Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints…Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints…

1. ALTHOUGH this Mystical Conjunction is not actually consummate without an actual Participation of the Spirit of Christ, yet the Church of the Elect was designed antecedently unto all his sufferings, to be his Spouse and Wife, so as that he might love her and suffer for her; so it is said, Hos. 12. 13. Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. Howbeit, she was not his married wife, until after he had served for her, and thereby purchased her to be his Wife; yet as he served for her, she is called his Wife, because of his Love unto her, and because the was so designed to be upon his Service. So was the Church designed to be the Spouse of Christ in the Counsel of God, whereon he loved her, and gave himself for her.

HENCE in the work of Redemption the Church was the Object of it as designed to be the Spouse of Christ, and the Effect of it, inasmuch as that thereby it was made meet for the full consummation of that Alliance; as the Apostle expressly declares, Eph. 5. 25, 26, 27.

HENCE in the work of Redemption the Church was the Object of it as designed to be the Spouse of Christ, and the Effect of it, inasmuch as that thereby it was made meet for the full consummation of that Alliance; as the Apostle expresly declares, Eph. 5. 25, 26, 27.

2. ANTECEDENTLY unto all that the Lord Christ did and suffered for the Church, there was a supreme act of the Will of God the Father, giving all the Elect unto him, entrusting them with him, to be redeemed, sanctified and saved; as himself declares,