In regard of the wise Virgins, because his Marriage-covenant with them is not suspended on any thing on his peoples part;1 for though there is a condition which the Lord doth require of his people in Marriage-covenant, yet the Lord so requires it, as that he intends to work it, and undertakes to maintain it; and there is no evil in them, but he promiseth in this Covenant to remove; he will heal them of it, but he will not cast them off for it; hence Ephes. 5. 25. Christ loves his Church; what, because it had loveliness? no, but that he might wash it; and if he loves it to this end, that he might wash it, then no pollution can make the Lord utterly to cast it off; if he loves because of deformities, that he might wash them away, then none can quench his love; hence no security, no carelessness, though deep, though long, so long as the Marriage-bond between man and wife conti••s, so long as no sin is committed that can break this Marriage bond, so long infirmities or other distempers never separate. Now, no sin in them that are given to Christ can break the Marriage-bond, because it is wholly undertaken on the Lords part; women may commit Adultery, and break their Marriage-bond, because they are not kept by their Husband from that; but the Lord undertakes this for his people, to put his fear in their heart, that they shall never depart from God. Hos. 2. 19, 20. I will betroth thee unto me for ever, and you shall know the Lord; hence the Lord may humble, but never utterly reject his, for security in a lust.
In regard of the wise Virgins, because his Mariage-covenant with them is not suspended on any thing on his peoples part;1 for though there is a condition which the Lord doth require of his people in Mariage-covenant, yet the Lord so requires it, as that he intends to work it, and undertakes to maintain it; and there is no evil in them, but he promiseth in this Covenant to remove; he will heal them of it, but he will not cast them off for it; hence Ephes. 5. 25. Christ loves his Church; what, because it had loveliness? no, but that he might wash it; and if he loves it to this end, that he might wash it, then no pollution can make the Lord utterly to cast it off; if he loves because of deformities, that he might wash them away, then none can quench his love; hence no security, no carelesness, though deep, though long, so long as the Mariage-bond between man and wife conti••s, so long as no sin is committed that can break this Mariagebond, so long infirmities or other distempers never separate. Now, no sin in them that are given to Christ can break the Mariage-bond, because it is wholly undertaken on the Lords part; women may commit Adultery, and break their Mariage-bond, because they are not kept by their Husband from that; but the Lord undertakes this for his people, to put his fear in their heart, that they shall never depart from God. Hos. 2. 19, 20. I will b•troth thee unto me for ever, and you shall know the Lord; hence the Lord may humble, but never utterly reject his, for security in a lust.
- 1Reason 2.
