How He "Got the Girl"

He that is the Lord of the universe, God over all, blessed for evermore, offered up himself a sacrifice, in both body and soul, in the flames of divine wrath.

Christ obtains his elect spouse by conquest: for she was captive in the hands of dreadful enemies; and her Redeemer came into the world to conquer these enemies, and rescue her out of their hands, that she might be his bride. And he came and encountered these enemies in the greatest battle that ever was beheld by men or angels: he fought with principalities and powers; he fought alone with the powers of darkness, and all the armies of hell; yea, he conflicted with the infinitely more dreadful wrath of God, and overcame in this great battle; and thus he obtained his spouse.

Let us consider at how great a price Christ purchased this spouse: he did not redeem her with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with his own precious blood; yea he gave himself for her.

Jonathan Edwards, Sermon II: “The Church’s Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God.” Works of Jonathan Edwards, Banner of Truth Trust.

From heaven He came and sought her,

To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her,

And for her life He died.

“The church’s one foundation”

Samuel Stone, 1866