Christ the best husband

1. Concerning Christs espousing himself unto the children of men; Christ doth espouse and betroth people unto himself in this world; the public solemnization of the marriage is reserved until the last day, when his Spouse shall be brought to him in white robes, and raiment of perfect righteousness, more rich and curious than any needle-work; ⟨p. 3⟩and the Marriage-feast will be kept in his Fathers house in Heaven, where they shall be received into the nearest and closest embracements of his Love. The espousal between them, and marriage knot is tied here. There are four things chiefly included in Christs espousal with the children of men; 1. Mutual choice. 2. Mutual affection. 3. Mutual union. 4. Mutual obligation.

1. Concerning Christs espousing himself unto the children of men; Christ doth espouse and betroth people unto himself in this world; the publick solemnization of the marriage is reserved until the last day, when his Spouse shall be brought to him in white robes, and raiment of perfect righteousness, more rich and curious than any needle-work; ⟨p. 3⟩and the Marriage-feast will be kept in his Fathers house in Heaven, where they shall be received into the nearest and closest embracements of his Love. The espousal between them, and marriage knot is tied here. There are four things chiefly included in Christs espousal with the children of men; 1. Mutual choice. 2. Mutual affection. 3. Mutual union. 4. Mutual obligation.

1. Mutual choice, besides the eternal choice, which is not only in Christ as Mediator, but also by Christ as the eternal Son of God; Christ doth in time actually choose some of the children of men, passing by others, without the least respect to any worthiness, or desirable qualification in them, but freely, of his mere grace, to make them his Spouse, and to bring them into the Marriage covenant, and relation to himself; and herein Christ doth begin, he chooseth them first, as he telleth his Disciples,