Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Wife is one who hath made a solemn Contract with, and is married to an Husband. | SO the Church, and every true Christian,1 hath made a solemn Contract or Covenant with, and is married to the Lord Jesus.
II. A Woman that entereth into a Marriage-Relation with an Husband, gives her self wholly to him. The Husband gives himself to her, and she by way of Return gives her self unto him; they consent to take each other. | II. So a gracious Soul in this spiritual Marriage gives it self to Christ, and Christ gives himself to the Soul. I will be thine, saith Christ, to love thee, thine to save thee, thine to crown thee, and make thee happy; I, with all my Riches, and rich Treasure of Grace and Glory, will be fully thine, and for ever thine. And on the other hand, the Soul by way of Return gives it self unto Christ: I will be thine, saith every sincere Convert, I will be for thee, and not for another. Hence 'tis said, They gave themselves to the Lord, 2Blessed Jesus, saith the Soul, such as I am and have, I give to thee; I am a poor sorry Piece, infinitely unworthy to wash the Feet of the Servants of my Lord, O how undeserving then of thy Acceptation! my best is too bad, my all is too little for thee: But since it is thy Pleasure to accept of such a Gift, I do with my whole Soul give my Self, my Strength, my Time, my Talents, and all I have, am, or can do, for the Glory of thy holy Name.
III. A faithful Wife, in marrying her self to one Husband, renounceth all other Men, and keeps her self chaste and faithful to him. | III. So all true Christians renounce Sin, Self, and the Law in point of Justification, and all Lovers whatsoever, and keep themselves chaste and faithful to Christ. Wherefore, Brethren, 3ye also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to him who is risen from the Dead, that we should bring forth Fruit unto God.
IV. The Wife obeyeth and reverenceth her Husband; as Sarah, who called her Husband Lord. | IV. So the Church obeys and reverences the Lord Jesus Christ, and owns him to be her Lord.
V. A faithful Wife strives to please her Husband.4 But she that is married, careth how she may please her Husband. | V. So the Church, and each true Christian, strives to please the Lord Jesus. That ye may walk worthy of the Lord in all well-pleasing, 5being fruitful in every good Work, &c.
VI.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Wife is one who hath made a solemn Contract with, and is married to an Husband. | SO the Church, and every true Christian,1 hath made a solemn Contract or Covenant with, and is married to the Lord Jesus.
II. A Woman that entreth into a Marriage-Relation with an Husband, gives her self wholly to him. The Husband gives himself to her, and she by way of Return gives her self unto him; they consent to take each other. | II. So a gracious Soul in this spiritual Marriage gives it self to Christ, and Christ gives himself to the Soul. I will be thine, saith Christ, to love thee, thine to save thee, thine to crown thee, and make thee happy; I, with all my Riches, and rich Treasure of Grace and Glory, will be fully thine, and for ever thine. And on the other hand, the Soul by way of Return gives it self unto Christ: I will be thine, saith every sincere Convert, I will be for thee, and not for another. Hence 'tis said, They gave themselves to the Lord, 2Blessed Jesus, saith the Soul, such as I am and have, I give to thee; I am a poor sorry Piece, infinitely unworthy to wash the Feet of the Servants of my Lord, O how undeserving then of thy Acceptation! my best is too bad, my all is too little for thee: But since it is thy Pleasure to accept of such a Gift, I do with my whole Soul give my Self, my Strength, my Time, my Talents, and all I have, am, or can do, for the Glory of thy holy Name.
III. A faithful Wife, in marrying her self to one Husband, renounceth all other Men, and keeps her self chast and faithful to him. | III. So all true Christians renounce Sin, Self, and the Law in point of Justification, and all Lovers whatsoever, and keep themselves chast and faithful to Christ. Wherefore, Brethren, 3ye also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to him who is risen from the Dead, that we should bring forth Fruit unto God.
IV. The Wife obeyeth and reverenceth her Husband; as Sarah, who called her Husband Lord. | IV. So the Church obeys and reverences the Lord Jesus Christ, and owns him to be her Lord.
V. A faithful Wife strives to please her Husband.4 But she that is married, careth how she may please her Husband. | V. So the Church, and each true Christian, strives to please the Lord Jesus. That ye may walk worthy of the Lord in all well-pleasing, 5being fruitful in every good Work, &c.
VI.
- 1Rom. 7.15.
- 22 Cor. 8.5.
- 3Rom. 7.15
- 41 Cor. 7.34
- 5Col 1.10.
