I. How CHRIST doth espouse himself unto the children, but, more
especially, unto the daughters of men.
The LORD JESUS CHRIST, doth espouse himself unto the children of
men, in this world, but the public solemnization of the marriage, is
reserved until the last day; when his spouse shall be brought forth to
him, in white robes, and a raiment of perfect righteousness, more rich
and curious, my dear sisters, than any of your needle-work; and the
marriage feast will be kept in his Father’s house, in heaven, where
they shall be received into the nearest and closest embraces of his
love. The marriage knot is tied here, in which are included four things:
_First_, Mutual Choice.
_Secondly_, Mutual Affection.
_Thirdly_, Mutual Union.
_Fourthly_, Mutual Obligation.
_First_, My dear sisters, there is a _mutual choice_, which is not
only in CHRIST, as Mediator, but also by CHRIST as the eternal Son of
GOD, yea, GOD himself; notwithstanding all that the polite _Arians_ and
_Socinians_ say to the contrary. The LORD JESUS CHRIST, my dear sisters,
doth chuse you merely by his free grace; it is freely of his own
mercy, that he brings you into the marriage covenant: You, who have so
grievously offended him, yet, the LORD JESUS CHRIST hath chosen you;
you did not, you would not have chosen him; but when once, my dear
sisters, he hath chosen you, then, and not till then, you make choice
of him for your Lord and Husband.
The LORD JESUS CHRIST when he first comes to you, finds you full of
sin and pollution; you are deformed, defiled, enslaved, poor, miserable
and wretched, very despicable and loathsome, by reason of sin; and he
maketh choice of you, not because of your holiness, nor of your beauty,
nor of your being qualified for them; no, the LORD JESUS CHRIST puts
those qualifications upon you, as may make you meet for his embrace;
and you are drawn to make choice of this LORD JESUS CHRIST because he
first chose you.
_Secondly_, In this espousal of your’s, my dear sisters, there is a
_mutual affection_; this doth accompany the choice. Your hearts are
drawn out after CHRIST; your souls pant and long for him; you cannot be
at rest until you are engaged to this JESUS: You are ready to cry out
continually, none but CHRIST, none but CHRIST: this is the language of
your hearts, if you are truly sensible of your need of him. The more
acquaintance you have of this LORD JESUS, the more pleased you are with
your choice, and the more your affections are drawn towards him. And
where can you place your affections better than upon that JESUS who
shed his blood for your sakes? Surely he deserves both your loves and
affections: Go on, go on, my dear sisters, that your affections may
grow stronger and stronger.
_Thirdly_, There is not only mutual choice, and mutual affection, but
likewise _mutual Union_: And here doth the marriage lie chiefly, in
this union; CHRIST and souls are contracted, and the knot is tied so
fast, that neither men on earth, how great soever they be, nor devils
in hell, though they should combine all their wrath and rage together,
still they cannot dissolve, they cannot untie it; no, my dear sisters,
it is indissolvable, for the union is, by the spirit, on CHRIST’s part,
and by faith on your’s: By the spirit, CHRIST doth lay hold on you; and
by faith, you do lay hold on him; and thus the match is made; CHRIST
becomes your’s, his person, portion, and all his benefits are your’s;
and you become CHRIST’s, your persons, your hearts, and all that you
have is resigned up unto him; and O that they may be so more and more.
_Fourthly_, There is a _mutual Obligation_ between CHRIST and his
spouse. CHRIST obliges himself to love you here; he will not, indeed
he never will leave you, he will protect you from the malice of
the _Pharisees_ of this generation, he will provide for you in all
difficulties; he will live with you here, and at last he will take you
to himself, to live with him for ever. And you are engaged to him to
be loving, loyal, faithful, obedient; and you are to stick close to him
as long as you live; and then you will find yourselves to be married to
the best advantage, both for soul and body, for time and for eternity.