• How juftly does he, when his work is done, 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. But he that once commenc'd the work in her, For when he manifefts his glorious grace, Freed from law-debt, and bleft with gospel cafe, * 2 Cor. iii. 18. + Matt. vii. 17, 18. Cant. vii. 2. |