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Doctor. It is this-" He, whose all things are, has atoned for my iniquities."

Blessed, happy, Believer-who can thus lay hold of the cluster of those divine blessings-which the atonement of Jesus purchased and His ascension to His Father's Throne in Glory-has secured to all them who by faith, through grace, believe the record of God's eternal love!

15. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.

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Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

Here we have reciprocal expressions of admiration and fondness between Christ and His Bridethe Church.

We notice it, both here and towards the close of this mysterious Song-that both Christ and His Church become more particular and special in their description of each other's excellencies.

A significant intimation of that same truth which the growing Christian invariably finds-that, as he ripens in Christian experience—the excellencies of Christ seem to ripen and increase too—as well as his own spiritual powers of taste and vision to appreciate and enjoy them.

Addressing this Church, the Lord twice affirms, she is “fair,” and then singles out one special instance of her comeliness, one upon which He makes a special remark-" Thou hast doves' eyes."

The Church seems abruptly to interrupt the praises thus lavished upon her: "All my comeliness is from Thyself. Behold it is Thou who art fair, my beloved, yea also pleasant:" Also "our bed is green,"-(i. e.) the Church, upon earth is green, flourishing: abounding-both in new converts, as well as in Godly Saints. Trees of righteousness which "are planted in the house of the Lord," and continually watered with the rich dew of His grace" flourish in the courts of the House of our God."

The meaning and connection of the whole passage is plain, except in that one expression-" Thou hast Doves' eyes."

The Lord commends her-" Behold thou hast Doves' eyes?" She refers all her comeliness and fruitfulness to Him and tells Him that His Church was in a flourishing condition.-" Our bed is green.'

What are we to understand by this figure" Doves' eyes?" What part of the Church is here referred to? And what connection is there in the Church's reply-" our bed is green!"

"Thou hast Doves' eyes."

Gill remarks, with great justness, that minis

ters of the Gospel, may be regarded with the ut most propriety, as the "eyes" of the Church, and illustrates the remark by the language of Job,'" I was," says he, "eyes to the blind."

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And so is the faithful minister among his flock,

eyes" to the spiritually blind-as also to them that see.

For, as the natural eye is set upon the highest place of honour in the body-(as a sentinel on the watch-tower) to give warning of approaching danger to the body: so every minister sent of Jesus Christ, is set as a watchman, in His Church, to warn, exhort, encourage and preserve His flock from being scattered.

They are the "light of the world," and more especially are intended to be "lights of the Church."

As the "eyes" of the Church, it is equally their privilege as their duty to search out the truth as it is in Jesus and bring out of the treasury of His Gospel-truths new and old-to the edifying of the Church and perfecting of the Saints in love.

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But, observe, Christ affirms, concerning these eyes" of the Church-that they are like "Doves' eyes." Precious in His sight, are His faithful ministers. Now, Dove's eyes, are remarkable for their clearness of vision, united with a peculiar expression of meekness and lowliness.

1. Job. xxix. 15.

Would to God, that we, who have taken upon ourselves, the solemn vows of orders-as labourers in Christ's vineyards and ministers of His word and sacraments did answer to this description!

Of how few individual Churches or Congregations, can Jesus say-" Thou hast Doves' eyes!"— Alas! how blind are many !

How ignorant are many, who set themselves up teachers of God's heritage!

What little discrimination of truth! What imperfect vision, and consequently what indistinct declaration of truth!

This, then speaks home to ministers. The commendation bestowed by Jesus upon His faithful watchmen, surely rebukes, most solemnly, many hirelings.

Happy that Church, which possesses a servant of the Lord—whose "eyes" have been enlightened to see the truth as it is in Jesus!

"Happy and blessed that man of God, who in manifestation of the truth, commends himself (not only) to every man's conscience in the sight of God" -but, above all, to the Lord himself!

Then, in truth, is "Christ's bed" (his Church)— wherein souls are begotten1"green," (flourishing and fruitful,) abounding both in holy Saints-who flourish "like trees planted by the water's side”

1. I. Pet. i. 23.

as also in new converts to the faith-such as are by means of a faithful, simple, gospel ministry-added continually to the Church.

17.

The beams of our house are cedar,
rafters of fir.

and our

It seems most agreeable to the general scope of this passage, to consider the "house" as the " Church of the living God," which St. Paul calls "the house of Gud."

The Jewish Commentators understand it of the Tabernacle and Solomon's temple, but acknowledge that the house which shall be filled with the glory of the Lord in the day of Israel's restoration, should be much more glorious than either the Tabernacle or the Temple.

The word in the original is in the plural number, ("houses")-and hence some Christian interpreters have discovered a reference to those "many mansions" in His Father's house, which Jesus is now preparing for them that love Him.

But, it seems most agreable to many passages of Holy Writ, to consider the Church of God" militant here on earth," as intended by this "house." Thus, as before noticed, St. Paul speaks.2-So again, Believers are said to be "Christ's house,"

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1. I. Tim. iii. 15. 2. I. Tim. iii. 15. 3. Heb. iii. 6.

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