communion of saints." He asks and answers the question concerning her-What she is, and who she is like?" She is, as it were, the company of two armies." "She is a Mahanaim, as the two hosts which Jacob saw a host of saints, and a host of angels ministering unto them:"-the Church militant and the Church triumphant.

Gen. xxxii. 1—2.

CHAPTER VII.

1. How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work

2.

3.

of the hands of a cunning workman.

Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not
liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat
set about with lilies.

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.

4. Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim; thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which

5.

6.

looketh toward Damascus.

Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held

in the galleries.

How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!

7. This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts

to clusters of grapes.

8.

9.

I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall

be as clusters of the vine, and the smell

of thy nose like apples;

And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my
beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips
of those that are asleep to speak.

10. I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

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The beauty of the Church-here called the

prince's daughter," as elsewhere the "king's daughter," in mystic allusion to her marriage with the Lamb-is described as Israel's degeneracy is, by the Prophet, "from the sole of the foot, even unto the head." 2

Her "feet" are praised, being "shod with the preparations of the gospel of peace."3 Thus she is led to walk holily in the light of God's countenance, and with a single eye to Christ's glory.

The "joints of the thighs" of the mystical body of His Church, are like sockets of gold, being bound firmly together in love and unity.1

The "navel" of His Church-those ordinances by which she communicates food and nourishment

1. Psalm xlv. 13.

2.

Isaiah i. 6.

3. Eph. vi. 15.

4. Col. ii. 19.

to her children-is praised, being in a healthy state through fear of the Lord."

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The "belly" and "heud," which likewise supply food, useful and consolatory, to the Church's spiritual children; her "neck," "eyes," nose," and "hair,” -all are praised because of their comeliness, and the glory which they bring to the Lord, whose they are and for whom they have been "so curiously" fashioned.

Such is Christ's delight in the comeliness and strength of His Church. So "fair and pleasant” is she, that He confesses Himself, by a mystery of grace, to be "held in the galleries of communion with her He cannot leave or forsake her.

He will abide with her and enjoy the fruits of her holiness and love, which are sweet and acceptable as the "palm tree" and "clusters of the vine,” and pleasant as the "smell of citrons;" grateful and refreshing as the "best wine" which " goeth down sweetly"-i. e., the wine of the Gospel.

The Church, thus enjoying her Lord's commendation, triumphs in the comfortable assurance of it; acknowledges His sovereignty over her; and comforts herself with the assurance that "His desire is towards her."

What an unspeakable honour-what unutterable consolation that Jesus takes such pleasure in His

1. Prov. ii. 8.