14. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice: for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. "0 my dove." This is a new name which Christ is pleased to give to His Church. It is not inappropriate for many reasons. (I.) The dove is a very fair and beautiful bird.1 So also is Christ's Church. (II.) The dove is also a most gentle, innocent, and harmless creature. Therefore Christ says to His Church-(Matt. x. 16.) His disciples are to be, and should strive and pray to be " blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation." They are to live not only inoffensively before the world, but peacefully and quietly also among themselves. (III.) The dove is a very fearful and timid bird. Ephraim is compared to a trembling dove. The penitence of Israel after its return under Ezra from Babylon is noted-" all the people sat in the street of the house of God trembling." It is the sign of a tender, conscience, and humble 1. Ps. lxiii. 113. 2. 4. Ep. v. 27. 3. Hos. xs. 2. spirit, and to such is the promise (of Christ's dwelling with them) given. "To this man will I look even him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my own word.” For these and other reasons this title is very appropriately given by Christ to His Church. She is His Church-" Christ's dove." No wonder therefore she can find like Noah's dove, no resting place on earth. Her dwelling place is " in the clefts of the rock, and in the secret places of the stairs." 66 This may be understood either as alluding to the usual place where the dove makes it nest, of which Jeremiah speaks: or, as to a place of refuge to which the dove flies when pursued by a bird of prey, "into the hollow of a rock." This rock may refer to God's electing love, in which the Church has dwelt and will dwell unto all eternity. Its foundations are upon the everlasting hills, sure and certain, being laid altogether in the sovereign will and pleasure of that God who " will have mercy on whom will have mercy," and "be gracious to whom will be gracious; " whose purposes cannot fail, and whose counsel cannot be disannulled. Now as this doctrine is to some a rock of great consolation," full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort," (Act. xvii.) " confirming their faith and kindling their love:" so also it is a rock of offence to others, a hard saying vinen tey erot receive because they cannot read it, as they think, in the clear text and print of Holy Scripture: while to the "wicked and curious, carnal minds, I proves to he a most dangerous downrail," a stone, upon which if any fail, they are bruised, but which if it is on them it grindeth them to powder. But comparing Scripture with Scripture, we shall rather find that this figure rack is continually used for Christ himself. One of the most striking texts is, that (1. Cor. x. 4.) The apostle speaking of Christ, compares Him to that rock in the wilderness which Moses smote with his rod, and waters gushed out, and the streams followed them through the wilderness." They drank," &c. &c. So again (Matt. xvi. 18.) where referring to the noble confession of faith which Peter had just made upon this rock."-I build my Church ie. on this confession of faith in me as "tery God of very God," the true Messiah. The clefts of the rock are the wounds of Jesus, who “was wounded for our iniquities, and bruised for our transgressions." Hiding ourselves there we have a sure and safe refuge from the claims of divine justice and the reproaches of a wounded and accusing conscience. 1. Is. liii. 5. This God prefigured to Moses when He put him "in the cleft of a rock," and made all His glory pass before him.1 For where can we behold so fully the glory of God's mercy and the severity of God's holiness, as in the pierced hands and lacerated body of Jesus? It is by the Cross of Christ-seeing Him pierced and cleft by the nails and spear, that we see the awful love of God, as well for the Church as for His own glory. So many of you as believe, have fled to Him in very truth and reality. In Him you have everlasting security and perfect peace. "There is now no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus."2 In Him you have an ever present intercessor,3 to whom you may go with your daily sorrows and hourly sins, asking strength to bear one, and grace to crucify the other. The "secret places of stairs" which the Septuagint translates "the shadow of the rock," simply mean 66 steep mountain, passes, or precipices, which can only be ascended by stairs or steps. And what can these steep places be but Christ, the high rock of His Church's salvation? He is that adder which Jacan end in us vison, which reached from Heaven a ari He being God má man, has reconciled God to man, må brangit Heaven and each ogether and mate a way of access to God the Father "Let me see thy countenance; let me hear thy anice." Christ tesires to hear the voice of His Cherch. Reriesmeri anners ought not a lot their peace. It is the time of the singing of iris ir them. They may well rejoice like the woman who found her lost piece of silver, like the father over his profigal son, like the man who had found the stray sheep in the widemess. There are times indeed when we are to be sent. “I was dumb said David in his affiction) and spened not my mouth, because thou didst it.”** That was a landable silence. David complains not, though he could have done so, for he was suffering wrongfully. His son Absalom was in open rebellion, and his nearest friends had conducted themselves most basely towards him, so maliciously were they set against Him. Yet he resolves to be silent. He will not speak lest he should murmur and thereby sin. “I was dumb, &c.” “I was dumb, &c." But as there 66 is time for silence, so also a time to speak, and tell of the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, Jesus calls to his saints-"Let me hear thy 5. xxviii. 10-15. 2 Luke xv. 24. 3. Psalm xxxix. 9. |