Page:Best-match, or, The incomparable marriage between the Creator & the creature.pdf/16

( 16 ) this cafe: "Even ſo Father, for ſo it ſeems good in thy fight,” Matth. xi. 26. Hiſ actions are not to be examined at the bar of our reaſon: “ He hath mercy, becauſe he will have mercy.”

2. His love to them makes him come under ſuch a relation to them; I have loved thee with an everlaſting love; therefore with everlaſting kindneſs have I drawn thee ” Love is the motive that en- gages him; love brought him out of heaven for them; love nailed him to the croſs for them; love laid him in a grave for them; and love engages him to a marriage-relation with them.

3. He does it for the glory of his own free grace, mercy, and love. As love and mercy was his motive, ſo it was his end, that he might diſplay and diſcover it to the uttermoſt. This attribute is at its utrnoſt line. Infinite wiſdom could have contrived a thou- ſand worlds, and infinite power could have made them; but the love of God hath gone to its ut- moſt height; it is not poſſible for Chriſt to give a greater demonſtration of his love than he hath done, in giving his life for the bride, and entering into a marriage relation with her.

4 He does it, that he may furniſh work for the bleſſed company in the higher houſe; for, on the earth the contract is only drawn up; this is only the day of eſpouſals; heaven will be the place of the conſummation of the marriage: this is only a courting and wooing time; but the day will come, when the nuptial ſolemnity ſhall be celebrated, and that ſhall continue while the day of eternity lads. This shall ſuffice for the reaſons of the doctrine.

IV. The fourth thing was, To make ſome ap- plication; and it may be. 1. For information. 2. Lamentation. 3 Examination. 4. Exhorta- tion. Now of these in their order.