Suited to these qualities is,
II. The felicity prepared for her —
In due time " she shall be brought to the King's palace," there to be united to him in indissoluble and everlasting bonds.
Whilst she is here, she is to be employed in making herself ready —
[In royal nuptials, much time was spent in preparing the bride for her husband. In the purification of the virgins from amongst whom King Ahasuerus was to select a wife, a whole year was occupied : " six months in purifying them with oil of myrrh, and other six months with sweet odours of different kinds '':" after which they were presented to him. In like
manner
^ Eph. iv. 22—24. * Rom. xiii. 14. ^ 1 John ii. 6.
« 1 John iv. 17. ^ Esth. ii. 12, 13.
160 PSALMS, xLV. 13 — 16. [366.
manner we are told, that the Church also is dealt with, in order to prepare her for her heavenly Bridegroom : for it is said, that " Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the ivashing of water hy the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish'."
This process is going forward through the whole of this life. Every work of providence, every communication of grace, every afflictive dispensation, and every joyous occurrence, is intended to advance it; that so at last the soul of the Believer may be alto- gether " worthy to stand before " tbe King of kings, and to be admitted to the closest fellowship with him for ever and ever.]
This work completed, she is introduced " into the palace of her Lord " —
[It was customary for a number of bridemaids to attend upon the bride, in order to welcome her to her destined home. Accordingly it is said, " The virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought with her to the King's palace." Even here, whenever any are united unto the Lord, many, both of saints and angels, are ready to congratulate them on the blissful occasion. And how much more will this be the case, when those who are espoused to him in this world shall be brought to consunnnate their nuptials in the realms of bliss 1 We read of angels wait- ing upon Lazarus, to bear his spirit to Abraham's bosom. So at the departure of every saint we may well conceive of multi- tudes of angels and of their former friends coming forth to welcome their arrival. And oh ! what joy will fill every soul I It is said, *' With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought:" and we may see in the book of Revelations the whole ceremony pass, as it were, before our eyes. '' 1 heard the voice of a great multitude, saying, Allelujah ! let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white : for the white linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith, " Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb'." Yes, blessed are they indeed, whether in the character of the spouse or her attendants : for though on earth they are different, in heaven they are the same; the one being the collective body of the Church, of which the others are the individual members. This representation, it must be confessed, is figurative: but under the figure there is a reality : for, as the Scripture says, "These are the true sayings of God'" !"]
AddresSj
' Eph. V. 25 — 27. '' Matt. xxv. i.
► ' Rev. xix. 7—9. •" ib.
Bd6.^ THE church's beauty AND HAPPINESS. 161
Address,
1 . Those who have never yet been espoused to Christ—
[Let it not be forgotten, that this is a very common figure in Scripture to represent the surrender of the soul to God. To his Church of old God said by the prophet Hosea, " Thou shalt abide for me many days ; (referring, like our text, to the purifications preparatory to nuptials;) thou shalt not play the harlot; and thou shalt not be for another man : so will I also be for thee"." And again ; ^' I will betroth thee unto me for ever ; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies : I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord°." hi the New Tes- tament also every Believer is spoken of in this view : *' I have espoused you to one Husliand," says St. Paul, " that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ p." Know ye then, that if you have never solemnly engaged yourselves to Christ, as a virgin does to the object of her aflfections, and so pledged yourselves, as not for a moment to admit a rival to your heart, you are not yet Christians indeed : you may bear the name ; but you have no just title to the character. I call upon you therefore to do this without delay. And, if you desire to postpone this necessary act, I ask. Whom have you found so worthy of your affections as the Lord Jesus Christ ? Who has done so much for you to deserve