A55748:149
The mystical match between Christ and his churchThe mysticall match between Christ and his church
The mystical match between Christ and his church by the late learned and reverend divine, John Preston ... The leading sermon to that treatise of his called The churches marriage.The mysticall match between Christ and his church by the late learned and reverend divine, John Preston ... The leading sermon to that treatise of his called The churches marriage.
London: printed for Francis Eaglesfield, 1648
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.
The next impediment is, that we shall not 1have any great dowry for the present: there is much promised, but we shall enjoy but little of it yet; though we shall have much hereafter, yet we have it not now; this is a great impediment, and keeps off many men. It is the case of many; they think with themselves: if I match now with Christ, I have much promised, that I shall have heaven, and many things to come hereafter; but for the present, I must forsake my pleasure, my profit, my delights. Now answer this, and all is done. But beloved, it must be Christ himself, that 2must answer it: though we be the instruments, and the means, yet except he speak with us, it ⟨p. 62⟩will do no good; the Lord himself must be his own spokesman; yet I answer, it is true indeed, the great dowry is to come, ye must wait for it; this time is a time of serving, as Jacob, he served fourteen years for Rachel before he had her, and because he loved her, he thought the time short, he was willing to serve so long. Now if thou love Christ, if thou prize him above all; then thou wilt be willing to stay for him; and those that will not stay, it is a sign they do not love Christ, and therefore thou art not worthy of 3him. You must know, that Christ makes us thus to stay a time, to know and try his Spouse before he match with her, (indeed the match is now, but I speak of that glorious match with the Lamb at his second coming, when we shall receive the full dowry) which the Apostle speaks of, Jam. 1. 12. verse, Blessed is he that endureth 4temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive a Crown of life, which he hath promised to those that love him, and wait for his appearing. Beloved, ye must be content to believe for a time, enjoying is not yet come. Christ will try our patience, our faith, he will try whether his Spouse will take his word or no, whether she will rest upon him, whether she will believe him: this is that, I say, that holds off many men, because they shall have nothing here, But therein they do not look upon the whole life of man; we look but upon part; we only care to provide for a short time here, and not for the whole life of man, which is eternal: and this is that which makes us to err;