2. Order and beauty are as spices set in a garden bed. So are the graces of Christ. When spices are set in order, any one may know what is for his use, and take and gather it accordingly. Their answering, also, one to another makes them beautiful. So are the graces of Christ; in the gospel they are distinctly and in order set forth, that sinners by faith may view them, and take from him ac- cording to their necessity. They are ordered for the use of saints in the promises of the gospel. There is light in him, and life in him, and power in him, and all consolation in him; — a constellation of graces, shining with glory and beauty. Believers take a view of them all, see their glory and excellency, but fix especially on that
76 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
which, in the condition Avlierein they are, is most useful to them. One takes hght and joy; another, Hfe and power. By faith and prayer do they gather these things in this bed of spices. Not any that comes to him goes away unrefreshed. What may they not take, Avhat may they not gather ? what is it that the poor soul wants ? Behold, it is here provided, set out in order in the promises of the gospel ; which are as the beds wherein these spices are set for our use : and on the account hereof is the covenant said to be " ordered in all things," 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.
3. Eminency. His cheeks are "a tower of perfumes" held up, made conspicuous, visible, eminent. So it is with the gi'aces of Christ, when held out and lifted up in the preaching of the gospel. They are a tower of perfumes, — a sweet savour to God and man.
The next clause of that verse is, " His lips are like liHes, dropping sweet-smelling myri'h." Two perfections in things natural are here alluded unto : — First, the glory of colourm the lilies, and the sweetness of savour in the myrrh. The glory and beauty of the lilies in those countries was such as that our Saviour tells us that " Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of them," Matt. vi. 29 ; and the savour of myrrh such as, when the Scripture would set forth any thing to be an excellent savour, it compares it thereunto, Ps. xlv. 8 ; and thereof was the sweet and holy ointment chiefly made, Exod. XXX. 28-25 : mention is also made frequently of it in other places, to the same purpose. It is said of Christ, that " grace was poured into his lips," Ps. xlv. 2 ; whence men wondered or were amazed — roTg Xoyoii TT^g ^dpiTog [Luke iv. 22] — at the words of grace that proceeded out of his mouth. So that by the lips of Christ, and their dropping sweet-smelling myrrh, the word of Christ, its savour, excellency, and usefulness, is intended. Herein is he excellent and glorious indeed, surpassing the excellencies of those natural things which yet are most precious in their kind, — even in the gloiy, beauty, and usefulness of his word. Hence they that preach his word to the saving of the souls of men, are said to be a " sweet savour unto God," 2 Cor. ii. 15 ; and the savour of the knowledge of God is said to be manifested by them, verse 14. I might insist on the several properties of myrrh, whereto the word of Christ is here compared, — its bitterness in taste, its effi- cacy to presei-ve from putrefaction, its usefulness in perfumes and mictions, — and press the allegory in setting out the excellencies of the word in allusions to them ; but I only insist on generals. This is that which the Holy Ghost here intends: — the word of Christ is sweet, savoury, precious unto believers; and they see him to be excellent, desirable, beautiful, in the precepts, promises, exhortations, and the most bitter threats thereof.
The spouse adds, " His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl"
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[verse 14]. The word " beryl/' in the original, is " Tarshish ;"^ which the Septuagint have retained, not restraining it to any peculiar pre- cious stone ; the onyx, say some ; the chrysolite, say others ; — any pre- cious stone shining with a sea-green colour, for the word signifies the sea also. Gold rings set with precious, glittering stones, are both valu- able and desiralDle, for profit and ornament : so are the hands of Christ ; that is, all his works, — the effects, by the cause. All his works are glorious; they are all fruits of ^visdom, love, and bounty. " And his belly is as bright ivory, overlaid with sapphires." The smoothness and brightness of ivory, the preciousness and heavenly colour of the sapphires, are here called in, to give some lustre to the excellency of Christ." To these is his belly, or rather his bowels (which takes in the heart also), compared. It is the inward bowels, and not the out- ward bulk that is signified. Now, to show that by " bowels" in the Scripture, ascribed either to God or man, affections are intended, is needless. The tender love, unspeakable affections and kindness, of Christ to his church and people, is thus set out. What a beautiful sight is it to the eye, to see pure jDolished ivory set up and down with heaps of precious sapphires! How much more glorious are the tender affections, mercies, and compassion of the Lord Jesus unto behevers !