Fire and Ice: Puritan and Reformed Writings [Table of Contents]  [Fast Index]  [Site Map]

by James Durham

BRIDE.

The Bride hath been long silent, delightsomely drinking in what she hath been hearing from the Bridegroom's sweet mouth, and so suffering him to say on: now in this tenth verse, and those that follow, she comes in speaking, and having well observed what he said, the result and effect thereof upon her heart doth appear in what she saith. And, 1. She comforts herself in her union with him, as now being clear in it from his owning of her; and she lays down, and begins with this conclusion, verse 10. Now (saith she) I may say, 'I am my beloved's,' &c. Then, 2. Looking to his promise, verse 8, she puts up her great desire after communion with him, that according to her interest in him, she might be admitted to enjoy him which suit is put up, qualified or enlarged, and by several arguments pressed on him, verses 11,12,13.

The conclusion which she gathers, verse 10, from his discourse, comes not in altogether abruptly, but is the expression of a heart comforted with the intimations of Christ's love, and wakened with the wine that makes them that are asleep to speak; and so breathing out the great ground of her consolation: now (saith she) seeing he loves me, and out of the infinite freedom o€ his grace is pleased to commend unworthy me so much, certainly, I may conclude, 'I am my Beloved's, and his desire is towards me.' The first part of this verse, wherein she asserts her interest in him, was spoken to chap. 2:16, and 6:3, and it is now repeated on this occasion; for these reasons, 1. Because it is the great commend of all her consolation, and that wherein it consists, that she is Christ's, and Christ is hers: this is indeed matter of solid consolation, and whatever is comfortable doth flow from it. 2. To shew that she kept the clearness of her interest in him, in some measure constantly, and carried it along with her in the several parts of her exercise, she can assert it this day, and the next day, and the third day. 3. It's now a full tide with her, as to Christ's manifestations, and the flowings of his Spirit; he hath been liberal and large in the intimations of his love, and she makes this use of it, to put her interest in him out of question, while the evidences of it are so legible. Observe. 1. Believers may at sometimes, more clearly and distinctly gather and conclude their interest in Christ, than at other times. 2. When believers are admitted to nearness with Christ, and clouds that would darken their faith are scattered, then they should endeavour to fix their confidence, and put their interest out of question; that when their sun comes under a cloud, and they see not to read their evidences so distinctly, they be not put to question their interest, and all by-past experiences, as delusions. 3. When the Lord owns his people, and speaks comfortably, to them (as he hath been doing to the Bride) then they should own him, and acquiesce in that consolation allowed upon them by him.

The last part of the verse, in these words, 'and his desire is towards me,' shews not only that the interest was mutual, and that he loved her, as she did him; but that he loved her affectionately, so that in a manner he could not be without her, his desire was to her. 2. That he condescended to love her with such a kind of love and respect as a woman hath to her husband; for, so this is spoken of the first woman, Gen. 3, 'Thy desire shall be towards him,' that is, subordinate to his, or seeking to conform to his, that she may please him: and so here it shews Christ's great condescending, to have the believer carving (as it were) to him, so ready is he to please and satisfy his people for their good. 3. It shews a deal of satisfaction that she had in this; it was the matter of her humble spiritual boasting, that Christ so loved her, hate or condemn her who would. 4. She thinks still much of this privilege of an interest in Christ, and esteems nothing the less of it that she had attained clearness in it before now: clearness is ever of much worth, and those who are clearest anent this, will esteem most of it: that holy fainness (to say so) that this word, 'My Beloved is mine,' brings in to the soul, easeth and comforteth the more that it is often renewed.

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