Several Works, Work 2 (2 of 3)

Several Works · Work 2 (2 of 3)

p. 35The Bridegroom, being a relative, muſt have a Correlate and that is the Bride. And therefore firſt we will ſpeak a little to that, who this Bride is, for it ſeemeth not to be intimated in the Text, but the Bridegroom to ſtand alone. And then a word or two to the perſon, and quality of the Bridegroom.

For the Bride, the Text ſeemeth not to ſhew her to our view, for here only, the kingdom of God, the Church viſible, is compared to ten virgins, ſome wiſe, ſome fooliſh, and this may ſeem hardly to be the Bride, for the fooliſh you ſee, they are diſowned, and Jeſus Chriſt certainly eſpouſeth none to be his Bride, but he communicateth of himſelf to them, who is the wiſdom of the Father, and hath all treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge in him; and therefore his ſpouſe, can not be the fooliſh virgins, they have no fellowſhip with him in his wiſdom. And for the wiſe, though it be ſaid they entered with him in to the marriage, yet they are here ſpoken of, but as virgins which are companions to the Queen, as it is in the 45. Pſal. v. 14. which in weddings it ſeemeth did accompany the B…ide to bring her to the Bridgr. but theſe were not the ſpouſe, and therefore it may ſeem there is nothing here intimated p. 36of the Bride which is the correlate of the Bridegroom. We anſwer, In propriety of ſpeech indeed, the Bride is the Queen, and the Virgins her companions they are not one and the ſame, but in theſe tropical ſpeeches they may be one and the ſame, and are ſo doubtleſs, for herein we muſt know that the Church, and people of God admits of notions, of divers relations unto divers conditions As in another Parable, where the Communications of Chriſt to his people are ſet forth by a Marriage Feaſt as afterward we ſhall Mat. 22. 2.Matt 22:2ſhew you, here you know the King prepareth a feaſt for his Son, that is to ſay, for Jeſus Chriſt a marriage feaſt it is foreign, a marriage it ſelf, though by that be meant a marriage feaſt, now many gueſts were invited, and they make this and that excuſe, at laſt he retcheth them in from the high-way ſides, and heals the poor ſcattered contemned Gentiles, brought in when the Jews refuſed, here is the communication of himſelf to them as a Church viſible, for ſo it muſt be underſtood becauſe there was one there without a wedding garment; It ſeemeth there was a cuſtom to put on their beſt apparel, ſomewhat ſuitable to the occaſion. Well, the reſt they had ſuch a garment. But if this be but a marriage feaſt for Chriſt and the Bride, What are thoſe Gueſts then that are invited to it? It ſhould ſeem they are not the Bride her ſelf. Why truly here the Anſwer is the ſame, in this Tropical ſpeech they are one, and the ſame, though here they be not conſidered as ſuch. And ſo in our Text the real believers, aand Saints in truth, are ſet forth by the wiſe virgins, and all ſuch have Chriſt, and Chriſt hath them as the Bride, onelyonly here they are conſidered indeed according to the compariſon, as the virgins her companions which go forth to meet the Bridegroom. Yet indeed and in truth they are the Bride her ſelf. And he ſaid in that place of the Revelations, Bleſſed are they who are called to the marriage ſupper of the Lamb, and ſo R…v. 19. 9.called as to come to it, but if they were not the ſpouſe, had not an intereſt in the Bridegroom, as ſuch, truly there would be no hapneſs in it to behold him, and not to enjoy him; and therefore this is but the ſame thing with that in the New Jeruſalem; the holy R…v. 31. 29.City, coming down from God, even out of heaven as a Bride adorned for her husband, and the Angel ſaid, come and I will ſhew thee the Bride the Lambs wife, where the Bride and Gueſts are one and the ſame ſurely, onelyonly conſidered under a divers notion, according p. 37to the nature of the ſimilitude or compariſon, and ſo it is in this place. Yea, that which ſeemeth farther off in the compariſon of the protheſis in the apodoſis cometh as near, that is to ſay of young men, the friends of the Bridegroom, the children of the Bride Chamber, they alſo are a part of the Bride, for they are theſe Virgins alſo, though in the compariſon male and female are diſtinguiſhed, yet in Chriſt, no difference.

Well then, theſe virgins, the wiſe virgins, though conſidered here onelyonly as accompanying the Bride, the Queen, to the Bride-groom, Yet they are the Bride herſelf indeed, now herein is the myſtery of the Saints communion with Chriſt tranſcendent and wonderful, that though they be marryed to him, yet they are virgins ſtill; It is true an eſpouſal of a virgin deflours her not, but ſhe continueth ſo, until the conſummation of the marriage, though the Jews had another manner of cuſtom, ſometimes to eſpouſe by copulation; though afterwards it was forbidden with them. See Goodw. Antiq. Jud. yet when the Saints have the fulleſt, neareſt marriage, communion with Jeſus Chriſt, yet they are virgins, yea the purer their virginity is, then the Idols of their hearts, they are fully cleanſed from, according to that Goſpel-promiſe, I will cleanſe them from all your Idols, then it is done fully. And this is the virginity of the Saints, it lyes in their union and fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt, and none elſe; thus ſaith Theophil. from Chryſ. is a wonder that ſhe ſhould be marryed, & yet a virgin and the more, for marriage communion, the Church with J. Chriſt the purer her virginity is, the more perfectly is ſhe cleanſed from Idols and all uncleanneſs. The truth is brethren we are never The High Prieſt to m… ry only a V… gin. Lev. 21. 1…Lev 21:1virgins, until we come to be eſpouſed to him, but all filthy fornicators and unclean perſons, wallowing in our filthineſs, and now when once the Lord Jeſus lays hold upon us for his, we begin to be virgins, where again the tranſcendency of grace above nature, which is the ground of the compariſon, if it reacheth not the thing compared to it. And ſo though they go a whoring afterward from the Lord Jeſus, play the Harlots, as he complains of Judah and Iſrael, you know often in the Prophets, that is to ſay by going after other objects of worſhip, then himſelf, other lovers, yet when they return to their own husband again, why then they become virgins. Now though Judah had been wofully corrupted with Idolatry in the days of Ahaz, that Ahaz. There is a brand ſet p. 38upon him worthily by the ſpirit of God, for he corrupted the people above meaſure, ſhut up the doors of the Houſe of God, had Altars in every corner of the City in the open places, as the Phariſees prayed in corners, the places where many ſtreets met, impudent whoredoms in the face of the Sun, they diſcovered their ſin as Sodom, yea, they cut in pieces, many of the veſſels of the Temple, and brought in ſo much filthineſs into it, as that they were ſixteen days cleanſing it. Now they played the Harlot, and therefore wrath was againſt them, and all Iſrael for that. But now when in Hezekiah his days, the doors of the houſe were opened, they repented, he called upon them to turn to their God, ſet up his pure worſhip again, though to his own coſt and charge, for the daily burnt Sacrifice, a high example for godly Princes, you have the memorable ſtory in 2 Chron. Well now when Sennacherib cometh up againſt them, ſaith the Lord, The virgin daughter of Sion hath deſpiſed thee before an Harlot, an impudent one, commiting 2 Cron. 29 30.abominations in the very corners of the ſtreets, now the virgin daughter of Sion, here is indeed wonder upon wonder in this, but I doubt I ſtay too long upon theſe things.

The next thing is the Bridegroom, The Perſon that ſtands now in relation to the Bride, who is it, but the Lord Jeſus, Immanuel God with us, Married to us in our nature taking that upon himſelf, It is no mean Perſon brethren that is the Bridegroom, but he who is God equal with the father, and counteth it no robbery Phil. 2. 6.Phil 2:6to be equal with him. He who is the ſhining forth of his fathers H…b. 1. 3.glory, the expreſs image of his fathers perſon, this is he brethren. What ſhall I ſay brethren, Alas, I doubt I ſhall diſhonour him by ſpeaking of him.

1. If you look upon his birth, who can declare his generation, It is that, people do much look at, in their marriages, and there is Iſ…. …3 8.ſomewhat in it; though happily, not ſo much as men place in it among men, but here there is very much, He is the Son of God. The Jews lookt upon it as ſo high above him, ſeeing no farther then Haman, that they cryed out of blaſphemy, that he made himſelf equal with God, he is the Bridegroom then, the Son of God, his own Son, as the Goſpel hath it, his onelyonly begotten Son; He w…o by a divine, infinite, incomprehenſible communication is one in eſſence and nature with his father, he it is (brethren) that is the Rom. 8. 32.Rom 8:32Bridegroom. We, by Birth, what are we? but the baſeſt, our p. 39Ioh. 3. 16.John 3:16Father an Amorite, our Mother an Hittite, yea a ſeeed of evil doers, a generation of vipers, worſe then worms, and the vileſt; Ezek. 16. 3.Ezek 16:3And yet the Lord Jeſus the Bridegroom bearing ſuch a relation, to ſuch as we, and taking us into ſuch a relation to himſelf.

2. If we look upon his beauty brethren, Alas! if we turn our eyes towards it, we are dazled, a beam or two he ſheweth us in a glaſs darkly indeed, that yet rightly underſtood, would amaze us; as to behold the glory of the Sun reflected by a glaſs, or a piece of burniſhed mettal, it dazleth us, we cannot behold it, when he ſaith, he is the ſhining forth of his fathers glory foreign the ſhining Heb. 1. 3.Heb 1:3forth of his fathers glory, which conſidered as God-man, is a glorious expreſſion of his beauty. But conſidered as he is the Son of God, it falls much below it, for the beam of the Sun, though never ſo glorious, is far below the eſſence of the Son, but he is, one in eſſence with the father, He is as God-man, the expreſs Character of his fathers perſon. A poor dull carnal eye that lookt no farther then the veil of fleſh, and ſaw him a man of ſorrow, acquainted with grief, his viſage marred more then any mans as he Iſa. 53. 4.Isa 53:4ſaith, Smitten of God, or a ſmitten God, alas, there was no beauty to be ſeen why he ſhould deſire him. But his beauty is inward, he is white and ruddy, the chief among ten thouſand, either his divinity Cant 5. 10.Song 5:10and Humanity, or his fulneſs of Grace, and his bloody Merits in a ſweet exact mixture. O how beautiful do they make him, he is fairer then the ſons of men! If that beauty will carry it, he is the very Paragon of Heaven.

3. For Riches there is none like to him. This is a great allurement you know indeed, for the moſt part men do marry the gold and riches of the world rather then the perſon, though this be a madneſs; an Heir to a great eſtate likely will not need a wife, Why, the Lord Jeſus is heir of all things, all things in Heaven and Earth. He is the onelyonly Son of God, the heir apparent of heaven he is, being the Son of God, ſo that what ever we want, it will be abundantly ſupplyed in him. Abraham his ſervant wooing ſaith, his Maſter was rich, and had onelyonly one Son, and he heir of all. Gen. 24. 35▪ 36.

4. If Honours will do it for that is ſomewhat which much takes with men, he is no leſs then a King, and no mean one, he is the King of Glory, a glorious King indeed, as he is called in that Pſalm, Yea the King of Kings; and Lord of Lords, Rev. 17. 14. A moſt p. 40high and eminent Kingdom, who hath all other Kings at his command, a hundred ſeven and twenty Provinces were a great Dominion, but not onelyonly all the Kingdoms of the earth are the Lords and his Chriſts, but by him Kings rule, and Princes decree Juſtice, it is by his permiſſion, any of them exerciſe their power.

5. For Power as well as Authority, and Majeſty, he it is that can do what he pleaſeth, he is indeed the Mighty God, and what then can ſtand in his way. He is our Maker, and there is much Iſa. 9. Iſa. 54. 5. foreign.Isa 9Isa 54:5in that, thy Maker is thy Husband, thy Redeemer, the Lord of Hoſts is his name; thy Maker, he that gave thee thy beeing when thou haddeſt none, by a word of his mouth. O here is power indeed! he that could give us a ſpiritual being by the ſame word, there, is yet more power, for in the firſt there was no repugnancy but here there is, he is the Lord of Hoſts; It was much to Iſrael to conſider who was their Husband, even the Lord of Hoſts, he that could Redeem them out of Egypt, ſink all their enemies in the Red-Sea, go as a Captain before them, drive out the Canaanites, notwithſtanding their Iron Chariots, the Anakims, that were a terror to them. He now was their Husband He is a man of war, and a moſt mighty man of valour, for that Goliah himſelf which defies the Armies of Iſrael, is nothing in his hand, the roaring Lyon, is nothing in his hand, he can tear him in pieces, and bruiſe him under his feet, even as a Lyon tears a Kid. It is very much brethren, this to commend the Lord Jeſus to us, he can fight our battels for us, ſo that if we can but ſtand ſtill we ſhall ſee the ſalvation of the Lord.

6. For a lovely ſweet diſpoſition, which is none of the leaſt deſirable things in a Husband; O never was there like to Jeſus Chriſt for diſpoſition, he is love it ſelf, and tenderneſs it ſelf, bowels and compaſſion it ſelf! there is many a one, though they have beauty and riches, a…d honours, and birth and power in an Husband; yet if there be an unſuitable diſpoſition, there be rigidneſs, and harſhneſs, it imbitters all; O do but obſerve how ſweet a diſpoſition he was of, ſo far from harſhneſs to his people, that he melteth over his very enemies that refuſed him, Ah that thou ha…ſt known in this thy day &c. O how he is touched with our infirmities, afflicted Luk. 10. 42. Heb. 4. 15.Luke 10:42Heb 4:15in our afflictions! A woman that hath ſuch a husband, what a ſweetning is it to all her afflictions; If love will do, he …ll never p. 41take any other courſe, never any eſtrangement of himſelf from a ſoul, here is a Bridegroom indeed. But I will not ſpeak any further, Brethren, you have heard much, and much better of the excellencies of Jeſus Chriſt, then I am able to ſpeak to you; this onelyonly for the ſecond thing.

There are yet to be conſidered the Cauſes, which according to their ſeveral influences, concur to the making up of this relation between Chriſt and the Church, of a Bridegroom and a Bride, whichwhen I have ſpoken ſomewhat to, I will proceed.

1. Then, The Father, he giveth them to his Son, and the Son to them. This is above compariſon, though the Father of the Virgin give her, give his conſent, and ſo the Parents of the Son, they give their conſent. But here is God the Father who doth all, he giveth his ſon for his people, and to his people, as you have it in that place, he ſo loved the world that he gave his onelyonly begotten Ioh. 3. 16.John 3:16Son, that whoſoever believeth in him might not periſh, but might be brought in to the neareſt unity with him, might have life everlaſting, in communion with him. If thou hadſt known the gift of God, ſaith he to the woman of Samaria, and who ſaith to Ioh. 4. 10.John 4:10thee give me drink, or, And he giveth us to his Son, that is to ſay, as many as were in his purpoſe of grace, thine they were, and thou gaveſt them to me; they were thine not ſo much by Creation, for he ſpeaks of many that yet were not created, nor are Ioh. 17 9.John 17:9to this day likely, created, but in the purpoſe of grace they were h…s, and as abſolute ſoveraign over all, ſo they were his to do with them as he pleaſed, to have made them veſſels of diſhonor if he had pleaſed; as Ananias was it not thine own, mighteſt thou not have done Act. 5.Acts 5with it what thou wouldeſt? So here, we were the Fathers as Soveraign, all of us and his Chriſts, not onelyonly ſo, but in his purpoſe of grace he gave them to his Son, to be his Spouſe, his wife.

2. But yet Alas they would be under the hands of ſin and Satan inſlaved in an Iron Furnace, hard bondage, he muſt redeem them, if he will have them, they are ſold under ſin and Satan, the Prince of this world; therefore he muſt pay the price, they were obnoxious indeed to his Juſtice, or would be in time; and therefore he muſt provide a ſatisfaction or elſe they could not be ſet clear. It was the manner in ſome Countries brethen, to give Dowries for p. 42their wives, to buy them before they had them, quite contrary to what is among us, Ask me never ſo much dowry, ſaith Sechem, Gen. 34. 8, 11, 11.Gen 34:8Gen 34:11and I will give it, he was now in love with the Virgin, and nothing was too much for her now; ſo here the Lord Jeſus, as well as his Father, he before the world was, foreſaw what a happineſs it would be to poor Creatures, and what a glory and joy to himſelf, and them for ever one in another, and therefore he delights now in Prov. 1. u…t.Prov 1the habitable parts of the earth in the ſons of men. O now what ever is required I will give, if I muſt take fleſh, an infinite condeſcention, I will do it, as if a Prince ſhould ſay, if I muſt be cloathed with rags; yea with clods, yea with worms, I will, rather then I will go without ſuch a poor worm to be my ſpouſe, If I muſt part with my deareſt blood, and extend it to the laſt drop, I will; Ask me any Dowry, yea if I muſt give my ſelf for them, who am God, and equal with thee, as well as afterward man, I will do it, my kingdom for them, my glory for them, my blood for them, O Eph 5. 25.Eph 5:25brethren the Lord Jeſus is worth a hundred thouſand worlds! well he will buy us, he hath done it, at a dear rate. Indeed David bought Michal at a dear rate, by the death of the Philiſtims, and afterward two hundred foreskins of the Philiſtins, it pleaſed him well, what is this brethren: If David muſt have parted with 1 Sam. 18. 25.1 Sam 18:25his life for her, have been ſo much debaſed, as to have lived a poor deſpiſed contemptible life for her, a h…wer of wood, or drawer of water, or ground at a Mill, or to have been as Job continually, a man of ſorrows, and upon the dunghil, this had been ſomewhat, but nothing to this of Jeſus Chriſt. Satan was there ſpouſe, bought at ſo low a rate as the Church of Chriſt was. I have read of ſome that muſt not marry a woman until they had killed an enemy, and other until they had killed, or overcome their Corrivals, and happily this might be hard: But the Lord Jeſus, he muſt grapple with his Corrival the Law, the former Husband as the Apoſtle cals it, as it is the ſtrength of ſin, and ſlay that, and take away the Curſe, & break the commanding power, the ſtreaming power of the Law, before he could take us to be his. And ſo he muſt grapple Coloſ. 2. 15.Col 2:15with principalities and powers, and ſpoyl them,, and lead captivity captive, ſcatter him in his temptations, break him in his policies, undermine him in his depths and methods, over-power him, in his malice, he muſt deſtroy all theſe enemies. Yea more then all this the wrath of his father that was againſt us, and againſt p. 43which there was no ſtanding, he muſt interpoſe, and ſcreen us from it, and O! How it ſcorched him, though he quenched it! As the Paſſeover was roaſted in the fire; ſo the Lord Jeſus our Paſſeover, was even roaſted alive in the diſpleaſure of his Father.

3. Then he cometh a wooing, for when all this is done brethren, we are unwilling it may be to have him, are well contented to continue with our former Husband, to be yet under the Law, and the commanding power of ſin, and ſee no ſuch beauty in him, as to deſire him, nor any ſuch freedom and comfort in being one with him as to deſire that. Yea if we be convinced a little of this, yet happily our wills or hearts are not towards him; and therefore he is fain to w…o us, when all is done; himſelf came in the days of his fleſh, and what was his work before his ſuffering, but to wooe poor creatures to accept of him. How did he wooe the woman of Samaria, If thou hadſt known ſaith he, the Gift of God, thou wouldſt have asked him inſinuating, there was more Ioh. 4. 10.John 4:10in him then ſhe yet ſaw, as appeared when he told her her ſins, what they had been? How often would I have gathered thee, Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, ſaith he; O I have been ready to ſpread my Skirts over you, but you would not: Sometimes intreating, ſometimes lamenting their condition; ſometimes diſpleaſed at the hardneſs of their hearts. It is much for a King to come a wooing himſelf, a great King. They uſe to ſend, as David to Abigail, Abraham, to Rebecca: but here, he cometh himſelf a long journey, from Heaven to Earth, and contented to take on him the form of a ſervant, that we might not be dazled with his glory, and no pains doth he refuſe. How did he go up and down on foot until he was weary? Bleſſed Saviour, he was weary at the well there by Samaria, and all was that he might everywhere wooe and intreat poor creatures to accept of him. And 2: not onelyonly by himſelf, but by his Meſſengers, now he is in his glory: now he ſends by his Meſſengers to this end. You ſee Abraham his ſervant went to take a wife for Iſaac, and David his ſervants, went to Abigail. So brethren, do the Meſſengers of Jeſus Chriſt his paranymphs or pronubi. They ſpeak now a good word for Jeſus Chriſt; ſo 2 Cor. 11 2.2 Cor 11:2the Apoſtle, I have eſpouſed you ſaith he to one Husband. Such are friends of the Bridegoom, as John was, that did what he could to Ioh. 3. 29.John 3:29bring the people to Jeſus Chriſt, even the people of the Jews, and would fain have had all the people to cloſe with him. But

p. 444. In this eſpouſal to Jeſus Chriſt, we are to conſider ſeveral things, what is done 1. By the ſpirit, he is indeed the great wooer, He is ſent forth to convince of righteouſneſs and of ſin, the burthen of the work lyes upon the Spirit, and happy it is for us that it doth ſo, for how fruitleſs would our endeavours be to you, elſe brethren, we might ſpend our ſelves, and be ſpent, and when all is done complain, We have ſpent our ſtrength in vain, for Iſrael is not gathered, How ſad for you? How uncomfortable for us? No no, the great perſwader is the Spirit: he cometh and he openeth the eyes, and then the poor ſoul ſeeth, O he is aere alieno obrutu…, ſo deep indebted to the Juſtice of God, that whatever he can do or ſuffer to pay it, eternity is little enough to pay it in, O now for a Husband, now how happy a creature ſhould I be if ſome that were able to bear the debt would diſcharge it, would take it up for her. He then inſinuates ſomewhat further, and convinceth of Righteouſneſs, that there is enough in Chriſt if we owed a thouſand Talents more, O then that I had it ſaith the poor ſoul: O he is willing, he is willing ſaith the Spirit; therefore he is Preached to every creature. Thus if this Arm of the Lord were not revealed, our report of Chriſt would never be believed. But what Iſa. 53. 1.Isa 53:1then do the Miniſters do?

Yea their word, the word of Faith which they preach, it is the vehiculum Spiritus. It is that wherein the Spirit breatheth. It is the ſpirit brethren, ordinarily in the Law which convinceth of ſin, or the Goſpel preached legally, as the great aggravation of mens ſins; and it is the ſpirit in the Goſpel preached Evangelically as that which holds forth a ranſom, a propitiation for ſinners, whereby the Spirit convinceth of righteouſneſs. Where, as in a glaſs the Spirit of Chriſt doth hold out The beauty, excellency, 2 Cor. 3. 18.2 Cor 3:18love, and lovelineſs of the Lord Jeſus, which is moſt tranſcendent and raviſhing to the ſoul that ſeeth it, but a little more particularly then.

1. The Spirit by their word ordinarily, not excluding other means, though the Spirit alway is the great wooer, and worker in this kind. I ſay the Spirit, by their word doth work to the revealing of a poor creature, breaking that enmity that was in the heart to Jeſus Chriſt: So the Apoſtle, I have eſpouſed you to 2 C…. 11. 2.one Husband, ſo we read it, which Beza diſalloweth not, but he readeth optavi, Eraſmus adjunxi, the word is foreign I p. 45have joyned them to the Lord ſaith he, Eraſ. vel…t ea quae glutine aut ferrumine comittuntur, but yet me thinks, ſaith Beza, the the word foreign that I might preſent you as a pure virgin to one Husband, &c. confutes is, ſpeaking afterward of a nearer joyning to Chriſt then now, therefore he readeth it I have fitted you for the Lord, wherein

1. Is a reconciling of the perſons to Jeſus Chriſt. We beſeech 2 Cor. 5. 10.2 Cor 5:10you ſaith the Apoſtle, be ye reconciled to God. In Chriſts ſtead we do it, as if he did beſeech you himſelf, we pray you be reconciled and O that we could do this brethren! but with ſuch bowels as the Lord Jeſus, or as this Apoſtle did. We are ſoon anſwered, and take a denyal of you for you practice a denyal, and we are too eaſie to take it. O I beſeech you ſaith the Apoſtle, be you reconciled. Alas poor ſinners, you are enemies to Chriſt, and how will an enemy be marryed to an enemy while ſuch, you think you are not enemies, and you are not ſo indeed, in word, and profeſſion; but in your deeds you are enemies. You do nothing but wound and tear his name, and are you not then enemies, you hate the ſtrictneſs of his ways, and his people that walk in them, and are you not enemies; you are in love with your ſins, which were the very ſpeare at his heart the knife that butchered him, and are not enemies? Ah! how many ſuch here this day, Now our work is to intreat you firſt to be reconciled, as for his part he is ready to forgive, and forget all, and to look upon you, as if you had never had offended him, if you had but hearts given you towards him as his is towards you.

2. Not onelyonly, but then there is the eſpouſing brethren, and that is when there is a mutual promiſe paſt between the Lord Jeſus and the ſoul, he will be a Husband to thee, and marry thee to himſelf, and thou wilt be faithful to him, wilt never follow other lovers any more, Thou wilt be his, and his alone, if he be pleaſed to be thine. Now the Goſpel which we preach is the word of this faith. It is indeed the ſpirit brethren, which is received by the hearing Gal. 3 2.Gal 3:2of faith, by the word of faith, as the Apoſtle ſpake, that doth perſwade a ſoul to this, to cloſe with him, to take him, upon his own terms. He will be his virgin now for ever.

3. There is yet further an adorning her, when ſo eſpouſed, and ſo fitting her for him to be preſented him a pure virgin. That I might preſent you, not only chaſte, but all manner of purity, foreign p. 46and this is nothing elſe brethren, but the integrity and uprightneſs of the ſoul, the abounding of the ſoul with all the graces of the ſpirit, wherein there is a growth by degrees. And this is the work of the ſervants of Jeſus Chriſt, a part of their fitting of them for him To labour, to carry on his work ſo in his peoples hearts, that they may be adorned and meet for ſuch a Bride-groom.

There are but two things more to be hinted, before I come to the Application of this. And the next is The manner of this eſpouſing or betrothing, but before that we muſt note, That as there was a betrothing of virgins ſome time, before the compleating of the marriage which cuſtom is commendable, you know Joſeph had Mary eſpouſed to him, before he took her to his family, as compleatly Mat. 1. 14.Matt 1:14and fully. So among the Heathens, alſo placuit deſpondi nuptiis hic dictus eſt dies, ſaith the Comic. Terent. only to the faith of the marriage. Now they were counted by the people of God, and by the Law, man and wife, Husband and wife (*). It was Deut. 22. 23. Lat. Alex. Gen. Dier. l. 2. Page 58. One promiſing another, were called Sponſus & Sponſa.Deut 22:23death for them to violate that betrothing as well as if they had been never ſo compleatly and ſolemnly marryed, whereby it appears God would have them look upon it as a perfect marriage, though the conſummation of it were not until afterward the taking of her home, and ſolemnly engaging de preſenti as they ſay. So here, the conſummation of this marriage is deferred a while, as you have it in the very Text at laſt, at midnight the cry was, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, that is to ſay into heaven. Then when Iſaac took Rebecca and brought her into his Mothers Tent, and became one with her more neerly, ſhe became his wife indeed ſo hereafter, when he takes us into his fathers houſe brethren, when he takes us into Heaven, there is the marriage conſummated indeed.

But for the manner of his eſpouſals, Firſt, remember this in all He doth it freely. For alas Brethren, what can the Lord Jeſus, Ezek. 16. Not great, Deut. 7. 7. Nor good, Joſ. 24. 23. they were Idolaters.Ezek 16Deut 7:7Josh 24:23now if he come into the Congregation this day, ſee in any of us that he would take for his ſpouſe, what can he ſee in us, there is nothing deſireable nor lovely in us, we are like poor Infants caſt out in our blood; not waſhed, nor ſalted, but ſtinking, loathſom, the navel not cut nor bound up, caſt out to the loathing of our perſon. Ah Brethren! while poor ſinners are in their ſins, they ſmell not p. 47So 1 Sam. 12. 22.1 Sam 12:22the loathſomneſs of their ſouls, they have ſtinking noſtrils, to which the ſavour of ſin is ſuitable; and therefore they ſmell it not, we are as perſons that have been long in a filthy Jakes or Dungeon, and by continuance of it, we feel it not, it is ſo habitual, or indeed connatural to us, but now bring a man out of this place, a little while, and put him into it again, O then how loathſom it is to him, yea, bring him to the door of it, O it is ready to ſink him, ſo it is in this caſe, you ſee it not, poor creatures, O that ſuch of us, as the Lord hath made ſin loathſom to, could tell how to pitty you, but ſure you will finde it ſo, if ever the Lord Jeſus do eſpouſe you, he will firſt let you know what you are, to whom he doth this, Alas, what can he ſee in us brethren, or hath he ſeen in any of us, that he ſtands in this relation to, for birth, you have nothing but baſeneſs, The Devil is our Father, and his works we will do. I mean as to corruption that is within us, whence is it, Ioh. 8. 44.John 8:44but from Satan. For Beauty, there is none, but all deformed wounds, and bruiſes, and putrified ſores, full of corruption, that ſtink and are loathſom, and what beauty can there be in ſuch a Iſa. 1. 6.Isa 1:6perſon. Alas! our hands are withered, as to any thing that is good, and our Legs are Lame throug Hypocriſie, we halt between two, we are very Criples indeed; no ſtrength, not ſo much in our Ankle-bones as to ſtand upon our Legs. We are blinde and cannot ſee, deaf and cannot hear, pride like a Tympany ſwells us. All manner of deformities gathered into one are the very picture of a poor ſinner, O brethren, who could affect ſuch a creature were not this free, altogether free. We muſt have ſomething or elſe we cannot take a perſon into ſuch a relation. we muſt have beauty and parts, and birth, and wealth, and wiſdom and what not. we are blacker then Ethiopians, more bruitiſh then fools, viler then the earth, poor and naked and miſerable, and what not, and O that ever the Lord Jeſus ſhould take ſuch as we are, in ſuch a condition, well this is the firſt.

2. He doth it ſo willingly as to rejoyce in it: It may be it may make a man more ſerious and Melancholly, in ſuch a condition, if he be ſenſible of the weight of the things he goeth about, but now the Lord Jeſus knowing the iſſues of things, and that it will be eternally happy for the poor ſoul, and he ſhall have glory in it; he doth it, and not onelyonly ſo, but he rejoyceth in it, even …s a Bride-groom rejoyceth over his Bride, as the Prophet hath it. The p. 48Iſa. 62. 5.Isa 62:5words of the Text are very Emphatical, as a young man marryeth a virgin, ſo ſhall thy ſons marry Thee, he ſpeaks of the Church Neh. 13. 24. Mar…e…h, that is to ſay, made to dwell.Neh 13:24of the Jews their ſons, ſhall abide with her, as one that marrieth another, and dwells with her, and they ſhall not be removed: but a young man marryeth a virgin, a choſen young man, the freely choſen foreign happily becauſe they uſed to chooſe young men for expl…its in war, or otherwiſe as being of more ſtrength and activity, ſuch an one marrying a virgin, not an old man, a virgin, nor a young man marrying a widow or Ancient woman; but a young man, a virgin, ſo an old man, an old woman, the reaſon of it is that hereby God might ſet forth how every way (there being a ſuitableneſs to give full content and ſatisfaction) he rejoyceth therefore over his people he thus eſpouſeth as a young man over his virgin, his Bride that he marryeth; therefore ſhe is called Hephſibah, my delight is in her, and Beulah, ſhe is marryed. And this, if it be not full enough, take another place, and it is that of Zeph, where he prophecyeth in like manner of the reſtoring of Jeruſalem, and Gods taking her again after ſhe was put away, as it were, the Zeph. 3. 17.Zeph 3:17Lord thy God in the midſt of thee is mighty, he will ſave, he will rejoyce over thee with joy, he will reſt in his love he will joy over thee with ſinging. Minde you, he will rejoyce over thee with joy, that is to ſay, exceedingly rejoyce, as in another caſe the friend of the Bridegroom, rejoyceth with joy foreign he rejoyceth with joy, that is to ſay GREATLY, yea he will reſt in his love, he is fully ſatisfied and contented, yea rejoyceth with ſinging, an outward expreſſion of it. How many expreſſions are here whereby he would have us know the largeneſs of his heart towards us in this his eſpouſing any of us to himſelf, and Alas! all little enough to poor trembling ſouls, to raiſe a drooping ſpirit to believe any thing of this kind, and it is not onelyonly a flaſhy ungrounded empty joy, but he will rejoyce over ſuch a ſoul to do them good, I will rejoyce over them to do them good, as if he had ſaid it is the very joy Ier. 32. 41.Jer 32:41and rejoycing of my heart to do you good. Though you think happily that Jeſus Chriſt is hard to be intreated, and you have ſought him long, &c. and you finde little, O entertain not ſuch Deut. 30. Pſal. 35. 27.Deut 30Ps 35:27thoughts, for ſurely he doth rejoyce over his people to do them good; but ſo much for that.

3. He doth it brethren; ſo firmly in every respect to all after-claps, being provided for, it ſhall never be broken, There is many p. 49Iſa. 65. 18, 19.Isa 65:18Isa 65:19a man, eſpouſeth a wife, and happily through weakneſs of the diſpoſition, or ſome diſeaſe, or the like, which afterwards being diſcovered, procures a diſreliſh, and happily breaks all or the like, but I will a little inſiſt upon this becauſe it is very conſiderable, and therefore.

1. The Lord Jeſus he doth it in ſuch a way, as that ſure he will be, that Juſtice ſhall be ſatisfied to the utmoſt in the behalf of a ſoul, whatever the debts brethren have been if 10000 Talents, whatever the offences have been, you have been guilty of; which happily Rom. 3. 25, 26Rom 3:25Rom 3:26may lie ſore upon you: O you are afraid of the juſtice of God, he is juſt and dreadful, and though he may forbear me for a while, thinketh the poor doubting ſoul; yet he may afterward come upon me for all, and what will become of me then? no, the Lord Jeſus he hath before-hand ſatisfyed all that can be demanded, he hath paid to the uttermoſt for them, being a Saviour to the utmoſt, all the black and bloody bills chargeable upon thee, were charged upon him. It is true indeed hrethren, if this contract or eſpouſal between Chriſt and the ſoul; were made without proviſion of ſatisfaction to juſtice, he might come UPON THE SOUL AFTERWARDS and break and undo all again, but our Saviour is wiſer in his negotiations then ſo: he hath firſt cleared all as to the merit; and having taken ſatisfaction in his ſon, and given him an acquittance, being well pleaſed in the Lord Jeſus, he cannot now again return upon thee for arrearages, that is a great and rich Scripture indeeed, he came to be a propitiation then through faith in his blood, that God might be juſt, the juſtifier of them that believe, that he might be juſtifier, and yet ſo as himſelf be juſt, Rom. 3. 23.Rom 3:23not onelyonly in fulfilling his promiſes of Chriſt his coming; but be juſt, that is to ſay, his juſtice fully ſatisfied, and yet his infinite mercy take place.

2. That he is real in what he doth, he doth not mock and delude poor creatures, indeed a man that is variable, and changeable as the ſhadow, he may make a ſhew of much love, and carry on a Match far, and when all cometh to all, caſt her off; and take up other reſolutions; but the Lord Jeſus, ſurely he is real in what he doth: indeed God hath much ado with us many times to perſwade us to this, that he meaneth as he ſaith, and we ſhall finde him full as good as his word and his offers, becauſe alas! we judge him by her own unconſtancy, becauſe our hearts are ſo hollow, p. 50we think his may be alſo, but remember his thoughts are above our thoughts, and his ways above ours, ſaith the Lord I will betroth Iſa. 55. 8.Isa 55:8thee unto me, I will betroth thee to me, and again the third time he repeateth it, I will, I will, I will, as the ſoul is ready to ſay, O Hoſ 2▪ 19, 20.Hos 2:19Hos 2:20O ſure he will not look upon me, ſuch a one as I! yea I will, I will ſaith he; yea notwithſtanding all your miſ-doings, I will, your unkindneſſes I will, your jealouſies of me, I will, your back-ſliding, I will betroth thee to me.

3. It is done with that wiſdom and Council, that it will never be overthrown. Counſel is ſo called from a word ſignifying to Found, becauſe it is the foundation of actions, that which is done raſhly, and unadviſedly many times, men are fain to come off with a non putaram, to retreat with ſhame, or when through weakneſs they cannot ſee through▪ things. Now this is not to be thought of Jeſus Chriſt Brethren, for he is the wonderful Counſeller, Iſ…. 9.the wiſe God, a God of underſtanding and wiſdom, and, by him actions are weighed, yea his own actions are weighed: his 1 Sam. 2, 3. D…u… ▪ 32. 4.1 Sam 2:3choice of ſome perſons, to life and glory, it is the counſel of his will, not onelyonly his will, but the counſel of his will; he doth it with ſuch wiſdom as foreſeeth all the events. It was not a raſh thing that God brought Iſrael into the Land of Canaan, no he did it with Counſel; and therefore he ſaith that he knew what they would do Deut 3. 1. 21.Deut 3:1Deut 3:21before hand. Ah! (may a poor ſoul think,) the Lord Jeſus indeed hath made love to me, but did he think, I would be ſuch a wretch under all this his love: I would carry ſo unkindly towards him; yea, he knew this, and conſidered it before hand. He did ſit down brethren, & from eternity conſider what it would coſt him, the bringing of ſuch ſinners as thou art to glory, that many a grief, he muſt have, many a ſlighting of his love, many a kick in his very bowels, Jeruſalem would wax fat and kick againſt him, he Deut. 32. 15.Deut 32:15knew this, and yet notwithſtanding he reſolved upon it, he would go through with his work, if he could not have born theſe things brethren and covered them, he would not have made love to us, if he could not have taken us with all our weakneſs and imperfections, for he would undertake nothing that he could not bring to paſs, that were weakneſs; therefore he is ſaid to do it in judgement alſo.

4. It is with that faithfulneſs, that the Lord Jeſus will not onelyonly not c…ſt off, when once he hath taken a ſoul ſo near him in this relation, p. 51but his heart being once pitched, it is never removed more, it is not with him as it is with men, for however when once we have betrothed perſons, we are ingaged by the Law of God to take them, and our Conſciences do bind us, though it may be, between the eſpouſal and marriage; though there be not a caſting off, yet there may ſomething intervene, that may carry away the heart, ſo that the heart is not ſo towards her as before, and the perſon could be content to be looſe, if it were not that he is intangled i Mal. 2. 16. He hate… puting away among men. Hoſ. 2. 19.Mal 2:16Hos 2:19ſuch …ands, he cannot break, but now it is otherwiſe with the Lord Jeſus, his heart if once pitched, is never removed more, if he loveth, he loveth to the end. It is for ever that he betrotheth, when he betrotheth. Alas! there is little comfort, or ſweetneſs in injoyment of ſuch near relations, if their hearts be not towards one another. It is true they may live together and do duties one toward another outwardly, but if the heart be gone, there is little comfort in it, ſo it cannot be with Jeſus Chriſt, He may indeed ſometimes ſuſpend the outward acts if I may call it ſo, and withhold himſelf ſometimes, and not give that free communion of himſelf to the ſoul, but yet his heart all that while, is never the further off, his heart is never gone, which is indeed, all in all. One of the Churches eyes at any time will raviſh his heart Cant. 4. 9.Song 4:9that he cannot well hold longer, from revealing himſelf again to the ſoul, after he hath withdrawn.

5. For after-ſinnings there is alſo a treaſury of pardoning mercy laid up, there is a treaſury of Merit which he hath expended to purchaſe mercy for us, which is alway before the father, not only Pſal 130. 4. There is forgiveneſs with thee, &c. Heb 9. 24.Ps 130:4Heb 9:24for the ſins paſt, before we believed, but for all after, ſince the pardon is purchaſed already, though it be not applyed, nor the ſins pardoned before they be committed, yet there is forgiveneſs with God, there it is, and ready to be iſſued forth, as occaſion ſerveth: And he himſelf at the right hand of the father continually i…eceding for the Application of it. Whereby he is able to ſave us to the uttermoſt. Brethren if we could ſay thus far, or thus far he Heb 7. 25.Heb 7:25can help and ſave, and there is forgiveneſs indeed, our hearts might fail us, but it is to the uttermoſt, to all perfections, or all end, foreign And yet let not graceleſs ſinners abuſe this, but rather fear him ſo much the more, there is forgiveneſs with thee, that thou mayſt be feared, not that we may wax wanton under it.

p. 52Againe, on the other hand. He maketh the ſoul alſo to cloſe with him, and give it ſelf up conſiderately and in truth ſincerely.

Firſt, Conſiderately and not raſhly the ſoul giveth it ſelf to Jeſus Chriſt, promiſeth to be his: the love of J. Chriſt Conſtraineth us becauſe 2 Cor. 5. 14.2 Cor 5:14we thus judge if one dyed, then were all dead. It is the act of the judgement, convinced, that Jeſus Chriſt is the chief of ten thouſand, that he is onelyonly lovely, altogether lovely, of our neceſſity of him, of his all-ſufficiency to anſwer our wants, and onelyonly ſufficiency, his willingneſs to accept of us. No depth of earth, no judgement, no rooting, in it ſelf, Mat. 13. There is many a poor creature for a flaſh, a ſudden motion, hath ſome velleities, ſome wiſhings and wouldings, but this is a ſerious and judicious cloſing with him, promiſing to be his, to take him for better for worſe, to go through with him in all conditions, if he go to priſon, to go with him, to death, to go with him. And he only can work up the heart to this.

Then ſecondly, It is in ſincerity as well as thus judiciouſly, he loveth truth in the inward parts; and therefore looks at the heart Pſal. 51. 6.Ps 51:6more then at the outward. Alas! how often did Iſrael turn to the Lord, but fainedly, not ſincerely. But now the Lord, his people indeed give up themſelves to him cordially, though it be Ier. 30. 10.Jer 30:10but weak, yet it is in truth their reſignation of themſelves to him, and taking him for theirs, not for by-ends, or reports, but for himſelf, not for riches, honours, a name, any thing; but for himſelf, no not onelyonly for peace, but for himſelf who is the Prince of peace, no nor meerly, for the grace and glory which cometh by him, but for himſelf. To love a man, and chooſe him meerly for his wealth, or his honor, which a woman ſhall have by him, it is falſe and diſſembling, ſhe loveth him not indeed: no, it is the perſon that ſhe would have, if it be in truth, let the other accompliſhments be leſs or greater, ſo the ſoul, O thy ſelf, thy ſelf, give me Chriſt Gen. 30.Gen 30or elſe I dye, What wilt thou give me if I go Chriſt leſs, wilt thou give me a name, riches, a portion in this world, a fellowſhip with thy people in the Ordinances, yea grace it ſelf, if it may be given without Chriſt, O none but him, none but him. Well, thus now thy Lord works a poor ſoul to cloſe with him, ſo that chooſing Chriſt for himſelf; while we have him, we are well enough. If a man follow him for Loaves, when they ceaſe, farewell Chriſt; or p. 53for riches, or proſperity, when that ceaſeth all is gon: They will not go to priſon with him, they will not ſuffer with him, no they never intended it, but to have ſuch a Chriſt as to be kept from thoſe things. Well, this is not ſincere, nor upwright, which is wrought, in every heart, whom the Lord doth thus eſpouſe to himſelf, which may ſerve for a word of tryal to us all.

I have onelyonly a word to ſpeak to the ſolemnity of the Marriage-Feaſt: you ſee Marriages uſed to be made with feaſting, it being a time of rejoycing, ſo Sampſon he made a Feaſt ſeven days, that Judg. 14. 10.Judg 14:10was the manner it ſeemeth, and ſo Laban ſaith to Jacob, fulfil her week, the ſolemnity of the Marriage. And our Saviour himſelf Gen 29. 22.Gen 29:22was at a marriage-feaſt, at the firſt miracle that he wrought. And though this feaſt it ſeems, was rather at the compleat marriage then the eſpouſal, yet this Feaſt is at his eſpouſal, and continueth until the conſummation; and yet a greater feaſt to be expected. Ioh, 2. 1. 10.The Kingdom of Heaven ſaith our Saviour, is like a King that Mat. 2…. 3. 4.Matt 2:3Matt 2:4made a Marriage-Feaſt for his ſon, and bid the Gueſts. Here he ſpeaks. (I take it) of the adminiſtrations of grace in the viſible Church of Chriſt, for one was there that had not a wedding-garment. O Brethren, A Feaſt of Fat things, of Wines on the Lees, well refined, a Feaſt the Lord maketh, ſaith the Prophet. Their Iſa. 25. 6.Isa 25:6Feaſts were rather in drinking, then eating; and therefore they had their name in Hebrew foreign A drinking, a Feaſt, ſo Ahaſuerus feaſt, a drinking. And ſo the Greek foreign a drinking Eſt. 1. 3.Esth 1:3together; ſo here brethen, ſuch dainties are provided as eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, nor can enter into the heart of man, as a man that never taſted hony, though he may hear ſpeaking of it, cannot conceive what it is. Eat my friends, and drink ye, yea drink abundantly ſaith he in the ſong. It is obſerved by ſome, that Matthew calls it a dinner, and Luke calls it a ſupper, both Cant. 5. 1.Song 5:1indeed, for we dine and ſup with him, and he with us in the Adminiſtrations of his grace, and thoſe ſweet communions that Mat. 22. 4. Luke 14. 16.Matt 22:4Luke 14:16we have with him, while he ſitteth with us at the Table, as not long ſince you heard. Yea we have continually brethren ſuch as are believers indeed have continual meat at his Table, as Mephiboſheth at David his Table, a dayly portion the 2 Sam. 9. 7.2 Sam 9:7things of the day in its day, ſo we our daily refreſhings from his preſence, ſo Jeconiah had his portio…n from the Kings Table dayly. Some ſay the dinner is here but the ſupper in Heaven, and this not comparable to that, now we have flagons, but there will be p. 54ſprings and Rivers, or rather an Ocean of wine to all eternity, here we drink and take in the comfort, there the comfort takes in us, we enter into the joy, becauſe it cannot enter into us. O bleſſed is he that ſhall be brought brethren to the ſupper of the Lamb forever and forever.

Laſtly, The conſummation of this marriage, when the Bridegroom cometh, to take his Bride to himſelf, to take her now from among the pots, wherein ſhe hath lien; to take her now nearer to himſelf, to his boſom indeed, now ſhe hath had ſome ſmiles from him, to keep the heart alive, now and then a Kiſs, but then continual embraces. Now and then he hath met with her, here and there, and then withdraw again, but then we ſhall be alway in the glorious light of his countenance. O Brethren! If a ſmile from Jeſus Chriſt will ſweeten the bittereſt cup of Affliction here below; yea, very gall and wormwood, it will ſweeten the mouth and fill us with comfort: what will it be then, when nothing but pouring out of love upon the ſoul to eternity? and when there ſhall be no bitterneſs at all to abate it, and no mixture, no interruption, no fear of loſing that ſweet and raviſhing communion with him: Oh heaven will be Heaven indeed! But ſo much for the Doctrinal part.

Now for the Application.

Firſt then I pray you let us be more ſerious in taking notice of the Ʋſe. 1.great tranſcendent love of Jeſus Chriſt, to ſuch as we are; that we ſhould be made a ſpouſe to him. O brethren what condeſcention is this, he being ſo high, and we ſo low, ſuch poor abject creatures. Alas, conception fails us brethren, compariſon fails us, for there is no proportion between an infinitely glorious God, and vile duſt and aſhes. Who regardeth a drop of a Bucket, or theduſt of the ballance, they are poor contemptible things, who deſireth a poor worm, or an Ant, every one, trampleth them underfoot, and thinketh he doth them no wrong, though he never gave them no being; alas brethren, we that are leſs then nothing, in compariſon of him, that he ſhould ſet his love upon us, and become eſpouſed to himſelf, how ſhall we conceive of it, much leſs ſpeak of it. You would think it much for one of you brethren, one of us to have our hearts drawn out thus to a poor abject forlorn maid, lying in the ſtreet, that we muſt take her to a nearer relation, to a boſom-communion and fellowſhip, this were ſtrange, but for a …rince to do ſo, is yet more ſtrange; but all is nothing to this of the Lord p. 55Jeſus to our ſouls. It was Condeſcention for the Cedar to marry 2 King. 14. 9.2 Kgs 14:9the Thiſtle. as it was ambition for the Thiſtle to ſeek to the Cedar, O ſuch thoughts, if they riſe, they are even ſtifled, in the very birth! A begger will not fall in love with a King, ſhe thinketh it is impoſſible to compaſs it, there is no hope; and therefore no deſire: and truly I think it is as rare for a King to fall in love with a begger, he is ſo far above her, and hath objects more ſuitable to himſelf to ſet his love upon, ſo that it would be one of the wonders of the world, if ſuch a thing ſhould be, why brethren much more then this, is acted dayly; while the Lord Jeſus the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, maketh love to ſuch poor worms as we are, and yet it is not wondered at. It is true, we think our ſelves ſomething; and therefore we are the leſs taken with it. Tell a Phariſee how great Condeſcention it is, for the God of Heaven to ſet his love upon his ſoul, he believeth no ſuch things, nor the Papiſts neither; Nor many a poor hypocrite: Alas, they think they have ſomewhat that deſerveth him, I, ſome beauty is in us, that the Lord ſaw; and ſo it was meet for him to lay out his love upon us, proud wretches that we are; it is well we have an infinitely condeſcending love, yea and powerful that can overcome our pride, and ſwallow it up, and love not onelyonly poor creatures, nothing-creatures, but ſuch as falſly ſuppoſe themſelves ſomewhat, when they are nothing, elſe what would become of many of us. Well, ſure it is becauſe we know not our ſelves, or know not what this love means; elſe we ſhould all of us eaſily ſubſcribe to this.

2. That he would be at ſuch a price for ſuch, for alas brethren … who would lay down his life, almoſt for the cho ceſt of perſons; though ſome, in an Agony of Paſſion, and diſcontent, have made themſelves away for them, they have doated upon, yet here was ſome proportion between the perſons loving, and loved; yea happily the perſon loved, might be the more eminent perſon; and therefore might ſtand off and a man when he doth this, alas he is beloved himſelf; he is wrapt by the violence of his paſſion out of his choice, his underſtanding and judgement dethroned, and then the Affections like wild horſes: O whither will they not hurry a man, but in ſuch a caſe, a man is not a man; but now in ſobriety of minde conſider it, and who would lay down their lives and dye for the obtaining the rareſt creature in the world for a p. 56ſpouſe, ſurely none, O no: Skin for skin ſaith the Devil, and though a man imagine more to be in what he hath never injoyed then he findeth by experience in what he hath had the flower and cream of, yet notwithſtanding if a man be himſelf, he will prize his life above all; but if he would dye, would he dye a moſt ſhameful death? to have his life taken away by the moſt violent deſtructions and convulſions of minde ſo ſtrongly working upon the body, as to moulder it away by degrees; ſurely hardly any man would ever venture in ſuch a caſe as this. Alas! What is this? to what the Lord Jeſus hath willingly undertaken for worms, what man would dye for a worm, that it might live, and he might have it put in his boſom, or rather would be contented to …ay down his body, take up the form of a worm, and therein dye the moſt miſerable death, that he might have worms ſaved from death, and be his neareſt relations for ever: O doth not this tranſcend the love of Angels, brethren, Alas! what is this to what Jeſus Chriſt hath paid for poor worms, at the beſt, ſinful duſt and aſhes, and that we might live, and live in union and fellowſhip with himſelfe for ever; Ah Brethren, if God would but make us ſenſible what we are at the worſt, and what the Lord Jeſus underwent in ſome meaſure, for apprehend it fully we cannot; but ſuch as have ever taſted what it is to ſip of the cup, may apprehend more then others, what dregs were at the bottom, a drop how doth it put the ſoul into an Agony, upon the rack that thou wouldſt chooſe death rather then life, O what then was the whole cup brethren? that he ſhould undergo this: and ſhould with his moſt precious blood be willing to purchaſe ſuch poor abjects, forlorn Creatures, to be a ſpouſe to him; yea, with his blood drawn from him, through the very pores of the body, by the very diſtractions of his ſoul, and wreſ…ling with wrath: O was there ever grief like this, that the father put him to, and was there ever love like this brethren? O that we had hearts indeed to admire it!

3. That after all this is done, he ſhould be at ſuch pains to bring us to himſelf, to wooe us, to come himſelf, to ſend us his meſſengers, to ſtrive with us by his Spirit: as you know he ſtrivd long with the old world, and ſtrived long with the Iſraelites in the wilderneſs: and many of our ſouls can ſay it by experience, he hath ſtriven long with us by his ſpirit, when we have been convinced, our ways have been folly, and miſery; and yet we would not yield: p. 57how hath he followed us up and down with motions of his ſpirit, and waited to be gracious, and all, but to have our conſent to take him for ours. Dear friends, who are we, that the Lord Jeſus ſhould thus ambire, make ſo much ado with us, to have our conſent to take him, to accept of him for a Husband. O what deſperate enmity is in our hearts againſt him, that there muſt be ſo much ado to overcome it. You would think that poor begger either a very crooked croſs piece, full of bitter hatred againſt a Prince or Noble-man, that ſues to her with all the intreaties that can be, ſends meſſenger after meſſenger, cometh himſelf and beſeecheth her to accept of him; and yet ſhe will not: no, is ſhe well, where ſhe is deſireth not, either you will ſay, ſhe believeth not what he ſaith, that it is in reality, it will not enter into her heart to think he is real, he is ſo far above her; though he tell her he knew that, is ſenſible of it; yet maketh love to her, meerly becauſe he will, and his heart is towards her, not for any thing in her ſelf, ſhe believeth not; or elſe that ſhe is a deſperate enemy and hater of ſuch a Noble-man, and would rather periſh there, or languiſh in ſuch a condition as an abject, then accept of him: O this is the condition of many of us, brethren, ſome poor deject dunbelieving ſouls; alas! their hearts, even fail within them to hear that J. Chriſt ſhould make love to them, O it canot be ſure to ſuch a worm, ſuch a wretch, ſo poor, ſo filthy, ſo full of rags & vermin, ſo full of ſores and wounds, full deeply indebted, ſo deformed and loathſom every way: O they know not how to receive this. Others they are even ſtout and proud, and care no more for theſe things, then if Jeſus Chriſt had ſaid nothing at all; as for them, they are well enough, if he will let them alone; they deſire not to mend their conditions, by cloſing with him. Now brethren, to both theſe how doth the Lord Jeſus apply himſelf: Never were there more powerful Arguments uſed, and never more powerfully preſt, then he preſſeth them, and that with more diligence, and patient waiting upon us, and O what love, what manner of love, is this that all this floweth from!

A little to touch upou each of them, brethren, happily the Lord may be pleaſed to breath in them to ſome poor ſoul, and as he doth at other times thus: ſo this day, brethren: Even to you, he is pleading with you for this very end, that ſome poor ſinners would be perſwaded to cloſe with him.

p. 58Firſt then, The Arguments are the moſt preſſing, that we are capable of indeed: For he ſetteth before us Life, and Death; life, if we cloſe with him; death if we refuſe him, reject him. It is not a thing wherein we may chooſe or refuſe, and no wrong to our ſouls; no brethren, but he tells us, let our condition be what it will, be we as dead as we may; if we cloſe with him, we ſhall be quickned, there is warmth enough in his boſom to revive us; there are ſpirits enough in his love, to fetch us again. O we ſhall live; condemnation ſhall be taken away, for there is no condemnation to them that are in Jeſus Chriſt, our bolts and ſhakles ſhall be removed, the obligations of our ſouls to the Juſtice of God, it ſhall ceaſe,: O brethren, here is the caſe now, a poor condemned woman ready to periſh, the Prince hath ſo much compaſſion on her, that he intreats her but to accept of him, to be eſpouſed to him; promiſe him marriage, if ſo: he will pardon all that is paſt, ſhe ſhall have her life, Is not this a preſſing Argument… doubtleſs it is, to ſuch a one as this, when death is even preſent to her, before her face, is ready to be turned off the Ladder, and now, an offer cometh, O if you will but Marry the Prince you ſhall be ſaved, though before ſhe refuſed, and the Argument had not ſuch force in it, becauſe the thing was at a diſtance, yet now you would think her deſperate indeed, that ſhould refuſe it. So brethren, the Lord Jeſus he doth at other times; yea, and when the ſoul is as it were on the wrack; upon the Ladder, under ſtrong convictions, the Sentence is received, and it is even going forth to execution, O now here is life and death before thee, wilt thou now marry me, be a ſpouſe to me, ſaith the Prince, the Lord Jeſus, the King of Kings? Are not theſe preſſing Arguments.

2. Again, another he uſeth is his precious blood, that he hath not thought too dear for us: O brethren, when he beſeecheth us by ſuch an Argument as this is, by the Mercies of God, as the Apoſtle hath it, will it not turn all that is within us to him? If a man though but inferior to a woman, ſhould ſhew ſo much love, as to expoſe his life, to hazard for her, would it not be ſtrong a Argument when he cometh to wooe her, O remember my life, my blood is not dear to me, that it may go well with you, will not this move her, theres a heart of ſtone, it muſt needs be ſo? Why truly brother this is the Argument every time that you have Jeſus Chriſt held out Crucified before your faces, O do you not hear, how every p. 59wound ſpeaks to you, as well as for you to the Father. O ſinners why are your hearts no more towards me, have I not dyed for you, my blood, my life was not dear to me, for your ſakes, If you will not believe me, Behold my hands and my feet, yea, my ſides and my heart, look upon me in the Garden, trace me there, where it trickled down my weary body, and ſee how I have loved you: and will you ſtill refuſe me, will you ſtill think that my heart is not towards you, or ſhall your hearts not yet be towards me? Yea, have I not been willing to loſe, the light of my fathers countenance, to be under a defection, to be eclipſed, for you, which was ſo much the purer, though nothing ſo dear to me as his love, and it were upon me in the greateſt heat and glory, and my heart moſt affected with it; yet to ſuffer an eclipſe for you, and will you not cloſe with me, will you not be perſwaded?

3. Again, once more in the moſt preſſing manner, and powerful, he followeth us up and down with theſe Arguments. O, with what bowels, how do they y…rn over us every ſtep he followeth us, O why will you dye, why will you endure the everlaſting chains, to pay the uttermoſt; further, when I offer you my merits, my ſatisfaction for all your debts. Look upon him weeping over Jeruſalem; O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, O with what affection, that is the edge indeed of an invitation! O if he were now Preaching to you, I believe brethren, he would do it with bowels. And ſo did Paul, that Saint in whom grace did ſo abound, and to him, O he warned them day and night with tears. O why will ye dye: will ye not believe, will you not cloſe with me, can you find in your hearts to ſlight me, ſet light by my love, that is ſo drawn out towards you, O what love is here brethren!

And then with what diligence and patience, often he would have done this, and wayts long, How many years, have ſome of us, been thus beſought, to cloſe with a Crucified Chriſt!

Again ſecondly, This may ſerve for ever to keep us low, if love work kindly ſo it works, it melteth down the heart, the very mountains, high and towring thoughts and imaginations flow at his preſence; you ſee how it humbled Abigail when David ſent to woo her, ſhe bowed her ſelf with her face to the earth, and ſaid behold let thine hand mayd be a ſervant to waſh the feet of the ſervants 1 Sam. 25. 41.1 Sam 25:41of my Lord. A Spouſe to David Gods Anointed; I am not worthy: let me be a ſervant, not worthy to waſh his feet, yea the p. 60meaneſt ſervant, a ſervant to his ſervants to do the meaneſt offices for them, to waſh their feet. So Ruth, when Boaz took but notice of her and ſpake kindly of her, Whence is it ſaith ſhe that my Lord ſhould take knowledge of me, who am but a ſtranger, yea Ruth. 2. 10, 13Ruth 2:10Ruth 2:13thou haſt ſpoke comfortably to me or to my heart, though I be not like one of thy hand-mayds. It is true the Lord would not upbraid his people with what they have been, nor doth he ever do it, yet they ſhould keep it before them continually to keep them low. So he ſaith he will betroth his people, after their going a whering from him, there is much in that expreſſion, and one thing among the reſt is conceived to be this, by Mr. Burroughs upon Hoſ. That he would forget her former unkindneſs and unfaithfulneſs, and ſhe ſhould be now not onelyonly as an unfaithful wife received again, but Marryed as a virgin, as if ſhe never had departed. But though the Lord will not upbraid us, as James ſaith, yet we ſhould keep upon our hearts the ſenſe of our former vileneſs, when the Lord firſt met with us, in the way of his love, ſo Paul doth I am ſure. God never tells them, after the firſt time, Why …am. 1. 5.perſecuteſt thou me, he never told him afterward he had been a perſecuter, and what a blaſphemous wretch he had lived. But Paul by the ſpirit of grace and power in him, he often looks upon his feet, upon what he had been, and that kept him in ſo ſweet an humble frame, O I am leſs then the leaſt Saint. Shall the thoughts of love from David ſo humble Abigail, and from B…az, ſo humble Ruth, and ſhall not this love of Jeſus Chriſt infinitely greater then all, humble ſuch poor filthy creatures upon whom he hath ſet his love?

Thirdly. Let us hence take notice then, of the many precious priviledges of the Saints. We live much below them, becauſe we ſtudy them not, keep not the reliſh of them upon our hearts, I mean endeavour not ſo to do, the Lord give us hearts now lifted up to him.

Firſt then, As many as by believing are eſpouſed to Jeſus Chriſt, they are one with him in the neareſt union. Surely it is not for nothing, that the H. Ghoſt delights ſo to ſet forth the believers relation Eph. 5.Eph 5to Chriſt, by this of a ſpouſe to a husband, you know that this is the neareſt union among men of one perſon to another. Kindred are near a man, his children, his brethren, they are uſually called their bone, and their fleſh; as the men of Judah ſpake to David, p. 61we are thy fleſh and thy bone, but this is a… a greater diſtance, but now in Marriage two perſons that were ſtrangers one to another, never ſaw the face one of another, within a little while, by this Ordinance of God, are brought to ſuch a nearneſs, as that Father, and Mother, and Children if they had any before, yet they are not ſo near to them; they ſhall leave Father and Mother, and be joyned to their Husband; here this union is the ſtranger, Gen. 2. 24. Eph. 5 30. & 31.Gen 2:24Eph 5:30Eph 5:31by how much greater the diſtance between the perſons were, and how much the cloſer the union is now it is made; the diſtance was great, whether we reſpect the dignity of the perſon, there was no proportion, a King and a Beggar are but a ſhadow, and a dark one too; to ſet forth this, a King and a worm, to take it, and lay it in his boſom, is nothing to this, but chiefly in reſpect of enmity of mind; alas that ſuch as we are, at the deadlieſt feud, haters of God and of Chriſt, not only ſtrangers but enemies through evil works, that thoſe ſhould be brought ſo Col. 1. 21.Col 1:21near to Chriſt, as to be made one with him, this is ſomething indeed. An impotent and weak enemy, that could do nothing againſt him, not ſo much as move any longer then he upheld us, and yet we ſhould be look't upon; indeed a potent enemy happily in policie, may be concerned to ſuch an union, but a weak enemy rather, would be trampled under foot.

But then the nearneſs of the union; man and wife are one fleſh ſaith the Apoſtle, but he that is joyned to the Lord is one ſpirit, The 1 Cor. 6. 17.1 Cor 6:17union of ſoul and body is nearer then of man and wife, if too bodies could be acted by one and the ſame ſoul, this were a near union indeed; Why, the Lord Jeſus and the ſaints are one and the ſame Spirit, whereby they are knit together in love, this is a near union indeed. Is this a light thing, a ſmall thing to be made ſo near the Lord of life and glory; even the Children of Iſrael, a people near to him, who is like them that have Chriſt ſo near them, of that are ſo near him.

Secondly, There is a ſweet Communion and Fellowſhip ariſeth upon this, a bleſſed imparting; now of all his fulneſs to ſuch a ſoul, all that is Chriſt's is now yours, his righteouſneſs yours, therefore the Holy City the name of it is called the Lord our righteouſneſs. Now his honour is yours, where he is King, you are Queen, as in the old cuſtom with the Romanes they uſed to ſay, where you are Caius, I am Caia, ſaith the woman, where you p. 62are Lord, I am Lady: be the poor Creature never ſo contemptible, yet marrying with a noble perſon it dignifieth her, with a rich perſon it enricheth her, becauſe ſhe hath an intereſt in all. But beloved, that (though this be matter enough to inſiſt upon; if I could enlarge things for fear of being too tedious) There is a ſweet inward fellowſhip-Communion, between the Lord Jeſus and the ſoul, that others know nothing what it meaneth; the Lord Jeſus is more open hearted to them, his ſecrets are with them, they are the hidden Manna, and they again are moſt free, to power Pſal. 25. 14.Ps 25:14out their ſouls, to Jeſus Chriſt, into his boſom, to power them out like water; as he will hide nothing from Abraham; ſo Abraham will hide nothing from him, ſuch a confidence hath the poor Believing ſoul, that he ſpeaks boldly, freely, foreign with Heb 4. 16, Come boldly to the Throne of grace.Heb 4:16ſpeaking all, ſo the original word properly imports; that which none elſe in the world ſhall know, they will make known to Jeſus Chriſt, they can be more free with him, then any other. And not only becauſe he already knoweth the heart as I conceive, but out of a ſweet confidence they have in him, and experience of his bowels yerning over poor ſouls in ſuch a Condition, ſo that if he knew not all that was in their hearts; they would out of this freedom open it to him. Yea the Lord Jeſus he dyed our death, and grieves our griefs, and we riſe his reſurrection, and rejoyce in his rejoycings, he partaketh with us, yea indeed bears the heavier end, and all indeed of our miſeries, and we partake of his joys, the oyl of gladneſs we are anointed with. But this is the ſecond.Pſalm 45.Ps 45

Thirdly, another is the cohabitation of Chriſt with his people, I will dwell with them, and I will walk in them, when the new Jeruſalem comes down from heaven, the Church of the Jews ſhall come in; then he will eſpecially dwell in them, then the Tabernacle of God is with men, but now ſaith the Apoſtle, that Cant. 7. 5. He is held in the Galleries. 2 Co. 6. 16.Song 7:52 Cor 6:16Chriſt may dwell in your hearts by faith, though he be abſent indeed in ſome reſpect, at the right hand of his father, abſent in body, yet he is preſent in ſpirit, as the Apoſtle ſaith of himſelf, as he would have us to be in Heaven, have our hearts there, and ſo to dwell there, to have our converſations there, our love there, and where the heart is there the man is, Animus non eſt ubi animat, ſed ub i amat, well, we then dwell with him, and he dwels with us, with him will I dwell ſaith the Lord. It is a Marriage duty p. 63to dwell one with another, and if a believer have an unbelieving 2 Cor. 6. 16.2 Cor 6:16yoke-fellow, if he or ſhe will live with the believer they muſt not put them away, they muſt not depart from them; ſo it is here, the Eph. 5. 29.Eph 5:29Lord Jeſus dwels with his people, and this is no ſmall priviledge to the Husband the Bridegroom at hand, alway ready to pity and 2 Sam. 12.2 Sam 12compaſſionate us in our ſufferings within or without. But this the third.

Fourthly, he nouriſheth and cheriſheth them. No man hates Cant. 1. 3.Song 1:3his own fleſh ſaith the Apoſtle, but he nouriſheth it and cheriſheth it, as you have it there in Nathan's parable one poor Ewe Lamb and he laid it in his boſom, and it did eat of his bread and drink of his cup, by which are meant all manner of ſupplies tenderly and freely miniſtred to a yoke-fellow, as afterward by the opening of the Iſa. 40.Isa 40parable it appears well, now thus doth the Lord Jeſus dwell with us, as many as believe, he cheriſheth us, and nouriſheth Mat. 23. 37.Matt 23:37us.

1. He lay's his people in his boſom. The Church is ſaid to lay him between her breaſts, which only is an expreſſion of her love to him, not for that he needed any cheriſhing from thence as David Mal. 4. 2. Luke 22. 15. Math. 26. 29. Iſa. 53. 11.Mal 4:2Luke 22:15Matt 26:29Isa 53:11did from Abiſhai, when he was old he muſt have a young virgin, to keep warmth in him. This is the caſe here, if we had not ſuch cheriſhing from Jeſus Chriſt alas brethren we ſhould quickly be benummed and frozen and ſtiff and unfit for any ſervice he calls us to where ſhould the ſpouſe in her fainting ſwouning fits lye, but in her Husbands boſome, this the Prophet ſetteth forth in another ſimile, of a ſhepheard, the Lambs that are feeble, and are not able to go or drive the pace of others, he puts them in his boſom ſaith the Text, thence they may gather heat, and ſo the Chicken from the wings of the Hen, there is warmth and cheriſhing, ſo the ſon of righteouſneſs, when they are ſpread over a ſoul, there is healing and ſtrength in them.

2. But then they eat of his bread and drank of his cup, when he was upon Earth, you know he did eat and drink with his Diſciples, he deſired to eat that Paſſover with them. O bleſſed are they that eat bread with him at his Table, in his Kingdom! he ſpeaks of drinking wine new with them: that which is a refreſhing to them, is a refreſhing to him as I may ſay, what is the ſatisfaction of a ſoul brethren, but when he eats the fleſh of Chriſt and drinketh his blood; when he feeds upon thoſe real dainties; and p. 64what is the ſatisfaction of Chriſt, but to ſee this, He ſhall ſee his Seed, and be ſatisfied to ſee his mercy and his bowels, the precious fruits of his death and reſurrection, made over to a ſoul, to ſee them living by Faith upon them, and eating and drinking abundantly to their ſouls ſatisfaction, this is the ſatisfaction of the ſoul of the Lord Jeſus alſo: well he nouriſheth them, it is the Saints priviledge; a man will not feed ſtrangers continually at his Table, nor enemies, but when once this relation is made up, this is the reſult; O what filling is to the hungry and thirſty ſoul, they ſhall be ſatisfied!

Fifthly, (which ſhould have been before this,) he will purify his Church, his ſpouſe, the more Communion he hath with her, the more pure ſhe is, what is humbling in other Marriages, is advancement in this bleſſed Marriage. It is ſaid that the virgins Eſ…h. 2. 12.which were to come to King, Ahaſhur, were to purify themſelves before they came to him, much ado there was to purify them with oyl of Myrrh, which they ſay was to make the skin ſmooth, to clear the beauty, to free them, from Wrinckles, and to keep it from decaying. The ſweet Odours were to make them delightful in their ſavour, to make them lovely to the eye of a man, ſo curious they were; but the caſe is otherwiſe here. Alas, he is fain to put his comelineſs upon us, elſe we ſhould not have beauty at all that he ſhould deſire us, as you have it, in Ezek. 16. And therefore the Apoſtle to the Epheſians, he gave himſelf for his Church that he might purify it. Though we were naſty, ſluttiſh, lothſom creatures before, the Lord Jeſus will not have us continue Eph. 5. 25. & 27.Eph 5:25Eph 5:27ſo, but waſh us in that fountain, opened for ſin and uncleanneſs, that Jordan with us to waſh away our Leproſy: And therefore he himſelf came by water, as well as by blood. Alas! what ſhould the Lord Jeſus do with us bretbren, if we ſhould retain our ſwiniſh diſpoſition to wallow in the myre? and then think to come and lye down in his boſom. No, he cannot away with this: he muſt waſh away this diſpoſition, and hath done it for all that are his, that now they ſhall no more delight in ſin, but if they miſcarry now it ſhall be their grief as well as it is his, he purifieth his people: A ſad word to ſuch, as yet mallow in their uncleanneſs, a ſign they have nothing to do with Chriſt. An encouragement to poor Creatures who labour under the lothſomeneſs of their corruptions, he gave himſelf that he might purifie to himſelf a Church, he can p. 65do it, he will do it, his blood doth lye in pawn, he will not loſe the price of his blood, nor ſhall his people loſe ſuch mercies as this, which coſt the heart-blood, whatever they go without, they ſhall not go without this.

Sixthly, He will make them fruitful, Marriage-communion is a fruitful communion. This is the general complaint of the people of God, of their barren hearts and empty lives, but he will make them fruitful, he will not have a barren ſpouſe, whether we ſpeak collectively, or diſtributively of the Church of Chriſt. Gal. 4. 24.Gal 4:24Collectively, Jeruſalem which is above, is the mother of us all, a way, that is barren, and God doth not own with bringing in ſouls to Jeſus Chriſt, hath cauſe to fear, whethether in ſuch a conſtitution they be the Church of Chriſt, yea, or no: It is true the Gentiles before they were marryed, had no children: and the Jews that were the marryed wife, when God was caſting her off, grew very barren, but now more are children of the unmarryed, then of the marryed woman ſaith the Lord. But it is clearer to us to ſpeak diſtributively, he will make us fruitful, When a man is marryed to the Law, which is the ſtrength of ſin as the Apoſtle calls it, O how fruitful is he in works of darkneſs, and ſhall not Jeſus Chriſt be as vigorous and fruitful a husband, as the Law can be, and ſin can be? Let Sarahs womb be as dead as it may, yet he can make her fruitful, Let a mans heart be as dead to good works as you Rom. 7. 12.Rom 7:12can imagine, he can renew ſtrength again as he did Abrahams and Sarahs. If he ſpeak the word, a green tree is withered; if he ſpeak the word a barren tree is fruitful, the Apoſtle his expreſſion, we are dead to the Law, ſaith he, and ſo free, from our former husband that we might be marryed to another, even to Jeſus Chriſt, that you might bring forth fruit unto God, ſee what riches of fruitfulneſs, or ſeeds of it are in the womb of that one Text, God is able to 2 Cor. 9. 8▪2 Cor 9:8make all grace abound towards you, that ye alway, having all-ſufficiency in all things may abound to every good work, minde you, here is good works, and abounding in them, that is more; yea in every good work, good works of all kinds, and abounding in them all. And whence cometh this, he is able, to make grace abound towards you, though if you had but a Ciſtern, you might be drawn dry, or the ſtream; yet there is a fountain which continually overfloweth, he is able to make grace abound; yea all grace abound, that you ſhould have all things, and all-ſufficiency in all things; yea, p. 66and alway have it ſo, that you may abound: O brethren, there is more riches in ſuch a promiſe, then in a thouſand worlds, if we could but live by faith in ſuch a promiſe, we ſhould be fuller handed, and freer hearted, and more abound in good works of all kinds. Well, this is the ſixth.

Seventhly, He will preſent them to his Father without ſpot or Eph 5 27.Eph 5:27wrinkle, or any ſuch thing, a glorious Church as there it is; now alas! Brethren, the Saints ſometimes lye among the Pots, here the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the top of the Saints perfection, that which is due, or which they are capable of. There ſhall be no privation any more, we are now but changing into his image, from glory to glory, then he will bring us to his father in full brightneſs of glory. If the Church on earth brethren, the glory of the Bride be ſo great, as to be compared in her primitive purity to the glory of the Sun, a woman cloathed with the Sun, what will it be when Chriſt ſhall appear with him in glory? No deformity ſhall there then be brethren, but the Church ſhall be altogether lovely. But here further, by ſpot or wrinkle are meant the ſtain and deformity of ſin onelyonly; or elſe the deformity of ſin, and ſuffering both, Of ſin, if ſo then, by ſpot we may underſtand any greater ſtain or blemiſh, by wrinkle any leſs deformity, by ſpot a groſs ſin, by wrinkle an ordinary infirmity. Or elſe by ſpot any ſinful work, by wrinkle any failing even in good works, there ſhall be nothing but uprightneſs, or elſe as ſome, even Mr. Caryl making a double Metaphor; yet to the like purpoſe, there ſhall be no deformity which uſually followeth age, in things and perſons. In things an … 16.old garment is uſually ſpotted and defiled: In perſons, wrinkles uſe to deform them, you know the moiſture conſuming the skin ſhrivels up, and the beauty is gone; now ſaith the Lord, there ſhall be none of all this, no ſuch deformity, no old things, all ſhall be done away, and all things ſhall become new, they ſhall be like the pureſt garment, in its gloſs and luſtre, like the pureſt face, in its flower, no deformity at all. Or elſe by ſpot, we may underſtand Prov. 17. 12.Prov 17:12ſin, and by wrinkle, ſorrow, and ſo we know, that ſorrow will dry up the bones and marrow and moiſture, my fleſh and my skin, he hath made old, that is to ſay, by reaſon of ſorrow, it wrinkles the face, breaks the beauty, ſarrows the Cheeks, brings deformity upon Lam 3. 4.Lam 3:4the greateſt beauty; now there ſhall be no ſuch thing, ſin Pſal. 6….Ps 6there ſhall be none, all pardoned; yea, all far removed, none inherent, p. 67as you heard before, all glorious, no deformity, no vileneſs and then no ſorrow neither to abate our fulneſs of joy, but a merry heart, a joy to ſwallow up, now the wings ſhall be covered with ſilver and feathers with yellow gold, yea thoſe very afflictions wherewith we have been racked, ſhall work out an exceeding and far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ſpecially if they be for Chriſt, here is a priviledge indeed brethren, nor any ſuch thing, any thing which themſelvs or others may ſuſpect to be a ſpot, &c.

But then, his preſenting them to his father, this is after the manner of men, you know Iſaac took his ſpouſe, and preſented her to his father, and brought her into his mothers Tent, ſo will the Lord Jeſus preſent his Church to his father, here is my ſpouſe now in that glory which I have put upon her, the price of my blood, this is my glory, and he will not be aſhamed to confeſs his people, to own them for his Bride, before his father at that day, and then he will bring them into his fathers houſe, there to abide with the Lord forever; there to be ſwallowed up of his love, and likeneſs, forevermore. O bleſſed ſoul that labours now under a body of ſin, and death and art loathſom in thine eyes! lift up thy head, this day draweth nigh, every ſpot ſhall be done away, yea there ſhall be nothing like a wrinkle upon thy ſoul, O what will this be to the ſoul, that is weary of ſin indeed!

4. Ʋſe of the Doctrine ſhall be then to teach us the Dignity, and Ʋſe 4.Duty of a Goſpel-Miniſtry. Their dignity, they are ſuch as are intruſted with this great work, to fit a ſpouſe to Jeſus Chriſt, to reconcile her to him, to eſpouſe her to him, they are no ordinary ſervants, the Lord ſends about ſuch works, yea even you ſee Eleazer Gen. 24.Gen 24was no mean ſervant, the ruler of the houſe. Princes ſend their Embaſſadors to treat about Marriages for them. So we ſaith the Apoſtle in Chriſts ſtead, as if he did beſeech you. To be the friends of the Bridegroom, is no ſmall priviledge, but I will Ioh. 3. 28.John 3:28not ſtand upon this, but rather a word or two of the Duty, you may ſee how great it is, that you may be the more moved to pray for them.

1. Then the Duty lyes in this, that we woo for Chriſt, and not for our ſelves, he that hath the Bride, is the Bridegroom ſaith John but the friend of the Bridegroom envyeth him not that happineſs, but would further it what he can, and that is his rejoycing, this p. 68my joy is fulfilled ſaith he, that people come in to Chriſt. It is a ſad thing brethren, when we ſhall be found at the day of account to have ſpoken, it may be, but one word for Chriſt, and two for our ſelves; the Apoſtle tells us of ſome that ſhould ariſe in the Church of Epheſus, ſpeaking perverſe things to draw Diſciples after them, I pray you mind, to draw Diſciples after them, not after Act. 20 30.Acts 20:30Chriſt. It is ſad, I ſay, when men ſhall compaſs the Sea and Land to make a Proſelyte to an Opinion, much pains laid out this way, and when all cometh to all it ſhall prove but Copper, and not gold; but Jeſus Chriſt is little beholding to them: or if we preach Jeſus Chriſt, and intend our ſelves, to lift up our own names, and not the name of Chriſt: O this is great unfaithfulneſs, ſaith the Apoſtle Paul, ſpeaking of that Corinthian Church much like ours, I am of Paul, &c. were you baptized into the 1. Cor. 3.1 Cor 3name of Paul, was he crucified for you, &c.? Alas ſaith he, I have done nothing but wooed you for Chriſt, eſpouſed you to one … Cor. 1. 13.Husband, and not to ſo many. The children of the Bride-Chamber are never called together to proſtitute the Bride to them; but to rejoyce, and celebrate the Marriage with more ſolemnity. Yea by how much the greater honor it is to have the charge of the Bride, by ſo much the greater ſin it is to deal falſly with Chriſt in it, and to draw them after our ſelves, when we ſhould draw men after the Lord Jeſus.

2. Their Duty is, to preſent them to the Lord Jeſus as a pure virgin, having eſpouſed them to one Husband, now to watch over them, to take ſuch care of them and pains with them, that … Cor. 11. ….having eſcaped the pollutions of the world, they may not return any more to them, but be kept pure; and holy to the Lord; and therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, I am jealous over you with a godly jealouſie, jealouſie is a kinde of fear, ſorrow and anger; It is the rage of a man ſaith Salem: indeed it doth as it were raiſe a man above himſelf, carry him out of himſelf; therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, bear with me if by reaſon of my earneſtneſs, I ſeem to be out of my ſelf, it is for your ſakes, I am jealous for you ſaith the Apoſtle. And what was the matter, they were in danger to be ſeduced by falſe Apoſtles; to be corrupted from the ſimplicity of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, and this was that the Apoſtle was jealous over them for; and ſurely brethren it is commendable and imitable, I plead not for paſſion and wild-fire, but a holy zeal p. 69for the glory of Chriſt, the well-fare of ſouls, we ought not to be cold but zealous jealous for you brethren if in danger of ſeducing at any time, this is a large duty indeed, we are apt to ſleep, eſpecially if ſang aſleep by the deluſions of weakneſs and mildneſs and love, falſly ſo called, and then the miſchief is done, but enough of this. I hope you ſee, there is cauſe enough to pray for us.