THE GOSPEL MAGAZINE. VOL. IV.-No. VIII. Of a FIFTH SERIES, for AUGUST, 1839. "In doctrine shewing uncorruptness." “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees which is Hypocrisy.” "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday to-day anl for ever. Whom to know is life eternal." " UNION BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. "Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of spices." "The desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee." "When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." THE Divine Book of Canticles is designed by the Holy Spirit to exhibit the love of God our dear Saviour, to his chosen people, with all the happy consequences of that eternal affection. The whole book is full of Christ, as the all in all of the Church, which he has purchased with his blood-the union subsisting between the elect head and chosen body. What Christ is to them, and they are to him, is strikingly set forth by many well-known metaphors. Perhaps there is nothing of greater importance in the Bible than the union subsisting between Jesus and his church, the whole scriptures are full of it; all our salvation depends upon it. The highest idea of union is that glorious oneness in the Three Persons in the adorable Trinity, that though they are distinct in persons, names, and offices, yet they are one in the Divine and incomprehensible essence. The next idea of union is the hypostatical union of God in our na❤ ture - the Word made flesh and dwelling among us. This is the mystery of godliness. The union between the head and the members is the principal subject of this Song. That Christ and his people are one is an everlasting truth, the date of it is eternal, it is indissoluble, it is mysterious, it is perfect, and will endure to all eternity. Hence it is compared to the union that subsists between the foundation of a building and its superstructure. Christ is the foundation stone, the corner-stone, the tried stone, and will be the top-stone. This union is set forth by the metaphor of the head and body, while VOL: IV.-No. VIII. 2 U the love that unites both is set forth in this song, by the neck. The self-moving love of God will keep this body and head in eternal union. This is also represented by the vine and the branches. "I am the vine, ye are the branches in me is thy fruit found." The scriptures shew this doctrine by the union that subsists between the husband and the wife; this, says the apostle, is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and his church. In consequence of this union between Christ and his people, they become partakers of the same Spirit with him. He that is joined to the Lord is oue spirit. He took our nature, we take his Spirit, and like the men of Judah, we have two parts in David. We are bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh; and the apostle tells us, 66 we are members of his boty, of his flesh, and of his bones." Christ being united to his church, beholds it with admiration; highly commends her, and to shew how dear she is to him, he laid down his life for her in the set time, to favour our souls. He subdues our enmity, melts our hearts, reconciles our wills, draws our affections to himself, and leads our faith to admire him, believe in, rest on him, and be satisfied with him. He loves us, we love him; he chose us, we choose him; he is delighted in us, we in him; he sought us, we seek him; he commends us, we commend him; he draws near to us, we draw near to him; he loves the company of his people, they desire his; he invites them to his arms, his house, his table, and to holy familiarity with him. His people seeing his glory beauty, suitableness, and love, intreat him to visit them, to meet them, to abide with them, to be in them, walk with them, talk with them, and indulge them with his company. Thus the union is mutual, and sweet communion is the blessed effect of it. The Saviour must see of the travail of his soul, in their complete conversion. He longs for their coming home, and they long to get home to see him, who is the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his Person. Under this sweet influence of the spirit of love, the church breathes forth her earnest desires,-" Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of spices." The first petition in this song is, for clear manifestations of his love,→ "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth." And the last petition is the language of the text, the earnest desire to see his face. This is the Alpha and Omega of the Spirit's teaching. We shall first consider the object desired- My Beloved. And, Thirdly, the metaphor here made use of,-Be thou like a roe, or a young heart upon the mountains of spices. First,-The glorious object of the desire of every one taught of God, emphatically styled, My Beloved. This title is given to Jesus nineteen or twenty times in this book; and no doubt is intended to point out the high esteem the church has of her Saviour; the clear est, the sweetest evidence of a person's interest in Christ, is love to the dear God-man Mediator. This principle is shed abroad in the heart; it is always in the believer as a principle; but it is not always shed abroad in the feeling sense of it, we wish it was, as it is calculated to carry us above the love of sin, the love of self, the love of the creature, and the love of the world. Christ, as the Christ of God, is the darling of heaven; the Father loves him, and is well pleased with him. The Holy Spirit's principal aim in all his opera tions, is to glorify him; the holy angels admire and adore him, as their elect head; the spirits of just men, made perfect, look on him with holy wonder, with rapture, and joy; while every poor, tried, humble believer, trusts in him, leans upon him, hopes in him, and sincerely desires to love him above all things else. And if I know any thing of the experience of God's children, I must say in the behalf of the Church of God, it is our principal grief we think on him so little, trust him so little, admire and adore him so little. This is a lamentation, and must be so to the end of our days; for he is The darling of my heart! The balm for all my woe! I would not with my Jesus part Nor health nor friends afford Christ is the beloved of his church for what he is in himself, as God-man Mediator. Secondly, Christ is beloved of his church, for what he has done, and is doing in heaven; if we view him as God possessing all divine perfections, and these harmonizing and engaged in our salvation, Oh! how glorious do they appear! Divine sovel reignty chose us to salvation; love moved him to make this choice; wisdom drew the wonderous plan; power executed it; goodness made provision for us; truth makes us free; faithfulness is engaged to make good his promises; pity redeemed us; compassion led us to repentance; holiness makes him all glorious to us; righteousness justifies; justice forgives us; and perfection renders us complete in Christ. Thus all his sublime attributes centre in our salvation, and render Jesus as equal with the Father, beloved to us, if we view him as man and Mediator. There is, says the apostle to us, one God, and one Mediator, the MAN (that is, the God-man) Christ Jesus. In this human nature he is the perfection of beauty; the Holy Spirit formed it, the Father provided it, and the Eternal Son of God appeared in it as our day's man. It was filled with the Holy Ghost -it was a sacred temple, the residence of Deity. "The Word was made flesh-the Word was God." All things were made by him. This human nature was holy, harmless, and undefiled, and separated from sinners; and such an high priest became us. And by virtue of the union of the Godhead; this dear God-man is the beloved of the whole church. 'If we consider him in his mediatorial capacity, sustaining his glorious offices, as prophet, priest and king: these offices no doubt he refers to, when he said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life;" to these he was called. These he executes in the church, and in the hearts of all believers. He enlightens us as a prophet, he intercedes as a priest, and he reigns as a king. He preached glad tidings to the meek as a prophet, he binds up the broken-hearted as a priest, and opens the prison-doors as a king. These glorious offices he exercises in the souls of his children, and viewing him faithful in his house, he is truly lovely to his church. If we view him in his glorious titles, it appears the Holy Ghost has ransacked all the endearing ties of nature, and all the lovely instances of creative power, to set him forth the affectionate Husband, the constant Friend, the skil ful Physician, the tender Father, the able Counsellor, the sympa. thizing Mother and Nurse, the wise Lawgiver, the lovely Prince, the faithful Ambassador, and the Advocate with the Father; the Guide of his children, and the Captain of their salvation. He is represented as a lamb, a hen, a hind, yea, "He is the altogether lovely." Not earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars, Nor heav'n, his full resemblance bears; 'Till we behold him face to face. The operations of his hands as the adorable Creator, sets him forth in his goodness, greatness, and glory-" the earth is full of his praise;" He shines in the sun, refreshes in the breeze, Every drop of dew, every shower of rain, every blade of grass, every rolling peal of thunder, and every flash of lightning, loudly proclaims the eternal power and Godhead of him, who lived, and loved, and died for us. The word of the eternal truth, the scriptures, are an exhibition of his loving heart. Its histories, types, shadows, and parables-all the illustrious characters that appeared before him were only as dim stars, to usher in the glorious luminary, the light of life." Every promise, invitation, and declaration, all, all proclaim the Beloved. O for hearts to love him more, and serve him without reserve, and to long to be with him, that we may behold his glory for ever. But, Secondly. The request made for his speedy appearance,Make haste my beloved; be thou like a roe, or young hart upon the mountains of spices." This may include in it the earnest wish of the Old Testament saints for the incarnation of Jesus; it had been long foretold, and it was expected by all the saints, though nearly four thousand years rolled away before their desires were accomplished. The great and glorious Messiah niade his appearance at last, to put away sin, to honor the law, to satisfy justice, to glorify the attributes of Deity, bar the mouth of the bottomless pit, and open the gates of the celestial city How beautiful the language of the Church! (Te Deum) "When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers." This was the subject matter of the faith of Old Testament saints. This important, God-glorifying event they anticipated, and though millions of the elect died without the sight, they all died in faith, embracing the promises, and Jesus in them. This chapter opens and closes with their ardent wish, "O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! Make haste my Beloved " When believers on any occasion pray thus, we are not to suppose they wish for the blessing before the time, though in fact, as the Saviour said on another occasion, your time is always ready. But there is a time for every purpose, a set time, and Christ came in the fulness of time. Nor will he delay one blessing laid up for his people beyond the time. Faith is always willing to wait God's time, but unbelief is always in a hurry, "He that hasteth with his feet sinneth-he that believeth shall not make haste.” Secondly. The request may be considered as made by the Church of God in the depths of trouble, when storms of fierce persecution has involved her, or awful errors abounding and carrying away many apparently zealous professors; who have only a name to live, but are dead. Alas, we have but little else in this Christ-despising day but such, both ministers and people. But such characters will find, with all their pretended sanctity and zeal, that a lamp without the Holy Spirit's fire in it, when the midnight cry is heard, will go out. Brethren, I believe that as the Jews were rejected as a nation for rejecting the Son of God-so will this generation, for rejecting the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit in the soul, as constituting the life of true religion. "For, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Blessed be God, in the worst of times, there have been a few praying souls, who have been concerned for the glory of the Redeemer, the cause of truth, and the welfare of Zion. Such have united their petitions for the delivery of Zion, and obtained an answer as Moses did, "I have seen the affliction of my people, and I am come down to deliver them." And as the Psalmist also obtained the blessed answer, "For the oppression of the poor, and the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord." The lions dare not tare, The billows dare not heave, The furnace shall not singe our hair, Till Jesus give them leave. Thirdly. This request for the coming of Jesus, may be considered as the language of a soul in straits and difficulties. Hence, some have exclaimed, "Make haste to help me, O my God, make no long tarrying.' The burden of guilt, the power of unbelief, the temptations of the enemy, the frowns of the world, the loss of all that is near and dear, the fears of being lost at last, that what has been experienced is but the attainments of an hypocrite; and at the same time, amidst all these things there is to be found the one good thing |