Ver.6. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N. 75 and our Father : By Regeneration and the Merk of the Crofs, our Father 5 but in the Póf t1ion Of Heaven, our Brother : We are CoHeirs with h'itti. ; 4. We are given to him as the Wife of his Bofom : Asa Father giveth the Dáughtet, wliopt _lye hath- begot, to another for a Spoufeand Wife ; fo doth God give his Eleer to IC-larift. Indeed Chri t bath bought her at his Father's Hands ; other Wives bring ä Dowry, but Chrilt was to buy his Spoufe. As Saul gave his Daughter to David, but fide he was to kill Goliah, and to bring the Fore -Skins of an hundred Philiftmes, t Sam: 17.25. and 18. 25. So God gave Chris the Church for a Spoufe, to be redeemed by iisBlond_5 themfernal Golmh -was to be flair. .Eve was taken from Adam when he lay afleep: fo when Chrifl was a dying, the Church was as it were taken out of his Side: He was willing to die; that his Spoufe might live. Chrifl left his Father at his Incarnati- on, his Mother at his Paillon, to make the Church his Spoufe: As a Man leaveth Father and Mother,and cleaveth to his Wife. This Honour Chrifl getteth by the Power of his Spirit; it colts him long wooing. David had bought Michael with the danger of his Life; yet he was fain to take her away from Phaltiet, .2 Sam. 3.13, &c. The Devil bath got- ten Quiffs Spoufe into his Hands.; Chrifl by his Spirit is to refcue her, and oblige "her to Loyalty. Hereafter is the great Day of Efpoufals, the Bride's, and the Lamb's Hope. Chrift's Honour,as well as our Comfort, is biir incompieat now; Then he flan!!prefent the Church to himfeif, a glorious Church, not having fpat or wrinkle, or any 12ch thing : but that if fhiould be holy, an4 without blemifh. Eph. 5.27: Chrifl is j w decking her again tthat time : We aré to accomplifh the Months of our Purification, Odors and Garments are to be brought out o£the-King's Treaíury, Either 2.12. 5. We arc to be Members of his Body. Next to that of the Son of God,there catìnot be a greater Title khan Head ofthe Church. : Poor Creatures, that Chrifl will -take us into his own myftical Body, to quicken us, enliven us, and guide by his Grace I If he were a Head to all things, that had been fümewhat; Col. a. 1 I. e is the Head of all Principality and Pomar. But he is their Head for the C ch's fake ; And gave ;him to be the Head over all things to the Church, -Eph. I. a 2.' ver them to us; ,He counteth himf if not perfulttvithout us, Which is his Body, the fa' Inéfr of him that fllet¢ g llin all; that wefhouldbe galled the -fulnet'ofChrift1 He efieemeth`hiinfelfasmaimed and imperfect without us. -He treateth his Myftical Body with the fame refpeil, as his Natural ; that was railed, afcended, glorified,-fo (hail we ; for the prefenthe is griev- ed in our Miteries, as well as we exalted in his Glory, and fo he communicates to us; and with us. a. Life. Admire the Love of -God in this Donation. a. Of God the Father,that he!fhouldbellow us upon his own Son. As Chrifl pleadeth it to the Father, fo fhould we plead it to our ft.-Ives : we were God's, and he gave us to Cbri t. Eleíing Love is the.fweeteft ; others were bis as well as you, Pßl. 36.7.. How excellent is thy loving- kind nefr, 0 God ! That God Ihould call a Look on you! 2. ;01God the -Son, that he fhould take ús as a Gift from the Father, and as a Re- Ftyrd. of ail his Services. Nothing could be more welcom than the tender of Souls: Confider, nothing iould be added to the greatnefs of him, who was equal with the Fa- ther-5 the Privileges of the Incarnation were but as fo many milder Humiliations ; but his main Reafon was to gain an interelt in Souls : nothing elfe could bring Chrifl out of Heaven into the Manger, the Wildernefs, the Crofs, the Grave. What was his Reward for all his expence of Blood and Sweat? He came from Heaven, took our Nature, flied his Blood ; Chrifl is very chiefly of an interefl in Souls. !fa, 53, kn. He fhsll fee of the travel of'his Soul, and fiall be fatisfted : This is enough, i do not begrudg my Pains, -nay Temptations, my Agonies. A Woman fafely.delivered after fore and {harp Labour, forgettetb all her pail Sorrow for joy of the Birth. Chrifl longed till' his Incarnation, feaftgd himfelf with the thoughts of his Free Grace. Prov. 8. 3r. Rejoicing in the habi- table farts toil' his Earth, and my delights were with the Sons of Men. Afterwards belonged for his Pa ion, Luke 12. 50. I have a `13aptrfm to be baptized with, and, -chi auvÉxstaay how am I jiraitned till it be accemplifhed ? His Delight was with the Sons of 3. Blets the Spirit for his attefting, witnefling, working the Comfort of all this in all Par Souls. We have the Father in Heaven, the Son on the Crofs, the Spirit in our Hearts. We are given to thrift, but Chrifl is given to us by the Spirit; our Intereft is 'wrought and applied by the Holy-Ghofl. It is the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of the Lord Jefus Chrifl, who is his Executor; lie is to fee Chriffs Will accomplifhed; he is Chrifl's Vicar in his Kingly and Prophetical Office. Kkk 2 . V.f',
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