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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S O N G O F S O L O M O N.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter,
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I. Jesus Christ, having espoused his church to himself
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+3:11"><I>ch.</I> iii. 11</A>),
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highly commends her beauty in the several expressions of it, concluding
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her fair, all fair,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>
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and again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:7">ver. 7</A>.
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II. He retires himself, and invites her with him, from the mountains of
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terror to those of delight,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:6,8">ver. 6, 8</A>.
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III. He professes his love to her and his delight in her affection to
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him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:9-14">ver. 9-14</A>.
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IV. She ascribes all she had that was valuable in her to him, and
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depends upon the continued influence of his grace to make her more and
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more acceptable to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:15,16">ver. 15, 16</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="So4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="So4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="So4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="So4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="So4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="So4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="So4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Beauty of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Behold, thou <I>art</I> fair, my love; behold, thou <I>art</I> fair;
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thou <I>hast</I> doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair <I>is</I> as a
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flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
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2 Thy teeth <I>are</I> like a flock <I>of sheep that are even</I> shorn,
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which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and
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none <I>is</I> barren among them.
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3 Thy lips <I>are</I> like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech <I>is</I>
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comely: thy temples <I>are</I> like a piece of a pomegranate within
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thy locks.
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4 Thy neck <I>is</I> like the tower of David builded for an armoury,
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whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty
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men.
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5 Thy two breasts <I>are</I> like two young roes that are twins,
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which feed among the lilies.
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6 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me
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to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
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7 Thou <I>art</I> all fair, my love; <I>there is</I> no spot in thee.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. A large and particular account of the beauties of the church, and of
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gracious souls on whom the image of God is renewed, consisting <I>in
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the beauty of holiness.</I> In general, he that is a competent judge of
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beauty, whose <I>judgment,</I> we are sure, <I>is according to
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truth,</I> and what all must subscribe to, he has said, <I>Behold, thou
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art fair.</I> She had commended him, and called all about her to take
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notice of his glories; and hereby she recommends herself to him, gains
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his favour, and, in return for her respects, he calls to all about him
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to take notice of her graces. Those that honour Christ he will honour,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:30">1 Sam. ii. 30</A>.</P>
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<P>
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1. He does not flatter her, nor design hereby either to make her proud
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of herself or to court her praises of him; but,
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(1.) It is to encourage her under her present dejections. Whatever
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others thought of her, she was amiable in his eyes.
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(2.) It is to teach her what to value herself upon, not any external
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advantages (which would add nothing to her, and the want of which would
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deprive her of nothing that was really excellent), but upon the
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comeliness of grace which he had put upon her.
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(3.) It is to invite others to think well of her too, and to join
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themselves to her: "Thou art <I>my love,</I> thou lovest me and art
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beloved of me, and therefore <I>thou art fair.</I>" All the beauty of
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the saints is derived from him, and they shine by reflecting his light;
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it is <I>the beauty of the Lord our God</I> that is <I>upon us,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+90:17">Ps. xc. 17</A>.
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She was espoused to him, and that made her beautiful. <I>Uxor fulget
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radiis mariti</I>--<I>The spouse shines in her husband's rays.</I> It
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it repeated, <I>Thou art fair,</I> and again, <I>Thou art fair,</I>
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denoting not only the certainty of it, but the pleasure he took in
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speaking of it.</P>
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<P>
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2. As to the representation here made of the beauty of the church, the
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images are certainly very bright, the shades are strong, and the
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comparisons bold, not proper indeed to represent any external beauty,
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for they were not designed to do so, but <I>the beauty of holiness, the
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new man, the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
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corruptible.</I> Seven particulars are specified, a number of
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perfection, for the church is enriched with manifold graces by <I>the
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seven spirits</I> that <I>are before the throne,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:4,1Co+1:5,7">Rev. i. 4; 1 Cor. i. 5, 7</A>.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) Her <I>eyes.</I> A good eye contributes much to a beauty: <I>Thou
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hast doves' eyes,</I> clear and chaste, and often cast up towards
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heaven. It is not the eagle's eye, that can face the sun, but the
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<I>dove's eye,</I> a humble, modest, mournful eye, that is the praise
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of those whom Christ loves. Ministers are the church's eyes
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+52:8">Isa. lii. 8</A>,
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<I>thy watchmen shall see eye to eye</I>); they must be like <I>doves'
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eyes,</I> harmless and inoffensive
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:16">Matt. x. 16</A>),
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having their <I>conversation in the world in simplicity and godly
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sincerity.</I> Wisdom and knowledge are the eyes of the new man; they
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must be clear, but not haughty, <I>not exercised in things too high for
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us.</I> When our aims and intentions are sincere and honest, then we
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have <I>doves' eyes,</I> when we look not unto <I>idols</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+18:6">Ezek. xviii. 6</A>),
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but have <I>our eyes ever towards the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+25:15">Ps. xxv. 15</A>.
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The <I>doves' eyes are within the locks,</I> which area as a shade upon
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them, so that,
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[1.] They cannot fully see. As long as we are here in this world we
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<I>know but in part,</I> for a hair hangs in our eyes; <I>we cannot
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order our speech by reason of darkness;</I> death will shortly cut
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those locks, and then we shall see all things clearly.
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[2.] They cannot be fully seen, but as the stars through the thin
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clouds. Some make it to intimate the bashfulness of her looks; she
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suffers not her eyes to wander, but limits them with her locks.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) Her <I>hair;</I> it is compared to <I>a flock of goats,</I> which
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looked white, and were, on the top of the mountains, like a fine head
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of hair; and the sight was more pleasant to the spectator because the
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goats have not only gravity from their beards, but they are <I>comely
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in going</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+30:29">Prov. xxx. 29</A>),
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but it was most pleasant of all to the owner, much of whose riches
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consisted in his flocks. Christ puts a value upon that in the church,
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and in believers, which others make no more account of than of their
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hair. He told his disciples that <I>the very hairs of their head were
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all numbered,</I> as carefully as men number their flocks
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:30">Matt. x. 30</A>),
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and that <I>not a hair of their head should perish,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:18">Luke xxi. 18</A>.
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Some by the <I>hair</I> here understand the outward conversation of a
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believer, which ought to be comely, and decent, and agreeable to the
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holiness of the heart. The apostle opposes good works, such as become
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the professors of godliness, to <I>the plaiting of the hair,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+2:9,10">1 Tim. ii. 9, 10</A>.
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Mary Magdalen's hair was beautiful when she wiped the feet of Christ
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with it.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) Her <I>teeth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Ministers are the church's teeth; like nurses, they chew the meat for
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the babes of Christ. The Chaldee paraphrase applies it to the priests
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and Levites, who fed upon the sacrifices as the representatives of the
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people. Faith, by which we feed upon Christ, meditation, by which we
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ruminate on the word and chew the cud upon what we have heard, in order
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to the digesting of it, are the teeth of the new man. These are here
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compared to <I>a flock of sheep.</I> Christ called his disciples and
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ministers a <I>little flock.</I> It is the praise of teeth to be
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<I>even,</I> to be white, and kept clean, <I>like sheep from the
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washing,</I> and to be firm and well fixed in the gums, and not like
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sheep that cast their young; for so the word signifies which we
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translate <I>barren.</I> It is the praise of ministers to be even in
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mutual love and concord, to be pure and clean from all moral
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pollutions, and to be fruitful, bringing forth souls to Christ, and
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nursing his lambs.</P>
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<P>
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(4.) Her <I>lips;</I> these are compared to <I>a thread of scarlet,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Red lips are comely, and a sign of health, as the paleness of the lips
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is a sign of faintness and weakness; her <I>lips</I> were the colour
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<I>of scarlet,</I> but thin <I>lips, like a thread of scarlet.</I> The
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next words explain it: <I>Thy speech is comely,</I> always with grace,
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<I>good,</I> and <I>to the use of edifying,</I> which adds much to the
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beauty of a Christian. When we praise God with <I>our lips, and with
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the mouth make confession</I> of him <I>to salvation,</I> then they are
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as a <I>thread of scarlet.</I> All our good works and good words must
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be <I>washed in the blood of Christ,</I> dyed like the <I>scarlet
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thread,</I> and then, and not till then, they are acceptable to God.
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The Chaldee applies it to the chief priest, and his prayers for Israel
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on the day of atonement.</P>
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<P>
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(5.) Her <I>temples,</I> or cheeks, which are here compared to <I>a
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piece of a pomegranate,</I> a fruit which, when cut in two, has rich
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veins or specks in it, like a blush in the face. Humility and modesty,
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blushing to lift up our faces before God, blushing at the remembrance
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of sin and in a sense of our unworthiness of the honour put upon us,
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will beautify us very much in the eyes of Christ. The blushes of
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Christ's bride are <I>within her locks,</I> which intimates (says Mr.
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Durham) that she blushes when no other sees, and for that which none
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sees but God and conscience; also that she seeks not to proclaim her
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humility, but modestly covers that too; yet the evidences of all these,
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in a tender walk, appear and are comely.</P>
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<P>
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(6.) Her <I>neck;</I> this is here compared to <I>the tower of
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David,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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This is generally applied to the grace of faith, by which we are united
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to Christ, as the body is united to the head by the neck; this <I>is
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like the tower of David,</I> furnishing us with weapons of war,
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especially <I>bucklers</I> and <I>shields,</I> as the soldiers were
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supplied with them out of that tower, for <I>faith</I> is our
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<I>shield</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:16">Eph. vi. 16</A>):
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those that have it never want a <I>buckler,</I> for God will compass
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them <I>with his favour as with a shield.</I> When this <I>neck is like
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a tower,</I> straight, and stately, and strong, a Christian goes on in
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his way, and works with courage and magnanimity, and does not hang a
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drooping head, and he does when faith fails. Some make the <I>shields
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of the mighty men,</I> that are here said to hang up in <I>the tower of
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David,</I> to be the monuments of the valour of David's worthies. Their
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shields were preserved, to keep in remembrance them and their heroic
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acts, intimating that it is a great encouragement to the saints to hold
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up their heads, to see what great things the saints in all ages have
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accomplished and won by faith. In
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:1-40">Heb. xi.</A>
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we have the <I>shields of</I> the <I>mighty men</I> hung up, the
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exploits of believers and the trophies of their victories.</P>
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<P>
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(7.) Her <I>breasts;</I> these are <I>like two young roes that are
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twins,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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The church's breasts are both for ornament
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+16:7">Ezek. xvi. 7</A>)
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and for use; they are the <I>breasts of her consolation</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:11">
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Isa. lxvi. 11</A>),
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as she is said to <I>suck the breasts of kings,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:16">Isa. lx. 16</A>.
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Some apply these to the two Testaments; others to the two sacraments,
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the seals of the covenant of grace; others to ministers, who are to be
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spiritual nurses to the children of God and to give out to them the
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<I>sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby,</I> and, in
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order to that, are themselves to <I>feed among the lilies</I> where
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Christ feeds
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+2:16"><I>ch.</I> ii. 16</A>),
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that they may be to the babes of the church as full breasts. Or the
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breasts of a believer are his love to Christ, which he is pleased with,
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as a tender husband is with the affections of his wife, who is
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therefore said to be to him <I>as the loving hind and the pleasant
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roe,</I> because <I>her breasts satisfy him at all times,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+5:19">Prov. v. 19</A>.
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This includes also his edifying others and communicating grace to them,
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which adds much to a Christian's beauty.</P>
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<P>
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II. The bridegroom's resolution hereupon to retire <I>to the mountain
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of myrrh</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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and there to make his residence. This <I>mountain of myrrh</I> is
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supposed to signify Mount Moriah, on which the temple was built, where
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incense was daily burnt to the honour of God. Christ was so pleased
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with the beauty of his church that he chose this to be his rest for
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ever; here he will dwell <I>till the day break and the shadows flee
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away.</I> Christ's parting promise to his disciples, as the
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representatives of the church, answer to this: <I>Lo, I am with you
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always, even to the end of the world.</I> Where the ordinances of God
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are duly administered there Christ will be, and there we must meet him
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at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Some make these to be the
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words of the spouse, either modestly ashamed of the praises given her,
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and willing to get out of the hearing of them, or desirous to be
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constant to the holy hill, not doubting but there to find suitable and
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|
sufficient succour and relief in all her straits, and there to cast
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anchor, and wish for the day, which, at the time appointed, would
|
|
<I>break and the shadows flee away.</I> The holy hill (as some observe)
|
|
is here called both a <I>mountain of myrrh,</I> which is bitter, and a
|
|
<I>hill of frankincense,</I> which is sweet, for there we have occasion
|
|
both to mourn and rejoice; repentance is a bitter sweet. But in heaven
|
|
it will be all frankincense, and no myrrh. Prayer is compared to
|
|
incense, and Christ will meet his praying people and will bless
|
|
them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. His repeated commendation of the beauty of the spouse
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou art all fair, my love.</I> He had said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou art fair;</I> but here he goes further, and, in review of the
|
|
particulars, as of those of the creation, he pronounces <I>all very
|
|
good:</I> "<I>Thou art all fair, my love;</I> thou art all over
|
|
beautiful, and there is nothing amiss in thee, and thou hast all
|
|
beauties in thee; thou art <I>sanctified wholly</I> in every part;
|
|
<I>all things have become new</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:17">2 Cor. v. 17</A>);
|
|
|
|
there is not only a new face and a new name, but a new man, a new
|
|
nature; <I>there is no spot in thee,</I> as far as thou art renewed."
|
|
The spiritual sacrifices must be without blemish. <I>There is no
|
|
spot</I> but such as is often the spot of God's children, none of the
|
|
leopard's spots. The church, when Christ shall present it to himself a
|
|
glorious church, will be altogether <I>without spot or wrinkle,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+5:27">Eph. v. 27</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="So4_8"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="So4_9"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="So4_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="So4_11"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="So4_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="So4_13"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="So4_14"> </A>
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|
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|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Love of Christ to the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
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</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>8 Come with me from Lebanon, <I>my</I> spouse, with me from Lebanon:
|
|
look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon,
|
|
from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
|
|
9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, <I>my</I> spouse; thou
|
|
hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of
|
|
thy neck.
|
|
10 How fair is thy love, my sister, <I>my</I> spouse! how much
|
|
better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments
|
|
than all spices!
|
|
11 Thy lips, O <I>my</I> spouse, drop <I>as</I> the honeycomb: honey and
|
|
milk <I>are</I> under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments <I>is</I>
|
|
like the smell of Lebanon.
|
|
12 A garden inclosed <I>is</I> my sister, <I>my</I> spouse; a spring shut
|
|
up, a fountain sealed.
|
|
13 Thy plants <I>are</I> an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant
|
|
fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
|
|
14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees
|
|
of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
These are still the words of Christ to his church, expressing his great
|
|
esteem of her and affection to her, the opinion he had of her beauty
|
|
and excellency, the desire he had of, and the delight he had in, her
|
|
converse and society. And so ought men to love their wives as Christ
|
|
loves the church, and takes pleasure in it as if it were spotless and
|
|
had no fault, when yet it is compassed with infirmity. Now, observe
|
|
here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The endearing names and titles by which he calls her, to express his
|
|
love to her, to assure her of it, and to engage and excite her love to
|
|
him. Twice here he calls her <I>My spouse</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:8,11"><I>v.</I> 8, 11</A>)
|
|
|
|
and three times <I>My sister, my spouse,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:9,10,12"><I>v.</I> 9, 10, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Mention was made
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+3:11"><I>ch.</I> iii. 11</A>)
|
|
|
|
of <I>the day of his espousals,</I> and, after that, she is called his
|
|
<I>spouse,</I> not before. Note, There is a marriage-covenant between
|
|
Christ and his church, between Christ and every true believer. Christ
|
|
calls his church his <I>spouse,</I> and his calling her so makes her
|
|
so. "I have betrothed thee unto me for ever; and, as the bridegroom
|
|
rejoices over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." He is not
|
|
ashamed to own the relation, but, as becomes a kind and tender husband,
|
|
he speaks affectionately to her, and calls her his <I>spouse,</I> which
|
|
cannot but strongly engage her to be faithful to him. Nay, because no
|
|
one relation among men is sufficient to set forth Christ's love to his
|
|
church, and to show that all this must be understood spiritually, he
|
|
owns her in two relations, which among men are incompatible, <I>My
|
|
sister, my spouse.</I> Abraham's saying of Sarah, <I>She is my
|
|
sister,</I> was interpreted as a denying of her to be his wife; but
|
|
Christ's church is to him both a <I>sister</I> and a <I>spouse,</I> as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+12:50">Matt. xii. 50</A>,
|
|
|
|
a <I>sister and mother.</I> His calling her <I>sister</I> is grounded
|
|
upon his taking our nature upon him in his incarnation, and his making
|
|
us partakers of his nature in our sanctification. He clothed himself
|
|
with a <I>body</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:14">Heb. ii. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he clothes believers with his <I>Spirit</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:17">1 Cor. vi. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
and so they become his <I>sisters.</I> They are children of God his
|
|
Father
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:18">2 Cor. vi. 18</A>)
|
|
|
|
and so they become his <I>sisters;</I> he that sanctifies, and those
|
|
that are sanctified, are all of one
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:11">Heb. ii. 11</A>);
|
|
|
|
and he owns them, and loves them, as his sisters.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The gracious call he gives her to come along with him as a faithful
|
|
bride, that must forget her own people and her father's house, and
|
|
leave all to cleave to him. <I>Ubi tu Caius, ibi ego Caia</I>--<I>Where
|
|
thou Caius art, I Caia will be. Come with me from Lebanon,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. It is a precept; so we take it, like that
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+2:10,13"><I>ch.</I> ii. 10, 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Rise up, and come away.</I> All that have by faith come to Christ
|
|
must come with Christ, in holy obedience to him and compliance with
|
|
him. Being joined to him, we must walk with him. This is his command to
|
|
us daily: "<I>Come with me, my spouse;</I> come with me to God as a
|
|
Father; come with me onward, heavenward; come forward with me; come up
|
|
with me; <I>come with me from Lebanon, from the top of Amana, from the
|
|
lions' dens.</I>" These mountains are to be considered,
|
|
|
|
(1.) As seemingly delightful places. Lebanon is called <I>that goodly
|
|
mountain,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+3:25">Deut. iii. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
We read of the <I>glory of Lebanon</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:2">Isa. xxxv. 2</A>)
|
|
|
|
and its goodly smell,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+14:6">Hos. xiv. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
We read of the pleasant <I>dew of Hermon</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+133:3">Ps. cxxxiii. 3</A>)
|
|
|
|
and the <I>joy of Hermon</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:12">Ps. lxxxix. 12</A>);
|
|
|
|
and we may suppose the other mountains here mentioned to be pleasant
|
|
ones, and so this is Christ's call to his spouse to come off from the
|
|
world, all its products, all its pleasures, to sit loose to all the
|
|
delights of sense. All those must do so that would come with Christ;
|
|
they must take their affections off from all present things; yea,
|
|
though they be placed at the upper end of the world, on <I>the top of
|
|
Amana</I> and <I>the top of Shenir,</I> though they enjoy the highest
|
|
satisfactions the creature can propose to give, yet they must <I>come
|
|
away</I> from them all, and live above the tops of the highest hills on
|
|
earth, that they may have <I>their conversation in heaven. Come
|
|
from</I> those mountains, to go along with Christ to the holy mountain,
|
|
the <I>mountain of myrrh,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Even while we have our residence on these mountains, yet we must look
|
|
for them, look above them. Shall we <I>lift up our eyes to the
|
|
hills?</I> No; <I>our help comes from the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+121:1,2">Ps. cxxi. 1, 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
We must look beyond them, to <I>the things that are not seen</I> (as
|
|
these high hills are), that <I>are eternal.</I> <I>From the tops of
|
|
Shenir and Hermon,</I> which were on the other side Jordan, as from
|
|
Pisgah, they could see the land of Canaan; from this world we must look
|
|
forward to the better country.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They are to be considered as really dangerous. These hills indeed
|
|
are pleasant enough, but there are in them <I>lions' dens;</I> they are
|
|
<I>mountains of the leopards,</I> mountains of prey, though they seem
|
|
<I>glorious and excellent,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+76:4">Ps. lxxvi. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
Satan, that <I>roaring lion,</I> in the <I>prince of this world;</I> in
|
|
the things of it he lies in wait to devour. On the tops of these
|
|
mountains there are many dangerous temptations to those who would take
|
|
up their residence in them; and therefore <I>come with me from</I>
|
|
them; let us not set our hearts upon the things of this world, and then
|
|
they can do us no hurt. <I>Come with me from</I> the temples of
|
|
idolaters, and the societies of wicked people (so some understand it);
|
|
<I>come out from among them, and be you separate. Come from</I> under
|
|
the dominion of your own lusts, which are as <I>lions</I> and
|
|
<I>leopards,</I> fierce upon us, and making us fierce.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. It may be taken as a promise: Thou shalt <I>come with me from
|
|
Lebanon, from the lions' dens;</I> that is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) "Many shall be brought home to me, as living members of the
|
|
church, from every point, from Lebanon in the north, Amana in the west,
|
|
Hermon in the east, Shenir in the south, from all parts, to <I>sit down
|
|
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+8:11">Matt. viii. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:11,12">Isa. xlix. 11, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some <I>from the tops of</I> these mountains, some of the great men of
|
|
this world, shall give themselves to Christ.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The church shall be delivered from her persecutors, in due time;
|
|
though now she <I>dwells among lions</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+57:4">Ps. lvii. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
Christ will take her with himself from among their dens.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The great delight Christ takes in his church and in all believers.
|
|
He delights in them,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. As in an agreeable bride, <I>adorned for her husband</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:2">Rev. xxi. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
who <I>greatly desires her beauty,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+45:11">Ps. xlv. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
No expressions of love can be more passionate than these here, in which
|
|
Christ manifests his affection to his church; and yet that great proof
|
|
of his love, his dying for it, that he might present it to himself a
|
|
glorious church, goes far beyond them all. A spouse so dearly bought
|
|
and paid for could not but be dearly loved. Such a price being given
|
|
for her, a high value must needs be put upon her accordingly; and both
|
|
together may well set us a wondering at <I>the height and depth, and
|
|
length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which surpasses
|
|
knowledge,</I> that love in which he <I>gave himself for us</I> and
|
|
gives himself to us. Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) How he is affected towards his spouse: <I>Thou hast ravished my
|
|
heart;</I> the word is used only here. <I>Thou hast hearted me,</I> or
|
|
<I>Thou has unhearted me.</I> New words are coined to express the
|
|
inexpressibleness of Christ's surprising love to his church; and the
|
|
strength of that love is set forth by that which is a weakness in men,
|
|
the being so much in love with one object as to be heartless to every
|
|
thing else. This may refer to that love which Christ had to the chosen
|
|
remnant, before the worlds were, when <I>his delights were with the
|
|
sons of men</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:31">Prov. viii. 31</A>),
|
|
|
|
that first love, which brought him from heaven to earth, to <I>seek and
|
|
save</I> them at such vast expense, yet including the complacency he
|
|
takes in them when he has brought them to himself. Note, Christ's heart
|
|
is upon his church; so it has appeared all along. His treasure is in
|
|
it; it is his <I>peculiar treasure</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+19:5">Exod. xix. 5</A>);
|
|
|
|
and therefore there his heart is also. "Never was love like unto the
|
|
love of Christ, which made him even mindless of himself, when he
|
|
emptied himself of his glory, and despised all shame and pain, for our
|
|
sakes. The wound of love towards us, which he had from eternity in
|
|
himself, made him neglect all the wounds and reproaches of the cross;"
|
|
so Bishop Reynolds. Thus let us love him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) What it is that thus affects him with delight.
|
|
|
|
[1.] The regard she has to him: <I>Thou hast ravished my heart with one
|
|
of thy eyes,</I> those <I>doves' eyes,</I> clear and chaste (which were
|
|
commended,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
with one glance of those eyes. Christ is wonderfully pleased with those
|
|
that look unto him as their Saviour, and through the eye of faith dart
|
|
their affections to him, above any rival whatsoever, and whose <I>eyes
|
|
are ever towards him;</I> he is soon aware of the first look of a soul
|
|
towards him and meets it with his favours.
|
|
|
|
[2.] The ornaments she has from him, that is, the obedience she yields
|
|
to him, for that is the <I>chain of her neck,</I> the graces that
|
|
enrich her soul, which are connected as links in chain, the exercise of
|
|
these graces in a conversation which adorns both herself and the
|
|
doctrine of Jesus Christ, which she professes to believe (as a gold
|
|
chain is an ornament to persons of quality), and an entire submission
|
|
to the commanding power of his love. Having shaken off the <I>bands of
|
|
our neck,</I> by which we were tied to this world
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+52:2">Isa. lii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>the yoke of our transgressions,</I> we are bound with the
|
|
<I>cords of love,</I> as <I>chains of gold,</I> to Jesus Christ, and
|
|
our necks are brought under his sweet and easy yoke, to drawn in it.
|
|
This recommends us to Jesus Christ, for this is that true wisdom which,
|
|
in his account, is <I>an ornament of grace unto the head and chains
|
|
about the neck,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:9">Prov. i. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] The affection she has for him: <I>How fair is thy love!</I> how
|
|
beautiful is it! Not only thy love itself, but all the fruits and
|
|
products of it, its working in the heart, its works in the life. How
|
|
well does it become a believer thus to love Christ, and what a pleasure
|
|
does Christ take in it! Nothing recommends us to Christ as this does.
|
|
<I>How much better is thy love than wine,</I> than all the wine that
|
|
was poured out to the Lord in the drink-offerings! Hence the fruit of
|
|
the vine is said to <I>cheer God and man,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:13">Judges ix. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
She had said of Christ's love, <I>It is better than wine</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+1:2"><I>ch.</I> i. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and now Christ says so of hers; there is nothing lost by praising
|
|
Christ, nor will he be behindhand with his friends in kindness.
|
|
|
|
[4.] The ointments, the odours wherewith she is perfumed, the gifts and
|
|
graces of the Spirit, her good works, which are <I>an odour of a sweet
|
|
smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:18">Phil. iv. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>The smell of thy ointment</I> is better <I>than all spices,</I> such
|
|
as the queen of Sheba presented to Solomon, camel-loads of them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+10:2">1 Kings x. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
or, rather, than all the spices that were used in compounding the holy
|
|
incense which was burned daily on the golden altar. Love and obedience
|
|
to God are more pleasing to Christ than sacrifice or incense. <I>The
|
|
smell of her garments</I> too, the visible profession she makes of
|
|
religion, and relation to Christ, before men, and wherein she appears
|
|
to the world, this is very grateful to Christ, as <I>the smell of
|
|
Lebanon.</I> Christ having put upon his spouse the <I>white raiment</I>
|
|
of his own righteousness
|
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:18">Rev. iii. 18</A>),
|
|
|
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and <I>the righteousness of saints</I>
|
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+19:8">Rev. xix. 8</A>),
|
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|
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and this perfumed with holy joy and comfort, he is well pleased with
|
|
it.
|
|
|
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[5.] Her words, both in her devotion to God and her discourses with men
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
|
|
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<I>Thy lips O my spouse! drop as the honeycomb,</I> drop that which is
|
|
very sweet, and drop it freely and plentifully. If what God speaks to
|
|
us be <I>sweeter</I> to us <I>than the honey and the honeycomb</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+19:10">Ps. xix. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
what we say to him in prayer and praise shall also be pleasing to him:
|
|
<I>Sweet is thy voice.</I> And if <I>out of a good treasure</I> in the
|
|
<I>heart</I> we <I>bring forth good things,</I> if our <I>speech be
|
|
always with grace,</I> if our <I>lips use knowledge aright,</I> if they
|
|
<I>disperse knowledge,</I> they then, in Christ's account, even <I>drop
|
|
the honeycomb,</I> out-drop it. <I>Honey and milk</I> (the two staple
|
|
commodities of Canaan) <I>are under thy tongue;</I> that is, in thy
|
|
heart, not only reserved there for thy own use as a sweet morsel for
|
|
thyself, but ready there for the use of others. In the word of God
|
|
there is sweet and wholesome nourishment, milk for babes, honey for
|
|
those that are grown up. Christ is well-pleased with those that are
|
|
full of his word.</P>
|
|
|
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<P>
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|
|
|
2. As in a pleasant garden. And well may a very great delight be
|
|
compared to the delight taken in a garden, when the happiness of Adam
|
|
in innocency was represented by the putting of him into a garden, a
|
|
garden of pleasure. This comparison is pursued,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:12-14"><I>v.</I> 12-14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The church is fitly compared to a <I>garden,</I> to a garden which, as
|
|
was usual, had <I>a fountain</I> in it. Where Solomon made himself
|
|
<I>gardens</I> and <I>orchards</I> he made himself <I>pools of
|
|
water</I>
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+2:5,6">Eccl. ii. 5, 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
not only for curiosity and diversion, in water-works, but for use, to
|
|
<I>water the gardens.</I> Eden was <I>well watered,</I>
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+2:10,13:10">Gen. ii. 10; xiii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The peculiarity of this garden: It is <I>a garden enclosed,</I> a
|
|
paradise separated from the common earth. It is appropriated to God; he
|
|
has <I>set it apart for himself;</I> Israel is God's portion, the lot
|
|
of his inheritance. It is enclosed for secresy; the saints are God's
|
|
hidden ones, therefore <I>the world knows them not;</I> Christ walks in
|
|
his garden unseen. It is enclosed for safety; a hedge of protection is
|
|
made about it, which all the powers of darkness cannot either find or
|
|
make a gap in. God's vineyard is <I>fenced</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+5:2">Isa. v. 2</A>);
|
|
|
|
there is a wall about it, a wall of fire. It has a spring in it, and a
|
|
fountain, but it is <I>a spring shut up</I> and <I>a fountain
|
|
sealed,</I> which sends its streams <I>abroad</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+5:16">Prov. v. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
but is itself carefully locked up, that it may not by any injurious
|
|
hand be muddied or polluted. The souls of believers are as <I>gardens
|
|
enclosed;</I> grace in them is as <I>a spring shut up</I> there in
|
|
<I>the hidden man of the heart,</I> where the water that Christ gives
|
|
is <I>a well of living water,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:14,7:38">John iv. 14; vii. 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Old-Testament church was <I>a garden enclosed</I> by the partition
|
|
wall of the ceremonial law. The Bible was then a <I>spring shut up</I>
|
|
and <I>a fountain sealed;</I> it was confined to one nation; but now
|
|
the wall of separation is removed, the gospel preached to every nation,
|
|
and <I>in Jesus Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The products of this garden. It is as the garden of Eden, where
|
|
<I>the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight
|
|
and good for food,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+2:9">Gen. ii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Thy plants,</I> or plantations, <I>are an orchard of pomegranates
|
|
with pleasant fruits,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is not like <I>the vineyard of the man void of understanding,</I>
|
|
that was <I>all grown over with thorns and nettles;</I> but here are
|
|
<I>fruits, pleasant fruits, all trees of frankincense,</I> and <I>all
|
|
the chief spices,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here is a great plenty of fruits and great variety, nothing wanting
|
|
which might either beautify or enrich this garden, might make it either
|
|
delightful or serviceable to its great Lord. Every thing here is the
|
|
best of the kind. Their <I>chief spices</I> were much more valuable,
|
|
because much more durable, than the choicest of our flowers. Solomon
|
|
was a great master in botany as well as other parts of natural
|
|
philosophy; he treated largely of trees
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+4:33">1 Kings iv. 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
and perhaps had reference to some specific qualities of the fruits here
|
|
specified, which made them very fit for the purpose for which he
|
|
alludes to them; but we must be content to observe, in general, the
|
|
saints in the church, and graces in the saints, are very fitly compared
|
|
to these <I>fruits and spices;</I> for,
|
|
|
|
[1.] They are planted, and do not grow of themselves; <I>the trees of
|
|
righteousness</I> are the <I>planting of the Lord</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:3">Isa. lxi. 3</A>);
|
|
|
|
grace springs from an incorruptible seed.
|
|
|
|
[2.] They are precious and of high value; hence we read of the
|
|
<I>precious sons of Zion</I> and their <I>precious faith;</I> they are
|
|
<I>plants of renown.</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] They are pleasant, and of a sweet savour to God and man, and, as
|
|
strong aromatics, diffuse their fragrancy.
|
|
|
|
[4.] They are profitable and of great use. Saints are the blessings of
|
|
this earth, and their graces are their riches, with which they trade as
|
|
the merchants of the east with their spices.
|
|
|
|
[5.] They are permanent, and will be preserved to good purpose, when
|
|
flowers are withered and good for nothing. Grace, ripened into glory,
|
|
will last for ever.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="So4_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="So4_16"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Love of the Church to Christ.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams
|
|
from Lebanon.
|
|
16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my
|
|
garden, <I>that</I> the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved
|
|
come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
These seem to be the words of the spouse, the church, in answer to the
|
|
commendations which Christ, the bridegroom, had given of her as a
|
|
pleasant fruitful garden. Is she a garden?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. She owns her dependence upon Christ himself to make this garden
|
|
fruitful. To him she has an eye
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
as the <I>fountain of gardens,</I> not only the founder of them, by
|
|
whom they are planted and to whom they owe their being, but the
|
|
fountain of them, by which they are watered and to which they own their
|
|
continuance and well-being, and without whose constant supplies they
|
|
would soon become like the dry and barren wilderness. To him she gives
|
|
all the glory of her fruitfulness, as being nothing with out him: <I>O
|
|
fountain of gardens!</I> fountain of all good, of all grace, do not
|
|
thou fail me. Does a believer say to the church, <I>All my springs are
|
|
in thee,</I> in thee, O Zion?
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:7">Ps. lxxxvii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
the church transmits the praise to Christ, and says to him, <I>All my
|
|
springs are in thee;</I> thou art <I>the well of living waters</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+2:13">Jer. ii. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
out of which flow the <I>streams of Lebanon,</I> the river Jordan,
|
|
which had its rise at the foot of Mount Lebanon, and the waters of the
|
|
sanctuary, which issued out <I>from under the threshold of the
|
|
house,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+47:1">Ezek. xlvii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that are gardens to Christ must acknowledge him a fountain to
|
|
them, from whose fulness they receive and to whom it is owing that
|
|
their souls are as <I>a watered garden,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:12">Jer. xxxi. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>The city of God</I> on earth is made <I>glad</I> with the
|
|
<I>river</I> that flows from this fountain
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:4">Ps. xlvi. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
and the new Jerusalem has its <I>pure river of water of life proceeding
|
|
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:1">Rev. xxii. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. She implores the influences of the blessed Spirit to make this
|
|
garden fragrant
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Awake, O north wind! and come, thou south.</I> This is a prayer,
|
|
|
|
1. For the church in general, that there may be a plentiful effusion of
|
|
the Spirit upon it, in order to its flourishing estate. Ministers'
|
|
gifts are <I>the spices;</I> when the Spirit is poured out these flow
|
|
forth, and then <I>the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:15">Isa. xxxii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
This prayer was answered in the pouring out of the Spirit on <I>the day
|
|
of pentecost</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:1">Acts ii. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
ushered in by a <I>mighty wind;</I> then the apostles, who were bound
|
|
up before, flowed forth, and were <I>a sweet savour to God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+2:15">2 Cor. ii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. For particular believers. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Sanctified souls are as gardens, gardens of the Lord, enclosed for
|
|
him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Graces in the soul are as spices in these gardens, that in them
|
|
which is valuable and useful.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is very desirable that the spices of grace should flow forth
|
|
both in pious and devout affections and in holy gracious actions, that
|
|
with them we may honour God, adorn our profession, and do that which
|
|
will be grateful to good men.
|
|
|
|
(4.) The blessed Spirit, in his operations upon the soul, is as the
|
|
<I>north and the south wind,</I> which <I>blows where it listeth,</I>
|
|
and from several points,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:8">John iii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
There is the north wind of convictions, and the south wind of comforts;
|
|
but all, like the wind, brought <I>out of God's treasuries</I> and
|
|
<I>fulfilling his word.</I>
|
|
|
|
(5.) The flowing forth of the spices of grace depends upon the gales of
|
|
the Spirit; he stirs up good affections, and works in us both to will
|
|
and to do that which is good; it is he that makes manifest the savour
|
|
of his knowledge by us.
|
|
|
|
(6.) We ought therefore to wait upon the Spirit of grace for his
|
|
quickening influences, to pray for them, and to lay our souls under
|
|
them. God has promised to give us his Spirit, but he will for this be
|
|
enquired of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. She invites Christ to the best entertainment the garden affords:
|
|
"<I>Let my beloved</I> then <I>come into his garden and eat his
|
|
pleasant fruits;</I> let him have the honour of all the products of the
|
|
garden (it is fit he should), and let me have the comfort of his
|
|
acceptance of them, for that is the best account they can be made to
|
|
turn to." Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. She calls it <I>his</I> garden; for those that are espoused to
|
|
Christ call nothing their own, but what they have devoted to him and
|
|
desire to be used for him. When the spices flow forth then it is fit to
|
|
be called his garden, and not till then. The fruits of the garden are
|
|
his pleasant fruits, for he planted them, watered them, and gave the
|
|
increase. What can we pretend to merit at Christ's hands when we can
|
|
invite him to nothing but what is his own already?
|
|
|
|
2. She begs he would visit it, and accept of what it produced. The
|
|
believer can take little pleasure in his garden, unless Christ, the
|
|
beloved of his soul, come to him, nor have any joy of the fruits of it,
|
|
unless they redound some way or other to the glory of Christ, and he
|
|
will think all he has well bestowed upon him.</P>
|
|
|
|
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