"I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ'." And how remarkable is the language of the same Apostle, when speaking of the duties of husbands and wives!" Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord; for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church; for we are members of his flesh, of his body, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

2 Cor. xi. 2.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and his church. Nevertheless, let each

one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself: and let the wife see that she reverence her husband"."

We perceive, therefore, that the allegory pursued in the Canticles, and understood by the Jews to be therein contained, is not unnoticed in the New Testament, but was an acknowledged simile in use among the Apostles of Christ.

It may be necessary, however, to observe, that even the human passion itself, which is allegorized in these sacred songs, as an emblem of the divine love, is totally unknown to some gross minds; and that all susceptibility of a real affection is often destroyed in others, at a very early age in life, by sensuality, ambition, or avarice. For it is not the mercenary bargain which unites so many couples at our altars, that can be "employed to signify to us the mystical union that there is betwixt Christ and his church:" nor yet those plighted vows, which too truly may be said "to be enterprised and taken in hand unadvisedly, wantonly to satisfy man's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no un

Eph. v, 22, &c,

derstanding." In these contracts, as might be expected, it soon appears, that "the mutual society, help, and comfort which one has of the other" will afford but a poor comparison whereby to illustrate the everlasting love of Christ towards his spouse the church.

But it will be asked, Do we suppose that a meet example of conjugal affection could be found in the voluptuous establishment of an eastern prince, like Solomon? No: and I think that the Canticles contain more than one indication of this. For though King Solomon is mentioned, and his marriage-processions perhaps gave occasion to to some of these allegories, yet we shall notice as we proceed, that the scene is every now and then changed, and we are led, from the processions of the royal marriage, to contemplate the intercourse and concerns of some rural or domestic pair in humble life. As though the heavenly wisdom would instruct us: "You see in Solomon indeed a type of the regal dignity and prosperity of the celestial bridegroom; but a prototype of the loves intended to be celebrated, is not to be found in courts and palaces."-" There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, my undefiled, is but one; she is the only one of her mother; she is

the choice one of her that bare her." We must look, therefore, for the desired example, to those scenes and situations where, comparatively speaking, luxury or profligacy has not

-banished from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence !

The Scripture has recorded the histories of Abraham and Sarah; of Isaac and Rebecca; of the injured Jacob, whose love for Rachel made the servitude of seven years, ofjeven years twice

numbered, to appear but a few days:' and no doubt there were many others, even in the days of Solomon. Nor is the prototype yet lost among mankind. You may witness still, in many a domestic circle, an union of those who once were strangers to each other; nearer than kindred can create, and dearer than friendship can cement.

Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source
Of human offspring, sole propriety

In paradise, of all things common else!
By thee adult'rous lust was driven from man
Among the bestial herds to range: by thee
Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,
Relations dear; and all the charities

Of father, son, and brother, first were known.
Far be it that I should write thee sin, or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holiest place.
Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets;

Whose bed is undefiled, and chaste pronounced,
Present or past, as saints or patriarchs used.
Here Love his golden shafts employs; here lights
His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings;
Reigns here, and revels.

It is this attachment then, the dearest and tenderest known to the breast of man, which our gracious Lord has made choice of as a comparison of his love to his faithful people. Nay, the first new moments of this attachment are chosen to supply the comparison, "The love of the espousals." For Christ is ever new, and ever young; the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." His love is everlasting, and in no degree kindled by circumstances of a changeable nature. "He is not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he should repent."

The hidings of his countenance may indeed be compared to the lamented separations of earthly lovers; but no time nor accident, nor unforeseen event, can alter the disposition of Christ towards his redeemed people, or affect their union with him. For I am persuaded," says the Apostle, "that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any

tRom. viii. 37.