remaining upon him and that his opening them himself until God had washed and purged him and delivered him from the guilt of them would not tend to the praise of God Psal 51. 12 13 14 15. 2. They defile others not onely each of them the other with whom they joyn in it nor is this all further that if there be an husband or a wife against whom the adulteress or adulterer deals treacherously in committing fornication defilement occasionally happens to them yea it may be to body and soul more or less besides the fraud and wrong therein done to them but also they defile others more generally and the more abundantly by how much the more they were in union and fellowship with them that call on the Name of the Lord in truth encouraging some by their evil example to follow it against the reproofs of Gods instruction in that or other lusts and so also unfitting them to admonish or reprove others for so doing and offending others that are weak yea occaâ—â—oning them to stumble at the truth and at the way of it as if Christ were the minister of sin or the liberty to which we are called by the Gospel were liberty to the flesh and provoking others to wrath of pride strifes debates and many other evils whence the Apostle admonishing to look diligently lest any root of bitterness be suffered to spring up and not curbed or pluckt up at first rising and thereby many be defiled he addes this warning against fornication and profaness as eminent defilements and defilers lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright Heb. 12. 15 16. Yea such the stain and blemish brought upon the whole societies of believers among whom such are that while they are with and among them they are outwardly defiled and besmeared with reproach amongst men of the world that are ready presently to judge them as allowing such evils and uncleanness among themselves and thereby rendered unmeet to bear the vessels of the Lord and minister about holy things among them and the more unsuccessful therein And therefore they are admonished to put away from among themselves such wicked persons as being called brethren yet are fornicators idolaters railers drunkards covetous extortioners with such to have no company or intimate fellowship that they may be ashamed c. See 1 Cor. 5. And that the truth of God and the way of it may not be evil spoken of as a nursery of such nor suffer damage by them in any thing but that they may cut off occasion from them that seek it For there are many wicked and malicious adversaries that watch for their halting and seek occasions and advantages that they may speak reproachfully of and blaspheme that worthy name by which they are called and great occasion is given them by such fleshly lusts served among such which also more highly provokes the Almighty and renders such works of darkness and iniquity so vile in his sight that he will not let them go without some correction left upon them for a remembrance of their ways and to warn and humble them even such as yet in turning to him are forgiven and healed For so he saith to David after his humbling himself and confessing his fins although thereupon he saith by the Prophet The Lord hath put away thy sin yet he addes Howbeit because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the childe also that is born unto thee shall surely die that is besides the forementioned corrections which likewise should come and remain upon him as that the sword should not depart from his house c. Because saith he thou hast despised me and taken the wife of Vriah c. See 2 Sam. 12. 9-14 Seeing then this lust of uncleanness and other such fleshly lusts not being abstained from by those that have known and believed the truth are so out of measure sinful and defiling to themselves and others suffer this word of exhortation by the Apostle Peter Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works in putting off these deeds and fruits of the flesh and in putting on the new man with his deeds which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Yea the rather accept it and give earnest heed to the things we have heard in Gods speaking to us by his Son to strengthen us against such defiling evils because especially now that the darkness is past and the true light hath shined making manifest all things that are reproved such defiling of the temple of God procures such sorer punishment and destruction to the defilers from the Almighty for Whhremongers and Adulterers God will judge And look what sentence is here denonnced and lies for ever against Whoremongers and Adulterers unto whom the holy Ghost had here particular occasion to apply it in this opposition of his sentence unto his asserting the honourableness of Marriage and the bed undefiled we may by the same word of the Lord apply unto all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men For now especially since the righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God to save that men might be justified by faith and that the just by faith may live and walk by faith and so in the spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh compare Rom. 1. 16 17. with chap. 3. 21-27 Gal. 3. 23 24. 5. 16. The wrath of God is also thereby more clearly revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold hold back detain or smother the truth of God that comes to save them from it all in unrighteousness for the judgement of God is according to truth yea according to the Gospel of truth that royal-law of liberty that proclaims redemption from the curse and liberty from the bondage of the Law that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them that believe I say according to this Gospel of Salvation by him that was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him the judgement of God is according to truth against all them that commit such things as in which his holy law is transgressed and without respect of persons he judgeth according to every mans work for he that said Do not commit adultery said also Do not kill now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressor of the Law and so we may say if thou steal or if thou bear false witness or if thou do any thing contrary to sound Doctrine and shalt be judged for it by the law of liberty and according to its rule of judgement which hath
leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife See Gen. 2. 18 21-25 with Matth. 19. 4 5. and Mal. 2. 14 15. Thus did God dignifie it and make it honourable for all mankinde in the first Adam But 2. That it now becomes honourable to us sinful and polluted mankinde and that such enjoyment and use of it as aforesaid is laudable and comely in all is onely by means of the socrifice and mediation of the man Christ Jesus the second Adam by whom it is sanctified and made clean for our use from that shame confusion and pollution that we had procured to our selves in it and in all conditions relations and enjoyments For notwithstanding God had dignified it and made it honourable in the first man and woman as in their first constitution and that was for all in that first publike man male and female yet sin being once entred and death by sin it could not have been honourable in them nor in any of their posterity unless God had devised a means for his banished that they might not be utterly expelled both from his presence and mercy unless God had provided a remedy in a second Adam for sin is a shame and reproach to any people and doth make a separation between God and them and hide good things from them Pro. 14. 34. Jer. 5. 25. Now the first Adam both male and female presently after their creation and excellent constitution sinned against their Creator and therein the whole Nature sinned and departed from God and became polluted with all uncleanness and enmity to him and so came short of that glory of God in and unto which they were created And brought shame and dishonour upon themselves and upon their state and relation of marriage and on the fruit of the body and of the Womb so that all mankind became cursed in all relations conditions and injoyments and in all that they had and did as in and from the first man Adam See Gen. 3. 16 17. Deut. 28. 15. c. with Rom. 3. 9-19-23 Ch. 5. 12. But God hath found out a Ransom a Redeemer and Healer for all mankinde without respect of persons 2 Sam. 14. 14. Rom. 3. 21 22 23. c. and 5. 12-18 God hath crowned his son Jesus with glory and honour above men and Angels that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man And he that onely one in a body prepared him to that purpose dyed for all as the second Adam a surety and publick person in the room and stead of all he dyed their death and therein suffered all the shame reproach and wrath that was their due for the sins and trespasses of the world that came in by the disobedience of one and occasioned the breach between God and man at the first And therein God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses to them For he hath made him that knew no sin to be sin for us And this for our behoof and commodity that men condemned and dead at Law might live to a comfortable injoyment of his mercies in marriage and the fruits thereof and in a comfortable use of the Creature to the end that they that thus live in their several ages should not benceforth live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again that so through the grace of God bringing salvation to all men in due time they might be made the righteousness of God in him Heb. 2. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 19 21. with 1 Tim. 2. 6. Tit. 2. 11 12. Wherefore also he is by means of the same death the Mediator between God and man making intercession for the transgressors for the daily taking away those sins of the people in which when light comes they chuse darkness rather that judgement may not speedily be executed but mercies yet continued to rebellious ones 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. Psal 68. 18 19 20. Isa 53. 12. Luk. 13. 6-9 And by means of these two the sacrifice and intercession of the Man Christ Jesus in whom the nature of man is married to God and who is that one Mediator between God and man marriage is sanctified and become honourable in all and so every creature of God sanctified that is made clean for our use that it may be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the truth For it is sanctified saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 5. by the word of God and prayer that is by the word that was made flesh for us and by his intercession for us By his being made flesh and so by the sacrifice of his own Body once for all made perfect through sufferings he hath made peace for the sins of the world imputed to him abolished death taken the sting out of it redeemed us to himself from the curse of the law And so far taken the evil of the curse and shame out of marriage and creature-injoyments that we may have a laudable and comfortable injoyment of them though still some fruits and remembrances of our sin is left upon them for gratious ends and therefore in the hand of the Mediator who orders them for our good And by his prayer or continued intercession for us he still sanctifies those injoyments of the creature and makes them clean for our use against the provocation of our daily iniquities of a new sort which otherwise would render them unclean and polluted to us full of shame misery and curse which now are filled with gladness refreshing and mercy to men even in all and this that they may be received with thanksgiving as aforesaid of them that believe and know the truth Behold in all this the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world for because He by the grace of God tasted death for every man and gave himself a ransome for all and is our peace the propitiation for the sins of the whole world Therefore Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled We come in the last place to consider some usefulness of this Instruction 1. It aggravates the sin of Fornication if God had prohibited Marriage to any man or to any sort or order of men or rendred it dishonourable or uncomely for any to marry fornication in such had been more excuseable But when at such a rate as through the sacrifice and mediation of his Son and to such a gracious end that men might be accommodated with the more chearfulness to live to him and serve him God hath made marriage honourable in all and the bed undefiled for any to walk in and serve the lusts of uncleanness in whoredom and adultery or seeking content and satisfying to the natural concupiscences in any way forbidden of God must needs be out of measure sinful because without necessity there was a sanctified means to avoid it which either they had or might have had for seeking it of God according to his Will who knows
is to be made by a solemn agreement between such persons as may be joyned together in that Covenant And betrothing one to another and Contract made in the presence of God and men and after such manner and custom of the places where they live testified and confirmed as in which it is confirmed before men as Ruth 4. that no man may disanul make void or adde thereto Gal. 3. 15. Still remember and carry this along that this Union and Covenant of Marriage is such as is of one man and one woman in one body as one flesh and admits of no more according to Gods institution and appointment of it from the first For God made them at the beginning male and female one man and one woman and said For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife he saith not wives and they twain he saith not They three or They four but They two shall be one flesh This is Marriage And so the bed undefiled is the Marriage-bed modestly intimating the fellowship between married persons as man and wife which is allowed and approved of God See Prov. 5. 18 19 20. 1 Cor. 7. 2 3 4 5. which then is not defiled when no other is accepted into it besides or with them or so known approached to or looked on to that end or in pursuance of such a desire by either of them See Job 31. 1-9 10 11. with Gen. 49. 4. Numb 5. 20. Prov. 5. 17. See how the spiritual wickedness answerable to such defiling the bed is expressed Isai 57. 8. 2. The next consideration is what is to be understood by its being honourable in all It appears by that which is opposed to it in the other branch of the Text which is Gods judging disallowing condemning punishing Whoremongers and Adulterers That by its being honourable is meant that it is allowed and approved of God in his word and works and by him made comely and of good report among men as a laudable and comely means of Gods appointment and approvement and by him ordained to honourable ends as 1. For mans having a meet help and companion God having first formed the man of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life in which he became a living soul and was made after Gods own image or likeness judged that it was not good for man to be alone or without one of the same kinde for among all the other creatures there was not found an help meet for him he therefore formed the woman of the man and gave her to him as a meet help and companion Gen. 2. 7 18 20 c. for the instrumental bringing forth a godly seed a seed of God or after his image and likeness and brought forth according to his will in a way of his allowance and approvement See Mal. 2. 15. Did not he make one yet had he the residue of the spirit He could have made more as well as one but he made one and but one and wherefore one that he might seek a godly seed Therefore he made a woman of the man and for him that man might not generate with any of the other creatures but might have one of himself for a meet help that he might beget in his own likeness who was made after the image of God and therefore but one that he might have a godly seed or a seed brought forth according to Gods minde an holy seed as opposed to a seed of fornication And so Marriage still is honourable in all a laudable means and way approved and appointed of God for the seeking and bringing forth such a seed as of which neither man nor woman shall be ashamed to have or to have had As well as also for society and mutual solace and helpfulness in all things pertaining to them to do and suffer in their bringing up children for the Lord and seeking his glory in all things And so 2. A comely and laudable means of Gods appointment for avoiding fornication which it is his will we should abstain and flee from See 1 Cor. 7. 2 3 4 5 9. 3. It is also ordained to be to us a mystical signe and resemblance of another Marriage that is heavenly spiritual and glorious as in a threefold consideration 1. That union between the humanity and the Deity and so between God and man in the person of the Son of God in whom the Word was made flesh This though a nearer union then can be fully resembled by the natural Marriage being a personal union an union of two natures in one person yet is also resembled by a Marriage because as in Marriage the debts arrearages and forfeitures of the woman become the mans and he becomes surety for them for her good and for the Creditors satisfaction so and much more in this Gods Son being made of a woman was made under the Law for us that were under the Law and all our sins debts arrearages and forfeitures to God met together on him and he became our surety for good And also because as in Marriage all the riches glory and dignity of the man becomes the womans and she is invested and dignified with it so and much more in this all the riches glory and dignity of the Son of God and that is the glory of the Fathers own self which he had with him before the world was is become mans so as the humane nature is enriched and glorified with it in the person of the Son of God made man whence the glory of the Word made flesh is said to be the glory of the onely begotten Son of God full of grace and truth and as such the eye-witnesses beheld it Joh. 1. 14. and believers do now spiritually and by faith behold it For these and other such reasons this union in which the Word was made flesh and the Son of man was glorified with God is resembled by a Marriage which a King made for his son and sent his servants to call good and bad to the wedding-feast Matth. 22. 2-10 with Prov. 9. 1-6 This also may be signified at least as the root and foundation of that in Jer. 3. 14. Turn O backsliding children saith the Lord for I am married to you as may appear in comparing it with that Jer. 31. 22. How long wilt thou go about O thou backsliding daughter The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth a woman shall compass a man II. That spiritual uniting reconciliation or Marriage of men to Christ and so to God in Christ which is graciously tendered by Christ in the Gospel unto all men in due time upon this ground that the first is already made in Christ for them and therein all things ready Isai 55. 1 2 3 4 5 6. with 2 Cor. 5. 14-19 with Matth. 22. and Prov. 9. and which is made in the first-fruits between Christ and the Church even while they are here on earth
our needs and what is good for us he would have given yea there is in it a despising his way and gracious provision for our meet helpfulness which iniquity is the greater by how much the more his provision is rich and graoious 2. This instruction condemns as heretical and devilish those doctrines that religiously forbid to marry as also that command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received and that with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the truth 1 Tim. 4. 1 3-5 Though in some cases of distress and perplexity of Christian Churches and Nations it may be good that is to say commodious for a man if he can contain then not to marry yet if he or she that is unmarried do then marry they sin not nor do any thing worthy of shame meerly in marrying though such at such a time shall have the more trouble in the flesh yet it is better to marry then to burn if they cannot contain therefore let them marry 1 Cor 7. 7 8 9 26 27 28. For Marriage is honourable in all of what degree order or rank soever But whoremongers and adulterers God will judge 3. This also admonisheth not to abuse marriage which God hath in such wise and by such means made honourable Now marriage is abused either by treacherous breaking or violating the covenant of it or inticing others so to do or by a dishonourable use of it or behaviour in it And here give me leave to stay a while as to shew the abuse of marriage in both these branches and to warn of it it may be needful to some 1. Marriage is abused and prophaned by a treacherous breaking or inticing others to break and violate the covenant of it of which God is witness who will be a swift witness both against the adulterer against the false sweater see Mal. 2. 14 15. 3. 5. Therefore saith the Lord see that none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth namely that first taken when he was free and at liberty to marry either not having been married before or being by the death of a former wife free from the law of his wife or so the wife from the law of her husband For God is a witness between him and the wife of his youth and will take all treacherous dealing in neglecting or departing from the first taking or going in to another or looking upon another to lust after them during the life-time of the first as a breach of his Covenant which admits not of another to be added to the first taken during the life-time of the first no though under pretence of taking owning and caring for her as a wife nor of departing from or putting away the first See Levit. 18. 18. with the forementioned Scripture in Malachi So then the Marriage-covenant is violated and broken either by adding another or by departing from or putting away the first taken during her life-time 1. By adding another as a wife or concubine a wife to her sister or one wife to another during her life-time True it is that the taking and having more wives then one at at a time and sometimes divers wives and concubines also was customarily used in former ages even among Israel after the flesh And many good men allowed themselves in it without examination of the custom whence it came and whether it was according or contrary to Gods Law And in those times before that grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men had so appeared as now it hath by Jesus Christ more fully discovering and teaching to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts God winked at such things and did not so severely reprove them as since he doth and will do And might the rather suffer and forbear the strict taking notice of them that at the time of the manifestation of Christ and through the Gospel he might the more declare his righteousness in forgiving sincs that are past and for other holy ends Yet however in those times of ignorance among the Gentiles and under those darker dispensations to Israel while he spake to them but in divers parts and had not given so full and clear a revelation of the mystery of godliness as is now come forth by Christ to Jew and Gentile he in a sort winked at such things yet I say it was not so from the beginning as is already shewed nor did God ever give any declarative allowance of it but contrariwise did forbid it and declare it to be contrary to his minde and to the order he had set in creation as may be seen in the Scriptures already cited And in the way of his judgements also even enough might be seen to shew that he did not approve it though he did not so severely judge it as under this last dispensation he will That he did not approve it nor was it according to his minde may be seen in these Observations 1. The first that we read of that had two wives together was that Lamech not of the posterity of Seth but of Cain the fifth generation from him who went out from the presence of the Lord and was with his posterity separated and distinguished from Seths posterity who it appears abode in Gods presence and retained his Oracles and were called the sons of God probably as distinguished from Cains posterity who were called the sons and daughters of men Compare the 4 5 and 6 chapters of Genesis And see I. what befel that Lamech the first that broke Gods law and order set in creation in taking two wives he was led into and overcome of such a temptation as brought him under the sentence at least in his own spirit of an heavie judgement exceeding Cains tenfold which he was made sadly to bewail in the ears of both his wives who must reap the evil fruit of it with him And see how the mention of it is presently added to that of his taking two wives Gen. 4. 19 23 24. II. See also what wrath and judgement it brought upon the old world when the sons of God those of Seths posterity among whom the Oracles of God and his Worship was retained saw the daughters of men that they were fair and took them wives of all that they chose and thereby joyned with them in their evil manners and made their wickedness great hardening their hearts against the spiritual preaching of Jesus Christ in his Oracles and by such means as he afforded 2. And though after we read of some good men that added another wife or wives and concubines during the life-time of the first yet as they had no allowance from God in any of his oracles or instructions given them so to 〈◊〉 so likewise it may be observed 1. That they of them that we read of first in it were led into it by consulting with the flesh or drawn in unadvisedly by some temptation and through heedlesness of the Word and Oracles of God As for instance
help and companion according to Gods ordinance both which are a shameful and dishonourable abuse of marriage though the later be of high account with men that know not God And Oh that it were not too much approved or allowed among them that believe and know the truth as it is in Jesus who have thereby been instructed in all things even in marrying as well as in all other things in their conversation to seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof therein to leave it to him to adde all other things as he sees them good and needful for them Or 3. When the will and affections are preferred and followed in the choice of relations against and contrary to the understanding and judgement which is or ought to be enlightned and rectified by the light of Gods testimonies and so to be the guide of the whole man it is therefore especially evil and shameful in believers whose understanding and judgement hath been so enlightned and rectified not to suffer it to have the precedencie and victory in such choice as in all other things yea they are counselled and warned by the holy Ghost not to be unequally yoaked together with unbelievers and to make that burthen the lighter they are left to their liberty to marry to whom they will with that onely limitation onely in the Lord It is therefore exceeding sinful and a dishonour to marriage in them to follow their own will and desires beyond the bounds of that limitation for unbelievers and such as are in darkness cannot be meet helpes and companions to believers in the things of the Lord to whom they are joyned and so do not draw equally in the yoke or the same way with them for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness or what communion hath light with darkness c. 2 Cor. 6. 14-17 with 1 Cor. 7. 29. see if that be not mentioned as the inlet to the over-spreading of so great wickedness in the old world and so of the wrath that followed That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and they took them wives of all that they chose Gen. 6. 2. c. II. When in married persons dwelling together or in their demeanour one towards another they cleave not one to another or are not perfectly joyned together as one body one flesh 1. Either not resting satisfied with one another but envying and coveting the portion of another or thinking and fixing the eye or minde upon another in the life-time of the first to lust after desire or propose her or him to themselves for a reserve to be had or taken as a wife or husband after the death of the first the so looking or thinking upon another hath in it not onely adultery against the present relation a treacherous departing of the heart and adultery committed in heart with the other so looked upon but also murther For it cannot be without an inward desire of the death of the present relation and that may occasion at least a neglect of cherishing and seeking the comfort and preservation of their life as their own yea the very thoughts of another entertained and allowed during the life-time of the first will lead into such further snares and polluting evils as of estrangement from their own despised relation and burning in lust to the other and the other to them as will occasion jealousies as cruel as the grave and as discovered grief and wounding even to death if not with it despising and cruel hatred to the making the life of the grieved yea haply of both bitter and uncomfortable even to the shortning of their days Yea so bruitish will it make a man in the issue after his hardning his heart against the reproofs of instruction that in his desire to follow and satisfie his lust he will count nothing too dear yea even be ready to sell his birth-right in Christ by the Gospel for it It will prevail to the breaking those bounds which in the first entertaining of it he had proposed or set to himself For who can carry fire in his bosome and not be hurnt Therefore flee this close piece of treacherous dealing with all the branches of it for it will even eat out the pretious life I might have placed this in the first branch of the abuse of Marriage for it is a violation and breach of its covenant but however placed if the admonition be received and the unruly warned I have my end Let therefore the counsel of the wisdom of God be acceptable and his instruction received Let thy fountain be blessed and rejoyce with the wife of thy youth Let her be as the loving hinde and pleasant roe let her breasts satisfie thee at all times and be thou always ravisht with her love And why wilt thou my son be ravisht with a strange woman and imbrace the bosome of a stranger For the ways of man are before the eyes of Lord and he pondereth all his goings His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins he shall dye without instruction and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray Prov. 5. 18-23 And as in this shameful demeanour in married persons marriage is abused and its covenant prophaned So likewise 2. In either of them defrauding the other of their loves or of their own bodies for even the with-holding or hiding themselves from their own flesh is there called fraud as appears by the foregoing Verses except it be with consent for a time that they may give themselves to fasting and prayer and come together again that Satan tempt them not c. which exception also the Apostle gives by permission and not of commandment Let therefore the husband render unto the wife due benevolence likewise also the wife unto the husband The wife hath not power of her own body but the husband and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body but the wife See 1 Cor. 7. 2 3 4 5. The want of this oft lays open to the evils forementioned 3. Or not looking upon and minding each of them the state affairs and concernments of the other as to the outward man as their own or not uniting them in one but distinguishing and dividing interests and so dwelling together as two and not as one body it 's well if as good neighbours but not as man and wife Or 4. Living in envy and hatred one of another or in variance and strife one with another which many times follows upon the former as the proper issue of it and truely that is so shameful an abuse of marriage and so dishonourable a thing that it doth in a sort disrobe a man not onely of the face and garment of Christianity but of humanity also For no man ever hated his own flesh and a mans wife is his own flesh Yea to conclude this 5. It 's a dishonourable demeanour in
such married persons as believe and know the truth not to dwell together with their relations as persons of knowledge in the â—ight and instructions of the truth known by them and so the wife being in subjection to her own husband as it is fit in Lord therein also cheerfully submitting to and bearing that fruit of sin remaining upon her in this married condition for the Lord's sake and that with thankfulness to him that hath turned our water into wine our curses into blessings into sanctified instruments of good that so if any obey not the Word yet they also may be won by the conversation of the wives while they behold their chaste conversation coupled with fear c. And the husband giving honour to the wife as unto the weaker vessel so tendring and cheririshing And she being also a believer in Christ with him giving honour to her also as an heir together with him of the grace of life that is in Christ Jesus An heir of the same inheritance and having the same title and on the same account for in Christ Jesus is neither male nor female but ye are all one in him all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus for as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and as such the Grace known leads to give honour to her a peculiar kinde of honour in the Lord together with that in the flesh forementioned As likewise it teacheth husbands to love their wives as Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might wash and sanctifie it c. and not to be bitter against them 1 Pet. 3. 1-7 with Eph. 5. 22-25 with Col. 3. 22 c. I shall not inlarge this discourse by further explication of these particular instructions and commandments given by the Lord Jesus unto believers onely say in general that it is shameful and dishonourable in them not to be found so demeaning themselves in the light of the Lord in which they have known and may further know these things and the blessing met with in doing them And be that knows his masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes I might also here fitly place the discovery of another abuse of marriage and dishonourable demeanour in it which is found in another extream namely that of excess and insobriety or intemperance and inordinate affection for in all these things there is excess and then doth a man or woman exceed when their affection to and rejoycing in the present and worldly or natural injoyment of one another and use of the comforts refreshings and contentments of this life are not kept under and in subordination and subserviency to their love to him and glorifying his name by whom they have any comfortable enjoyment of those things and to the promoting the things of his Kingdom in them and by them Much more then when in stead of letting the moderation of our minde be known unto all men we love father mother wife or children more then Christ and that appears when we prefer their love and the injoyment of them before his love and injoyment of him and fellowship with him and the pleasing them before the pleasing and glorifying him and when we suffer ourselves to be swallowed up of and carried away after the delights pleasures and contentments of this life as in the injoyment of one another or in any creature-contentments And surfeit or fill ourselves with them that the heart is over-charged and the body unfitted for seeking or serving him or receiving and drinking in from him in the things of his Kingdom Or also so set our mindes and affections upon them that we cannot freely part with them for his sake or yeild them up to be at his dispose This great instruction contained in the first branch of this Text namely that Marriage is honourable in all considering how and by what means it becomes so and to what great end it is so made Teacheth us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope c. Tit. 2. 11 12 13. And so in this particular that we should every of us learn to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour and not in the lusts of concupiscence as others that know not God but so as devoted and consecrated vessels to the use and honour of him by whom all things which by sin were polluted and filled with shame are made clean and honourable to us 1 Thess 4. 3-5 And so not onely in this but in all things this instruction as well admonisheth to a sober and comely use of every creature not to live to ourselves our own lusts or the lusts of men in the injoyment and use of them but to him that dyed for us and rose again as remembring and considering that we could have had no mercy in meat drink cloaths or in any thing pertaining to this life but by the sacrifice of the Son of God made perfect through his personal sufferings by which peace was made nor any continuance of it after iniquities and abuses of grace committed by us but by his intercession who is our peace which clearly shews wonderful goodness and a gracious and glorious end of the Almighty towards us therein All which powerfully instructs us to aim at that as our great end in all our use of them that God in all things may be glorified and the things of his kingdom promoted 1 Cor. 10. 31 32. 2 Cor. 5. 15. with 1 Pet. 4. 1 2. But for this I refer the Reader to what is spoken afterwards more largely of sobriety in teaching in temptation 4. In the last place This whole consideration may be of further usefulness unto us to instruct and teach us by and upon occasion of earthly Marriages and in our seeking enjoyment and use of them and behaviour in them to be exercised in minding and considering the heavenly as in a resemblance and similitude appointed of God to that purpose That being in the first consideration of it the bottom ground and reason of this being clean and honourable to us and in the second and third considerations of it the end of this and all other creature-enjoyments being made so to us is first and chiefly to be looked to and minded by us in the beginning and whole proceed of our conversation for wisdom counsel and strength to order it aright and to be aimed at as the end of our conversation in all things For some helpfulness therefore herein I shall here put to minde some Instructions concerning that heavenly and spiritual Marriage especially as in the second Consideration of it which is that chiefly resembled by the earthly Marriage as they are set before us in this whole Consideration of the earthly Marriage which is honourable in all as by way of resemblance or similitude The Instructions I shall mention may be ranked under three Heads They are
of the world their bread shall be plentious and their waters sure Cloath and adorn them with the robe of his own righteousness in which he will make them acceptable before God and fill them with the fruits of it to manward which shall appear to praise at the day of Christ when he will beautifie the meek with salvation Guide them with his counsels and lead them into all truth and shew them things to come and direct their way and work in truth yea he will dwell in them and walk in them and have such spiritual fellowship with them as shall make them fruitful to the increase of the body and to the edifying it self in love and will own their children as his and be the God of them and their Seed and they shall be his sons and daughters And as a faithful Apostle and High Priest of their profession will manage them in it and be with them where-ever he lead them to uphold and strengthen them deliver them from all evil make all things work together for good to them plead their cause fight their battels perfect what concerns them and make their spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God before whom he will also confess their names and in due time receive them to glory 2. The subjection faithfulness and chastity of the Church to Christ unto which she is infinitely obliged by all this grace holiness and faithfulness of her Lord and husband is such as is resembled by that of the wife to her husband And surely it is such as in which she be holy as he is holy chastly devoted and set apart to him and for him as he for her sake hath sanctified himself that she might be sanctified through his truth and so partaker of his holiness that she be onely for him and for no other thing or person in his place that forgetting her own kindred and Fathers house she reverence and worship him as her onely Lord and husband and be subject to him in all things 1. Owning and acknowledging with thankfulness his name as put upon her and counting it her glory and honour to be known and called by it and bear the reproach of it and therefore confessing and not being ashamed of it before men yea commending it as the onely worthy name and not mentioning her own name or suffering her self to be known or called by that or by the name of any other person ordinance work or thing 2. Sitting down under his shaddow to rest satisfied with his fruit to rejoyce in him rest and stay upon him and that grace in him as a sufficient signe and witness of Gods love ground and foundation of faith and hope in God fountain of wisdom righteousness strength and of all things pertaining to life and goldliness for us and so as a sufficient and good rest and refreshing for us considering and feeding upon his flesh which he gave for the life of the world and drinking down his blood that was shed for the remission of our sins and for obtaining all fulness of Spirit and of grace and truth into him for us that so of his fulness we may receive and in such believing view and mindfulness of him and as his words are found discovering him in these things of him eating them and keeping them in our hearts so staying upon him and seeking rest and refreshing to our souls relinquishing for it all other signes witnesses or ways of seeking rest and so all confidence and rejoycing in the flesh and not following any desire of meat for our lust And so putting on and wearing his garments in seeking so to know him that through the knowledge of him we may be found in him our hearts and mindes stayed there and we cloathed with his righteousness before God to give us boldness and render us acceptable in his presence relinquishing for it that of our own and filled with the fruits of it to manward that may be to his praise and the adorning his Name and Doctrine and putting off for it the fruits and works of our own wisdom and desires the deeds of the old man 3. With purpose of heart cleaving and adhering to him as the onely Father of our spirits Lord and Master of our faith fear and worship towards God chief Bishop and Shepherd of our souls our Judge our Law-giver and our King to save us who onely is able to save and to destroy and having our eyes and hearts to him in his Testimony for all wisdom understanding counsel and strength and for all commandments and directions for walking before him and in his house and resting on his Name and the authority of his Testimonies for all O Lord other lords have had dominion over us but by thee onely will we make mention of thy Name and so being subject to him in all things 4. To acquaint ourselves with him seeking and entertaining fellowship with him by an exercise of faith in his Testimony of what he hath done is doing and will do that thence we may prove the effectual working of it in our own spirits reconciling and conforming to him according to the greatness of his power which worketh in them that believe that therein also it may be fitted to our lips and we constrained and directed by him to such an holding it forth in word and conversation as in which we may have his presence and fellowship of his Spirit making us fruitful even in the bringing forth children by him and for him 5. To give him our loves not onely in the yeelding up souls and bodies by his mercies as a living sacrifice to be employed by him and at his dispose whose we are and not our own being double bought or bought in a double or twofold sense yea twice bought with one price his precious bloud and so the sacrifice of his own body made perfect through it with that in presenting and offering it to God the Father in heaven he redeemed and bought us of him from under the curse of the Law to be at his dispose and so he hath bought even them that deny him having given himself a ransom for all And with the same price in his presenting it spiritually by the Gospel to our hearts he hath redeemed or bought us off ourselves and out of or from this present world and our vain conversation therein unto himself that we should be a peculiar people to him c. Therefore we are not our own but by these mercies infinitely obliged to yeeld up to his use and dispose both souls and bodies which are his And not onely so to give him our loves but in the return of all again to him that we have received from him both in the praise and glory of it Not unto us not unto us but to thy Name and to thy grace in Christ for of thy goodness and bounty and of the sufficiencie of that grace have we all our sufficiencie and also in the improvement of it using it to him employing it
to the precious bloud of Christ as declared in the Gospel or as the grace in him through it is discovered to them or have not submitted to the washing efficacie thereof not so received the love of the truth as to save them to baptize or wash them into Christ for righteousness and strength For these are still under the guilt of their former sins and so still reputed as such with God though from some other cause or reason they may have ceased from their former course of acting or walking in them or through decay of nature and so of the fleshly strength and lust their former sins may have left them yet the wrath of God abides on them even for those sins of their youth because they have not believed on the Name of the onely begotten Son of God And if still they abide in wilful ignorance and unbelief of that truth through the knowledge of which the Son makes free they are not free indeed for the soul being without this knowledge of God in Christ cannot be good not reconciled to God and so not washed from its sins and therefore so remaining till the day of Gods grace and patience pass away from them they shall die in their sins For if ye ye to whom that hath been testified in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit believe not saith our Saviour that I am he if with the heart ye embrace not or close not with the Testimony of Jesus The Christ in those manifestations of it brought to you to save you from your sins ye shall die in your sins Joh. 3. 18 36. 8. 24. with Prov. 19. 2. This description of Whoremongers and Adulterers that are so repuced of God according to his rule of judging men by Jesus Christ and the grounds of it may be further demonstrated from the Testimony of Jesus as to say 1. That they are children of disobedience to the grace of God that is by and through Christ and such onely that do abide under the guilt and imputation of sin from God so as to remain under his wrath for sin this or any other This is thus demonstrated The guilt of the disobedience of the first man Adam in which we have all sinned and of our natural uncleanness or filthiness of the flesh as meerly and necessarily from thence derived to us in which we are by nature altogether filthy sinners enemies to God full of all ungodliness unrighteousness fornication c. These being by imputation laid upon Christ or caused to meet together upon him and he having been made sin and a curse for them he hath thereby made peace and atonement with God for them and by himself purged them away from before the Father so that he hath redeemed us all mankinde of the Father from under the curse of the Law to himself The Father hath released us into his hands and judgeth no man otherwise then by Jesus Christ unto whom as our surety he hath remitted and released the old debt and first judgement he had against us and hath committed all judgement unto him so that in this his judging by Jesus Christ he holds no man under wrath or at a distance from his Majestie merely because they have a sinful Nature full of enmity to God and inclined to all that is contrary to his Law nor for such sinful actions as merely break forth through natural infirmity or violence of temptations nor shall there be any occasion for that Proverb in the eternal judgement of all men by Jesus Christ The fathers have eaten sowre grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge And though now men do bear some fruit of that first sin and natural sinfulness as thence derived in mortalities and death now reigning upon them yet is that death abolished the sting taken out of it and no man shall perish in it but be raised out of it and brought before the Judgement-seat of Christ For as by man came death so by man the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive from this death And now while they live here though in mortal state yet are they not by these fruits of sin remaining upon them nor for this filthiness of the flesh held out from God or under his wrath Col. 1. 20. Heb. 1. 3. Gal. 3. 13. Joh. 5. 22. Rom. 5. 18. Ezek. 18. 1. with 2 Tim. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. But this is the condemnation that when light is come into the world men love and chuse darkness rather and for this the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who withhold or smother the truth of God in unrighteousness and would not so receive it as to save them from their ungodliness and unrighteousness Because that which may be known of God was manifested in them and they liked not to retain God in their knowledge John 3. 19. Rom. 1. 18 29. Yet also II. That all that consent to sin so as to yeild up their members to commit or serve it or voluntarily follow after its sinful and unclean lusts and make provision for them to fulfill them that they are guiley before God and under wrath as sinning against that grace that brings salvation to all men this we learn from that branch of the testimony of Jesus that declares him in the vertue of his ransom for all a faithful testimony of Gods goodness to men in due time and therewith warning of the danger of hiding retaining and following the sins of the youth shewing the necessity of being washed from them and leading to repentance even so soon as there is any capacity in the soul to know any thing and strength to act voluntarily after their own choice so soon doth he prevent every man with his goodness that they are not left under a necessity of committing or serving sin nor are their sins and iniquities so left upon them that they may not by the grace of God deny and resist them for though they be naturally dead in sins and trespasses yet the dead are made to hear the voice of the Son of God that in hearing or adhering to what they are made to hear by his preventing grace they might live Though the spirit of a man be as a candle out that cannot light it self nor be lighted by a meer blowing upon it yet the inspiration of the Almighty giveth it understanding that true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world is as we have said a testimony in due time a faithful witness therefore whoever sinneth he is of the Devil and hath voluntarily refused to see know or take notice of Gods goodness which bringeth salvation to all men in due season and therewith teacheth that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world 1 Tim. 2. 6. John 16. 8. Rom. 2. 4. Ezek. 33. 10. Joh. 5. 25. Job 32. 8.
1 Joh. 3. 6 8. Tit. 2. 11 12. And the heynousness and sinfulness of this kind of sin or sinning is evidenced and aggravated by the grace of God in and through Christ against which it is committed Yea III. That this sin and so all sins of this nature are still retained in heaven against men and they reputed as guilty before God whether they go on in the course of acting or serving them still or no while yet they are not washed in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God this likewise is to be seen and understood in the light of Gods testimony concerning Jesus Christ which declares it to be his peculiar work and office in the name of the Father and by the power of the eternal Spirit by and with the vertues of what he hath done and is become in himself for us to save and wash us from our sins It is to him that all the Prophets bear witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive the forgiveness of sins And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 10. 43. 1. 3. 39. Neither is there any other name given under Heaven whereby we may be saved but the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth He hath deputed no man or Church as his Vicar or substitute to do this but himfelf by and through the knowledge of himself is the justifier and cleanser from all unrighteousness Isai 53. 11. 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. And so it is attributed to the Apostles and to them that believe through their word and have that word of reconciliation to minister I say it is attributed to them in their faithful ministration of that Word because of the promise of his spiritual presence with them therein alway to the end of the world that whose sins they remit namely in that ministration and by the power of their word they are remitted in heaven c. For it is Jesus Christ that makes them free through the knowledge of that word of truth it is Christ spiritually ministring and ministred by them he sent his word and healed them Joh. 20. 21 23. with Mark 16. 15 16. and Matth. 28. 19 20. Joh. 8. 32 36. Psal 107. 20. And truely if he wash them not men can have no part with him nor are they washed from their filthiness how clean or pure soever in their own or others eyes Whence it is said of the Corinthians Such were some of you namely fornicators covetous c. But ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God he saith not in the name of the Church or of some High Priest or Bishop on earth no not in the name of Paul or Peter Was Paul crucified for you says he to them 1 Cor. 1. 13. or were ye baptized into the name of Paul But in the name of the Lord Jesus c. 1 Cor. 6. 9 11. Implying that untill they were washed in that name they were not washed nor free indeed nor was their name changed with God but they are still reputed as such with him whatever other washings and cleansings they have had and in what other name soever But being washed in his name in that washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost which is poured forth abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour they are no longer reputed by the Almighty as Whoremongers and Adulterers but are by him graciously owned and called by a new name Sons of God heirs with Christ elect beloved of the chosen generation Behold what manner of love is this that even such may have their sins so blotted out in heaven as to be called The sons of God who would not make haste to this fountain while it is yet held open for the washing us from our sin and uncleanness We knowing the terrour of the Lord against them that will not be made clean whose sins are still retained in heaven against them cannot but perswade men though they count us fools and mad-men for our pains for see the sentence and decree of the holy One Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge which leads us to the last consideration here propounded namely 3. How in what sence and after what manner God will judge them The opposition of Gods judging them in this saying But whoremongers and adulterers God will judge I say the opposition of it unto what is before affirmed of the honourableness of Marriage shews it to be such a correction punishment or judgement for it as is fitly opposed to the honourableness of Marriage and the bed undefiled that is he will put them to shame and wound them with reproach and dishonour And though this may be and is in the beginnings of it in mercy and for their healing and therefore with much mixture of mercy yet still persisting such he will more severely judge them as those that break Wedlock and shed blood are judged a wound and dishonour shall he get and his reproach shall not be wiped away and in the issue they still going on in their trespasses or not being washed in the blood of Christ he will judge them to everlasting shame and confusion as he will do all makers and worshippers of Idols who are spiritual adulterers and fornicators and all that are incensed against him See this distinctly in three branches or steps of Gods proceeding in his judging them according to a threefold sense of Gods judging spoken of in the Scripture Gods judging is sometimes taken for the judgements of his mouth as Psal 105. 5. and of them oft-times more particularly for his passing sentence for or against a man his approving or disapproving his justifying or condemning in respect of which it is said that that he judgeth even now in this present day without respect of persons according to every mans work 1 Pet. 1. 17. and 2. 23. with Joh. 8. 16 26 50. 12. 48. 5. 30. Yet because sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil Likewise more oft and frequently his judgements are taken for the judgements of his hand his executing judgement according to the righteous sentence of his mouth and so sometimes for his judging in this life and world Gen. 15. 14. That nation whom they shall serve will I judge 1 Sam. 3. 13. God would judge the house of Eli for ever Ezek. 7. 3 27. He would judge them according to their ways and deserts Chap. 16. 38. I will judge thee as women that break wedlock and shed bloud And sometimes for his eternal judgement in the world to come After death the judgement Heb. 9. 27. God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto
secured from the second death whatever men have suffered or denyed themselves of in the way to it Oh that men were wise and would timely take warning to flee from it and therefore to flee from those ways of iniquity and paths of the destroyer that end in it For such as aforesaid cannot enter into life nor inherit the Kingdom or escape the damnation of Hell And in their turning let them turn to the Lord seek healing in his name and blood for except he wash us we can have no part with him The Vse of all That therefore they may flee fornication and be washed indeed from such filthiness and uncleanness of the flesh let them give more earnest heed to the things they have heard concerning Christ in the three branches of the testimony of God concerning him namely of what he hath done and is become for us in himself and of what he is doing as the Mediator between God and men and of what he will do and so unto the instructions thereof with the reproofs of those instructions The instructions thereof as particularly applyed in this case are 1. The body is not for fornication but for the Lord for his use and service and to be disposed by him for he hath bought it with a great price even by giving himself in his own body a ransome or price of redemption to God for it and to this purpose he dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord of all Therefore we are not our own we are bought with a price that we should glorifie God in our souls and bodies which are his by redemption as well as by Creation The body is not redeemed at such a rate from the curse of the Law that it should henceforth serve sin 2. The Lord is for the body he is the Saviour of it and even now caring for it all the health strength and mercy enjoyed in this body is by vertue of his bloud and through the power of his mediation who maketh intercession for transgressors for further sparing and that he may still be a testimony in due time and that we may live to him and glorifie him in our souls and bodies which are his 3. And he that raised up Jesus the Lord from the dead shall also raise us up by his own power even in this very body to receive in it according to the things done in it whether good or bad and he shall raise and judge us by him according to the Gospel as before is shewed Shall we then take the members of Christ those that are his by purchase redeemed and bought by him cared for and preserved by him and that must be eternally disposed and judged by him and make them the members of an harlot God forbid See all these three branches of instruction together and so applied 1 Cor. 6. 13 14 15-20 Yea there is also included and contained in the same further instructions and arguments against this filthiness of the flesh and all uncleanness as springing from the testimony of Jesus unto such as have believed and known the truth as it is in him as to say 1. They have been redeemed by the same price in another and further sense which is before mentioned namely bought off themselves and so redeemed and chosen out of the world and from their vain conversation by his spiritual discovery of it to them and therein the pretiousness of his bloud he hath thereby out-bidden the world and prevailed with these to adhere to him and yeeld up themselves soul and body to him to be his and at his dispose and he hath owned and taken them as his purchased possession and so made their bodies temples of the holy Ghost which is in them renewing the minde that the whole man might be transformed by it And 2. After a peculiar sort he cares for their bodies preserving and carrying them thorow great tribulations and so delivering them from those things and persons that do threaten destruction to their bodies their outward man more then to any others and this that they might glorifie him and finish their course with joy to which purpose as their Advocate he is managing their cause and matters in heaven and taking away their sins yea the iniquity of their holy things there and thence affording his gracious and spiritual presence with them and protections over them in their service of him and suffering for him here on earth 3. He hath called them by the Gospel to the obtaining of eternal glory and given them part in the first resurrection by faith in Christ and in the hope of it in and by him in which resurrection they shall be presented together with the Lord Jesus and with the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles and have their bodies that now are vile fashioned into the likeness of his glorious body See all this also in the forementioned Scripture with Chap. 3. 16 17. Rom. 8. 9-12 1 Thes 4. 13-18 5. 5-10 2 Thes 2. 13-17 Phil. 3. 20 21. Their bodies therefore are more especially and in a peculiar sense the members of Christ and shall they then take them and make them the members of an harlot God forbid let not such filthiness be once named among them as becometh Saints surely it is not onely unsuitable to their faith and hope and to their profession of it but directly contrary to all the instructions of it and tends to make it void to themselves and to cut them off from it Rom. 8. 13. yea to provoke his cutting them off from the Vine shutting them out and driving them away into utter darkness For the wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the righteous hath hope in his death Prov. 14. 32. If any man defile the temple of God him will God destroy for the temple of God is holy peculiarly devoted and set apart for him to dwell in and walk in which temple says he speaking to such as forementioned ye are Now then such as last mentioned in committing fornication or alâ—owing themselves in the service of such filthy and unclean lusts of the flesh bring themselves thereby under that dreadful sentence of destruction from the Almighty be will destroy them and not build them up as to their place and service in his temple yea if timely they receive not correction and obey the voice of it he will blot out their names and take away their part out of the book of life because they defile his temple Which they do Both in defiling themselves who are purchased and devoted stones in that house or building members of that body And in defiling others even others that are also of his house yea the whole Church or Society of which they are and this is done in fornication not abstained from by such more directly and abundantly then in many other sins or ways of iniquity As to shew it a little 1. They defile themselves and that both in themselves their bodies and souls which are Gods and
get victory over thy sins nor healing of thy diseases without him yea he therefore called thee and in his call gives himself for thee that on thy coming to him and yeelding up thy self to him and so becoming his he might then wash thee with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 25 26. with Ezek. 16. 3-9 Yea he will then thorowly wash away thy bloud forgiving all thy sins and healing all thy diseases and make thee meet for the perfecting the marriage and perfect it in due time take heed of complementing thy self out of this marriage nor let farms nor oxen no nor any earthly marriage or the love of father mother wife or children be preferred before this or be an hindrance to thy coming to the wedding-feast to which thou art called that thou mayst be joyned to the Lord if thou now when called lovest any thing more then him thou art not worthy of him not meet for him and it will be shameful iniquity for anything whatsoever now to neglect or defer seeing thy need of him is such that thou canst not be well nor happie here or hereafter without him Seek the Lord therefore while he may be found and call upon him while he is neer And for further encouragement see what follows 2. As a man that behaves himself comely or honourably in things pertaining to the earthly marriage doth not when he hath wooed and perswaded the woman to consent and that her affections are drawn to him and set upon him he doth not then nor will by any means cast her off not for any infirmities then perceived or meanness poverty and wants then appearing to him but proceeds to betrothing and marrying in righteousness and then seeks to cover and heal her infirmities and supply her wants as his own in the body so and much more the Lord Jesus Christ will not cast away any that come to him in his gracious drawings and wooings Whosoever cometh saith he I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. yea though some men in such cases may he will not for his work is always and in all things honourable and glorious his righteousness remaineth for ever nor will he upbraid them with former unkindnesses and repulses given him no though uncleannesses have been found with them in the time of love as in that type Hos 3. 1. nor with present unprofitableness and infirmities but receive them to the glory of God in union and fellowship with himself he will betroth them to him in righteousness and in faithfulness and will engage all his interest in heaven and earth for them that they may be washed and healed See Hos 2. 18 19 20. with Chap. 3. Rom. 15. 1 7. Jam. 1. 5. Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it even perform his begun good work unto the day of Christ 1 Thess 5. 24. with Phil. 1. 6. So that no unfaithfulness or want on his part can hinder the proceeding and carrying on of the work unto the finishing of it in the perfect day All which powerfully engageth us to abide and be for him though he make us wait many days as in that type Hos 3. 3. 3. In the comely and honourable demeanour of married persons one to another to which marriage obligeth which is in the husbands love and faithfulness to his wife and the wives subjection chastity and faithfulness to her husband we are minded as by way of resemblance of the love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ to his Church which is infinite and without any fayler or imperfection and of the obligation upon the Church to subjection and chastity to him 1. His 〈◊〉 and faithfulness to the Church and to every member in particular and his peculiar care for them is such as that for their sakes he sanctifies himself devotes or gives up himself to minde their good and their things with peculiar design as the first and chief thing directly aimed at in all his works in and government of the world and that unto which all other things must stoopâ— that they also may be sanctified made clean holy and chaste to him through his truth they are set as a seal upon his heart and ingraven upon the palms of his hand that he cannot open his hand to do any thing in the world but they are in his view their safety preservation and defence from evil and making meet for the inheritance is continually before him and in order to that and so as may conduce to that end he will give men for them and people for their lives Joh. 17. 17 19. Isai 49. 15 16. 43. 1 4. Cant. 8. 6. This also in included in his giving himself for his Church Eph. 5. 25 26. Namely his sanctifying or separating himself in and above all things to minde their good with peculiar design as is said That he may wash and cleanse them with the washing of water by the word and this also for the good of others even that by them the world may know that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the world and that he hath loved these with the same manner of love with which he loveth his Son for he hath chosen and ordained them that they should bring forth much fruit and that their fruit should remain More particularly according to the resemblance 1. Such his holiness and devotedness to them that he will not add another wife to her to vex her in her life-time and that is for ever for because he lives they shall live also the seed of his Servants shall continue for ever So then he will never own nor accept any other woman or Church nor any that are not by that one Spirit baptized into that one body and made to drink into that one Spirit into that nigh relation with him to be heirs together with them of this grace nor put any such burden upon them to own or acknowledge any other 〈◊〉 have their birth to the hope of inheritance from 〈◊〉 â—rinciples as competitors or co-partners with them 〈◊〉 â—his inheritance of the Saints For what saith the Scripture Cast out the bond-woman and her son for the son of the bond-woman shall not inherit with the son of the free-woman Gal. 4. 30. And this that the promise may be sure and upon certain and undoubted terms to all of this body to all the children of promise and that they may have strong consolation and be incouraged and ingaged to abide with him in the faith and hope of the Gospel For if they that are of the law be heirs faith is made void and the promise of none effect Rom. 4. 14-16 Let them know therefore for their incouragement and let all know for their admonition and warning in time That the Lord hath set apart separated from all others to and for himself the man that is godly Psal 4. 3. that is the true worshipper of God that worships the Father in spirit and truth giving honour to the
Son in hearing his word and according to it believing on him that sent him and so seeking to have all their rejoycing in Christ Jesus according to the testimony God hath given of him relinquishing for it all confidence and rejoycing in the flesh And truely he that honours not the Son neither doth he honour the Father that sent him and therefore the Father seeks and wooes such worshippers and therefore also the Son will graciously own and accept them yea distinguish and set them apart from all other for himself all his fresh springs shall be there for all his nuptial or conjugal delight is in the Saints even in them that excel in vertue whose righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees they being such as have made a covenant with him by that perfect Sacrifice of the body of Christ offered once for all and so are made the righteousness of God in him as for such as turn aside to their crooked ways that hasten after another or endow another the Translators render it another God but the Context shews it to be another Mediator and High priest and so it may include aâ—other righteousness and sacrifice to come to God by … r also another chief Bishop and Shepherd of their soulâ— and Father of their spirits another head and husband with him though they also make mention of and would be called by his name yet he will not offer their bloody offerings nor take up their names into his lips he will not make their sacrifices acceptable nor confess their names before his Father and therefore their sorrows shall be multiplyed when the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity for they are not his wife nor is he their husband in such their crooked paths See Psal 16. 3 4. with Psal 125. 5. Hos 2. 2. Though there be many Queens and Concubines that plead their title to him and interest in him as an husband he will own none as in that relation to him but his Dove his undefiled which is but one the onely one of her mother as before is shewed And 2. Such his love faithfulness and truth to her that he will never leave her nor forsake her nor put her away from him For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake 1 Sam. 12. 22. Yea the Lord the God of Israel saith that he hateth putting away Mal. 2. 16. He hath not cast away his people whom be foreknew Rom. 11. 2. Namely those that are of the election of grace that by the discovery of his grace in Christ to manward are chosen out of the world into that grace and having access into it are through it preserved in Christ and abide with him for they are therein made of the beloved and chosen generation that were chosen in Christ from the beginning of the world though they were not so before they are now beloved that were not beloved it hath pleased the Lord to make them his peculiar people and therefore for his great names sake he will not forsake them but will always reserve them to himself They are the rest that are not of this election of grace that abide not in this one body and so not in the unity of the Spirit with them that call on him in truth but turn aside to their crooked paths that hasten after another in his place as before who in any of his judgements are left to blindness or put away and rejected by him either in whole or in part the iniquities for which God will forsake are such as in which the sinner becomes not his wife or of his wife such as in which they depart from him and become anothers endow another husband or another in his place for he hates the putting away the wife as before is shewed he will not therefore forsake or cast away any that have been espoused to him from that relation and nighness for infirmities or diseases found no nor for one or divers particular acts of spiritual fornication though he may correct and hide his face from them yet will not forsake or put them away while as yet they have not sold themselves to another but still cherisheth and seeks their healing and helpfulness as his own body But if ye forsake him he will forsake you if we deny him he will deny us Yet such the infinite excellency and preciousness of the sacrifice of Christ and the riches of his grace in Christ that when he is provoked by mens forsaking him to forsake them and to put them away and leave to blindness and hardness to which he is not easily provoked yet then I say he doth not presently give a bill of divorce nor utterly reject while by any means he is calling and they are not become trees twice dead pluckt up by the roots but still remembers for them his covenant and withal remembers the kindness of their youth the love of their espousals and hath like pitty towards them as a man toward his straying children or towards an adulterous wife whom yet he loves and in his love and pitty seeks after them and uses gracious means for their reclaiming and they or any of them if they abide not in unbelief shall be grafted in again for he can righteously forgive such sins and treacherous dealing as are resembled by those which men cannot righteously forgive yea he can forgive those sins they cannot justly forgive and so also those greater ones in this case resembled by them and can have compassion where they can have none See Jer. 3. 1-12-14-20 with chap. 2. Isa 50. 1 2 3. with Rom. 11. 1-7-11 23. compared with 2 Chron. 15. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Psal 125. Yea further such his love and faithfulness that he will not fail them of all the good that he hath promised them or given them incouragement to expect in him and with him nor forsake them or leave them comfortless or as Orphans and Widdows in any tryal service and sufferings for so is that saying of God alluded to in this Heb. 13. 5. Both expressed and applyed in Deut. 31. 6 8. Josh 1. 5. as a faithful head and husband he will Write his name and his Fathers upon them in such wise now as they shall be known and called by it in heaven and by them that have their conversation there and be fitted and strengthned to bear forth a right and successful profession of it to others and be sealed distinguished and marked by it to the day of Redemption and it is and shall be ingaged for their protection and defence and in due time fully and gloriously written and manifested upon them Feed and satisfie them with the fatness of his house and make them to drink abundantly of the Rivers of his pleasures he will give them that which is good and their soul shall delight it self in fatness for the bread that he will give them is his flesh which he gave for the life