N01720:15
A glorious espousal. A brief essay, to illustrate and prosecute the marriage, wherein our…
A glorious espousal. A brief essay, to illustrate and prosecute the marriage, wherein our great Saviour offers to espouse unto himself the children of men. And thereupon to recommend from that grand pattern a good carriage in the married life among them. : An essay proper and useful in the hands of those who travel on the noble design of espousing the souls of men unto their Saviour. But more particularly and seasonably to be presented, where a marriage is upon a celebration.
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland for B. Gray, 1719
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.
Our Great SAVIOUR, The Great GOD our SAVIOUR, bringing His People into a Covenant of Grace, does most graciously MARRY Himself unto them.
It is to distil as the small rain upon the tender Herb. And therefore it shall be broken into some Heart-melting Propositions.
I. It is to His CHURCH in the World, the People whom He calls out of the ⟨p. 6⟩World, into His Covenant, that our SAVIOUR says, I Marry my self unto you. 'Tis the Church, that has this Dignity put upon it; Rev. XXI. 9. The Wise to the Lamb of GOD. Of the Church does our SAVIOUR say, 'Tis the dearly Beloved of my Soul.
The Church Universal is to be first of all considered, as thus Married unto the Son of GOD. Even that whole Body of People, who come into the Hands of our SAVIOUR, that so they may glorify God, and enjoy Him forever. There is a COVENANT, which GOD our SAVIOUR has made with His Eternal FATHER, concerning a people, which he has chosen, to be the Vessels of mercy in Glory forever. In this Covenant of Redemption, GOD our SAVIOUR has engaged, That He will recover this His People out of the Ruins, which by their departure from God they are fallen into; That He will therefore make Expiation for their offences, by the Sacrifice of Himself, and so reconcile them unto God: And that He will then put the Fear of God into their hearts, and show them the path of Life, and Quicken them to live unto God, and at last