the procession for conducting the spouse of Christ into the presence of her Lord.

The solemnities of the Christian worship may, in the eye of an unbelieving world, and in the estimation of lukewarm professors of our holy religion, appear of small account; or they may exist as empty forms when the spirit and the power are gone; but "the friends of the Bridegroom," who delight to hear his voice, will, in their attendance upon these means of grace, often have "this their joy fulfilled"." All, indeed, who have the spiritual good of mankind at heart, must think highly of public ordinances; and as the honouring of Christ in the eyes of the world is one object of public worship, for this reason every thing which is considered among men as expressive of respect and veneration, ought to attend its celebration. All negligence and appearance of indifference is therefore highly blameable, and all affectation of abstracted spirituality, that would treat mankind as if they had no eyes, or as if their eyes affected not their hearts, is much to be reprehended in the conducting of public worship.

Amidst the solemnities of the most splendid ceremonial, however, with which either the Jewish or Christian congregation has at any time attempted to exhibit an acknowledgment of the government of the Almighty, or to set forth the praises of Redeeming Love, we know where the eyes of the heavenly a John iii. 29.

King would be fixed, with greatest delight and complacency-on that little knot of faithful worshippers, Israelites indeed, who appeared as the worshippers of God in spirit and in truth, in the midst of the formal multitude. But for the bride indeed, the marriage-ceremony were an empty pageantry. The daughter of Tyre may be there with a gift; even the rich among the people may entreat his favour. These are honourable circumstances.-But-" upon his right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir";" all besides is lost sight of in her presence: she only is noticed, she only is addressed.

"I compared thee, my partner, to the horse in the chariots of Pharaoh; most beautiful were thy cheeks with jewels, and thy neck with strings of beads." The bridegroom, as we have conjectured, means to declare, that the appearance of his bride in the late procession was, in his view, worthy to be compared with the most magnificent objects which the state of kings could furnish. And can we suppose that the Almighty Jesus looks with so great complacency upon any object in his earthly courts, or on the angels which excel in might attending his "twenty thousand chariots," as on his destined spouse, the purchase of his blood, clad before him in the garments of salvation, and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband"?

b Psal. xlv.

c Ps. lxviii. 17.

d Rev. xxi. 2.

I abstain from the description of these garments, and these ornaments, since in a subsequent parable we shall be expressly invited to consider them. Suffice it to say, that their whiteness, which "fears not the snow," results from this-that they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; that these ornaments upon the spouse of Christ, which seem so beautiful in his sight, consist not in "the wearing of gold or pearls, but in the hidden man of the heart, in that which is incorruptible"."

But how beautiful soever the espoused soul appears, even when covered with a Saviour's righteousness, and adorned with the fruits of the Spirit, the King thinks them not yet enough. "Borderings of gold will we make for thee, with pointings of silver.” Those whom Christ chooses and justifies, and whom he enables to adorn his doctrine with good works, he will also glorify. And though a merciful and affectionate Saviour sets a high value upon the fruits of his grace, as discerned at present in the hearts and lives of his people: though he is more gratified at the sight of the one lost sheep, which he has recovered with so great cost and labour, than of the ninety and nine that went not astray; yet, for the bride of the Lamb, in order to her appearing with him among the heavenly train,-" far above all principality"" and every name that is named,”— her present ornaments must be acknowledged as still unmeet and imperfect.

e 1 Pet, iii. 4.

He that has begun the good work, however, will finish it. Christ will present his redeemed "faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy "." As one anticipates, and one who, in the figurative language of the book before us, was indeed" beautiful with jewels, and his neck with strings of beads."-" Henceforth there is laid up for me in heaven a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all that love his appearing h.

""

"While the King was in his circuit, my nard emitted its fragrance." Having before us the assembly of the visible church of Christ engaged in his holy worship-to do him honour, and to celebrate his love, in this circle the King is present; “there am I in the midst of you." The sweet odours that greet his presence are the prayers and praises of his church'. And who so forward on these occasions to pour out their souls before the Lord, and to offer to him the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, as those who have received the special manifestation of his love? My lips," says one,

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"shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul which thou hast redeemed."-" Therefore will I praise thee and thy faithfulness, O God, playing upon an instrument of music; unto thee will sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel'."

f Phil. i. 6.

8. Jude, 24. Compare Lev. xxvi. 31. and Rev. v. 8. 1 Ps. lxxi.

h 2 Tim. iv. 8..

See Heb. xiii. 15.

"A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, it shall lie all night in my bosom. A cluster of

hennah is my beloved to me, from the gardens of En-gedi." The comparison of the constant recollection of a beloved object to a casket of perfume, or nosegay of sweetest flowers, placed in the bosom, and worn there continually, is exceedingly beautiful. The lover will perceive the propriety of the allusion:

"While the fond soul,

Wrapt in gay visions of unreal bliss,
Still paints th' illusive form—

-All nature fades extinct; and she alone
Heard, felt, and seen, possesses every thought,
Fills every sense, and pants in every vein."

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And if it be thus in respect of "the constant image of the creature that is beloved," shall not the spouse of Christ carry some such sweet and lasting savour from the sanctuary where she has seen the Lord? Have I not remembered thee upon my bed, and thought upon thee when I was waking m?" m?"-"Mine eyes prevent the nightwatches, that I might meditate in thy word"."—" I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food "."

Such are the views which the believer has of Christ, and to such communion, though the flesh is weak, the renewed spirit ever aspires; and when the energies which some late manifestation of m Ps. lxiii. n Ps. cxix. 148. • Job, xxiii. 12.