Chapter 12
Canticles 2. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his.
In this Book of the Canticles, we see the love of Christ and his Church, running toward each other in a full torrent.
The Text contains three general Parts.
- 1 A Symbol of affection, my beloved. - 2 A term of appropriation, is mine. - 3 A holy resignation, I am his.
Doctrine. That there is a conjugal union between Christ and believers.
The Apostle having treated at large of marriage, he winds up the whole chapter thus, Ephesians 5. 32. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church: What nearer than union? What sweeter? There is a twofold union with Christ,
1 A natural union; this all men have, Christ having taken their nature upon him, and not the Angels, Hebrews 2. 16. But if there be no more, than this natural union, it will give little comfort; thousands are damned, though Christ be united to their nature.
2 There is a sacred union, whereby we are mystically united to Christ; the union with Christ is not personal; If Christ's essence were transfused into the person of a believer, then it would follow, that all which a believer does, should merit.
But the union between Christ and a Saint, is,
1 Federal; my beloved is mine; God the Father gives the bride, God the Son receives the bride, God the Holy Ghost ties the knot in marriage; He knits our wills to Christ, and Christ's love to us.
2 This union is virtual; Christ unites himself to his spouse, by his graces and influences, John 1. 16. Of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace: Christ makes himself one with the spouse, by conveying his Image, and stamping the impress of his own holiness upon her.
This union with Christ, may well be called mystical, it is hard to describe the manner of it; As it is hard to show the manner how the soul is united to the body, so how Christ is united to the soul; but though this union be spiritual, it is real: Things in nature work often insensibly, yet really, Ecclesiastes 11. 5. We do not see the hand move on the dial, yet it moves; The Sun exhales and draws up the vapors of the earth insensibly, yet really; So the union between Christ and the soul, though it be imperceptible to the eye of reason, yet is real, 1 Corinthians 6. 17.
Before this union with Christ, there must be a separation; the heart must be separated from all other lovers; As in marriage there is a leaving of Father and Mother, Psalm 45. 10. Forget also thine own people, and thy Fathers house; So there must be a leaving of our former sins, a breaking off the old league with hell, before we can be united to Christ, Hosea 14. 8. Ephraim shall say, what have I to do any more with Idols? Or as it is in the Hebrew, with sorrows: Those sins which before were looked upon as lovers, now they are sorrows; there must be a divorce, before an union.
The end of our conjugal union with Christ is twofold.
1 Co-habitation; this is one end of marriage, to live together, Ephesians 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts; It is not enough to give Christ a few complimentary visits in his ordinances, hypocrites may do so; but there must be a mutual associating; We must dwell upon the thoughts of Christ, 1 John 3. 24. he that dwelleth in God; married persons should not live asunder.
2 Fructification, Romans 7. 4. That ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God: The Spouse brings forth the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, Galatians 5. 22. Barrenness is a shame in Christ's spouse.
This marriage-union with Christ, is the most noble and excellent union.
1 Christ unites himself to many; in other marriages there is but a person taken, but here millions are taken; Alas, else poor souls might cry out, Christ has married himself to such an one's person, but what is that to me? I am left out; No, Christ marries himself to thousands; it is casta polygamia, a holy and chaste polygamy; Multitudes of persons do not defile this marriage-bed; no poor sinner, but bringing a humble believing heart, may be married to Christ.
2 In this holy marriage, is a nearer conjunction, than can be in any other, in other marriages, two make one flesh, but Christ and the believer make one spirit, 1 Corinthians 6. 17. He that is joined to the Lord, is one spirit: Now as the soul is more excellent than the body, and admits of far greater joy; so this spiritual union, brings in more astonishing delights and ravishments, than any other marriage-relation is capable of; The joy that flows from the mystical union, is unspeakable and full of glory, 1 Peter 1. 8.
3 This union with Christ never ceases. —Foelices ter & amplius, quos irrupta tenet copula—
Other marriages are soon at an end, Death cuts asunder the marriage-knot, but this conjugal union is eternal: You that are once Christ's spouse, shall never be a widow more, Hosea 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever: To speak properly, our marriage with Christ begins, where other marriages end, at death.
In this life is but the contract; The Jews had a time set between their espousals and marriage, sometimes a year, or more: In this life is but the affiancing and contract, promises are made on both sides, and love passes secretly between Christ and the soul; He gives some smiles of his face, and the soul sends up her sighs, and drops tears of love: But all this is but a previous work, and something tending to the marriage, the glorious completing and solemnizing of the Nuptials, is reserved for heaven; There is the marriage-supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19. 9. and the Bed of glory perfumed with love, where the souls of the elect shall be perpetually solacing themselves, 1 Thessalonians 4. 17. then shall we ever be with the Lord; So that death does but begin our marriage with Christ.
Use 1 If Christ be the head of the body Mystical, Ephesians 1. 22. then this Doctrine does behead the Pope, that man of sin, who usurps this prerogative, to be Ecclesiae caput, the head of the Church, and so would defile Christ's marriage-bed; What blasphemy is this? Two heads is monstrous; Christ is head, as he is husband, there is no vice-husband, no deputy in his room: The Pope is the Beast in the Revelation, to make him head of the Church, what were this, but to set the head of a Beast, upon the body of a Man?
Use 2 Is there such a conjugal union, let us try whether we are united to Christ.
1 Have we chosen Christ to set our love upon? And is this choice founded upon knowledge?
2 Have we consented to the match? It is not enough that Christ is willing to have us, but are we willing to have him? God does not so force salvation upon us, as that we shall have Christ whether we will or no; we must consent to have him; Many approve of Christ, but do not give their consent: and this consent must be,
1 Pure and genuine, we consent to have him for his own worth and excellency, Psalm 45. 2. Thou art fairer, than the Children of men.
2 It must be a present consent, 2 Corinthians 6. 2. now is the accepted time; If we put Christ off with delays and excuses, perhaps he will come no more, he will leave off wooing, his spirit shall no longer strive, and then poor sinner what will you do? When God's wooing ends, your woes begin.
3 Have we taken Christ, faith is vinculum unionis, the bond of the union; Christ is joined to us by his spirit, and we are joined to him by faith: Faith ties the marriage-knot.
4 Have we given up ourselves to Christ? Thus the spouse in the Text, I am his; as if she had said, all I have is for the use and service of Christ; have we made a surrender? Have we given up our name and will to Christ? When the Devil solicits by a temptation, do we say, we are not our own, we are Christ's, our tongues are his, we must not defile them with oaths, our bodies are his temple, we must not pollute them with sin: If it be thus, it is a sign the Holy Ghost has wrought this blessed union between Christ and us.
Use 3. Is there this Mystical Union? Then from hence we may draw many Inferences.
1. See the dignity of all true believers; they are joined in Marriage with Christ, there is not only assimilation, but union, they are not only like Christ, but one with Christ; This honor have all the Saints: A King marrying a Beggar, by virtue of the union she is ennobled and made of the Blood-Royal; But wicked men are united to the Prince of darkness, and he settles Hell upon them for their Jointure: So the godly are divinely united to Christ, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Revelation 19. 16. By virtue of this Sacred Union, the Saints are dignified above the Angels, Christ is their Lord, but not their Husband.
2. See how happily all the Saints are married; they are united to Christ, who is the best Husband, Canticles 5. 10. The chief of ten thousand. Christ is a Husband that cannot be paralleled, 1. For tender care. 2. For ardent affection.
1. For tender care: The Spouse cannot be so tender of her own soul and credit, as Christ is tender of her, 1 Peter 5. 7. He careth for you. Christ has a debating with himself, a consulting and projecting how to carry on the work of our Salvation; he transacts all our affairs, he minds our business as his own; indeed he himself is concerned in it; He brings in fresh supplies to his Spouse; if she wanders out of the way, he guides her; if she stumbles, he holds her by the hand, if she falls, he raises her; if she be dull, he quickens her by his spirit, if she be froward, he draws her with cords of love; if she be sad, he comforts her with promises.
2. For ardent affection: No Husband like Christ for love: The Lord says to the people, I have loved you; and they say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Malachi 1. 2. But we cannot say to Christ, wherein hast thou loved us? Christ has given real Demonstrations of his love to his Spouse: He has sent her his Word, which is a Love-letter; and he has given her his Spirit, which is a Love-token: Christ loves more than any other Husband.
1. Christ puts upon his Bride a richer Robe, Isaiah 61. 10. He hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation, he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness. In this Robe God looks upon us as if we had not sinned: This is as truly ours to justify, as it is Christ's to bestow: This Robe does not only cover, but adorn: Having on this Robe we are reputed righteous, not only as Angels, but as Christ, 2 Corinthians 5. 21. That we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2. Christ gives his Bride, not only his Golden Garments, but his Image: He loves her into his own likeness: A Husband may bear a dear affection to his Wife, but he cannot stamp his own Effigies upon her; if she be deformed, he may give her a Veil to hide it, but he cannot put his beauty upon her: But Christ imparts the beauty of holiness to his Spouse, Ezekiel 16. 14. Thou wert comely through my comeliness. When Christ marries a soul, he makes it fair, Canticles 4. 7. Thou art all fair my Spouse. Christ never thinks he has loved his Spouse enough, till he can see his own face in her.
3. Christ discharges those debts which no other Husband can: Our sins are the worst debts we owe, (if all the Angels should go to make a Purse, they could not pay one of these debts) but Christ frees us from these; He is both an Husband and a Surety; He says to Justice, as Paul concerning Onesimus, If he owes thee any thing, put it upon my score, I will repay it, Philemon 19.
4. Christ has suffered more for his Spouse, than ever any Husband did for a Wife; he suffered poverty and ignominy: He who crowned the heavens with stars, was himself crowned with thorns: He was called a companion of sinners, that we might be made companions of Angels; he was regardless of his life; He leaped into the Sea of his Father's wrath to save his Spouse from drowning.
5. Christ's love does not end with his life. He loves his Spouse forever, Hosea 2:19. I will betroth thee unto me forever. Well may the Apostle call it, a love that passes knowledge, Ephesians 3:19.
3. See how rich believers are, they are matched into the Crown of Heaven, and by virtue of the Conjugal Union all Christ's riches go to believers, Communion is founded in Union. Christ communicates his Graces, John 1:16. As long as Christ has it, believers shall not want; and he communicates his Privileges, Justification, Glorification: He settles a Kingdom upon his Spouse for her Jointure, Hebrews 12:28. This is a Key to the Apostle's Riddle, 2 Corinthians 6:10. As having nothing, yet possessing all. By virtue of the Marriage-Union, the Saints are interested in all Christ's riches.
4 See how fearful a Sin it is to abuse the Saints; it is an injury done to Christ, for believers are mystically one with him, Acts 9:4. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me; When the body was wounded, the head being in heaven cried out; in this sense men crucify Christ afresh, Hebrews 6:6. because what is done to his members, is done to him; If Gideon was avenged upon those who slew his brethren, Judges 8:21. will not Christ much more be avenged upon those that wrong his Spouse? Will a King endure to have his Treasure rifled? his Crown thrown in the dust? his Queen beheaded? Will Christ bear with the affronts and injuries done to his Bride? The Saints are the apple of Christ's eye, Zechariah 2:8. and they that strike at his eye, let them answer it, Isaiah 49:26. I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh, and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine.
5 See the reason why the Saints do so rejoice in the Word and Sacrament, because here they meet with their Husband Christ; the Wife desires to be in the presence of her Husband: The Ordinances are the chariot in which Christ rides, the lattice through which he looks forth and shows his smiling face; here Christ displays the banner of love. Canticles 2:4. The Lord's Supper is nothing else but a pledge and earnest of that eternal communion the Saints shall have with Christ in heaven: Then he will take the Spouse into his bosom; if Christ be so sweet in an Ordinance, when we have but short glances, and dark glimpses of him by faith, Oh then, how delightful and ravishing will his presence be in heaven, when we shall see him face to face, and be forever in his loving embraces?
4 This mystical union affords much comfort to believers, in several cases.
1 In case of the disrespects and unkindnesses of the world, Psalm 55:3. In wrath they hate me: but though we live in an unkind world, we have a kind Husband, John 15:9. As the father has loved me, so have I loved you: What Angel can tell how God the Father loves Christ? Yet the Father's love to Christ, is made the copy and pattern of Christ's love to his Spouse; this love of Christ, as far exceeds all created love, as the Sun outshines the light of a Torch; and is not this matter of comfort? What though the world hates me, yet Christ loves me.
2 It is comfort in case of weakness of grace; the believer cannot lay hold upon Christ, but with a trembling hand; there is a spirit of infirmity upon him, but O weak Christian! Here is strong consolation; there is a conjugal union, you are the Spouse of Christ, and he will bear with you as the weaker vessel: will an Husband divorce his Wife, because she is weak and sickly? No he will be the more tender of her; Christ hates treachery, but he will pity infirmity; when the spouse is faint, and ready to be discouraged, Christ puts his left hand under her head Canticles 2:6. This is the spouse's comfort, when she is weak, her Husband can infuse strength into her, Isaiah 49:5. My God shall be my strength.
3 It is comfort in case of death; when believers die, they go to their Husband; who would not be willing to shoot the Gulf of death, that they might meet with their Husband Christ? Philippians 1:23. I desire to loose Anchor, and be with Christ; what though the way be dirty, seeing we are going to our friend; When a woman is contracted, she longs for the day of marriage; after the Saints' funeral, begins their marriage; the body is ergastulum animae, a Prison to the soul who would not desire to exchange a Prison for a Marriage bed? How glad was Joseph to go out of Prison to the King's court God is wise, he lets us meet with changes and troubles here, that he may wean us from the world, and make us long for death; when the soul is divorced from the body, it is married to Christ.
4 It is comfort in case of passing the sentence, at the day of Judgment: There is a marriage union, and O Christian, your Husband shall be your Judge; a Wife would not fear to be cast at Bar, if her Husband sat Judge; What though the Devil bring in many indictments against you? Christ will expunge your sins in his blood; he will say, shall I condemn my spouse? O what a comfort is this? The Husband is Judge: Christ cannot pass the sentence against his spouse, but he must pass it against himself, for Christ and believers are one.
5 It is comfort in case of the Saints' sufferings; The Church of God is exposed in this life to many injuries, but she has an Husband in heaven, that is mindful of her, and will turn her waters into wine; now it is a time of mourning with the Spouse, because the Bridegroom is absent, Matthew 9:15. But shortly she shall put off her mourning, Christ will wipe off the tears of blood from the cheeks of his Spouse, Isaiah 25:8. The Lord God will wipe off tears from off all faces.
Christ will comfort his spouse after the time wherein she has been afflicted, he will solace her with his love, he will take away the cup of trembling, and give her the cup of consolation, and now she shall forget all her sorrows being called into the banqueting house of heaven, and having the banner of Christ's love displayed over her.
5. Let me press several duties upon such as have this Marriage-Union with Christ.
1. Make use of this Relation; in two cases.
1. When the Law brings in its Indictments against you; here are, says the Law, so many debts to be paid, and it demands satisfaction; acknowledge the debt, but turn over all to your Husband Christ: 'Tis a Maxim in Law, that the suit must not go against the wife as long as the Husband is living: Tell Satan when he accuses you, 'tis true the debt is mine, but go to my Husband Christ, he will discharge it: Would we take this course, we might ease ourselves of much trouble; by Faith we turn over the debt to our Husband: Believers are not in a state of Widowhood, but Marriage: Satan will never go to Christ, he knows Justice is satisfied, and the Debt-book cancelled, but he comes to us for the debt that he may perplex us, we should send him to Christ, and then all Lawsuits would cease: This is a believer's Triumph, when he is in himself guilty, in Christ he is worthy, when he is spotted in himself, he is pure in his head.
2. In case of desertion: Christ may (for ends best known to himself) step aside for a time; Canticles 5:6. My beloved had withdrawn himself; say not therefore Christ is quite gone: 'Tis a fruit of jealousy in a Wife, when her Husband has left her a while, to think he is quite gone from her: Upon every removal out of sight, for us to say (as Zion) The Lord has forsaken me, Isaiah 49:14. This is jealousy, and it is a wrong done to the love of Christ, and the sweetness of this Marriage-Relation: Christ may forsake his Spouse in regard of comfort, but he will not forsake her in regard of union: An Husband may be a thousand miles distant from his Wife, but still he is an Husband: Christ may leave his Spouse, but still the Marriage Knot holds.
2. Love your Husband Christ, Canticles 2:5. love him, though he be reproached and persecuted: A Wife loves her Husband when in prison: To inflame your love towards Christ, consider, 1. Nothing else is fit for you to love: If Christ be your Husband, it is not fit to have other Lovers, that would make Christ grow jealous. 2. He is worthy of your love; he is of unparalleled beauty, Canticles 5:10. altogether lovely. 3. How pregnant is Christ's love towards you? He loves you in your worst condition, he loves you in affliction: The Goldsmith loves his gold in the Furnace: he loves you notwithstanding your scars and blemishes: The Saints' infirmities cannot wholly take off Christ's love from them, Jeremiah 3:1. Oh then how should the Spouse be endeared in her love to Christ! This will be the excellency of Heaven, our love will then be as the Sun in its full strength.
3. Rejoice in your Husband Christ; has Christ honoured you to take you into the Marriage-Relation, and make you one with himself? this calls for joy: By virtue of the Union, believers go sharers with Christ in his riches. It was a custom among the Romans, when the Wife was brought home, she received the Keys of her husband's house, intimating, that the treasure and custody of the house was now committed to her: When Christ shall bring his Bride home to those glorious Mansions which he is gone before to Prepare for her, John 14:2. He will deliver up the keys of his treasure to her, and she shall be as rich as heaven can make her; and shall not the Spouse rejoice, and sing aloud upon her bed? Psalm 149:5. Christians, let the times be never so sad, you may rejoice in your spiritual Espousals, Habakkuk 3:17. Let me tell you, it is a sin not to rejoice; you disparage your Husband Christ. When a wife is always sighing and weeping, what will others say, This woman has a bad husband: Is this the fruit of Christ's love to you, to reflect dishonor upon him? A melancholy spouse saddens Christ's heart: I deny not but a Christian should grieve for sins of daily incursion, but to be always weeping (as if he mourned without hope) is dishonourable to the Marriage-Relation, Philippians 4:4. Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoicing does credit your husband; Christ loves a cheerful Bride; and indeed the very end of God's making us sad, is to make us rejoice; we sow in tears, that we may reap in joy: The excessive sadness and contristation of the godly, will make others afraid to embrace Christ, they will begin to question whether there be that satisfactory joy in Religion as is pretended: Oh ye Saints of God forget not consolation, let others see that you repent not of your choice; 'tis joy that puts liveliness and activity into a Christian, Nehemiah 8:10. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Then the soul is swiftest in duty, when it is carried upon the wings of joy.
4. Adorn this Marriage-Relation, that you may be a crown to your husband. 1. Wear a veil. We read of the spouse's veil, Canticles 5:7. This veil is humility. 2. Put on your Jewels. These are the graces, which for their lustre are compared to rows of Pearl, and chains of gold, Canticles 1:10. These precious Jewels distinguish Christ's Bride from strangers. 3. Carry yourselves as becomes Christ's Spouse. 1. In chastity. 2. In sanctity.
1. In chastity: Be chaste in your judgments, defile not yourselves with error, error adulterates the mind, 1 Timothy 6:5. 'tis one of Satan's artifices, first to defile the judgment, then the conscience.
2. In sanctity: It is not for Christ's Spouse to do as Harlots; a naked breast, a wanton tongue, does not become a Saint; Christ's Bride must shine forth in Gospel-purity, that she may make her husband fall in love with her. A woman being asked what Dowry she brought her husband, answered, she had no Dowry, but she promised to keep herself chaste: so though we can bring to Christ no Dowry, yet he looks we should keep ourselves pure, not spotting the breasts of our Virginity by contagious and scandalous sins.
FINIS.
Song of Songs 2:16. My beloved is mine, and I am his.
In the book of the Song of Songs, the love of Christ and His church rushes toward each other like a great torrent.
The text has three general parts.
- 1. A term of affection: my beloved. - 2. A declaration of possession: is mine. - 3. A holy surrender: I am his.
Doctrine: There is a union between Christ and believers that is like a marriage.
After treating marriage at length, the apostle ends the chapter with this: Ephesians 5:32: This is a profound mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church. What could be closer than union? What could be sweeter? There are two kinds of union with Christ.
1. A natural union. All people share this, since Christ took on human nature — not the nature of angels, as Hebrews 2:16 says. But if this natural union is all there is, it gives little comfort. Thousands are condemned even though Christ is united to human nature in general.
2. There is a sacred union, by which we are mystically united to Christ. This union is not personal in the sense that Christ's divine being merges into the believer's person. If Christ's essence were poured into a believer's person, it would follow that everything the believer did would earn merit before God.
But the union between Christ and a saint is of a different kind.
1. It is covenant-based. My beloved is mine. God the Father gives the bride; God the Son receives the bride; God the Holy Spirit ties the knot. He binds our wills to Christ and Christ's love to us.
2. This union is one of power and influence. Christ unites Himself to His bride through His graces and the flow of His life into her. John 1:16: From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Christ makes Himself one with the bride by conveying His image and stamping the impression of His own holiness upon her.
This union with Christ may rightly be called mystical, for the manner of it is difficult to describe. Just as it is difficult to explain how the soul is united to the body, so it is difficult to explain how Christ is united to the soul. But though this union is spiritual, it is real. Nature often works imperceptibly yet truly, as Ecclesiastes 11:5 says. We do not see the clock hand moving on the face, yet it moves. The sun draws up the vapors of the earth invisibly, yet really. So the union between Christ and the soul, though it cannot be seen by human reason, is real. 1 Corinthians 6:17.
Before this union with Christ, there must be a separation. The heart must be separated from all other loves. Just as in marriage there is a leaving of father and mother — Psalm 45:10: Forget your own people and your father's house — so there must be a leaving of our former sins and a breaking of the old alliance with hell, before we can be united to Christ. Hosea 14:8: Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? Or as the Hebrew puts it: with sorrows. The sins that were once regarded as lovers have now become sorrows. There must be a divorce before there can be a union.
The purpose of our marriage union with Christ is twofold.
1. Dwelling together. This is one purpose of marriage — to live together. Ephesians 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts. It is not enough to visit Christ occasionally in the ordinances — hypocrites may do that. There must be a mutual companionship. We must dwell on thoughts of Christ. 1 John 3:24: He who dwells in God. Married persons should not live apart.
2. Fruitfulness. Romans 7:4: You should belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, so that we may bear fruit for God. The bride brings forth the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. Galatians 5:22. Barrenness is a shame in Christ's bride.
This marriage union with Christ is the most noble and excellent union of all.
1. Christ unites Himself to many. In ordinary marriages, one person is taken. But here, millions are taken. Otherwise, poor souls might cry out: Christ has married Himself to that person — but what does that mean for me? I am left out. But no — Christ marries Himself to thousands. It is a holy and chaste union of many. The multitude of persons does not defile this marriage bed. No poor sinner who comes with a humble and believing heart is excluded from being united to Christ.
2. In this holy marriage there is a closer union than any other marriage can achieve. In ordinary marriages two become one flesh, but Christ and the believer become one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17: He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Since the soul is more excellent than the body and capable of far greater joy, this spiritual union brings in astonishments and delights that no earthly marriage can equal. The joy that flows from the mystical union is unspeakable and full of glory, as 1 Peter 1:8 says.
3. This union with Christ never ends. Three times blessed and more — are those held together by an unbroken bond.
Other marriages come to an end. Death cuts the marriage knot. But this union is eternal. You who are once Christ's bride will never be a widow again. Hosea 2:19: I will betroth you to Me forever. To put it rightly — our marriage with Christ begins precisely where other marriages end: at death.
This life is only the engagement. Among the Jews there was a set period between betrothal and marriage — sometimes a year or more. This life is only the betrothal and the engagement. Promises are made on both sides, and love flows secretly between Christ and the soul. He gives some glimpses of His face, and the soul sends up sighs and drops tears of love. But all this is only the preparation and the beginning of what is to come. The glorious completion and celebration of the wedding is reserved for heaven. There is the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:9, and the bed of glory filled with love — where the souls of the elect will find endless satisfaction. 1 Thessalonians 4:17: Then we will always be with the Lord. So death only begins our marriage with Christ.
Application 1: If Christ is the head of the mystical body, as Ephesians 1:22 says, then this doctrine cuts off the Pope. That man of sin usurps this prerogative, claiming to be the head of the church, and in doing so defiles Christ's marriage bed. What blasphemy this is! Two heads is a monstrosity. Christ is head as He is husband. There is no deputy husband, no substitute in His place. The Pope is the beast of Revelation. To make him the head of the church — what would that be but to place the head of a beast on the body of a man?
Application 2: Since there is this marriage union with Christ, let us examine whether we are truly united to Him.
1. Have we chosen Christ as the object of our love? And is this choice grounded in genuine knowledge of Him?
2. Have we consented to the union? It is not enough that Christ is willing to have us — are we willing to have Him? God does not force salvation upon us in such a way that we receive Christ whether we want to or not. We must be willing to receive Him. Many people approve of Christ but never give their consent. And this consent must be —
1. Pure and genuine — we consent to have Christ for His own worth and excellence. Psalm 45:2: You are more beautiful than any of the children of men.
2. It must be an immediate consent. 2 Corinthians 6:2: Now is the accepted time. If we put Christ off with delays and excuses, He may eventually stop calling. His Spirit will strive no longer. And then, poor sinner, what will you do? When God stops wooing, your troubles begin.
3. Have we received Christ? Faith is the bond of the union. Christ is joined to us by His Spirit, and we are joined to Him by faith. Faith ties the marriage knot.
4. Have we surrendered ourselves to Christ? That is what the bride in the text does: I am his. As if she were saying: everything I have is for Christ's use and service. Have we made this surrender? Have we given up our will and our very name to Christ? When the devil tempts us, do we say: we are not our own — we belong to Christ? Our tongues are His; we must not pollute them with oaths. Our bodies are His temple; we must not defile them with sin. If this is true of us, it is a sign that the Holy Spirit has worked this blessed union between Christ and us.
Application 3: Since this mystical union exists, from it we may draw many conclusions.
1. See the dignity of all true believers. They are joined in marriage to Christ. This is not merely resemblance but union — they are not only like Christ but one with Christ. This honor belongs to all the saints. When a king marries a beggar, she is by virtue of that union ennobled and brought into the royal family. Wicked people, by contrast, are united to the prince of darkness, who settles hell on them as their inheritance. But the godly are divinely united to Christ, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, as Revelation 19:16 says. By virtue of this sacred union, the saints are raised above the angels. Christ is the angels' Lord, but He is not their husband.
2. See how blessed a marriage the saints have. They are united to Christ, who is the best husband. Song of Songs 5:10: The greatest among ten thousand. Christ is a husband who has no equal — first for tender care, and second for passionate love.
1. For tender care: no bride could be as concerned for her own soul and reputation as Christ is for hers. 1 Peter 5:7: He cares for you. Christ deliberates and plans constantly about how to advance the work of our salvation. He manages all our affairs and tends to our business as if it were His own — and indeed He has a stake in it. He brings fresh supply to His bride. If she strays from the path, He guides her back. If she stumbles, He steadies her. If she falls, He lifts her up. If she grows dull, He quickens her by His Spirit. If she is stubborn, He draws her with cords of love. If she is sad, He comforts her with promises.
2. For passionate love: no husband compares to Christ in love. The Lord says to His people, I have loved you. And they respond: In what way have You loved us? Malachi 1:2. But we cannot say that to Christ. Christ has given real and undeniable demonstrations of His love to His bride. He has sent her His Word, which is a love letter. He has given her His Spirit, which is a love token. Christ loves more than any other husband ever could.
1. Christ places on His bride a richer robe. Isaiah 61:10: He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has wrapped me in the robe of righteousness. Wearing this robe, God looks upon us as if we had never sinned. This robe is as truly ours to justify us as it is Christ's to give. This robe does not merely cover — it adorns. Wearing it, we are counted righteous — not merely as angels, but as Christ Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:21: That we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2. Christ gives His bride not only His golden garments but His image. He loves her into His own likeness. A husband may love his wife deeply, but he cannot stamp his own image on her. If she is disfigured, he may give her a veil to cover it, but he cannot place his own beauty upon her. But Christ imparts the beauty of holiness to His bride. Ezekiel 16:14: You were beautiful because of the splendor I gave you. When Christ marries a soul, He makes it beautiful. Song of Songs 4:7: You are altogether beautiful, My love. Christ never considers He has loved His bride enough until He can see His own face reflected in her.
3. Christ pays debts no other husband can. Our sins are the worst debts we carry. All the angels pooled together could not pay a single one of them. But Christ frees us from all of them. He is both husband and guarantor. He says to divine justice, as Paul said about Onesimus: If he owes you anything, charge it to me — I will repay it. Philemon 19.
4. Christ has suffered more for His bride than any husband ever suffered for a wife. He endured poverty and shame. The One who crowned the heavens with stars was Himself crowned with thorns. He was called a companion of sinners, so that we might be made companions of angels. He did not cling to His life. He leaped into the sea of His Father's wrath to save His bride from drowning.
5. Christ's love does not end with His life. He loves His bride forever. Hosea 2:19: I will betroth you to Me forever. No wonder the apostle calls it a love that surpasses knowledge. Ephesians 3:19.
3. See how rich believers are. They are united to the crown of heaven, and by virtue of this marriage union all of Christ's riches flow to them. Sharing flows from union. Christ shares His graces. John 1:16. As long as Christ has them, believers will never lack. And He shares His privileges — justification and glorification. He settles a kingdom on His bride as her inheritance. Hebrews 12:28. This is the key to the apostle's paradox. 2 Corinthians 6:10: As having nothing, yet possessing all. By virtue of the marriage union, the saints have a share in everything Christ has.
4. See how serious a sin it is to harm the saints. It is an injury done to Christ, because believers are mystically one with Him. Acts 9:4: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? When the body was being attacked, the Head in heaven cried out. In this sense people crucify Christ afresh, as Hebrews 6:6 says — because what is done to His members is done to Him. If Gideon took vengeance on those who killed his brothers, as Judges 8:21 records, will not Christ be far more certain to avenge those who wrong His bride? Would a king tolerate having his treasury plundered, his crown thrown in the dirt, his queen executed? Will Christ endure the insults and injuries done to His bride? The saints are the apple of Christ's eye, as Zechariah 2:8 says. Those who strike at His eye must answer for it. Isaiah 49:26: I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine.
5. See why the saints rejoice so much in the Word and the sacraments — because there they meet with their husband Christ. A wife desires to be in her husband's presence. The ordinances are the chariot in which Christ rides, the lattice through which He looks and shows His smiling face. There Christ displays the banner of His love, as Song of Songs 2:4 says. The Lord's Supper is nothing other than a pledge and down payment of the eternal communion the saints will have with Christ in heaven. Then He will take His bride into His arms. If Christ is so sweet in an ordinance — when we catch only brief and partial glimpses of Him by faith — then how delightful and overwhelming will His presence be in heaven, when we shall see Him face to face and be forever in His loving embrace?
4. This mystical union provides great comfort to believers in various situations.
1. Comfort in the face of the world's scorn and unkindness. Psalm 55:3: In their anger they hate me. But though we live in an unkind world, we have a kind husband. John 15:9: As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. What angel could fully understand how the Father loves the Son? Yet the Father's love for Christ is the pattern and measure of Christ's love for His bride. This love of Christ exceeds all created love as far as the sun outshines a candle. Is this not cause for comfort? Whatever the world may think of me, Christ loves me.
2. Comfort in the face of weakness in grace. The believer can barely hold on to Christ — his grip is trembling. He struggles under a spirit of weakness. But O weak Christian — Here is strong encouragement. There is a marriage union. You are the bride of Christ, and He will be gentle with you as the weaker partner. Will a husband divorce his wife because she is weak or ill? No — he will be all the more tender toward her. Christ hates faithlessness, but He will show compassion toward weakness. When the bride is faint and close to despair, Christ puts His left hand under her head, as Song of Songs 2:6 says. This is the bride's comfort when she is weak: her husband can pour strength into her. Isaiah 49:5: My God shall be my strength.
3. Comfort in the face of death. When believers die, they go to their husband. Who would not be willing to cross through death if it meant meeting Christ on the other side? Philippians 1:23: I desire to weigh anchor and be with Christ. What does the difficulty of the journey matter, when we are going to meet our dearest friend? When a woman is engaged, she longs for the wedding day. After the saints' funeral begins their marriage. The body is a prison to the soul — who would not trade a prison for a marriage bed? How glad Joseph was to leave prison for the king's palace. God in His wisdom allows us to face changes and hardships here, so that He may wean us from the world and make us long for heaven. When the soul is separated from the body, it is united to Christ.
4. Comfort on the day of judgment, when sentence is passed. There is a marriage union — and O Christian, your husband will be your judge. A wife need not fear being condemned in court when her husband is the judge. However many charges the devil brings against you, Christ will blot out your sins in His blood. He will say: Shall I condemn My own bride? What comfort this is! Christ cannot pass sentence against His bride without passing it against Himself, for Christ and His people are one.
5. Comfort in the face of the saints' sufferings. The church of God faces many hardships in this life, but she has a husband in heaven who is mindful of her and who will turn her water into wine. This is a time of mourning for the bride because the bridegroom is away, as Matthew 9:15 says. But soon she will put off her mourning. Christ will wipe the tears of blood from His bride's face. Isaiah 25:8: The Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.
Christ will comfort His bride after the time of her affliction. He will refresh her with His love. He will take away the cup of trembling and give her the cup of consolation. Then she will forget all her sorrows as she is brought into the banqueting house of heaven, with the banner of Christ's love spread over her.
5. Let me press several duties on those who are in this marriage union with Christ.
1. Make use of this relationship — in two situations.
1. When the law brings charges against you. The law says: here are so many debts that must be paid — and it demands satisfaction. Acknowledge the debt, but hand it over to your husband Christ. It is a principle of law that legal action cannot be taken against a wife as long as the husband is living. So tell Satan, when he accuses you: Yes, the debt is mine — but go to my husband Christ; He will settle it. If we took this approach, we would relieve ourselves of much inner turmoil. By faith we transfer the debt to our husband. Believers are not widows — they are wives. Satan will never go to Christ himself, for he knows that justice has been satisfied and the debt record has been cancelled. But he comes to us demanding payment, trying to distress us. We should send him to Christ — and then all his lawsuits would end. This is a believer's triumph: in himself he is guilty, but in Christ he is righteous. In himself he is stained, but in his head he is clean.
2. When Christ withdraws for a season: Christ may — for reasons best known to Himself — step aside for a time. Song of Songs 5:6: My beloved had turned and gone away. Do not conclude from this that He has left entirely. It is a mark of jealousy in a wife, when her husband has been away a little while, to assume he has gone for good. Whenever Christ goes out of sight, it is wrong for us to say — as Zion said — The Lord has forsaken me, as Isaiah 49:14 records. This is jealousy, and it wrongs the love of Christ and the beauty of this marriage. Christ may leave His bride in terms of felt comfort, but He will never leave her in terms of the union itself. A husband may be a thousand miles away from his wife, but he is still her husband. Christ may withdraw from His bride, but the marriage knot still holds.
2. Love your husband Christ. Song of Songs 2:5. Love Him even when He is reproached and persecuted. A wife loves her husband even when he is in prison. To kindle your love for Christ, consider three things. 1. Nothing else is worthy of your love. If Christ is your husband, it is not fitting to have other loves — that would stir Christ to jealousy. 2. He is worthy of your love. He is of surpassing beauty. Song of Songs 5:10: altogether lovely. 3. How rich is Christ's love toward you? He loves you in your worst condition. He loves you in affliction. The goldsmith loves his gold in the furnace. He loves you despite your scars and blemishes. The saints' failures cannot fully turn Christ's love away from them. Jeremiah 3:1. How deeply then should the bride love Christ in return! This will be the glory of heaven — our love then will be like the sun at full strength.
3. Rejoice in your husband Christ. Has Christ honored you by bringing you into this marriage union and making you one with Himself? This calls for joy. By virtue of this union, believers share in all of Christ's riches. It was the custom among the Romans that when the wife was brought home, she received the keys to her husband's house — signifying that the household's treasury was now entrusted to her. When Christ brings His bride home to those glorious dwelling places He has gone ahead to prepare for her, as John 14:2 says, He will hand over the keys of His treasure to her. She will be as rich as heaven can make her. Should not the bride rejoice and sing for joy upon her bed, as Psalm 149:5 says? Christians, however dark the times, you may rejoice in your spiritual union with Christ. Habakkuk 3:17. Let me say plainly: it is a sin not to rejoice. Persistent gloom dishonors your husband. When a wife is always sighing and crying, people will say: this woman must have a cruel husband. Is this how you reflect Christ's love toward you? A mournful bride grieves Christ's heart. I do not deny that a Christian should grieve over daily sin, but to be always weeping — as if mourning without hope — dishonors the marriage. Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoicing honors your husband. Christ loves a joyful bride. In fact, the very purpose God has in allowing sorrow is to lead us to joy. We sow in tears so that we may reap in joy. The excessive gloom of the godly will make others afraid to embrace Christ. They will begin to doubt whether there is really such satisfying joy in religion as believers claim. O saints of God, do not neglect consolation. Let others see that you have no regrets about your choice. It is joy that brings energy and movement to a Christian. Nehemiah 8:10: The joy of the Lord is your strength. The soul is fastest in its duties when it is carried on the wings of joy.
4. Adorn this marriage relationship, so that you may be a crown to your husband. 1. Wear a veil. We read of the bride's veil in Song of Songs 5:7. This veil is humility. 2. Put on your jewels. These are the graces of the Spirit, which for their brilliance are compared to rows of pearls and chains of gold, as Song of Songs 1:10 says. These precious jewels distinguish Christ's bride from strangers. 3. Conduct yourselves as befits Christ's bride: 1. In purity of mind. 2. In holiness of life.
1. In purity of mind: keep your judgment clean. Do not defile your thinking with error. Error corrupts the mind, as 1 Timothy 6:5 says. It is one of Satan's strategies — first to corrupt the judgment, then the conscience.
2. In holiness of life: it is not fitting for Christ's bride to live as those who have no commitment to Him. Immodesty and a loose tongue do not become a saint. Christ's bride must shine with gospel purity, so that she brings beauty to her husband. A woman once asked what dowry she was bringing her husband. She replied that she had no dowry, but she promised to keep herself faithful. In the same way, though we bring no merit to Christ, He looks to us to keep ourselves pure — not staining the purity He has given us through shameful and scandalous sins.
THE END.
