Cant. v. 16. He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved ; and this is my Friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem.
WITH many it is a matter of surprise, that truly converted Christians should manifest such zeal in prosecuting their own ways, and in commending reli- gion to all around them. The world see no such excellency in Christ as the true believer does ; and therefore, whilst they cannot but acknowledge the superiority of the Christian's walk, they ask, in a tone of self-justifying confidence, " What is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us*?" But, if they beheld the Saviour in his true
a ver. 9.
character, so far would they be from wondering that his people loved and served him so ardently, that they would rather wonder at the coldness of their hearts towards him, and at the unprofitableness of their lives. To the above question the Church of old replies, in the words I have I'ead to you : from which I shall take occasion to shew,
I. The excellency of Christ —
This is set forth in highly figurative language; agreeably to the tenour of the whole book, which abounds in allegory from beginning to end. The Church marks, under very sublime images, his beauty in every part — " his head, his locks, his eyes, his cheeks, his lips, his hands, his body, his legs, his countenance, his mouth ; " and proclaims him, not only " the chiefest among ten thousand," but " altogether lovely^." We will not attempt to follow the par- ticular description here given ; for we could never do justice to it. We will rather content ourselves with a general view of Christ, who is altogether lovely,
1. In his person —
[In himself he unites all the perfections of the Godhead, with every grace that can adorn humanity. " In him there was no spot or blemish ; " insomuch that his bitterest enemies, after the severest possible scrutiny, were forced to confess, " We find in him no fault at all" ]
2. In his offices —
[These were altogether sustained for us, and executed for us; and they are precisely such as our necessities required. Did we need an atonement for our sins? He is our Great High Priest who offers that atonement ; yea, and offers him- self, too, as the sacrifice which alone was sufficient to expiate our guilt. Did we need to be instructed relative to the way in which alone God would accept a returning sinner? He became our PropJiet, to make known to us the mind and will of God, and to reveal to us inwardly, by his Spirit, what he has outwardly proclaimed to us in his word. Did we need to be delivered from all our spiritual enemies ? He yet further assumed the Kingly office, that he might rescue us from our bondage, and make us partakers with him of all the glory and felicity of heaven. It is not possible to find in man a want for which provision is not made in him, to the utmost extent of
b ver. 9—16.