Two sermons: preached by that faithful and reverend divine, Richard Sibbes, D.D. and sometimes…Two sermons: preached by that faithfull and reverend divine, Richard Sibbes, D.D. and sometimes…

1. That this civill contract may hold; both parties must consent. So it is between Christ and his Spouse; he was so in love with mankind that he hath taken our nature upon him, and this his incarnation is ⟨p. 7⟩the ground of all this union of ours with him. For first, his incarnation is the cause or ground of our union with him in grace here: and secondly, our union in grace is the ground of our union with him in glory. And now that we may be a Spouse to him, he gives us his Spirit to testify his love to us, that we might give our consent in love to him again; and that we might be made a fit Spouse for him.

1. That this civill contract may hold; both parties must consent. So it is betweene Christ and his Spouse; hee was so in love with mankind that he hath taken our nature upon him, and this his incarnation is ⟨p. 7⟩the ground of all this union of ours with him. For first, his incarnation is the cause or ground of our union with him in grace here: and secondly, our union in grace is the ground of our union with him in glory. And now that we may be a Spouse to him, he gives us his Spirit to testifie his love to us, that we might give our consent in love to him againe; and that wee might be made a fit Spouse for him.

2. Likewise in marriage there is a communicating of all good things; and so it is here. Christ here in this spiritual contract gives himself, and with himself all good things unto us. The Spirit therefore is the Churches; his happiness ⟨p. 8⟩the Churches, his graces are the Churches, his righteousness the Churches; In a word, all his privileges and prerogatives are the Churches; as saith the Apostle, all things are Christs, and Christ is yours; and the reason is given for all are Christs, and all that are ¹