' Gen. xlix. 10; Nuinl). xxiv. 17, If); Ps. ii. 1-9, Ixx.xix. 19-2.'), ex. 1-.3; Isa. xi. 1, 4, xxxii. I, 2, liii. 12, Ixiii. 1-3; .Jer. xxiii. 5, (J; Dan. vii. 13, 14; Luko ii. 11. xix. 38; Joim v. 22, 23; Acts ii. 34-36, v. 31; Piiil. ii. 9-11 ; Epii.i. 20^22 ; Rev. V. 12-14, xix. 16. = Isa. Ixiii. 3. = Ps. ex. 6; Rev. xix. 20.
« Heb. i. 3 ; Eph. i.22; Matt, xxviii. 18 ; Pliil. ii. 10, 11 ; Rev. xix. 16; Ps. xlv., Ixviii.; Dan. vii. 10
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 71
vengeance, and certain destruction towards the rebellious angels and men; glorious in the issue of his kingdom, Avhen every knee shall bow before him, and all shall stand before his judgment -seat. And what a little portion of his glory is it that we have pointed to 1 This is the Beloved of the church, — its head, its husband; this is he with whom we have communion; but of the whole exaltation of Jesus Christ I am elsewhere to treat at large.
Having insisted on these generals, for the farther carrying on the motives to communion with Christ, in the relation mentioned, taken from his excellencies and perfections, I shall reflect on the description given of him by the spouse in the Canticles, to this very end and purpose. Cant. v. 10-16, "My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest amono: ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitl}^ set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers : his lips like lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings, set with the beryl : his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upoii sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."
The general description given of him, verse 10, hath been before considered; the ensuing particulars are instances to make good the assertion that he is " the chiefest among ten thousand."
The spouse begins with his head and face, verses 11-13. In his head, she speaks first in general, unto the substance of it, — it is " fine gold;" and then in particular, as to its ornaments, — "his locks are bushy, and black as a raven."
1. "His head is as the most fine gold," or, "His head gold, solid gold;" so some; — "made of pure gold;" so others; — ^pvffiov zs<paX-/j, say the LXX., retaining part of both the Hebrew words, fS Dfis^ — "massa auri."^
Two things are eminent in gold, — splendour or glory, and duration. This is that which the spouse speaks of the head of Christ. His head is his government, authority, and kingdom. Hence it is said, " A croAvn of pure gold was on his head," Ps. xxi. 3 ; and his heaxl is here said to be gold, because of the cro-wn of gold that adorns it, —
' So the words are quoted in all editions of this ti-catise. Fully to develop the meauing of the allusion, it seems necessary that the whole of the Septuagint ren- dering should be quoted,— KsipaXj) ccLtou xi"'^'"^ xupa^. It is the hist word in which part of both the Hebrew words is said to be retained. There is some difficulty in tixing the import of 13. Gesonius refers us to Ps. xix. 10, in proof that it means Jine, as distinguished from common gold; from t^S, a root not used in Hebrew, but signifying, in the cognate dialect of the Arabic, to separate, to puri/ij m-tah. Some
72 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
as the monarchy m Daniel that was most emmont for glory and duration, is termed a " head of gold," Dan. ii. 38. And these two things are eminent in the kingdom and authority of Christ : —
(1.) It is a glorious kingdom; he is full of glory and majesty, and in his majesty he rides " prosperously," Ps. xlv. 3, 4. " His glory is great in the salvation of God: honour and majesty are laid upon him: he is made blessed for ever and ever," Ps. xxi. 5, G. I might insist on particulars, and show that there is not any thing that may render a kingdom or government glorious, but it is in this of Christ in all its excellencies. It is a heavenly, a spiritual, a universal, and unshaken kingdom ; all which render it glorious. But of this, somewhat before.
(2.) It is durable, yea, eternal, — soUd gold. " His throne is for ever and ever," Ps. xlv. 6; "of the increase of his government there shall be no end, upon the tlirone of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever," Isa. ix. 7. " His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom," Dan. vii. 27, — " a kingdom that shall never be destroyed," chap. ii. 44; for he must reign until all his enemies be subdued. This is that head of gold, — the splendour and eternity of his government.