A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

How then doth Jesus Christ love his Church? I shall search no farther into this Depth, than so far as it is proposed in this Context for a Pattern (surely) to all Husbands in their love. And this his Love is represented here to be.

1. Hearty, without dissimulation. Ver. 25. He loved the Church and gave himself for it. His Love was Real, for he Dyed of it. The Husband must write after this Copy. Not to love his wife in word and tongue only, but in deed and in truth; that if his heart were opened, her Name might be found written there. Some vain complemental persons there are, that do outstrip in their overt addresses many sincere and true-hearted husbands; but neither doth God nor should a discreet wife look only at the appearance, but at the heart.

2. Free, without being prevented before, or likely to be rewarded after. For ver. 26. he gave himself that he might cleanse his Church, which implies that she was in ill plight, when he began his motions. She was no beauty; no, we loved him, because he loved us first. The Husband must precede, and by his love draw out the love of his wife; for⁽ⁿ⁾ Love is the whetstone of Love. And if she appear weak, as their sex by constitution is, both in wisdom, strength, and courage, or prove unlovely, and^(o) negligent of her duty; yet he must love her: For love seeketh not her own. True love doth more study to better the object beloved, than to advantage the subject that loveth. And to love a Wife only in hopes of some Advantages by her, is unworthy the heart of an Husband, and no way like the example of Christ.