N01720:60
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. VII. O Our YOUNG PEOPLE, Can it be Too soon, for you to come into an Espousal unto our SAVIOUR? Too soon for you to become United unto Him, who sends this Message unto you, I Love them that Love me, & they that seek me Early shall find me? Our SAVIOUR said unto ⟨p. 37⟩some; Jer. II. 2. I remember thee, the kindness of thy Youth, the Love of thine Espousals. Oh! That our YOUNG PEOPLE may be prevailed withal, in their Youth, to have a Kindness for their SAVIOUR, and be drawn by His Love into an Espousal unto Him! Child, Thy SAVIOUR puts it unto thee; Art thou willing to be mine? Reply to Him, Lord, I am Thine! O make me willing to be Thine! Thy SAVIOUR will say upon it, O my Dove, I hear thy Voice, & sweet is thy Voice unto me!
A very Prudent Constitution once made in the Low Countries, That none should be Married, until they could recite all the Answers in the Catechism used in the Churches there, produced as Well-Catechized a People as ever was in the World. Oh! How well would it be for Thousands of Souls, if they would order it for Themselves, Never to Marry any one until they are first Espoused unto their SAVIOUR!
Such of you as are not yet Married unto a Neighbour; yea, Such of you as are not of the Age for Marriage; How Wisely, How Justly, How Reasonably would it be done of you, to take up this Purpose; I will be first Married unto my SAVIOUR, ⟨p. 38⟩before I will allow any other Marriage to be talked of! It may be, if you so Sought first the Kingdom of GOD, you might have Other Things added unto you, in better Circumstances. This then is the Demand with which I come unto you;