A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

:AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 127Son of God to be his husband for the very taking ; and havelived with him for ever in unspeakable bliss, yet neglectingso great salvation, must now, crying out therefore continuallyagainst himself as the most raging madman that everbreathed, lie in unquenchal)le flames without remedy, ease,or end ! It is the highest honour that can be imagined,and a mystery of greatest amazement that ever was^ thatthe Son of God should make suit unto sinful souls to be theirhusband.^ And yet so it is; "he stands at the door andknocks ;" if you will give him entrance, he will bring himselfand heaven into your hearts. " VVe are Christ's ambassadors,as though God did beseech you by us. We prayyou in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God." We areChrist's spokesmen, if I may so speak, to woo and win youunto him. Now what can you say for yourselves that youstand out? Why come you not in? If the devil wouldgive you leave to speak out and in plain terms, one wouldsay, I had rather be damned than leave my drunkenness;another, I love the world better than Jesus Christ ; a third'I will not part with my easy and gainful trade of usury forthe " treasure hid in the field ;" and so on : so that in truthyou must needs all confess, that you hereby "judge yourselvesunworthy of everlasting life ;" that you are wilfulmurderers of your own souls ; that you commit such awickedness, that all the creatures in heaven and earth cryshame upon you for it. Nay, and if you go on without repentance,you may expect that the gnawings of consciencefor this one sin of refusing Christ may perhaps be equal tothe united horrors of all the rest.What is the matter, I wonder, that you will not entertainthe match 1 If we stand upon honour and noble family, hethat makes love and suit unto our souls " hath on his vestureand on his thigh a name written, "King of kings, andLord of lords" (Rev. xix, 16). If upon beauty, hearhow he is described ": My beloved is white and ruddy, thechiefest among ten thousand.His head is as the most finegold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyesnre as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washedwith milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices,as sweet flowers : his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smellingmyrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the berylliis belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legsare as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold : hiscountenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. Hismouth is most sweet : yea, he is altogether lovely " (Cant.V, 10—16). Now you must understand, that the Spirit ofGod, by these outward beauties and excellencies, labours in