CHAPTER IV. Ver. 1. CHRIST. "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast dove's eyes within thy locks." THE Lord is not weary of beholding his Church which he hath purchased with his own blood; nor does he cease to find delight and satisfaction in her. 66 Behold, thou art fair my love"—still “fair.” But he is not content with the mere general assertion; he deigns to notice the particular graces with which she is adorned-" Thou hast dove's eyes within thy locks." These are seven in number (ver. 1-5), emphatically denoting perfection and completeness. This reference to the dove suggests the thought at once of humility, chastity, harmlessness, and simplicity. It teaches us what delight the Lord takes him. in the sincerity of his people's affections towards "If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light" (Matt. vi. 22; contrast Matt. v. 28). "The lust of the eye" (1 John ii. 16). 66 Thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Here the (Margin, "eat of" Mount Gilead). Church is seen as a flock, grazing on a fruitful mount. The mention of a flock" intimates their multitude, and their feeding together their visible unity. Their exalted position and privileges are implied in their feeding on Mount Gilead, which was renowned for fruitfulness and for its abundant But pasture. "I will feed you in a good pasture.' we are especially reminded here of the care that is taken of each individual member of Christ's flock; "The hairs of your head are all numbered." Every lamb in the flock is known and numbered; not one shall be found wanting. All shall "appear" with Christ in glory! "Ver. 2. "Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn." 66 66 'Sheep, that are even shorn"-freed from all natural encumbrances. Lay aside every weight," &c. (Heb. xii. 1); like the blind man, who, when Jesus called him, rose, and casting away his garment, came to Jesus" (Mark x. 50). "If thine hand offend thee, cut it off;" if ensnared by riches, 66 66 go and sell that thou hast;" and if thou lovest father or mother more than Jesus, learn of the disciples to give up all for him, even as they "straightway left their nets, the ship, and their father" (Mark ix. 43-48; Matt. xix. 21, 22; iv. 20, 22). The same idea is conveyed in the figure of the vine (John xv.), all unfruitful branches being cut off, and the fruitbearing branches being pruned, or "shorn." "Which came up from the washing." 66 "A flock of sheep, which came up from the washing." From the fountain open "for sin and for uncleanness"-from "the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Zech. xiii. 1; Titus iii. 5). "For ye are washed, for ye are sanctified, for ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God" (1 Cor. vi. 11). "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. vii. 14; Isaiah i. 18; Rev. i. 5, 6). 66 A flock of sheep, which came up from the washing." There could not be a more beautiful representation of the purity of that Church for which the Good Shepherd laid down his life," that he might sanctify and cleanse it with 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" (Eph. v. 26, 27). All defilement cleansed and washed away! "Whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them." "Such a flock of sheep would greatly enrich their owner."-DURHAM. Are we not hence taught "what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Eph. i. 18, 19). The Lord chooses to enrich himself through the abounding fruitfulness of his people; "being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God." "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit" (Phil. i. 11; John xv. 8; Eph. ii. 10; 1 Cor. xv. 58). Therefore we are exhorted to give all diligence to add to our faith virtue, &c., &c., that we may "neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter i. 5-8). There may probably be especial reference to the conversion of our fellow-sinners here intended; that every one who has tasted for themselves that the Lord is gracious, should labour to bring others also into the fold, and "turn many to righteousness." "Then will I tell to sinners round, What a dear Saviour I have found." G The Hebrew word translated "barren," signifies that none of them is bereaved or robbed of its young, denoting the stedfastness of each member of the Church of Christ. Not one is lost-not one wanting. "None is barren among them." Ver. 3. "Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely." The one all-absorbing theme with the lambs of Christ's flock is redeeming love; their words being all, as it were, dyed in the blood of the Lamb of God-their lips “like a thread of scarlet." It was the subject of prophecy from the beginning; (see Gen. iii. 15; Psalm xxii. ; Isaiah liii.; Zech. xiii. 7.) It was the one grand object set forth in the types and sacrifices of the law (Gen. xxii.; compare Leviticus with Hebrews). And as it is now the one subject under the gospel for preaching, &c. ("We preach Christ crucified," &c.-1 Cor. i. 23, &c.; 1 Cor. ii. 2; Gal. vi. 14), so shall it be throughout eternity the song of the redeemed in glory"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain," and has redeemed us to God by his blood, &c. (Rev. v. 9, 12). Let us then see that our's be blood-dyed speech, that so it may be " comely" in the ears of Jesus. No language can be more comely in our lips than that of deep self-abasement. "God be merciful to me a sinner." How often we have need to cry, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of |