'i^. -.if^iSL My^ , \ ^c-^^ioQiT THE EVERLASTING ESPOUSALS* B E I N G A SERMON PRtACHEDATtHE ' Administration of the SAcRAiiiEist or THE LORD'S SUPPER, A tJ G VS T 1714. By the late Pvev.erend Mr Thomas Boston-, Minifter of the Gofpel at EtlHck. And publiilied at the Defire of fome that- heard it, ^S6 H It iv. i;. " The woman faith unto him, Sll-, give mc this v.s-' V5 '* ter, t&at I thirfl not, neither come hither tc draw.'^ ,r^oHN Hi. t2v "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believ /' io't, how fiiali ye believe, if i tell you of heavenly things''- Cf)C firtfj CDition coitcScD; EDI N B U R G II : Ptinted by T. L u r.i i s d e n and Company; For J b H M Wood, bpBofite Foot of Forreftcr's v/ynd, U D G C L V. TO THE READER, Reader, ^T H E follo^ving ferrnqn needs no other recom- -*• mendation, than to tell that Mr Boflon was the author: his praife in the gofpel is already throughout this, and other churches of Chri/l, and Jhls memory will always be dear to fuch as have a xeli/a for the truths of the gofpel. It has already undergone three impreffions, all ^vhich were fold off in a very fhoft time ; fo' thst it has been out of pr^ht tliefe feveral years : and, being much defired by many ferious Chririians, the publifh- 3ng of it at this time, was thought very proper. The author's great modbfty would' not allow him to put his name to it when it came firft abroad ; %vhich want the publishers of the third edition' ihought they might fafely fupply, feeing, before th'at lime, he had entrcd into his Majier's joy. The fer- xnon has Its teflimony in the confciences of many, and, upon perufal, will be found to be every way 'vvortby of that great man= T H F THE EVERLASTING ESPOUSALS. BEING A S E R M O N o N Hos. ii. 19. And I will betrcthe th^e un- to ME FOR EVER. | THIS folemn ordinance we are called to partake ^f is the feaft of the efpcufals betwixt Jefus Chrifl and believers, as alfo the feal thereof; wherefore *tls neceffary the guefts be fiich as are efpoufed to Chril!:, being brought V into the bond of the marriage covenant,* otherwife the fear is but prophaned. The text fiiews us, th'at all is ready tor thefe efpoufais on Chrift's part ; there is nothing to binder the happy match, if finners be wilHng. Our eyes do fee, this day, that even the ieal of the cove- nant, the holy facrament, is ready for us ; and thus we have a fair occafion to advance our eternal interefh There's fjch affinity betv/ixt marria^c^e and death, that every mar- riage -contrad amongftmen has a claufe of death in it. Our marriage-vows run in thefe terms, * Till God fhall feparate ' us by death :' Jo that the dying day muft needs ftare the parties in the face on their marriage-day ; and t"he marriage- bed is but a preamble to the death-bed. But, behold, here is a marriage-contract without that fnocking claufe, nay, plainly excluding it ; « I will betrothe thee unto me for * ever.' I have already explained thefe words ; but I n\all put you in remembrance of the niture of betrothing or elydufing, as 4 The everlajling Efpotifah as it was ufed amongft the Jev/s, feeing it gives light intp the text. Betrothing or efpoufing was the bridegroom's ta- lcing the bride into a marriage-covenant. It was done pu- bUcly before v/itneffes, under a canopy or tent fet up for that purpofe r and hereunto 'tis thought the pfalmift alludes, Pfal. xix. 4, 5. * In tfeem hath he fet a tabernacle for * the fun : which is as a bridegroom coming out of his cham- * bcr.' vSomc competent time intervecned betwixt the efpou- als and the fo'emnizing and confumraating of the marriage. Keverthelefs, by the efpoufals, they were truly husband snd wife, as appears from Mat. i. 18, 19, 20. where, while Mary was yet but efpoufed to Jofeph, he is called her hufoand, and flie his wife : and therefore, if a betroth- ed virgin was defiled in the city, bodi the man and woman were tp be ftoned to death : ' The damfel becaufe (he criej * not, being in the city,' (and therefore held confenting), " and the man becaufe he hath humbled his neighbour's * wife,' Deut. xxii. 23, 24. So they were reputed and pu- nilhed as adulterers. Thus you fee the covenant our God propofeth is a Marriage-Covenant, that our Maker may be our Husband. Hov/ever men, in the height of their corrupt wifdom, may think it unbecoming the gravity and weight of the matter, to fpeak of the great tranfacftion betwixt a Saviour and loft fmners, under the notion of a marriage ; 'tis fufficient to us, that the infinitely wife God has not thought it unbeco- ming, but fees it to be a condefcenfion nece/Tary for our veaknefs. And it muft needs be dan-serous to mock at that manner of fpeaking the Lord's word warrants the ufe of ; ' I will betrothe thee unto me,' faith the Lord in our text. The Parties in this marriage- covenant, are « Jefus Chrifl; * the Son of God,' and the * captive daughter of Zion,* loft finncrs. The Father hath made this * marriage for his ' Son, Matth. xxii. 2. And the apoftie tells us, 'tis Chrift whom fnners are efpoufbd to ; * I have cfpouftd you to * one Huftsand, that I may prefcnt you as a chafte virgin to * Chrift,' 2 Cor. xi. i. It is the glorious bridegroom him- felf that propofeth, advanceth, and effecluateth the marri- ::ge-trcaty ; ' I will betrothe thee.' 'Tis the peculiar qua- Inv of this marriage-covsnant, tliat it is ' for ever/ The '■-■.■■ j,^.^ hetivixf Ckrijl at:d believers, 5 I>ord brought Ifrael into a vifible church-ltute by ,th.e Sinai covenant ; but that covenant did not laft, Ifrael was put away : here he piomifeth to bring them back by the new co- venant, the gofpel covenant from mount Zion ; and that this covenant fiiall be perpetual, to continue while the world ifands. But, as thjfe words look to the fpirituai Ifrael, the elect ones both of Tews and Gentiles, the covenant is declared to be Everlalting, fcoming to be confined within the narrow boundaries of time, but reaching forward thro* all the ages of eternity. Dorr. I. " The waylaid dowTi in the wifdom ©f God, " and purfued in the gofpel, for reinlhtingloll finners " in the flivour of God, is the efpouHng of them to *' Jcfus Chrift." I have already fpoke to this dodrine at large, and there- in explained the nature of a finner's Efpoufals to Jelu$ Chrift in feveral particulars. There are two points yet re- maining, whicli I fliall propofe together in a fecond dodtrinc. DoCT. 2. *' As iinners may be efpoufed to Chrift, fo " whomfoever he efpoufeth to himfeif, he efpoufcth " forever, never to part with them." In handling of this -dpflrine, 1. 1 fhall lliew, That finners may be efpoufed to Chrifr^ 2. I fliall confider the perpetuity and everlaitingnef: of ^his marriage- covenant f and then apply it. But, before I enter on thefe things, it will be necc/Tary to refume fome particulars touching the nature of the c- fpoufals betvv'ixt Chrifl and linneis : to give you a view there- ol in few words. Our Lord Jefus Chrjfl: comes, by Ins mefTcngcrs, into the ' Bride's mother's houfe,' (the public ordinances) and courts her confent : but \^'ords alone will never prevail i:i that cafe ; he com.es forward, by his Spirit, into thq Inner Chamber of her heart, and there propoi'eth the marriage-, treary, and brings it to a happy ifec; We may take up this in ihrcc things J (i.) Chriii-, by liis Spirit, enters the inner 6 The everlajihig Efpcufals inner room of the heart, with the Fiery Law going before him as his harbinger ; * and fo terrible is the fight, that' the Tinner begins ' exceedingly to fear and quake ;' but yet has no kindnefs for the Bridegroom, no heart to the match. So a tribunal is erefted within his own breall: ; he is accufed, convicted, and condemned as a breaker of the law, and then beholds his abfolute need of a Saviour, A(5ls x\^. 29, 30. (2.) God ' reveals his Son' in the broken, bruifed, fenfible Cnner by the -light of the gofpel fhining into his heart. Gal. i. 16. The royal Bridegroom is manifefted unto the foul in his glorious excellencies, and abfolute fuitablenefs to its cafe ; and withal, in his willingnefs to Betrothe the wretched creature to hirafelf. (3.) The Spirit of Chriil jpowcrfully touches the heart of the (inner, who is thereby made willing to embrace Chrifl, and join hands with him in the marriage-covenant, Pfal. ex. 3. Thus the treaty of cfpoufals comes to be concluded, v/hich we may fum up in thefe three particulars. Firft, The parties are pleafed with one another ; Chrift is pleafed with the fmner, and the fmner is pleafed with him. i^nd then the language of the brid,e's heart is, ift, I'm •leafed v/ith his perfon. I have been long feeking a match for this foul of mine, a reft to this reftlefs heart; but, whatever I caft mine eyes upon, I frill perceived foniething about it that was fhocking ; fomething it had, 1 could never lore ; fomething it lacked, which I could not want : V.t ^here's a covering of mine eyes ; * He is altogether lovely,' Cant. V. 16. 2dly, I'm pleafed with allhis offices. There's a glorious fuitablenefs in each of them to my cafe, i Cor. i. 24, 30. I'rri weak, fooliHi, and ignorant ; 'tis good he is a Prophet. I'm laden with guilt, I cannot remove it ; 'ris good he is a Pried : the fight of his precious blood re"- vives my fainting foul. My lufls are ftrong, too ftrong for me ; 'tis good he is ' a King mighty in battle,' Pfal. xxiv. 8. ''::dly, I'm pleafed with the rriarriage-covenant ; 'tis well lrav.*n ; thcre*'s nothing to be added to it, nothing to be aitcrt d in it, 2 Sani. xxii. 5. 4thly, I'm pleafed with the niarriage-duties ; the laws of the Ro^'al Biidegroom, Pf^l. oxix. 128. I.adly, I'm pleafed with the crofs, content to vikc part with him in all conditions, to cleave to him for better- and woili;; Luke xiv 26. betnvlxt Chrijl a?id Believers, y Secondly, As Chrift left his Father's houfe for her, flie gives up with her * own people and her Father's houfe' for him. Her heart parts with all other lovers, that fhc may be his only. She renounceth the firfl hufband, namely, the law, as a covenant of works, never to look for Her Living by it, nor her comfort from it any more, Rom. vii. 4. She renounceth all her lufts and idols, gives up with them for ever ; and fets a particular mark of difgrace on the beloved luft (he had a particular fondnefs for. Job xxxiv. 32^ Laftly, The glorious Bridegroom's confent to be her head and hufband fhe finds in the word which the Spirit applies to her, and fhe by faith applies to herlelf. Her foul confents to take him as he offers himfelf : fo Chrifl: gives himfelf to her, (lie ' receives him, and gives herfelf ' to him, John r. 12. 2 Cor. viii.. 5. and from that bleffed mo- ment fhe may fay, * My beloved is mine, and I am his,* Cant. ii. 16. Thus fhe is united to Chrifl, * joined unto the Lord,* and made * one fpirit' with him/ i Cor. vi. 17. And from this union refults a communion betwixt the parties, agreea- ble to the nature of the fpiritual marriage. Now, having given this fhort account of the nature of the efpotifals, I. I fhall evince, that Cnners may be efpo'ufed to the Son of God. * Behold we bring you glad tidings of great joy ;* if ye be willing to be efpoufed to Chrift, he is willing ; aH is ready to the bride's confent. To clear this, confidcr thefe following particulars, which may be as fo many mo- tives to ftir you up to accept of Chrifl in the marriage-co- venant. Firft, This match was from eternity projetfled and con- cluded, in the cabinet council of the Trinity, Jer. xxxi. 3. * I have loved thee with an everlafb'ng love : therefore * with loving kindnefs have I drawn thee.' God, from e- temiiy forfeeing that all mankind would be ruined by the. fall of Adam, and not willing that the whole kind fhould be loft, let on foot this projed, a proper project for rcco- tering loft finners and fee u ring them when recovered. M;*ia teing joined to God at firft in a fimple covenant of friend- friip, th5it CQVsrjant was fouod too toder ?. bo>-.d for kch S The e-jsrlafting Efpoufals an unflable creature : wherefore a marriage-covenant h de- vifcd ; for that will feparate betwixt friends, iindef the flrictetl: bonds of friendfhip, which cannot feparate betwixt huihand and wife. Now, the Icing's friend turning to be his enemy by the breach of the firll: covenant ; to bring the criminal out of prifon to court again, and reflore her to fli- vour, 'tis concluded, That flie be efponfed to the king's Son, and fo united to him in fuch fort, as there fliould ne- ver be fuch a fatal breach betwixt God and the finner again. 'Secondly, The Bridegroom and all his relations are well pleafcd with the match. AVe have his own mind in the text : * I v.'ill betrothe thee unto me for eVer.* But will he indeed betrothe me ? may the (inner fay. * Yea, I wil[ * betrothe thee,' faith our Lord in the following words, twice in one verfe, and a third time again in the verfe im- mediately following. AVhy, truly, 'tis hard for fenfible Hnners to believe it ; yea, this fpeaks him to be peremptory in it, he will not be diverted from it. If ye would know how it agrees with his Father's mind, ifaiah will tell you, ' The Lerd * is well pleafed for his righteoufnefs fake,' ifa. xlii. 2 1 . Yea, he becomes a fuitor to you in favour of his Son, he folicites for him, Matth. xvii. 5. • This is my beloved Son, in whom I am weH pleafed, hear ye him.' 'Tis very agreeable to the mind of hi^ Spirit ; for the words he puts in the mouths of all his fervants, \xy reference to it, are full of goodwill to the match ; ' All * things are ready ; come unto tl^ marriage,' Mat. xxii. ^.■ The angels, thefe glorious inhabitants of the upper-houfe, ■when firfi: the Biidegroom came in perfon into the bride's country*, in purfuance of the blelTed projecl, fung to his arrival, * Glory to God in the hlgheft, and on earth peace,' * good- Will towards men,' Luke ii. n, 14. Yea, there is a full fatisfaclion v/ith it through all the Bridegroom'^ country : joy appears there in every face, upon the fuccefs of it. * Joy (hall be in heaven, ever one fmner that re- * pcnteth,' Luke xv. 7. I might here tell you, that the mighty flir macle about this mitch, in the bride's country, to hinder it, is a plain evidence of the reality of it. All her relations arc againft it. When the Royal Bridegroom was going forth to parfue his defign of lcr\e to loft finners, thiir father^ the devil, iddrelTed hi;)]; aad ciTcied hira ' all fhe kingdoms of the * world, hetivixt Chrifl and Believsri ^ ' world, and the glory of tkem,' if he would give over the iliit, Matth. iv. 8, 9. When that did not take, he afliiulted him and murdered him, by his heUiih agents, that io the defigned m:.ich might be marred : but the bleffcd. Jefus having overcome death and' the grave, and fat down at die right-hand of the Father, fo that he can reach him no more ; he turns his rage againlt the bride, and employs his power to the utmod againft her to ftop it. No fooner does Ihe begin to lay to heart the offered efpoufals, than fhe finds her ' own people and her father's houfe' violently fet againft it, and mu(t lay her account with vehement tof- fing (he was not acquainted with before. Her father, the devil mifreprefents Chrilt, as a huiljand ihe can never have a comfortable life with : if that prevail not to make her lay afide the thoughts of it, he rages and threatens : if (he will proceed in it, he fhall caufe her repent that ever fhc entertained the motion, and bring her back again from her new hufband, to her great confufion ; and that, therefore 'tis better for her to draw back in time, and take fecond thoughts of the offers made her by other hands. Her friends, * even the world that lyeth in wicliednefs,' ufc all methods to difcourage her : they cry out, She'll (lain the reputation of their family, and difgrace them all : and, be fure, they'll make her the fool of the company at lead, if their hands be bound that they cannot imbrue them in her blood. And, to crown the difHculcy, the hungry children fhe was wont to feed (namely, her lufts, and in a fpecial manner, the fondling, the beloved luft, hang about her v/eeping, becaufe they muft be ftarved if the match go on. All this evidenceth, that finners may be efpoufed to Ckrill. Thirdly, The lawful impedim.ents of this match are all removed, at the Bridegroom's expcnces and pains. When the purpofc of this match was declared, there flood up to' obje6l againft it, parties concerned, whcfe mouths could not be ftopt with fair ^rords. Jullice fays, die bride is my. debtor and I will not forgive her ; and, * forafmuch as fhe hath * not to pay,' flie muft be fold into the hand of vengeance, to fatisfy the debt, Matth. xvlii. 25. She is my eriminaJ, faith the law, and I will not pardon her : fentence of death is part an her, Gal. iii. 10. and, whitherfoever one may go to pick Qut a fpoufc far himfeif, he mud aot go into a pri- B fon. 30 The czgrlajl'mg EfpoufaU Ton, and bring forthat his pleafure a Conde raned woman to ht tfpoufcd to him ; for, tho' marriage break term of fervicc, it muft not break law : therefore there muft be an execution day before there can be a marriage-day. She's my lawful pri* foncr, fays the devil, and I will not give her up r * Shall * the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive * delivered ?' Ifa. xlix. 24. Thefe were lawful impediments indeed, which, unremoved, would have put an effectual flop for ever to the marri.ige betwixt Chrift and fmners ; but his heart was intent upon the match, and therefore he fet himfelf to remove them out of the way. Accordingly, he became furety to juflice for her debt, and paid it to the lafl farthing ; laid down his ov,n life for the criminal : and now that the ranfom is paid, the jaylor mufl needs let his prifo- ncr go. Fourthly, The marriage-contracl is drawn up already, and figned by the Bridegroom, bearing his cOnfent to match with the captive daughter of Zion : ye have it in this bi* ble, ye have it in our text, and the words following, ' I will * betroihe thee unto me for ever ; yea, I v/ill betrothe thee * unto me in righteocfncfs, and in judgment, and in lo- * ving kindne.'s, and in mefcy 5 I will even betrothe thee * unto me in faithfulnefs, and thou ihalt knov/ the Lord.' This is his word, this is his writ, which he hath fealed tvith his precious blood. He cannot, he wilt not deny it ; and he hath fcnt it to you, that ye for your part may con- fent to it, and fo the bleffed match is made betwixt Chi ill and you. Quest. * But why is this marriage^contradl drawn up < before the bride's confent be obtained, yea, and without * confultrng her at all?' Ans. This is highly rcafonable, w'z have no ground to complain of it ; for we have nothing to contrail on our part. We have nothing to bring with us, Eo, not fo much as to cover our nakednefs ; for all ouf father's houfe go in rags. Rev. iii. 17. Nay, we are worfe than nothing ; our father Adam left us with a burden of debt, poverty, and wants, yea, and a burden of the curfe befides. Gal. iii. 10. And well may we increafe the debts, we can never pay one farthing of the old or new accounts. But our Lord fecks no portion with us, whatever our cafe be, he is willing to betrothe us to himfelf, Ifa. Iv. i.- * Ht> betimxt Chrifi fl?id Believers, I \ ' Ho every one thai thirfteth, come ye to the waters ; and * he that hath no money. Nay, he'll have nothing with us, nor have we any thing worth his taking off' our hands. And if we do n«t come to ChriH: content to receive all freely, without prefuming to give for vs hat we are to get, we may fear we meet with Simon's eiatcrtainment, ' Thy money pe- * ri/h with thee,' A(5ts viii. 20. Were a prince to marry a beggar's daughter, and fhc fhould prcfent herfelf to the marriage in her beggarly attire, patched up after the heft fafhion of her father's houfe ; would he rot fiy, Trke her away, and Itrip her of thefe garments, Ihe fhall bring none of them to me ? they are fuiiable to the quality oi her father's daughter, but not of my fpoufe ; they would he a ftain to my honour : clothe her with change of rair- inent on my own expence. The application is eafy : we are nothing, we can do nothing, we have nothing to comr mend us to Chrift ; and, if we pretend to any thing of that kind, we dilhonour the |loyai Bridegroom. There's Ko reafon then we fnould have any thing ado in the mar^- riage-contrad!", but to blcfs God that it is brought to our hand, and fign it with our whole hearts, Befides, had our advice been taken to the framing of it, we fee fb little into our own trae intereil,v.'e would certainly have marred it, inferting fome claufe that would at length have ruined us. Finally, 'Tis one of the articles of the cover nant, that Chrift fhall gain the finner's confent, John vi. 37. ^ All that the Father giveth me, fliall come to me.' And fo faith our text, ' I will betrothe thee unto me.' It may be, fome are faying in their hearts, ' O that I * knew my name were in that marriage-contrail:, hov/ joy- * fully would I then fign it ! but I fear it is not to be found ^ there.' In anfwer to this, confider there are, (if I may fpeak (b) tv/o copies oi it, the one clofe fealed, and the o- ther opened, i. There's a fealed copy thereof laid up ici heaven, under the cuilody of the Bridegroom and his Fa- ther ; in this are to be found the names and firnames of all that already arc, or ever fliall be, efpoufed to Chrifi:; and behold the feal thereof, 2 Tim. ii. 19. ' The founda-^ ^ tlon of God ilandcth fure, having this feal, The Lo:i ^ knowcth them that are hi?.' 2. There's an open copy ;?,hcreof, Ij^t down to earth, and lodged in the bride's B 2 hand : 1 2 The everlajllng Efpoufals hand : this ye have in the bible, which is the bo©k of the covenant. It bears not the names of thofe that are to be cfpoiifed to Chiift, but runs (as it were) in that form, * We * undcrfubfcribers,* &c. Now, the Royal Bridegroom has fjgned this, and 'tis incumbent on you to ^igr\ it likewife, confenting to take Chrift as he is offered to you in the go- fpel ; and fo the efpoufals arc made, Ifa. xliv. j. ' One * fiiall fay, I am the Lord's ; and another fhall call him- * felf by the name of Jacob : and another fnall fubfcribe * with his hand unto the Lord.' Now, upon this, I offer thefe two things. ift, A view of the fealed copy is the peculiar privilege of thofe that are efpoufed to Chi ift by fubfcribing to the open copy ; « The fecrei of the Lord is with them that ' fear him : and he will Ihew them his covenant,' PfaL XXV. 14. And to require a fight of that which is laid up in heaven, before ye have by faith complied with the defign of that vv'hich is lodged in yo.ur own hands, is to endeavour to overturn the fetded order and method of grace. But, * Shall the earth be forlaken for thee ? and Ihall the rock *■ be removed out of his place ?' Job xviii. 4. Even thefe that are efpoufed to Chrift, tho' they fhall get a full view of it in heaven, where it is laid up ; yet it is but a flender view they get of it now: at beft, fometimes, the Lord opens it a little to the believer, fo as he can fee to read his own name in it, but cannot fci the name of his wife or child therein, tlio' their names be really in it, as well as his own. And it may be, fome of the faiiits never fee fo much as their own names in it, till they come to glory, being, * Through fear of death, all their lifetime fubjecl to bon- ' dagc,' Heb. ii. 15. 2diy, Tho' yoyr name be not in the open copy, vet we can fay, 'tis indorfed and directed to you, and every one of you : therefore ye have a fufhcient warrant to fign it for yourfelves. What is your name i* Wilt thou anf'.ver to the name of Thiriiy finner ? Then read your name, and fee hov/ it is directed to you, Ifa. Iv. i. < Ho every one / that thiifrerh, come ye to the waters, and he that hath * no money ; Come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, bny wine ' and milk without money ar.d without price.' ^^'ilt thoa anfv/er to the name of Willing iinner ? Then 'tis directed hetnxixt Chrijl and Believers. 1 3 to you, Rev. xxli. 17. ' Whofoever will, let him take the ' v.'ater of life freely.' Art thou called Heavy-laden Cn- ncr i* Arife then, the .Mailer calleth thee, Matth. xi. 28. * Come unto me, all y^ that labour ard are heavy hden, * and I will give you reft.' Is thy name Whoorifh-back- flidcr ? * Thou haft played the harlct with many lovers, yei * return aguin unto me, faith the Lord,' Jer. iii. i. Art thou a Loft finner ? ' The Son of man is come to feek and * to fave that which was loft, Luke xix. 10. Nay, art thou * the chief of finners V Even to thee is the word of this fakation fent ; ' Chrift Jefus came into the world to * fave finnerj, cf whom I am chief,' 1 Tim. i. 15. But, whatfoever artifice ye may ufe to difown thefc, cr any of thefe to be your name ; furely ye are ' Men, Tons of men ;' ye cannot deny that to be your name : therefore it is direfted to you, and every one of you : ' Unto you, O men, I * call, and my voice is to the fons of men,' Prov. viii. 4. But to proceed. Fifthly, The proxies for rhe Bridegroom are fent forth to make fuit for fjnners their confcnt to be efpoafed to him ; * Now then we are ambs^Tadors for Chrift, as though * God did befeech you by us,' 2 Cor. v. 10. And furely this muft be glad tidings to thofe who are v/illing to be efpou- fed to our Lord, Ifa. Iii. 7. 8. AVe arc impowered to trear with you, in his name, for this ^^blelTed match ; to declare unto you that he is willing to be yours ; and we call unto you, according to the tenor of our commiffion, Matth. xxii. 4. * All things are ready, come unto the marriag.;:.' Defpife not our call ; for he is great who hath faid, * He * that heareth you, heareih me : and he diat defpifeth ' you, defpifeth me,' Luke x. 16. And, by the refulal ©f his word in our mouths, ye run the dreadful rifque of eternal ruin, Mark xvi. 15, 16. ' Go--preach the gofpel ^ to every creature. He that bclieveth and is b; ptized, * fhall be faved ; but he that bclieveth not (liali be damn- * cd.' Sixthly, The Bridegroom has already put on his marri- age-robes : the Son of God hath clothed hinJelf with the robes of humanitx', that he might be a fuitable match for the children of men ; ' Forafmuch then as the ch>iidren ^ are partakers of llcfh and blood, he alfo hiniielf- liken ifc ^ t'jok 14 T^he everlajiing Efpoufals * took part of the fame,' Heb. li. 14. Such was the di- ftance betwixt God and his guilty creature, that the (inner could never have joined hands with a God, but with an in» carnate God. The bride could never have been able to lo'.k. on the glorious Bridegroom, in his unvailed divine glory and majelty, without being confounded at the fight : therefore was his wedding-garment taken olf on earth, namely, ' the vail of his ^c^,' wherewith he hath covered himfelf, in view of the marriage. Look on it with joy, O captive daughter of Zion. Behold ! 'tis a Dyed gar^ ment, and of the right colour for a marriage-robe ; which, in this cafe is only red, blood-red, Ifa. Ixiii. i. ' Who is this * that Cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Boz- * rah ? Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and ' thy garments like him that treadedi in the wine-fat ?' Let thy foul then fay unto him, as Ruth faid to Boaz, Ruth iii. 9. * Spread thy skirt over thine handmaid,' (that is, make me thy fpoufe) ' for thou art a near kinfman.' 'Twas an artient ceremony in marriatre for the man to throw the skirt of his garment over the woman's head, in token of his appropriating her unto himfelf, her fubjciflion to him, and tlie protection he ov/'d her : 'Tis applied to the fpiri» tjal marriage, Ezek. xvi. 8. ' I fpread my skirt over thee, * and covered thy nakednefs : yea, I fware unto thee, an(J * entered into covenant with thee, faith the Lord God, and * thou becanaed mine, or, uhou waft to me,' i. e. married to me ; for fo marriage is expreffed in the old teftament language, Lev. xxi. 3. Deut. xxiv. 2. and xxv. 5. And thence that phrafe is brought into the Isew-teftament, Rom. vii. 4. Now, no skirt but a bloody skirt could fcrve this gra- cious purpofe. The bride is a criminal, and ' without {wcd- * ding of blood is no remiilion,' Heb. ix. 22. Therefore there can be no marriage with the Son of God but under a covert of blood. The rays of divine wrath VvOtdd pierce through any other covert, and feparate the parties. And therefore the chariot (of the marriage covenant) wherein Chrift's Ipoufe is carried to his Father's houfe, hath a ^ Co- * vering of purple,' Cant. iii. jo. Now, this Purple cove- ring is no other than the blood -of our llain Redeemer, which covers the foul from the Itorm of God's wrath, as het'wht Chr'ift a?id Believers* 15 lis the covering of a chariot defends from dorms that come from above. Behold then a crucincd Saviour, meet to c* fpoufe guilty (inners to himfclf. Seventhly,, The wedding-garment for the bride is ready, being purchafed at the expcncc of the Bridegroom. 'Tis the \Vhlte raiment of Chtift's righteoufnefs, which, with the efpoufals, is offered unto all that hear the gofpel, Rev. iii. 18. It is Chrilt's active and paifive obedience to the law, imputed to every believing foul, upon its efpoufals to Chrift. This is that glorious raiment which beautifies the foul in the fight of God, wherewith Chrill's fpoufe is arrayed, as the lilies, with that which ' they toil not, neither do they fpin' for, tho' there were fore toil and bloody fweat at the ma- king of it. Thus her wedding-garment is taken off in hea- ven, even as his was taken off on earth : a bleffed evidence of a defign of perfe(5l peace betwixt heaven and earth in the way of a marriage-covenant. Eighthly, The tent for the efpoufals is fet up, even the church, * The tabernacle of the Moft High' God has mer- cifully vifited our ends of the earth, and therein erecled a church, which is the * Tabernacle he has fet for the fun of * righteoufnefs, as a Bridegroom,' there to efpoufe fmners to hlmfelf. This tabernacle, which has ftood long amongft us, God hath been threatning to pull down, becaufe of our mifimproving the preached gofpel; which calls us to tremble, and to comply in time with the efpoufals offered : and indeed feveral ' of the cords thereof are broken al- * ready ;' but, had not the Lord been oa our fide, it had been lying all along on the ground by this time. Thanks to our gracious God, it is yet flanding : but wo to thofe who (liall not be efp»ufed to Chrifl before the tabernacle be removed. Ninthly, The feail and feal of the efpoufals, namely, the holy facrament we are now to partake of at his table, is ready, that the efpoufe d bride may feafl and rejoice in her Lord and Hufband. Tho' the table be not in heaven, yet the provifion given to the believing communicant at the table, is from heaven, even the Flelh of Chrift: which is Meat indeed, and his blood, which is Drink indeed ; Jefu.s Chrift, with all his benefits,-- being reprefented, fealed, and applied l6 The ever lofting "Efpoufals applied to believers by this ordinance. This holy feafi: is the feal of the marriage-covenant, whereby Chrilt Teals the covenant to us, i Cor. xi. 25. ' This cup is the new te- * ftament in my blood.* The Bridegroom's feal is a red bloody feal like his marriage-robe. Quest. Bui, what need is there of a feal to the Lord's covenant ? Ans. God's naked word is as good fecuiity as his writ, and his writ as good as his feal : but the difficulty fmners find in believing requires them all : and therefore the Lord has gracioufly condefcended to give us all we could require of the moll: faithlefs man on earth, that we may believe him ; his word, his writ, his feal, yea, and his oath too, Heb. vi. 17. 18. Some of you find no difficul- ty in believing the covenant, and your welcome to Chrift. I dare not commend unbelief, or the leaf! doubt of God's word : 'tis very difhonouring to God, tho' Chrift's fpoufe is often found * flow of heart to believe.' But I fear the unacquaintednefs of many with the difficulty of believing the covenant, and their welcome to Chrift, proceeds ra- ther from a fpirlt of pride and blindnefs, than from the fpirit of faith. The marriage-covenant betwixt the Son of God, and a vile unworthy finful creature, is fach a great thing, fo very unlike to our condition, that 'tis a great matter to believe it. And truly nothing but the teftimony of God himfelf, and ' the working of his mighty power,- * which he wrought in Chrifi when he raifed bins from the * dead,' will make a fenfible finner really believe it, Eph. 1. 16, 20. if a prince fhould fend a writ to a beggar-wo^ man, wherein, having heard of her miferable condition, he appoints her a free houfe, and a few pence weekly, to maintain her while fhe lives, there would be no great dif- ficulty in believing this, it is fo like her condition, being but a fmall thing ; but, fuppofe him to fend an ambaffador to efpoufe her unto him ; in this cafe, if flie were fo fran- tic and mad, as to believe her lodge to be a palace, her nafty covering a cloth of gold, and her rags precious jewels, 'tis likely flie would have little or no difficulty to believe the reality of the great propo'^al made to her ; but, if ffie were truly foher, fhe would hang down her head, and fiw. Do not mock a poor woman And if, upon the producing the niarrlagc-contrad, confirmed with the prince's oat|| hetimxt (^hriji a?jd Believers. 17 iand feal, fhe began to believe it, and rofe np to fub- fcribe it ; it would be no great niarvel, if, looking to her tags and naftinefs, fhe fuddenly halted, and faid, I am a fool to believe this ; till, confidering the words of grace in the marriagc-contrad, the nature of the prince's oath and feal, her heart were Overcome into a belief of it. The application is eafy ; there is great need of die feal of the marriage-covenant betwixt Chriit and finners, and 'tis ready for you. Tenthly, Here are witnelTes endw. Here are the friends of the Bridegroom, to bear witnefs to the efpoufals. Ye may be witne/fes each one for another ; yea, as Jofliua faith, Jolh. XXIV. 27. ' Behold this itone (hall be a witnefs * unto us.' And they will furcly witnefs fomething in this cafe, either for us, or againft ns. They'll at leaft bear witnefs to the offer of the efpoufals made here this day. Lafdy, Here is the Bridegroom, arvl here is the bride; the eternal Son of God, and a company of wretched loft finners gathered together in this place. He has given his tonfent already in the words of the text read in your hear- ing, * I will betroth thee unto me for ever.' What would you have more ? would ye have hini to declare it by a voic^r from heaven ? Nay, but this is ' a more fure word of pro- * phecy,' 2 Peter i. 19. Bear v/itnefs then ye friends of the: Bridegroom ; witnefs all, and every one of you here pre- fect ; witnefs ye ftones of the place, That the eternal pur- jofe of this match is declared, the Bridegroom and all his relations are pleafed with it, the lawful impediments of it are removed, the contra(5t is drawn up, the proxies for the Bridegroom are fent forth ; he hath put on his marriage '■ robes, and the wedding-garment for the bride is ready, the i tent for the efpoufals is fet up, the feaft and the feal are ready, the Bridegroom and the bride are both prefent : I and, as for the Bridegroom he hath given his confent alrea- dy ; and therefore there is nothing wanting to rnake up the fefpoufals betwixt the Son of God and iLiners here prefent, but their confent. And fiiall it be v/anting ? O ! are not ye faying, ye friend? bf the Bridegroom, ye neighbours, ye (tones of the place, bear witnefs for me, that my heart is overcome, and I con- fent to t?,ke him as he ofTerg himfclf in the marriagc-covp- C n*r,t. is The stsriafling Efpoufals nant, for my head and huroand ; renouHcing the firfr hu- fband, the law, as a covenant of works ; renouncing all my lufts ; giving up myfelf, foul and body, to be His, and for Him ; ta be his wholly. His only, and His for Ever. II. We proceed n&w to fpeak of the perpctaity and ^verlafHngnefs of this marriage-covenant: and here I fliall only enquire, in what refpecls the efpoufals betwixt Chrifl and the foul are for ever. Firll, They are for ever in^ DeGgn. Secondly, They are for ever in Fa<5t. First, They are 'forever in the defign of partie*]. In efpoufals amongft men it is not fo : the defign is only for term of life ; for the parties know one another to be mor- tal, and that death will feparate them if nothing t\{Q do it. But in the fpiritual efpoufals the parties join hands never to part ; they both look upon it as a contract for eternity. Firft, Chrift takes the (inner with a Defign to be that Cnner's hufband from the moment of the efpoufals for E- ver ; and his defign? are immoveabk as Mountains of brafs ; they cannot be broken ; he knows perfe^^ly before the e-- fpoufals, whatfoevcr will fall out betwixt him and his i^oufe in the courfe of the marriage ; and, with a full view of all future events, he takes her for Ever with a fixed purpofe, ill, Kever to put her away while fhe defires to abide with him. Nay, 2dly, Never to part with her, tho' ("n.^ fhould defire to go away ; never to put her away, never to let her go, Jer. xxxii. 40. * And I will make an everlafting * covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them. * to do them good ; but I will put my fear in their hearts, '• that they ihall not depart from me.' Secondly, The foul confenting to the efpoufals, takes Chrifl, vj'irh. a defign to be his fpoufe for Ever, never to feparate. Howfoever hypocrites deal with him, whatfoevcr I'ccret referves they have in their pretended embracing of ihc marriage-covenant, the believer takes Chrilt with a ijncere purpofe never to leave him, never t»^ part with him. I. The believer taices Chrift with a fincere purpofe Ne- Ycr to leave hina, nor go away from him, whatfcerer hard- bef*vjht Chrifi and Belie-cers.. I p Sitps he may meet with in the world for cleaving to him, and •following of him : his refokition is, * So will not we go * back from thee,' Pful. Ixxx. i8. He may indeed fear that he will leave Chrid, neverthelefs he can appeal to God's omnifcicftce, he has no fuch defign, but his foul lothes it. He has counted the coft, he has weighed in the balance * Father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren < and filters, yea, and his own life alfo ;' and finds that the Royal Bridegroom downwcighs them ail ; they are all light in comparifon with Chrift ; and therefore he is peremp- torily refolved, whatever becomes of them, he'll never leave him, Luke xiv. 26. 2. The believer takes Chrift with a Cncere purpofe Ne" ver to part with him, nor to be put away, howfoever un- kindly his Lord may feem to carry himfelf towards him % * Tho' he flay me, yet will I truft in him,' Job xiii. 15. This is his defign, altho' he may be very hardly bedead in keeping his groimd in a time -of trial : but, in the day of efpoufals, the foul fees there is no help in any other, there- fore fays, * Lord, to whom (hall I go/ but "tinto thee ? and refoives, that, if it die, it {hall die at his door. And thus, in the fpiritual efpoufals, the voice of th(? ;bride, like an echo, fweetly anfwers tiie voice of the Bride- groom 5 * I will beL'-oth thee,' faith he ' unto me for e.ver.' A:nen, fays the Bride, * for ever, ever, ever.' Allow me here to didingriih this eternity, >this for Ever , .of the brid^, in tliree parts, each of v/hich (he has in view, in her clofing with the marnage-ccvenant.. In the elyoufals, I . She has in viev/ the beginning of that eternify which is from the very moment wh'. ♦■ein (he is efpoufad. So (he is to be altogether his, from that moment, * thenceforth * not to go back.' Chrift fays. * To-day if ye will hear " *my voice;' (lie dare not, (he will not fay. To-morrow; ro, not the next hour ; for that would be a day or an hour kept back of that eternity, covenanted away to him, and nov/ no more her own. She has in view the reaiaining time-piece, (if I may call k fo) of that eternity, which lyes on this fide death, PfJ. cxix. 112. * I have inclined mine heart to perform * 'hy ftatutes alway, even unto tke ead,/ Sie forefees <^ Z there 2© Th^ everlajling Efpoufah there v,'ill be many difEcult fteps in her way through that piece of it : but now, that we have once met, faith her foul, on this fide death, we (hall never part. AVhat Rutl^ faid to Naoxni, is the foul's language here to the Lord Chrift, * Whither thou goeft, I will go ;' (as long as I am goi.:g on the earth) ' and where thou lodged, I will lodge ; * thy people (hall be my people, and thy God my God,' Ruth i. 16. The confideration of thefe difRculties ftirs up the foul to take hold of Chrifl: for that part of the Ever, Pfal. xlviii. 14. ' This God is our God for ever and ever : ' he will be our guide even unto death,' 3. In the efpoufals the foul has a view to death, the en- trance of proper eternity, and fo forward for ever and ever. The work we have in hand is weighty work indeed ; 'tis work for eternity. I think I may fay. There will not be a foul efpoufed to Chriif, nor a worthy communicant at the table of the Lord, in this place this daVj who will not do, their death-bed work here, as really as if they were fully perfuaded they fhould never go from the place they fit u- pon, but in their coffins. If they take Chiift, furely they tike him for Ever. . There are two things, which, how long foever men may (liift and put oiT, 3^et they'll find neceflary to do them on their death-beds, when they perceive they muft quickly leave the world ; one is, to difpofe of their fouls for eternity ; the other is, to difpofe of their effects, whatfoever they l.iave in the world : both thefe vv'ill be done by the worthy communicant at the Lord's table, or wherefoever any (liall be efpoufed to Chrilf this day. (i.) Whofoever fliall here be efpoufed to Cbrift, will diff ofe of his foul for eternity, here, as if he were on his death-bed. Obferve hoU^ the pfalmiil:, refigning hlmfclf to the Lord, fpcaks, as if he had been about to draw his lafl: breath, Pfal. xxxi. 5. < Into thine hand I commit my • fpirit.' So confcnting to the covenant now, is but doing cur death-bed work betimes. /\nd there's good reafon to do it now ; for we knov/ not at what hour our Lord will come ; and whether we fliall ever rife up from our feats, or r.ot. They who manage this work aright, will furely ad: for eternity, whicli they have in their view. (2.) Who- bet^iv'ixt Chr'ijl and Believers. 2t (2.) Whofoever fhall here be efpoufed to Chiifi, will Jierc difpofe of all that he has, as if he were lying on his flcath-bcd. And indeed, the foul's joining with Chrill, in the marriage-covenant, is a Dying after a fort : therefore 'tis very natural the man make his will, feeing he is a-dying. 'Tis ' a dying unto lin ; ' and fo he'll folemnly give up with fin, leaving all his guilt to be cafl into ' the depths of the fea* of the Redeemer's blood ; leaving all his lufts to be broken ^nd deftroyed by the Redeemer's fandlifying; Spirit. 'Tis * a dying to the world ;' and fo he'll give up all his earthly comforts and enjoyments to Jefus Chrift, to be difpofed of at his pleafpre, pleading no more right to difpofe of them himfelf hereafter, than a dead man can claim tp. Whofo give themfelves to the Lord, will make a tender of their re- lations to hirn alfo, that they likewife may be his ; and will lay down at his feet their houfes and lands, hberty and life, and whatfoever is dear to them in the world. Thus, in the efpoufals, the believer difpofeth of his All, as Qji a death-bed, leaving all to the Lord, or upon hira j taking him for All, and in ftead of All, as he offers him- felf, for Ever. For the efpoufals are for ever in defjgn, in the defign of both parties. Secondly, The efpoufals betwixt Chrift and the foul are for Ever in fa^l. As this match is defgned to be ever- lading, fo it is everlafling indeed. It fnalt never end, but ialt it fhall, from the motncnt it is made, through all the ages of eternity. 1 . 'Tis everlafting, without interruption, 2. 'Tis evcrlading, without expiring. Firlf, 'Tis everlafting, without interruption : it fhall never be broken. The marriagc-covenent betwixt Chrili and his fpoufe, is not like Adam's covenant, where mar| might be In this day, and Out to-morrow ; to-day the friend of God, to-morrow his enemy ; nay, 'tis a bond of peace with God, which the believer ihall never be fliakcn out of, tho' devils do their wprfi:. The fpoufe of Chrilf receives ' a kingdom which cannot be mov^^ '^ ed,' Heb. xii^. 28. Marriage-covenants amongfl men may be broken, yea, and made null on jufl: grounds, be^ fore the time conie wherein they would expire of courfe j but ihe maniagc-coyenani betwixt Chi ill -^v.^ believers is 22 7he everlajlitig Efpoufals not liable to fuch uncertainties. If k could be brokcBj gt the relation become extinc Lord owns his relation t-o hjm, and feems to take a plcafure in owning it. Job xlii, 7.8. * Ye have not fpokcn of me *• the thing that is right, as my fcrvant Job hath. Go ' to my fervant Job. — And my fcrvant Job fliall pray foi" ' VQ'i, fcr him v.ill I accept. — Yc liave not fpoken of nic ' the thing" which is right, like my fcrvant Job.' Four vimes in thcfc two vcvfes, the Lord calls hJra his fcrvant Tob. Aud thus the covenant fwect^ns what is bitter \-x Sgiwixt Chriji and Believers. 2 ^ ''ikt be^4cver's lot, and makes his thorny crown of affliftions . better than a crown of go^d. (2.) Cbrift's fpoufe will not break with him when he is !h advcrfity. The apoilie fpeaks of ' the afflifriens of * Chrifl-,' to wit, in his members, the members of his my- fHcai body, Col. i. 24. Thefe offend hypocritical profd- fors ; and in fucb a time many of them fall off: but they That are indeed efpoufed to Chrift, ' follow the Lamb whi- * therfoever he goeth,' Rev. xiv. 4. Chrift r/ith the crofs will be as dear to them as with the crown. Tho' enemies fhould prevail to lay ' Jerufalem on heaps,' they'll ' favour * the very duft thereof for his fake. If he go to the wil- demefs, they'll follow him thither. They'll take part with him, whoever do oppofe him, and fide with him, tho' all the world (hould fide agatnft him ; thsy will never break with their Lord and husband, upon the account of the nK>ft bitter cup his enemies can fill up to them. 2dly, The efpoufals fiiand firm, and the covenant remains fure, in the cafe of the advancement of either party. This c?Sq. has been fatal to fome matches amongll: men : but here * lordfhip docs not change manners.' The bride n»w makes choice of Chriii: for her head and husband, while the world generally defpifes and reje<5ls him. The day approachctH wherein fhe fhali fee him come in the clouds of heaven, in the glory of his Father, with all his holy angels, fit dov/n on his throne, judge the world, and put ail his enemies nnder his feet : but v;rll he then forget the marriage-cove =• Eant ? v/iE he then overlook the foul that's now efpoufed ta him? nay, he will not. "When • our God Ihall come, and * fhall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, . * that he may judge his people *,' behold how the marriage- covenant is remembred, and the efpoufed gracroully noticed ! * Gather my faints together unto rae, thofe that have made ' a covenant with ms by facri^ce,' Pfal. 1. ^, 4, 5. On the other hand, hov/beit the profpc;ity of fools Ihall deftroy them, yet the fpaufe of Chrift will never change her Lord aud husband, whatever profperous turn her outward condi- tion in the world may take. As the world's frov/ns v/ill net frighten a believer from cleaving to' Chrift, 10 the world's fmiles will not entice him from if. He'll contemn its bribes. as well a? it?bcafh, Cant, viii. •»- * If a. n^n would g^>e 24 The ^vtrlafiing Efpoufah * all the fubftance of his houfe for love, it would be ut- * terly contemned.' qdly, The efpoufals ftand firm, and the covenant re- i\iains fure, even in the cafe of defertion on either fide. j\nd this is a cafe which often falls out in the prefent itate and courfe of the fpiritual marriage. (i.) Sometimes the Lord, in his fovereign wifdom, for his own holy ends, deferts bis fpoufe in great meafirc ; then the foul, that was dandled on the knee, is caft down ; fhe, that had ready accefs to her Lord, Is held at the back of the door ; Ihe, that was crowned with loving-kindnefs, has the crown kicked off her head : but tho' the marriage- covenant is laid up out of her fight, yet it is not torn in pieces : tho' he in his anger fliuts up himfelf (as it were) m his chamber, yet he never leaves the houfe ; ftill the re- lation ilands, and there is no total defertion in the caft% Jer. xxxil. 40. ' And I will make an everlafling covenant' * with thera, that I will not turn away from them to do * them good.' (2.) Sometimes the foolifh creature deferts her efpoufed husband, ceafeth to entertain a«51ual communion andfellowfliip ■with Chrift : then is fiie found purfuing this and that other vanity, gadding about among created things, as if fhe were net efpoufed, but had her choice yet to make : and file be- gins to neftle in fome forbidden place. But her Lord will not fo part with her ; he'll fet fire to her ndt wherever it is, and gracioudy bring her back again, as the pfalmift prays, Pfal. cxix. laft verfe, * I have gone afiray like a loft fheep ; « feek thy fen'ant.' Chrift's fpoufe never totally forfakes tiim ; for fo rurs the everlafling covenant with refpeft to her part, * I wilf put my fear in their hearts that they flial-I * net depart from me,' Jer. xxxii. 40. Lafijy, But what fhall v/e fay in the cafe o^. the uncha- f^ity of the fpoufe of Chrift ? We mud not fpcak v/icked- ly even for God, nor talk dereitfully for him, Job xiii. -< . ^Tis evident from the Lord's word, that e^en in that cafe, the efpoufals ftand firm, and the covenant remains ftue, Jer. Hi. 13, 14. ' Thou— hall: fcattcjed thy ways to the * {^rangers, ander every green tree, and yc have not obeyed * my voice, iaith the Lord. Turn O backillding chiJdrcnj * fijth the Lerdj f©r I am murrlcd wto you.' W unto let'wixt Chrijl and Believen, 2$ us, our cafe Is defpcrate, if the Infirmities of Chrlft's fpoufe make void the marriage-covenant. But they do not make it void : furely our Lord will put a difference betwixt Weaknefs and Wickednefs ; and we know no fm a believer falls into, but fins of infirmity (I fay, not daily infirmity) * For fm {hall not have dominion over you, for ye are not * under the law, but under grace,' Rora. vi. 14. There IS a claufe in the covenant touching the mifcarriages of be- lievers ; but it 13 not an irritant claufe : * If his children * forfake my law, and walk not in my judgments ; if they * break my icitutes, and keep not my commandments : * then will I vifit their tranfgrellion with the rod, and theii* * iniquity with ftripes. Neverthelefs my loving kindncfs * will I not utterly take froih liim, nor fuffcr my faithful- * nefs to fail. My covenant v/ill I not break,' Pfalm Ixjcxiz. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Look not on this dodrine as a pillow for carnal fecurlty : for, altho' thefe who are efpoufed to Chrift need not fear Putting away, there remains enough to frighten them fromi fin, while tkeir fins may be purlued with all manner of ftrokes upon their bodies, even to death itfelf ; and with terrible ftrokes on their fouls, even to the ' Arrows of the * Almighty' being within them, * the poifon whereof drink- * eth up the fpirit,' Job vi. 4. Yea, one fin in them may be punlftled with fuffering them to fall into another, as Da- vid's floth was punifhed with fuffering him to fall into other fins of a far rnore grofs nature, 2 Sam. xi. And fo a be- liever has that to fear which is more to be feared than hell, if of all evils fin be the greatcft. And he fpoke right who faid, * That if on the one fide were prefcnted unto him the * evil of fin, and on the other fide the torments of hell, * he would rather chufe to fall into hell, than to fall into ' fin.' The fum of the matter is this : our Lord has brought tils fpoufe, by the marriage-covenant, into a paradife on earth, while * the rebellious dwell in a dry land ;' and of the tree of life fiie msiy freely cat ; but, under the paia of her Lord's difpleafure fhe mufi not tafte of the forbid- den fruit. Neverthelefs, the day fne eats thereof, is not the term-day of the covenant, that fhe mufl itmoit ; nay, but He will chaflife ber, and brulfe her, till fhe vomit up liie fweet iriorfel . Acd h^ may fo bn;iffe her ia his hot ^plca- J> ^ fwe 26 The eierlajling Efpoufals fure, as her faith and hope may be brought to the very point of expiring ; yea, her natural Hfe may go for it, (he may lofe her Hfe ig the caufe ; only the covenant Hands fure» the efpoufals are not difannalled. The believing Corinthians provoked the Lord by unworthy communicating ; and * for * this caufe (fays the Apoille, i Cor. xi. 30.) many fleep,'; viz . the fleep of death, which they fhall not awake out of, ' till the refurreclion. They profaned the facrament of his body and blood, which many do, and yet prolong their lives : but he made their bodies to fall, and their blood tQ go for it ; he would not fo wink at it in them. But, when Ced fent their bodies to the grave ' for tliis caufe,' did he fend their fouls to hell for it like\vife ? No ; they were within the bond of the covenant, and that caufe could not break it ; but God purfued them fo hard for it in this world, becaufe they were not to be puifacd for it in another world ; Ferfe 31. * But when we are judged, we are cha- * ilened of the Lord, that we fhbuld not be condemned * with the world.' So that the marriage-covenant betwixt Chrilt and believers is everlafting without interruption. Secondly, 'Tis ' everlafting without expiring.' When a man has a leafe or tack of houfes or hnds, tho' the tack be not broken, yet at length the years thereof run out, and it expires of courfe : when a man marries a woman, tho' there be neither adultery nor wilful defertion in the cafe, yet the marriage-bond is difTolved at length ; on the death of cither party the marriage expires : but the years of this co- venant will run on through the ages of eternity, but never Tun cut ; the marriage betwixt. Chrift and belierers will ne- ver expire. I ft, It does not expire at death. Our exalted Redee- mer ' dieth no more : the efpoufed bride muft die indeed ; but the marriage-covenant (hall not die with her. The time comes at length, that the believer's laft pulfe beats, his eyes are fet, his breath goes, and ' the filver cord,' that tied his foul and body together, is loofed ; but, even thcrr the golden cord of the marriage-covenant, which knits him to Chrift, remains as raft as ever. The children be- gotten of his body are no more his ; the wife of his bofom,- vho Vy'as one flefti with him, is then free : but the efpou- fals betwixt Chrift and his foul continueth firm ; he is ftill ' joine?. to the Lord,' and one Sjjirit with him. He is car- ried to the land of forgetfulnefs 3 but, \i his dud could fpcaii bet'wht Chrifi and^ Believsrs, 2") in the houfc of filence, it might fay, on as good grounds as ever, ' My Beloved is mine, and 1 am his ;* for the belie- ver's death is but a fleep, which cannot diifolve the relation. John xi. II. * Our friend Lazarus fleepeth :' Tho' dead, yet IBU our Friend. Nay, when his duft is fcattered here and there, and the fleams of his dead body are flying thro' the air, they are well wrapt up in the bond of the covenant, which infures the believer's refurredion ; as our Lord him- fclf teach eih, while he proves it from Mofes's calling the ]Lord, * the God of Abraham,' Luke xx. 37. 2dly, It does not expire with the world's ending. This world v/ill have an end ; but the marriage-covenant betu'ixC Chrift and believers will outlive the world, and nev^r end. This world's ending fliall be by fire ; the day will come that this earth, and tlie works that are therein, fhall go up ia flames, 2 Pet. iii. ic. * But the day of the Lord will come * as a thief in the night, in the v/hich the heavens fhall pafs * away with a great noife, and the elements fhall melt with * fervent heat, the earth alfo, and the works that are there- * in, fhall be burnt up.' 'What will then become of the lands and eflates, the farms and merchandife, the worldly fubftance great or fmall, which now keep back many from the marriage of the King's Son they are bidden to, and leave them no appetite for the gofpel fcafl ? But thefe who now come into the fnarriage covenant, fhall lay up fomething for themfelves this day, which the fire of that dreadful day fliall not reach : for, tho' that fire fliall burn up mountains, caflles and palaces, break through charter-chefls, and de- ■ftroy the rights and evidences of lands and honours, handed down from Father to Son, for many generadons ; yet it fhall not be able to burn the marriage-contrad betwixt Chrifb and believers : * For the mountains Hiall depart, and the * hills be removed, but my kindncfs fhall not depart from * thee, neither fnall the covenant of my peace be removed, * faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee,' ifa. liv. 10. But why do I fpeak of the expiring of that marriage* vhen the wodd ends ? For, wlien the lail: day is come, ^ the marriage of the Lamb is come;' the marriage betvv'lxt Chrid and his fpoufe fhall then be folemnized and confum- mated. Let us take a view of the folemnizing and confummatioa of the marriage betwixt Chrift and believers : 'tis >within the D 3 compafs sS Tht evcrlajihig ^fpoufa Is compafs of that claufe in the text. For Ever. I ihall give it in thefe feven particulars ; 1. At the Ia(f day the Royal Bridegroom (hall come out of his Father's houfe, his Ivory Palaces, the higheft hea- vens, in the robes of his glory, attended with all his Holy j^ngels, Matth. XXV. 31. 2. The bride (liall come out of her mother's houfe, the houfe of Mother earth, Job i. 21. the grave, that darkr fome, narrow, lonely houfe. (Thefe are excepted, who (hall be found alive at his coming.) But it {hall be a joyful outgoing ; never bride had the like. Hear the mirth that will be at that outgoing, Ifa. xxii. 1 9. ' Thy dead men i * fhall live, together v/ith my dead body (hall they arife: ^ awake and fing, ye that dwell in the duft.' This is a 'pro- phecy, v/hich will not till then have its full accomplifhment : behold the glorious train fent to attend her, and bring \\zi along to the bridegroom, a train of angels, whom * he (hall * fend to gather together his eleTat. xxv. 41. Laftly, Chrift and his fpoufe fhall be the lafl on the field ; and, when they have feen the backs of all their enemies, (while they depart * into everlafling punifhment') they fhall go away attended v/ith angels, and ' enter into the king's * palace,' where they fliall fit dov/n to * the marriage-fupper * of the Lamb,' at a tible that fliall never be drawn. So the marriage expires not with the v/orld's ending, but iS then folemnized and confummated. ' Shall we proceed any further in queft of that, which we are fure we fnall never find ? We have looked into death, and we find tlie marriage expires not there ; we have look- ed to the world's ending, and v/c find 'tis fo far from expir- ing then, that then 'tis folemnized and confummated : if we attempt to go further, we lofe ourfelves in a boundlefs ocean of eternity, where we can fee nothing more to take our mark by. Let us ftop then, and conclude, that the blefre4 efpoufals are * for ever ;* that the fpiritual marriage, betwixt thrift and believers, never expires ; never, never, never. I proceed to the APPLICATION. And the on= !y Ufe I fliall make cf this doctrine is to exhort you, that, feeing Cnners may' be efpoufed to Chrift for ever, ye would therefore confent to the offer, and be efpoufed to him ' for * ever.' Chrift makes offer of himfelf unto every foul here this day; and we are come in his name to propofe unto yoa a marriage with the Son of God, that we may gain your conferit thereto. O come into this blefTed match : accept cf Jefus Chrift, your Maker, to "be your Hufcand forever. Shall we not prevail with you, in a treaty fo very fwitsble \a 3© Th everlaf^ing Efpoufals yo':5r cafe, fo very much for your advantage ? Howfbcver Jt be entertained, we muft make the offer in Jiis name, pro- claim the royal Bridegroom's will and pl^rafure, and make iuit for your hearts. Therefore « hearken unto me, that * God may hearken unto you.' Fird, are there any in ail this company w]]0 have an un- flabls, falfe and fickle heart, that they can never get fixed, but ftill it breaks all bonds ? Ko doubt there are. To fuch i fay, Here is a fiiitabls match for you. Come into the marriage-covenant, put that heart in Chrift's hand; thefe v/hom he efpouf^th, he efpoufeth ' for ever'. If ye caqnot keep the covenant, the covenant will keep you. The cove- rant of works could never keep an unliable heart, the con- didon of it being perfeft and compleat obedience, without the lead failure or wavering ; a condition ye cannot pretend to fulfil, and therefore ye can have no hope from the way of that covenant. I know the forry fhifis that fome' make to delude themfelves, by patching up a baflard covenant of works, wherein they engage not with Jefus Chrift as a head and hufband, to live by him, being united to him (which they could certainly do, if they took the way of the cove- nant of grace) but they covenant with him only as a mafter, to give him their work for wages. Surely this covenant of your own making will never keep you : your hearts, how- foever ye watch them, will leap cut and break it; but the marriage-covenant will fecure the mofl: unfrable heart that is to be found amongfr us; fo that it fliall be as the trcewhofc root remains fixed in the earth, howbeit the branches there- of are fhaken by the wind. Though the fpoufe of Chrift may be to/Fed to and fro by the blafts of temptation, yet • the root of the righteous fhall not be moved,' Prov. xii. 3. Secondly, Are there any in this company that are mourn- ing for the lofs of their deceafed relations ? or any that are afraid of fuch a mournful occafion abiding them ? here is a fuitable match for fuch perfons, the King immortal offers to bctrothe you unto him ' for ever.' Ye cannot think of the death of your friends, of parting with your dear relations, but with greateii: forrow of heart. Truly ye that are of that difpofition will never find a relative fuitable to your nind, but by coming into this n)arriage-covenant. The Lord Je us Chri{[ will take you into the nearcfl: relation with itmfelf; he is willing to cfpqufe you; and being once efpqu- ht'whl Chrifi and Believsru 3 1 fed, ye fliall never part. Death, that inexorable mefTenger, who fhatchcth the husband from the wife, and the wife from the husband, the child from the parent, and the parent frooa the child, cannot prevail here, and (hall never be able to feparate betwixt Chrifi: and thefe that are efpoufcd to hira, Rom. viii. 38, 39. ' Neither death nor life — fliali be able * to feparate us from the love of God which is inChril^ Je- * fu3 our Lord.' Thirdly, Are there any who knov/ not how to get fafc through the world in the evil day I here is a fuitable match for you : be efpoufcd to Chrift ; he will go betwixt you and all hazards : how bad foever the times be, they '^iAX fliii be within the compafs of that fwect claufe in the text, for Ever. And therefore I infer, that our Lord offers himfelf to be a head and husband to us for the evil day, the day of trial. Take him for your husband for ever. If it be a dark day, he will be for a light to you, and guide you ; if it be a day of war, he'll Cover your Head; if it be a day of fearching of corners, he'll Hide you either under heaven, or in heaven. Embrace the covenant, and then, altho' ye fing the triumph before the victory, ye fiiall not be afhamed, Pfal. xlix. 5. * Wherefore fhould I fear in the days of evil.' Fourthly, Are there any who have none to provide for them ? or any under fears, that, ere long, they'll be in a deftitute and helplefs condition ? come ye into this match, and ye fhall never want a provifor, who will furely furnifti you all that you (hall need, and that's enough ; * Verily thou * fhalt be fed :' yea, ' in the days of famine they fhall bs * fatisfied,' Pfal. xxxvii. 3, 19. What time ye are e/pou- fed to Chrifl:, even your daily bread is fecured to you by the covenant, Ifa. xxxiii. 16. * Bread fhall be given, his water * fhall be fure.' The carnal world will laugh at this, and bid us fit dovvn and dine upon it ; but they cannot laurh' the people of God out of their experience, whofe confcien- ces do bear them witnefs, that they have dined fometimes more fv/eetly upon a promifc of the covenant, than 'tis pof- fible for carnal men to do at their mod: plentiful tables. Fifthly, Are there any here that have been ranging thro* the creation, fceking a match for their fouls, fomcthing commenfurable to the defires of their immortal ipirits, but -could never yet find it ? Ye have not failed to meet with dif- appointments, even where your hopes have been mof! raifed l- yc have foiuid feme oac Uiorn sf uasaiinefs qi aaothc.-. Jl The everlajVmg Efpoiifah wherefoever you have eflayed to take up your reft ; an(i^ whitherfoever ye have turned yourfelves, ye have flill come away dillatisfied ; ye have tried many methods to attain to ' fatisfa^tion, and none of them has anfwered your defign. Be perfuaded at length to make trial of this ; embrace Chrift in the marriage-covenant, and be afTured he'il be to you what no created perfon or thing Can fee, a complete * covering of the eyes,* and a reft to your heart for ever> PiM. Ixxiii. 25. * Whom have I in heaven but thee? and ' there is none upon earth that I defire befides tliee.' Sixthly, Are there any whom no body cares for, who are rejeded by all, and caft at every door? Our Lord will receive you, even you ; * for he gathercth together the out- « cafts of Ifrael,' Pfal. cxlvii. 2. His family, fo far as 'tis made up of the children of men, is made up of foundlings : Ifracl was a poor foundling ; Egypt would lodge them no longer ; Canaan would not take them in : but when they v.'cre caft at all hands, the Lord took them up, Deut. xxxii. 10. * He found him in a defert land, and in the wafte howl- * ing wildcrnefs : he led him about, he infl:ru*5led him, he « kept him as the apple of his eye.' So, however forlorn your cafe be, he'll take j^ou up, and bring you into thic bond of the covenant, even the marriage-covenant. Ye have a fcripture full to this purpofe,- reprefcnting the cafe of the Jews, whom the Lord took into covenant with himfelf, but applicable to every foul whom Chrift ef- poufeth, Ezek. xvi. 5. * Thou wall caft out into the open * field, to the Icthing of thy perfon. Verfc S. I fpread my * skirt over thee afid covered thy nakednefs : yea, I Avare * unto tliec, and entred into a covenant with thee, faith the * Lord God, and thou becameft mine.' 'Tia evident there is an allufion here to the inhumane cuftom of expofmg of in- fants, very ufual among feveral heathen nations. The Lord ftiews Ifrael, and ail thefe whom he has efpoufed, what a inifcrable cafe he found them in, and how gracioufly he dealt v,ith them when they were in that cafe. Thou waft caft out into the open field ; thy cafe was as III as that of expofed outcaft infants. Now, that barbarous cuftom we find was, to take out the infants, and leave them in fome place where they might pcrifh, if fomc body did not find them, and take them up, as Pharaoh's daughter did, Mofes when he was expofed, Exod. ii. Such was thy cafe, hopelcfs acd hdplefs, being abaadoiKd of all, and unable \9 Sefnvixt Chrijt and Believers, '^ lielp thyfelf. This barbarity was exercifed on thefe infants that were lame or deformed, and who they judged were not like to be ufeful to the commonwealth : fo Chrift's bride is altogether unfighdy, and has nothing promifing about her in the day he begins to maniftft himfelf unto her ; no beauty for which fhc is to be dcfired. Sometimes they expofed in- fants to periih by the waters, the fea, rivers or lakes ; fome- times they laid them down in woods or defert places, where they might be a prey to ravenous birds and beafts : accor- dingly thou waft caft out in * the open field,' even « the * wafte howling wildernefs,' Deut. xxxi. lo. Thus the finner lay a ready prey for the devourer, and fo thy cafe was as 111 as that of expofed infants. But that's not all ; 'twas Worfe than theirs ufually was : they were laid Out, but thou waft caft Out ; not laid down warily, bat violently thrown away, ' to, or in, the lothing * of thy perfon,' as fome Abominable thing men cannot en- dure to look at. \Ahen they weie expofed, they were put either in a kind of clofe basket, or in an earthen pot ; but fo much kindnefs was not fhown to Thee ; * thou waft caft * out in the open field,' or (as the word is) ♦ to the face * of the field ;' thrown to, and left, iipon the Bare ground without the leaft fhelter. But it was yet Worfe : when infants were expofed, they were fwathed and adorned, yea, and precious things, as gold, jewels, rings, were laid down with them for the charges either of their education or burial, if any that found them fhould be at the pains to do either of thefe unto them. * But I corered thy nakednefs,' faith our Lord. As for thefe whom he takes up, there is nothing to be got by them ; 'tis of mere grace, abfolutely free grac^, that he takes notice of them to help them. They have not fo much as to cover their nakednefs. Now, behold how grace abounds to the foundling ; * I en- * tred into covenant with thee, and thou becameit mine,' i. e. my foonfe, as I fhowed before. If one free-born had ! been expofed, he loft his freedom, and paft into a fervile j ftate : but thefe whom our Lord takes up, be dtfes not en- ! flave, but efpoufe unto himfelf. I Finally, obferve. That the firft covering the Lord cafts I upon the naked foundling is the marriage-robe, the robe of I his own righteoufnefs. He does not delay the efpoufaJs till E the -^ ^ The evdrla fling Efpoufalt the biicle 'be brought into a better and more honoufabk Cond'.tlon than he found her in ; but takes her as (he is in her miferable condiiion, and, efpoafing her, covers her nakednefs ; ' I I'prcad my skirt over thee' (betrothed thee anto me) * and io covered thy nakednefs.' O the riches and freedom of grace ! Let thefe that are efpoufed to Chrill already be humble ; and the word of iinners, who are wiliiug now to take him, be encouraged to Gome forward * unto the marriage.' Seventhly, Are there any amongft us, who are diificult- ed in thefe weighty points of greateft concernment, To wit. How they fhall fafely die, and go into another world ; how they fnciii ftand before the great tribunal ? Hearken ye to this cih:r, Jefus Chrif^, the Lord of the other world, who fits upon the tribunal, is willing tobetrothe you unto himfelf for ever. O bleffed device for eternity ! can there be fuch a proper expedient for the bufinefs of another world, as to be efpoufed unto the Lord of that world ? can there be fuch a proper expedient for a comfortable (landing before the tribunal, as to be joined now, in a marriage-covenant, to the Judge that fits upon that tribunal ? Laflly, Are there here any of the children of apoflate A- dam, who have fallen off from God, fallen out of his favour, and are under his wrath ? the gate of heaven is fhut upon you ; the pit has enlarged her mouth for you ; the earth groneth under you ; and ye are in danger of perifliing for ever : Come ye into this covenant, accept of Jefus ChriO: for your head and hufband ; fo fhall ye be re-inftated into the favour of God, and made happy for ever and ever. * For fo an entrance fhall be minilired unto you abundandy * into the tverlalbng kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus « Chrift.' This offer is made unto you all without exception. Chrift K willing to be yours, Rev. xxii. 17. ' Whofoever will, * let him take the water of life freely.' The Bridegroom is ftretching out bis hand, in order to join hands with you in the marriage-covenant ; and will not ye Stretch out your * hand unfo God ?' Pfal. Ixviii. 3 i. What vviM ye do ? v/ill ye not give your confent to the Son of God, to be efpoufed tnto him for ever ? Befoie ye adventure to refufe, there are three things I would beg of you as rational creatures ; I. Feforc ye rcfufc to b. efpoufed to ChriR, confider how ye will diipofc of yourfeJvcs to greater advantage ? hetnvht Ckrift and Believers. 3 j v^l a full fwlng in your lulh be to greater advantage \ will your betaking yourfelvcs into the devil's * fields to (ccd * his fvvine' (to fVcd inlatiable iufb) be to your greater ad- vantage, than to partake of Chrili: and the benefits of his covenant? If ye reckon fo, ye will at length find, to your eternal lofs, ye have reckoned amifs. 2. Before ye refafe It, confidcr how ye will do w'thoui it; poflibly you may make fome filly fhlff to live at edc in the world, without being efpoufed to Chrlrt : Buf I pray you confider, how will ye die without it ? how will ye (land before the tribunc-l of God without it ? Laftly, Before ye refule this olter of the efpoufals, make it fure (in cafe of repenting of the refufal afterv/ards) that ye fhall have another ot^er thereof; and that upon this rer fufd, the fcntence lliall not pafs againrt you, which is writ- ten, Luke xiv. 24. * For I fay unto you, that none of * thofe men, which were bidden, fliali tafte of my fupper/ 'If it do pafs againft you, ye are for ever ruined; but yc can have no fuch afTurance : Therefore do not adventure to ■ refufe him that fpeaketh from heaven ;' but give youi- fclves av/ay to him in the everlafling marriage-covenant. Let none raife objeflions againft themfelv^ss, to hold ihem OiF from embracing the covenant. There is as much in the very propofal of it, as may take off all your objections, on whatfoever ground ye (late them ; ^ I will betrothe thee un~ * to me for ever ; yea, I will betrothe thee unto me in righ- * teoufnefs, and in judgment, and in loving-kindnefs, and * in mercies. I will even betrothe thee unto me In faithful- * nefs, and thou fliak know the Lord.' I But,ncce!lity has no law. In vain do we ftand to difpute, whether oruot we fliall take that v/ay, which we Muft need-^ take, or inevitably perilh. Ye Mull be efpoufed to thrift, or God will be your enemy through the ages of eternity : There's no other way for finners to be re-inftatcd in the favour of God. Ye muft cither be efpoufed to Chrifl for ever, or ye m.uft be damned for ever. The cafe is al- ready judged, Mark xvi. 16. * Ke that belie veth not fhali * be damned.' If ye vt]tCt the marriage-covenant, ye muft die in your ilns ; for, fo doing, ye rejeft the remedy of fin. But why will ye judge yourfelvcs unworthy of eternal life, and rejeft the counfel of God againft yourfelves ? will ye fly in the face of the grand device of the v. ifdom of God for the lalvauon of fiiiners, and v/ilf'dly die cf your dlfwfe, 36 T^he everlafling Efpotifahy 8cc. when the phyficlan is Come to your bed-fide ? There's urn falvatlon out of this covenant, ' Strangers to it have n» * hope,' Eph. ii. 12. WTierefore, ye muft either join yourfdlves to the Lord in the covenant of peace, or he wiU have war with you for ever. This covenant is drawn with blood, the precious blood of the royal Bridegroom ; 'tis the * new teftament in his * blcod ' Behold how he loved his bride, in whom there was nothing lovely ! O trample not upon * the blood of the * cverlafting covenant !' Kow, let your hearts give an anfwcr, before the Lord, unto thefe few queftions ; Firft, Are ye pleafed with the Bridegroom ? his Father is pleafed with him, all the holy angels and faints are pleaf- ed with him ; and are not ye pleafed with h m ? I affure you, he is fo far pleafed with you, even the w^orfl: of you, as to take you for his fpoufe ; ' I will betroth thee unto me * for ever.' Are you pleafed to take him for your husband. Secondly, Are ye willing to renounce all your former lovers, and to part with all your lufts for ever .? affure your- felves, if ye take him, ye mufl let thefe go away. God's covenant is a holy covenant ; and ye'll bring a curfc upon you, inftead of a blefling, if ye come to feek a (belter to any one luft ynder it. Thirdly, Are ye content to take Chrifl For all, and in- flead of all ? ivill ye receive him in all his offices ? will ye receive him as your prophet, to teach you, renouncing your own wifdom ? as yourpriefl:, to fave you by his death and futferings, renouncing your own righteoufnefs ? as youi king, to reign and rule over you, renouncing all your idols ? Art thou content to give up thy own will to him, and that * thy * defire fliall be to thy hufband,' to grant it, pr withold it, as he feeth meet ; fo that thou (h-lt be no more Maftcr of thyfelf, or at thine own difpofal, but wholly at his difpofal ^ Laflly, Will ye take him for ever, from this moment, for profpcrity and adverfity, for life and death, for time and eternity ? If it b'. fo with you indeed, then yc arc cfpoufed to the Lord Jefus Chrift for ever ; and welcome to the feafl of the efpoufals at nis table : But, if not, ye will get a long cterr.ity to repent this rt^ufalj unlcis you change your mind, ar.d repent of it in time. ' ■ FINIS, "^ftm rjf3-^ ''."" ■i^'T^'' 6 i> --^ S*3 "^^^'i