Loves Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride, Treatise · Chapter 2 · Verse 16
Verſ. 16. My Beloved is mine, and I am his: he feeds among the Lillies.
Upon all the former ſpeeches of Chriſt, expreſſing his love and care of his Church, ſhe breaks forth here into a gloriation; not a vain one, as Haman's; nor a worldly one, as the rich Fool's; nor a wicked one, as Lamech's; nor a ſelf-one, as the Phariſee's; but a godly one, as the Apoſtle ſaies, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord. It is therefore in that ſweet and holy communion, which is betwixt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and her, and comfortable fruit which ſhe reaps thereby, wherein her felicity ſtands, that here ſhe glorieth, ſaying, My wel-beloved is mine, and I am his. Where we muſt note, firſt, That there is an union betwixt Chriſt and his Church, from whence cometh this communion; by which union he is her head, and ſhe is by the Spirit united to him, as his myſticall body; whence followes, that whatſoever is in him, it is hers; and therefore it is ſaid, That he is made unto us of God, Wiſdom, Righteouſneſſe, Sanctification, and Redemption. And more particularly, from this communion flowes theſe benefits: 1 He has taken upon him all our ſins and guiltineſſe, and ſatisfied the juſtice of God for the ſame. 2 He makes us partakers of his righteouſneſſe, which is made ours in juſtification. 3 He gives us alſo his Spirit of ſanctification, and all ſaving-graces neceſſary to ſalvation. 4 He gives unto us the ſenſe of God's love, true peace, inward joy, comfort in croſſes, courage againſt death, and victory over all our enemies. And 5 He ſympathizes with us in good or evill, and gives unto us right unto life everlaſting.
Her beloved then is hers, 1 By the Father's donation, Rom. 8. 32. 2 By this myſticall forenamed union, diverſly expreſt in Scripture. 3 By faith's application of his death, reſurrection, aſcenſion, mediation, &c. and benefits or comforts thereof. And 4 He ſhall be ours moſt comfortably, in that full fruition which we ſhall have of him, as our bleſſed Bridegroom at the laſt day, after the ſolemnization of our eſpouſalls, and entry with him into thoſe manſion-places of eternall glory.
She likewiſe is her beloved's; 1 By the Father's donation, Joh. 10. 29. 2 By creation. 3 By redemption. 4 By deſponſation. 5 By the bond of affection. And 6 By mutuall application, that as we by faith apply him to us, ſo likewiſe by holy obedience, as the imp to the ſtock, we comply to him, and apply our ſelves and whole endeavours, to pleaſe and honour him.
Thereafter ſhe expreſſes the delight, which the Lord Jeſus takes in this ſweet communion, and fellowſhip with his Saints, whom he here calls Lillies, as they are called, verſ. 2. to wit, That he feeds amongſt them, that is, he delights in them, and in their obedience to his will▪ as we are ſaid to feed our ſight, with ſuch objects wherein we delight; and as he counted it food unto him, or meat and drink to do his Father's will.
Obſervations.
1. We ſee here the Chriſtian's happineſſe, and, how poor ſoever in this world he be, yet what a great treaſure he has, when Chriſt is his, in whom all fulneſſe is, and who is Lord of all; whom if we have, as the Apoſtle reaſons, Rom. 8. 32. we are ſure of all other things, that God knowes to be for his glory, and our good.
2. We ſee, if Chriſt be ours, we muſt likewiſe be his; for there are many that would be content, that Chriſt ſhould be theirs, but they labour not to be Chriſt's again, by renewed obedience: But here we ſee, that we muſt be his, if we would have him to be ours; and, a true faith, as it applies Chriſt, ſo it makes one comply to Chriſt.
3. But mark the order, that Chriſt muſt firſt be ours, before we can be his, for without him, we can do nothing; and it is he who ſeeks the loſt ſheep firſt, and works in us both the will and the deed; ſo that till Chriſt give himſelf firſt to us, and come firſt to us, as he did to …azarus▪ lying in the grave, we will never be able to give our ſelves to him, or to be his by faith and renewed obedience.
4. If we be his, then it followes; 1 That we muſt not be Satan's, nor ſin's, nor the world's, nor ſuffer our affections to be ſet on any other, or any other to lord over us. 2 If we be his, great is our comfort herein, that he will count the wrongs done to us, as done to himſelf, or to her, who is one with himſelf; yea, he who touches ſuch, he has ſaid, that they touch the apple of his own eye. And 3 If the godly be his, then whatſoever good we do to ſuch, (this is our encouragement) we do the ſame to Chriſt himſelf, and his members, as he will profeſſe at the laſt day.
5. If Chriſt ſo delight in us, and in our obedience, that he feeds, as it were, amongſt us; how ſhould we in like manner delight in him, and his preſence, and be obedient to him; not grieving, and far leſſe quenching, his good Spirit, by whom we are ſealed to the day of perfect redemption?