Book IV. THE cHuRcH COMPARED TO A wIFE. Ill. And let thofe that his own Right-hand hath planted, fee alfo that they be woll rooted. 1. A Tree not well rooted bears but little fruit. 2. A Tree not well rooted is fubjeft to be Jhaken and blown down. 3· A Tree not well rooted is in danger of being plucked up. . .. 1. Labor to be rooted in all the Effentla!s of true·Rellgwn. 2. And in all the Principles of lnll:ituted Wodhip. 3· And in all the Graces of the holy Spirit, in Faith, Love, &c. Ephef iii. 17. IV. It mav alfo be of ufe to .encourage and comfort the Church of God, whilll it remainsfntirful to him. How fafe and fecur_e is that Vineyard, that God hath fo glo– rioufly walled in on every ude! ln vain are all the Strivings and Strength of Bloody Rome: If God open not the Door for them, they can never prevail againll: us. V. It alfo may be for Reproof to loole and llothfu l Profeifors; 0 what Danger do their Sins expofe God's Church to l THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A VIRGIN. I have efp.,tftd )'DU le one Hujband, that I ma)' prefent )'OU as a chafle Virgin to Chrift, 2 Cor. xi. 2. A Chafle Virgin. This Simile alludes to the legal Type of the High-Priefl, who might marry none but a Vtt-g~n. Lev. xxt. 1 4· Note. The Church, _or a gracious Soul, is by .the Apoll:le compared to an efpoufed Virg'in: I bave efpoufed_you, i. e. 1 have been an Inll:rument or Spokefman in the Hand of'my bleffed Lord and Mall:er herein. . . S I M I L E. P A R A L L E L. I. A Virgin is a Perfon that is L THE Chur<:h of G J d, . and every fincere not defiled, one that hath Chriflian, is kept pure from Idolatry, viz. been kept pure from Fornication the inordinate Love of th;s World, and all Antiand Unc!eannefs. chriflian Worlhip. He~ce the forty-four Thou- . fand upon Mount Sio>1 are faid to be Virgins; thofe are they which were not defiled with \'Vomen. that :s, with the Mother of Har– lots, myll:ical Bab)'lon, nor with any of her Daughters; for they are Virgins, that is, true and chall:e to Chri!L Rev. xiv. 4· I!. A chall:e Virgin, that is I!. So the Church, an·d each fincere Chrill:ian, efpoufed to an Hufband, is greatly is dearly beloved by the Lord, who is faid tb re– beloved by him. · . joice over his People, as a )'Dung Man rejoiceth over Ill. A Virgin efpou)ed to ap Hufban,i, longeth for the Wed– ding Day. IV. A Virgin efpoufed, greatly prizeth every kind Token of Love from her Friend, and delights to hear from him. V. A Virgin efpoufed is a Man's Wife. his Bride, ija. .lxiii. 4, 5· Ill. So the Church longeth for the Return of the Bridegroom, when Chrill: will take her to him– felf. The Marriage of the Lamb is come, ·· &c. Cant. viii. 14. Rev. xix. 7, 8. JV. So all fincere Souls wpnderfully prize every precious Token of Chrill:'s fpecial Favor to them. Let him kifs nze with the Kiffis ,of his Mouth, for his Love is better tha11 Wine, Cant. i. 1. V. So is the Church the Wife of Chrill:. THE c H u R c H COMPARED TO A w I F E. 'rh)' Maker is thy Hujband, ija. liv. 5· I willjbew thee the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, Rev. xxi. 9· BY the Metaphor, Efpoufals, which is the moll: pleafant Metaphor of all, the fpiri– . tual Umon between Chrill: and the Church is expreifed, Hof ii. 19, 20. From the Names of Hujband and Wife, Metaphors alfo are taken, ija. liv. 5• where God cails him8 1 felf
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