310 C H R I S T .& :B R I D E G R 0 0 M. Book H. MET A PH 0 R. ftrong, as fl:rong as Death ; n\an·y Waters cannot quench it, nor can the Floods drown it.. There is an unfatisfied Delire in the Perfon, un– til the Object beloved be enjoyed. Height, Length end Breadth,. in it, · XIII. Such an one is generally concerned and grieved at the Un· RindneiTes of his Friend, and un– grateful Repulfes, and many times from hence cloth withdraw him– felf, and carry it as a Stranger.. PAR ALL EL. natbaiz to David.. What cloth the Gofpel lhew or exprels more plamly, than the Strength of Chritt's Love to Sinners? Chri(l; exprdfed fuch Love as never any other had, in laying down his Life for his Enemies, for fuch as were Rebels to him and his Father. There is Depth, it pa.!Jeth Knowledge, Eph. iii• <9· Xlll. Jefus Chrilt is greatly troubled at the un– grateful Repulfes he meets with from Sinners; which appears, 1. -By his being grieved: He was grieved becaufe of the Hardnefs of their Hearts. Whm he drew near to Jerufalem, he wept over it, perceiving' how bafely they had fiighted and re– jected him. 2. By condoling and bewailing their miferable State and Ob!l:inacy: Ifrael will have none of me. 0 Jerufalem, Jeru– falem, how oftw would I have gathered thy Children together, as a Hen gathereth her Chickms under her Wings? mtd ye would not, M att. xxiii. 37. By hiding of his Face, and bringing Afflictions upon them: I willgo and return to my Place; till they acknow– ledge their Offences, andfeek my Face: In their A.ffl.ictions they willJeek me early, Hof. v. '5· XIV. ASuitorneverthelefs(fuch: . XIV. Jefus Chri[t notwithltanding all the Un– is the Nature of his Affection) kindneiTes of Sinners, hath afforded them his knows not how to give her up; Word, wherein is expreiTed his good Will and he therefore fends Letters, thereDelire to them; nay, and more than this, fends· by further exprelling the Ardency many a kind MeiTage to them by the fweet Mo– of his Delire, and how loath he is tions of his Spirit, to awaken their Confciences, to take his final farewel. before he leaves them finally: thus he !l:rove with XV. Moreover, belides all this, he fends faithfulMeiTengers to her, as Spokefmen, to anfwer her Ob. jections, that fo (if it be pollible) he might bring her at Jail: to a compliance; who ufe alfo many Arguments in order thereunro. Thus Abraham's Servant acted, when he went to take a Wife for Ifaac, Gen. xxiv. 35, 36, 37· the old World, Gen. vi. 3· XV. Jefus Chri[t fends h'is faithful Mini!1:ers; who are as Spokefmen for their Mafl:er: I have (faith Paul) efpoufed you to one Hujband, that I may prefent you as a chafte Virgin toChrift, 2 Cor, xi. 2. I have eJPorefed you; the Meaning is, I have been employed as an Inlhument fent and com– miiTJOned by the Lord J efus to do it. Many Ar– guments they ufe to bring poor Sinners to accept of the Olfers of Grace, and receive Jefus Chritt; a', 1. They, like Abraham's Servant fet forth the Greatnefs and Riches of their Mafl:er: 'rhe Lord (faith he) bath ble.!Jed my Mafter greatly, and he is become great; he bathgiven him Flocks and Herds, Silver and Gold, &c. AndSarah my Mafter's Wife bare a Son to my Mafter whenjhe was old, and to him bath he given all that he bath, Gen. xxiv. 35· God is very areat, all Thinas in Heaven and Earth are his, the Cattle upon a thoufand Hills; and faith the Servan';: of God, he hath given unto Chritt all that he hath: All'I'hings are delivered unto me ofmy Father. Chrilt is very rich, the Heir of all things, M att. xi. 2 7· John xiii. 3· Heb. i. 2. 2. They fet not out only the Greatnefs and Riches of Chri£1:, but his excellent Beauty alfo: 'I'hou art fairer than the Children of M en, Pfa!. xlv. 2. 3. The Power of Chrift. 4· His Wifdom. 5· His Love and rich Bounty. 6. They let before Sinners, what the Promifes are if they receive him, and what Glory they fhall be raifed to. 7· The Wofulnefs of their prefent State, and what it will be in the end, if they do refufe him: Knowing therefore the '!'error of the L ord, we perfuade Men, 2 Cor. v. • 1. XVI. A Suitor alfo fends Love– Tokens to the Perfon he intends to make his Bride: IJaac fent unto Rebekah, Ear-rings, and Bracelets of Gold, Gen. xxiv. 22. XVI. Jefus Chrilt fends Tokens of his graci- . ous Love to all fuch that he intends to marry, and betrothe unto himfelf for ever; he gives ·them a Cabinet of cofl:Jy J eweis, the Graces of the Spirit, to adorn them: '!'hey jhall bean Ornament ofGrace unto thy Head, and Chains about thy Neck, Pr011. i. ·9· Grace is like a Box of precious Ointment, whofe odoriferous Smell perfumes the Hearts and Lives of Believers. XVII. Jefus
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