N02580:29
The mystical marriage. A brief essay, on, the grace of the Redeemer espousing the…
The mystical marriage. A brief essay, on, the grace of the Redeemer espousing the soul of the believer. / By the late Reverend Dr. Cotton Mather. ; Approved by several pastors of our churches, as a present, proper to be offered unto our young people: and very particularly when the celebration of a marriage affords an agreeable occasion for it.
Boston N.E.: printed for N. Belknap, 1728
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
That which gives yet a further Appearance of a Marriage in this Grand Affair, is, Its conformity to what passed in the Case of Adam and Eve, and the First Marriage, even that which was made in Paradise. ⟨p. 7⟩An Apostle of GOD Writing of that Marriage says, Eph. V.32. This is a Great Mystery: But I speak about CHRIST and his Church. Adam was thrown into a sort of a Swoon, wherein GOD as I conceive, Extracted from his whole Inward, (which we render his Rib) the Substance, which He framed into the Shape that He gave to Eve, and which was Bone of his Bones, and Flesh of his Flesh: So that she became his Consort, who was also his Offspring. Accordingly a Glorious CHRIST having passed through' the Agonies and Convulsions of Death for it, has those produced for Him, and for a most Intimate and Endearing Fellowship with Him; who are also produced from Him, and are indeed His Offspring. He Sees His own Seed in them, and He owns them for Members of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his Bones. And as the Bridegroom rejoices over the Bride, so shall thy GOD rejoice over thee, O Soul, willing to be the Lord's.
That which gives yet a further Appearance of a Marriage in this Grand Affair, is, Its conformity to what passed in the Case of Adam and Eve, and the First Marriage, even that which was made in Paradise. ⟨p. 7⟩An Apostle of GOD Writing of that Marriage says, Eph. V.32. This is a Great Mystery: But I speak about CHRIST and his Church. Adam was thrown into a sort of a Swoon, wherein GOD as I conceive, Extracted from his whole Inward, (which we render his Rib) the Substance, which He framed into the Shape that He gave to Eve, and which was Bone of his Bones, and Flesh of his Flesh: So that she became his Consort, who was also his Offspring. Accordingly a Glorious CHRIST having passed thro' the Agonies and Convulsions of Death for it, has those produced for Him, and for a most Intimate and Endearing Fellowship with Him; who are also produced from Him, and are indeed His Offspring. He Sees His own Seed in them, and He owns them for Members of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his Bones. And as the Bridegroom rejoyces over the Bride, so shall thy GOD rejoyce over thee, O Soul, willing to be the Lord's.