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A55748 The mysticall match between Christ and his church by the late learned and reverend divine, John Preston ... The leading sermon to that treatise of his called The churches marriage. Preston, John, 1587-1628. 1648 (1648) Wing P3303; ESTC R33951 90,892 160

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THE MYSTICALL MATCH BETWEEN Christ and his Church BY The late learned and reverend Divine JOHN PRESTON Docter in Divinity Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majestie Master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher at Lincolnes Inne The leading Sermon to that Treatise of his called The Churches Marriage CANT 63. I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine LONDON Printed for Francis Eaglesfield and are to be sold at the Marigold in S. Pauls Church-yard 1648. To the Christian Reader WHen the Sermons of this reverend Divine intituled the Churches Marriage were first published this Sermon was not come to the hands of those who were instrumentall in setting forth the work who yet were willing rather to send it so abroad then that so many excellent truths should be lost This Sermon since coming to my hands taken by a skilfull scribe from the Authors mouth I thought fit to adde it to the rest lest the work should seem a body without a head My pains is saved for speaking any thing concerning the worthy Author or his Works it is sufficiently done by those reverend Divines that have been the publishers of them therefore commending this to thee and thy self to Gods blessing I rest Thine in any Christian office T S. THE CHVRCHES MARRIAGE EPHES. 5. 32. This is a great mystery but I speake concerning Christ and concerning the Church THE poynt out of these words is this that There is a match between Christ and the Church and consequently betweene Christ and every particular man that is a member of the true body of Christ this is the great Mystery the Apostle tells us of in this place To open which let us consider wherein this match consisteth what similitude it hath with the ordinary marriage which is betweene a man and his wife here upon earth it consisteth in these five things First as in marriage there must bee consent of the parents so here the Father hath given his Sonne to us and likewise hee hath given us to the Sonne wherein wee are to consider the great mercy of God that hee would bestow his owne Sonne upon us which is the reason why the Apostle saith in Ephes. 1. Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ that is that hath given us his owne Sonne and with him all things else and Him likewise for us when we were cast away men That thus he should give us to his Son and match us with him that is the first thing The second thing in marriage is the mutuall consent of the parties themselves that are to match together wherein wee are in the first place to consider the consent of the Sonne the Husband because wee know that the man is the suitor hee begins and if hee had not who could have knowne the minde of the LORD IESUS that he would match so lowe that hee would match with sinfull dust and ashes except himselfe had declared it his Church seekes not first to him not because modesty forbids it but because shee knew no such thing that there was such an Husband for her shee indeed had most neede to seeke because shee stood in neede of such an Husband Christ matches with her not for any neede he had of a wife but onely for the neede his wife had of him Now his Father from eternity had ordained this Wife for his Sonne and therefore hee must have her and he could have no other Therefore first see if the Sonne bee willing for this hee hath declared it plainely in his Word Wee are Ambassadors saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. beseeching you in Christs stead to bee reconciled to God and in Matth. 22. you see all were invited to the Marriage and all those speeches Goe preach the Gospell to every creature under heaven and Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and that in Revel 22. Let whosoever will come this I say declares the consent of the Sonne that he is willing Now secondly for our consent wee have that wrought by the holy Ghost by a double worke One is a worke of the holy Ghost discovering to us the thraldome and bondage the death and danger wherein wee are and also discovering to us our owne sinfulnesse which is necessary because a man is ready to bee conceited of himselfe and so is somewhat coy and unwilling to yeeld to the suit of Christ but when the holy Ghost hath shewed a man what hee is that he is such a one as hee never thought himselfe to be he then begins to think that hee is unworthy that the Lord should vouchsafe him so much favour he is ready to say as Abigail said to David when she was spoken to to bee his wife Lord what am I that thou shouldest so far respect mee Let thy handmaid wash the feete of my Lords servants I am worthy of no better office I say this is one worke of the holy Ghost thus to prepare us to this match The other is to present Christ unto us and to fit him above all the world for us in our apprehensions which is done by the work of the holy Ghost manifesting Christ and his beauty when Christ comes to joyne our love hee is faine to use his skill to joyne us and all that wee can doe to set him at is nothing except the holy Ghost shew you Iesus Christ and except withall hee make a secret impression upon the heart except there bee a secret instinct wrought in us causing us to long after Christ we shall never bring our hearts to consent to this Marriage Now therefore as there goes a secret vertue from the Load-stone that makes a secret impression upon the iron and when that is done the iron rests not but drawes neare to the Loade-stone so the holy Ghost that is sent from the Father makes an impression upon our spirits that wee have no rest till wee obtaine Christ. This is called in Scripture a Drawing to Christ None comes to me except the Father draw him that is except the Father worke powerfully upon him and make him willing to come for that is the meaning of drawing when the Lord turnes as it were the will of a Lion makes him a Lamb when he gives another will This consent must not bee mentall onely kept within the breast but there must bee an expression of this consent and it is in a mutuall covenant so then the third thing is the Covenant betweene Christ and us which is an everlasting covenant on both sides an everlasting covenant on Christs part to bee ours to bestow himselfe on us and all that is his whether salvation remission of sinnes sanctification glory his death obedience all hee did or is all is ours and againe a covenant on our part to give up our selves to him and this for ever and all that is ours as our
match with him 2 To make us more willing 3 impediments that hinder from Christ. 3 Sorts of men 1 2. 3. 1 2 Those that will not beleeve pardon Quest. Answ. Christ willing to receive great sinners Deut. 21. 1 He hath given his word for it Rom. 4. 5. 2 Confirmed it by miracle Mat. 4. 23. Pardon offered to all Object Answ. No sinne excepted Ob. Answ. God can soften the heart He that comes in to Christ must 1 Take out his pardon To take out the pardon what 2 He must be no longer a rebell Quest. Answ. If the purpose be sincere God will give ability Ezech. 36. 3 The time of the pardon Quest. Ans. 1 The time of life 2 The time of the offer Quest. A time only knowne to the Lord. Answ. 2 Cor 6. 2. Heb. 3. Instances of some that lost this time Gen. 4. Caine. Saul The Iewes Act. 13. 40 Capernaum To take heed of neglecting this time Heb. 3. Object Answ. That God is ready to receive sinners 1. He hath declared it 2. He intreats it 2 Cor. 5. 19. 3. Commands it 1 Ioh. 1. 3. 4. Threatens if we come not in Nothing required but sincerity 3 Those that beleive but will not come in I Hinderance inconsideration Deut. 32. 27 2 Me thinke their estate good enough Gal. 5. 24 2. Cor. 5. 17. Iam. 2. 10 Ezek. 18. 10 He that allowes himselfe in the least sin is not matched to Christ Object 3 Impediment the crosses that follow Answ. Those that have Christ must be content to suffer Rom. 8. 17 Object Ans. These seaming hard conditions are easie 2 Things make the law of Christ hard 1 Contrariety 2 Disproportion Rom. 7. Ob. 4 Impediment we have little for the present Ans. Why Christ makes us stay Iames 1. 12 Cause of all error 2 Pet. 1. 5. 2. Cor. 4. 17. 18. Christians enjoy more then Worldlings for the present Mar. 10. 29. 30. 2 Cor. 6. 10. Object Answ. Psa. 17. 14. 5. Imped The heart is set to match with others Comfort in Christs service Reward of it 6 Imped We will not match yet 7 Impediment men doe nor like Christ. Enmitie double digression to the Sacrament Scope Gen. 3. 16. 1 2 3 Doct. Every one that takes Christ ought to be subject and it is best for him 2 1 Cor. 7. 23. 1 Best for men to take Christ. Reas. 1 He is a head 1 He is their Soveraigne 2 A head of preeminence Col. 1 18. 19 3. For their profit Ephes. 1. ult 4 Their guide 2 Reas. He is the Saviour of his Church His commandements for our good Deut. 10. 13 Vse To exhort to come in to Christ. 1 Subjection what 1 To a superiour willingly 2 We must be subject unto 1 The counsel of Christ. 2 Cor. 10. 5. Pro. 23. 4. 2. His commands 3. His providence Motives to this subjection 1 From the nature of subjection Eccles. 10. 5. 6. 2 Who we are subject unto 1 One that is able to do us good 2 He is able to do us much hurt 1 Pet. 5. 6 3 His munificence 3 Motive from our selves It is pleasant 1 It is agreeable to the soule 2 It brings peace Psal. 133. 1. Gal. 6. 16. 3 It brings Christ into the soule Doct. Christ is the head and Saviour of his Church and every member 1 Cor. 11. 3. 1 2 3 4 1 Eph. 1. 22. 2 Col. 1. 18. 3 Eph. 1. 23. Vse 1. To be obedient to Christ as a head Isay 9. 6. Col. 1. All things to be done by rule Object Ans. It brings peace Isay 9. 7. Vse 2. To choose Christ for a head Col 2. 10 Ioh 1. 12. Quest Answ. God supplies what we loose for him Phil. 2. Mat. 10. Luk. 10. Vse 3. To draw influence from him Ephes. 4. 15 16. 2 To grow up in Christ. Definition of morall vertue 1 To keep the heart nigh Christ. 2 Fellowship with the Saints 3 Sinewes by which grace is conveyed 4 A Nutritive facultie in Christs members How this faculty is weakened 4 Vse To know if we be in Christ by our subjection Rom. 2. Isay. 1. 19● Faith and obedience goe together Act. 20. 21 2 Cor. 8. 12. 1 Cor. 9. Tryall is from obedience It is the end of preaching The end of every grace So much obedience so much grace Spira Comfort from obedience Quest. Tryall of sincerity 1 Looking to every command 2 Thes. 1. 7. What subjection is meant 2 Sam. 3. 16 Why universall obedience is required Iam. 2. 10. 2 Tryall in the manner of our subjection Iob. 2. 10 3 As to the Lord. Quest. Answ. When our obedience is to the Lord. 4 Rule 5 Rule Quest. Answ. Helps to this duty 1 To observe therebellion of the flesh 2. To be convinced of the convenience of it 2 Cor. 10. 3. Labour to bring the affections to obey Heb. 5. 14. Iam. 1. 2. Object Ans. He. 5. 11 12 13. Vse 2. To shew our priviledge by Christ as a head How Christ guides us 1 2 3 4 1 Sam. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Isay. 9. 6. Ioh. 4. 25. 1 Tim. 1. God only wise 1 Sam. 23. 11. 13. Object Answ. Naturall wisdome from Christ. 2 Tim. 2. 7. Dan. 5. 23. Quest. Ans. How to get wisdome from God Iam. 1. 5. 1 See the want of it 1 Cor. 3. 18. Psal. 25. 9. 2 Beg it of God 3 Aske in faith Iam. 1. 6. 2 Chron. 14. 11. Isay 7. 4 Labour to please God Ier. 42. 20. Pro. 4. 6. Psal. 23. 3. Psal. 25. 5. 5 Get a teachable heart Gen. 16. 18. Vse 3. To give glory to Christ. 1 Cor. 11. 7. Vse 4. To trie if we be members of Christ. 1 Quest. Ans. 1 Cor. 6. 15 16. Rom. 6. 1 〈◊〉 Characters of a member 1 2 3.