A64978:21
Christ the best husband
Christ the best husband: or An invitation of young women unto Christ Delivered in a sermon to young women. By Thomas Vincent, minister sometime of Maudlins Milkstreet, London.
London: printed for George Calvert and Samuel Sprint, 1672
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.
3. Such as would be espoused unto Christ, must incline unto Christs invitation; Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear. I suppose by the inclining of the ear is not meant the hearkening, of which before; but it includeth the inclining of the heart to accept of Christs invitation; there must be a consent of the Will, and a ready compliance with Christ's motion, a closing of the heart with it; this doth show it self, when the Soul is not only sued unto to accept of Christ, but it putteth forth desires after Christ, and sueth to him that it may be accepted into this relation. As David did incline unto the invitation of the Lord to seek his face, Psal. 27. 8. When thou saidest Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek: So the children of men incline to Christs invitation to be his Spouse, when their hearts say, Lord, Let us be thy Spouse, and be thou our beloved.
3. Such as would be espoused unto Christ, must incline unto Christs invitation; Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear. I suppose by the inclining of the ear is not meant the hearkning, of which before; but it includeth the inclining of the heart to accept of Christs invitation; there must be a consent of the Will, and a ready compliance with Christ's motion, a closing of the heart with it; this doth shew it self, when the Soul is not only sued unto to accept of Christ, but it putteth forth desires after Christ, and sueth to him that it may be accepted into this relation. As David did incline unto the invitation of the Lord to seek his face, Psal. 27. 8. When thou saidest Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek: So the children of men incline to Christs invitation to be his Spouse, when their hearts say, Lord, Let us be thy Spouse, and be thou our beloved.
4. Such as would be espoused unto Jesus Christ, must forget their people, and fathers house, Hearken, O daughter, and consider, forget thy own people, and thy fathers house; not as if by espousing themselves unto Christ, they were to cast off all affections unto natural relations, but they must so forget all relations, as to be ready to forgo all their favour, where it standeth in competition with Christ; they must be ready to displease any rather than to displease Christ; and suffer the loss of any thing