Behold another evidence of Christs admirable love to the 1Church, and of the near union betwixt Christ and her. The 2former was that she was his body. This, that she is his wife: well might the Church say as Abigail did, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my 3Lord: and as the prodigal child, Make me as one of thine hired 4servants: or as the Baptist, I am not worthy to stoop down to 5unloose thy shoe-latchets. What a favour then is it to be made his spouse, his wife, his Queen. Great was the favour which Ahash-verosh showed to Esther, when he made her his wife: he was a great Monarch, reigning from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces: but Esther was a poor orphan and captive: yet was not this favour comparable to Christs: for there was no such disparity and inequality betwixt Ahash-verosh and Esther, as betwixt Christ and the Church: neither is Esthers advancement to be compared with the Churches: and yet there was some cause in Esther to move Ahash-verosh to do what he did, for she was very beautiful, and lovely, and worthy to be loved: but *in the Church when Christ first cast his love on her, there was no such thing. No pattern of love can be given any way comparable to this.
Behold another euidence of Christs admirable loue to the 1Church, and of the neere vnion betwixt Christ and her. The 2former was that she was his body. This, that she is his wife: well might the Church say as Abigaile did, Behold, let thine handmaid be a seruant to wash the feet of the seruants of my 3Lord: and as the prodigall child, Make me as one of thine hired 4seruants: or as the Baptist, I am not worthy to stoope downe to 5vnloose thy shoe-latchets. What a fauour then is it to be made his spouse, his wife, his Queene. Great was the fauour which Ahash-verosh shewed to Esther, when he made her his wife: he was a great Monarch, reigning from India to Ethiopia ouer 127 prouinces: but Esther was a poore orphane and captiue: yet was not this fauour comparable to Christs: for there was no such disparity and inequality betwixt Ahash-verosh and Esther, as betwixt Christ and the Church: neither is Esthers aduancement to be compared with the Churches: and yet there was some cause in Esther to moue Ahash-verosh to doe what he did, for she was very beautifull, and louely, and worthy to be loued: but *in the Church when Christ first cast his loue on her, there was no such thing. No patterne of loue can be giuen any way comparable to this.
- 11. Use.1. Vse.
- 2An high favour to be the spouse to Christ.An high fauour to be the spouse to Christ.
- 31 Sam. 25. 41.
- 4Luk. 15. 19.
- 5Mar. 1. 7.
- *§. 33, 34.
