Page:Best-match, or, The incomparable marriage between the Creator & the creature.pdf/17

( 17 ) (i.) For information. Is it ſo, that there is a marriage-relation betwixt Chriſt and believers?

1. This informs us of the infinite love of God towards loſt ſinners, in giving his own Son to be a Huſband and Redeemer unto them ; “God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him, might not periſh, but have everlaſting life,’’ John iii. 16. God ſo loved the world, as neither angels nor men can tell.

2. This informs us of the infinite love of Chriſt, in condeſcending to be a huſband to ſuch a bride. It could never have entered into the heart of the wiſeſt angel in heaven, that Chriſt, the eternal Son of God, ſhould become man; and far leſs that he Should take ſuch a filthy and deformed creature and bride by the hand, as ſinners are: it he had given us our deſerving, he would have nude his juſtice to ride in triumph over us, and hell to refound with eter- nal hollows of praiſe to incenſed juſtice; but, to the quite contrary, he hath ſo ordered, that heaven ſhall refound with eternal halelujahs of praiſe to his gracious mercy and free grace, in chaſing thoſe that were enemies, and admitting them to his bleſſed boſom.

3. This doctrine informs us of the believer’s ſafety. Having Chriſt for her huſband, who can hurt her? It is the duty of a huſband, you know, to protect and defend his ſpouſe; and Chriſt will not be wanting in this to his bride: “He will hide them in the ſecret of his preſence from the pride of men: he will keep them ſecretly in a pavilion from the ſtrife of tongues, Pſ xxxi. 20.—About all the glory I will make a defence,” Iſa. iv. 5. He covers them with the mantle of his providence, the mantle of his righteouſneſs. the mantle of his interceſſion, the mantle of his Spirit; ſure then the bride of Chriſt: is in abſolute ſafety. He hath retiring chambers for