A55748:87
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.
Yes, it is most possible, the Lord Jesus may 1have a favour to thee, it is our message to come and tell thee so much, only thou must do as the captive woman in Deut. 21. when any had a favour to a woman that was taken captive, she must put off her old clothes, she must put on new apparel, she must be washed and purified, and pare her nails, and so she must become his wife; so I say to thee, the Lord is willing to match with thee, only thou must change thy raiment, thou must wash thee and pare thy nails, &c. Therefore beloved, let none in this case be discouraged, as indeed we are exceeding apt to be, and ready to do in this case, as Gideon, when the Angel appeared to him, and told him he should do great matters, that he should judge Israel, that he should deliver them out of the hands of the Midianites, what saith Gideon? Lord (saith he) What am I and my father? he is one of the poorest in Manasseh Tribe, and I am the least in my fathers family, and is it possible that I should be raised to such honour? yes saith the Lord, it shall be done, I will confirm it, thou hast my word, and I will confirm it by miracle, as you know he did by the burning of the Sacrifice, and by the dew ⟨p. 41⟩on the Fleece, when all the earth was dry. I say, the same is our case, when we hear such a thing as this, that we shall be made Queens, that we shall match with Christ, when a man is little in his own eyes, he wonders at it; I say, the Lord will make it good to thee, thou shalt have a word and a miracle to confirm it, for indeed beloved, it is a thing that needs a miracle, that the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, should come, and match with such wretches as we are.2
Yes, it is most possible, the Lord Iesus may 1have a favour to thee, it is our message to come and tell thee so much, onely thou must doe as the captive woman in Deut. 21. when any had a favour to a woman that was taken captive, she must put off her old clothes, she must put on new apparell, shee must be washed and purified, and pare her nailes, and so she must become his wife; so I say to thee, the Lord is willing to match with thee, onely thou must change thy rayment, thou must wash thee and pare thy nailes, &c. Therefore beloved, let none in this case be discouraged, as indeed we are exceeding apt to bee, and ready to doe in this case, as Gideon, when the Angell appeared to him, and told him he should doe great matters, that hee should judge Israel, that he should deliver them out of the hands of the Midianites, what saith Gideon? Lord (saith he) What am I and my father? hee is one of the poorest in Manasses Tribe, and I am the least in my fathers family, and is it possible that I should be raised to such honour? yes saith the Lord, it shall bee done, I will confirme it, thou hast my word, and I will confirme it by miracle, as you know he did by the burning of the Sacrifice, and by the dew