458 CHRIST THE SAINTS WEDDING-GARMENT. Book II. Notwithftanding all the Malice and Rage of the D evil, he cannot dellroy us, be– ' caufe we are cloathed with Chrill's Righteoufnefs, and have the L ord J efus to be a Cover for us. 4 · Chrift defends us from eternal W rath. God is to all that are ' naked (to all that have not Chrifi on for Cloathing) a fcorching and confuming Fire, the hotttfi Flames cannot touch the Body till they have burned the Garments; but Wrath cannot feize Chri!t any more, he hath overcome it, and quenched its Burnina; ' he hath lain under it once for all, and therefore it cannot f<ize on a Believer, who · ' is circled about with Chrifi, and with his Righteoufnefs as with a Garment. The ' Fire cannot burn the Man whilll the Screen is between him and the Flame. Je!us ' Chrill is a Believer's Screen, which fiands continually between him and the devourinrr ' .Flame of God's Ang<r.' Robinfon. 0 METAPHOR. P ARAL LEL VI. Garments are prepared and V I. Chrill's Righteoufnefs prepared for Bemade fit for the Perfon that is to lievers, is made fit for the Soul, it anfwers to the . wear them, or otherwi!e they are -Law and J ullice of God, it every way fu its, ac– , not comely. commodating every Part, leaving none uncome!y VII. When a.P erfon puts on a '•Wedding-Garment, all other Gar– ments are laid alide ~s invaluable, and unfeemly for a Bride to have on. nor uncloathed in the Sight of God. VII. When a Soul puts on Chrifl.'s Righteouf– nefs by Faith it lays afide its own Rags, having no Confidence in the Flelh, Phi!. iii. 8, 9, 10. If a Man be not ftript of all Hopes, Truft, and Reli– ance, in refpe<'l: of his own Righteoufnefs, he will not feek for another, neither can he put ChriO: on, for Chrifi is the only Garment for fuch who are naked, and fee an abfolute . Neceffity of that which is by Faith, in order to their being accepted in the Eyes of the . Bridegroom. VIII. A Wedding-Garment is , ufually very rich, iCprovided for a Perfon of Honor, a Princefs, or fame great Heirefs. VIII. Clnift's Righteoufi1efs is a very rich and .glorious Robe, curiouOy wrought, the Perfon for whom it is provided, being nobly defcended, born from above, and efpoufed to the Prince of Heaven and Earth. I c/oathed thee with embroi– ,.dered Work, and covered thee with Silk; I decked thee with Gold, and thy Raiment was of fine Linen, Ezek. xvi. 10, t 1, r 2, '3· 14. '!'he King's Daughters were among thy ho– norable Womm, Pfal. xlv. 9-13. Upon thy Right-hand did fland the Qlfeen in Gold of Ophir. IX. A rich and glorious Wed– ding-Garment, is put on as a Sign of Joy, and a good Day. IX. The Righteoufnefs of Chrifi put on by Faith, figni lies Joy, and a good Day; the Soul that is cloathed with this Robe of Rightcoufnef~, that beautiful G arment of Salvation, hath infinite caufe of Joy and Gladnefs; hence faith the Apoftle,-as forrowful, yet always rejoicing. Rejoice in the Lord always, and. again, I fay, rejoice, Phi!. 1v. + lfa. !XI. .10, I 1, 2 Cor. vi. IO. I 'fhejf. v. 16. . . . X. Thofe who were invited to a X. Thofe that have not the fpmtual Weddwg- . Marriaoe amonafr the Jews, as Garment in the D ay when our Bridegroom comes, Hifl.ory !ells us~ if they had not lhall not be entertained amongfi Chrift's Guells, on a Wedding-Garment, they were but lhall be put out of the Weddmg-Chamber, not entertained, nor fuffered to be and turned into eternal D arknefs. .dnd.when the amongfi the Guefts, but were, if ]{jng came in to fee the Guefls, he Jaw there a Man . obferved, turned out of the Wedthat had not on a JVeddmg -Garment: .d1Ki he Jatd ,<Jino-,Chamber. unto him, Friend, how camefl thou in hither, not " having on aWedding-Garment? And he wasfpeech- .'lefs. '!'hen Jaid fhe King to his Strvants, Bind him Hand and Foot,_ and take him awa.x, and cafl him into utter Darknefs.: 'Ihere jhall be we(ptng and wadmg, and gnajhmg of 'feeth, Matt. xxii. I I, I2. &c. XI. The Bride that is gloriouOy • , cloathed, and adorned in her Mar– ·riaae-Robes, is delighted in,and re– :joi~ed over by the Bridegroom. XJ. That Soul that hath this Wedding•Gar– ment on, that is cloathed and adorned with Chrifi's I\io-hteoufnefs, that is jullified and accepted by Faith; the Lord Jefus takes great Delight in, As a you11g Man wh" marrieth a J/irgin, ~c. ,and as a Brid•groam rejoiceth.over the Bride, fo jhallthy God rejoice aver thee, Ifa. lxu. 5· ' , . .META.PHOR.
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