festations of the "bleeding love" of Christ, which, in the midst of an otherwise miserable world, satisfy and comfort the Christian's heart. And-adopting the ingenious idea given above, respecting the emblems and mottoes worked by the daughters of Jerusalem for the inside of the royal couch-the communion of saints, with all the records and memorials they have left, testifying their own happy experience of the love of Christ and his faithfulness in the trying hour-their dying sayings especially, will be readily admitted to correspond with this storied lining of the bridal palanquin. But, to proceed with the counter-part of the allegory. While the eyes of these daughters of Zion are fixed upon the company which is conducting the Bride from the wilderness, and while they are employed in listening to the description of her conveyance, a cry is heard-" Behold the bridegroom cometh! Go ye out to meet him."-" Go forth and see, O daughters of Zion, King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him, on the day of his espousals, on the day of the gladness of his heart." In "Solomon," decked "in all his glory," in the character of "a bridegroom, coming out of his chamber" to meet his bride on her entrance into his capital, we have a type of our Lord and Saviour, when he shall welcome his redeemed to glory:when he shall welcome the departing saint to that mansion in his Father's house, which he has pre pared for him; and, especially, in that great day when he shall meet his whole church in the character of her Bridegroom. In the days of his flesh, our gracious Master prayed, and his prayer was heard; "Father, I will that those, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory"." The effect of this prayer the soul of the dying saint shall find when angels shall carry her to the Paradise of God. She departs to meet her heavenly Bridegroom. For to depart from the body is to be with Christ. And He who bought her with his precious blood, and has espoused her to himself, in righteousness, in loving kindness, and in mercy, will welcome her arrival. The effect of this prayer will be further seen, and the type we are considering receive its full accomplishment, when the whole assembled church of Christ shall receive their perfect consummation of bliss both in body and soul:— "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels"-" when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe"." We have a description of this great event under the same allusion in the nineteenth chapter of the Revelation: "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thun r John, xvii. 24. $2 Thes. i. 8-10. His derings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called THE WORD OF GOD. And the armies which were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean-and he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of KingS, AND LORD OF LORDS." On the head of the King of Zion, you are told, there are many crowns.-There is the regal crown. For a kingdom and dominion, which shall be for ever, is given to him.-There is the crown of victory. For he went forth conquering, and to conquer; and all his enemies are subdued under his feet. There is the crown of merit. For he is exalted above his fellows, "because he has loved righteousness, and hated iniquity"." But there is another crown which, in a particular manner, marks him out to the attention of his faith"Go forth and see, ful people—the bridal crown. O daughters of Zion, King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him," on the day of his espousals, on the day of the gladness of his heart. His faithful people will meet him on that day in the character of the Bridegroom of souls. -"Blessed and happy is he that shall be called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb." It is the day of the gladness of his heart. It is the day that brings the recompense of all the Redeemer's toil and trouble. To wear this crown, so great was his love to his church, he emptied himself of his glorious majesty, and became a man of sorrows, and suffered the bitterest agonies of death. To wear this crown was the joy set before him, for the sake of which he endured the cross, despising the shame. Contemplating him in the midst of his strange sufferings, the prophetic Spirit declared, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied"." And, as the good shepherd gathers, one by one, his scattered flock, we are told, that he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing." When the hour of their departure comes, again we read, the sight of the Lord is the death "Right dear in of his saints "." w Isai. liii. 11. * Luke, xv. 5. y Ps. cxvi. 15. |
