the Law that which should be abolished but the Gospell glorious and that which remaineth that vnder the law the Iewes did onely see but thorow a vaile but we in our Church vnder the Gospell behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord with open face O vnthankfull Gentiles O ingratefull Christians and O most ingratefull England of all the Christians in the world for howsoeuer that other Nations may pretend some excuse yet surely O England thou is vnexcusable especially these 60. yeares in which this sunne of the glorious Gospell hath continually without ecclipse shined in thy Horizon and still doth runne his circular motion and yet neuerthelesse what is the darknesse in which wee doe not walke Alas I meane what iniquitie doe we not drinke in like water What is the vanity after the which we doe not seeke And what is that grace of GOD which wee turne not into wantonnesse Especially leauing at this time all other things this glorious Gospell this spirituall Manna this heauenly food the plentie whereof produceth nothing but a loathing of the same except it be most rarely cook'd in and garnished with humaine conceites to satisfie your daintie appetites when it is cooked to you after this manner which is a sort of Preaching too much vsed in this Land and deserueth more discommendation yet are yee contrary to all other creatures vnder the sunne that grow the fairer the fatter and the better too the more choise diet they feede on as for example when trees are remoued to a more fertile soyle they will spread further and be more fertile then before when cattell are put into a better pasture they will be of a greater growth and labour better too But it is not so with vs No for after never so learned a sermon there will be both disliking liking of it but this liking tendeth not to retaine the principall parts thereof in our memories and to practise the same in our liues and conuersations No No but onely a liking that the Preacher did well and that he is a good Scholler and this is all and if it bee so it is much too But O Lord I pray thee that giueth both the will and the deed to thy people to bestow vpon them new hearts to renew within their bowels a right spirit that they may apprehend thy bountifulnesse toward them and magnifie thy Name for such plentifulnesse of thy word sowen amongst them in regard whereof many Nations like a Forest stands not put to tillage and for such light in thy glorious Gospell in respect whereof many yea almost all people are but conducted by the Moone which I beseech the O Lord neuer to extinguish neuer O Lord to let the Sunne of thy Gospell in this Land set so long as the Sunne and Moone endure Fifthly the Church is taken among Christians for the whole body and assembly of the Elect and of those that GOD by the way of sanctification hath predestinated to bee the heyres of the Kingdome of glory and this Church is composed of three sorts of The Church of the Elect composed of three sorts of men people first of such as were vpon the earth but now are not because their soules and their bodies are sundred their bodies till the day of judgement are committed to the graue where they must returne vnto the earth out of which they were taken but their soules are conjoyned with CHRIST in heaven which one day shall bee reunited againe to their bodies and magnifie God both in body and soule and this is called The triumphant Church because the members thereof haue ouercome by the good fight of Faith powers principalities and spirituall wickednesse in this life and now in that other life which is much better then this they tryumph and haue receiued albeit not fully the fruits of their labour and GOD hath giuen them beautie for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning and the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heavinesse Secondly this Church of the Elect is composed of men that are vpon earth presently aliue fighting against sinne Sathan the world and their owne corrupt affections making their Election sure vnto themselues by well doing but or it bee long shall be no more and this is the Militant Church the members whereof are visible as men but not as members of this Church and elect men because Election is not discerned by the eye but charitably presumed on by faith and good workes which are inseparable companions as the Sunne and light fire and heate water and aliquiditie so that if a man want good workes wee may boldly say hee hath no faith but wee dare not affirme for all this that hee is not a vessell of Election because Election is a thing which God hath reserved to himselfe yea it is altogether vnknowne to a man himselfe it runneth so secretly vntill the time that by his internall vocation God make it manifest and knowne to him so that when I see a prophane man a persecuter an vnfruitfull tree I may say and that with reason that such a one hath no faith and as yet is not internally called but that God hath not elected him and will not call him it is a damnable presumption and to diue in the bottomlesse gulfe of GODS vnrevealed will and to fall within the compasse of that which our Saviour expresly dischargeth Math. 7.1 Iudge not that yee bee not iudged for with what iudgement yee iudge yee shall be iudged Thirdly this Church of the Elect is composed of such as are not but shall bee as are not yet borne but are in the counsell of GOD registrated and inrolled to bee borne to fight in his warre in future time and ordained to obtaine victorie This Church of the elect Foure names giuen to the Church of the elect hath many names in Scripture especially foure First in the 1. of Pet. the 2. chapter and 9. verse It is called a Chosen generation and herein is distinguished from all other Churches Distinguished from all other Churches First from the Church of the Heathen and Infidels which is generatio malignantium a Wicked generation Secondly from the Church of the Papists which is generatio Antichristianorum an Antichristian generation Revel 17. a great Whore arrayed in purple and scarlet gilded with gold precious stones and pearles sitting vpon many waters people multitudes Nations tongues and seaven Mountaines which raigneth over the Kings of the earth giving heed vnto Spirits of errour teaching Doctrines of Devils forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to bee received with giving thankes drunken with the blood of Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of IESVS I meane with the blood of many good Christians as Lyons in France called Waldenses from IOHN WALDVS as they call vs Calvinists from CALVIN whom their King to his immortall infamie and dishonour excited by the Papacie did most cruelly butcher with the blood
and rescinde the sentence of LIGARIVS after that hee was condemned But when a Minister of Gods word a faithfull Pastor must discharge his commission vnto his Flocke what Rhetorick shall make them beleeue that life flowed from the Crosse of CHRIST that deaths Empire by death was subdued that the eternall word covered with flesh beaten with fists nailed to the Crosse did beare our sinnes die rise againe that we by this benefit shall triumph ouer death and by marriage be vnited vnto him Here all humaine reason and adminicles of art though thundered out by a Pericles must be abstained from Here all pompe in preaching and sophistick ostentation must giue place to the efficatious Pastor whose sermon is replenished with substance matter and the riches of the Spirit which by Saint PAVL is called 2. Tim. 1.13 Verae doctrinae hypotyposis The true patterne of wholsome words Secondly good reader albeit it be barren of humaine eloquence yet feare not to read it for it may be plentifull in substance and if thou thinkest that J haue stayed too much vpon the two first similitudes J thinke so with thee myselfe Et habes confitentem reum yee I pray thee to pardon mee seeing it is for thy instruction and discouering of much obstruce and excellent Theologie by which I hope and J wish it from my heart that thou shalt be bettered and so expecting thy friendly censure J take my leaue Farewell Thine in Christ to bee commanded James Baillie SPIRITVALL MARRIAGE OR THE VNION BEtweene CHRIST and his CHVRCH HOSEA 2.19 J will marrie thee to me for euer yea I will marrie thee to me PLATO Philosophizing vpon the grace of GOD Because he was an heathen Philosopher according as hee was able gaue thankes vnto him for three thinges First that GOD had created him a Man and not a Beast secondly that hee was borne a Grecian and not a Barbarian Thirdly that not only so but a Philosopher also But wee that are instructed at a better schoole doe otherwayes destribute our thanksgiving and praise him for three things also First that amongst all his creatures hee hath made vs men created in a most glorious manner Omnino ad imaginem suam altogether after his owne Image Secondly that from among all sorts of men he hath made vs Christians Thirdly that amongst those that beare the name of Christians hee hath made vs onely faithfull ones elected and adopted vs in his owne Sonne before the foundation of the world 2. Tim. 1.9 and made vs like a few well sighted among a throng of blind men like the portion of IACOB in Aegipt Exod. 10.22 onelie enlightened in the middest of that darkenesse which couered all the Countrie Iudg. 6.38 like the fleece of Gideon onelie watered with the dewe of his grace whilest all the rest of the earth is drie and destitute of his fauour When I call to memory the vnspeakeable loue of GOD and his fatherly care in the conduct and conseruation of his Church it is a whole web of wonders Gen 4.11 How he hath reuenged the blood of ABELL how he hath serued for a pilot and steersman to his Church inclosed within the arke Gen. 7. how for the loue of ABRAHAM and ISAACK he hath striken and curbed Kings Gen. 12.17 how he hath prepared lodging for his people in Aegipt Gen. 48.11 how he hath drawne them from thence with a mighty hand and outstretched arme hauing caried his people out of captiuitie as vpon Eagles winges Exod 14.28 how he hath giuen them his law Exod. 20. fed them with bread from heauen Exod. 16.15 couered them in the day time giuen them light in the night and driuen out Nations before them how he hath chastized them to keepe them vnder subjection in prosperitie and how his chastisements haue euer beene interlaced with deliuerances least they should haue beene ouerwhelmed with too great adversitie The historie of the Iudges of DAVID and his successors the deliuerance from Babilon and the re-establishment of Ierusalem Is not this a whole chaine of GODS mercies and loue towards his Church linked together already and yet to make it not onely more weightie but weight it selfe hee joyneth this linke vnto it I will marrie thee to me for euer yea I will marrie thee vnto me And this last linke is that which I intend to bestow vpon you this morning for a New yeeres gift Mos vetus est Iani dare mutua dona calendis Annus vt auspicio prosperiore fluat It is an ancient custome among friends vpon New yeeres day mutually to giue and to receiue gifts as fortunate pledges of a hopefull yeere saith a Poet Buchan which commonly are of siluer gold and of precious stones But as Saint Peter Acts. 3.6 said of old to the Creeple that lay at the gate of the Temple called beautifull siluer and gold haue I none to giue vnto you Act. â— 6 so say I now vnto you for I will bestow no such ware vpon you those are but drosse and earth and of a rusty and an earthly worth but such as I haue I will bestow vpon you a Spirituall gift most liberally And if you shall but gratefully receiue it and lay it vp close in the most inward cabine of your hearts I dare bee bold to promise that one day it shall be helpfull vnto you minister vnto you more joy and comfort then all the siluer gold and precious stones which are brought from the Orient And so I come to the bestowing of it I meane to the handling of my text I will marrie thee to mee for euer yea I will marrie thee vnto me This text is a promise of comfort in which you shall take notice of these foure First of the subiect CHRIST lurking vnder his word I secondly of the object the Church sheltred vnder this word thee Thirdly of the thing promised Marriage I will marrie thee Fourthly of the qualities of this marriage which are two First the certaintie implyed in the gemination and doubling of the promise I will marrie thee yea I will marrie thee Lastly the perpetuitie of this marriage for ever I will marrie thee vnto mee for ever This Proposition is first propounded I will marrie thee and hereafter explained by a twofold distinction first not to a base not to a dishonorable match but to my selfe that am Gnamith IEHOVAH Esay 9. equall to IEHOVAH * the Father of Eternitie who made the earth and spred the heavens like a curtaine Psal 104. the eternall Wisedome the essentiall Word the second person of the holy Trinitie GOD euerlastingly blessed Secondly not for a day a moneth or a yeere but perpetually for euer and so haue you the parts and circumstances of this Proposition neither minde I to handle them seuerally and alone but joyntly and together because in them joyntly is onely contayned that most admirable conjunction and most strait vnion betweene CHRIST and his
of Adams lost posteritie as he according to his purpose and pleasure of his will hath decreed to make partakers of the kingdome of glory according to the election of grace before the foundation of the world and therefore in the fulnesse of time sent him into the world and as it were planted him in the graue who by and by Math. 28. within the space of three dayes like a liuely root sprang vp and rested not till his top mounted vp to heauen and till his branches were spread to the vtmost ends of the earth till the Gospell was preached to the most remote regions vnder the Sunne euen to the Scythians Sauromatans Aethiophians Persians and Indians and within a short space after CHRISTS ascention which may seeme wonderfull not only the Roman * Empire Tertull. adversus Iudaeos cap. 7. 8. Sed Brittanorum loca Romanis in accessa Euangelio Christi subdita sunt but euen those places of Britain speaking of Scotland which the Imperiall sword was neuer able to vanquish or subdue are now vanquished become subiect vnto the Gospell of CHRIST but this shall yet seeme more wonderfull if we shall but consider those that haue vanquished both the Roman Empire and those whom the Roman Empire could not conquer and what sort of men they were SOPHRONIVS Patriarch of Ierusalem tels vs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our fishers saith he our Publicanes and that tent maker speaking of St PAVL hath constrained all nations all people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to imbrace the Lawes of CHRIST crucified and yet the manner how this was done how this conquest was made is most wonderfull of all for it was done non pugnando not by fighting sed patiendo but by suffering suffering of tortures of chaines of imprisonings and of death it selfe and the more their sufferings was the greater their persecution was the larger was their victories for their blood was the seed of the Church and the more abundantly that it was sowne the Lord did reape the greater haruest of true beleeuers to bee ingraft in him that is their euerlasting stock and roote which neuer shall be consumed by time Two feets of grafts The branches or grafts are twofold externall and internall as to the first all the members of the visible Church entred into a profession of Christ externally baptized with water but not with the holy Ghost may be called externall members or grafts But this kinde of graft will suffer an amputation or cutting off and will come within the presinke of that Rom. 11.22 If thou remaine not in his bountifulnesse thou shall also bee cut off for they haue not the sop of grace ministred vnto them from the stocke of life but are as dead-trees hauing leaues without fruit 2. Tim. 3.5 I meane good fruit they haue fruit indeed but it is labrusca non vua some sower or hedge grape not good to eate but no sweet grape Like that which grew in Baal-hamon 8. Cant. 11. Howsoeuer it hath a faire shew like gawdie flowers among the corne yet fitly it may bee compared to Sodoms apples outwardly faire but rotten inwardly to that which glisters like gold but when it is touched is found to bee but copper but most properly to ESAV who did lye in the bellie with IACOB borne and brought vp in IZACKS house which for the time was the Church of God marked with the same Sacrament of circumcision too but because he proudely dispised grace was rejected so shall it stand with all those that shall bee baptized in the true Church and remaine not in Gods bountifulnesse neither shall it auaile them any thing that by an externall forme of ingrafting they haue beene joyned to the societie of the visible Church But by the contrary it shall stand as an evidence in that blacke roule and register of a bad conscience against them and most justly shal it make them to be punished with double stripes because they knew their masters will and did it not The internall grafts are of those that beside their externall ingrafting and entering in the visible Church by the Sacrament of Baptisme are also internally ingrafted by the holy spirit and the baptisme with fire in this roote IESVS in such a firme manner and condition that Christ is in them and they in Christ they are ingrafted by Gods right hand grounded in faith rooted in charitie watered by the word of Gods ministerie digged and manured by the discipline of Magistrates and in euery manner of good worke brings forth a plentifull vintage of good and sweete grapes which are pressed in a contrite heart raised vp to a liuely and confident thankefulnes And as wine is cōmonly knowne by the tast and colour so is this too For its taste is a good conscience within its colour is a holy conuersation without These grafts may say with the Apostle Now we liue yet not we any more Gal. 2.20 but Christ liueth in vs. They haue in them the same minde that was in IESVS and this is a faithfull witnesse an vnfallible argument vnto them of their vnion with Christ and that they are ingrafted in him and by the contrary seeing contraries must bring forth contrary sequels those that are not ruled quickned by the spirit of Christ are not ingraft in this roote neither haue they as yet any vnion or conjunction with him and so the Apostle Rom. 8.9 Rom. 8.9 tels vs If any man haue not the spirit of Christ the same is not his Not assuredly for those that are not ruled by this spirit they cannot chuse but wander and goe astraying walking after the flesh by which they cannot be absolued from judgement from Tophet and adjudged vnto everlasting life and thus much for the stock and grafts And now I come to the manner of ingrafting which is twofold A twofold ingrafting secret and manifest secret in Gods eternall counsell for before the foundation of the world was layed and long before that man was created God knew his owne children and by inserting their names in the booke of life did eternally and before all time ingraft them in this stocke and roote CHRIST IESVS their redeemer Secondly it is manifest and done in time but spiritually wrought by the holy Ghost who creating faith in our hearts makes vs to goe out of our selues transire in Christum transport our selues into Christ and so to relye vpon him that by his spirit wee are quickned by his light wee are illuminated and by the continuall furniture of his grace we perseuere and increase in spirituall strength and courage and so liues in him that wee die in our selues Zach. 4. and to the world In the 4. of Zachar. As euery lampe of the golden Candlesticke hath its owne pipe thorow which these two Oliues which stand with the ruler of the whole world Simile emptie themselues in the gold so euery member of the Church of CHRIST receiueth grace from that
garment may be called a winters garment quia tegit because it covers vs. The second may be called a summers garment quia ornat because it adorneth vs and maketh vs fine The third may bee called a stand of armour quia protegit because it protecteth vs. And the fourth may bee called our Wedding garment because wee must not put it on till our Marriage day with the Lambe The first three garments may bee called our work a day suites because euery good Christian must put them on euery day so long as hee remaineth in this valley of teares here belowe But the fourth must bee called our holidayes suite because wee must not put it on till the weeke of our Pilgrimage in baca bee ended and the day of our appearance before GOD in Sion in that new Ierusalem in which no arrow can bee shot begin I returne to the first garment the garment of CHRISTS imputed Righteousnesse The first Garment Christs righteousnesse and our Saviour himselfe speaketh of it Revel 3.18 I counsell thee to buy of mee white rayment that thou mayest bee cloathed and that thine filthy nakednesse doe not appeare The Prophet Esay speaketh of this garment too but more plainly GOD hath cloathed mee with the garments of Salvation and covered me with the robes of Righteousnesse Esay 61.10 But what righteousnesse is this What righteousnesse this is Is it not the righteousnesse of his Diuine nature No for that is not communicable but the glory which hee will not giue vnto another What then Is it not the righteousnesse of his Humaine nature consisting in a perfect obedience of the morall Law No not that alone neyther for that alone were perbrene too short non vult tegere it will not cover vs from the frostie blasts of Gods wrath and from the fearefull winter tempests of his infinite Iustice What righteousnesse then I pray you A righteousnesse neuer imposed to Man nor Angell euen that righteousnesse which hee as our Mediator by fulfilling the singular law of a Redeemer hath purchased and acquired to the end that hee might communicate it and giue it freely vnto his Church for her justification by which shee is absolued from death whereunto by reason of sinne both originall and actuall she was subject and is adjudged vnto life And this is CHRISTS imputed righteousnesse wherewith hee first couers those that puts him on How it couers vs. euen our winters garment which is so perfect and so compleat that it covereth all our nakednesse from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foote both of body and soule for in both our Mediator suffered his blessed Head was crowned with thornes to satisfie for the proud Imaginations of our stout braines his sacred hands and feete which neuer offended were pierced with nailes of Iron to satisfie for the wicked deeds which wee haue done with our hands and runne to with our feet and alas daily by our sinnes wee draw him againe to the same torture and crucifie againe to our selues the Sonne of God and make a mockerie of him Heb. 6.6 Hee suffered the wrath of GOD in his soule so heauily as that both heauen and earth did stand amazed to behold it The Heauens did draw their curtaine and darknesse was vpon the face of the earth that they should see their maker in such paine the Sunne for shame would not looke vpon the Sonne of GOD in such a case the vayle of the Temple rent it selfe in two for griefe to see its Lord so dishonoured the Stones in the street did cleaue a sunder for woe to see that Stone refused of the builders which is the head of the corner And finally the Bodies of the dead rose out of their graues astonished to behold the Lord of life so troubled in soule that their soules might in joy perpetuall peace with GOD and be cloathed with the garments of his imputed righteousnes The second garment is a garment of Sanctification The second garment Sanctification Now wee are cloathed with this garment when like the Elect wee put on tender mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse and long suffering Col. 3.12 But specially when wee put on loue When it is put on 1. Thes 5.8 Or to say with St PETER When wee decke the hidden man of our heart with a quiet and meeke spirit 1. Pet. 3.4 This is our summers garment which adorneth vs and maketh vs fine this is that pure fine and shining linnen which is the righteousnesse of the Saints A garment not partie coloured as IOSEPHS was but made of many vertues and graces of IESVS CHRIST These are the badges and cognisances by which wee are knowne to bee his seruants and the putting on thereof is the putting on of Iesus Christ These are the graces by which the Holy Ghost translateth vs out of nature transformeth vs into the Image of the Sonne of GOD and maketh vs become one with our Redeemer When it is giuen vs. This garment and the former are both giuen vs at one time The former garment of CHRISTS imputed Righteousnesse defendeth vs from the fierie flames of Gods burning wrath This garment of Sanctification reformeth our corrupted nature renueth the same These 2. What it worketh garments both cures and couers our filthy nakednes they turne our sicknesse into health and our darknesse into light for whosoeuer putteth on IESVS CHRIST for righteousnes to Iustification puts him likewise on for holinesse to Sanctification So full of grace and vertue is the Lord that hee not onely by the merit of his sufferings pacifieth the wrath of God toward all those in whom hee is but likewise by this vertue sanctifieth them and by creating a new heart within their breast and a right spirit within their bowels maketh them new creatures changing them from one thing to another both in body and soule Act. 26. from sinne to sanctification from darknesse to light from death to life and finally from the power of Sathan to the power of God That is to Righteousnes Iustice and soberly to walke in this life in which except our sanctified carriage neyther is that compleat for man heere is but onely in a part sanctified otherwise hee were more then a man but is perfectly justified or else were hee no more then a sinner all things are not onely transitorie and vayne But vanitie it selfe The 3. Garment and its 3. names The third garment wherewith CHRIST cloatheth his Church and those that put him on is a suite of compleat armour hoc protegit this protecteth the Christian man against all the assaults of Sathan and maketh him stand out against all the invasions of his Spirituall enemies Sathan enuying this vnion betweene CHRIST and his Church endeuoreth incessantly to defile the members of the same to rent them a sunder and teare them in peeces sometime assaulting their Patience Iob. 1. Gen. 9.21 Gen. 19.33 2. Sam. 11.4 as he did IOBS sometime their
Temperancie as hee did to NOAH and LOT sometime their Continencie as hee did to DAVID sometime their Humilitie as hee did to HEZIKIAH 2. King 20. And made him in the pride of his heart which of all vices is the first to shew the treasure of his house to the Ambassadours of BERODACH BALADAN King of Babell which thereafter produced a strange effect even that not only his treasure but the fruites of his loynes in the reigne of IEHOIACHIN the people and all the strongest men of warre were carried vnto Babell and Captiuitie 2. King 24. Somtime againe Satan assaults vs in our religion and former zeale and it is wonderfull how almost he euer preuailes once against Gods children howsoeuer it be true that in the end he is euermore repulsed and driuen backe againe And in this manner he besieged SALOMON the ornament of the world both for knowledge and godlinesse prevailed against him caused him commit Idolatry and his Idolatrous wiues to turne his heart after other Gods ASHTAROTH the god of the Zidonians and MILCOM the abomination of the Ammonites 1. King 11. 1. King 11. And lastly Sathan labours much to steale from Gods children their honest name this is one of his most subtle assaults and vseth the tongues of his owne instruments to effect his purpose against the enemies of his kingdome Vt qui conscientiae suae luce clarescunt falsis rumoribus sordidentur Nazian that those who through the testimonie and light of their innocent consciences shines like the sunne in his meridian may be made blacke like the night filthy as a puddle by the false reports of others Good IOSEPH in the 39. chapter of Gen. was after this manner set vpon by one of Satans owne instruments POTIPHARS wife for when she could not arriue at the intended end of her naughtie thoughts come and lie with me she stole from him his good name this Hebrew seruant would haue mocked me and so made him odious and filthie in his maisters eyes and in the sight of his friends and after this manner are many chosen vessels set vpon by the souldiers of Satan so as it is impossible for vs to keepe the whole peeces of our bodie together except we put on the suite of protection that suite of compleat armor in the 〈◊〉 the Ephes And stand with our loines girded about with veritie hauing on the brest-plate of righteousnesse and the shooes of the preparation of the Gospell of peace he must haue in the one hand the shield of Faith and in the other the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God vpon our head we must put on the hope of Saluation for an helmet and the sling of Prayer must be in our mouthes or rather in our hearts with strong cryings inward groanings as MOSES had it at the red Sea Exod. 14.15 when PHARAOH pursued after him his people and to these pieces I could yet adde one further another paire of shooes the Prophet EZEKIEL speaketh of those shooes in his 16. Chap. and they are made ex pellibus melium of Baggets skins The shooes of the Baggets skin why assigned to the Church Elinie in the 38. chap. of his 8. booke Records that melis is a beast not only of great innocencie but of such singular prudencie too quod sufflatae cutis distentione ictus hominum ac canum morsus arcere solet that by the extension of its skin it can shun both the strokes of men and bites of dogs and therefore among many more tokens of Gods fauor bestowed vpon his spouse the Church for her preseruation he likewise hath assigned vnto her the shooes of this beasts skin to teach her both innocencie and prudencie to be innocent like a Doue but wile like a Serpent for her protection against all her malignant enemies whatsoeuer Thus must we walke armed continually armed so long as we are in this life 2. Tim. 2.3 as the good Souldiers of IESVS CHRIST Iob. 7.1 because our life as saith IOB is a warfare Ephes 6. and wee must fight against Principalities powers and spirituall wickednesse and not only fight but must ouercome anquish and subdue them and thus much for the three first suites of apparell our workadayes suites which euery good Christian must put on every day so long as he is in this life heere belowe But as to the 4. and last it is a garment of Glory The 4 Garment and its 3. names our wedding garment and our holy dayes suite but when the weeke of our warfare shall end and the day of our refreshment Act. 3.20 the day of our eternall peace appeare and begin which is our euerlasting Sabbath Revel 19.7 our marriage day with the Lambe after which shall neuer come a night then shall our father cause this suite our holy dayes suite our best robe to be brought out and cover vs with white raiment 1. Cor. 15. then shall this mortall put on immortalitie and this corruptible incorruptibilitie then shall we be couered with brodered worke and the LORD shall put frontlets vpon our faces eare rings in our eares Esay 26. bracelets about our armes chaines about our necks Esay 61.10 and crownes vpon our heads yea the Lord himselfe shall be vnto vs a crown of Glorie and a diadem of beautie Thus will he deck vs as a Bride attired with Iewels 2. Cor. 11. as a chaste Spouse to be presented to our immortall husband without spot or wrinkle in whose face is the fulnesse of Ioy and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore rivers of pleasure in which wee shall bath our selues for all eternitie And so haue you briefly the similitudes of the Garments Now resteth the similitude of Marriage The similitude of Marriage and indeed this Spirituall vnion betweene CHRIST and his Church is very often expressed by Marriage in the old and new Testament In the 45. chapter of Esay fifth verse Isay 45.5 hee who made thee is thy husband whose name is the Lord of hostes And in the 9. of Math. 15. Can the children of the marriage chamber mourne so long as the bridgroome is with them Math. 9.15 And yet more plainely in the 19. of the Reuel 17. Revel 19.17 The marriage of the 〈◊〉 hath come and the bride hath made her selfe readie And againe Reuel 21.9 Revel 21.9 I will show thee the bride the Lambes wife And here in my text as plainely as liuely and more liuely then in any other place Hosea 2.19 I will marrie thee vnto me for ever In all which our most gracious God willing to expresse and desirous to shew foorth both that loue which hee beareth vnto vs and that too which he looketh for at our handes compares this most strait vnion this most neere coniunction betweene CHRIST and his Church vnto the sacred bond of Marriage by which two persons the man and the woman the husband
oile in our lampes into his chamber into the kingdome of heauen and in a word we must haue heauen in inchoation in this life if we will haue it in perfection after this life The 4. Circumstance Fourthly as there are mutuall gifts betweene two persons to be joyned in the honourable and vndefiled bed of marriage so is there betweene Christ and his Church Christs guifts to the Church twofold CHRIST giueth his first which are twofold for his Church and to his Church for his Church he sendeth to his father the gifts of his righteousnesse and meretorious satisfaction for her justification To his Church he sendeth the gifts of his mercy compassion of Election Predestination justification Vocation Sanctification and hope of Glorification The Church is not ingratefull The Churches guifts twofold but hath her two-fold gifts too Contrition and Thankesgiuing the first is a composition the second a simple without ingredients The ingredients whereof Contrition is composed The ingredients thereof Contrition is composed 〈◊〉 two are our sinnes and a godly sorrow for the same for the child of God a member of this Church and everie member of the same takes all their sinnes at least so many of them as they know and in a sorrowfull heart as in a morter beateth them so as they are borne downe in some measure yea in a great measure never riseth vp so high therafter and therof is Contrition composed made which is sent vp by deuout prayer and innumerable sighes which cannot be vttered whereof the Lord most willingly accepteth for the Sacrifices of the Lord are a contrite spirit saith DAVID Psal 51.17 A contrite and a broken heart O God thou wilt not despise The other gift Thankesgiuing Thankesgiuing the greatest gift which wee can giue vnto God is a simple and hath none ingredients But is a voluntarie a willing retribution of one good thing for another a sweet and a godly reioycing in the vndeserued mercies of God which is one of the greatest gifts which we can or are able to offer vnto God in which regard the Apostle exhorts vs alwaies in all things to giue thankes 1. Thes 5.18 Prayer and Thankesgiuing paralelled Prayer Thanksgiuing are two notable parts of diuine worship but of the two Thankesgiuing is the most heavenly and Angelike for in Prayer we respect our selues and haue regard vnto such things as wee desire to haue But by Thankesgiuing we retribute vnto God what is competent vnto him only regards his Divine essence Prayer againe properly pertaines to vs whilest we are in baca this valey of teares Et est egentium ac miserorum and belongs to wanting and miserable people But Thankesgiuing shall pertaine to vs when all teares shal be wiped from our eyes Et est angelorum ac glorificatorum and belongs vnto vs when we shall raigne like Angels and be joyned to the fellowship and societie of the glorified Church the spirits of perfect and blessed men that sings continually Praise bee vnto God and Glory to the Lambe that sitteth vpon the throne for evermore Fiftly there is a contract The 5. Circumstance a matrimoniall written and sealed in which it is contracted that God shall be out God and we shall bee his people that whosoeuer is wearie and laden Math. 11. that in comming to our redeemer he shall be eased and refreshed which is he shall be purged from all his sinnes in the blood of his Sauiour for in the 3. of St. Iohn 36. The blood of Christ purgeth vs from all sinne This contract is written by the Apostles the penmen of the holy Ghost that led them in all truth and veritie sealed with the blood of our Saviour and ratified by the blood of many a Martyr since both vnder the first and the second beast vnder the cruell Emperours and raging antichristian Popes The 6. Circumstance Sixtly as the procreation of children is necessarie in Earthly marriage so is it in this spirituall marriage In earthly marriage this was the blessing of God in the beginning Gen. 2.15 Increase and multiply Gen. 2.15 And without this there is often but little content in marriage when the Lord had promised to ABRAHAM twise the land of Canaan to be his buckler and exceeding great reward all was nothing there could be no true contentment because said he I goe childlesse But when IZACK was promised when the Lord told him that SARAH should beare him a sonne then ABRAHAM fell vpon his face and laughed Gen. 17.17 and when he was borne SARA confessed that the Lord had made her to rejoyce Gen. 21.6 * RACHELL was more impatient for in the 30. of Gen. 1. she would either haue children or die but when IOSEPH was borne she was content that God had taken away her rebuke And in the 1. of Samuel HANAH one of the wiues of ELCANAH did weepe because she was barren but when Samuel was borne she rejoyced and brake out in this glorious triumph mine heart reioyceth in the Lord mine horne is exalted in the Lord mine mouth is enlarged over mine Enemies 1. Sam. 2.1 Iust so there could be no peace if in this spirituall marriage the spouse should be barren and howsoeuer that in some earthly marriages for other respects there may be peace with barrennesse and loue too Yet in this spirituall marriage the procreation of children is of an absolute necessitie and must not cease nor leaue off till the consummation of the world neither shall the world subsist any longer then till the Church be barren for then the whole and full number of those whose names are written in the booke of life are brought out and come into the world and then shall the world end and not till then Who are our Father and mother in this spirituall Marriage Now our Parents in this spirituall marriage is Christ and Ierusalem the Church militating here below the procreation is made at the preaching of the Gospell by the operation of the holy Spirit and after this manner at one Sermon made by St. PETER Act. 2. there was 3. Thousand children procreated vnto Christ three thousand soules turned to the faith of IESVS and wheresoever this Gospell is preached or shall be preached the Church will never be barren because the Lord addeth daily vnto his Church such as should bee saved Act. 2. and in whatsoever place of the world there is any of those whose names are written in the booke of life for their cause conversion the Gospell shall be preached in that same place that piece that is called their hearts shall be disforested put to tillage and turned into a fertile field or a fruitfull garden and if there were but one elected Familie in a whole Citie the Gospell will come to that City for that one families vocation Luk. 19.1 as it did * to Ierico for the vocation of Zacheus and his familie and wheresoever
SPIRITVAL MARRIAGE OR THE VNION betweene CHRIST and his CHVRCH As it was delivered in a Sermon at WESTMINSTER the first of Ianuarie ANNO DOM. 1626. By IAMES BAILLIE Master of Arts. LONDON Printed by B.A. and T. FAVVCET for ROBERT ALLOT and are to be sold at his Shop at the blacke Beare in Pauls Church-yard 1627. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IAMES Marquis of HAMMILTON WILLIAM Earle of MORTON WILLIAM Earle of LAVTHIAN THOMAS Earle of KELLIE IAMES Earle of CARLILL RICHARD Earle of DESMONT IOHN Earle of ANNANDAILL WILLIAM Vice count of AIRE GEORGE Lord BRVCE And to the Right Worshipfull Sr. IAMES FVLLERTON Groome of his Maiest Stoole Sr. ROBERT CAR Gentleman of his Maiest Bed-chamber and Keeper of the Privie-purse Mr. IAMES MAXVVELL Mr. KIRKE Mr. WILLIAM MVRRAY Mr. IAMES LEVINGSTON and Mr. PIT CARNE Groomes of his Maiesties Bed-chamber And to all other Hon and Wor Scotsmen remaining at the Court of England that professe the true Ancient Catholike and Apostolike faith all blessed Happinesse in this life and Eternall blisse in the life to come Right HONOVRABLE and WORSHIPFVLL SOme perhaps may thinke that I haue done an absurd thing in prefixing so many illustrious Peeres prudent Nobles and Gentlemen of his Maiesties Bed-chamber of high and great desert to so little and so slender a worke But from the learned I hope for a lesse critick censure and from the wise for a more judicious sentence first because I know that this weake treatise hath need not only of one strong pillar but of many to vphold it against the ruine which both by Papists and false Brethren will maliciously bee threatened against it and against their subterranian plots by which at every corner they will intend to vndermine it Neverthelesse I will never deny but any one of your Hon or Wor is a prop more then sufficient enough to sustaine a more decaying edifice if any such can be apprehended and a booke of greater worth should haue but too much honour to haue any one of your names in its frontispiece Secondly because I would encourage you and rouze vp your spirits to a liuelie confidence that by adoption you are the sonnes of Gods right hand members of his body flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone a part of that chosen generation The Church of the elect and spouse of Christ by marriage vnited vnto him and freed from that Antichristian slaverie and Babilonian bondage with the wine of whose fornication a great part of the world these many ages past haue beene made drunke and therefore God hath made you strong strong for himselfe in this time of triall when the sonnes of Anti-christ breathes nothing but blood against the Church of Christ and against her in many places of Germany haue preuailed casten out Christ and in his place set vp that abominable Idoll their Masse and now threaneth our Church the Church within this Island with the like to extinguish the lampe of the glorious Gospell which God hath lighted amongst vs to remoue our candlestick and in lieu thereof to light false lights to set vp rusty darke candlesticks Their seruice in an vnknowne tongue their Idols in stead of instructions and their Apostles bones and clothes in place of the writings of Christs Apostles But God hath made you strong for himselfe to fight in his warre to hold the wild Boares out of his vineyard and in his cause neither to spare your bodies nor goods even in his cause which your Fathers as his instruments did re-establish in the Monarchie of Scotland expelling the children of Dagon 2. Thes 2. which had come in by the effectuall working of Sathan with all power and signes and lying wonders and in all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse and you honoring the Lord after this manner he will multiply honours vpon you keepe you as a signet vpon his hand Ezech 34. and vpon you and euery one of you there shall be raine of blessings the eye of the Lord shall watch ouer you for good his mighty hand and out stretched arme shall bee ready to protect you in euery danger and to appoint most glorious victories for you for Babylon is now toward the falling her sins are come vp to heaven and God hath remembred her iniquities shee must drinke in that cup that she hath filled to others and as she hath shed our blood so now must she be repayed and drinke a double draught Thirdly I haue presumed to dedicate this Treatise vnto your Hon and Wor not onely for the excellencie of the subiect The vnion betweene Christ and his Church of which you are a part But likewise because I am a Scotsman that haue the honour to belong to euery one of you either by blood or affinitie and to many of you by both whereof I hope you shall neuer be ashamed and therefore I thought it not amisse to let this Sermon go vnder the shadow of your Honorable protections that now remaine at the Court of England as an argument of my loue toward my Country and as a pledge of my seruice toward you all in generall euery one of you in particular In the meane season continuing my prayers that such a vertuous emulation may alwaies remaine among you as is to day that is first of all to aduance Gods glory secondly to be loyall to your King that by innumerable predecessors hath swayed your Scepter and lastly some of you with Pompie to study to preserue your Dignitie others with Crassus to augment it and the third sort with Caesar to acquire Dignitie not by vsurpation as he did But in your Soueraignes seruice vnder the banner of CHRIST Farewell Your Honours and Worships most humble Seruant IAMES BAILLIE To the Christian Reader CHristian Reader J haue not vsed as many doe in this Sermon the neat Tenour of ISOCRATES the ample Sublimitie of DEMOSTHENES the Majestie of THVCYCIDES the Dignitie of PLATO nor that most full and copious stile of declamation which TVLLIE vsed before the Senate yea I haue shunned them as by a good Master SCILLA and CARYBDIS will bee eschewed because I know that such garulitie such fallible inticements of words and such vaine ostentation in Preaching sauoureth the flesh and hath no power no vertue nor efficacie to wound a proud minde and to cast it downe nor to be a balme for the curing and raising vp of the same againe to a liuely confidence in CHRIST Jt onely tendeth to tickle the auditors eares for the present to enter at the one and goe forth at the other but neuer to descend into the heart for its circumcision and molification in time to come A simple stile without superfluitie in words fertile in sentences which doth not so much smell of humaine prudencie as sauour the vertue of the holy Spirit is the onely eloquence that penetrates the soules of Christian men and searcheth to the inward marrow of the same It is truth that an Orator once perswaded CAESAR to retreit
and wife are so firmly conjoyned by God that none ought to presume to sunder them so wonderfully coupled together that of two which they were before now they become but one It was already a great loue of the Lord to haue created all things for man to haue made him Lord of them and established him over the workes of his hands DAVID in the 8. Psal rauished with this contemplation breaketh out in admiration Alas what is man that thou are mindefull of him and the sonne of man that thou visitest him DAVID admired Gods liberality toward man in the creation but how much more ought we to admire his liberalitie his incomprehensible bountifulnesse and loue toward vs in our redemption wherein he not onely giueth vs his good things But bestowes his onely begotten sonne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that welbeloued sonne in marriage on vs and in him giueth vnto vs himselfe too DAVID admireth the contemplation of the heauens But how much more ought we to admire the possession of the heauens DAVID glorifies God for the domination which he giues vs over the creatures in the earth But how much more ought wee to glorifie God for our marriage and vnion with CHRIST by which we shall reigne continually with the Angels in heauen A marriage I say the bond whereof is the spirit of God whose trothpligth is performed heere in the militant Church But the nuptiall feast shal be hence in the tryumphant Church where our meat shall be the Tree of life our drinke the Water of life our musicke the song of the Saints Halleluiah halleluiah honour praise and dominion bee to him that sitteth vpon the Throne It is an ancient saying Omnis comparatio clâ—â—dicat vno pede euery comparison is lame of some one or other foot But this comparison of Marriage doth so fully set forth so richly expresse our Spirituall marriage our conjunction with CHRIST that if any it goeth vpright and straight in all the feete which you shall quickly perceiue by taking notice of these sixe things which are required in euery lawfull Marriage First that there must be male and female Six Circumstances necessary in euery Marriage Man and Woman and this may bee called conformitie of natures 2. The Marriage must be propounded 3. The future Spouse must be courted and wooed 4. There must be mutuall gifts between the two louers 5. There must bee a Matrinoniall written and sealed 6. There must be Procreation of children all which wee shall finde in this Spirituall marriage but in a more excellent manner As to this word must so often repeated which importeth a necessitie remember that there is a twofold necessitie A twofold necessity an absolute necessitie and an hypothetike the absolute is when a thing is so necessarie that it cannot be otherwayes Which Circumstances are absolutely necessary and which hypothetikely the hyphothetike when a thing is so necessarie that it may bee otherwayes but is onely profitable decent and comely that it should be so So some of these circumstances are of an absolute necessitie without which a marriage cannot be as conformitie of natures others againe only of an hypothetike necessitie and of a decent expedencie but not absolutely necessarie as giuing of mutuall gifts writing and sealing of a matrimoniall contract or the like The Church represented by a Woman two manner of waies But I returne to the purpose thus being premitted and findes that in this spirituall Marriage there are male and female man and woman for the Church is very often in Scripture represented by a woman in the 4. to the Gal. 22. The Apostle though obscurely represents the true Church vnder the type of a woman SARAH ABRAHAM had two sonnes one by a free woman and was borne by Promise But St. IOHN Reu. 12.1 More clearely and in a more glorious manner too And there appeared a great wonder in heauen a woman clothed with the Sunne and the Moone was vnder her feete and vpon her head had a Crowne of twelue starres Now to make vp this perfect conformitie of natures our bridgroome CHRIST IESVS euen as the Sun went out of the chamber of the highest heavens from the bosom of the Father the invisibilitie of the Divinitie The word is made flesh Gal. 4.4 desended downe to the earth and in the fulnesse of time taketh our nature vpon him becommeth man and was like vnto man in all things sinne onely excepted The benefit wee haue by his conformitie of nature and so you haue Conformitie of natures betweene CHRIST and his Church and by it wee haue this benefit that CHRIST of one which he was before becomes now vnto vs three first our Father in regard of our regeneration which is a new creation a creation of new hearts within our breasts and of cleane spirits within our bowels Secondly our Brother in respect of our adoption Ephes 2. without which we were but filij Irae the children of wrath prodigals banished out of our fathers house but now by our adoption wee may eate of the childrens bread and with boldnes cry Abba father vnto God the father of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and acknowledge IESVS CHRIST his sonne to be our elder brother Thirdly our husband in respect that he hath married vs in righteousnesse in iudgement in wisedome in mercy and in compassion Hos 2. Secondly The 2. Circumstance it is a custome that Marriage is propounded and is it laudable men ordinarily conforme to their qualitie and order send their most trusty freinds to deale in this busines Kings their Ambassadors of their greatest wisest and fittest of their Nobilitie to doe honour to the action This spirituall Marriage propounded in the most honourable forme for foure respects but neuer was there any marriage either by King or Emperour propounded so honourably as this Spirituall marriage and that in foure respects First in respect of the propounder God himselfe Secondly in regard of the parties or persons betweene whom it was propounded which is CHRIST and his Church Thirdly in regard of the persons to whom it was propounded to ADAM and EVAH the onely rulers and swayers of the Scepter of the whole worlds Empire and whose posteritie is now propagated in innumerable honorable Families and Princely diadems vpon the face of the earth Fourthly in regard of the place where it was propounded Paradise The seed of the woman shall breake downe the head of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 reiterated to ABRAHAM ISAAC and IACOB to all the Patriarchs and in all ages by the Prophets and here in my text by our HOSEA as plainly and more plainly then by any of them I will marrie thee vnto mee for ever The 3. Circumstance Christ courteth his loue Thirdly the King of Kings and Lord of Lords courteth wooeth and in a most louing manner declareth his spirituall affection to his future spouse in his letters and longs more then sweet penned by the direction of his
blessed spirit In the fourth chap. of the Cantic the first verse Behold thee art faire my loue behold thou art faire thy lips are like a thread of scarlet and thy talke is comelie and in the seauenth verse thou art all faire my loue and there is no spot in thee Againe in the ninth verse my Sister my spouse thou hast wounded mine heart thou hast wounded mine heart with one of thine eyes and with a chaine of thine neck and once againe in the tenth verse my sister my spouse how faire is thy loue how much better is thine loue then wine and the sauour of thine oyntments then all spices and so forth thorough the whole booke of the Cantic Christ for the loue of his spouse fighteth a combate with his riuall In a most familiar manner alluring vs and perswading vs to accept of him for the loue that he beares towards vs which was so great that before his riuall Satan should haue snatched vs out of his hand he will fight against him and all his confederates and therefore he was made flesh Iohn 16.28 he went from the father and came vnto the world he valiantly pitched a field in the wildernesse against that roaring lyon that old Serpent Math. 4.3 he ouercame his chiefest power he broke his wilie head ouerthrew him in the desart by a scriptum est But was this all No he fulfilled the Law in euery point and title satisfied Gods Iustice for vs and before he will want vs he will giue his life for vs and gaue it indeed offring himselfe in sacrifice to the Lord of hosts vpon the Crosse for our sinnes by which he vanquished hell and conquered death and thereafter gloriously rose againe left this world and went againe to his Father Ioh. 16.28 and sent vnto vs the holy Ghost but before he went to his fathers house he told vs that there was many dwelling places in it and that he was going to prepare a place for vs Ioh. 14.3 and therefore exhorteth and admonisheth vs not to be troubled Let not your heart be troubled Ioh. 14.1 O what a loue is here the hight the breadth the length whereof is incomprehensible But O what hardnesse of heart on the contrary is vpon our part more hardnes then if the stones which DEVCALION and PYRHA cast ouer their shoulders after the deluge had been our progenitors and the first authors of our race yea then the stones themselues Ouid. Metap for we reade that stones haue been broken in peeces at the voice of the Lord at the first and so were the stones of the altar in Bethell at the voice of the Prophet and the vale of the Temple rent it selfe in two when the Lord suffred at Golgotha for our redemption and to make our marriage firme and if at any time stones haue been disobedient vnto GODS voice it is because of mans disobedience and infidility in whose mouth it was and in this respect we reade that the rocke refused to render water to MOSES at the first and second stroke yet rendred obedience at the third and rendred water abundantly But how often is this loue propounded this marriage offred and the Gospell preached vnto vs and which is hee amongst vs that mollifieth his heart at the first at the second yea or at the the third stroake I meane at so many sermons or at a thousand more loueth the Lord againe and repenteth him of his sinnes and iniquities shall not the Altar in Bethell and the vale of the Temple condemne vs in the day of the Lord that at the first gaue obedience and be faithfull witnesse of our Induration against vs without example that refuse most obstinately the loue of our husband offred vnto vs euery day at our owne doores but will not leaue our father forsake his house and our owne people will not be diuorced from our adulteries our old sins that our husband the King may take pleasure in our beautie The Lionesse may teach vs wisedome for she will not company with the Lyon after her commixtion with the Leopard till she first wash her selfe in water vnwilling that her adultery should be manifested by her scent It is recorded likewise that the Viper is so wise that before its copulation with the fish Muraena Basil in his Hexamerâ—n Hom. it first vomits and casts out all the pernicious and venemous poyson that is within it or in its teeth O pittifull blindnesse of man that by nature is more adulterous then the Lionesse and goeth a whoring after euery sort of vanitie more venemous then the Viper and is full of hatred malice enuie and debate and will neither see it nor doe it away but suffers strange Lords to tyrannise ouer him without repugnancie opposition and specially such Lords as are but cowards which if he but resist will flee from him and yet giues way vnto him not fearing that his disloyalty shall be perceiued by his righteous master head and Lord and that his patience will in the end be turned into a scepter of Iron to crush him and to breake him in peeces like a potters vessell O horrible and thrice cursed nature why hast thou so armed our carnall corps with the weapons of vnrighteousnesse to fight against the long suffring of our most gracious God and so long to abuse the loue of our redeemer But let vs fight against nature with the weapons of righteousnesse even with repentance and humiliation that the Lord may exalt vs giue vs the oyle of joy for mourning and wash vs in that fountaine opened to the house of Iudah and finally let vs say with DAVID Psal 73.25 Psal 73.25 Whom haue we in heaven but thee and we haue desired none in earth with thee And thus let vs say in our heart for it is the heart which the Lord craueth My sonne giue me thine heart and let vs say it speedily and in this life speedily because time swiftly passeth Et dies nostri sunt velâ—ciores cursore our dayes are swifter then a post saith Iob. 7.6 and we cannot tell how quickly the race thereof shall be run out and then it will be out of time It must be then in this life which is tempus acceptum the accepted time the day of saluation 2. Cor. 6.2 because this life is the time in which our election must be made sure and sealed vp to our spirits by the infallible testimonie of the good spirit of God this life is the time wherein euery man must worke out his saluation with a filiall feare and trembling this life is the time wherein we must be admitted into the kingdome of grace if euer we looke to be admitted into the kingdome of glory In this life we must be matriculated into the mysticall body of the Church by obeying the injunctions and will of God and requiring our suiters loue with true affection if euer we wil look to sit at the bridegroomes table and enter with