AND is this thy Voice, O Our SAVIOUR? A moſt wonderful Word! What? The Great GOD who formed all Things; 〈◊〉 Omnipotent GOD, ſpeak ſuch a Word, unto Frail Creatures, that are the Works of His Hands! I Marry my ſelf unto you. The Moſt High Poſſeſſor of Heaven and Earth, ſpeak ſuch a Word unto Poor Creatures, who have nothing but what He gives unto them! I Marry my ſelf unto you. The moſt Holy One, who is of purer Eyes than to behold Evil, ſpeak ſuch a Word, unto Vile Creatures, which are all gone aſide and all together become filthy! I Marry my ſelf unto you. O Wonderful! O Wonderful! But ſo it is. O Lord GOD, Thou art that GOD, and thy Words are True, and thou haſt promiſed this Goodneſs unto all that are willing to become the Objects of it!

Great is the Honour which the Glorious GOD has put upon the Married State. He Honoured it, when He Appointed it in Paradiſe, and made it an Inſtitution for our Firſt Parents, while they were yet in their ſinleſs Integrity. He Honoured it, by doing at it the Firſt of thoſe Miracles, wherein His Divinity ſhone forth under the Eclipſe of His Humanity. He has Honoured it, in the Deſirable Effects of it, and the Glories of Mankind, which it has produced in Succeſſive Generations. On ſuch Accounts Marriage is Honourable in all. But we have no ſmall Addition to the Accounts on which it is ſo, In that our GOD has made a Marriage to be the Figure, by which He will have to be livelily deſcribed unto us, the marvellous Relation, and Affection, which He bears unto His Choſen People.

Iſrael, Backſliden from GOD, is adviſed and Exhorted unto a Repentance: which being obtained, they ſhall be returned from their Diſperſion among the Nations; tho' there ſhould be but One to be found in a City, or Two in a Tribe diſperſed among the Nations, yet they ſhall be brought back unto their Ancient Sears, and God will ſhew wonders to the dead. The COVENANT between the Glorious God, and His Backſliding People, is brought as an Argument for the Repentance that is called for. And the Nature, the Import, of the COVENANT is declared. It is a Covenant of Marriage; I Marry my ſelf unto you ſaith the Lord. It is thus Actively, to be expreſſed, I Marry my ſelf, rather than I am Married. Indeed the Argument here uſed, is urged with a Compaſſion ſcarce to be found among the Hard-hearted Children of Men. Adulterous violations of the Covenant between the Married, eſpecially, if Repeated, if defended, if long perſiſted in; Theſe render all Accomodations between them forever hopeleſs. An Everlaſting Divorce is all that can be hoped for. The word Return, is never heard any more. But, my Thoughts are not your Thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ſaith the Lord. Our compaſſionate God ſays unto a People in Covenant with him; Thou haſt plaid the Harlot with many Lovers, yet Return again unto me. And the Marriage that has been ſo horribly Violated, is made the Argument for this Return. Our God will yet own the Marriage; and go on with all the Teſtimonies of Love that can be agreeable to a Marriage; and all former offences will be forgiven and forgotten, and be as if they had never been at all. How Unchangeable the Love of our God! Becauſe I change not, Therefore ſays our God, O Sinners, you are not conſumed. A Goodneſs, at which, O Sinful Children of Men, how can we but be aſtoniſhed! But with our Aſtoniſhments, how much is a Repenting Soul, having ſuch a Marriage in view, to be encouraged! Well, who is the Lord that ſays, I Marry myſelf unto you? Truly 'Tis the Lord whoſe Name is JEHOVAH. Now the Son of GOD, who is the God that is the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; but who becomes Incarnate in our Jeſus: This is He whoſe Name is JEHOVAH. We have all the evidence which the Oracles of our God can give us, That the God of Iſrael, in the Old Teſtament is the ſame that appears in the Character of the Redeemer, our Immanuel, the Word made fleſh, in the New. It is our Glorious CHRIST, who ſays, I Marry my ſelf unto you.

My Doctrine that is to drop as the Rain upon you, will be this.

Our Great SAVIOUR, The Great GOD our SAVIOUR, bringing His People into a Covenant of Grace, does moſt graciouſly MARRY Himſelf unto them.

It is to diſtil as the ſmall rain upon the tender Herb. And therefore it ſhall be broken into ſome Heart-melting Propoſitions.

I. It is to His CHURCH in the World, the People whom He calls out of the World, into His Covenant, that our SAVIOUR ſays, I Marry my ſelf unto you. 'Tis the Church, that has this Dignity put upon it; Rev. XXI. 9. The Wiſe to the Lamb of GOD. Of the Church does our SAVIOUR ſay, 'Tis the dearly Beloved of my Soul.

The Church Univerſal is to be firſt of all conſidered, as thus Married unto the Son of GOD. Even that whole Body of People, who come into the Hands of our SAVIOUR, that ſo they may glorify God, and enjoy Him forever. There is a COVENANT, which GOD our SAVIOUR has made with His Eternal FATHER, concerning a people, which he has choſen, to be the Veſſels of mercy in Glory forever. In this Covenant of Redemption, GOD our SAVIOUR has engaged, That He will recover this His People out of the Ruins, which by their departure from God they are fallen into; That He will therefore make Expiation for their offences, by the Sacrifice of Himſelf, and ſo reconcile them unto God: And that He will then put the Fear of God into their hearts, and ſhew them the path of Life, and Quicken them to live unto God, and at laſt raiſe them from the dead unto Everlaſting Life. In every Age, and in every Place, the Almighty Spirit of God, finds out theſe Elect, and makes them willing, that GOD their SAVIOUR ſhould accompliſh theſe His Engagements for them; willing to be Sav'd, and Led, and Rul'd by this mighty SAVIOUR. The method of Grace, which the Covenant of Redemption has laid out, for our Salvation by a Glorious CHRIST, is brought unto us, in the Goſpel of our Salvation, as a Covenant of Grace, which we are to come into. The Goſpel is the Covenant of God; it brings to us a Covenant of Grace. By being made willing to have our Saviour do for us, what He has promiſed His Father to do for His People, and be concerned for us, as our Peace-maker, our Inſtructor, and our Governour; we come into His Covenant. The People brought into this Covenant is the Church of God. Now, unto this whole People does our dear Saviour ſay, I Marry my ſelf unto you.

There is one whole Book of our BIBLE that appears written on purpoſe to Repreſent and Celebrate, this Heavenly myſtery. Tis the Book which we call, The CANTICLES. In that Song of Songs, written by Solomon, there is introduced a Prince, who has upon him ſome Reſemblance of David, the admired Father of Solomon; but yet it is in the Quality and Apparel of an High-prieſt that this Prince is here exhibited. And this Illuſtrious Perſon here Marries Himſelf unto a Lady, with many mutual Endearments. Tis our SAVIOUR, who is the Bridegroom; 'Tis the Church which is the Bride, in this Dramatic Poem. The Emblem thus proſecuted by Solomon, is but an Enlargement upon what he had learn'd from the Forty fifth Pſalm, which his Father David had compoſed for him. From hence it is that the Jews have their curious Traditions, of the Marriage between Tipheret and Malcuth; between the Beauty and the Kingdom, that is to ſay, between the Meſſiah and the People that ſubmit unto Him. We have now and then occurring in our Sacred Pages, the Marriage of an Hero, which is attended with circumſtances, that lead us to think, on our Saviour ſaying to His People, I Marry my ſelf unto you. The Condition of things between our Saviour, and the People of His Covenant, is the Original from whence the Marriage allow'd and ordain'd, and common among the children of Men, is Copied. But the moſt notable Copy taken from that Original, was the Marriage of our Firſt Parents, in the Garden of God. Of that marriage, our Apoſtle ſpeaking, preſently adds; Eph. V. 32. This is a great Myſtery; but I ſpeak of Chriſt and the Church.

The Inchoation of this Marriage, is in this World. The Elect of God coming to ſay, I am the Lords, and Avouching a Glorious CHRIST for their God and Saviour, the Grand Affair of the Marriage is carried on. 'Tis come to a Contraction. But the conſummation of the Marriage is in the World to come. 'Twill be at the Second Coming of our Saviour, that there will be that voice heard, as the voice of many waters, and the voice of mighty Thunderings; Rev. XIX. 7. Let us be glad & rejoyce, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His Wife has made herſelf ready. Then, then, twill be that our Saviour will preſent it unto Himſelf a Glorious Church, not having any thing that will be diſtaſteful unto Him▪ Then, then 'twill be, that our Saviour will call her Hephzibah and Beulah, becauſe He will Delight in His Church, and it ſhall be Married unto Him: yea, as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride, ſo ſhall thy God Rejoyce over thee.

But as an Appendix, to this Contemplation, it is to be added; That a particular Church, is alſo to be conſidered, as Married unto the SON of GOD. A particular Church, or a Company of whom our Saviour ſays, Gather my Saints together unto me, thoſe that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice: Even to ſuch a company combined in the Evangelical Church-State, our Saviour ſays, I Marry my ſelf unto you. Of ſuch a Church, He who gathered it, ſaid, 2 Cor. XI. 2. I have eſpouſed you to one Husband, that I may preſent you as a Chaſte Virgin, to CHRIST.

O Church of the Lord; Remember thy Marriage unto thy Saviour. Do nothing to grieve Him; Do not Incur His Frowns; Do not provoke Him to withdraw from thee. Be faithful in His Covenant. Obſerve His Inſtitutions, with a due Loyalty and Purity; preſerve them from Violations. Be mindful of that Charge; Pſal. XLV. 11. He is thy Lord, and Worſhip thou Him. Thy Title ſhall be, An Elect Lady; yea, Thou ſhalt be a Kings Daughter, if thou Hearken to ſuch Admonitions of GOD.

II. To every Individual Perſon, coming into the Church of the Living GOD, and Laying hold on His Covenant, our SAVIOUR alſo ſays, I Marry my ſelf unto thee. As it is in the Metaphor of a Temple. The Church in general is a Temple of GOD. And every Individual Believer is alſo a Living Temple; An Habitation of GOD thro' the Spirit. It is the ſame in the Metaphor of a Marriage. Our SAVIOUR does Marry Himſelf unto the Church in general. But He does alſo Marry Himſelf to every Individual Believer, and ſay to every Soul that receives Him as a SAVIOUR, what we have, Cant. IV. 8, 9. Come with me, my Spouſe. Thou haſt raviſhed my Heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe. O Sollicited Soul, When thou comeſt into the Church of GOD, and heartily ſayſt, I am willing to be Liſted among the People who look for Bleſſedneſs under the Conduct of the LORD, who is to break the Head of the Serpent; From this Moment thy SAVIOUR Marries Himſelf unto thee. When thou comeſt into the Covenant of GOD, and heartily ſayſt, I am willing that GOD manifeſt in the Fleſh of my JESUS, may produce Good Terms with Heaven for me, and may fulfil in me all the Good Pleaſure of His Goodneſs; From this Moment thy SAVIOUR Marries Himſelf unto thee. It may now be ſaid, Iſai. LIV. 5. Thy Maker is thy Husband.

I am now directed and arrived unto the Management of the moſt Important Action, that it is poſſible for any among the Children of Men to be concerned in.

A Miniſter of the Goſpel is called; Joh. III. 29. A Friend of the Bridegroom. The chief Scope, the main Work of our Miniſtry is, To Wooe, Oh! may we have the Wiſdom and Succeſs, to Win, the Souls of our People, for an Eſpouſal to our only SAVIOUR. The Motion is to be now made; And, O our Dear People. Deſpiſe it not, Reject it not, Neglect not ſo Great Salvation. Hearken to a Friend of the Bridegroom now arguing with you. Hearken to me, that GOD may hearken to you another Day. Yea, Hearken, O Daughter, in a fair way to be made a Daughter of GOD, and Conſider, and Incline thine Ear; Forget alſo the Amuſements of a vain World, which have kept thee at a Diſtance from Him who is to be thy Lord, forever to be Adored. We read of a famous Tranſaction; The Steward comes, and, Gen. XXIV. 35, 49, 58. He ſaid, The Lord hath bleſſed my Maſter greatly, and he is become great; and unto his ſon he hath given all that he hath:—And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly with my Maſter, Tell me.—And they called Rebeckah, and ſaid unto her, Wilt thou go with this Man? And ſhe ſaid, I will go. Let us now in like manner go on with our proceedings. I bring you this Advice; The Bleſſed GOD has a SON, unto whom He hath given all that He hath: He is Lord of all. It is now propounded unto Thee, O Poor Soul, whether thou art Willing to give thy ſelf unto Him; Willing to have Him take Poſſeſſion of thee; Willing that He ſhould Supply thee, Inſtruct thee, Govern thee; & render thee Fruitful unto GOD. And now, wilt thou treat thy SAVIOUR well; or Deal kindly and truly with thy ſelf? Say, Wilt thou go, and Live with thy SAVIOUR, and Live upon Him, and Live unto Him? Upon thy Hearty ſpeaking of this One Word, I will go; or, I will be the Lords!—the Point is gain'd; and thy Triumphant Song may be that; Cant. II. 16. My Beloved is mine, and I am His.

But there muſt be more particularity uſed, that we may have a diſtinct view of the Myſtical Marriage, which is now Proſecuting; I hope, I may ſay, Celebrating, and that you may come into it.

O Our Evangelized People, Your Great SAVIOUR does make to every Soul among you, the Propoſal, O Gracious and Marvellous Propoſal! of an Eſpouſal unto Him. Your SAVIOUR is this Day fulfilling that Word; Hoſ. II. 16. At that Day, ſaith the Lord, thou ſhalt call me, Iſhi; That is to ſay, My Husband. That ONE WORD heartily ſpoken, will aſſure you of His being ſo.

There is to be a Regular Proceedure in the Marriage. Wherefore,

Firſt; There is the Fathers Conſent in the Matter. GOD the FATHER has given His Conſent unto it, that Thy SAVIOUR ſhould Marry Himſelf unto thee. It is a Match of the Fathers making. We read, Mat. XXII. 2. A King made a Marriage for His Son. 'Tis the Marriage of thy SAVIOUR, unto Thee, O thou Soul now under Invitations unto thy SAVIOUR. Of our SAVIOUR we find it ſaid, Unto us a Son is given; His Name ſhall be called, Wonderful. GOD the Father has given His own Son, to be Married unto thee; A Thing that is Wonderful! He is Thy Father too; Tho' thou haſt Rebelled againſt Him; wandred from Him. Return, O Prodigal, Return unto thy Father. Then does He alſo give thee unto thy SAVIOUR. Thou wilt be found One of thoſe, of whom thy SAVIOUR ſays, Joh. XVII. 9. Thoſe whom Thou haſt given me. And that thou mayſt be Married unto thy SAVIOUR, 'tis a Thing which our Heavenly Father does deviſe means to bring it about. The GOD who retains the Right of a Father over thee, and has thee at His Diſpoſal, does Countenance, Encourage, Command, thy Marriage unto thy SAVIOUR. None come unto the Son, except the Father draw them.

Secondly, Thy SAVIOUR does Offer to be unto Thee, all that the Beſt Husband in the World can be; All that can be expected from a SAVIOVR Eſpous'd unto thee. What thy SAVIOUR does in the Glorious Goſpel of the Bleſſed GOD ſpeak unto thee, is This; I would Marry my ſelf unto thee. How amply 'tis Expreſſed! Hoſ. II. 19, 20. I will Eſpouſe thee unto me for ever, yea, I will Eſpouſe thee unto me, in Juſtice and in Judgment, and in Kindneſs, and in Mercies. I will even Eſpouſe thee unto me in Faithfulneſs, and thou ſhalt know the Lord.

But wilt thou more Particularly ponder on the Heart-breaking Tenders of thy SAVIOUR, who is now Eſpouſing of thee! Oh! Hearken to them; And at the very Moment when thy SAVIOUR Tenders Himſelf with His Bleſſings to thee, reply unto Him; O my SAVIOUR, I Accept thee; Be thou unto me, ſuch a SAVIOUR. The Thing admits of no Deliberation.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it: Shall I make thee One with me; ſo much One with me, that in my Fulfilling of all Righteouſneſs, and in my Riſing from the Dead, and in my Sitting in the Heavenly Places, and in my Receiving the Promiſes of GOD for the Righteous, Thou ſhalt be conſidered as with me in the doing of it. This is according to what we read of the Believer; Rom. XVI. 7. He is in CHRIST.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I bring thee to have my Father for thy Father? This is according to what He ſpeaks to the Believer; Joh. XX. 17. I aſcend unto my Father and your Father.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I inveſt thee with my Unſearchable Riches? Bring thee to be a Joynt-Heir with me, and Inherit all things! This is according to what He ſpeaks to the Believer; Prov. VIII. 18. With me are durable Riches.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I Feed thee? Yea, Feaſt thee with Meat indeed, with Drink indeed; With the Food of Angels? This is according to what we read of the Believer; Rev. VII. 17. The Lamb ſhall feed them, & ſhall lead them unto living fountains of Waters.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I Cloath thee with the Garments of Praiſe? Defend thee with a Durable Cloathing, and Adorn thee with a Covering of ſpangled Robes, which are inlaid with Golds This is according to what we read of the Believer; Rev. XIX. 8. Granted, to be array'd in fine Linnen, clean & white; the fine Linnen of the Righteouſneſs of the Saints.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I Inſtruct thee, Direct thee, Adviſe thee, and help thee always to know the Things of thy Peace? This is according to what He ſpeaks to the Believer; Pſal. XXXII. 8. I will inſtruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou ſhalt go; I will guide thee with mine Eye.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I be a Shield unto thee, and ſhelter thee from every thing that may threaten to injure thee? This is according to what He ſpeaks to the Believer; Zech. II. 8. He that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine Eye.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I dwell with thee, and make thee ſenſible that I am near unto thee; and by the influences of my Grace render thee Fruitful unto GOD; Zealous of Good Works, and Fruitful in them? This is according to what He ſpeaks to the Believer; Hoſ. XIV. 8. From me is thy fruit found.

Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I multiply the Expreſſions of my Love unto thee? Shall I give thee to find that I have meant unto Good, all that occurs in my Diſpenſations towards thee? Shall I Comfort thee under all thy Sorrows with ſpeaking of thoſe Good Words unto thee, which will gladden an Heart ſ • ouping with heavineſs? This is according to what He ſpeaks to the Believer; Jer. XXXI. 3. I have loved thee with an Everlaſting Love: Therefore with Loving kindneſs have I drawn thee.

Once more; Thy SAVIOUR Offers it; Shall I bring thee into my Fathers Houſe, and the King bring thee into His Chambers, and then fill thee with Joy Unſpeakable and full of Glory, from wondrous, endleſs, inconceivable demonſtrations of my Love unto thee; and ſhall I give thee to enjoy all the Spiritual Bleſſings of the Heavenly Places? This is according to what He ſpeaks to the Believer; Joh. XIV. 2. In my Fathers Houſe there are many Manſions. I go to prepare a Place for you.

O moſt Heart-melting Propoſal! How Vicious, How Obdurate muſt be the Heart, which will not hearken to it! The Heart which will not comply, like an Abigail, when an Eſpouſal unto a David was propoſed unto her; Let me be Received among the Servants of my Lord!

This brings on the Finiſhing Stroke.

Thirdly. Upon ONE WORD Heartily ſpoken in Compliance with the Offers of thy SAVIOUR, the Beſt Husband in the World is become Thine; Thy Eſpouſal to thy SAVIOUR, is become Unqueſtionable. Thy SAVIOUR ſaying, I would Marry my ſelf unto thee; Let thy Heart now ſpeak that ONE WORD unto Him, Do it, O my SAVIOUR! 'Tis done immediately. The Echo's of Devotion to the proffers of the Eſpouſal, will ſettle the matter. We find ſuch Echo's of Devotion; in Pſal. XXXVII. 8. Seek ye my Face: On hearing this my Heart did ſpeak to thee; Thy Face, O Thou ETERNAL God, Thy Face now I will ſeek. Verily, GOD is not only Sought, but alſo Found, by an Heart making ſuch an Anſwer as that ONE WORD unto the Demands of Piety. Thy SAVIOUR offering to be Thine, and to make Thee His Own, Let thy Heart anſwer this ONE WORD unto Him, O my SAVIOUR, Be Thou unto me all that thou doſt offer to be: Thou haſt now found Him, and art ſure of Him.

That ONE WORD, the Hearty ſpeaking whereof, will Eſpouſe thee to thy SAVIOUR, and ſecure thy Eternal happineſs; I will ſet before my Hearers the Diſpoſitions which it is to be ſpoke withal.

And, Firſt; Shall not thy Mind be ſtruck and fill'd with Admiration at the Grace of thy SAVIOUR; That ever ſuch an One ſhould ſay, I would Marry my ſelf unto thee! The Handmaid of the Lord ſaid; Luk. I. 43. Whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord ſhould come to me! But how much more mayſt thou ſay, Whence is this to me, that my Lord and SAVIOUR ſhould Eſpouſe Himſelf to me! Who, Oh! Who is the LORD, that would Eſpouſe Himſelf unto thee? A LORD, who is Lord of Lords, and Lord of all! The LORD of Hoſts; and One who has All Power in Heaven and Earth given unto Him! A LORD, who is King of Kings, and the King of Glory! A LORD, who is Worſhipped by all the Angels, and who Humbles Himſelf to behold the Things in the Heavens; What then, to Eſpouſe Himſelf unto ſorry things upon Earth? Yea, a LORD who is Equal with GOD, and very GOD; No leſs than the Being who is Over all, GOD Bleſſed forever. For ſuch an One to ſay unto us, I would Marry my ſelf unto thee! O Peerleſs Goodneſs! O Matchleſs Mercy! O Unparallel'd Condeſcenſion! But, then, who art Thou, O Deſpicable Creature, who art Thou, That ever this Glorious LORD ſhould Eſpouſe thee unto Him? A ſorry, ſilly, ſinful Creature! For ſuch a Monarch to Marry ſuch a Beggar; One ſo wretched, and miſerable, and poor, and blind, and naked! For One ſo Beautiful in all Perfections, to Marry one full of ſuch loathſome Infirmities, and ſhocking Deformities! For Him to ſee thee caſt out unto the Loathing of thy Perſon, and yet now be the Time of His Love unto thee! Oh! When and where can we find a Parallel! Soul, Admire the Grace of thy SAVIOUR. With the Tranſports of an Admiring Soul, Cry out, O my SAVIOUR, That ever Thou ſhouldeſt Eſpouſe unto thy ſelf, a fooliſh and a filthy Creature, worthy of nothing but the utmoſt Abhorrence, and a Condemnation to a Devouring Fire, to Everlaſting Burnings! I am amazed! I am amazed!

Secondly; Tho' the Hearty ſpeaking of ONE WORD, will Eſpouſe thee to thy SAVIOUR, yet ſenſibly feel, yet ſenſibly own, thy ſelf unable to ſpeak that One Word, until thy SAVIOUR ſhall pleaſe to enable thee. The Faith, by which we come into an Eſpouſal to our SAVIOVR, has this very truly affirmed of it, It is the Gift of GOD. Soul, If thou wouldſt have it given thee, the way is to count it ſo. Wouldſt thou be Eſpouſed unto thy SAVIOUR? Thy SAVIOUR muſt then hear that cry from thee, Cant. I. 4. O Do Thou draw me. In the Day when thy SAVIOUR does Eſpouſe thee, He muſt alſo Quicken thee. Thou art lying Dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, putrifying in thy Sepulchre, when thy SAVIOUR ſays, I would Marry my ſelf unto thee. Until He do Himſelf bring thee into the Life of GOD, and ſpeak a Word of Life into thee, thou art not fit for His Embraces. What canſt thou do till He Quicken thee? The firſt Effect of thy Quickenning from Him, will be, thy being made willing to be Eſpouſed unto Him. Such is thy Corruption, ſuch is thy Malignity, ſuch is the Enmity of thy Carnal Mind againſt thy SAVIOUR, & ſuch an Averſion haſt thou for an Eſpouſal unto Him, that tho' the ſpeaking of ONE WORD would bring it about, yet thou wilt never ſpeak it, until He bring thee to it, until He help thee to it. Lydia was not Eſpouſed unto her SAVIOUR, until, The Lord opened the Heart of Lydia. Proſtrate in the Duſt, cry from thence unto thy SAVIOUR; O my SAVIOUR, ſubdue my Will; give a New Heart unto me; Let it be a Day of thy Power with me, that ſhall make me willing to be Thine. I periſh, I periſh, if thou art not ſtronger than I, & if thou do not prevail over me.

Laſtly. A Word of CONSENT unto the Eſpouſal propounded by thy SAVIOUR; 'Tis the Hearty ſpeaking of that ONE WORD, that is now waited for, now urged for. Of them, whom our SAVIOUR does Eſpouſe unto Himſelf, there is this Account; Pſal. CX. 3. They are a Willing People. Now ONE WORD that ſhall really declare thee to be One of that Willing People; upon the Propoſal of thy SAVIOUR, this ONE WORD, I am Willing; This will determine all. O Soul Wooed by thy SAVIOUR, Utter that ONE WORD, Luk. I. 38. Behold the Handmaid of the Lord; Be it unto me according to thy Word. That ONE WORD, will poſſeſs thee of the Beſt Thing that Heaven can give unto thee!

Thy SAVIOUR has deſigns of Good upon thee. ONE WORD giving the Conſent of thy Soul, unto theſe Deſigns, does Eſpouſe thee to Him. It was the Song; Iſai. 26. 12. O Lord, Thou haſt wrought all our Works in us, and for us. Thy SAVIOUR does propound; Shall I do in thee and for thee, all the works that muſt be done, to bring thee into Peace with GOD, and help thee to live unto Him? Heartily ſpeak that ONE WORD, O my SAVIOUR, Do all thy Works about me! Thou art now Eſpous'd unto Him. Thy SAVIOUR is made Wiſdom and Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, and Redemption, to thoſe to whom He is Eſpouſed. Heartily ſpeak that ONE WORD; O my SAVIOUR, Be Thou all of this unto me! Thou art now brought into the Eſpouſal. Thy SAVIOUR prepares and ſtrengthens to do the will of GOD, thoſe to whom He is Eſpouſed, working in them that which is well-pleaſing in the ſight of GOD. Heartily ſpeak that ONE WORD, O my SAVIOUR, Do thou for me all of this! Thou art now brought into the Eſpouſal.

But then thy Reſignation of thy ſelf unto thy SAVIOUR muſt accompany it. In ONE WORD Reſign thy ſelf unto Him: Reſolve to be His; Engage to be For Him and not for another. Thy SAVIOUR, willing to be Thine, does alſo propound This; Art thou willing to be Mine? And now let that ONE WORD heartily come from thee; Pſal. CXIX. 94. Lord, I am Thine, ſave me. The Point is gained. Yea, but in this Act of Reſignation there muſt and will be nothing leſs than thy very All included. Reſign thy Spirit unto Him, and ſay, O my SAVIOUR, I deſire that all the Faculties of my Soul may be filled with thee, and uſed for thee. Reſign thy Body unto Him, and ſay, O my SAVIOUR, I deſire that my Earthly Tabernacle may be a Temple for thee, and all the Organs of it, the Inſtruments of thy Righteouſneſs. Reſign to Him all thy Poſſeſſions, all thy Capacities▪ and ſay, O my SAVIOUR, I deſire that all my Talents may be ever imployed according to thy Direction, and for the ſervice of thy Kingdom. All this is in that ONE WORD, Lord, I am Thine. But Remember, Thou art as well to Renounce as to Receive. Taking thy SAVIOUR for thy Eſpouſed Lord, all other Lords and Lovers are to be ſhaken off: All Creatures to be abandoned. No more muſt any Creatures be to thee, what is to be found in a Glorious CHRIST alone: And the Temptations of Satan muſt be no longer hearkened unto. Thy Soul muſt now ſay, Lord, Other Lords, even the Fleſh, & the World, and the Devil, have had a dominion over me; But now Thou only ſhalt be my Lord and my God. Thy Language muſt be that; Hoſ. XIV. 8. What have I any more to do with Idols?. This ONE WORD has tied the Indiſſoluble Knot. Thou art without any more ado Eſpouſed unto thy SAVIOUR.

Finally; Thy SAVIOUR makes His Demand upon thee, Prov. XXIII. 26. Give me thy Heart. Speak now that ONE WORD, O my SAVIOUR, I Give my Heart unto thee. Upon this ONE WORD, there will come the Great Voice out of the Temple of Heaven from the Throne, like that which is to come on another occaſion, Saying, It is done! It is done! Thou art the Soul, of which I may ſay, Rejoyce over her, O ye Heavens, for the Good that is done unto her. Thou art the Soul, to which there is heard that Word from the Heavens, Ariſe, and ſhine, for thy Light is come, and the Glory of the Lord is riſen upon thee!

There was once a Marriage propoſed, wherein the Perſon concerned, had it ſaid of him, Ruth. III. 18. The man will not be at reſt, until he have finiſhed the thing this Day. The Myſtical Marriage now propoſed ſhould have ſuch a Diſpatch given to it. Oh! Be not at Reſt, but on this very Day let the Thing be Finiſhed. Here, Here, if ever, Happy is the Wooing that is not long a doing! To forward the matter, Oh! that theſe EXPOSTULATIONS may have their Efficacy!

Expoſt. I. The SAVIOUR who ſo kindly ſtoups as to ſay, I Marry my ſelf unto you; Is He not a SAVIOUR infinitely worthy to be Adored and Embraced! Infinitely worthy to be with a Soul full of Loves, & Wonders, and Praiſes, accepted of? What can there be Deſirable in any Perſon, which you cannot ſee in the Glorious Perſon, that now does be ſpeak your Eſpouſal to Him? Is He not Fairer than the Children of Men; Yea, Altogether Lovely! Are there not all Treaſures of Wiſdom & Knowledge in Him? Is He not the Heir of all Things? Can any thing be ſo Good as this Lamb of GOD! Oh! How Great is His Goodneſs, and how Great is His Beauty! Is He not a Great Kings, whoſe Name is Venerable? Is He not gone into Heaven, where He is on the Right Hand of GOD, Angels being made ſubject unto Him! And is there any Number of His Armies? Is He not the SON of GOD; and the Creator whom an Eternal Power and Godhead muſt be aſcribed unto? Has He not with a Condeſcenſion forever to be marvelled a • already Married Himſelf unto our Nature? Verily He took not on Him the Nature of Angels; But He has taken our Nature, when He took the Man JESUS, to be One Perſon with Himſelf. And Oh! the L • ve by which He has Commended Himſelf unto us, in that while we were Sinners He has died for us! Ah! Periſhing Soul; Has thy SAVIOUR ſo Loved thee, as to Give Himſelf for thee; And wilt thou not ſo Love Him, as to Give Thy ſelf to Him? Has the Love of thy SAVIOUR to Thee been Strong as Death; made Him willing to Dye for thee? And haſt thou not ſo much Love to Him, as will make thee willing to Live with Him? How, How canſt thou Reſiſt the Overtures that ſuch a Glorious Lord makes for thy Eſpouſal to Him!

Expoſt. II. Will it not be a Joy unto the Heart of your SAVIOUR, to ſee you Eſpouſed unto Him? Of Solomon we read, Cant. III. 11. He was Crowned, (A Crown on the Head of the Bridegroom, was of Old one of the Matrimonial Ceremonies,) in the Day of his Eſpouſals, & in the Day of the Gladneſs of his Heart. Soul, May this be the Day of thy Eſpouſal to thy SAVIOUR, 'twil be the Day of the Gladneſs of His Heart. Oh! The Satisfaction with which thy SAVIOUR will ſay upon it! Now do I ſee the Travail of my Soul, and what my Blood has purchaſed! Now do I ſee another added unto the Children of GOD, & unto the Number of them that ſhall be ſaved! Now is my Father Glorified, & I have one Object more for me to do Good unto; the Good in the doing whereof my Delight is Infinite! And now, will not thy Heart have a Share in the Gladneſs! Oh! Give thy ſelf unto thy SAVIOUR, This Hour! This Hour! 'Twill be the Beſt Hour that ever thou ſaw! The Hour, that will bring thee into a State, that will ſee a Succeſſion of none but Good Things for Eternal Ages.

Expoſt. III. Can you Comprehend the Bleſſedneſs, which your Eſpouſal, to your SAVIOUR will bring you to? No; 'Tis Incomprehenſible. O Soul Eſpouſed unto thy SAVIOUR, How Enriched art thou in the Enjoyment of a SAVIOUR, who Lives for ever, and Whoſe Dominion is an Everlaſting Dominion, and who does according to His Will, in the Army of Heaven, & among the Inhabitants of the Earth! A SAVIOUR to whom are due thoſe Doxologies; Thine, O Lord, is the Greatneſs, and the Power, & the Glory; For all that is in Heaven, & in the Earth, is Thine: Both Riches & Honour come of thee, & thou Reigneſt over all! Art thou not now Eſpouſed unto a SAVIOUR, with whom thou wilt have that Portion; 2 Pet. I. 4. Exceeding Great & Precious Promiſes? 'Tis a SAVIOUR who will be a Sun & Shield for thoſe that are Eſpouſed unto Him; will give Grace, and give Glory to them, and withhold no Good Thing from thoſe to whom He has Eſpouſed Himſelf. If the LORD Himſelf be Thine, what need of any more to fix thee in the moſt aſſured, the moſt Finiſhed Bleſſedneſs? An All ſufficient GOD is He, whom thou art Eſpous'd unto: And thou mayſt ſing at that rate; The LORD is my Portion; I have a goodly Heritage! Truly, Thou art Eſpous'd unto a SAVIOUR, who is Able to Do for thee, far beyond all that thou canſt Ask or Think. But having Eſpouſed Himſelf unto thee, will He not be as Willing as He is Able to do for thee! Oh! What will He do for thee! What will He do! All Words are ſwallowed up. What He will do? 'Tis Unutterable! 'Tis Unutterable! Oh! What Marvellous Loving Kindneſs will He ſhow thee, in the Strong City that He will bring thee to!

Expoſt. IV. Upon your Eſpouſal to your SAVIOUR, what Exultations, what Acclamations will there be among the Angels of GOD? If it be as we read, Luk. XV. 10. There is Joy in the preſence of the Angels of GOD, over one Sinner that Repenteth: Be ſure, the Eſpouſal of a Soul unto GOD, muſt produce a Joy among His Angels. 'Tis the Repenting Sinner, that is Eſpouſed by our SAVIOUR. The Angels of GOD are Spectators of what is done for the Eſpouſal of a Soul unto their Lord; and the Witneſſes of the Tranſaction that is carried on. O Soul Eſpouſed unto thy SAVIOUR, Thou art a Spectacle to Angels. And, Oh! What a Gladſome Spectacle! Upon the view of thy Cloſure with thy SAVIOUR, the Morning-Stars will ſing together, & the Sons of GOD will ſhout for Joy. An Epithalamium will be heard among them, of that Importance, Glory to GOD in the Higheſt; for the Good Will now paſſing between Him, & the Children of Men!

And, O Thou Spouſe of the Almighty KING, How ready will the bright Angels be, to act in Miniſtrations for ſuch an Heir of Salvation! Always on the Wing to do thee Good Offices! With what Alacrity will they attend thee, Befriend thee, Carry thee in both Hands like tender Nurſes, and be thy Guardians? Will ſuch a Thought as this, do nothing with thee? How much wilt thou then deſerve to be a Prey to Devils? Yea, Thou ſhalt become a Prey to the Terrible Ones; a Lawful Captive to them.

Expoſt. V. Is there no Danger in the Delay of ſuch a Matter, as your Eſpouſal to your SAVIOUR? Your SAVIOUR does inſiſt upon a ſpeedy Anſwer, a preſent Anſwer; He is upon thoſe Terms with you; Heb. III. 7. To Day if ye will hear His Voice. O Soul under the Invitations of a SAVIOUR; 'Tis inſiſted on, Wilt thou NOW, this very Day, come into an Eſpouſal to thy SAVIOUR? Yea, Doſt thou at this Moment, I ſay, At this Moment! Give thy ſelf up unto thy SAVIOUR, and ſay, O my SAVIOUR, Take Poſſeſſion of me! Certainly, There is nothing more Uncertain to thee, than the Time of thy Departure out of this World. Thou mayſt ſay, I know not the Day of my Death. But if the Dark Day come upon thee, before thou art Eſpouſed unto thy SAVIOUR, how forlorn, how undone art thou! How canſt thou eſcape thoſe Hands, which it will be a fearful thing to fall into? Or, ſuppoſe thou mayſt yet have Goods laid up here for many Years; To put off a Compliance with a SAVIOUR, who does Beſeech thee to be Eſpouſed unto Him, and be Reconciled unto GOD, will not this Dilatory trifling in a Thing of ſuch Concernment, Grieve and Vex His Holy Spirit, & provoke Him to Depart from you? But, Oh! Wo unto them, if I depart from them, ſaith the Lord! There will be nothing done to purpoſe, in thy Eſpouſal to thy SAVIOUR; but thou wilt be Damn'd unto Eternal Blindneſs and Hardneſs; and go on under a Spirit of Slumber, unto a Damnation that Slumbers not.

Expoſt. VI. If you will not give a Right and a Fit Anſwer to the Motion which your SAVIOUR makes of your Eſpouſal to Him, I Pray, think on ſome Anſwer to an Awful Queſtion, with which I am now to come upon you; An Awful Queſtion, which indeed all the Angels in Heaven can give no Anſwer to! Tis that Awful Queſtion, Heb. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo Great Salvation? I muſt ſay unto you; See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaketh. For, if you Refuſe an Eſpouſal unto a SAVIOUR, who does now ſollicit for it, what can you expect, when He ſhall be Revealed from Heaven, with His mighty Angels, in Flaming Fire, to take Vengeance on them that obey not His Goſpel? Yea, If you Refuſe and Rebel, you ſhall be devoured, by that Fiery Indignation of GOD which is to Devour His Adverſaries; The Mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it For you to think on the inexpreſſible Glories, whereto our SAVIOUR will then advance thoſe whom He has Eſpouſed unto Himſelf; and feel your ſelves baniſhed into intollerable Torments, with the Devils to whom you would now rather give your ſelves than to your SAVIOUR: But then to think, My ſeaſonable ſpeaking of ONE WORD would have ſaved me from all of this! Oh! The Regret, Oh! The Remorſe, Oh! the Unſufferable Anguiſh, that your F • rſaken Souls muſt be thrown into! Oh! Think; What ſhall I do, when the SAVIOUR whom I now refuſe, riſeth up and cometh down, and when the GOD whoſe Viſits of Love I now refuſe, does Viſit in His Wrath, What ſhall I anſwer Him?

Expoſt. VII. O Our YOUNG PEOPLE, Can it be Too ſoon, for you to come into an Eſpouſal unto our SAVIOUR? Too ſoon for you to become United unto Him, who ſends this Meſſage unto you, I Love them that Love me, & they that ſeek me Early ſhall find me? Our SAVIOUR ſaid unto ſome; Jer. II. 2. I remember thee, the kindneſs of thy Youth, the Love of thine Eſpouſals. Oh! That our YOUNG PEOPLE may be prevailed withal, in their Youth, to have a Kindneſs for their SAVIOUR, and be drawn by His Love into an Eſpouſal unto Him! Child, Thy SAVIOUR puts it unto thee; Art thou willing to be mine? Reply to Him, Lord, I am Thine! O make me willing to be Thine! Thy SAVIOUR will ſay upon it, O my Dove, I hear thy Voice, & ſweet is thy Voice unto me!

A very Prudent Conſtitution once made in the Low Countries, That none ſhould be Married, until they could recite all the Anſwers in the Catechiſm uſed in the Churches there, produced as Well-Catechized a People as ever was in the World. Oh! How well would it be for Thouſands of Souls, if they would order it for Themſelves, Never to Marry any one until they are firſt Eſpouſed unto their SAVIOUR!

Such of you as are not yet Married unto a Neighbour; yea, Such of you as are not of the Age for Marriage; How Wiſely, How Juſ • ly, How Reaſonably would it be done of you, to take up this Purpoſe; I will be firſt Married unto my SAVIOUR, before I will allow any other Marriage to be talked of! It may be, if you ſo S • ught firſt the Kingdom of GOD, you might have Other Things added unto you, in better Circumſtances. This then is the Demand with which I come unto you; Jer. 3. 4. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father, Thou art the Guide of my Youth? In becoming thy Husband, O Soul, He becomes the Guide of thy Youth. With a Conſenting Soul, Now Oh! make Him ſo!

I have done.

And now, a Soul come into an Eſpouſal with a Lovely SAVIOUR, moſt certainly will above all things deſire & ſtudy to Pleaſe Him. O Soul Eſpouſed unto the SON of GOD, By this Mark, Thou ſhalt know that thou art ſo; Know that thou art paſſed from Death to Life. There will nothing in this World ſo powerfully deter thee from every thing that the Light of GOD in thee ſhall condemn as an Evil thing, as this, My SAVIOUR will be offended at it! Nothing will be unto thee ſuch a powerful incentive & perſwaſive to Patient continuance in all well-doing, as this, My SAVIOUR will be gratify'd with it!

Yea, The Eſpouſal will oblige thee, to preſs after the moſt Conſummate Union with thy SAVIOUR, and thou wilt never be at eaſe in thy mind, until thou art entirely ONE with thy SAVIOUR; ONE in Will, ONE in Aim, ONE in Intereſt; until thou feel the Blood of thy SAVIOUR warming thee into a Reſemblance of His Holineſs in all manner of Converſation, and running warm in thy Veins; until thy SAVIOUR become All in All unto thee, and thou being Dead with Him, and unto every thing but Him, HE ONLY ſhall be thy Life; the Strength of thy Heart, and thy P • rtion for ever.

Oh! May ſuch Glorious Attainments, be more aſpir'd unto!