A64978:31
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. If you be espoused unto Christ, then you have laid hold upon him by faith; the spirit doth draw unto Christ, by working the Grace of Faith, and enabling persons to believe in him; by Faith Christ is received, Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received ⟨p. 13⟩him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; even to them that believe on his name. By believing on Christs name, persons do receive Christ in this relation, Faith is the hand of the Soul, which layeth hold on Christ, and by this joining of the hand with Christ, the knot is tied, and the Soul is united to Christ in the relation of a Spouse; have you this Grace of Faith wrought in you with power? have you received and applied Christ unto your selves? have you received him upon his own terms? and do you by Faith draw quickening and strengthening influences from him?
3. If you be espoused unto Christ, then you have laid hold upon him by faith; the spirit doth draw unto Christ, by working the Grace of Faith, and enabling persons to believe in him; by Faith Christ is received, Ioh. 1. 12. To as many as received ⟨p. 13⟩him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; even to them that believe on his name. By believing on Christs name, persons do receive Christ in this relation, Faith is the hand of the Soul, which layeth hold on Christ, and by this joyning of the hand with Christ, the knot is tyed, and the Soul is united to Christ in the relation of a Spouse; have you this Grace of Faith wrought in you with power? have you received and applied Christ unto your selves? have you received him upon his own termes? and do you by Faith draw quickning and strengthning influences from him?
4. If you be espoused unto Christ, then you do embrace him in the arms of your dearest love; then you love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, and you love him with the supremacy of your love; If you love father or mother, houses or lands, riches or honours, delights or pleasures, or any thing in the world, more than Christ, you have no true love to Christ, and be sure are not espoused to him; but if Christ be chiefly beloved, it is an evidence that you are joined in this relation unto him.