312 C H R I S T A B R I D E. G R 0 0 M. Book H. METAPHOR. XXIV. A Bridegroom rejoiceth over his Bride, and much dtlight– eth in her, !fa. lxii. + XXV. The Bridegroom dif– charges the Bride from many Debts and Dangers, by means of this Marriage ContraCt, and conjugal 'Knoi: He now ftands liable to rluife ACtions and Arrefts, which ·otherwife, had Jbe abode in a fingle State, would have come,upon her own Head. • ; PARALLEL XXIV. J efus Chrift ddighttth greatly in his Church, and in every fincere Member thereof. hence Zion i> called Hephzibah; And as the Bride: groom rejoiceth over the Bride, fo jhall thy God rejoice over tbee, lfa. lxii. 4, 5· XXV. Jefus Chrift difcharges his Saints and People from all thofe Debts that bind over to eternal Wrath. Sinners were miferably indebted to the Law and Juftice, owed ten thoufand Ta– lents, but had not a Farthing to pay; liable every day to Arrefts, and to be fent to the dark Shades of eternal Night, or Prifon of utter Darknefs, under the Wrath of the incenfed Majefty, havina whole Mo~ntains of Sin. and Guilt lying upo~ them, runn1ng every day m to new Scores, adding Sin to Sin, one heavy Debt uBon another. 0 ! how great is the Guilt of finful Man ! and how unable to fatlsfy Divine J uftice ! How then Jball the(e Debts be paid, all thefe Sins expiated, and t~e Guil~ taken away? Juftice calls for full Payment; its Lan– guage is, Pay, or pdiih: yet we cannot make the kaft Reparation, nor right God for theWrong we havedone h1m, by offendmg the Eyes of his Glory. But now by a Marnage-Covenant With Jefus Chnft, all1s at once d1fchargecl, and the Sinner ac– quitted; there being Riches and Worth enough in him, who hath fully fatisfied the Demands of Law and J uftice ; and by Union with him the Sinner comes to be intereft– ed into alL He was made Sin for us, who knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteoufnefs ofGod in bim, 2 Cor. v. 2 1. 'I'he Lord bath laid on him the lniguities of us all. 0 how happy 1s that Soul that 1s efpoufed to J efus Chnft I XXVI. A Bridegroom, if he XXVI. Jefus Chrift confers great Honor on be a Prince, or noble Perfon, ra~fes thofe that are efpoufed to him. The Church is his Bride to great Honor; Jbe is called a ~leen·; and how comes that to pafs, but called by his Name, has the Attenby means of this ContraCt and Marriage with danc< of his Servants, and lies Chrift? Upon thy right Hand flands the Izyem, in his Bofom. with Gold of Ophir, PJal. xlv. 9· Believers are called by Chrift's Name, have the Attendance of his Servants, the holy Angels : 'l'he Angels of the Lord wcamp round about them that fear him, Pfal. xxxiv. 7· He bath given his .Angels charge conceming thee. Saints lie in the Bofom of Chrift's Love and Mercy. XXVII. A Bridegroom fupplies XXVII. Jefus Chrift fupplies all the Wants, the Wants of his Bride; it is his and makes bleffed Provi!ion for his Saints: 'Ihey Part, and great Concern, to prothat fear the Lord jhall not lack any good 'l'hing, vide all Things needful for hisWife Pfal. xxxiv. 10. Whether it be Grace or Peace, that he has efpoufed. either Food or Phyfick they want, they Jhall have , it from him ;· all is in Chrift : In him all Fubzefs dwells, Col. i. '9· and in him, fo as to be let om and communicated to his Saints. · XXVHI. A Bridegroom fympaXXVIII. Jefus Chrill: fympathizes with his · thizes with his Spoufe, and helps Saints : In all their Alflitlions, it is faid, he was ro bear her Burthens; is greatly ajjlicted, !fa. lxiii. 9· And in another Place, ir troubled when Jbe is afllitl:cd, and is faid, His Soul was grieved for the Mifery of cannot endure any Jbould affront, Ifrael, Judges x. 16. He himfelf hath fuffered: mifufe, or wrong her. Being tempted, he is able to Jitccour them that are tempted, Heb. ii. 18. We have not an High·Priefl that cannot be touched with the feeling of ottr Infirmities, Hd. iv. 1 5· He that touch– eth you, tozccbeth the Apple of mine E)'e, Zech. ii. 8. Cafl thy Burthen upon the Lord,. andhejhallfuftain thee, Pfal. lv. 22. . . . . XXIX. A Bridegroom regmres XXIX. Jefus Chnft regmres Obed~ence ofh1s Obedience. The Man bath, and Church, and of every Member thereof; hence ought to have Pre-eminence over Paul faith, .'I'he Church is Jitbjefl unto ChriJl: 'fhe the Woman; he is her Head, and Lord ]efus ts exalted above all Prznctpalttw and Jbe is commanded to be in fubjecPower, Might and Dominion, and every Name that tion. is named, not on!)' in this World, but alfo in that which
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