A55748:19
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.
One is a work of the holy Ghost, discovering to us the thraldom, and bondage, the death and danger wherein we are, and also discovering to us our own sinfulness, which is necessary, because a man is ready to be conceited of himself, and so is somewhat coy, and unwilling to yield to the suit of Christ, but when the holy Ghost hath showed a man what he is, that he is such a one as he never thought himself to be, he then begins to think, that he is unworthy that the Lord should vouchsafe him so much favour; he is ready to say as Abigail said to David, when she was spoken to, to be his wife, Lord what am I, that thou shouldest so far respect me? Let thy handmaid wash the feet of my Lords servants, I am worthy of no better office; I say, this is one work of the holy Ghost, thus to prepare us to this match.
One is a worke of the holy Ghost, discovering to us the thraldome, and bondage, the death and danger wherein wee are, and also discovering to us our owne sinfulnesse, which is necessary, because a man is ready to bee conceited of himselfe, and so is somewhat coy, and unwilling to yeeld to the suit of Christ, but when the holy Ghost hath shewed a man what hee is, that he is such a one as hee never thought himselfe to be, he then begins to think, that hee is unworthy that the Lord should vouchsafe him so much favour; he is ready to say as Abigail said to David, when she was spoken to, to bee his wife, Lord what am I, that thou shouldest so far respect mee? Let thy handmaid wash the feete of my Lords servants, I am worthy of no better office; I say, this is one worke of the holy Ghost, thus to prepare us to this match.
The other is to present Christ unto us, and to 1fit him above all the world for us in our apprehensions, ⟨p. 4⟩which is done by the work of the holy Ghost manifesting Christ, and his beauty; when Christ comes to join our love, he is fain to use his skill to join us: and all that we can do to set him at, is nothing, except the holy Ghost show you Jesus Christ, and except withal, he make a secret impression upon the heart, except there be a secret instinct wrought in us, causing us to long after Christ, we shall never bring our hearts to consent to this Marriage. Now therefore, as there goes a secret virtue from the Load-stone, that makes a secret impression upon the iron, and when that is done, the iron rests not, but draws near to the Load-stone, so the holy Ghost that is sent from the Father, makes an impression upon our spirits, that we have no rest till we obtain Christ. This is called in Scripture, a Drawing to Christ; None comes to me except the Father draw him, that is, except the Father work powerfully upon him, and make him willing to come: for that is the meaning of drawing, when the Lord turns as it were the will of a Lion, makes him a Lamb, when he gives another will.