A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

7 As spouses of one husband, Christ: this is a near partaking.^a A man shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. The husband and the wife are one flesh, the believer and Christ are one spirit. This is an ineffable mystery, my heart feels it, no tongue can express it. Here all language is lost, and admiration seals up every lip: we may drowsily hear it, and coldly be affected with it; but let me say, principalities and, powers, nature and reason, men and Angels stand amazed at it. But what do we thus partake of the Divine nature, by this marriage to Christ. 1 We have Oscula, his kisses; and this is arrha fidei & amoris, the earnest of love and faithfulness [Greek or Hebrew] a kiss, of [Greek or Hebrew] to love: whom God kisseth, he loveth: as the Father well-comed his returning son, he fell on his neck and kissed him, Luke 15.20. No token of affection more lively, more lovely than a kiss. 2. Amplexum, his embracings. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me, Cant. 15.20. God is said to have a right hand and a left, Pro. 3.16. with Riches and Honours, which are the gifts of his left hand, he lifts up my dejected head: with eternal life, which is the gift of his right hand, he embraceth my sides for ever.^b Who so puts his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side. 3. Concubitum, we sleep with him;^* our Bed is green. Make ready his bed, if thou wouldest have his company, sweep the chamber of thy heart from all the dusts of evil thoughts, and annoyance of lusts: give him fine linen, Innocency of spirit: a pillow of Charity, a covering of obedience to keep him warm; and let the down bed of thy faith be prepared; then he will lodge with thee. 4. He gives his spouse a Jointure or portion. As in the solemnising of a marriage on earth, the husband says to his wife; with all my worldly goods, I thee endow: so Christ endows us with his riches of glory.^c My beloved is mine and I am his. Blessed exchange! he is ours, we are his: yea all ours are made his, all his is made ours. We brought him a portion of wickedness, of wretchedness; the fee-simple of sin, death and hell: he bore all those torments, and so took them that he took them away. He brings us another manner of Jointure or endowment; justification, sanctification, freedom, grace and peace on earth, glory and joy in heaven.