A55748:156
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.
Another impediment is. When the parties are 1brought together, to see one another; many times they do not like one another: and this is a common case: and so it is in this spiritual match; when men come to look upon the Lord, they do not like the Lord: well, if this be thy case, if it be thus with thee, the Lord will not be so much as a suitor to thee, he counts thee an enemy. There is an antipathy between the Lord 2and many, there is an enmity; but you must know, in this there is a two-fold enmity; one out of ignorance, as Paul, says he, I was a Blasphemer, and a persecutor, but now I am received to mercy, because I did it ignorantly through unbelief. If he had known the Lord, he would not have persecuted him. But secondly, there is also a wilful enmity against the Lord: they know the Lord, and yet they do not like him. But these men will deny this, and say, this is not the cause they come not in, whatsoever is the cause. Well, do not deceive thy self; if thou love the Lord, thou wilt love his Image, thou wilt love his children which are his Image. If thou hatest those that bear his Image, thou hatest the Lord himself. ⟨p. 68⟩And therefore do not deceive thy self: if thou bearest a secret hatred and dislike of that strictness and holiness, that is in the Saints; if thou hast an inward grudge to that which is Gods Image, thou hatest God himself.
Another impediment is. When the parties are 1brought together, to see one another; many times they doe not like one another: and this is a common case: and so it is in this spirituall match; when men come to looke upon the Lord, they doe not like the Lord: well, if this be thy case, if it be thus with thee, the Lord will not be so much as a suter to thee, hee counts thee an enemy. There is an antipathy betweene the Lord 2and many, there is an enmity; but you must know, in this there is a two-fold enmity; one out of ignorance, as Paul, sayes he, I was a Blasphemer, and a persecutor, but now I am received to mercy, because I did it ignorantly through unbeleife. If hee had knowne the Lord, hee would not have persecuted him. But secondly, there is also a wilfull enmity against the Lord: they know the Lord, and yet they doe not like him. But these men will deny this, and say, this is not the cause they come not in, whatsoever is the cause. Well, doe not deceive thy selfe; if thou love the Lord, thou wilt love his Image, thou wilt love his children which are his Image. If thou hatest those that beare his Image, thou hatest the Lord himselfe.