Part 113

And now, Sirs, what say you? Shall I put that question to you, which _Rebecca_’s relations, upon a proposal of marriage, put to her? “Will ye go with the man?” With the God-man, this infinitely great, this infinitely powerful, this all-wise, all-holy, altogether lovely, ever-loving JESUS? What objection have you to make against such a gracious offer? One would imagine, you had not a single one; but it is to be feared, through the prevalency of unbelief, and the corruption of your desperately wicked deceitful hearts, you are ready to urge several. Methinks I hear some of you say within yourselves, “We like the proposal, but alas! we are poor.” Are you so? If that be all, you may, notwithstanding, be welcome to JESUS: “For has not GOD chosen the poor of this world, to make them rich in faith, and heirs of his everlasting kingdom?” And what says that Saviour, to whom I am now inviting you? “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And what says his Apostle concerning him? “Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich.” But say you, “We are not only poor, but we are in debt; we owe GOD ten thousand talents, and have nothing to pay;” but that need not keep you back: for GOD the Father, from the LORD JESUS, his dearly beloved Son, has received double for all believers sins: the blood of JESUS cleanseth from them all. But you are blind, and miserable, and naked; to whom then should you fly for succour, but to JESUS, who came to open the eyes of the blind, to seek and save the miserable and lost, and cloath the naked with his perfect and spotless righteousness. And now, what can hinder your espousals with the dear and ever-blessed Lamb of GOD? I know but of one thing, that dreadful sin of unbelief. But this is my comfort, JESUS died for unbelief, as well as for other sins, and has promised to send down the Holy Spirit to convince the world of this sin in particular: “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go away, I will send the Comforter, and he will convince the world of sin.” What sin? of unbelief; “because they believe not on me.” O that this promise may be so fulfilled in your hearts, and JESUS may so become the author of divine faith in your souls, that you may be able to send me the same message as a good woman in _Scotland_, on her dying bed, sent me by a friend: “Tell him, (says she) for his comfort, that at such a time he married me to the LORD JESUS.” This would be comfort indeed. Not that we can marry you to CHRIST: No; the Holy Ghost must tie the marriage knot. But such honour have all GOD’s ministers; under him they espouse poor sinners to JESUS CHRIST. “I have espoused you (says St. _Paul_) as a chaste virgin to JESUS CHRIST.” O that you may say, We will go with the man; then will I bow my head, as _Abraham_’s servant did, and go with joy and tell my Master, that he has not left his poor servant destitute this day: then shall I rejoice in your felicity. For I know, my Master will take you into the banqueting-house of his ordinances, and his banner over you shall be love. That this may be the happy case of you all, may the glorious GOD grant, for the sake of JESUS his dearly beloved Son, the glorious bridegroom of his church; to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. _Amen_, and _Amen_.