive from him, Ephes. 5. 25. 'Tis not for you to make ready to bring to him; only come; and the Lord doth bring his people to sence of vileness, that they may do thus, know that it is his Grace that makes the Lord close there.
SECT. VIII.
NOW will you refuse, and not let the Lord have your hearts this day?
First, is there any thing in the Lord that should keep thee from consenting? what good is there else but in him? what want of perfection there? his love is better than life; if there be any thing in the world that can be better to thee, or do greater things for thee, make thy match; but who can pay thy debts? who can fetch thee out of prison? who can put beauty on thee? who ever did thee good but the Lord? therefore there is none like him; he will cloth thee, possess thee, &c.
Secondly, is there any thing in thy self that keeps thee from consenting; hast thou no need of him, or consenting to him? you may, it is true, have other creatures to adorn you; as they Ezek. 16. 37, 38. But the Lord will gather your lovers together, and give you blood and fury in his jealousie: I mean, when the Lord shall come at this day, to embrace, comfort, glorifie others; thou shalt not have a smile from him; Oh men now despise the Lord, and his Grace and Patience; tell them of a match with the Son of God, they regard it not, no more than a tale that is told; well, the Lord will bring you into horrors, wherein you shall prize and be glad of this, before you die, even one glimpse of his love.
Post tenebras lucem spero. After my sickness December 12. 1639.