“My sister, my spouse.” 
              — Song of Solomon 4:12

Observe the sweet titles with which the heavenly Solomon with intense
affection addresses his bride the church. “My sister, one near to me by
ties of nature, partaker of the same sympathies. My spouse, nearest and
dearest, united to me by the tenderest bands of love; my sweet
companion, part of my own self. My sister, by my Incarnation, which
makes me bone of thy bone and flesh of thy flesh; my spouse, by
heavenly betrothal, in which I have espoused thee unto myself in
righteousness. My sister, whom I knew of old, and over whom I watched
from her earliest infancy; my spouse, taken from among the daughters,
embraced by arms of love, and affianced unto me for ever. See how true
it is that our royal Kinsman is not ashamed of us, for he dwells with
manifest delight upon this two-fold relationship. We have the word “my”
twice in our version; as if Christ dwelt with rapture on his possession
of his Church. “His delights were with the sons of men,” because those
sons of men were his own chosen ones. He, the Shepherd, sought the
sheep, because they were his sheep; he has gone about “to seek and to
save that which was lost,” because that which was lost was his long
before it was lost to itself or lost to him. The church is the
exclusive portion of her Lord; none else may claim a partnership, or
pretend to share her love. Jesus, thy church delights to have it so!
Let every believing soul drink solace out of these wells. Soul! Christ
is near to thee in ties of relationship; Christ is dear to thee in
bonds of marriage union, and thou art dear to him; behold he grasps
both of thy hands with both his own, saying, “My sister, my spouse.”
Mark the two sacred holdfasts by which thy Lord gets such a double hold
of thee that he neither can nor will ever let thee go. Be not, O
beloved, slow to return the hallowed flame of his love.

On this day...

• The gradual effects will be monumental - 2011
• Be You - 2011
• Accountability in knowing the Truth - 2010
• Famous Christians - 2009
• Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections - 2009
• Ezekiel 33:22 - 2008
• AM I CONVINCED BY CHRIST? - 2008
• THE AUTHORITY OF REALITY - 2008