II. His delight in them —
There is no earthly joy superior to that which a bridegroom feels on his wedding day, in the presence of his bride —
[Now all his wishes are accomplished. Whatever fears or anxieties may have filled his breast during the period of his attendance on her, he now finds them all entirely dispelled ; and rejoices over his bride as his own peculiar property, in the possession of whom all his happiness is centered, and in whose beloved society he hopes to spend the remainder of his days on earth.]
Now, such is God's delight in the objects of his
choice —
[Over the Jewish Church he greatly rejoiced, according to what he spake by the prophet, " Behold! I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joyr." Nothing can exceed the language of the Prophet Zephaniah to this effect : " The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty ; he will save ; he will rejoice over thee with joy ; he will rest in his love ; he will joy over thee with singing s." Nor is this a mere feeling in his bosom, but an active and efficient principle; as says the Pro- phet Jeremiah : " I will rejoice over them to do them good ; and I will plant them in this land assuredly, with my whole
p Rom. vii. 4. <J Rev. xxi. 9.
r Isai. lxv. 18, 19. s Zeph. iii. 17.
heart, and with my whole soul1." And such also is his joy over all his chosen people: "He delights in themu," and "manifests himself unto themx," and maintains the most intimate communion with themy. He has prevailed over them, and in the day of his power has made them willing to surrender up themselves to him : and when he sees how entire their hearts are with him, " they having for him forgotten their own people and their father's house, he greatly desires their beauty2," and gives himself to them, as their God and portion for ever. Yes, " Because they have set their love upon him, therefore will he deliver them ; he will set them on high, because they have known his name. They shall call upon him, and he will answer them : he will be with them in trouble ; he will deliver them, and honour them. With long life will he satisfy them, and will shew them his salvation a."]
1. Let all, then, desire this high honour —
[To get advancement in this world, is universally consi- dered as a most desirable attainment. But what connexion can be compared with that proposed to us in the text ; or what ele- vation is worthy of a thought in comparison of it ?
Will any say, ' Alas ! it is unattainable by me. I am so far off from God, that there can be no hope of my ever being brought into such a relation to him'? I answer, Who are farther off from him than the Jews ? or who, according to hu- man appearance, are so unlikely ever to have the text fulfilled to them as they ? Yet of them are these things spoken, and to them shall they be fulfilled : and therefore every other person in the universe may assure himself, that, " if only he come to God in the Saviour's name, he shall on no account be cast outV The person who seems to have most reason to despond, is he, who, after having once given himself to God, has de- parted from him : but to such does God expressly say, " If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again ? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers ; yet return again to me, saith the Lordc." To all then I say, without exception, " Return unto the Lord ; and," however base your departures from him have been, " he will heal your backslidings, and love you freely d."]