A64978:32
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.
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.
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 joyned in this relation unto him.
5. If you are espoused unto Christ, you have acquaintance and converse with Christ, and you like his company best, and you highly value, and diligently attend upon all those Ordinances which are the means of bringing you and Christ together; and this is the great thing which you desire and seek after in Hearing and Prayer, and at the Table of the Lord, that you may have a sight of your Beloved, and a taste of his Love, and more intimate communion with Him. And is acquaintance begun with Christ, and farther intimacy desired ⟨p. 14⟩by you? Are pure and powerful Ordinances of great esteem with you? Do you give all diligence to wait upon, and for your Beloved in them?
5. If you are espoused unto Christ, you have acquaintance and converse with Christ, and you like his company best, and you highly value, and diligently attend upon all those Ordinances which are the means of bringing you and Christ together; and this is the great thing which you desire and seek after in Hearing and Prayer, and at the Table of the Lord, that you may have a sight of your Beloved, and a taste of his Love, and more intimate communion with Him. And is acquaintance begun with Christ, and farther intimacy defired