CANT. 2. 16.
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 An holy resignation, I am his.
Doct. That there is a conjugal union between Christ and beleevers.
The Apostle having treated at large of marriage, he windes up the whole chapter thus, Eph. 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, Heb. 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 Christs essence were transfused into the person of a beleever, then it would follow, that all which a beleever doth, should merit.
But the union between Christ and a Saint, is,
1 Faederal;1 my beloved is mine; God the Father gives the bride, God the Son receives the bride, God the Holy ghost tyes the knot in marriage; he knits our wills to Christ, and Christs love to us.
2 This union is vertual; Christ unites himself to his spouse, by his graces and influences, Iohn 1. 16. Of his fulness 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 shew 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, Eccles. 11. 5. we do not see the hand move on the Dial, yet it moves; the Sun exhales and draws up the vapours 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 Cor. 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, Psa. 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 wee can bee united to Christ, Hos. 14. 8. Ephraim shall say, what have I to do any more with Idols? or as it is in the Hebrew, with sorrows:2 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, Ephes. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts; it is not enough to give Christ a few complemental visits in his ordinances, hypocrites may do so; but there must be a mutual associating; we must dwell upon the thoughts of Christ, 1 Iohn 3. 24. he that dwelleth in God; married persons should not live asunder.
2 Fructification, Rom. 7. 4. That ye should […] 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, Gal. 5. 22. Barrenness is a shame in Christs 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 hath married himself to such an ones person, but what is that to me? I am left out; no, Christ marries himself to thousands; ‘tis casta polygamia, an holy and chaste polygamy; multitudes of persons doth not defile this marriage-bed; no poor sinner, but bringing an humble beleeving 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 beleever make one spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned 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 Pet. 1. 8.