illustration is one which specially requires to be handled wilti reverence, decency, and discretion.
The "bride," in the ver^e, signifies the whole company of believers, the Lamb's wile. (Rev. xxi. 9.) The " bridegroom " ia the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The "friend of the bridegroom'' means John the Baptist, and all other faithful ministers of Christ. According to the marriage-customs of the Jews, there were cer- tain persons called the bridegroom's /rienc^s, who were the means of communication between him and the bride before the mar- riage. Their duty was simply to set forwatd and promote the bridegroom's interests, and to remove all obstacles, as far as pos- sible, to a speedy union of the parties. To accomplish this end and promote a thoroughly good understanding between the bride an I brid groom was their sole office. If they saw the bridegroom's suit prospering, and at last saw him received favourably and gladly by the bride, their end was accomplished and their work was done. To all this John the Baptist makes allusion in the verse now before us. He tells his disciples that his sole work was to set forward and promote a good under- standing between Christ and men. If he saw that work pros- periiig he was thankful and would rejoice, even though the result was that his own personal importance was diminished. He would have his disciples know that the growing popularity of Christ which oflfended them, was the very thing which he longed to see. He had no greater joy than to hear of the voice of Christ, the bridegroom, being listened to by believers, the bride. It was the very thing for which he had been preaching and ministering, His " joy was fulfilled."
The word " hath " means " possesses as his own." Possession of the bride, as " bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh," is the peculiar prerogative of the bridegroom. (Gen. ii. 23.) With this his friends have nothing to do.
The expression " standeth," must probably not be pressed too far. • Some think that it is taken from the position occupied by the bridegroom's friends on the day when the bridegroom was first formally introduced to the bride. They stood at a respect- ful distance and looked on. The expression certainly implies inferiority. St. Paul says that the Jewish priests ^^ stand" daily ministering, but Christ ^'sat down" on the right hand of God. (Heb. X. 12.)
The expression *' heareth the bridegroom's voice," like the last, is one that must not be pressed too far. It is a part of the drapery of the illustration. When report was brought to John the Baptist, that Jesus Christ's ministry was accepted by some, and that He found favour with many disciples, then was fulfilled what is here miant. John ''heard the bridegroom's voice," and