• How juftly does he, when his work is done,
Poffefs the centre of his Father's throne?
How justly does his awful throne before,
Seraphic armies proftrate him adore;
That's both by nature and donation crown'd,
With all the grandeur of the Godhead round?
But wilt thou, Lord, in very deed come dwell
With me, that was a burning brand of hell?
With me fo juftly reckon'd worse and lefs
Than infect, mite, or atom can exprefs?
Wilt thou debafe thy high imperial form,
• To match with fuch a mortal, crawling worm?
Yea, fure thine errand to our earthly coaft,
Was in deep love to feek and fave the loft;
And fince thou deign'ft the like of me to wed,
O come and make my heart thy marriage-bed.
Fair Jefus, wilt thou marry filthy me?
Amen, Amen, Amen; fo let it be.

CHA P. III.

The FRUITS of the Believer's Marriage with CHRIST, particularly gofpel holinefs and obedience to the law as a rule.

SECT. I.

The fweet folemnity of the marriage now over, and the fad effects of the remains of a legal fpirit.

"HE match is made, with little din 'tis done,

THE

But with great power, unequal prizes won. The Lamb has fairly won his worthlefs bride; She her great Lord, and all his ftore befide. He made the pooreft bargain, tho' moft wife; And fhe, the fool, has won the worthy prize. + Luke xix. 10.

Deep floods of everlasting love and grace, That under ground ran an eternal space, Now rife aloft 'bove banks of fin and hell, And o'er the tops of mafly mountains fwell. In ftreams of blood are tow'rs of guilt o'erflown, Down with the rapid purple current thrown.

The bride now as her all can Jefus own, And proftrate at his footstool caft her crown, Difclaiming all her former groundless hope, While in the dark her foul did weary grope. Down tumble all the hills of felf-conceit, In him alone fhe fees herfelf complete; Does his fair person with fond arms embrace, And all her hopes on his full merit place; Discard her former mate, and henceforth draw No hope, no expectation from the law.

Though thus her new created nature foars, And lives aloft on Jefus' heav'nly ftores; Yet apt to ftray, her old adult'rous heart Oft takes her old renounced husband's part: A legal cov'nant is fo deep ingrain'd, Upon the human nature laps'd and ftain'd, That, till her fpirit mount the pureft clime, She's never totally divorc'd in time. Hid in her corrupt part's proud bofom lurks Some hope of life ftill by the law of works. Hence flow the following evils more or lefs Preferring oft her partial holy drefs, Before her Husband's perfect righteoufnefs. Hence joying more in grace already giv'n Than in her Head and stock that's all in heav'n. Hence grieving more the want of frames and Than of himself the fpring of all folace. (grace,

Hence guilt her foul imprifons, lufts prevail While to the law her rents infolvent fail, [bail. And yet her faithlefs heart rejects her Husband's Hence foul diforders rife, and racking fears, While doubtful of his clearing paft arrears; Vain dreaming, fince her own obedience fails, His likewife little for her help avails.

Hence duties are a task, while all in view Is heavy yokes of laws, or old or new: Whereas, were once her legal bias broke, She'd find her Lord's commands an easy yoke. No galling precepts on her neck he lays, Nor any debt demands, fave what he pays By promis'd aid; but, lo! the grievous law, Demanding brick, won't aid her with a ftraw. Hence alfo fretful, grudging, difcontent, Crav'd by the law, finding her treasure spent, And doubting if her Lord will pay the rent. Hence pride of duties too does often fwell, Prefuming the perform'd fo very well.

Hence pride of graces and inherent worth Springs from her corrupt legal bias forth; And boafting more a prefent with'ring frame, Than her exalted Lord's unfading name.

Hence many falls and plunges in the mire, As many new converfions do require: Because her faithless heart fad follies breed, Much lewd departure from her living Head, Who, to reprove her aggravated crimes, Leaves her abandon'd to herfelf at times; That, falling into frightful deeps, fhe may From fad experience learn more ftrofs to lay, Not on her native efforts, but at length. On Chrift alone, her righteoufnefs and ftrength:

Confcious, while in her works fhe feeks repofe, Her legal fpirit breeds her many woes.

SECT. II.

Faith's victories over fin and Satan, through new and farther difcoveries of CHRIST, making believers more fruitful in holiness than all other pretenders to works.

THE

HE gofpel-path leads heav'n-ward; hence the fray,

Hell pow'rs ftill push the bride the legal way.
So hot the war, her life's a troubled flood,
A field of battle, and a scene of blood.

But he that once commenc'd the work in her,
Whofe working fingers drop the fweeteft myrrh,
Will ftill advance it by alluring force, [vorce:
And, from her ancient mate, more clean di-
Since 'tis her antiquated spouse the law,
The ftrength of fin and hell did on her draw.
Piece-meal fhe finds hell's mighty force abate,
By new recruits from her almighty Mate.
Fresh armour fent from grace's magazine,
Makes her proclaim eternal war with fin.
The fhield of faith, dipt in the Surety's blood,
Drowns fiery darts, as in a crimson flood.
The Captain's ruddy banner, lifted high,
Makes hell retire, and all the furies fly.
Yea, of his glory every recent glance
Makes fin decay, and holiness advance.
In kindnefs therefore does her heav'nly Lord
Renew'd difcov'ries of his love afford,
That her enamour'd foul may with the view
Be caft into his holy mould anew:

For when he manifefts his glorious grace,
The charming favour of his fmiling face,
Into his image fair transforms her foul*,
And wafts her upward to the heav'nly pole,
From glory unto glory by degrees,
Till vifion and fruition fhall fuffice.
And thus in holy beauty Jefus' bride
Shines far beyond the painted fons of pride,
Vain merit-vouchers, and their fubtile apes,
In all their moft refin'd, delufive fhapes.
No lawful child is ere the marriage born;
Though therefore virtues feign'd their life adorn.
The fruit they bear is but a fpurious brood,
Before this happy marriage be made good.
And 'tis not ftrange; for, from a corrupt tree
No fruit divinely good produc'd can be†.
But, lo! the bride, graft in the living Root,
Brings forth moft precious aromatic fruit.
When her new heart and her new Hufband meet,
Her fruitful womb is like a heap of wheat,
Befet with fragments lilies round about‡,
All divine graces, in a comely root,
Burning within, and fhining bright without.
And thus the bride, as facred fcripture faith,
When dead unto the law through Jesus' death S
And match'd with him, bears to her God and Lord
Accepted fruit, with incenfe pure decor'd.

Freed from law-debt, and bleft with gospel cafe,
Her work is now her deareft Lord to please,
By living on him as her ample stock,
And leaning to him as her potent rock.
The fruit, that each law-wedded mortal brings
To felf accrefces, as from felf it fprings.

* 2 Cor. iii. 18.

+ Matt. vii. 17, 18.
§ Rom. vii. 4.

Cant. vii. 2.