_Second_ general head, under which I was to shew, what duties of love
they owe to JESUS CHRIST, who are so happy as to be able to say, “My
Maker is my husband.”
I say, duties of love. For being now married to JESUS CHRIST, you
work not for life, but from life. The love of GOD constrains you, so
that, if there was no written law, or supposing JESUS would set you
at liberty from his yoke, so far as grace prevails in your hearts, you
would say, we love our blessed bridegroom, and will not go from him.
And what does the LORD require of you? That we may speak on this head
as plainly as may be, we shall pursue the method we begun with; and,
by carrying on the allegory, and examining what is required of truly
christian wives, under the gospel, infer what our LORD may justly
demand of those who are united to him by faith, and can therefore say,
“our Maker is our husband.”
And here let us go to the law and to the testimony. What says the
scripture? “Let the wife see that she _reverence_ her husband.” It is,
no doubt, the duty of married women to think highly of their husbands.
From whom may husbands justly command respect, if not from their wives?
The apostle’s expression is emphatical. “Let the wife see that she
reverence her husband;” thereby implying, that women, some of them
at least, are too prone to disrespect their husbands; as _Michal_,
_Saul_’s daughter, despised _David_ in her heart, when she tauntingly
said, 2 _Samuel_ vi. 20. “How glorious was the king of _Israel_ to-day,
who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his
servants, as one of the vain fellows shamlessly uncovereth himself.”
This is a source and fountain, from whence many domestic evils
frequently flow. Women should remember the character that husbands
sustain in scripture. They are to them, what CHRIST is to the church.
And it is mentioned to the honour of _Sarah_, that she called _Abraham_
“Lord.” “Shall I have a child who am old, _my Lord_ being old also?” It
is remarkable, there are but two good words in that whole sentence, “my
Lord,” (for all the others are the language of unbelief) and yet those
two words the Holy Ghost mentions to her eternal honour, and buries,
as it were, the rest in oblivion. “Even as _Sarah_ (says St. _Peter_)
obeyed _Abraham_, calling him Lord.” An evident proof how pleasing it
is in the sight of GOD, for women in the married state to reverence and
respect their husbands. Not that husbands therefore should lord it over
their wives, or require too much respect at their hands. This would be
unchristian, as well as ungenerous, indeed. They ought rather, as GOD
has taken such care to keep up their authority, commanding their wives
to reverence and respect them; they ought, I say, to be doubly careful,
that they live so holy and unblameable, as to lay their wives under no
temptation to despise them. But to return from this digression. Does
the apostle say, “Let the wife see that she reverence her husband?” May
I not pertinently apply this caution to you who are married to JESUS
CHRIST? See to it that you reverence and respect your husband. I say,
_see to it_. For the devil will be often suggesting to you hard and
mean thoughts against your husband. It was thus he beset our mother
_Eve_, even in a state of innocence. He would fain persuade her to
entertain hard thoughts of her glorious benefactor. “What, has GOD
said, ye shall not eat of the trees of the garden?” Has he been so
cruel to put you here in a beautiful garden only to vex and teize you?
This he made use of as an inlet to all his succeeding insinuations. And
this trade he is still pursuing, and will be pursuing to the very end
of time. Besides, in the eyes of the world, JESUS CHRIST has no form
or comeliness that they should desire him; and therefore, unless you
“watch and pray,” you will be led into temptation, and not keep up such
high thoughts of your blessed JESUS as he justly deserves. In this you
can never exceed. Women, perhaps, may sometimes think too highly of,
and, through excess of love, idolize their earthly comforts. But it is
impossible for you to think too highly of your heavenly husband, JESUS
CHRIST.
Farther, what says the apostle in his epistle to the _Ephesians_?
Speaking of the marriage state, he says, “The wife is the _glory_ of
her husband;” as though he had said, a christian wife should so behave,
and so walk, as to be a credit to her husband. As _Abigail_ was an
honour to _Nabal_, and by her sweet deportment made up, in some degree,
for her husband’s churlishness. This is to be a help-meet indeed. Such
a woman will be praised in the gate; and her husband get glory, and
meet with respect on her account. And ought a woman to be the glory of
her husband? How much more ought you, that are the Lamb’s bride, so to
live, and so to walk, as to bring glory, and gain respect, to the cause
and interest of your husband JESUS? This is what the apostle every
where supposes, when he would draw a parallel between a temporal and
spiritual marriage. “The woman, is the glory of her husband, even as
the church is the glory of CHRIST.” Agreeable to this, he tells the
_Corinthians_, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all
to the glory of GOD;” and as he also speaks to the _Thessalonians_, 1
_Thessalonians_ ii. 11, 12. “As you know how we exhorted, and comforted,
and charged every one of you (as a father doth his children) that you
would walk worthy of GOD who hath called you to his kingdom, and his
glory.” What an expression is here! “That you would walk worthy of
GOD.” O! how ought this, and such like texts, to stir up your pure
minds, O believers, so to have your conversation in this world, that
you may be what the apostle says some particular persons were, even
“the glory of CHRIST.” You are his glory; he rejoices over you with
singing; and you should so walk, that all who know and hear of you,
may glorify CHRIST in you.
_Subjection_, is another duty, that is enjoined married women, in the
word of GOD. They are to “be subject to their own husbands in every
thing,” every lawful thing: “For, the husband is the head of the wife,
even as CHRIST is the head of the church.” And knowing how unapt some
base minds would be to submit to the husband’s authority, he takes
care to enforce this duty of subjection by many cogent and powerful
arguments. “For _Adam_ was first made, and not _Eve_. Neither was the
man made for the woman, but the woman for the man.” And again, “The man
was not first in the transgression, but the woman.” Upon which accounts,
subjection was imposed on her as part of her punishment. “Thy desire
(says GOD) shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule (though not
tyrannize) over thee.” So that, to use the words of pious Mr. _Henry_,
those who attempt to usurp authority over their husbands, not only
contradict a divine command, but thwart a divine curse. And if women
are to be subject to their own husbands in every thing, how much more
ought believers, whether men or women, to be subject to JESUS CHRIST:
for he is the head of the church. He has bought her by his blood.
Believers therefore are not their own, but are under the highest
obligations to glorify and obey JESUS CHRIST, in their bodies and their
souls, which are his. Add to this, that his service, as it is admirably
expressed in one of our collects, is perfect freedom. His commandments
holy, just, and good. And therefore it is your highest privilege, O
believers, to submit to, and obey them. Earthly husbands may be so
mean as to impose some things upon their wives, merely to shew their
authority; but it is not so with JESUS CHRIST. He can and does impose
nothing, but what immediately conduces to our present, as well as
future good. In doing, nay, in suffering for JESUS CHRIST, there is
a present unspeakable reward. And therefore I may say to believers,
as the blessed Virgin said to the servants at the marriage in _Cana_,
“Whatsoever he says unto you, do it.” “For his yoke is easy, and his
burden is light.” And I believe it might easily be proved in a few
minutes, that all the disorders which are now in the world, whether in
church or state, are owing to a want of being universally, unanimously,
chearfully, and perseveringly conformed to the laws and example of our
LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST.
Again, _Faithfulness_ in the marriage state, is strictly enjoined
in the scriptures of truth. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the
bed undefiled. But whoremongers and adulterers GOD will judge.” Nay,
adultery is an iniquity to be punished by the earthly judges; it
dissolves the marriage relation. “For the man has not power over his
own body, but the woman; neither has the woman power over her own body,
but the man.” The heathens themselves have been taught this by the
light of nature; and adultery, among some of them, is punished with
immediate death. And ought married persons to be thus careful to keep
the marriage-bed undefiled, how carefully then ought believers to
keep their souls chaste, pure, and undefiled, now they are espoused to
JESUS CHRIST? For there is such a thing as spiritual adultery; “O ye
adulterers and adulteresses,” saith St. _James_. And GOD frequently
complains of his people’s playing the harlot. Hence it is, that St.
_John_, in the most endearing manner, exhorts believers to “keep
themselves from idols.” For the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh,
and pride of life, are always ready to steal away our hearts from JESUS
CHRIST. And every time we place our affections upon any thing more
than CHRIST, we do undoubtedly commit spiritual adultery. For we admit
a creature to rival the Creator, who is GOD over all, blessed for
evermore. “Little children, therefore, keep yourselves from idols.”
But it is time for me to draw towards the close of this head.
_Fruitfulness_ was a blessing promised by GOD to the first happy pair;
“Increase and multiply, and replenish the earth.” “Lo, children, and
the fruit of the womb, (says the Psalmist) are a gift and heritage,
which cometh of the LORD.” And so, if we are married to JESUS CHRIST,
we must be fruitful. In what? In every good word and work: for thus
speaks the Apostle, in his epistle to the _Romans_: “Wherefore, my
brethren, ye also are become dead to the law, by the body of CHRIST,
that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from
the dead.” What follows? “That we should bring forth fruit unto GOD.”
Glorious words, and proper to be considered in a peculiar manner,
by such who would explode the doctrine of free justification, as an
_Antinomian_ doctrine, and as though it destroyed good works. No;
it establishes, and lays a solid foundation, whereon to build the
superstructure of good works. _Titus_ is therefore commanded to “exhort
believers to be careful to maintain good works.” And “herein (says
our LORD) is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven:” with a multitude of passages
to the same purpose.
Moreover, it is required of wives, that they not only love and
reverence their husbands, but that they also love and respect their
_husband’s friends_. And if we are married to JESUS CHRIST, we shall
not only reverence the bridegroom, but we shall also love and honour
the bridegroom’s friends. “By this, shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye love one another.” “By this we know, (says the beloved
disciple) that we have passed from death to life, because we love
the brethren.” Observe, _the brethren_, indefinitely, of whatever
denomination. And this love must be “without dissimulation, and with
a pure heart fervently.” This was the case of the primitive christians.
They were all of one heart, and of one mind. It was said of them
(O that it could be said of us!) “See how these christians love one
another!” They were of the same spirit as a good woman of _Scotland_
was, who, when she saw a great multitude, as is customary in that
country, coming from various parts to receive the blessed sacrament,
saluted them with a “Come in, ye blessed of the LORD, I have an house
that will hold an hundred of you, and a heart that will hold ten
thousand.” Let us go and do likewise.
Once more. Persons that are married, take one another _for better_ or
_for worse_, for richer or for poorer, to love and to cherish each
other in sickness and in health. And if we are married to JESUS CHRIST,
we shall be willing to bear his _cross_, as well as to wear his _crown_.
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross,
and follow me.” Neither will they be compelled to do this, as _Simon_
of _Cyrene_ was, but they will be volunteers in his service; they will
cry out, Crown him, crown him, when others are crying out, “Crucify
him, crucify him.” They will never leave or forsake him, but willingly
follow the Captain of their salvation, though it be through a sea of
blood.
I might run the parallel still further, and also enlarge upon the hints
already given; but I fear I have said enough already to reproach most
believers; I am sure I have said more than enough to abash and upbraid
myself. For alas! how vilely, treacherously, and ungratefully have we
behaved towards our spiritual husband, the dear LORD JESUS, ever since
the day of our espousals? Had our friends, or even the wives of our
own bosoms, behaved to us as we have behaved to our great and best
friend, our glorious husband, we should have broken off our friendship,
and sued for a bill of divorcement long ago. Under our first love,
what promises did we make to him? But how frowardly have we behaved
ourselves in this covenant? How little have we reverenced him? How
often has our Beloved been no more to us than another beloved? How
little have we lived to his glory? Have we not been a shame and
reproach to his gospel? Have we not crucified him afresh, and has he
not been sorely wounded in the house of his friends? Nay, has not his
holy name been blasphemed through our means? For alas! how little have
we obeyed him? How careless and indifferent have we been, whether we
pleased him or not? We have often said, indeed, when commanded by him
to go work in his vineyard, We go, LORD; but alas! we went not. Or if
we did go, with what reluctance has it been? How unwilling to watch
with our dear Lord and Master, only one hour? And of his sabbaths, how
often have we said, What a weariness is this? As for our adulteries,
and spiritual fornications, how frequent, how aggravated have they
been? Have not idols of all sorts, been suffered to fill up the room of
the ever-blessed JESUS in our hearts? You that love him in sincerity,
will not be offended if I tell you, that the xvith chapter of _Ezekiel_
gives, in my opinion, a lively description of our behaviour towards
our LORD. We were, like base-born children, cast out in the field to
the loathing of our persons: no eye pitied or had compassion on us.
JESUS passed by, saw us polluted in our own blood, and said unto us,
“Live,” _i. e._ preserved us, even in our natural state, from death.
And when his time of love was come, he spread the skirt of his imputed
righteousness over us, and covered the nakedness of our souls, entered
into covenant with us, and we became his. He washed us also with
water, even in the laver of regeneration, and thoroughly washed us
by his precious blood, from the guilt of all our sins. He cloathed
us also with broidered work, and decked us with ornaments, even with
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. We did eat fine
flour and honey at his ordinances, and we fed on JESUS CHRIST in our
hearts by faith, with thanksgiving. In short, we were made exceeding
beautiful, and the kingdom of GOD was erected in our hearts. We were
renowned among our neighbours for our love to GOD, and all that knew us
took knowledge of us, that we had been with JESUS. But alas! how have
we fallen, who were once sons of the morning! How have we trusted in
our own beauty, have grown spiritually proud, and provoked our patient
and unspeakably long-suffering LORD to anger? Where is that ardent love
we spake of, when we told him, that, though we should die for him, we
would not deny him in any wise? How desperately wicked, and deceitful
above all things, have we proved our hearts to be, since we have done
all these things, even the work of an imperious woman? These are great
and numerous charges; but great and numerous as they are, there is not
a single believer here present, but, if he knows his own heart, may
plead guilty to some, or all of them. But this is a tender point: I see
you concerned: your tears, O believers, are a proof of the anguish of
your souls. And can any of us give any reason, why JESUS CHRIST should
not give us a bill of divorcement, and put us away? May he not justly
speak to us as he did to his adultress _Israel_, in the forementioned
xvith of _Ezekiel_, “Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD; I
will judge thee as women that break wedlock, and shed blood, are judged.
I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy, because thou hast not
remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these
things. Behold, therefore, I also will recompence thy way upon thy head.
I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, who hast despised the
oath, in breaking the covenant, the marriage contract that was between
us.” This, I am persuaded, you will confess to be the treatment which
we all most justly deserve. But be not overwhelmed with over-much
sorrow: for though the LORD our GOD is a jealous GOD, and will
certainly ♦visit our offences with a rod, and our backslidings with
a spiritual scourge, yet his loving-kindness will he not utterly take
from us, nor suffer his truth to fail. Though we have changed, yet
he changeth not: He abideth faithful: his loving-kindness abideth for
evermore. Hark! how sweetly he speaks to his backsliding people of
old; “O _Israel_, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.
I will heal their backsliding, and love them freely.” And in the verses
immediately following the words of the text, how comfortably does he
address his espoused people! “In a little wrath, I hid my face from
thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on
thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of _Noah_
unto me: for as I have sworn, that the waters of _Noah_ should no more
go over the earth; so have I sworn, that I would not be wroth with
thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills
be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall
the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy
on thee.” O that this goodness may lead us to repentance! O that this
unparalleled, infinite, unchangeable love, may constrain us to an
universal, uniform, chearful, unanimous, persevering obedience to all
the commands of GOD!
♦ “vsit” replaced with “visit”
Brethren, my heart is enlarged towards you, and I could dwell a long
while upon the many great and precious invitations that are made to
backsliders, to return to their first love, and do their first works:
but it is high time for me, if, as was proposed,
III. I give to every one their proper portion; to speak to those poor
souls, who know nothing of this blessed Bridegroom of the church, and
consequently cannot yet say, “My Maker is my husband.”
Ah! I pity you from my inmost soul; I could weep over, and for you,
though perhaps you will not weep for yourselves. But surely you would
weep, and howl too, did you know the miserable condition those are in,
who are not married to JESUS CHRIST. Will you give me leave (I think
I speak it in much love) to inform you, that if you are not married to
JESUS CHRIST, you are married to the law, the world, the flesh, and the
devil, neither of which can make you happy; but all, on the contrary,
concur to make you miserable. Hear ye not, ye that are married to the
law, and seek to be justified in the sight of GOD, partly, at least,
if not wholly, by your own works, what the law saith to those that are
under it, as a covenant of works? “Cursed is every one that continueth
not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
Every word breathes threatening and slaughter to poor fallen creatures.
Cursed, both here and hereafter, be this man, and every one, naturally
engendered of the offspring of _Adam_, without exception, that
continueth not, even to the very end of life, in all things; not only
in some, or many, but in all things, that are written in the book of
the law, to do them, in the utmost perfection: for “he that offendeth
in one point, is guilty of all.” So that, according to the tenor of the
covenant of works, whosoever is guilty of one wicked thought, word, or
action, is under the curse of an angry sin-avenging GOD. “For as many
as are under the law, are under the curse.” And do you know what it is
to be under the curse of GOD, and to have the Wrath of GOD abide upon
you? If you did, I believe you would not be so unwilling to be divorced
from the law, and be espoused, as chaste virgins, to JESUS CHRIST.
And why are ye so wedded to the world? Did it ever prove faithful or
satisfactory to any of its votaries? Has not _Solomon_ reckoned up the
sum total of worldly happiness? And what does it amount to? “Vanity,
vanity, saith the preacher, all is vanity,” nay he adds, “and vexation
of spirit.” And has not a greater than _Solomon_ informed us, that
a man’s life, the happiness of a man’s life, doth not consist in the
things which he possesseth? Besides, “know ye not that the friendship
of this world is enmity with GOD; so that whosoever will be a friend
to the world, (to the corrupt customs and vices of it) is an enemy to
GOD?” And what better reasons can you give for being wedded to your
lusts? Might not the poor slaves in the gallies, as reasonably be
wedded to their chains? For do not your lusts fetter down your souls
from GOD? Do they not lord it, and have they not dominion over you? Do
not they say, Come, and ye come; Go, and ye go; Do this, and ye do it?
And is not he or she that liveth in pleasure, dead, whilst he liveth?
And above all, how can ye bear the thoughts of being wedded to the
devil, as every natural man is: for thus speaks the scripture, “He
now ruleth in the children of disobedience.” And how can ye bear to be
ruled by one, who is such a professed open enemy to the most high and
holy GOD? Who will make a drudge of you, whilst you live, and be your
companion in endless and extreme torment, after you are dead? For thus
will our LORD say to those on the left hand, “Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” But,
IV. Will you permit me, O sinners, that I may draw towards a close of
this discourse, to propose a better match to your souls. This is a part
of the discourse which I long to come to, it being my heart’s desire,
and earnest prayer to GOD, that your souls may be saved. “And now, O
LORD GOD Almighty, thou Father of mercies, and GOD of all consolations,
thou GOD and Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who hast promised to give
thy Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of
the earth for his possession, send me good speed this day, O LORD, send
me now prosperity. Behold, I stand here without the camp, bearing a
little of thy dear Son’s sacred reproach! Hear me, O LORD, hear me, and
according to thy word, let thy dear, thine only begotten Son, see of
the travel of his soul, and be satisfied! O help me so to speak, that
many may believe on, and cleave unto thy blessed, thine holy child
JESUS!”
But who am I, that I should undertake to recommend the blessed JESUS to
others, who am myself altogether unworthy to take his sacred name into
my polluted lips? Indeed, my brethren, I do not count myself worthy
of such an honour; but since it has pleased him, in whom all fulness
dwells, to count me worthy, and put me into the ministry, the very
stones would cry out against me, did I not attempt, at least, to lisp
out his praise; and earnestly recommend the ever-blessed JESUS to the
choice of all.
Thus _Abraham_’s faithful servant behaved, when sent out to fetch a
wife for his master _Isaac_. He spake of the riches and honours, which
GOD had conferred on him; but what infinitely greater honours and
riches, has the GOD and Father of our LORD JESUS, conferred on his only
Son, to whom I now invite every christless sinner! To you, therefore,
I call, O ye sons of men, assuring you, there is every thing in JESUS
that your hearts can desire, or hunger and thirst after. Do people in
disposing of themselves or their children in marriage, generally covet
to be matched with persons of _great names_? Let this consideration
serve as a motive to stir you up to match with JESUS. For GOD the
Father has given him a name above every name; he has upon his vesture,
and upon his thigh, a name written, “The King of kings, and the Lord
of lords;” and here in the text we are told, “The Lord of Hosts is his
name.” Nor has he an empty title, but power equivalent; for he is a
prince, as well as a saviour. “All power is given unto him, both in
heaven and on earth:” “The GOD of the whole earth, (says our text) he
shall be called.” The government of men, of the church, and of devils,
is put upon his shoulders: “Thrones, principalities and powers, are
made subject unto him; by him kings reign, and princes decree justice;
he setteth up one, and putteth down another: and of his kingdom there
shall be no end.” Will _riches_ be an inducement unto you to come
and match with JESUS? Why then, I can tell you, the riches of JESUS
are infinite: for unto me, who am less than the least of all saints,
is this grace given, that I should preach to poor sinners, the
unsearchable riches of JESUS CHRIST. I appeal to you that are his
saints, whether you have not found this true, by happy experience; and
though some of you, may have been acquainted with him thirty, forty,
fifty years ago, do you not find his riches are yet unsearchable, and
as much past finding out, as they were the very first moment in which
you gave him your hearts!
Would you match with a _wise husband_? Haste then, sinners, come away
to JESUS: He is the fountain of wisdom, and makes all that come unto
him, wise unto salvation; “He is the wisdom of the Father: the LORD
possessed him in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
When he prepared the heavens, he was there; when he appointed the
foundations of the earth, then was he with him, as one brought up with
him; he was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” As he
is wise, so is he _holy_; and therefore, in the words of our text, he
is stiled, “The Redeemer, the Holy One of _Israel_:” and by the angel
_Gabriel_, “That holy Thing.” The apostles, addressing GOD the Father,
stile him his “holy child JESUS:” and the spirits of just men made
perfect, and the angels in heaven, cease not day or night, saying,
“Holy, holy, holy.” Nor is his _beauty_ inferior to his wisdom or
holiness; the seraphs veil their faces, when they appear before him:
“He is the chiefest among ten thousand, nay, he is altogether lovely.”
And, as he is altogether lovely, so is he altogether _loving_: his
name and his nature is Love. GOD, GOD in CHRIST is love: love in the
abstract. And in this has he manifested his love, in that, whilst we
were yet sinners, nay open enemies, JESUS, in his own due time, died
for the ungodly. He loved us so as to give himself for us. O what
manner of love is this! What was _Jacob_’s love to _Rachel_, in
comparison of the love which JESUS bore to a perishing world! He became
a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is every man that hangeth
upon a tree.” What _Zipporah_ said to her husband improperly, JESUS may
say properly to his spouse the church, “A bloody wife hast thou been
to me, because of the crucifixion.” For he has purchased her with his
own blood. And having once loved his people, he loves them unto the
end. His love, like himself, is from everlasting to everlasting. He
hates putting away: though we change, yet he changeth not: he abideth
faithful. When we are married here, there comes in that shocking clause,
to use the words of holy Mr. _Boston_, “Till death us doth part;” but
death itself shall not separate a true believer from the love of GOD,
which is in CHRIST JESUS his Lord: for he will never cease loving his
Bride, till he has loved her to heaven, and presented her before his
Father, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. Nay, his love will,
as it were, but be beginning, through the endless ages of eternity.
And now, Sirs, what say you? Shall I put that question to you, which
_Rebecca_’s relations, upon a proposal of marriage, put to her? “Will
ye go with the man?” With the God-man, this infinitely great, this
infinitely powerful, this all-wise, all-holy, altogether lovely,
ever-loving JESUS? What objection have you to make against such a
gracious offer? One would imagine, you had not a single one; but it is
to be feared, through the prevalency of unbelief, and the corruption of
your desperately wicked deceitful hearts, you are ready to urge several.
Methinks I hear some of you say within yourselves, “We like the
proposal, but alas! we are poor.” Are you so? If that be all, you may,
notwithstanding, be welcome to JESUS: “For has not GOD chosen the poor
of this world, to make them rich in faith, and heirs of his everlasting
kingdom?” And what says that Saviour, to whom I am now inviting you?
“Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
And what says his Apostle concerning him? “Though he was rich, yet for
our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made
rich.” But say you, “We are not only poor, but we are in debt; we owe
GOD ten thousand talents, and have nothing to pay;” but that need not
keep you back: for GOD the Father, from the LORD JESUS, his dearly
beloved Son, has received double for all believers sins: the blood of
JESUS cleanseth from them all. But you are blind, and miserable, and
naked; to whom then should you fly for succour, but to JESUS, who came
to open the eyes of the blind, to seek and save the miserable and lost,
and cloath the naked with his perfect and spotless righteousness. And
now, what can hinder your espousals with the dear and ever-blessed Lamb
of GOD? I know but of one thing, that dreadful sin of unbelief. But
this is my comfort, JESUS died for unbelief, as well as for other sins,
and has promised to send down the Holy Spirit to convince the world
of this sin in particular: “If I go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you; but if I go away, I will send the Comforter, and he
will convince the world of sin.” What sin? of unbelief; “because they
believe not on me.” O that this promise may be so fulfilled in your
hearts, and JESUS may so become the author of divine faith in your
souls, that you may be able to send me the same message as a good woman
in _Scotland_, on her dying bed, sent me by a friend: “Tell him, (says
she) for his comfort, that at such a time he married me to the LORD
JESUS.” This would be comfort indeed. Not that we can marry you to
CHRIST: No; the Holy Ghost must tie the marriage knot. But such honour
have all GOD’s ministers; under him they espouse poor sinners to JESUS
CHRIST. “I have espoused you (says St. _Paul_) as a chaste virgin to
JESUS CHRIST.” O that you may say, We will go with the man; then will
I bow my head, as _Abraham_’s servant did, and go with joy and tell my
Master, that he has not left his poor servant destitute this day: then
shall I rejoice in your felicity. For I know, my Master will take you
into the banqueting-house of his ordinances, and his banner over you
shall be love. That this may be the happy case of you all, may the
glorious GOD grant, for the sake of JESUS his dearly beloved Son, the
glorious bridegroom of his church; to whom, with the Father, and the
Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. _Amen_, and
_Amen_.