z Matt. vi. 24. » Jam. iv. 4. ^ Prov. xxiii, 26.
<= 1 Kings xviii. 21. ^ 2 Chron. xv. 12. ^ Ezek.xvi. 3,4,5,8,
f Zech. iii. 3—5. Rev. xix. 7, 8. s 2 Pet. ii. 20.
^ This subject, and all others of a similar nature, must be treated with extreme care and delicacy. The passages from the book of Canti- cles are cited rather for the reader's satisfaction, than for use in a public discourse.
THE church's beauty AND HAPPINESS.
Ps. xlv. 13 — 16. The King's daughter is all glorious within : her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall he brought unto the Kiyig in raiment of needle-work : the virgins, her com- panio7is that follow her shall he hrought unto thee: with gladness and rejoicing shall they he hrought ; they shall enter into the Kings 'palace.
AMONGST the schoolmen of former days, there were many disputes about works of condignity, and works of congruity, as contributing to effect the sal- vation of men. That in no point of view whatever, did works render men deserving of God's favours is the avowed sentiment of our Church ; yet to the full
attainment of salvation, it is quite necessary that every man be holy, and possess what the Scriptures call " a meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light."
The Church is here represented under the charac- ter of a Bride that is to be joined, as in the marriage union, to her Lord. For this she must be prepared : and a preparation shall be given her suited to the occasion. In the former part of this psalm, which is penned on the occasion of her marriage, the excel- lencies of her Lord are set forth : in this latter part, her excellencies also. Let us consider,
L Her transcendent qualities —
In the words which we have read, we see,
1 . The internal qualities of her mind —
[" The King's daughter is all glorious within," She once, in her unconverted state, was corrupt even as others : but she has been "born again," and " renewed in the spirit of her mind," and made altogether " a new creature." Once, being born only after the flesh, she had nothing but what was carnal : but now, having been born of the Spirit, she possesses a truly spiritual nature, or, as St. Peter expresses it, " she is a partaker of the Divine nature^; " and is progressively " changed into the image of her Lord himself, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord^." Hence " the mind that was in Christ Jesus is found in her*^." She has the same views, the same principles, the same desires, the same delights. There is indeed still a corrupt nature within her, " the flesh lusting against the Spirit, as well as the Spirit against the flesh : " but she longs to be holy, as her Lord is holy ; and strives to be " perfect, as her Father which is in heaven is perfect," When compared with what she was, she differs as light from darkness : but in comparison of what she will be, she is only as the dawn to the meridian sun ; for " her path is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day."]
2. The external habits of her life —
["Her clothing is of %vrought gold." This refers to the outward conversation, which is often in Scripture represented as a putting off" of the old man, and putting on the new: " Put off", as concerning the former conversation," says the Apostle, " the old man, which is corrvipt according to the deceitful lusts; and put on the new man, which after God is created in right-
a 2 Pet, i. 4, t 2 Cor. iii, 18. <= Phil. ii. 5,
578.J THE church's beauty AND HAPPINESS. 358
eousness and true holiness 'V To the same effect is that other expression of his, " Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ^ :" that is, let your whole deportment be such as his was ; so that any one who beholds you may be constrained to confess, that you " walk as he walked V' and that, " as he was, so are you in this worlds." Such is every true Believer; nor will the heavenly Bridegroom acknowledge as his, any one, whose spirit, and temper, and conduct do not accord with his. " The raiment of needle-work" may fitly represent the assemblage of all the diver- sified graces which adorn her. AH her dispositions being duly chastised, harmoniously tempered, and opportunely exercised, she shines in every department, and in every act ; and at once approves herself faithful to her obligations, and meet for the ulterior honours that shall be conferred upon her.]