has done to you: and labour that, if possible, all the world may behold his beauty, and be comforted with his love.
As for yourselves, look to the final consummation of your love in a better world, when your fruition of him shall be more intimate than it can be in this world, and shall continue with- out intermission or alloy through all eternity.]
THE church's fellowship WITH CHRIST.
Cant. ii. 1 — 3. I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily amony thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadoiv with great delight ; and his fruit teas stveet to my taste.
FROM the general scope of this whole poem, we can have no hesitation in saying, that the words which we have read are a part of a dialogue between Christ and his Church ; the former part containing his testi- mony respecting her ; and the latter, her testimony respecting him. It is a kind of pastoral song, as the images used by both the parties shew ; and, though exceeding difficult of interpretation in some parts, it is very intelhgible and instructive in others. We must bear in mind, that Christ speaks as the Bridegroom of his Church ; and the Church, as his Spouse : whilst the " sons" and " daughters" mentioned in our text, are those children of Adam who yet lie in darkness and the shadow of death, or, at best, have only " the form of godliness, without the power." As for the " daughters of Jerusalem," who occasionally bear a part in the dialogue, they are professors of religion, who, though friendly on the whole, are not yet brought into this near relation to Christ, nor made partakers of his saving benefits.
In discoursing on the words before us, we shall consider^ I. Christ's testimony respecting his Church —
The commendation bestowed upon her is the highest she could possibly receive : it is, that she, according to the measure of grace given to her, resembles him. In order to point out the resemblance.
He first declares his own character —
849.] THE church's fellowship WITH CHRIST. 427
[" I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." Whatever is most excellent in the universe, is brought forward from time to time, to designate and illustrate the character of our Lord. Of the heavenly bodies he is the Sun, " the Sun of Righteousness." Of inferior creatures, he is the Lion, " the Lion of the tribe of Judah." Even the plants and flowers yield him honour also : as the rose is exceeded by none in fragrance, and the lily is pre-eminent in beauty, he is a Rose, " the Rose of Sharon," whose excellence was proverbial^ ; and a Lily, " the Lily of the valleys," to which Solomon in all his glory was not worthy to be compared^. Infinitely diversified are his perfec- tions. In whatever point of view we consider him, his person^ his offices, his relations, we shall be fully convinced, that to him alone pertain the garments which were " made for glory and beauty'^" In his person are united all the attributes of the Deity, and all the grace of humanity in their highest possible
perfection In his offices, nothing is wanting that could
contribute to the welfare of his Church and people. As their High-priest, he has made a full and all-sufficient atonement for them : as their Prophet, he instructs them by his word and Spirit ; and as their King, he rules over them, and in them ;
and puts all their enemies under their feet As for his
relations, there is no relation that can inspire us with hope and confidence, which he does not bear towards his believing people. He is our Shepherd, our Brother, and our Friend. Whether viewed in his exaltation, as God ; or in his humiliation, as Man ; or in his mediatorial state, as " Emmanuel, God with us," he is infinitely great and glorious, " fairer than ten thou- sand, and altogether lovely."]