"The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself
ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,
clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
" - Revelation 19:7-8
Behold, my soul, behold that day, that glorious day, in which
redemption is to be consummated, and in the kingdom of heaven; when the
Son of God brings home his bride, the church, the full celebration of
God's glory in the happiness of the redeemed in Jesus, everlasting joy
will burst forth. See how thy nature is then to be adorned. The whole
body, the church, is then to be arrayed in the robes of Jesus's
righteousness, having been washed from all their sins in his blood. And
these nuptial ornaments are to be granted or given to the church; for
she hath no righteousness of her own; but as all along in this world
she had professed, so there in the upper world she triumphantly sings,"
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered
me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with
ornaments, and as a' bride adorneth herself with her jewels. "Isa. lxi.
10. Pause, my soul, over this view. Is this to be thy adorning in
glory? See to it then, my soul, that it becomes thy covering now. How
suited is it to all thy circumstances! Thou hast no fine linen, nothing
clean, nothing white. Think how comely Jesus's robe of righteousness
must be to appear in. This is the wedding garment, by faith worn at his
supper upon earth, and the same in fruition in which thou art to sit
down at his table above. And Oh how suitable a covering to hide all thy
deformity, to conceal and take away all thy pollution. And will not
this procure thee favour and acceptance with God? Is it not thus that
Jesus's followers are distinguished from men of the world? Art thou now
clothed with it? Hath God the Spirit put it on? Doth Jesus now send
thee his love-tokens as his betrothed; and, in the ordinances of his
grace, doth he grant thee many sweet espousals? Oh then, my soul, see
to it, that thy righteousness is that of Jesus's own, with which his
church is arrayed, and that these robes are always clean and white,
which are washed in the blood of the Lamb: for, ere long, the midnight
cry will be heard; "Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet
him!" Oh precious Lord Jesus! give me to hear that voice with joy,
that, with holy wings of love, in the last office of faith, to be then
swallowed up in sight, I may arise to enter with thee into the
marriage, to sit down with thee forever.
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