The Mystery of the Marriage Song, Exposition · Verse 3
Verſ. 3. Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, O moſt mighty: with thy Glory and thy majeſty.
In this verſe, Chriſt (whoſe Kingdom was typified by Davids) appears as an undaunted, victorious Captain, …r prince, having his ſword girt by his ſide ready for battel, as being aſſured of victory, Exod. 32.27. 1 Sam. 25.13. He is alſo deſcribed, Iſai. 63.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. as a Warrior red in his apparel, Travailing in the greatneſs of his ſtrength: …e Trampleth upon his enemies, and their blood is ſprin…led upon his garments; being clothed with a veſture …lipt in blood: out of his mouth goeth a ſharp Sword, with which he ſmiteth the Nations, and ruleth them with a …od of Iron, Rev. 19.13, 14, 15, 16.
Quer. If you aske what is meant by the Sword of Chriſt girt on his thigh:
Anſw. 'Tis his powerfull victorious word, wherwith he ſub…ueth his enemies, and bringeth down the mighty ones: This is called the Sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6.17. which cometh out of his mouth, Rev. 1.16. Hence we may obſerve,I Obſer. None can withſtand the ſharpe Sword of Chriſt.
That Chriſts ſword, with which he fights his battels, is ſo ſharpe, and keen, that (though the miniſter be but weak,) yet …f Chriſt himſelfe draw out and brandiſh this Sword in the greatneſs of his ſtrength, none can withſtand, but every … ſhall fall under it, either for life or death, ſalvation or … demnation. 2 Cor. 2.15, 16.
The ſtouteſt man will languiſh and ſink, when … power of this ſharp ſword falls on him: he may be down the words of a man like himſelf, but there is … ſtanding before the ſword of the Almighty. Matth. 21.…. If the Lord Jeſus back the white horſe, he ſhall go for conquering, and to conquer, Rev. 6.2. The Lord ſhall ſe… the rod of thy ſtrength out of Sion: Rule thou in the mi… of thine enemies. The Lord at thy right hand ſhall ſtr… thorow Kings in the day of his wrath, Pſal. 110.2, 5, Our weapons are mighty through God, for pulling do… ſtrong-holds, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Word is quick and powerful, ſharper then any two-edged ſword, &c. Heb. 4.12.
Ʋſe 1 Firſt then, this informs us that the Scripture or Wo… of Chriſt is not a dead letter, but a ſharp ſword: If … make not alive, it will kill: now that which is dead it ſel… cannot kill another. As the rain doth accompliſh that … which it is ſent; ſo ſhall my Word, (ſaith the Lord) Iſai. ….10, 11. Nor is this Word in it ſelf to be abſtractively comdered, as ſeparated from the Spirit; for then it ſhould b… humane, not a divine teſtimony; a weak, not a powerful Word: but it is powerful, Heb. 4.12. whether we ha… ſpiritual experience of the power of it or no. The Sun… full of light, though a blinde man cannot ſee it. A ſha… ſword is of a cutting nature, though the dead man be i… ſenſible of it. So 'tis here.
Uſe 2 Secondly, Pray that God would gird his ſword by h… ſide, and ſend forth his Word with power, that it ma… pierce, ranſack, and wound the rotten hearts and conſciences of men, and diſcover to them that core of Corruption which lies at the bottom; the heart being deceitful above all things, and deſperately wicked, Jer. 17.9. Oh that this ſword of the Spirit, this ſharp and powerful ſword might (whilſt you read or hear this Word) meet wi… your ſecret corruption, pride and hypocriſie, and diſcover and anatomize your hearts to you, that you ma… loath your ſelves, whom you have loved too much. … the Lord whet and ſharpen this ſword, it ſhall do … Repent, or elſe I will come to thee quickly, and will fight againſt thee with the ſword of my mouth, (ſaith the Lord to Pergamos) Rev. 2.16.
Ʋſe 3 Thirdly, Since Chriſt hath ſuch a ſharp victorious …ord, we may be confident that he will be too hard for … enemies in the end, yea the moſt potent of them, …ough he bear with them long. God and man are an …equal match. If this ſharp ſword cut not off the luſts … men, it will riſe up in judgement againſt their ſouls. …oſe mine enemies that would not that I ſhould reign …er them, bring hither, and ſlay them before my face, …ke 19.27. he ſhall ſmite the earth with the rod of his …outh, and with the breath of his lips ſhall he ſlay the …cked, Iſa. 11.4. The Lord will come with a flaming …ord, in flaming fire to take vengeance on them that …ow him not, and that obey not the Goſpel. 2 Theſſ. 1.8. …e Joh. 3.19. Heb. 2.2, 3. Heb. 12.25.
It followeth, [O most mighty] or, O mighty One; or, Champion: this is one of Chriſts titles, Iſa. 9.6. Hence note,
That Christ is the mighty One, II Obſerv. Chriſt is the mighty One, able to perform his Word.who is ſufficiently able to do …d execute whatſoever he promiſeth or threatneth. He is …ehovah, that giveth a being to his Word: compare Gen. 6.13. Gen. 18.1. Gen. 32.1. Hoſ. 12.6. Exod. 3.5. Joſh. ….2. Zech. 2.12. Zech. 3.1, 2.
If he ſpeak the word, it ſhall be done: help is laid upon one that is mighty, Pſal. 89.19. he ſpeaketh in righteouſneſs, and is mighty to ſave, Iſa. 63.1. mighty in deed and in …ord, before God and all the people, Luke 24.19.Reaſ. why was neceſary that Chr. ſhould be the mighty One.
It was neceſſary he ſhould be the mighty Champion, for theſe Reaſons:
Reaſ. 1 First, That he might fully compenſate, and ſatisfie the …ſtice of the mighty God, for ſin; which a meer creature …ould not do, but onelyonly his Blood who was the mighty God, Acts 20.28.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, That he might be ſupported, and not ſink under his unparallel'd ſufferings and agonies; having …one on earth to aſſiſt him; his country-men, diſciples, …nd relations, either deſerting, or being not able to help him. Iſa. 63.5.
Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, Becauſe he was to overcome and conquer …trong and mighty enemies, the World, Sin, Satan, Death, …nd all the powers of hell and darkneſs. Joh. 16.33. Heb. 2.14. Col. 2.15. 1 Joh. 3.8. This argueth him to be mighty, the Almighty One.
Reaſ. 4 Fourthly, Becauſe he was to impetrate and procure us great and glorious bleſſings; which none could but the mighty God. 1 Theſſ. 5.9. Eph. 1.3, 14. Heb. 19, 20.
Uſe. 1 To apply this: Is Chriſt the mighty One, that d… out his ſharp ſword againſt his and our enemies? Let then learn to imitate him, in maintaining a continual … againſt the devil and his party, till they be utterly … dued, and brought under our feet; which is promi… Rom. 16.20. And that we may fight it out victoriouſly us put on the whole Armour of God; for we wreſtle againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt principalities powers, Eph. 6.11, 12. All true believers are ſouldie… Chriſts camp: they all hold ſwords, being expert in … every man hath his ſword upon his thigh, Cant. 3.8. … lowing their victorious captain, Heb. 12.2, 3.
Uſe. 2 Secondly, Chriſt being the mighty One, we ſhould the ſenſe of our own weakneſs and inability, have … courſe to him, before whom all our enemies ſhall be … tered as duſt before the winde, Pſal. 18.42. and in wh… we are more then conquerors, Rom. 8.37. When we … with ſtrong and mighty corruptions, which like the … of Zeruiah are too ſtrong for us; and with great and … ficult duties and ſufferings, which we cannot perform … undergo, by inherent ſtrength: let us be ſtrong in … Lord, and remember that his mighty power is engag… for us, Eph. 6.10. and that when we are weak in … ſelves, then are we ſtrong in him, 2 Cor. 12.9, 10. … worketh mightily and effectually in us, Col. 1.29. Eph. 1.… 2 Cor. 13.3. Gal. 2.8. I can do all things (ſaith the Apoſtle) through Christ which ſtrengthneth me, Phil. 4.13.
Again, [With thy glory and thy majestie] or, with thy glorious majeſtie. Chriſt is the King or Lord of Glory, P… 24.7, 10. Joh. 17.5. 1 Cor. 2.8. who is decked with maje… and excellencie, and arayed with glory and beauty, … 40.10. Pſal. 104.1. the whole earth is full of his glo… Num. 14.21.
Obſerve hence,III Obſerv. The ſpiritual Chriſtian beholds Chr. Divinity for his ſalvation.
…at thoſe perſons to whom Christ is ſpiritually revealed, …hold the power, and majestie, and glory of his Godhead, …eir ſalvation.
…hriſt ſheweth himſelf in magnificent and ſtately e…age, as a mighty glorious Monarch: The ſpiritual …ſtian eyes him, not onelyonly in a ſtate of humiliation, that is not to be neglected, or laid aſide in the exerof our faith) but alſo in his Majeſtie and glorious …raignty. Through the veil of the humanity or fleſh …hriſt, he beholds the glory of the Divinity, Heb. 10. We beheld his glory, as the glory of the onelyonly Begotof the Father. No man hath ſeen God at any time, onelyonly begotten Son which is in the boſom of the Father, … revealed him. Joh. 1.14, 18. 2 Cor. 4.6.Five Inferences drawn from this doctrine
Hence we may draw four or five practical Inferences:
Infer. 1 Firſt, That we ought not to terminate our faith and …e in and upon the humane nature of Chriſt. This …e to know him after the fleſh, 2 Cor. 5.16. nor will … foundation ſupport the weight of the building, but …re to aſcend higher, and caſt our anchor upon that …ch is within the veil, that it may be ſure and ſtedfaſt, …. 6.19. God was in Chriſt reconciling us, 2 Cor. 5.19. … offered up himſelf in the eternal Spirit, Heb. 9.14. …s was that which dignified his Croſs and Sufferings: … was put to death in weakneſs, but raiſed in power. …im we believe in God, who raiſed him up, and gave … glory, that our faith and hope might be in God, 1 Pet. ….1. Our life is hid with Chriſt in God, Col. 3.3.
Infer. 2 Secondly, We may infer that there are riches of glory …he myſtery of Chriſt. Without controverſie, great is … myſtery of godlineſs, God manifeſted in the fleſh, …im. 3.16. The Lord maketh known to his Saints what …he riches of the glory of this Myſtery, which is Christ …ou the hope of glory, Col. 1.27. Theſe riches of glo… …hould make us contemn and ſet at naught the riches … glory of the world. The more we live upon the one, … leſs we ſhall minde the other.
Infer. 3 Thirdly, That 'tis our duty to eye Chriſt in the glory … majeſtie of his aſcenſion from his ſtate of abaſement on earth. David's going up with the Ark from the … of Obed-Edom, to Sion, with joy and ſhouting, a … did but ſhadow forth Chriſt's glorious aſcenſion: he … deſcended to take our nature, is now aſcended, and e… ed in glory and majeſtie above his and our enemies. … 4.10. Pſal. 68.18. and we ſit together with him in heavenly places, Eph. 2.6.
Infer. 4 Fourthly, Hence thoſe Chriſtians may draw com… who have not the riches and glory of this world, but … poor and deſpicable. What then? you have a Head … Husband who is decked with majestie and glory: an… David ſaid in another caſe, Seemeth it a ſmall ma… unto you, to be the Spouſe of ſuch a glorious Husband Oh do not repine, for your lot is fallen in pleaſant … ces, you have a goodly heritage, Pſal. 16.6. and let … take heed how they deſpiſe thoſe whom the Lord of … hath owned, be they never ſo mean and obſcure in … world.
Infer. 5 Lastly, The majeſtie and glory of Chriſt ſhould … forth brightly in our converſation, ſo as to dazle … convince the world, Matth. 5.16. Phil. 2.15, 16. T… is much majeſtie in holineſs: were we more holy, wa… ful, heavenly minded, our converſation would dart f… more majeſtie and glory. Communion with the Lor… glory, puts a luſtre upon the ſpirit and converſation … man: but alas, this is much wanting. The time was, … a profane wretch could not ſtand before a godly man, … ving much of the Spirit of glory reſting upon him, 1 … 4.14. but now, there is ſuch a ſlight, ſelf-ſeeking, an… tious, carnal, worldly ſpirit among us, that there ſe… to be little or no difference between the Saints and … men of the world. Where there is moſt holineſs, th… is moſt majestie. They are put together, Dan. 8.24. … mighty and the holy people.