into Prison whence there is no redemption until we have paid the utmost farthing which can never be Matth. 5.26 Now sinner wouldst thou have thy Debts paid thy Sins Pardoned and thy Soul freed from the danger of those Arrests then give up thy self to Christ in a Marriage-Covenant O this is the only way to discharge all Christ sayes to Justice concerning all his Spouscs as Paul sometimes did to Philemon concerning Onesimus If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee any thing put that upon my account So sayes Christ to God concerning thee immediately upon thy close with him Father if this Soul hath wronged thee and oweth thee any thing place it on my account I have taken all his Debts upon me I 'le be responsible to thee for all Father this Soul I bled and dyed for this Soul I was made sin and a curse for whereby thy Justice is fully satisfied let him therefore be discharged O Soul how should this draw thee to Christ Canst thou be content to lie under so great a Debt And is it a small thing to thee to be in danger of so terrible an Arrest as that of Justice which we have spoken of is Suppose a man owed ten thousand pounds and had nothing wherewith to pay and he saw himself in danger every moment of being cast into Prison how sad wouldst thou look upon his case to be and how gladly thinkest thou would he embrace an offer from any to discharge him from all Soul thy case is ten thousand times more sad and how gladly shouldst thou embrace the Lord Jesus who would and who alone can discharge all for thee In short we read of Spirits already in Prison 1 Pet. 3.19 Justice has already clapt its Arrest upon thousands and ten thousands and lodg'd them in the Prison of eternal darkness and what canst thou expect from it but to be dealt with in the like manner speedily unless thou closest with Christ as thy Righteousness to make satisfaction for thee His Righteousness is such as makes a full satisfaction and is every way answerable to the strictest demands of Law and Justice and by it he being closed withal by thee all thy Debts are paid at once II. He supplies all their Wants and makes blessed provision for them 'T is the part of an Husband to supply the wants of his Wife and to make provision for her And this Christ does for all his Spouses he supplies all their needs according to his riches in glory They have Wants and he has Fulness they have Needs and he has Riches and he brings his Fuiness to their Wants and freely communicates of the one to the other Truly we are full of Wants of all sorts Wants in the Soul and Wants in the Body We are poor and miserable and blind and naked Rev. 3.17 Yea our Wants are such and so prinching upon us that with the Prodigal we are even perishing with hunger Luke 15.17 Even the Saints themselves are a poor and needy people full of wants Isa 40.17 Now how shall these Wants be supplyed Only by Christ and do but close with him and he will supply all plentifully Liet it be but a day of Espousals between Christ and you and all your Wants are supplyed for ever The truth is Christ is all He is the great All as one calls him Heaven and Earth Time and Eternity Grace and Colory are all in one Christ He supplies the Spiritual Wants of his Spâ—â—ses Do you want Life He that hath the Son bath Life 1 Joh. 5.12 Do you want Grâ—oe Close with Christ and he will give you Grace abundance of Grace John 1.16 Do you want Peace Close with Câ—wisti and he will give you Peace John 14.27 Do you want Strength and Righteousness Rightteousness for Justification and Strength for Sanctification and Obedience Close with Christ and he will supply you with abundance of both Isa 45.24 Do you want Joy and Consolation Close with Christ and he will in due season fill you with joy and consolation he will comfort your hearts 1 Thes 2.16 17. He supplies all the outward Wants also of his Spouses and that so as that they want no good thing Psal 34.10 They want no outward good thing but what the want thereof is better for them than the enjoyment of it would be True they may and often have but a little of outward Comforts but yet then they have much in a little much Love much Blessing much of Christ and the Covenant And therefore a little which they have is said to be better than the riches of many wicked Psalm 37.16 Besides wherein they are cut short in Temporals Christ often makes it up to them in Spirituals They are poor in this World but rich in Faith Jam. 2.5 They have not much of the Streams it may be but they have the more of the Fountain more love and the sweeter communion with Christ In a word what-ever either Heaven or Earth affords so far as they need it they shall have it The Lord will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.9 O who would not close with this Christ Soul why standest thou off from him Is there any can supply thy Wants but he Is there any can give thee Life and Peace and Pardon and Righteousness and Salvation but he Or hadst thou rather die in thy Wants than come to this Fountain to be supplyed Hadst thou rather perish in thine own poverty than come to this Treasury to be enriched III. He heals all their Wounds and cures all their Maladies He is a Physician to his Spouses and such a Physician as that though the Wound be never so deep and the Disease never so desperate yet he never fails to work the Cure for them O how should this allure us to him We my Beloved have our Wounds as well as our Wants we are full of Maladies and Diseases of Soul The truth is from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head there is no soundness in us Isa 1.6 The Saints themselves have their Wounds yea wounds many times that stink and are corrupt as David speaks Psal 38.5 Indeed they are apt to get fresh Wounds every day Wounds in their Grace and Wounds in their Peace Wounds in their Comforts and Wounds in their Consciences Wounds that smart sorely and which many times bleed as if they should bleed to death of them Well but Christ heals all their Wounds and do but close with him in a Marriage-Covenant and he will heal all thine too who ever thou art He is that good Samaritan that has Oyl and Wine his Blood and Spirit to pour into the Wounds of his People for the healing of them By his stripes we are healed Isa 53.5 His Blood and Spirit are a sovereign Balm which can heal the deepest Wounds and deadliest Discases His Spouses find it so He restoreth my Soul sayes David Psal 23.3 His Soul was
Faith passes to the God-head Neque ad Christum Deum unquam perveniet qui heminem negligit And as a great Divine speaks he that comes not to Christ as man shall never come to him as God The truth is Faith cannot deal with God immediately but as God cloath'd with our nature 4. View and apprehend him in his office of Mediatorship The Gospel reveals and propounds Christ to our Faith in his Office it propounds and reveals him as Christ as the true Messiah and Saviour of the World as one seal'd sent and anointed by the Father for the redemption of lost Souls and thus also should Faith eye and apprehend him So also did Peter's Faith apprehend him Thou art Christ sayes he the Son of the living God Mat. 16.16 Hence we read of believing that Jesus is the Christ 1 John 5.1 Hence also Christ tells the Jews If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins John 8.24 If ye believe not that I am he i. e. that I am the Messiah the Christ the Saviour that was promised O! Faith is short of that notion it should have of Christ unless it thus eyes him in his Office 5. View and apprehend him in his infinite ability and sufficiency for the discharge of his Office The Gospel reveals and propounds him to our Faith as one able to save to the very uttermost and accordingly should our Faith eye and apprehend him Heb. 7.25 It reveals him indeed both as an onely and alsufficient Saviour as an onely Saviour Look unto me and be saved all ye ends of the earth for I am God and there is none besides me Isa 45.22 Neither is there Salvation in any other nor is there any other Name given under Heaven wherby we may be saved but his only Acts 4.12 And as an alsufficient Saviour My Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed sayes he and he that eateth me even he shall live by me John 6.55 57. It reveals him in the infinite vertue of his Blood the inexhaustible fulness of his Grace the compleatness of his Obedience the excellency of his Righteousness the perfection of his Satisfaction and the like and thus should our Faith eye and apprehend him O labour for such a notion and apprehension of Christ as this is as ever you would believe aright and be indeed espoused to Christ labour for a found clear distinct knowledge of him as the great object of Faith Pray much for a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him that was the Apostles prayer for the Ephesians in this case Ephes 1.7 and let it be yours for your selves III. Would you pitch your Faith aright upon Christ and be indeed espoused to him Then be sure to make a right choice or election of him being thus known and apprehended To have a right notion and apprehension of Christ is good and necessary in order to union with him by believing but 't is not enough no Christ being known and apprehended must also be chosen and embraced by us and that as he is revealed and offered in the Gospel To know and apprehend Christ is an act of the Mind or Understanding but to chuse and embrace Christ is an act of the Will and Affections and though Faith has its rise and inchoation in the mind yet its complement and perfection it has in the Will and Affections these liking chusing and embracing of him and that in a way sutable to what the mind sees and apprehends concerning him and this must be added to the former or there is no right believing and so no conjugal union and communion with Christ Observemus fidei sedem non in cerebro esse sed in corde quoniam cordis nomen pro serio et sincero affectu fere capitur dice firmam esse efficacem fiduciam non nudam tantum notionem Calv. Hence that of the Apostle With the heart Man believeth unto Righteousness Rom. 10.10 True believing then is with the Heart now by the Heart here as also generally elsewhere in Scripture is meant the Will and Assections accordingly to believe with the Heart is for the Will and Affections to chuse and embrace Christ as he is revealed and offered in the Gospel this is called a receiving of Christ John 1.12 We receive Christ into our Wills when we chuse him and adhere to him for Life and Salvation and we receive him into our affections when we love him desire him and delight in him and this is believing To believe sayes Calvin is nothing else but to chuse and embrace Christ with a sincere affection of mind as he is reveal'd and offer'd in the Gospel And this indeed is the great vital act of Faith and that whereby our Conjugal-Union and Communion with Christ is more especially brought about This is that which makes Christ ours and puts us into the possession of him Mary sayes Christ has chosen the better part which shall never be taken from her Luke 10.42 She had chosen Christ and her choice of him had made him her own and so her own as that she could never lose him never be deprived of him Indeed a right choice of Christ makes him ours it unites us to him and interests us in him for ever A little further to help you in this business know that a right choice of Christ is accomplish't by these three steps 1. The Soul apprehending Christ as before likes him and approves of him as the best and most sutable Saviour the most lovely and desirable object in Heaven or Earth The Soul sayes of Christ as they did of the Land of Canaan Numb 14.7 The Land say they is an exceeding good Land So this Christ sayes the Soul is an exceeding good Christ this Saviour is an exceeding good Saviour there 's none like him there 's no beauty like his Beauty no blood like his Blood no fulness like his Fulness no love like his Love 2. The Soul desires him and longs after him and that with a strong ardent and vigorous affection This is call'd hungring and thirsting after Christ Matth. 5.6 The Soul seeing Christ and approving of him longingly cries out O a Christ a Christ O that this good Christ were mine 3. The Soul is by Grace sweetly and powerfully determined upon Christ so as actually to make a solemn and deliberate choice of him singling him out from all other things in Heaven and Earth as the best and most desirable good and most worthy of his dearest and most intimate embraces The Soul now pitches his choice upon Christ to be his Head and Husband his Lord and Saviour his rest his treasure his happiness his all for ever Now by these steps see that you come up to make a right choice of Christ be sure that you like him and approve of him as the best and most desirable object in Heaven or Earth Truly if you view him aright you can't but like him and
Union III. Sweet and lasting Communion IV. Strong and ardent Affection V. Mutual rest and complacency for ever I. This Espousal or Marriage-relation between Christ and Believers carries in it free and cordial Donation a giving of themselves each to other In Marriages or Espousals the Parties give themselves each to other the Husband gives himself unto the Wife and the Wife by way of return gives her self unto the Husband they consent to take each other in that relation and accordingly do give up themselves each to other So in this Spiritual Espousal or Marriage-relation between Christ and his People there is a giving of themselves each to other they consent to take each other and accordingly do give up themselves each to other Christ on the one hand gives himself unto the Soul I will be thine sayes he to the Soul thine to love thee thine to save thee thine to make thee happy in me and with me I with all my Riches and Treasures will be fully and for ever thine I will be for thee that is the language of his Espousing Love unto the Soul Hos 3.3 And oh how sweet is this Language What can Christ give to poor Souls like himself In giving himself he gives the best Gift that either Heaven or Earth affords In giving himself he gives Life he gives Peace he gives Grace he gives Righteousness he gives the favour of God he gives Heaven he gives all Oh sweet Gift On the other hand the Soul by way of return gives himself to Christ I will be thine sayes the Soul to Christ I will be for thee and not for another Hence 't is said They gave themselves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 they freely and willingly yeelded up themselves to Christ to be his and his for ever Sweet Jesus such as I am and have I give to thee I am a poor a sorry Gift sayes the Soul infinitely unworthy of thine acceptance my best is too bad my All is too little for thee but seeing 't is thy pleasure to call for and accept of such a Gift at my hands I do with my whole Soul give up my Self my Strength my Time my Talents my All for ever to thee And though the truth is this be a sorry Gift yet you little think how pleasing how grateful it is to Christ and what a value he puts upon it You have the whole of this owned and asserted by the Spouse Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his II. This Espousal or Marriage-relation between Christ and Believers carries in it near and intimate union In Marriage there is a very near union and conjunction between the Parties As they give up themselves each to other so they become one each with other They are no more twain but one flesh Mat. 19.6 So in this Espousal or Marriage-relation between Christ and Believers there is a very near union and conjunction between them they two are made one and thus the Apostle sets forth the Marriage between Christ and them Ephes 5.31 32. For this cause shall a man leave Father and Mother and shall be joyned unto his Wife and they two shall be one flesh This is a great Mystery but I spake concerning Christ and the Church that is I speak of the Marriage-relation which is between Christ and the Church which consists in union Hence also Believers are said to be joyned to the Lord and to be one Spirit with him 1 Cor. 6.17 So that espousing to Christ and being joyned to Christ are all one The truth is herein lies the very soul and substance of this Spiritual Marriage viz. in a spiritual union between Christ and the Believer though Christ and the Soul were two before two that were strangers each to other yet in this Marriage or Espousal they become one and so one as that all the World can never make them two again never dissolve this union * Sponsi sponsae usitatâ at omnium jucun dissâ—â—â Metaphâ—râ unio spiritualis inter Christum â—â— Ecclesiam piamque an mam exprimitur Gles Rhe. sac By this usual but of all others most pleasant Metaphor of a Bridegroom and Bride as a learned Man hath observed is expressed and set forth the Spiritual Vnion that is between Christ and the Church Christ and every Holy Soul And this Union is a full Union an Union between the whole Person of Christ and the whole Person of the Believer the whole Person of Christ is united unto the Believer and the whole Person of the Believer is united unto Christ Neque anima nestra sola cum solâ Christi animâ neque care nostra sola cum solâ Christi carne sed tota cujusque fidelis persona cum totâ Christi personâ conjungitur Zanch. Neither is our Soul alone saith a Learned Man joyned with the Soul of Christ alone nor is our flesh alone joyned with the flesh of Christ alone but the whole Person of every Believer is truly joyned with the whole Person of Christ 1. On the one hand the whole Person of Christ is united to the Believer the Believers union with Christ is neither with the Divine nor Humane Nature considered apart but it is with the whole Person consisting of both Natures and indeed else they could not be said to be united to Christ for neither of the Natures considered apart is Christ We cannot say that the Divine Nature is Christ or that the Humane Nature is Christ but Christ is both the Divine and Humane Nature God-man in one Person Buchan Institut Theol. loc 2. Christ saith a Learned Man is not a Name of either Nature but of the Person consisting of both Natures together with his Office Besides were we united only to one Nature and not to the whole Person of Christ what would our Union avail us Surely it would be vain and ineffectual Were we united to the Humane Nature only and not to the Divine then to be sure our Union must be ineffectual For Christ himself tells us That it is the Spirit which quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing John 6.63 That is as judicious Interpreters expound it the flesh or Humane Nature of Christ considered alone and without the influence of the Divine availeth nothing to Souls as to their spiritual or eternal good Nor indeed can the Humane Nature of Christ without the Divine give Grace or any spiritual good thing On the other hand were we united to the Divine Nature alone and not to the Humane then our Union would be as ineffectual for how full soever the Divine Nature is of Grace and Life in it self yet nothing can thence be derived and communicated to us but by and through the Humanity And indeed as the Humanity profiteth nothing without the Divinity so I may say the Divinity will profit us nothing without the Humanity Hence it is that Christ so often speaks of eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood and withal asserts the necessity thereof in
their tribulations 2 Cor. 1.4 5. The truth is their sharpest Afflictions are but to prepare them for his sweetest Consolations and indeed he therefore oftentimes afflicts them that he may manifest his Love and minister Consolations to them according to that of Hosea 2.14 I will allure her into the Wilderness and there will I speak comfortably to her and indeed as strong Consolations often times prepare for great Afflictions so great Afflictions usually make way for strong Consolations Afflictions sayes a worthy Divine is the Air in which Christs love especially breaths and Christ and the Cross sayes he are sweet company This viz. Christs love and presence with his People in their Afflictions is what turns their night into day their darkness into light their pains into ease their sorrows into joys their losses into gains yea and Death it self into Life Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death yet will I fear no evil because thou art with me Psal 23.4 It turns a Prison into a pleasant Pallace yea it turns a fiery Furnace into a delightful Walk as in the case of the three Children and this experienced Souls find O how sweet are Afflictions when Christ and his love come with them 2. By sanctifying their Afflictions to them and working good to their Souls out of all Sanctifyed Afflictions are sweet Afflictions they meet with Afflictions but Christ gives them the sweet Fruit and a blessed issue of them makes them all work together for good to them according to that great Oracle Rom. 8.23 All things shall work together for good to them that love God By these he proves their Graces and improves their Experiences he makes them all to be as the Gibeonites sometimes were to the Congregation of God as so many hewers of Wood and drawers of Water to their Faith to their Comforts to their Holiness on Earth and Happiness in Heaven The Faith of this sweetned all Jobs great and heavy Afflictions to him When I am tryed sayes he I shall come forth as Gold Job 23.10 Hereby he tryes their Faith which is better than Gold 1 Pet. 1.7 Hereby he refines them and purges away their dross from them Behold I have refined thee but not with Silver I have chosen thee in the Furnace of Affliction Or as you may read it I have made a choice one of thee in the Furnace of Affliction Isa 48.10 Hereby he makes them partakers of his holiness Heb. 12.10 By this he purgeth away their iniquity and taketh away their sin Isa 27.9 In short hereby he humbles them and seals instruction to them hereby he weans them from the World draws them nearer to himself quickens their hearts in his good wayes and raises them up to higher strains of Grace and pitches in Holiness then they were got up to before Yea hereby he increases their Revenue of Glory and adds to their Crown in Eternity Our light Afflictions which are but for a moment sayes the Apostle work out for us a far more exceeding and an eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Thus he sanctisies all and O how doth this sweeten all Here is a Cross 't is true may the Soul say but by this Cross Christ does crucifie me to Sin and the World he weans me from the Creature sets me a longing after Heaven and so long welcome Cross how heavy soever Here is an Affliction 't is true and 't is an heavy one but by it Christ proves and brightens my Graces and that sweetens all O what owe I sayes Rutherford to the File and Hammer of my sweet Lord Jesus He hath taught me more sayes he by my six months imprisonment then ever I learnt in my nine years past Ministry Luther was wont to say three things made a good Minister Temptation Affliction Supplication The same also conduce much to the making of a good Christian And indeed 't is seldom that ever a Soul comes to any eminency in Grace until he has been exercised with sanctified Afflictions and Temptations And doubtless there is many a Soul who may and must say That next to Christ his Afflictions have through his Grace and Blessing been his best Mercies O how should this draw Souls to Christ and allure them into a Marriage-Covenant with him Poor Soul it may be that which keeps thee from Christ is the fear of what Afflictions thou mayest meet with in his wayes But know 1. thou mayest meet with Affliction yea first or last thou wilt assuredly meet with Affliction though thou never closest with Christ Alas wicked men and unbelievers meet with Troubles and Afflictions and that even in this World oft-times However to be sure at last they will have a full Cup yea the very dregs of God's Wrath ponred out unto them They will meet with and fall under soret and more dreadful Afflictions then any thou canst meet withal in the way and for the sake of Christ for pray consider is there any Trouble any Affliction thou canst meet withal for Christ like to this for a man to die in his sins to be separated from God for ever to have infiniteness and eternity combined against thee Is there any Trouble or Affliction like to the torments of the Infernal Pit and being the object of infinite Wrath for ever and yet this will be the lot at last of all that close not with Christ in a Marriage-relation 2. What ever Afflictions thou mayest meet withal in the way of Christ closing with him he sweetens all for thee and that so as that thou wouldest not have been without them for a World Oh scare not at the Cross but close in with Christ VI. He subdues all their enemies for them True the poor Saints and Spouses of Christ are beset with Enemies on all hands they have many Enemies and mighty Enemies Enemies within and Enemies without and all in a confederacy against them to destroy them to destroy their Lives to destroy their Graces to destroy their Peace and Comforts to destroy their Souls and Happiness for ever all like so many roaring Lyons seeking to devour them Well but Christ who is their Captain as well as their Husband subdues and conquers all for them and first or last makes them to set their feet upon their necks and triumph over them He makes them Conquerors yea more than Conquerors over all Rom. 8.37 He makes them so to conquer them as sooner or later to gain by all their conflicts and oppositions Indeed Christ has already conquered all his Peoples Enemies for them The Saints have five great Enemies Sin Self the World the Devil and Death and Christ has long since conquered them all for them and by degrees brings them into the joyful triumph of that conquest 1. He has conquered Sin for them He by being made Sin hath obtained an eternal victory over Sin for all his People Sin is the Saints great Enemy 't is that which wars against their Souls Rom. 7.23 1 Pet. 2.11 And
does not make a naked ender and revelation of Christ onely to the Soul for that were not enough but he withal gives him a secret touch whereby he is made to breath and long after Christ to move a little Christward He drops a little Myrrhe upon the handle of the Lock as it were whereby he is drawn out in holy Longings and Breathings after sweet Jesus as you know the case sometimes was with the Spouse Cant. 5. beg and this the Scripture calls an hungring and thirsting after Christ and has a blessedness annext to it Mat. 5.6 and frequently else-where Yea such is that secret touch which in and with those tenders and revelations of Christ the Spirit of God gives the Soul as that like that of the Loadstone to the Needle which sets it a trembling and will not suffer it to rest till it stands fully pointed Christward yea till it finds it self in the very bosom and imbraces of that Beloved 't is indeed such as by degrees makes the Soul sick of love and longings after Christ Cant. 5.8 and he cries out for Christ as Rachel sometimes did for Children Give me Children said she or else I die So give me Christ sayes the Soul or else I die I perish and that for ever In a word nothing but Christ will satisfie him send him to the Creatures send him to his own duties and services send him to his highest accomplishments and attainments and without Christ they will not do yea all these he accounts but as dung as dogs-meat that he may win Christ Phil. 3.8 Indeed Heaven and Earth with all the fulness of both are nothing to him without Christ and an union with Christ his language now is O Christ Christ above ten thousand Worlds O that Christ were mine O that I had union with him Oh that I were in his imbraces Oh how happy are they that are married to him and how happy should I be could I call him mine This I say is his language and when once it comes to this then things work well indeed then the Match is in a good forwardness there being but an hairs breadth as it were between Christ and the Soul Therefore IV. The Soul being thus inclined Christ-ward and drawn forth in holy Longings after Union and Communion with him Sicut Christus per Spiritus sui communieationem sesâ— nobis unit sic nos per fidem illi adglutinamur c. the Spirit of God comes and enables him to believe he carries the Soul to Christ in a way of believing whereby he actually closes with him and is espoused unto him For my Beloved 't is Faith which ties the Marriage-Knot and makes up the Marriage-Union between Christ and us Hence Christ is said to dwell in our hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 Christ's dwelling in our hearts notes the nearest Union and Communion between him and us And how comes he thus to dwell in our hearts why by Faith by our believing on him Edis Christum non dente sed fide Aug. Hence also Christ tells us That he that eateth his flesh and drinketh his blood dwelleth in him and he in him Joh. 6.56 By eating Christs Flesh and drinking his Blood is meant our believing on him and so he himself expounds it for he makes eating and drinking of him and believing on him all one throughout that Chapter Now sayes he He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him that is he has the nearest Union and Communion with me 't is Faith then you see that unites and so espouses us to Christ Faith gives Christ an inlet into the Soul and it gives the Soul an inlet into Christ and so they are made one and married together By believing we consent to take Christ and actually do take him for our onely Head and Husband for ever and so the Match is made up between him and us Nos per fidem in nobis a Spiritu sancto excitatam in hoc cum Christo conjugium consentimus Zanch. in Thes de conjugio Spirituali We by Faith says a learned Man wrought in us by the holy Spirit do consent unto this marriage with Christ Christ as you heard before consents thereunto as God he consented hereunto from all eternity and as Man he consents hereunto in time For Filii voluntas duplex est una divinae altern humanae naturae â— utraque auâ— tem voluit viilt hoc conjugium cum electis una voluit ab aeterno altera in tempore quae nunqâ—am mutatur Id. Ib. as Divines observe Christ hath a double Will his Divine and Humane with the first he consented to this Espousal from eternity with the second he consents hereunto in Time and never changes therein Now as Christ gives his consent so we also must give ours which we do by believing in him by which therefore the Match is made up between him and us Now there is a three-fold Act of Faith which the Spirit of God works in the Soul whereby he more especially closes with Christ and is espoused unto him made one with him in a Marriage-Covenant I. An Act of Choice or Election II. An Act of Trust or Dependance III. An Act of Resignation or Subjection I. An Act of Choice or Election In the Act or Work of Believing the Soul is by the Spirit of God made solemnly and deliberately to chuse Christ as his only Head and Husband his Lord and Saviour being thus offered to him in the Gospel Choice or Election as the School-men tell us is an Act of the Will whereby it pitches upon some one thing and prefers that before all others in order to such or such an end Accordingly we may conceive of this Act of Faith we are speaking of It lies thus the Will is by the Spirit of God sweetly and powerfully determined upon Christ preferring him for an Head and Husband a Lord and Saviour before all others It singles him out as it were from all others whether persons or things in Heaven and Earth and imbraces him as the best Husband the best Saviour the best Lord There are others which make love to him and tender themselves to his embraces as Sin Self the Law the World with its inticements but he passes by all yea rejects all with loathing and indignation and pitches upon Christ as infinitely best saying to him I will have none in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire in comparison of thee This the Scripture calls sometimes a laying hold upon Christ Prov. 3.18 Sometimes a receiving or imbracing of Christ Joh. 1.12 'T is true in the Work of Faith Christ is and must be received into the understanding but he is most properly said to be received into our Will and Affections Christ in the Gospel is revealed and offered to the Soul with all his Riches Fulness and Perfections he is tendered to him as a full a mighty and uttermost Saviour
as one who has not onely an infinite fulness and sufficiency in him to redeem and save but also an infinite sutableness and amiableness in him to indear and delight the Soul and accordingly the Soul accepts and imbraces him he cleaves to him and fastens upon him resolving to have none but him alone his language of him now is There is none like Christ no head like this Head no husband like this Husband no saviour like this Saviour for my Soul This is the Head the Husband the Saviour that I need and that indeed my Soul defires No love like his Love no beauty like his Beauty no blood like his Blood no righteousness like his Righteousness no fulness like his Fulness He therefore and he alone shall be my Head my Husband my Saviour and my All for ever Sweet Jesus sayes he dost thou tender thy self for an Head and Husband to me and art thou willing to be imbraced by me Lo then I do with my whole Soul accept of thee and that for all times and in all conditions with all thine Holiness as well as thy Love with all thine Inconveniences as well as thy Priviledges to suffer for thee as well as to reign with thee and this the Soul does upon the deepest counsel and most mature deliberation and accordingly he abides by his choice for ever II. An Act of Trust or Dependance As in the Work of Faith the Soul is by the Spirit of God made to chuse Christ so also to trust and depend upon him for all Grace Righteousness and Salvation Now it bottoms upon Christ anchors upon Christ rests and relies upon Christ for all Life and Peace for all Grace on Earth and Glory in Heaven He layes the whole weight and stress of his Salvation upon him He commits all to him ventures all upon him expects all from him This the Scripture calls sometimes a trusting in Christ Ephes 1.13 sometimes a leaning upon Christ Cant. 8.5 sometimes a hoping in Christ 1 Cor. 15.19 And in this respect Christ is called our Hope 1 Tim. 1.1 our Hope that is the Object of our Hope and Trust as to Life and Salvation The Soul has no hope in himself no hope in the Creature no hope in the Law or first Covenant no hope in any thing in Heaven or Earth on this side Christ He looks here and there to this and that but he can find no solid ground of hope no bottom to build or rest upon for Life and Salvation but then he turns his eye upon Christ and there he sees abundant ground of hope he beholds him upon the Cross and there 's hope he beholds him upon the Throne and there 's hope he looks upon him dying and there 's hope he looks upon him rising ascending sitting at the Father's right Hand making intercession for us and there 's hope He looks upon the infinite vertue of his Blood the infinite efficacy of his Spirit the infinite fulness of his Grace the infinite dimensions of his Love the infinite freeness and faithfulness of his Promise and in these he sees infinite ground of hope and trust and accordingly he rolls and ventures all upon him Here I 'le build sayes he here I 'le bottom here I 'le rest here I 'le hang and depend here I 'le live yea and if die I must here I 'le die His language to Christ now is like that of the Psalmist to God in another case Psalm 39.7 Now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee This is to cast anchor within the Vail Heb. 9.6 And indeed 't is with poor Souls many times as with persons at Sea the Storm arises the Waves lift up themselves which beating upon them they are ready to sink every moment and their very Soul is melted because of heaviness but anon they sound bottom cast anchor and are at rest So poor Souls are under storms of sin guilt and wrath perishing in their own apprehension every moment but anon they drop an anchor of hope upon Christ and do rest upon him or 't is with them in this case as 't was with the Dove when she was first sent out of the Ark she found no resting place abroad for the sole of her foot but at length returned to the Ark and there found rest Gen. 8.8 9. So the poor guilty Soul finds no rest any where else but in Christ His language in this Act of Faith is such as this I am a poor lost sinful distressed Creature and there is but one door I can expect relief from and that is Christ and at this door I 'le lie and wait I know he is able to help me for he can save to the uttermost and surely he hath bowels great bowels towards poor sinners he is a merciful High-Priest He sayes concerning him as they sometimes did concerning the King of Israel Behold we have heard that the King of Israel is a merciful King peradventure he will save us yea he has bid me look to him and be saved and he invites all that are weary and heavy-laden to come to him and promises them rest Why then should I not rest and rely upon him 'T is true I am a mighty sinner but he is a more mighty Saviour Have I sinned to the utmost He has satisfied to the utmost What shall I say True I am Death but Christ is Life I am Darkness but Christ is Light I am Sin but Christ is Holiness I am Guilt but Christ is Righteousness I am Emptiness and Nothingness but Christ is Fulness and Sufficiency I have broken the Law but Christ has fulfilled the Law and his Life is infinitely able to swallow up my Death his Light my Darkness his Holiness my Sin his Righteousness my Guilt his Fulness my Emptiness on him therefore I 'le lean and live and hope 'T is true I am utterly unworthy of any Life any Grace any Favour but Christ does all for sinners freely he loves freely he pardons freely he saves freely how vile therefore and unworthy soever I am yet I will rest and depend upon him Who knows but he may cast an eye of love upon me This is that Act of Faith which is held forth Isa 45.24 Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength I have neither strength nor righteousness of my own but I have all righteousness and strength in Christ all righteousness for Pardon and Justification and all strength for Holiness and Sanctification this is that the Apostle calls a rejoycing in Christ Jesus having no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3.3 To draw towards a conclusion of this Head Which way soever the Soul looks on this side Christ he meets with nothing but discouragement If he looks to himself there he sees nothing but sin and guilt blackness and deformity in his heart he sees a Fountain of sin an Abysse of sin a very Hell of sin and wickedness in his life he finds innumerable evils sins of a crimson-die
onely does he remain in the Soul as the Pledge and Bond of this Union but also to deck and adorn the Soul with Grace and to make him ready for the consummation of the Marriage above you know when Abraham's Servant saw that Rebekah consented to be Isaac's Wife he then gave her Jewels of Silver and Jewels of Gold and rich Rayment Gen. 24.53 So the blessed Spirit of God having gained the Souls consent to be espoused to Christ and the Marriage-Knot being tyed between them now he dwells in the Soul to deck and adorn him now he gives him Jewels of Gold and Silver furnishes and beautifies him with all Divine and Heavenly Graces He dwells in him as an indeficient Spring and Fountain of all Grace and gracious dispositions till he has lodged him safe in the Arms and Bosom of his sweet Husband above Thus at length the Espousal or Marriage-Relation is made up between Christ and the Soul And oh how blessed is the Soul that is thus espoused to him I must say to such a Soul Blessed be the day that ever thou wert born blessed the Womb that bear thee and blessed the Paps which gave thee suck blessed Gospel which revealed this sweet Christ to thee and blessed Spirit that has tyed this happy Knot between him and thee CHAP. VI. Being a Call to and Treaty with Souls in order to an Espousal between Christ and them WEll and what is the meaning of all this Surely it should have a mighty influence upon the Spirits of men to draw and allure them to Christ to induce them at least to look after an acquaintance with this blessed espousal to him and indeed I would take occasion hence to treat with eternal Souls in order to a Match between Christ and them And oh that I could do it effectually Look my Beloved as David sent his Servants to Abigail to commune with her in order to his taking of her to Wife 1 Sam. 25.39 40. so has the Lord Jesus sent me his poor unworthy Servant to you this day to commune with you in order to the espousing of you to himself and oh that you would do in this case as she did in that for she hasted 't is said and arose and went to David and became his Wife vers 42. Oh that you would all arise arise out of your sins arise out of your unbelief arise out of your carnal security and go to Christ and become his Spouse And not only so but as she did make haste in the business close speedily with him in a Marriage-Covenant even to day O blessed day might I succeed as they did How happy would it be for you how comfortable for me and how joyful for us all in the day of the Bridegrooms coming Sirs let me say Oh that I might say of you at least some of you as Paul of his Corinthians here I have espoused you to one Husband even to Christ And why should it not be thus Why should you not arise and go with me to sweet Jesus and be espoused unto him Can you make light of all that Love that Comfort that Sweetness that Happiness that blessed Union and Communion that Delight Solace and Complacency of Soul which this Espousal carries in it Or is there any thing can make up the loss of these Can Sin and the Creature afford any thing comparable hereunto Surely there is more sweetness more happiness in one kiss of the mouth of this blessed Lord in one imbrace in his Bosom one moments communion with him than in all the delights of Sin and the Creature If you doubt it come and see experienced Souls will tell you that one descent of love from Christ one beam of the light of his Countenance one turn with him in his Galleries is infinitely beyond all earthly delights whatsoever Again can you be content to die and perish eternally rather than live and be made happy in such a sweet and desirable way as this of being espoused to Christ is A more sweet and desirable way of being made happy than this of an espousal to Christ surely neither Men nor Angels could ever have thought on And can you O eternal Souls be content to die to perish to be damned and miserable for ever rather than be saved and made happy this way If you get not Union with and a Marriage-Relation to this sweet Lord you must die and perish for ever Know you not sayes the Apostle that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 If Christ be not in us we are certainly reprobates we are rejected of God and out of his favour and then surely we must perish Naturally we are all dead all lost all condemned Judgment is come upon all men to condemnation Rom. 5.18 and we are all the children of wrath by nature Ephes 2.3 And if ever we be justified and saved it must be by a Marriage-Union and Relation to Christ There is no condemnation sayes the Apostle or as the words are nothing of condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 But as is there implyed there is nothing but condemnation to them that are out of Christ Jesus Once more can you be content to be shut out from the Marriage at last for ever Think of that Scripture and bear the dread of it if you can Matth. 25.10 And they that were ready went into the Marriage and the door was shut shut against others who then would fain enter To be shut out from the Marriage-Supper at last is to be shut out from God from Christ from the Comforter from all the Saints and Angels from all happiness yea and from all hopes of happiness for ever and thus you must expect to be shut out from the Marriage at last if you come not into an espousal to him here And can you bear it think you Can you be content to hear Christ say unto you at last Depart from me depart You would have none of me on earth though I wooed and besought you with tears and therefore now you shall have none of me in Heaven you might have been happy in a union and communion with me and the arms of my love were open to have received you but you would not therefore now depart from me I know you not And can you bear this Besides what is it that keeps your Soul from a close with Christ in this Marriage-Relation A vain World a filthy Lust a painted perishing Pleasure a sensual Appetite And are these better than Christ Are these indeed things to be laid in the Ballance by you against Christ yea and to down-weigh him in your values O monstrous stupidity In short Sirs the Matter I am treating with you about is no trifle 't is of no less moment and importance to you than eternal Life or Death eternal Salvation or Damnation comes to your eternal All depends upon it for you must live or die be saved or damned eternally according as you do
or do not close in with Christ in a Marriage-Union and Relation here Why then should you stand off from him Yea why should not this be the day of espousals between him and you Oh be not shie be not coy to Christ but embrace his love surely his Arms are wide open to receive you his Heart is upon you and his desire is towards you Lift up therefore the everlasting Doors and let this King of Glory in Give up your Names and Souls unto him for ever Some of you are young and have your Affections green and fresh Oh that you would now go with me to sweet Jesus and become his Spouse you cannot love him nor be married to him too soon Oh let him have your hearts before this World hath defiled and debauched them Others of you are older and have outstood the Calls and Offers of Christ long yet loe he once more tenders himself to you Oh now close with him and all will be well yet But for the better succeeding of this Treaty I shall in the managing of it speak to three things 1. I 'le shew you what manner of Husband the Lord Jesus Christ is and how he is qualified to render him desirable in that Relation 2. I 'le shew you what great things he does for all his Spouses 3. I 'le shew you how much his heart is upon a Match with you And now as Abraham's Servant when he was to get a Wife for Isaac Prayed saying O Lord God of my Master Abraham send me good speed this day Gen. 2.12 So would I upon the bended knees of my Soul pray O Lord God the God and Father of my Royal Master Jesus Christ send me good speed this day that I may win through thy Grace a Spouse for him CHAP. VII Which shews what manner of Husband Christ is and how qualified for the endearing of him to Souls and rendering him desirable in a Conjugal-Relation WHat is thy Beloved more than another Beloved that thou dost so charge us So the Daughters of Jerusalem spake unto the Spouse Cant. 5.9 In like manner may some say to me Who or what is this Christ that you do so press us to an espousal with him What is there in him to render him desirable to us Who or what is he Truly I can't tell nor could I had I the tongue of Men and Angels and I am almost afraid to speak of him lest I should darken his Glory instead of displaying it This I am sure of He is as one speaks of him Earths Wonder and Heavens Wonder both and has all that in him and that in infinite eminency and perfection that should render him grateful and desirable to Souls in a Conjugal-Relation Look therefore upon him and view him a little and see if there be any thing you can desire in such a Relation that is wanting in him I 'le lay this more fully before you in these following Particulars 1. Are you for Dignity and Greatness This goes far among men and makes many a Match for this none like Christ none so great so glorious so honourable as he pray view him a little As to his descent He came forth from God viz. by eternal Generation and is the eternal Son of the Eternal Father John 16.28 View him in his Person and there you will see nothing but greatness for he is no other than God-Man and has all the excellencies of both Natures in one Person He is Emmanuel God with us God in our Nature Mat. 1.23 He is God Heb. 1.8 The true God John 5.20 The great God Titus 2.13 The mighty God Isa 9.6 God over all or the most high God Rom. 9.5 God equal with the Father having the same Divine Essence Qui in his Verbis clare assert aeternam Christs divinitatem non videl prorsus caecus est Calv. in â—â—cum and Essential Perfections in him that the Father hath in him Phil. 2.6 He is the brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Character of his Person one in whom the whole Majesty Luster and Glory of the Father shines forth one on whom the Father has engraven all his eterval Excellencies Heb. 1.3 Some small Beams and Rayes of God's Glory do shine forth in the Saints and Angels Pater totam suam essentiam majestatem filio a se ab aeterno genito intimè quasi insculpserit seipsum in filio quasi effigiârit ut sit substantialis imago ejus Glas Rh. Sac. but in Christ the Fulness Lustre and Brightness of it appears View him in his Office and Relation with the Dignity that even here he is advanced unto He is a King a great King King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.6 King of Saints Rev. 15.3 King of Nations Jer. 10.7 King of Glory Psal 24.7 He is the head of all Principalities and Powers and 't is their glory that they have such an Head Col. 2.10 He is the Fellow of the Lord of Hosts Zech. 13.7 He is the first-born of God higher than the Kings of the Earth Psal 89.27 He is set down at Gods own right hand in heavenly places far above all Principalities and Powers and Might and Dominion Ephes 1.20 He is made higher than the Heavens Heb. 7.26 Among all Persons and in all Things whether in Heaven or Earth he has the preheminence Col. 1.18 Such is his greatness that the whole Creation is bound to perform Homage and Worship to him the Angels themselves not excepted Let all the Angels of God worship him says the Father Heb. 1.6 Phil. 2.9 10. God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth i. e. Angels as well as Men must perform worship to him And indeed a refusal so to do would turn Angels into Devils He is to be loved feared believed on obeyed prayed unto praised admired and delighted in by all He is to have equal honour from all with the Father All must honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5.23 What shall I say He has the sovereign Lordship and disposal both of Grace and Glory in his hand The Son quickeneth whom he will John 5.21 He sayes unto one Live and he lives and to another Live and he lives and the rest of the dead live not He has the Keys of Death and Hell Rev. 1.18 He has the Government of the whole World in his hand His Kingdom ruleth over all Psalm 103.19 He is in full possession of a Kingdom over the whole Creation all Judgment being committed to him John 5.22 And O how glorious is he in the whole of it Glorious in his Throne which is at the right hand of God Heb. 1.3 Glorious in his Commission which is all power in Heaven and Earth Matth. 28.18 Glorious in his Scepter which is a Scepter of Righteousness Psal 45.6 Glorious in his Attendants
is in them John 2.24 25. He knows the State the Spirits the Frames the Thoughts the Ends the Counsels the Wayes the Wants the Burthens the Temptations of all In a word he is infinite in Wisdom and Counsel and he knows perfectly as how to promote his own Glory so how to defend save and comfort his Spouses and carry on their happiness in the best way O who would not have such an Husband Soul if thou reject him know that his Wisdom will fight against thee and he does know how to damn and destroy for ever V. Are you for Beauty That takes with most for this none like Christ For Beauty and Comeliness he infinitely surpasses both Men and Angels We read of Moses that he was exceeding fair and of David that he was ruddy and of a beautiful countenance and Josephus reports of the one of them that all that saw him were amazed at and enamoured on his beauty O but what was their beauty to Christs Were their beauty and with theirs the beauty of Men and Angels put together it would all be nothing to the Beauty of Christ Not so much as the light of a Farthing-Candle is to the light of the Sun at noon-day He is Beautiful and Glorious Isa 4.2 Was Moses fair Christ is infinitely more fair He is fairer than the Children of Men Psal 45.2 And had you an eye to behold his Beauty you could not but be amazed at it and enamoured on it Was David ruddy and of a beautiful Countenance See what the Spouse says of Christ Cant. 5.10 My Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand which notes the perfection of his Beauty and therefore she concludes all with this having spoken of the Beauty of his several parts He is altogether lovely vers 16. or he is all loveliness as if she should say What do I do there is no end of his beauty and amiableness there is nothing in him but what is lovely and there is nothing lovely but what is in him neither is there any thing in the whole Creation that has beauty and amiableness enough in it to be a shadow and resemblance of his beauty and amiableness O fair Sun sayes Rutherford and fair Moon and fair Stars and fair Flowers and fair Roses and fair Lillies but O ten thousand thousand times fairer Lord Jesus Alas I have wronged him sayes he in making the comparison this way O black Sun and Moon but O fair Lord Jesus O black Flowers and black Lillies and Roses but O fair fair ever fair Lord Jesus O black Heaven but O fair Christ O black Angels but O surpassingly fair Lord Jesus In short Divines observe that there is somewhat in Christ more amiable than Salvation and indeed there are those Heart-indearing Beauties those Soul-ravishing excellencies in the person of this Beloved that are unspeakably beyond Salvation it self He is the brightness the lustre the shining forth of his Fathers Glory Heb. 1.2 O who would not be ravished with and enamoured on his Beauty A small sight and report thereof set the Daughters of Jerusalem a seeking after him Cant. 6.1 And shall it have no influence upon you to draw and allure you to him Does one so fair and beautiful make love to such black and deformed Creatures as you and I are and shall we refuse him Shall we reject this lovely Lord O that his Beauty might enamour us VI. Are you for Love as well as Loveliness for a sweet kind loving Disposition This is desirable to all for this also none like Christ He is of a most sweet loving tender affable Disposition He indeed is love it self kindness it self Deus est totus amor totus amabilis et totus amans nostri Dix tenderness and compassion it self God is love 1 Joh. 4.16 His love to his Spouses has all dimensions heights breadths depths lengths in it Yea it passes Knowledg Mensuratione isthac dilectionis illius immensurabilitatem immensitatem indicat Apostolus Glas Rhet. Sac. Ephes 3.18 19. which shews the immensity and unmeasurableness of his love as if he should say of it 't is higher than Heaven and deeper than the Sea 't is broader than the Orb of the Earth and longer than all Time during throughout Eternity yea and it passes Knowledge There are two things which exceed our knowledge our Sins and Christs Love the one is almost the other is altogether boundless and bottomless Though a man has never so many accomplishments to commend him yet if he be of a rough crabbed soure disposition this renders him unacceptable for such a Relation But to all his other perfections Christ has this added That he is infinitely loving as well as lovely and of a most kind tender disposition to his Spouses Hence we read in Scripture of his Love his Kindness his Meekness his Gentleness and the like all noting the admirable sweetness and amiableness of his Disposition he wept over his very enemies even them that finally refused him Luk. 19.41 42. Yea he had a kindness for his Murtherers and prayed for them and that whilst they were murthering of him yea and his Prayer carried many of them to Heaven Luke 23.34 O what love what kindness their must he have for his Spouses He that has love for Enemies and such love what must he have for his Friends 'T is a sweet gloss which one of the Ancients has upon the place last quoted Pater ignosce illis O Verbum summi Patris Verbo conveniens orat non solum pro persequentibus calumniantibus sed etiam pro occidentibus sed Pater inquit q. d. Per dilectionem Paternam qua unum sumus supplico tibi ut exaudtas me pro his occisoribus meis ignoscendo agnosce Filii tui amicitiam ut inimicis ignoscas Bern. de pass Dom. Father forgive them they know not what they do This sayes he is a Word becoming the eternal Word the Word of the eternal Father he prayes not onely for his Persecutors and Reproachers but even for his Murtherers improving all his interest in his Father for them saying in effect Father I intreat thee by that fatherly love thou hast for me and by which we are one hear me for these my Murtherers in forgiving of them own the love of thy Son that thou mayest pardon his enemies O what kindness does this argue In a word his love is as an Ocean which has neither brim nor bottom neither can he but be kind to his The Law indeed of kindness as 't is said of the good Wife Prov. 31.26 is in his lips yea and in his heart and carriages too all being full of love Oh! that his love might draw you Surely no love like his love none so full none so free none so sweet none so fruitful none so ravishing none so lasting his love where he loves never fails nor can it ever be broken off Who shall separate us sayes the Apostle from the love of
Christ That is nothing can separate us from his love Neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Heighth nor Depth nor any thing else can do it Rom. 8. 35 38 39. And I think sayes an Holy Man his unchangable love hath said unto me I defie thee to break me or change me Oh sirs experienced Souls will tell you how sweet and good and rich Christ's love is They will tell you one sight one taste of it makes Heaven in the Soul that 't is better than Wine Cant. 1.2 And will you reject him and his love too Will you pour contempt upon so much kindness O how justly then will you perish under his wrath He has wrath in him as well as love wrath for Enemies as well as love for his Spouses and his wrath is as hot and terrible as his love is sweet and comfortable yea his love will if rejected by you turn into wrath and no wrath like that that is the result of abused love Oh therefore close close with Christ this day VII Are you for a Person of esteem one that is much valued and beloved An ingenious Soul would desire this and for this none like Christ As there is none so kind and loving as he so there is none so much valued and beloved as he He is beloved by all whose love is worth the having He is highly valued and beloved by all the Saints both in Heaven and Earth the Saints in Heaven they admire and adore him 't is a part of their happiness to love him and delight in him for ever and the Saints on Earth they love and value him above all others whatever he is the dearly Beloved of their Souls How often does the Spouse call him her Beloved and her Well-Beloved And once and again she declares her self sick of love to him she is enamoured on him he is indeed the desire of all Nations Hag. 2.7 That is to say He whom all the faithful in all Nations do love desire and delight in Hence also that of the Apostle to you that believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2.7 The Saints love and value Christ above all their Natural or Creature-Enjoyments above Father and Mother Husband and Wife and Children and Houses and Lands and the like So much is intimated Mat. 10.37 19.29 they love and value him above all their Spiritual Attainments accounting them but Dung for Christ Phil. 3.8 They love and value him above their lives being ready to die for him Acts 21.13 Rev. 12.11 Oh how dear is Christ to Saints He is also highly valued and beloved by all the Holy Angels He is the great object of their Love and Admiration Hence he is said to be seen of Angels that is to be beloved and delighted in by Angels 1 Tim. 3.16 The blessed Angels do see that in Christ which does enamour them on him and fill them with love to him and delight in him yea which does fill them with perpetual admirings and adorings of him Rev. 5.12 Yea which is more than all this He is infinitely valued and beloved by God the Father also The blessed God sees that in Christ that renders him infinitely amiable and desireable in his Eye and to his Soul both as Son and also as Mediator he is even infinitely dear and precious to the Father As he is the Son of God the Son of the Father as the Apostles expression is so is he the Darling and Delight of the Fathers Soul and was so from all eternity so much he himself tells us Prov. 8.30 So he is the infinite and eternal Favorite of the infinite and eternal Father so he is one in essence with the Father and accordingly must be infinitely dear to the Father Hence he is said to be in the Fathers bosom Tilius in sinu Patris est 1. In aeterna generatione 2. In arctissima unitate 3. In ardentissima dilectione 4. In secretissimorum communicatione Glass Rhet. Sac. and as Son he was so from eternity John 1.18 Now the Bosom is the seat of Love and his being in his Fathers Bosom notes that strong ardent intimate love which the Father has for him yea even as Mediator the Father loves him John 3.35 Yea he loves him with a choice a signal and an eminent love with a love of the highest strain the choicest excellency the sweetest influence a love that has a stamp of special glory upon it Hence he is called the Beloved Ephes 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the Beloved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. in Filio sibi gratissimo dilectissimo Zanch. that is in Christ who is most dear to God Hence God calls him his beloved Son This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Mat. 3.17 Filius dilectionis i.e. Filius dilectissimus Daven in loc Yea he is called the Son of his Love he hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son the Greek is the Son of his Love Col. 1.13 Yea the Father proclaims him to be the delight of his Soul Behold saith he my Servant whom I have chosen mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth Isa 42.1 What shall I say God loves himself infinitely Omnia diligit Deus quae fecit inter ea magis diligit creaturas rationales in illis eas amplius quae sunt membra unigenitisui multo magis ipsum suum unigenitum Aug. and next to himself he loves Christ and delights in him 't is true he loves all the works of his hands as such especially rational Creatures and among them he has a peculiar love for his Saints and the Holy Angels but he loves Christ unspeakably more than all He indeed is first Beloved and most Beloved and best Beloved by him of all others Naturam humanam assumptam a Dei Verbo in Persona Christi Deus plus amat quam omnes Angelos Aqui. God as the School-men observe does love the very flesh or Humane Nature of Christ more than all the Angels In a word he loves him so as that he is even ravished with him and he can't but love all that are in him or related by Covenant to him and that though altogether unlovely in themselves Now Sirs will you not love and embrace this beloved one one that is thus valued and beloved by Saints by Angels and by God the Father And let me say one that is hated and despised by none but Devils and devilish ones Soul if thou reject him whom all the Saints and Angels love admire and adore then never expect to live with them in the fruition of him But reckon upon living with Devils and damned spirits in Hell for ever If thou reject him whom the Father loves and delights in then expect to be rejected both by him and the Father for ever but Soul rather be prevailed with to love him too VIII Are you for Immortality for one that lives for
they are too strong for thee yet they are not too strong for Christ to grapple with and make thee a conquerer over When the Prophets Servant saw what a great and formidable Host compassed the City he cryed out Alas my Master what shall we do And what did his Master answer him Fear not said he for they that be with us be more than they that be with them 2 King 6.15 16. So poor Soul when thou considerest what great and formidable Enemies do compass thee about thou cryest out to one and another Alas Sir what shall I do But I would say to thee as the Prophet to his Servant Fear not there is more with thee than with them thou hast Christ with thee to sight and overcome all for thee therefore chear up give up thy self unto him and the victory over Sin Self World Death Devil and all is thine for ever Oh who would not have such an Husband VII He minds and manages all their Concerns for them 'T is the part of an Husband to mind and manage the Concerns of his Wife and to have a natural care both of her and them And thus 't is with Christ He manages all his Peoples Concerns and that in Heaven on Earth and in their own Souls 1. He minds and manages all their Concerns in Heaven for them Their Affairs lie much in Heaven their Business there is great and Christ their Husband minds all and transacts all for them and that faithfully Indeed he went thither on purpose to transact their Affairs for them Hence he is said to have entered not into the holy place made with hands but into Heaven it-self there to appear in the presence of God for them Heb. 9.24 Hence also he is said to be an Advocate with the Father for them 1 Joh. 2.1 He pleads with the Father for them Have they a Petition to present to the Father for this or the other Mercy He presents and prefers it for them He takes all their Prayers and sprinkles them with his own Blood persumes them with the odours of his own incense and then tenders them to the Father with his own hand Rev. 8. beg We pray very brokenly but he mends our Prayers yea oftentimes when we can't pray when we can't speak for our selves he speaks for us and prefers our Petitions for us Are there Charges and Accusations brought in against them either by Satan the Accuser of the Brethren on the one hand or by the Law and Justice of God which are daily wronged and violated on the other hand Why Christ interposes for them he answers all and invalidates all he rebukes Satan Zach. 3.2 In the first verse we find Joshua standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist or accuse him and in the second verse we have Christ sharply rebuking Satan for his accusation The Lord said unto Satan the Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee And as he rebukes Satan so he satisfies the Law and Justice of the Father Hence he is said to make intercession for them and that to the overthrowing of all those counterpleas which Law or Justice can put in against them Rom. 8.33 34. Have they sinned and do they need a new pardon need to have things set right and even between God and them afresh This also Christ does for them If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Christ Jesus the Righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins 1 Joh. 2.1 2. While they through weakness and temptation are sinning on Earth he out of his Grace and Love is pleading with the Father for them in Heaven Thus he minds all their Concerns in Heaven for them 2. He minds and manages all their Concerns on Earth for them The Saints have their Assairs and Concerns on Earth among men as well as in Heaven with the Father and Christ their Husband minds and transacts all these likewise for them Indeed he is ever mindful of them and at work for them viz. to do them good and to promote their interest Hence sayes he the Father worketh hitherto and I work Joh. 5.17 I am alwayes at work for your good Are they wronged and oppressed by Enemies He avenges all their wrongs Hence he is said to reprove Kings for their sakes Psal 105.14 and elsewhere to plead their cause against their Enemies and the like Do they need deliverance and salvation out of troubles and distresses He brings salvation to them Isa 63.9 Do they need conduct and guidance through their dissiculties and temptations in the Wilderness of the World He leads and guides them He leads Joseph like a flock Psal 80.1 and elsewhere I will guide thee with mine eye He carries them through all their straits and all their difficulties and even when he seems most to forget them even then he is ever mindful of them and of their concerns For he hath graven thâ—â— upon the palms of his hands and their walls are continually before him and though they often say The Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me yet he never forsakes or forgets them nor can he No a Woman may sooner forget her sucking Child and not have compassion upon the Son of her Womb then he can forget his people Isa 49.14 15 16. 3. He minds and manages all their concerns for them in their own Souls The Saints have many and great Concerns to be minded within them concerns of great moment and importance and were they to be minded and managed onely by themselves they would make but poor work O! but Christ their Husband minds and manages all these likewise for them and to be sure they can't miscarry in his hand He gives them his Spirit to work all their works in them and for them He observes what Grace what Strength what Counsel what Comfort they stand in need of and by his Spirit Ministers all to them Hence he is said to give them Grace and Mercy to help in a time of need seasonable supplies Heb. 4.16 and to be both the Author and Finisher of their Faith Heb. 12.2 He minds and observes how the great Work goes on in their Souls and he takes care for the prospering and persecting of it O how should this draw us to Christ and encourage us to accept of the offers of hs love VIII He injoynters them in eternal Life and Glory Husbands use to make Joynters to their Wives they entitle them to such or such Lands and Inheritances So Christ injoynters all his Spouses in no less than eternal Life and Blessedness He makes over a great Joynter to them Glory a weight of Glory an exceeding and an eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 An Inheritance in Light Col. 1.12 An Inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.4 A Kingdom an everlasting Kingdom an everlasting Kingdom prepared for them before the foundation of the World
became of no Beputation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Se câ—acuavit omm glâ—rria i.e. Christas gloriam illam majestatem in qua câ—at apud patram ita ab diderit in forma servi ut eaâ—s se penitus evaâ—â—ssâ— visissit Zanch. in Loc. Fallus quod non crat matens quodeâ—at Her as the Greek is he emptied himself to wit of his glory his glory was veiled and clouded hereby the glory of his God-head was Eclipsed 't is true indeed his Godhead was not hereby lost or laid aside no he was as much and as truly God after his Incarnation as he was before he did not cease to be God by becoming Man but as one of the Ancients expresses it he was made that which he was not and yet remained that which he was he was made Man yet so as that he still remained to be God but though his God-head was not lost or laid aside hereby Carnis humilitas sait instar veli quo Divina majestas tegebatur Calo. yet hereby was the glory of it veiled and lost for a time and he was not content to have it so oh how great a condescention was this oh for him that was God God equal with the Father to become Man to cover himself with the course Veil of our Flesh and be content for so long a time to lose the glory of his Deity which was infinitely dear to him and all this to make way for an Espousal between himself and poor Sinners what self-abasement was this and how should it encourage Souls to look after an Espousal to him 2. He not only became Incarnate but also freely bled and dyed in order hereunto which is a further discovery of his heart herein being sayes the Apostle found in fashion as a Man he humbled himself and became obedient unto the death even the death of the Cross i. e. to the most formidable Death a Death of pain a Death of shame an accursed Death Pâ—il 2.8 Hence also 't is said that he gave himself an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for us Eph. 5. 2. Yea not only did he bleed and suffer and dye but he did all freely and with much readiness and enlargedness of Soul hence he is said to have powred out his Soul unto Death Isa 53.12 Voluntariè scipsum in mortem tradidit Musc in Loc. He seemed in an holy manner prodigal of his Life in the case he thought neither Blood nor Life nor any thing too much for them Oh! how much does this argue his heart to be upon the business It spake Jacob's heart to be much set upon Rachel to have her to Wife that he could be content to undergo so much hard Service for her as he did even seven years Service Jacob 't is said served seven years for Rachel yea and they seemed unto him but a few days for the Love he had to her Gen. 29.20 So surely it argues Christs heart to be much set upon an Espousal with Sinners that he was content not only to serve but even bleed and dye for them in order hereunto Oh Sirs behold and wonder Christ comes from Heaven quits his Throne leaves the bosome of his Father in which he had with insinite delight lain from Eternity behold and wonder the Lord of Life dyes the God of Blessing was made a Curse The infinitely beloved Son treads the Wine-press of the Father's wrath Heaven descends into Hell glory veils and Eclipses it self under shame and ignominy the infinitely holy one is made sin and all this to redeem and redeeming Espouse poor Sinners to himself and is not his heart upon the business think you And has he not Love for them Oh be not saithless but believing 2. Such is the heart of Christ and so set upon an Espousal with Sinners that he condescends sweetly to woo them and solicit them for their Love and acceptance of him Should you see a Man with all carnestness and importunity wooing a Virgin and making Love to her following her from day to day with renewed offers and sollicitations you would conclude his heart was much set upon an Espousal with her And is it not thus with the Lord Jesus towards poor Sinners Does he not woo them and make Love to them and that with all earnestness and pressing importunity following them with renewed offers and sollicitations from day to day Now he meets them in this Ordinance and there he woos them and makes Love to them anon he meets them in that Ordinance and there woos them and makes Love to them now he sends his Ministers and by them woos them and makes Love to them anon he sends his Spirit and by him woos them and makes Love to them thus he is every way and upon all occasions wooing them and in his wooing of them How earnestly does he call and invite them to himself 't is not a cold offer or a slight motion onely that he makes to them but he moves and offers calls and invites with all earnestness and importunity Hoe every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters come ye yea come Isa 55 1. and again the Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that is a thirst come Rev. 22.17 How vigorously does he plead and expostulate the business with them Christ does not onely call and invite but he also pleades and expostulates with sinners in the case and that in the most winning way and with the most weighty arguments that possibly may be Hâ—eâ— every one that thirsteth come unto the waters wherefore do you spend your Money for that which is not bread And your labour for that which satissieth not incline your ear and come unto me hear and your souls shall live and I will make with you an everlasting Covenant even the sure mercies of David Isa 55.2 3. And again turn ye turn ye whâ— will ye dâ—â— O house of â—srael Ezek. 33.11 I have no pleasure in your damnation but had rather that you would come unto me and live why will you dye is not lise better then death is not Heaven better then Hell is not my love better then a Lust are not the Pleasures of any Presence and at my right hand which are for evermore better then the pleasures of sin which are but for a seasor a short season why will you dye is there â—oâ—b 〈◊〉 in Gilâ—ed is there no Physsitian there am not I able to save you to the uttermost and are not my Arms wide open to receive you have not I dyed for that very end that you might live look here 's my Blood here are my Wounds behold me in the Garden and see me bleeding there for you behold me upon the Cross and see me bleeding yea bleeding to death there for you and then see if you can find in your hearts to refuse me any longer In short would you not lose all your cost and all your labour would you enjoy good the best good the most sat is
more compleat and perfect it is Faith's language to Christ when come to any maturity is such as this Lord as all my Life is in thy Death all my Healing in thy Wounds all my Righteousness in thy Obedience so all my Happiness is in thy Presence all my Heaven in the bosom and embraces of thy Love Nor have I any in Heaven but thee neither is there any upon earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 O thus chuse Christ chuse him as the Rest the Solace the Happiness of your Souls and never think of any thing else to be the least part of your Happiness besides Christ 5. Be sure that you chuse and embrace Christ with his Cross and not onely Christ with his Crown Christ crucified as well as Christ glorified Christ upon terms of suffering for him as well as reigning with him he calling thereunto Thus also Christ tenders himself to us and thus must he be chosen and embraced by us Mat. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himself take up his Cross and follow me And Luk. 14.27 Whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple Some are for Christ and his Crown but they stick at his Cross They are for a reigning Christ but not for a persecuted Christ But my Beloved if you would so chuse him as to be married to him you must chuse him as upon the Cross Crucified as well as upon the Throne Glorified The meaning is you must chuse him with a firm resolution to suffer for him if he calls you hereunto you must chuse him as one persecuted and distressed on Earth as well as one dignified and glorified in Heaven In a word you must chuse him for better for worse in all estates and conditions with all his Inconveniences as well as his Priviledges with his Poverty his Imprisonments his Reproaches his Deaths his Dangers his Conflicts and the like that is to say you must chuse him with a willing resolution of mind to undergo all this at his call and for his sake and this indeed is to close with him in his own way and upon his own terms Christ's language to the Soul in the tender of himself to him is such as this Soul I am willing to be espoused to thee I am willing to bestow my self with all my Riches and Fulness upon thee but if thou wilt have me and these thou must be content to suffer for me to be reproach'd to be persecuted to be imprisoned yea to be killed all the day long for me when I please to call thee thereunto And indeed Faith when right closes with him upon these terms Content sayes the Soul being acted by a true Spirit of Faith Christ upon any terms that he thinks fit Christ with the Cross Christ with Reproach with Imprisonment with Death with whatever he pleases rather than go without him And indeed we need not be scared nor terrified at the Cross for there is no Cross so bitter as Christ is sweet there is nothing we can suffer for Christ that is worthy to be compared with the Glory we shall have in Christ and with Christ Besides Christ is worthy to be suffered for and therefore welcome Christ and welcome his Cross too Truly my Beloved Christ's Cross is sweet very sweet as he makes it That sweet-smell'd and perfum'd Cross of Christ sayes one is accompanied with sweet refreshments with the Kisses of a King with the Joy of the Holy Ghost therefore scare not at it but chuse him with his Cross as well as his Crown 6. Be sure that you chuse Christ often and think it not one single Act or Work onely to chuse and embrace him If you would indeed make sure of Christ and an espousal to him you should chuse him and embrace him anew every day We are apt to look upon the Work of chusing and embracing Christ as one single Act or Work onely but my Beloved 't is a Work that should be often repeated by often repeating of it we should grow more sound more strong more distinct in it As a second Edition corrects the Errors of the first so after Acts of believing in this kind do supply the defects of the first Act Indeed my advice to you is that you would make as much conscience of chusing and embracing Christ afresh every day as of praying every day especially if you be either young beginners in believing or older believers under clouds and darkness St. Paul made fresh choices of Christ to the very last Phil. 3.8 9. And 't is the duty of them that do believe to believe These things write I unto you sayes St. John that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God 1 John 5.13 They did believe and he would have them to believe afresh every day and so would I have you do every day renew the first great Act of Faith in your closing with Christ so shall every day be a day of espousals between Christ and you and so by degrees shall you come to the sense and comfort of this espousal I have read of some who never came to a sight and sense of their Union with Christ till they took this course Thus I have now shewn you the way how you may come to be espoused to Christ as well as what an Husband he is what great things he does for his Spouses and how much his Heart is set upon an espousal with sinners Now will you take this course Or shall all be lost with you Possibly the whole will have a different effect upon those that read or hear these things Some I hope will be won and gained to Christ by them others I fear will reject and despise all and that either out of a spirit of profaneness or insensibility of their need of and concernedness in these things If any Soul shall reject them out of a spirit of profaneness I would say to such a Soul as Solomon to the Scorner Prov. 9.12 If thou scornest thou alone shalt bear it thou alone shalt bear all thy sins and all the wrath and vengeance of God due to them If any shall reject these things out of a Spirit of insensibility of their need of and concern in them their case is the more to be pittied for the more insensible they are of their misery without Christ the greater is that misery of theirs What more miserable sayes Austin Quid miserius miserâ— non miserante sepisum Aug. then for a miserable man not to commiserate himself Others it may be stand doubting and trembling daring neither to reject nor yet to embrace not reject because their need of Christ is so great the worth of Christ so eminent and the guilt of the rejection of Christ so black nor yet embrace because their sins are so many and their unworthiness so great To such I would say cease thy trembling and delay thy