He then acknowledges her resemblance to him — [To the glories of his Godhead no creature can bear any true resemblance ; so infinitely is he above all : but in his humi- liation he was a pattern both of lowliness and purity, to which his believing people are conformed : yea moreover, as he in this respect infinitely excels the highest of his creatures, so does his Church excel all others of " the daughters " of men : she is, like him, " a lily ;" like him also, " a lily among thorns ;" no others bearing any more comparison with her, than a thorn or brier with the lily. Mark the lowliness of the true Christian : he boweth down his head with a sense of his own unworthiness, and manifold infirmities : yet is he " pure," at least in purpose and desire, " even as God is pure." " The very same mind is in him that was in Christ Jesus :" yea, " being joined to the Lord, he is one spirit with him ;" "a partaker of his holiness," *' a partaker of his very nature''," " created anew after his image
a Isai. xxxv. 2, » Matt. vi. 29. = Exod. xxviii. 40.
1 2 Pet. i. 4.
in righteousness and true holiness." Compare the Church with others, and they are no better than " thorns" before her; so superior is she to them in all her principles, her purposes, her attainments. The one have no higher aim or end than self: the other disdains to act but from the love of God, and for the glory of his name. The one leave God out even from the most sacred exercises ; the other brings him into the most common acts and offices of life ^. The one have no life but w^hat they received from nature: the other has Christ himself living in her; yea, " Christ himself is her life^." True it is, that by nature the Believer was not at all diiferent from others, but grace has made the difference; according to that prophetic declaration ; " Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall grow up the myrtle-tree ; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, and for an everlasting sign, that shall not be cut offs." Thus is that amply verified which was spoken by Solomon, " The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour*^."]
In reply to this commendation, the Church pro- claims, II. Her testimony respecting hhn —
This she bears,
1. From her knowledge of his excellencies — [Christ is " as the apple tree among the trees of the wood."
Other trees can afford shadow only ; whilst to those who take refuge under him, he administers the most refreshing and satis- fying food. Under them, the soul that continues to abide, must perish : but the soul that abides in him, shall live for ever. All that it can want or desire is found in him. He is " the tree of life, that bears twelve manner of fruits' ; " one for every season, every situation, every circumstance of life. " The very leaves of that tree are for the healing of the nations." The law appeared to offer a salutary retreat: but it could never satisfy the hungry soul, or " make a man perfect as pertaining to the conscience." But what not all the trees of that forest could do, Christ has done''; and does continually for all who seek repose under the shadow of his wings. And they who have the clearest views of his excellency, " determine to know nothing but him, even him crucified."]
2. From her experience of his love —
[The Church here says, in fact, " What my eyes have seen, my ears have heard, and my hands have handled of the word of life, the same declare I unto you." In fact, no other
■= 1 Cor. X. 31. f Col. iii. 4. g Isai. Iv. 13.
'' Prov. xii, 26. ' Rev. xxii. 2. k Rom. viii. 2,