Christ's Loveliness
Canticles 5.16. Yea, he is altogether lovely.
IN this book (which is a Divine Epithalamium or Marriage-Song) are all the strains of holy love set forth in the purest allegories and metaphors, such as do represent that dear affection and union between Christ, and his Church. The Text is nothing else but the breathing forth of the Spouse's love to Christ, He is altogether lovely, in the verses precedent she had made her sacred Panegyrics, and had been setting Christ forth in his spiritual embroidery.
Verse 10 He is white and ruddy, verse 10. This denotes the excellency of complexion; in him is a mixture of the purest colors; he is of unspotted beauty.
—Niveo natat ignis in ore purpureus—
The chiefest among ten thousand. The Hebrew word is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. The Standard-Bearer among ten thousand; The Standard is a Warlike Ensign, and he who did bear the Standard in ancient times, was the most eminent person in the Army; so Christ is the most glorious Person of renown, the Standard Bearer; According to that Isaiah 11.10. He shall stand for an Ensign of the People.
Verse 11 His head is as the most fine Gold, verse 11. Kings have crowns of Gold, Christ is described with a head of Gold. The Hebrew word [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] signifies, Shining Gold, or sparkling. To set forth the infinite resplendency of Christ's Beauty, it is of that sparkling luster, that the Angels are fain to wear a veil.
Verse 12 His eyes are as the eyes of Doves, verse 12. Christ is described with eyes like a flame of fire, Revelation 1.14. so indeed he hath to the wicked; He is a consuming fire; but to his Children he hath Doves eyes; which are the emblem of meekness; he hath eyes dropping tears of love and compassion.
Verse 13 His Cheeks are as a bed of Spices verse 13. There is an Aromatic perfume comes from him to refresh a fainting soul. Some Expositors understand this Bed of Spices to be meant of the fragrancy of his virtues, which are in Scripture compared to sweet ointments.
Thus the Spouse goes on deciphering Christ's Beauty; at last being in a holy rapture of spirit, She winds up all with this Epiphonema, or passionate strain of affection, His mouth is most sweet, yea he is altogether lovely.
His mouth is most sweet; The Chaldee paraphrases it, the words of his Palate are sweet as honey; in the Hebrew it is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] His mouth is Sweetnesses. That mouth must needs be sweet which hath the words of eternal life. That mouth must needs be sweet, a kiss of whose lips can make death sweet to a Believer: well might the Spouse say, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, Canticles 1.2.
— Dulcior hyblaeo cujus fluit ore venustas Nectare, concinnusque lepos—
Yea, he is altogether lovely, as if the Spouse had said, what do I go to set Christ forth in his several parts, his Head of Gold, his Eyes like doves, his hands as Gold rings set with the Beryl, his Belly as bright Ivory overlaid with Sapphires, etc. alas, What is all this that I have been speaking of Christ? how barren is my invention, how dull are my expressions, whatever I have said of him falls infinitely short of his worth, but this I affirm, he is altogether lovely.
The word in the original is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] he is all made up of loves and delights, ipse totus desideria, he is all that may excite desire. So Jerome and Ambrose render it; he is composed of sweetness, and amiableness, so Gregory Nyssen.
The text you see contains a glorious and magnificent description of Christ; He is altogether lovely. Behold here a spring full of the water of life, and whosoever brings his vessel hither, a heart fit to receive this water, may be refreshed, as the woman of Samaria coming to Jacob's Well, for Christ is here. The text is a sacred Cabinet which contains in it, first the Jewel, Christ, in this word He; secondly, the Price of this Jewel, altogether lovely.
Doctrine. The truth resulting from the Words is this, That Jesus Christ is infinitely and superlatively lovely.
He is the most amazing, and delightful object; the very name of Jesus Christ is as a precious ointment poured forth. It is said that the Letters of this Name were found engraven upon Ignatius's heart; Jesus Christ is in every Believer's heart, Colossians 1.23. Christ in you; and nothing can do better there, for he is altogether lovely.
This whole book of the Canticles is bespangled with the praises of Christ. Homer might praise Achilles, Jerome might commend Nepotian, but who can set forth Christ's praise? all that I can say, will be no more than the dark shadow in the Picture; and yet it will be so much as may represent him very lovely. That Christ is thus transcendently lovely will appear four manner of ways.
By 1. Titles. 2. Types. 3. Resemblances. 4. Demonstrations.
1. By Titles, which are so many jewels hung upon his crown; he is called, The desire of all Nations, Haggai 2.7. The Prince of peace, Isaiah 9.7. The holy one of God, Acts 2.27. Elect, precious, 1 Peter 2.6. These are lovely Titles.
2. By Types; he was prefigured by such Types, as were very lovely, and these Types were either of persons or things.
1. Christ was typified by persons most lovely. I will name but three.
1. He was prefigured and typified by Moses. He was a person of Renown in Israel, whom the Lord knew face to face, Deuteronomy 34.10. Moses did type out Christ in four things;
1. In his Natural beauty, he was a goodly child, Exodus 2.2. Josephus saith Moses was so fair, that he drew the eyes of all to him, and that those who had seen him were so amazed at his beauty, and did feed upon it with such delight, that they were unwilling to look off again. And herein he was a Type of Christ in whom are all sparkling beauties to be found; he is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]altogether lovely.
2. Moses was a Type of Christ in his Education; he was bred up a while at Court, and (as Josephus saith) Pharaoh's Daughter set a Crown of Gold upon his Head; but leaving the Court he went and lived in the Land of Midian, Exodus 2.15. so Christ left the Royal Court of Heaven to come and live in the World.
3. Moses was a type of Christ in his Office; he was a Prophet, Deuteronomy 34.10. and there arose not a Prophet since in Israel like unto Moses. He acquainted Israel with the mind of God, he gave them the two Tables of the Law. So Jesus Christ is a Prophet, Luke 24.19. he reveals to his people the mysteries of salvation, He unseals the Book of God's decree, and makes known his Will, Revelation 5.5. He is counted worthy of more glory than Moses, Hebrews 3.3.
4. Moses was a Type of Christ in his Noble Acts; 1. he was a Deliverer of the people from the Egyptian furnace, he was a temporal Savior. So Jesus Christ, his Name [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] signifies a Savior Matthew 1.21. He shall save his people from their sins.
2. Moses was an intercessor for Israel and turned away the Wrath of God from them, Numbers 14. So Christ is the Saints' Advocate, Romans 8.34. Who also maketh intercession for us.
2. Christ was typified by David.
1. David was a King, So is Christ adorned with Regal power, he is a King to govern his people, Revelation 15.3. and to conquer his enemies, Psalm 110.1.2. David was a man after God's own heart. This did prefigure Christ in whom God was well pleased, Matthew 3.17.
3. Christ was typified by Solomon. 1. In his Name[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], which signifies peaceable; so Christ is called the Prince of peace, Isaiah 9.7. This the Angels proclaimed at his incarnation, Luke 2.14. Peace on earth; all his wars tend to peace; he gives that peace which passeth all understanding. 2. Solomon typified Christ in his government: His was a most flourishing Kingdom, 2 Chronicles 9.22. King Solomon, passed all the Kings of the earth in riches; so Christ's Kingdom is very glorious, all his subjects are made Kings; he reigns in heaven and earth, and of his Kingdom is no end. 3. Solomon typified Christ in his Wisdom; he was the Oracle of his age, 1 Kings 4.31. He was wiser than all men. So Christ received the unction from his Father; he had a spirit of wisdom and holiness poured upon him without measure, John 3.34 Isaiah 11.2. Behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Thus Jesus Christ was prefigured by those persons who were most lovely.
2. Christ was typified by Things most lovely. I will instance only in five. Type 1. 1. Christ was typified by the pillar of cloud and fire, which was Israel's guide and conduct in the Wilderness, Exodus 13.21. This did typify Christ our pillar of cloud, who guides our feet into the way of peace, Luke 1.79. The cloud was unerring, for God was in it; such is Christ, who is the way, and the truth, John 14.6. How lovely is this pillar to behold?
Type 2. 2. By the Manna. This pointed at Christ. He is like the Manna in three things.
1. The figure of Manna was circular, Exodus 16.14. There lay a small round thing, etc. The circle is a figure of perfection; this typed out Christ in whom is all perfection.
2. The Manna was a meat prepared for Israel in an extraordinary manner; so the Hebrew word (from whence Manna seems to be derived) signifies to prepare. Manna was a meat cooked and dressed in heaven; God himself prepared it, and then served it in; Thus Jesus Christ was like Manna, he was prepared and set apart by his Father to the blessed work of mediatorship, Hebrews 10.5. A body hast thou prepared me
3. The Jewish Rabbis say, Manna suited itself to every one's palate; whatever he desired, that he found in Manna; so Jesus Christ suits himself to every Christian's condition; he is full of quickening, strengthening, comforting virtue. What fools are they that prefer the earthly mammon before this heavenly Manna!
Type 3. 3. By the mercy-seat which was a sacred emblem or hieroglyphic representing the mercy of God to his people; there the Lord did give forth his Oracles and answers of peace to his people, Exodus 25.22. There will I meet thee, and I will commune with thee, etc. This mercy-seat was a type of Christ; in, and through whom God is appeased towards us. Therefore he is called [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], a Propitiation, Romans 3.25. O how lovely is this mercy-seat! We could not speak to God in prayer, nor would he commune with us, were it not for this blessed propitiatory. The Hebrew word for mercy-seat, signifies a Covering, to show that in Christ the sins of believers are covered.
Type 4. 4. Christ was prefigured by the brazen Serpent, Numbers 21.9. The brazen Serpent resembled Christ two ways. 1. It was made like a Serpent, but it was no real Serpent; so Christ was in the likeness of sinful flesh, Romans 8.3. but he was not a sinner; he was made sin, but he knew no sin. Christ was as void of sin, as the brazen Serpent was of a sting.
2. When the people of Israel were stung by the fiery Serpents, verse 6. then whosoever did look upon the brazen Serpent were cured. Thus when sin stings the souls of men (for it is a Serpent with five stings, it stings men with guilt, shame, horror of conscience, death, the curse of God.) Now Christ that brazen Serpent being looked upon with a penitent believing eye, Zechariah 12.10. cures these deadly stings. Oh how lovely is this brazen Serpent! many of the Jews (saith Tostatus) worshipped the Serpent of brass; let us in our hearts adore this brazen Serpent the Lord Jesus.
Type 5. 5. Christ was typified by Noah's Ark, which saved Noah and his family from the flood. Thus when the wrath of God, as a deluge, overflows the wicked, Christ is the Ark in which the believer sails above those bloody waves, and is preserved from drowning. And is not the Lord Jesus lovely? all these types did but serve to shadow forth the divine excellencies of Christ, and render him amiable in our eyes.
3. That Christ is thus lovely, appears by those things to which the Scripture doth resemble him. He is compared to things most illustrious. There are seven lovely resemblances of Christ in Scripture,
1. He is resembled to a Rose, Canticles 2.1. I am the Rose of Sharon. The Rose is Regina florum; the Queen of flowers: it is most delicious for color and scent; to show that fragrant perfume which Christ sends forth. All Roses, though beautiful, have their prickles; only the Rose of Sharon excepted; so sweet is this Rose of Paradise, that it makes us become a sweet savor to God, Ephesians 1.6. This Rose is semper vivens, it never loses its color or fragrancy, and is it not very lovely?
2. Christ is resembled to a Vine, John 15.1. The Vine (as Pliny says) is the noblest of plants; to this is Christ compared. Oh what lovely clusters grow upon this Vine! the fruits of Justification, Sanctification, etc. These bunches of grapes hang upon the Lord Jesus. We are beholden to this Vine, Hosea 14.8. From me is thy fruit found; nay, Christ excels the Vine. For, 1. Though there be many things in the Vine tree besides the fruit useful, the leaves, the gum, the ashes of the Vine; yet the wood of the Vine is useless, Ezekiel 15.3. Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? now herein Christ is more lovely than the Vine-tree; There is nothing in Christ but is useful. We have need of his human nature; we have need of his divine nature; we have need of his offices, influences, privileges; there is nothing in this Vine we can be without. Oh how blessed are the branches of this Vine. The Virgin Mary was saved, not by bearing the Vine, but by being engrafted into the Vine.
3. Christ is resembled to a cornerstone, 1 Peter 2.6. and that in two respects 1 The whole weight of the building lies upon the corner-stone; so the weight of our salvation lies upon Christ, 1 Corinthians 3.11, 12. 2. The corner-stone does unite and knit together both parts of the building; so when God and man were at variance, Christ, as the corner-stone did unite them together, yea, and did cement them with his own blood. Oh how lovely and precious is this stone?
4. He is resembled to a Rock, 1 Corinthians 10.3. That Rock was Christ. He is a Rock in a threefold sense. 1. He is a Rock for offence. The Rock breaks the waves; the Church being built upon Christ, all the adversaries that come against her are like a ship coming full sail against a Rock. 2. A Rock for defence; the Dove hides in the rock, Canticles 2.14. O my Dove in the clefts of the Rock. Christs wounds are the clefts of the Rock where the believing soul, This Dove hides itself. 3. A Rock for comfort; and that two ways, 1. The rock is a screen to shade off the heat; so Christ is called, Isaiah 32.2. a shadow from the heat; he shades a poor sinner from the scorchings of Gods wrath. 2. Honey came out of the Rock, Isaiah 32.13. He made him to suck honey out of the Rock, and oil out of the flinty Rock. The honey of the promises, and the oil of gladness comes out of this blessed rock.
5. Christ is compared to a river in a dry ground, Isaiah 32.2. When by nature we are as a scorched heath, dry and barren, Christ sends forth the sacred influences of his Blood and Spirit, making us like the fields of Sharon, full of moisture and fertility, and are not these silver streams lovely?
6. Christ is resembled to a Rich treasury. Riches are lovely in mens eyes, Ephesians 3.8. The unsearchable riches of Christ; the Angels can never dig to the bottom of this golden Mine. Christ has the true monopoly, because he has those riches as are nowhere else to be found. The riches of his merit, the riches of his Spirit. Christ has a partnership with the Father, John 16.15. All that the Father has are mine: He is crowned with the Riches of the Deity. Alexander regarded not the Kingdom of Macedonia, when he heard of the riches of India; a Christian will in a manner despise all other riches when he has Christs Riches, Philippians 3.8.
7. Christ is resembled to a beautiful Robe, Isaiah 61.10. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. Jerome interprets it of Christ: His righteousness is a lovely Robe; no Robe of gold, or Ermine wherewith Kings are invested is so honorable as this: in this robe we shine as Angels in Gods eyes; The High-Priests glorious vestments; Exodus 28.2. the Mitre, the Robe, the Ephod of Gold, and the breastplate of precious stones, did all but serve to set out the beautiful garment of Christs righteousness wherewith a believer is adorned. Thus Christ appears lovely in these several resemblances, which can but faintly shadow out his beauty.
4. Christs loveliness appears by demonstrations; these two in particular. He is lovely 1. In himself. 2. In the account of others.
He is lovely in himself, and that five manner of ways. 1. He is lovely in his person; and that, 1. As he is man, Psalm 45.2. Thou art fairer than the children of men. The Hebrew word is emphatical in the form, it denotes excellency of beauty: For though it be said he has no comeliness, Isaiah 53.2. that was in regard of his afflictions, which did so disfigure, and as it were draw a veil over his glory, yet certainly the person of Christ was incomparably fair, as Jerome and Chrysostom observe; and if his body on earth was so beautiful, what is it now in heaven? The Apostle calls it a glorious body, Philippians 3.21. If Christ can make a Lily of the field more beautiful than Solomon in all his glory, how fair is he himself? how white is that Lily which grows in Paradise?
2. Christs person is lovely as he is God-man. He may not unfitly be compared to Jacobs ladder, Genesis 28.12. which reached from earth to heaven; Christs human nature which was the foot of the ladder, stood upon the earth; his divine nature, which was the top of the ladder, reached to heaven. The Arians and Socinians deny his Godhead, as the Valentinians do his manhood. If the Godhead be in him he must needs be God, but the Godhead shines in him, Colossians 2.9. In him dwells All the fullness of the Godhead; and to confirm us in this truth, let us consult with those Scriptures which do clearly assert his Godhead, 1 Corinthians 8.6. To us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and Philippians 2.6. who being in the form of God; which is as much (says Basil) as to exist in the essence of God, 1 Timothy 3.16. God was manifest in the flesh, and 1 John 5.20. We are in him that is true, even in his son Jesus Christ, THIS IS THE TRUE GOD. Besides these testimonies of Scripture which do expressly assert the Godhead of Christ, it may be clearly demonstrated by those incommunicable properties belonging to the Deity which are ascribed to Christ, and are the flowers of his Crown.
As, 1. Omnipotency, Hebrews 1.3.
2. Omnisciency. Mark 2.8.
3. Ubiquity, Matthew 28.20.
4. Power of sealing pardons, Matthew 9.6.
5. The mission of the holy Ghost, John 16.7.
6. Coequality with God the Father, Philippians 2.6. both in power, John 5.19, 21. and dignity, John 5.23.
Thus we see his Godhead proved; and as he is God-man, he is altogether lovely. He is the very picture of his fathers glory. Therefore he is called the express image, and character of his person, Hebrews 1.3. The very effigies and print of Gods face is seen in Christ, the glory of Gods wisdom, holiness, mercy does most transparently shine forth in him. Thus his person is lovely.
2. Christ is lovely in his disposition. A good nature is able to render deformity itself lovely. Christ is lovely, not only in his complexion, but in his disposition; He is of a loving and merciful disposition, and in this sense may be called deliciae humani Generis. It is reported of Marcus Aurelius the Emperor, that he was of a most affable winning temper, given to clemency, and every day he would set one hour apart to hear the causes of the poor. Thus Jesus Christ is of a most sweet disposition, He will not always chide, Psalm 103.9. He is inclinable to show mercy to the penitent. He delights in mercy, Micah 7.18. He invites sinners to come to him, Matthew 11.28. he begs of them that they would be saved, 2 Corinthians 5.20. he knocks at their hearts by his Spirit, till his head be filled with dew, and his locks with the drops of the night, Revelation 3.20. If any poor soul accepts of his offer, and does arise, and go to him, how does Christ welcome him. Christ makes the Feast, Luke 15.23. and the Angels make the music, verse 7. But if men will not receive the tenders of grace, Christ grieves, Mark 3.5. He is like a Judge that passes the sentence with tears in his eyes, Luke 19.42. And when he came nigh the City, he wept. Ah sinners, I come to save you, but you put away salvation from you. I come with healing under my wings, but you bolt out your Physician; I would have you but open your hearts to receive me, and I will open heaven to receive you, but you will rather stay with your sins and die, than come to me and live, Psalm 81.11. Israel would none of me. Well sinners, I will weep at your Funerals; Oh how lovely is Christ in his disposition! he comes with his suppling oil to pour into sinners wounds; He would fain break their hearts with his mercies, He labors to overcome their evil with his good.
3. Christ is lovely in his sufferings; when he did make expiation for our sins; but what, lovely in his sufferings? lovely when he was buffeted, spit upon, besmeared with blood? O yes, he was most lovely upon the cross, because then he showed most love to us; He bled love at every vein; His drops of blood were love-drops. The more bloody, the more lovely. The more Christ endured for us, the more dear he ought to be to us. Osorius writing of the sufferings of Christ, says, that the crown of thorns bored his head with seventy two wounds; and Tully when he comes to speak of the death of the Cross, shows his rhetoric best by an Aposiopesis, or silence; what shall I say of this death? Though a great Orator, he wanted words to express it.
Nor did Christ only endure pain in his body, but agony in his soul. He conflicted with the wrath of God; which he could never have done, if he had not been more than a man. We read that the Altar of wood was overlaid with brass, that so the fire on the Altar might not consume the wood, Exodus 27.1, 2. This Altar was a type of Jesus Christ. The human nature of Christ, which was as the wood, was covered with the divine nature, which was like the brass, else the fire of Gods wrath had consumed it; and all this Christ suffered was nostra vice, in our stead, Isaiah 53.5. We eat the sour Grape, and his teeth were set on edge: We climbed the tree, we stole the forbidden fruit, and Christ goes up the ladder of the Cross and dies. Oh how lovely ought a bleeding Savior to be in our eyes? Let us wear this blessed crucifix always in our heart. Crux Christi clavis paradisi. The Cross of Christ says Damascen, is the golden key that opens Paradise to us. How beautiful is Christ upon the Cross: The ruddiness of his blood took away the redness of our guilt. How lovely are those wounds which wounded the red Dragon; When this blessed rock was smitten, water came out of it to cleanse us, and blood to cheer us, 1 John 5.6. When Christ was on the Cross (says Bernard) jam fuit vitis amputata. Now the Vine was cut, and salvation came to us in the blood of the Vine; Oh how lovely is this bleeding Vine! Christs Crucifixion is our Coronation.
4. Christ is lovely in his Graces; his graces as a divine embroidery did bespangle and set him off in the eyes of the world. Grace was not in Christ as a quality, but essence; as light is intrinsical to the Sun, and is of the essence of it. Christ did open a box of precious perfume, and because of the savors of his ointments the Virgins love him; In Christ there was a constellation of all the graces; how did he shine in Wisdom, Humility, Zeal, heavenly mindedness; and which did not a little adorn him, HIS MEEKNESS. How lovely was Christ in this grace!
1. He came into the world Meek, Matthew 21:5. Behold thy King cometh meek. He came not with a Sword, or Scepter in his hand, but with an Olive-branch of peace in his mouth; He preached tidings of peace. Though he was the Lion of Judah, yet he was the Lamb of God.
2. When he was in the world, he was a pattern of meekness, 1 Peter 2:23. When he was reviled, he reviled not again. He left his Father's bosom (that hive of sweetness) to come and live here; and truly, he exchanged his palace for a dung-hill; how oft was he called a friend of sinners, nay, he was charged to have a devil, but see how mildly he answers; (This Dove had no gall) John 8:49. I have not a Devil, but I honor my Father. All his words were steeped in honey.
3. When he was going out of the world, he showed unparalleled meekness. He prays for his enemies. Father forgive them, Luke 23:34. When the soldiers came to take him by force, one would have thought he should have called for fire from heaven, as the man of God did, 2 Kings 1:10. But behold, Grace was poured into his lips; see what a mild answer he gives, enough to have made the hardest heart relent, Matthew 26:55. Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves to take me? What wrong (I pray) have I done you? What have I stolen from the world, but their sins? What have I robbed them of, but the wrath of God? Oh the mildness of this Savior! Surely had not the soldiers' hearts been very hard (for in the whole story of Christ's passion, I do not read of one soldier converted; there was a thief indeed converted, but no soldier) Christ's meekness would have melted them into tears of repentance. When he was led away to be crucified, he went as a Lamb to the slaughter, He opened not his mouth, Isaiah 53:7. He opened his sides, but not his mouth in repinings; and was not Christ lovely in his meekness? No wonder the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the likeness of a Dove; not a Lion, or Eagle, but a Dove, which is the emblem of meekness.
5. Christ is lovely in his conversation. What was said of Saul and Jonathan, 2 Samuel 1:23. They were lovely in their lives; is much more true of Christ. His life (saith Chrysostom) was purer than the Sunbeams. All the Ethics of Aristotle, all the wisdom of Greece could never so describe virtue as it was lively portrayed out in Christ's holy example. His life was a fair copy; never did any one write without blotting besides Christ; he is called a Lamb without spot, 1 Peter 1:19. His lips did never speak a word amiss. Luke 4:22. All bore him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Thus were his lips like Lilies, dropping pure myrrh, Canticles 5:13. His foot did never tread a step awry. He who was a way to others, did never go out of the way himself. He was so pure that no temptation could fasten upon him. Temptation to Christ was like the throwing a burr upon a crystal glass, which will not stick, but glides off. The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me, John 14:30. There was no powder for the devil's fire to take. What was Christ's whole life but a pattern of good works! He went about doing good, Acts 10:38. He was either anointing the blind, or healing the sick, or raising the dead; either preaching, or working miracles. Thus he was altogether lovely.
2. Christ is lovely in the account of others. Three ways.
He is lovely, 1. To God his Father, 2. To the Saints, 3. To the Angels,
1. Christ is lovely to God his Father. God is infinitely taken with him. Christ is called the Rose of Sharon, and how doth God delight to smell to this Rose! Isaiah 42:1. My elect in whom my soul delights. Surely if there be loveliness enough in Christ to delight the heart of God, there may well be enough in him to delight us. Christ is the center where all the lines of his Father's love do meet,
2. Christ is love in the account and esteem of his Saints, 2 Thessalonians 1:10. He shall be admired of all them that believe. He is admired now, and he shall be more admired of them. Well may the Saints admire to see Christ sitting in the bright Robe of their flesh above the Angels in glory. Well may they admire to see their nature united with the Deity. O how lovely and beautiful is this sight! Well may Christ be admired of his Saints.
3. Christ is lovely in the esteem of the Angels. They adore him, Hebrews 1:6. And let all the Angels of God worship him. The Cherubims which did represent the Angels, are painted with their faces looking upwards, to show, that the Angels in heaven all are still looking upward, as admiring, and being ravished with the amazing beauties of Jesus Christ.
Use. 1 Use 1. Information. And it hath three Branches.
1. Behold here as in a Scripture-glass the transcendent excellencies of the Lord Jesus, He is altogether lovely, here is a fair prospect set before us. I wonder not that Paul, that Seraphic Saint, desired to know nothing, save Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:2. What would he know more? He is altogether lovely; No wonder the Apostles left all and followed him, Matthew 19:27. Had I the tongue of Angels I could never set forth Christ in all his lively and lovely colors. Besides what hath been said, take a further view of Christ's lovely excellencies in three particulars.
1. He is our light. Light is a glorious creature, Ecclesiastes 11:7. Truly the light is sweet; The light pulls off the veil, and draws aside the dark curtains of the night, making every thing appear in its fresh colors. Thus Jesus Christ is lovely; He is called that true light, John 1:9, and the bright morning star, Revelation 22:16. When the soul is benighted with ignorance, Christ is the morning-star that enlightens it. He is the Sun of righteousness, Malachi 4:2. This Sun of righteousness is more glorious than that in the Firmament. 1. The Sun in the firmament riseth and sets, but the Sun of righteousness, when it once riseth upon the soul in conversion, never sets finally upon him; it may pull in its beams, when the clouds of our sin come between, but it comes out of the cloud again, (as it did to David) it never sets finally. 2. The Sun in the Firmament only shines upon us, but the Sun of righteousness shines within us, Galatians 1:16, but when it pleased God to reveal his Son in me. The Sun in the Firmament shines only upon our faces, but the Sun of righteousness shines in our hearts, 2 Corinthians 4:6. God hath shined in our hearts: How sweet are these beams! 3. The Sun in the Firmament shines only in the day-time, but the Sun of righteousness shines in the night. In the night of desertion, and affliction this Sun shines; Psalm 112:4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness. Oh how lovely is this Sun of righteousness! By the bright beams of this Sun we see God.
2. Christ is our food. He is not only lovely to the eye, but to the taste, John 6:55. My flesh is meat indeed. This is Princely fare; it was never prepared for the Angels, but for us. 'Tis lovely feeding here; All the rarities of heaven are served in this dish.
And my blood is drink indeed; This blood is better than wine. 1. Wine may be taken in excess; Noah took too much of the Grape; but it is otherwise with the wine of Christ's blood; there is no fear of excess here. Though a drop be sweet, yet the more we drink, the better; the deeper, the sweeter! Drink yea, drink abundantly O beloved, Canticles 5:1. Excess here makes us sober! 2. Wine, though it cheers the heart, yet at some times, if it be taken, it may be hurtful; give wine in a Fever and it is as bad as poison. But this wine of Christ's blood is best in a Fever. When the heart burns as hot as hell in the sense of God's wrath, and is, as it were, in a spiritual Agony and Fever; now a drop of Christ's blood doth allay the inflammation, and sweetly refresheth the soul, 'tis lovely drinking at this fountain.
3. Christ is our life, Colossians 3:4. When Christ who is our life shall appear. Life is sweet; life makes every thing comfortable. In this the Devil said true, Skin for skin, yea all that a man hath will he give for his life, Job 2:3. A man will cast the plate and jewels overboard to save his life; he will lose a leg or an arm, to preserve the vital parts—Ut serves vitam ferrum patieris, & ignem.—Is life lovely, and is not Christ who is our life lovely? He was typified by the tree of life in the Garden, Genesis 2:9. That tree was Symbolical (as Austin saith) it was a pledge and sign of life, if man had continued in obedience. It was certainly a lovely tree, but it was only a type of Christ, who is called The tree of life, Revelation 2:7. This tree of life the Lord Jesus is a better tree than that which grew in Paradise; Adam's tree in Paradise might preserve life, but it could not prevent death; there was dying for all that; but this tree of life, Jesus Christ, prevents death, John 11:26. Whosoever believeth in me shall never die; that is, not die the second death, Revelation 2:14. This blessed tree is an antidote against death. If there were a tree to be found in the world that could preserve men from dying, how far would they go on pilgrimage? What vast sums of money would they give for one leaf of that tree? Such a tree is Christ, he will keep you from dying, and is not this tree very lovely? In particular, there is a threefold life flows from Jesus Christ. 1. The life of grace, John 1:16. Of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace. This life is gemma aeternitatis; a bud of eternity, 'tis a life purchased for us by Christ's death. 2. The life of comfort, which is the cream of life, John 16:22. Your heart shall rejoice. This is an holy jubilation of Spirit; so sweet and ravishing is this joy, that if David, when he had lost his joy, had lost also his crown, and God had put the question to him, which of these two he would have restored, David would have said, Lord, restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, Psalm 51:12. Rather my comfort, than my Crown. 'Tis Hilary Term with a Christian while these joys last. 3. The life of glory, John 17:22. This is the most noble life; this is to live the life of Angels, nay to live the life of God; 'Tis the highest elevation, and perfection of the reasonable creature, and may we not cry out with Chrysostom; What more lovely than Christ, from whom these golden streams of life flow? Oh that all this might make him amiable in our eyes!
What should we admire? What should we rejoice in, but Christ? Christ's beauty, like his coat, is woven without seam. We read of Absalom, 2 Samuel 14:25. In all Israel there was none to be so praised as Absalom for his beauty, from the sole of his foot, even to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him. This may be far more truly applied to Christ. He is the mirror of beauty; the map of perfection, the Paradise of delight. He is the crown of the Gospel; if the Gospel be the field, Christ is the pearl hid in this field; If the Gospel be the Ring, Christ is the Diamond in this Ring. He is the glory of heaven, Revelation 21:23. The Lamb is the light thereof. Well might Saint Paul account all things dross and dung for Christ Philippians 3:8.
2. Branch. If Christ be altogether lovely, it shows us the true reason why men do not embrace Christ, namely, because they are ignorant of his beauty. A blind man doth not admire the colors in a rainbow; when the God of this world has blinded men's eyes, they see not any excellency in Christ; therefore they cry out as here the Watchmen did, What is thy beloved more than another beloved? verse 9. Men admire not this Sun, because the cloud of their ignorance comes between. Christ is a treasure, but a hid treasure; he is fairer than the children of men, but to a natural person he is like Moses with a veil upon his face. The men of the world see not the stupendous beauty of Christ. He doth not want worth, but they want eyes. Oh unhappy man (says Austin) who knows all things else but Christ; thy knowledge will but serve to light thee to hell.
Question. Question. But you will say to me, What, not know Christ? I hope we are better bred than so; has Christ been preached so long in our streets, and not know him?
Answer 1. Answer 1. I wish there were not many persons grossly ignorant of Christ, who understand nothing of his person, offices, privileges; A Reverend Divine told me, that not long since, he went to visit a neighbor of his Parish lying on his deathbed, a man fourscore years of age, one that came frequently to Church, and questioning with him what sin was, he said he knew not, and what Christ was, he told him he knew not; but says the Minister to him, if you do not know Christ, how do you think to go to heaven? His answer was this, If I cannot get to heaven, then I must stay by the way; Oh gross ignorance! Balaam's ass spoke better sense to the Prophet, Numbers 22.28.
That people have been very ignorant of Jesus Christ, appears by this, because they have been so inclinable to error, so greedy to drink in every new opinion as soon as the Devil has set it abroach.
Answer 2. But my second answer is this, whereas you say, can we be ignorant of Christ in this broad daylight of the Gospel? I say, a man may have excellent notions of Christ, and may be able to make an elegant discourse of him, and yet not know him savingly. Though he be not grossly ignorant of Christ, yet he may be spiritually ignorant. There is a threefold defect in the knowledge of most.
It is a speculation without Conviction. Affection. Operation.
It is a speculation without conviction. Men are not thoroughly convinced of the excellencies of Christ; John 16.8. and when he (that is the Holy Ghost) comes, he shall convince the world of sin.
Strange! Was not Christ in the world? Had not he made many Sermons about sin? It is true, he had, but the Jews were not yet convinced of it, therefore he shall send his Spirit to convince them. And of righteousness] why? Had not Christ told them that there was no righteousness to be found but in him, that they could graft their hopes of salvation upon no other stock besides? Yes, they had heard Christ say so, but they were not yet convinced; therefore the Spirit shall come and convince them. Hence I gather, that men may have a speculation of Christ, yet be ignorant of him, that is, not know him convincingly; and that they have not a convincing knowledge, is clear; for were they convinced in their conscience of the lovely excellencies of Christ, would they value a lust or trifle, would they with Judas, prefer thirty pieces of silver before him?
2. It is a speculation without affection; men have notions of Christ, but are not warmed with love to Christ. Their knowledge is like the Moon, it has light in it, but no heat. True knowledge of Christ is like fire to the ice, it melts it into water; so this knowledge melts the sinner into tears of love. I do the hypocrite no wrong to tell him he bears no true affection to Jesus Christ. There is a great deal of difference between the knowledge that the prisoner has of the Judge, and the knowledge that the child has of the parent. The prisoner knows the Judge, but has no affection at all to his person, his knowledge is joined with fear and hatred; but the child's knowledge of his parent is joined with affection, he loves to be in his presence. The hypocrite knows Christ as the prisoner does the Judge, or as the devils knew him, Mark 1.24. with a knowledge of horror and amazement, whereas true knowledge is filial; The affections are drawn forth in an inflamed manner after him. The Apostle has an elegant expression to set forth the nature of true knowledge, he calls it the savor of knowledge, 2 Corinthians 2.14. as a man tastes a savory sweetness in his meat. Hypocrites have no taste.
3. It is a speculation without operation. The knowledge that hypocrites have of Christ has no saving influence upon them, it does not make them more holy; it is one thing to have a notion of Christ, another thing to fetch virtue from Christ. The knowledge of hypocrites is scientia infrugifera, a dead, barren knowledge; it brings not forth the child of obedience. There is a great deal of difference between a Scholar that studies physic for the theory and notion, that he may have the rules of it lying before him, and one that studies Physic to practice; hypocrites are not practitioners; they are all head, no feet, they walk not in Christ, Colossians 2.6. Their knowledge is informing, but not transforming, it does not make them a jot the better, it leaves not a spiritual tincture of holiness behind: The flux of blood runs still, and such a knowledge is no better than ignorance, 1 John 2.4. He that says, I know him, and keeps not his Commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. A man may have a knowledge of speculation, and be no better than a Devil. And this is the reason why men do not embrace Christ who is infinitely lovely, because they know not his worth; though they are not grossly ignorant of Christ, yet they are spiritually ignorant. To this day the veil is upon their heart.
3. Branch, If Jesus Christ be so lovely, it shows us the misery of a man out of Christ. 1. That lives without Christ. 2. That dies without Christ.
1. Behold his misery that lives without Christ. He is very deformed and unlovely; for all loveliness flows from Christ. A sinner in the state of nature is like an infant tumbling in its blood, Ezekiel 16.6. Thou wert in thy blood. The Leper in the Law was but the sad emblem of a sinner. 1. The Leper was to live alone, as being unworthy to come into the congregation of the holy. 2. The Leper did wear three marks to be known by, his garments torn, his head bare, his mouth covered. 3. He was to cry unclean, unclean. This spiritual leprosy is upon every Christless sinner. Therefore a man in a state of unregeneracy is in Scripture compared to things most unlovely and unbeautiful. To a dog, Revelation 22.15. a swine, 2 Peter 2.22. a Viper, Matthew 3.7. a Devil, John 6.70. a sinner's heart is a poisoned spring; 'Tis like a piece of muddy ground which defiles the purest water that runs through it. The Heathen had this kind of notion ingrafted into them, for (as Authors report) they had their stone pots of water set at the doors of their Temple, where they used to wash before they went to sacrifice; a sinner is blind, Revelation 3.17. and the more blind, because he thinks he sees. He is dead; and though he may be decked with some moral virtues, this is but like strewing flowers upon a dead corpse, Ephesians 2.1. dead things have no beauty in them; a sinner out of Christ is a filthy excrementitious creature, he runs nothing but dregs, he is hell epitomized. There is no part of him sound, —Totum pro vulnere corpus. The man who had his running issue in his flesh, Leviticus 15.2. was but a type of a sinner who has the plague-sores of sin running upon him, 1 Kings 8.38. Oh how ghastly and deformed is every Christless soul! God loathes him, Zechariah 11.8. My soul loathed them. So abominable and unsavory is a sinner, that God stands afar off, Psalm 138.6. He will not come near the stench of him. The sinner is so deformed and diseased, that when he comes to be converted, the first thing he does, is to loathe himself, Ezekiel 36.31. Ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities. Thus unlovely is every person out of Christ. If he brags of his goodness, it is because he never yet looked his face in the glass of God's Word, that would discover his spots and blemishes.
2. Behold his misery that dies without Christ. Though Jesus Christ be so infinitely beautiful, the sinner shall see none of his beauty. Christ will put a veil upon his face, as Moses did when his face shined, Exodus 34.33. Nay, that is not all; though Christ be so lovely in himself, yet to an ungodly sinner he will be terrible to behold. A wicked man shall see nothing in Christ that is lovely. The Sun of righteousness will be eclipsed to him, his beauty will be changed into fury. The Lamb will be turned to a Lion. Christ's visage will strike the heart of a sinner with horror and amazement. King Ahasuerus was pleasant to Queen Esther to behold, when he held forth the golden Scepter, but how dreadful was his visage to Haman, when he arose from the banquet of wine in his wrath, Esther 7.7. His look did carry death in its face: So, though Christ be so lovely in himself, and full of smiling beauty to his Saints, yet to those who reject him, and die in their sins, O how ghastly and affrighting will his look be? His eyes will be as a flame of fire, Revelation 1.14. Christ is represented with a bow, and a crown, Revelation 6.2. Give me leave to allude. Christ will appear to the Saints with a crown, very lovely, and glorious to behold, but to the wicked he will appear with his bow, to shoot at them with the arrows of his indignation. We read, Psalm 97.2. clouds and darkness are round about him. To believers Christ will shine forth with his rays of Majesty and beauty, but to the wicked he will cover himself with a cloud of displeasure; This will be the hell of hell to the damned, they shall be shut out from a sight of Christ's glory, and shall behold only a sight of his wrath. They shall cry to the mountains to cover them from the face of him that sits on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, Revelation 6.16. The human nature of Christ, (says Jerome) will be as terrible to a sinner as the sight of hell fire.
Use 2 Use 2. Exhortation, 1. Branch. If Christ be so infinitely lovely, then let us labour to get a part in Christ, that the cursed deformity of our nature may be taken away, and the bespangled beauties of holiness may shine in us. 'Tis little comfort for the soul to say, Christ is altogether lovely, unless it can also say, My beloved is mine, Canticles 2.16. Ignatius cared not what befell him so he had Christ. Clear the interest. The ground of privilege is union. There are (says Bernard) many Christians who have nothing of Christ in them. Oh labour to be made one with Christ, to have Christ not only in your Bible, but in your heart; renounce your own beauty, all your parts, moralities, duties, these are a rotten bough to hold by, Philippians 3.9. That I may be found in him not having mine own righteousness. When Augustus Caesar desired the Senate of Rome to join some with him in Consul-ship, The Senate answered that they held it a great disparagement to him to join any Consul with him; So Jesus Christ takes it as a great disparagement to him, to join our Duties in equipage with his Merits. O sinner cast away your beggar's rags, that you may put on Christ's lovely robes. I would not take you off from duty, but from confidence in duty; Noah's Dove might make use of her wings to fly, but she did not trust to her wings, but to the Ark. A man makes use of his feet to go over a bridge, but he trusts to the bridge for safety; Christians while they walk with the feet of obedience, must trust to Christ as the bridge to lead them over the devouring sea of hell; in short, if you would get an interest in Christ, rely on Christ by faith, and resign up yourself to Christ by service. A believer with one hand receives Christ, with the other hand gives up himself to Christ. Christ says to a believer, with my body, yea with my blood I endow you, and a believer says to Christ, with my soul I worship thee. Oh Christian part with all for a part in this lovely Savior.
2. Branch. If Christ be thus full of sparkling beauties, then fall in love with this lovely object; and with the Spouse, be sick of love to Christ. Beauty doth draw love. Ministers are Paranymphi, friends of the bridegroom. This day I come a-wooing for your love. Love him who is so lovely. Let Christ lie as a bundle of myrrh, always between your breasts. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha, 1 Corinthians 16.22. Love (says Chrysostom) is the diamond that only the Queen wears, namely The gracious soul. Oh that all these surpassing beauties of Christ might kindle a flame of divine love in Christians' hearts. Christ is maxime diligibilis (as the Schoolmen speak) he is the very extract and quintessence of beauty, he is a whole Paradise of delight. He is the flower of Sharon enriched with orient colours and perfumed with the sweetest savour; Oh wear this flower, not in your bosom, but in your heart, and be always smelling to it; and show your love to this lovely Savior.
- 1. By the degrees of it. - 2. By the effects of it.
1. By the degrees of it. Love him above all other things; let him carry away the crown and the glory from the creature, 1. Love him plusquam tuos, more than your relations, Matthew 10.37. He who loves father and mother more than me, is not worthy of me. Nay, our love to relations must be hatred in comparison of our love to Christ, Luke 14.26. Great is our love to relations. The creatures void of reason teach natural affection; the young stork feeds the dam, and helps to carry her when she is old and can hardly fly. Children should exceed, and out-fly the stork in affection. There is a story in the French Academy of a daughter, who when her father was condemned to die by famine, she made means to get to him, and gave him suck with her own breasts, which being made known, she obtained his pardon; But Christ must be dearer to us than all; He must weigh heavier than relations in the balance of our affections; for, He is altogether lovely. If parents lie as a stumbling-block in our way to Christ, if they either come in competition with Christ, or stand in opposition against Christ, here odium in suos is pietas in Deum, We must either leap over them, or tread upon them.
2. Love Christ plusquam tua, more than your Estate. Gold is but shining dust, though it may be lovely, yet it is not altogether lovely. 1. Gold is worse than yourself, it is of an earthly extract. If you love anything, love something which is better than yourself; and that only is Christ, who is altogether lovely. 2. Riches avail not in the day of wrath, Proverbs 11.4. Riches are no lifeguard to defend us from divine fury; but how lovely is Christ who can screen off the fire of God's wrath from you; Oh then love him more than these perishable things. Christ's gleanings are better than the world's Vintage. Be not like Noah's Raven, which when it had found a carrion to feed on, cared not for returning home to the Ark. He that loses all for Christ, shall find all in Christ.
3. Love Christ plusquam te, more than your Life, Revelation 12.11. They loved not their lives to the death. They carried their sufferings as ensigns of their glory. They had pangs of love stronger than the pangs of death. Did the Curtii die for the Romans, the Codri for the Athenians, and shall not we be willing to lay down our lives for Christ who is so infinitely lovely?
2. Show your love to this lovely Savior by the Effects of love.
1. The first of love is desire of converse. Love is a transporting of the affections; Lovers desire to be often talking and conversing together before the Marriage day. Christ converses with the soul by his Spirit, and the soul converses with him by prayer, and meditation. The soul that loves Christ, desires to be much in his presence. He loves the Ordinances, he thinks it is good lying in the way where Christ passes by. Ordinances are vehicula salutis. The chariots of salvation. Christ rides into the Believer's heart in these chariots. Ordinances are convivium pinguium, the feast of fat things, Isaiah 25.6. The soul feasts with Christ here, Canticles 2.4. He brought me to the banqueting house, etc. In the Hebrew it is ad domum vini. He brought me to the house of wine. Word, Prayer, Sacraments are to a Christian The house of wine. Here, often Christ turns the water of tears into wine. How lovely is this house wine! The Ordinances are the lattice where Christ looks forth and shows his smiling face to his Saints. Christ's parents found him in the Temple, Luke 2:46. The soul that loves Christ, desires conference with him in the Temple.
2. Where there is love to Christ, there is sympathy. Friends that love do grieve and rejoice together. They have sympathizing spirits. Homer describing Agamemnon's grief when he was forced to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia brings in all his friends weeping with him, and accompanying him to the sacrifice in mourning. And I remember Aristotle in his Rhetorique spends almost a whole chapter upon this, proving a sympathy among friends. Lovers grieve together: Thus if we love Christ, we shall grieve for those things that grieve him, Psalm 119.158. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved. We shall grieve to see truth bleeding, Heretics increasing.—Victa jacet pietas—We shall grieve to see toleration setting up its Mast and Top-sail, and multitudes sailing in this ship to Hell. Toleration is the grave of Reformation. It was a charge drawn up against the Angel of Pergamos, that he had them there, (nestling and brooding,) who held the doctrine of Balaam, Revelation 2.14. By toleration we adopt other men's sins, and make them our own. I pray God this does not hasten England's Funerals. He who loves Christ will lay these things to heart.
3. He who loves Christ will endeavour to preserve his memory. Friends that bear respect will preserve the memory of those persons they love, by keeping their pictures, letters, love-tokens; sometimes by preserving their monuments. Herein Artemisia Queen of Caria showed an act of singular love to her husband Mausolus, for he being dead, she caused his body to be reduced to ashes, and to be mingled in her drink every day, so making her body a living Tomb to hold her dead husband. Thus the soul that loves Christ will be often eating his body and drinking his blood in the Sacrament, that he may remember Christ's death till he come. They that live without Sacraments show plainly that they have no love to Christ, because they do not desire to preserve his memory among them.
4. He that bears love to Christ, this lovely object, will not entertain any other Lovers; What have I to do any more with idols? Hosea 14.8. The Hebrew word is with sorrows: Indeed sin raises a tempest of sorrow in the soul, and he that is espoused to Christ has now changed his judgment, those sins he before looked upon as Lovers, now he looks upon as sorrows. He that loves Christ can look a temptation in the face and turn his back upon it. When Cyrus would have tempted the chaste wife of Tygranes, she took no notice of him, (though a King) she had a husband at home; When sin like Mercury's rod with a snake about it, would wind itself subtly into the soul, he that loves Christ dares not give it entertainment, he says all the rooms are taken up already for Christ, and a better guest cannot come, for He is altogether lovely.
3. Branch. If Christ be so lovely in himself, then you that profess Christ, labour to render him lovely in the eyes of others. And that two ways.
1. By commending him, and telling others of his beauty, that they may admire him. So the Spouse in this Chapter labours to portray and set him forth in his glory. My beloved is white and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand. Tell others that Christ is all marrow, all sweetness. He is the richest jewel in the cabinet of Heaven: Set up the trophies of his honour; triumph in his praises, that you may tempt others to fall in love with his person. The tongue is the Organ of praise; 'Tis pity the Organs are so oft out of tune, in murmuring and complaining; Oh let these Organs be still going, let our tongues sing forth the praises of him who is altogether lovely. Daughters of the blood Royal have the pictures of Kings brought to them, and by seeing the pictures, they fall in love with their persons, and are married to them; By our commendations of Christ, we should so paint out Christ to others, and draw his picture, that when they see his picture they may fall in love with him, and the match may be presently struck up.
2. Render Christ lovely in the eyes of others by adorning his Gospel, and walking worthy of Christ, Colossians 1.10. It is an honour to a Master to have good servants, and how does it proclaim Christ to be lovely, and glorious, when they that profess him are eminent for piety, 1 Peter 2.9? Christ appears lovely in the holy lives of his people.
Brethren, there are some persons among us whose scandalous impieties masked over with Religion, have made Christ appear unlovely in the eyes of others; it is enough to make men afraid to have any thing to do with Christ. As if he did abet men in their sin, or at least connive at them. The blood of some will not make reparation for the injury which their tears have done to Christ. I have read of certain images which on the outside were covered with gold and pearl resembling Jupiter and Neptune; but within nothing but spiders and cobwebs; and have not we many who have been covered with the gold and pearl of profession resembling the Saints of the most high, but within (as Christ says) full of all uncleanness, Matthew 23.27? insomuch that we may see the spiders creeping out of them; O that all who profess the Name of Christ might depart from iniquity, 2 Timothy 2.19. that they might set a Crown of honor upon the head of Christ, and make him appear lovely in the eyes of others.
Use ultimate. Use 3. Here is comfort to them who are by faith married to Christ; this is their glorious privilege, Christ's beauty and loveliness shall be put upon them. They shall shine by his beams. This is (as learned Davenant says) caput honoris, the apex and crown of honor; the Saints shall not only behold Christ's glory, but be transformed into it, 1 John 3:2. We shall be like him; that is, irradiated and enameled with his glory. Christ is compared to the beautiful Lily, Canticles 1:2. His Lily-whiteness shall be put upon his Saints. A glorified soul shall be a perfect mirror, or crystal, where the beauty of Christ shall be transparent. Moses married a blackamoor, but he could not make her fair; but whomsoever Christ marries, he alters their complexion, he makes them altogether lovely. Other beauty causes pride,—Fastus inest pulchris— but no such worm breeds in heaven. The Saints in glory shall admire their own beauty, but not grow proud of it. Other beauty is soon lost. The eye weeps to see its furrowed brows, the cheeks blush at their own paleness. Nec semper violae, nec semper lilia florent, Et riget amissis spina relicta rosis. But this is a never-fading beauty; age cannot wither it; it retains its glossiness, the white and vermilion mixed together to all eternity. Think of this, O ye Saints, who mourn now for your sins, and bewail your spiritual deformities (you are comely, yet black). Remember, by virtue of your union with Christ you shall be glorious creatures. Then shall your clothing be of wrought gold, then shall you be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework, and you shall hear Christ pronounce that blessed word, Canticles 4:7. You are all fair my love, and there is no spot in you.
