The third end of the Saints meeting with Christ in the Air, 1is, The solemn Consummation of the Saints Nuptials, with Christ their Bridegroom. They were Contracted here on Earth, when Christ and the Saints gained one another's consent; Jesus Christ did then solemnly Espouse the Saints to himself, 2I betrothed thee unto me for ever, yea, I betrothed thee unto me in Righteousness, and in Judgment, and in loving kindness, and in Mercies, I even betrothed thee unto me in faithfulness. Indeed the Church in her self, when Christ came to make Love to her, was a very unlovely Creature, whose emblem therefore is a poor wretched Infant in the Blood of its Nativity. 3But Jesus Christ did first Love her with a Love of Pity, Ezek. 16.6. I saw thee polluted in thine own Blood: I saw thee, that is, I cast an Eye of Pity upon thee, my bowels yearned towards thee: And then, as Love-less as she was, that he might have a Legal right to her, 4he Purchased her of his Father; He Purchased her at a dear rate, for, He gave himself for her: first, He gave himself for her, and then He gave himself to her. They were wont to buy their Wives of the Father of the Damosel; but never did Husband buy a Wife at such a Rate, as the Lord Jesus did the Church. Shechem bid fairly for Dinah, 5Jacobs Daughter, Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me. Jacob served seven years for Rachel, (as it fell out) twice over, &c. yea, but the Lord Jesus gave himself for his Church; §3he purchased her with his own blood, Act. 20.2• Thirdly: That he might love her with a love of Complacency, he doth sanctify her, 6and cleanse her, by the washing of water by the word. As he doth purchase the Church with his blood; so he doth purify the Church by his Spirit, compared to water for the cleansing virtue thereof, in the Ministry of the word; as Ahasuerus had the Virgins first purified and perfumed, §4before he took them into his bed. Fourthly, He woeth her by the Ministers of the Gospel; who love their ⟨p. 163⟩Lord and poor Souls so well, that they will take no denial at her hand: as Eleazer Isaac's Steward, 7would not eat before he had sped for Rebekah to Wife for his Master's Son: 8And when they have gained her consent, then they present her as a chaste Virgin unto Christ. Fifthly;
The third end of the Saints meeting with Christ in the Air, 1is, The solemn Consummation of the Saints Nuptials, with Christ their Bridegroom. They were Contracted here on Earth, when Christ and the Saints gained one another's consent; Jesus Christ did then solemnly Espouse the Saints to himself, 2I betrothed thee unto me for ever, yea, I betrothed thee unto me in Righteousness, and in Judgment, and in loving kindness, and in Mercies, I even betrothed thee unto me in faithfulness. Indeed the Church in her self, when Christ came to make Love to her, was a very unlovely Creature, whose emblem therefore is a poor wretched Infant in the Blood of its Nativity. 3But Jesus Christ did first Love her with a Love of Pity, Ezek. 16.6. I saw thee polluted in thine own Blood: I saw thee, that is, I cast an Eye of Pity upon thee, my bowels yearned towards thee: And then, as Love-less as she was, that he might have a Legal right to her, 4he Purchased her of his Father; He Purchased her at a dear rate, for, He gave himself for her: first, He gave himself for her, and then He gave himself to her. They were wont to buy their Wives of the Father of the Damosel; but never did Husband buy a Wife at such a Rate, as the Lord Jesus did the Church. Shechem bid fairly for Dinah, 5Jacobs Daughter, Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me. Jacob served seven years for Rachel, (as it fell out) twice over, &c. yea, but the Lord Jesus gave himself for his Church; §3he purchased her with his own blood, Act. 20.2• Thirdly: That he might love her with a love of Complacency, he doth sanctifie her, 6and cleanse her, by the washing of water by the word. As he doth purchase the Church with his blood; so he doth purifie the Church by his Spirit, compared to water for the cleansing vertue thereof, in the Ministry of the word; as Ahashuerus had the Virgins first purified and perfumed, §4
- 1• Psal. 116. 3d. End. Consummation of the Saints Nuptials.
- 2Hos. 2.19, 20.
- 3Ezek. 16.4.6.
- 4Eph 5.25.
- 5Gen. 34.12.
- 6Eph. 5.27.
- 7Gen. 24.33.
- 82 Cor. 11.2.
