N01720:22
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.
O Church of the Lord; Remember thy Marriage unto thy Saviour. Do nothing to grieve Him; Do not Incur His Frowns; Do not provoke Him to withdraw from thee. Be faithful in His Covenant. Observe His Institutions, with a due ⟨p. 11⟩Loyalty and Purity; preserve them from Violations. Be mindful of that Charge; Psal. XLV. 11. He is thy Lord, and Worship thou Him. Thy Title shall be, An Elect Lady; yea, Thou shalt be a Kings Daughter, if thou Hearken to such Admonitions of GOD.
II. To every Individual Person, coming into the Church of the Living GOD, and Laying hold on His Covenant, our SAVIOUR also says, I Marry my self unto thee. As it is in the Metaphor of a Temple. The Church in general is a Temple of GOD. And every Individual Believer is also a Living Temple; An Habitation of GOD through' the Spirit. It is the same in the Metaphor of a Marriage. Our SAVIOUR does Marry Himself unto the Church in general. But He does also Marry Himself to every Individual Believer, and say to every Soul that receives Him as a SAVIOUR, what we have, Cant. IV. 8, 9. Come with me, my Spouse. Thou hast ravished my Heart, my Sister, my Spouse. O Solicited Soul, When thou comest into the Church of GOD, and heartily sayest, I am willing to be Listed among the People who look for Blessedness under the Conduct ⟨p. 12⟩of the LORD, who is to break the Head of the Serpent; From this Moment thy SAVIOUR Marries Himself unto thee. When thou comest into the Covenant of GOD, and heartily sayest, I am willing that GOD manifest in the Flesh of my JESUS, may produce Good Terms with Heaven for me, and may fulfil in me all the Good Pleasure of His Goodness; From this Moment thy SAVIOUR Marries Himself unto thee. It may now be said, Isai. LIV. 5. Thy Maker is thy Husband.