The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

First,¹ Consider the necessity of thy Acceptance of Christ for thy Husband. It is impossible to obtain Heaven for thy Jointure, but by Marrying with him who is the Heir. It may be, like him in Ruth (Chap. 4. Vers. 2, 3, 4. whom the Spirit of God thought unworthy to be named) thou art ready for the band, the portion, but unwilling to marry the person; thou art forward to be pardoned, adopted and saved, but backward to take Jesus Christ for thy Husband, least thou shouldst lose thy sinful pleasures, and thereby mar (in thy Opinion) a better inheritance. But know of a certain (as Boaz told him) What day thou buyest the field, thou must Marry the owner of it. What day thou gainest the invaluable privileges of the Gospel, thou must Match with Christ the Purchaser and owner of them. There is no gaining the precious fruit, but by getting the Tree that bears it. Indeed thy Marriage with ⟨p. 76⟩him is so fruitful a blessing that thou needest no more. Forgiveness of sins, the love of God, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, eternal life, every good thing, all good things are in the Womb of it; thou canst not imagine what a numerous posterity of Barnabasses, of sons of consolation, would be the effect and issue of such a Wedding; but it is so needful a blessing that without it thou art completely and eternally woeful; beware, O beware how thou refusest so good an offer, for thou art in the same condition with the Woman taken captive by the Jews, (Deut. 21.) either to marry or dye, either to match with Christ, or be damned for ever.

First,¹ Consider the necessity of thy Acceptance of Christ for thy Husband. It is impossible to obtain Heaven for thy Joynture, but by Marrying with him who is the Heir. It may be, like him in Ruth (Chap. 4. Vers. 2, 3, 4. whom the Spirit of God thought unworthy to be named) thou art ready for the band, the portion, but unwilling to marry the person; thou art forward to be pardoned, adopted and saved, but backward to take Jesus Christ for thy Husband, least thou shouldst lose thy sinful pleasures, and thereby mar (in thy Opinion) a better inheritance. But know of a certain (as Boaz told him) What day thou buyest the field, thou must Marry the owner of it. What day thou gainest the invaluable priviledges of the Gospel, thou must Match with Christ the Purchaser and owner of them. There is no gaining the precious fruit, but by getting the Tree that bears it. Indeed thy Marriage with