N01720:58
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.
Expost. V. Is there no Danger in the Delay of such a Matter, as your Espousal to your SAVIOUR? Your SAVIOUR does insist upon a speedy Answer, a present Answer; He is upon those Terms with you; Heb. III. 7. To Day if ye will hear His Voice. O Soul under the Invitations of a SAVIOUR; 'Tis insisted on, Wilt thou NOW, this very Day, come into an Espousal to thy SAVIOUR? Yea, Dost thou at this Moment, I say, At this Moment! Give thy self up unto thy SAVIOUR, and say, O my SAVIOUR, Take Possession of me! Certainly, There is nothing more Uncertain to thee, than the Time of thy Departure out of this World. Thou mayst say, I know not the Day of my Death. But if the Dark Day come upon thee, before thou art Espoused unto thy SAVIOUR, how forlorn, how undone art thou! How canst thou escape those Hands, which it will be a fearful thing to fall into? Or, suppose thou mayst yet have Goods laid up here for many Years; To put off a Compliance with a SAVIOUR, who does Beseech thee to be Espoused unto Him, and be Reconciled ⟨p. 35⟩unto GOD, will not this Dilatory trifling in a Thing of such Concernment, Grieve and Vex His Holy Spirit, & provoke Him to Depart from you? But, Oh! Woe unto them, if I depart from them, saith the Lord! There will be nothing done to purpose, in thy Espousal to thy SAVIOUR; but thou wilt be Damned unto Eternal Blindness and Hardness; and go on under a Spirit of Slumber, unto a Damnation that Slumbers not.
Expost. V. Is there no Danger in the Delay of such a Matter, as your Espousal to your SAVIOUR? Your SAVIOUR does insist upon a speedy Answer, a present Answer; He is upon those Terms with you; Heb. III. 7. To Day if ye will hear His Voice. O Soul under the Invitations of a SAVIOUR; 'Tis insisted on, Wilt thou NOW, this very Day, come into an Espousal to thy SAVIOUR? Yea, Dost thou at this Moment, I say, At this Moment! Give thy self up unto thy SAVIOUR, and say, O my SAVIOUR, Take Possession of me! Certainly, There is nothing more Uncertain to thee, than the Time of thy Departure out of this World. Thou mayst say, I know not the Day of my Death. But if the Dark Day come upon thee, before thou art Espoused unto thy SAVIOUR, how forlorn, how undone art thou! How canst thou escape those Hands, which it will be a fearful thing to fall into? Or, suppose thou mayst yet have Goods laid up here for many Years; To put off a Compliance with a SAVIOUR, who does Beseech thee to be Espoused unto Him, and be Reconciled