Ps. xlv. 10, 11. Hearken, 0 daughter, and consider, and in- cline thine ear ; forget also thine own people, and thy father s house. So shall the King greatly desire thy heauty : for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
THE psalm before us is a kind of nuptial hymn ; the former part of which recites the excellencies and
glories of the heavenly Bridegroom ; and the latter celebrates the praises of the Church, which is his bride. Into this relation to Christ every Believer is brought \
Now, as every change of situation brings with it correspondent duties, so that of marriage in parti- cular requires a sacrifice of all other attachments. It binds each party to renounce whatever habits or practices may be found inconsistent with their mu- tual happiness. Such sacrifices are more eminently necessary for those united to Christ. To this effect, God addresses the Church in the words of our text.
We may consider,
I. The direction given to the Church —
The Church is, by adoption, by regeneration, and especially by her union with the Lord Jesus Christ, become the " daughter of Almighty God*"." She is here addressed by him under that affectionate appel- lation. Nor is it possible for a father to give more salutary advice, or to deliver it in more persuasive terms ; " Hearken, consider, incline," &c.
The direction itself is of a very peculiar nature —
[The Jews were permitted to marry the heathen virgins whom they had taken in war ; but they were to allow them the space of a month to forget their own relations'^. Thus the captives, weaned from former habits, might become loving companions, and obedient wives. In reference to this law, the Church is exhorted to forget her former friends. She has been taken captive by Christ, who makes her the first overtures of marriage ; but his union with her is incompatible with carnal attachments. She can never love and obey him as she ought, till her heart is weaned from all other lovers.]
It is given to every individual in the church of God—
[Every wife is to forsake her parents, and cleave to her husband^ : much more is it needful for the soul to forsake all for Christ. To him we are espoused by our own vokmtary surrender®; nor wall he be satisfied vdth a divided heart ^. Ungodliness and worldly lusts must be entirely renounced ^ :
^ Isai. liv. 5. ^2 Cor. vi. 18. <= Deut. xxi. 10 — 13.
1 Gen. ii. 24. e 2 Cor. xi. 2. f Hos. x. 2.
g Tit. ii. 11, 12. and 1 Pet. iv. 2, ,3.