A Wife by marrying an Husband is interested into his Estate, and hath a legal Right to what is his. | VI. So the Soul, by marrying of Christ, is interested into all Christ's Riches; he hath a sure, a new Covenant-Right to whatsoever Christ hath; the Riches both of Grace and Glory are become his hereby.
VII. A Wife, by marrying an Husband, is brought into a near Union and Communion with him: They are no more twain, 1but one Flesh. | VII. So the Church, and each true Christian, by entering into a Marriage Relation with the Lord Jesus, is brought into a very near Union and Conjunction with him. For this cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother, 2and shall join unto his Wife, and they two shall be one Flesh. This is a great Mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Hence the Apostle saith, He that is joined to the Lord, is one Spirit. This is a most blessed Union, a full Union, a lasting Union; (1.) a full Union. The whole Person of Christ is joined to the whole Person of a Believer, and the whole Person of a Believer is joined to the whole Person of Christ. Not only Christ's Human Nature is joined to a Believer, but his Divine Nature also; and so not only the Body of a Believer is joined to Christ, but his Soul is joined also. This may administer much Consolation to dying Saints: The Body, as well as the Soul, is the Lord's, ⟨p. 104⟩and therefore shall not be lost, he will raise it up at the last Day.3 From hence Christ sympathizeth with his People, he feels and is sensible of all their Sorrows, he looks upon their Sufferings as his Sufferings. I was hungry, and ye gave me no Meat; 4I was thirsty, and ye gave me no Drink; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in Prison, and ye visited me not. In all their Afflictions he was afflicted.
VIII. A Wife, by Marriage-Relation, is taken up with much sweet Peace, Joy, and Complacency in that Estate: her Husband is better to her than ten Sons, as Elkanah said to Hannah. 'Tis a Relation made up of Love and Delight. | VIII. The Church, and every true Believer, by being espoused and married to Christ, the Lord Jesus hath a near, a dear, a strong, and most intimate Affection towards him. A Saint is filled with most sweet Peace, Joy, and Delight, and takes most precious Complacency in Christ; He is more than Father, Mother, Sons, or Daughters.5 He is fairer than the Sons of Men, the chiefest of ten thousand.
A Wife by marrying an Husband is interested into his Estate, and hath a legal Right to what is his. | VI. So the Soul, by marrying of Christ, is interested into all Christ's Riches; he hath a sure, a new Covenant-Right to whatsoever Christ hath; the Riches both of Grace and Glory are become his hereby.
VII. A Wife, by marrying an Husband, is brought into a near Union and Communion with him: They are no more twain, 1but one Flesh. | VII. So the Church, and each true Christian, by entring into a Marriage Relation with the Lord J•sus, is brought into a very near Union and Conjunction with him. For this cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother, 2and shall join unto his Wife, and they two shall be one Flesh. This is a great Mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Hence the Apostle saith, He that is joined to the Lord, is one Spirit. This is a most blessed Union, a full Union, a lasting Union; (1.) a full Union. The whole Person of Christ is joined to the whole Person of a Believer, and the whole Person of a Believer is joined to the whole Person of Christ. Not only Christ's Human Nature is joined to a Believer, but his Divine Nature also; and so not only the Body of a Believer is joined to Christ, but his Soul is joined also. This may administer much Consolation to dying Saints: The Body, as well as the Soul, is the Lord's, ⟨p. 104⟩and therefore shall not be lost, he will raise it up at the last Day.3 From hence Christ sympathizeth with his People, he feels and is sensible of all their Sorrows, he looks upon their Sufferings as his Sufferings. I was hungry, and ye gave me no Meat; 4I was thirsty, and ye gave me no Drink; naked, and ye cloathed me not; sick, and in Prison, and ye visited me not. In all their Afflictions he was afflicted.
VIII. A Wife, by Marriage-Relation, is taken up with much sweet Peace, Joy, and Complacency in that Estate: her Husband is better to her than ten Sons, as Elkanah said to Hannah. 'Tis a Relation made up of Love and Delight. | VIII. The Church, and every true Believer, by being espoused and married to Christ, the Lord Jesus hath a near, a dear, a strong, and most intimate Affection towards him. A Saint is filled with most sweet Peace, Joy, and Delight, and takes most precious Complacency in Christ; He is more than Father, Mother, Sons, or Daughters.5
- 1Mat. 19 6.
- 21 Cor. 6.17 Eph. 5.31.
- 3Joh. 6.39.
- 4Mat. 25.35 36. Isa. 63.9.
- 5Psal. 45. Cant. 5.10 Psal. 73.25
