The Incomparable Marriage

[Coconut]

A link to one of the most wonderful sermons I`ve ever read!

The Incomparable Marriage Between the Creator and the Creature

The Best Match

"All I shall say is this; O let Christ's bride live on him, and take all from him! As a poor woman married to a rich man, she lives upon his riches. Many are ready to say, that if Christ would call us his bride, we would live on ourselves; we would pray, repent, believe, etc, but the bride of Christ must get all these things in him, and take all from him, and live wholly on him, and freely on him."

Ralph Erskine (1685-1752) - His literary works were so treasured that as late as 1879 they were still the best selling religious books in London.


"Erskine's ministry was so blessed that revival broke out and the worshippers filled the church and churchyard. After the service, prayer and thanksgiving went on in small groups, sometimes all night long. One seeker arose at two in the morning to pray in secret and found the whole town on its knees so that the entire countryside hummed like a gigantic hive of bees as hundreds of penitent sinners poured out their petitions to God under the dome of heaven. The seeker marvels that he could hardly find a place to pray though it was raining steadily."
(Ralph Erskine's Marvellous Ministry by G. Ella)

 

[Coconut]

"Thy Maker is thy Husband."—Isa 54.5

The cunning serpent may accuse,
But never shall succeed ;
The God of peace will Satan bruise,
Thy husband broke his head.

Hell-furies threaten to devour,
Like lions robb'd of whelps:
But lo! in ev'ry perilous hour,
Thy husband always helps.

That feeble faith may never fail,
Thine advocate has pray'd ;
Though winnowing tempests may assail,
Thy husband's near to aid.

Though grevious trials grow apace,
And put thee to a stand ;
Thou may'st rejoice in ev'ry case,
Thy husband's help at hand.

Trust, though, when in desertion dark,
No twinkling star by night,
No ray appear, no glimm'ring spark;
Thy husband is thy light.

His beams anon the clouds can rent,
And through the vapours run
For of the brightest firmament
Thy husband is the sun.

Without the sun [the] mourning go,
And scarce the way can find,
He brings, through paths they do not know;
Thy husband leads the blind.

Though fire and water he with skill
Brings to a wealthy land;
Rude flames and roaring waves be still,
Thy husband can command.

When sin's disorders heavy brings,
That press thy soul with weight;
Then mind how many crooked things
Thy husband has made straight.

Still look to him with longing eyes,
Though both thine eyes should fail;
Cry, and at length, though not thy cries,
Thy husband shall prevail.

Still hope for favour at his hand,
Though favour don't appear:
When help seems most aloof to stand
Thy husband's then most near.

In cases hopeless-like, faint hopes
May fail and fears annoy;
But most when stript of earthly props,
Thy husband thou'lt enjoy.

If providence the promise thwart,
And yet thy humbled mind
'Gainst hope believes in hope,'
thou art Thy husband's dearest friend.

Art thou a weakling, poor and faint,
In jeopardy each hour?
Let not thy weakness move thy plaint,
Thy husband has the pow'r.

Dread not thy foes that foil'd thee long,
Will ruin thee at length:
When thou art weak then art thou strong,
Thy husband is thy strength.

When foes are mighty, many too,
Don't fear, nor quit the field;
'Tis not with thee they have to do,
Thy husband is thy shield.

'Tis hard to strive against an host,
Or strive against the stream:
But, lo! when all seems to be lost,
Thy husband will redeem.

By Ralph Erskine

 

[Maureen]

Coconut
don't you just find that though, 1600-1700-1800's
Revival was rampant.
Today? what?
How wouldn't it have been to live in those days, to join with that happy throng. Pure bliss.
For sure Heaven come down.
The Lewis Revival was another, I have it on tape, my, would make your hair curl listening to it.