A09970:119
The golden sceptre held forth to the humble With the Churches dignityThe golden scepter held forth to the humble VVith the Churches dignitie
The golden sceptre held forth to the humble With the Churches dignity by her marriage. And the Churches duty in her carriage. In three treatises. The former delivered in sundry sermons in Cambridge, for the weekly fasts, 1625. The two latter in Lincolns Inn. By the late learned and reverend divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to His Majesty, Mr. of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and sometime preacher at Lincolns Inn.The golden scepter held forth to the humble VVith the Churches dignitie by her marriage. And the Churches dutie in her carriage. In three treatises. The former delivered in sundry sermons in Cambridge, for the weekely fasts, 1625. The two latter in Lincolnes Inne. By the late learned and reverend divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to His Maiesty, Mr. of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and somtime preacher at Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by R. Badger for N. Bourne, 1638
THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE. › Doctrine 3THE GOLDEN SCEPTER. › Doctrine 3
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Wives are not bound to destroy themselves for their husbands, but this bond is nearer, therefore Ephes. 5. 31, 32. this near conjunction 1between man and wife is made but as a shadow of that between Christ and his Church, who is flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone, verse 30. And as for this cause they leave father and mother, as the Apostle says, verse 31. so for this cause must we leave all to cleave to Christ and be subject to him, as verse 24. that is, our will must be subject 2to the Lords. As if thou hast such a journey to go, say, yea but what says my husband to it? thus Saint James teacheth us to speak, Jam. 4. I will go 3into such a City (if God will) so in other business, say, if the Lord will (to whom I am married) I will do it, else not: and you have reason for it, because Christ loves us as his Spouse and body: by this union we are one flesh with him, yea one spirit, and no man hates his own flesh, saith the Apostle there; though a man hath all the imperfections in his body that may be, soars and boils, &c. yet he hates not his own flesh, but laboureth partly to cover those wounds and imperfections, and to heal them, if he can, for it is his own body; So doth the Lord love you, if you have taken him to be your husband; you have reason therefore never to ⟨p. 52⟩forsake him. And if any should object and say, I am a sinful wretch, an unfit match for him; Con sider that yet being his, he will cover your imperfections with his righteousness, as a man covers his sores from the view of others; and he will wash you from your corruptions. As if a man have a sore arm, he doth not only cover it, but also washeth it, and heals it, because it is a member of his. So sayeth the Apostle there, he hath washed his Church with his own blood. And this the Apostle S. Paul calleth a great mystery: as if he had said, great things are now revealed therein to you, and worth your considering: why therefore should we not give up our selves to him? a Wife may object against her husband and say, another ones husband is more wise, more kind, but thou canst say nothing against him. Consider this, and let it not only be as a notion in your heads, but let it sink down into your hearts: And let the Name of the Lord not only be upon you, but also in you. As we have it in