Book II. c H R I s t A B R I D E G R 0 0 M. 3Il METAPHOR. XVII. A Lover cannot endure Rivals, nor permit that another lhould have a part, or an equal !hare in the AffeCtion of the Ob– jeCt beloveol. PARALLEL. XVii. Jefus ChriO: cannot endure that the Heart of a Profelfor fhould be divided, or that a Man or Woman lhould have one Heart for Sin, and another for him; he muO: have the whole Heart, or he will have none of it: 'Ihoujhalt love the Lor(i thy God with all thy Heart, and with al! thy Soul, &c. Matt. xxii. 37· Confcience may be tor ChriO: and his Ways, and the Judgment may be much enlightened, when the Will may be oppofite, and the Affec– tions fet chiefly upon Sin, and the Vanities of this World: 'Iheir Heart is divided, now jhall they be found faulty. XVIII.SomeLovershavefought XVIII. Jefus Chrift met with greaterOppofigreat Battles, and met with great tion, and fought more fore and fearful Battles Oppofition from Enemies, for the than ever any did, for the Sinner's fake; as wit– ' fake of thofe Perfons they have nefs his Conflu'l: with Satan, that ftrong Man fet their Hearts upon. armed, wtth Sm and Wrath, and laO: of all with Death itfelf; over all which Enemies he gloriouily triumphed, and got a perfeCt ConqueO:, Matt. iv. 3, 4, 5, 6. XIXi. A Man will not make a XIX. Jefus ChriO: will not take into Covenant, contraCt of Marriage with one that or make a ContraCt of Divine Love or Grace, is engaged to another Perfon; il1e with a Perfon that is not dead to the Law.· We muO: be free from all others, if he mull: fee the Infufliciency of that, and of our own ~fpoufe her to himfelf. Righteoufnefs, and have no confidence in the Flejh, if we would win Chrift, Phi!. iii. 3, 8. Where– fore, ·my Brethren, ye alfo are become dead to the Law,-that ye jhould be married to ano– ther, even to him tbat is raifed from the Dead, that we jhould bring forth Fruit unto God, Rom. vii. 4• XX. When a Suitor hath ob– tained the Love and full Confent of the Perfon beloved, (and being fatisfied upon all accounts, refpeEt– ing fuch things as we have hinted) fignifies in the next place his Refo– lution to betrothe or marry her unto himfelf; and that it might be orderly and legally done, !he is given to him. XXI. The EfpoufaJ.day being come, and confummated, there is great Joy in the Family. amongft the Servants and others', to fee this happy ConjunCtion. XX. When Jefus Chri!l, by his Word and holy Spirit, hath brought over all the Faculties of the Soul unto himfelf, finding the Perfon dead ro Sin, Self, and to this World, and all Thinos being removed which obO:ruCl:ed this happy Co~traEt; he then proceeds, and takes the Soul into Union with Himfelf: But, according to that holy Order and Decree of God, no Soul is efpoufed by Chrift, but fuch as is given to him by the Father; .1111 that the Father bath given me, jhall come unto me, John vi. 37· XXI. No fooner is a Sinner converted by Faith, united or efpoufed to Jefus Chrift, but there is great Joy amongft the Angels of God in Heaven, and among!! the Saints of God on Earth: Like– wife I Jay unto you, there is Joy in Heaven, in the prefence of the .ll11gels of God, over one Sinner that repentet!J, Luke xv. 10. And fo in the Cafe of the Prodigal, at his return: '!'he Fa– therfaid to his Servants, Bring forth the befl Robe, and put it upon him, and put a Ring on his Hand,-.llnd bring hither the fatted Calf, and kill it ; and let us eat and drink, and be merry.-.llnd they began to be merry, Luke xv. 23, 24. XXII. A Bridegroom ufually, XXII. J efus Chri£1: fettles upon each Soul he efpecially if he be a Prince or noble efpoufes, a very great Inheritance; he makes over Perfon, fettles aJointureorDower a Jointure ofanineftimable Value, a Kingdom of upon his Bride, entitles her to fuch Glory, a Crown that fadeth not away, even ever– or fuch a Place, City, Land, or laO:ing Blelfednefs. Inheritance. XXlli. A Bridegroom leaves his Bride a while (after he hath ef– poufed her) in het own Country, and in her Father's I-Ioufe, cloth not immediately carry her home to his own Habitation. XXIII. J efus ChriO: leaves his Church, atitl each believing Soul (whom he takes into Union with himfelf) in this World for a while, and doth not immediately take them to himfelf, or carry them to Heaven, his own Habitation. XXIV. Jefus
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