Southwark:
PRINTED BY R. THOMAS, RED LION STREET, BOROUGH.
A SERMON.
Sol. Song, 8th Chap. last Verse.
Make haste, my Beloved, and be thou like to a Roe, or a young
Hart upon the Mountains of Spices.
This divine Poem, is designed by the Holy Spirit, to exhibit the love of God our dear Saviour, to his chosen people, with all the happy consequences of that eternal affection. The whole book is full of Christ, as the all in all of the Church, which he has purchased with his blood—the union subsisting between the elect head and chosen body. What Christ is to them, and they are to him, is strikingly set forth by many well-known metaphors. Perhaps there is nothing of greater importance in the Bible than the Union subsisting between Jesus and his Church, the whole Scriptures are full of it; all our salvation depends upon it. The highest idea of Union is that glorious oneness in the three Persons the adorable Trinity; that though they are distinct in Persons, Names and Offices, yet they are one in the divine incomprehensible Essence.
The next idea of Union is the hypostatical Union of God in our Nature: the Word made Flesh and dwelling among us. This is the mystery of Godliness. The Union between the head and members is the principal subject of this Song. That Christ and his People are one, is an everlasting truth, the date of it is eternal, it is indissolvable, it is mysterious, it is perfect, and will endure to all eternity. Hence it is compared to the Union that subsists between the foundation of a building and its superstructure. Christ is the foundation stone, the corner stone, the tried stone, and will be the top stone.
This Union is set forth by the metaphor of the head and the body, while the love that united both is set forth in this song, by the neck. The self-moving love of God will keep this body and head in eternal Union. This is also represented by the Vine and the Branches. I am the Vine, ye are the Branches. All our fruit depends on Union with this Vine—In me is thy fruit found. The scriptures shew this doctrine by the Union that subsists between the Husband and his Wife: this says the Apostle is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and his Church.
In consequence of this Union with Christ and his People, they become partakers of the same Spirit with him. He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. He took our nature, we take his spirit, and like the men of Judah, we have two parts in David. We are bone of bone, and flesh of his flesh; and the Apostle tells us, we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Christ being united to his Church, beholds it with admiration; highly commends her, and to shew how dear she is to him, he laid down his life for her, in the set time, to favor our souls. He subdues our enmity, melts our hearts, reconciles our wills, draws our affections to himself, and leads our faith to admire him, believe in him, rest on him, and be satisfied with him. He loves us, we love him; he chose us, we chuse him; he is delighted in us, we in him; he sought us, we seek him; he commands us, we commend him; he draws near to us, we draw near to him; he loves the company of his people, they desire his; he invites them to his arms, his house, his table, and to holy familiarity with him. His people seeing his glory, beauty, suitableness, and love, intreat him to visit them, to meet them, to abide with them, to be in them, walk with them, talk with them, and indulge them with his company. Thus the Union is mutual, and sweet communion is the blessed effect of it. The Saviour must see of the travail of his soul, in their complete conversion. He longs for their coming home, and they long to get home to see him, who is the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his Person. Under this sweet influence of the spirit of love, the Church breathes forth her earnest desires—Make haste my beloved, and be thou like to a Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountains of spices.
The first petition in this song is for clear manifestations of his love. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. And the last petition is the language of the text, the earnest desire to see his face. This is the Alpha and Omega of the Spirit’s teaching.
We shall first consider the object desired.—My beloved.
Secondly, Her earnest request, Make haste. And thirdly, The metaphor here made use of, Be thou like a Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountains of spices.