I. THE GRACES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE THAT ADORNING OF THE CHURCH WHICH IS VISIBLE TO ALL SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT.
Faith itself is a very choice jewel, but we are to have rows of jewels — faith in exercise; faith, as a principle, honouring Christ; as a hand, laying hold of Christ; as an eye, beholding His beauty; as a warrior, conquering all that opposes Christ — faith victorious over the world — the grace of faith. The next jewel the apostle mentions is hope.
We must take care we do not get it exchanged for a pebble, or some portion of mud, as formalists, and hypocrites, and profane persons do, hoping that they will be saved, hoping that God will forgive them, and that they will get to heaven and the like.
Pass on to mark another brilliant jewel — love. Not only the love of God shed abroad in the heart, though that is very blessed, but love as a grace of the Holy Spirit.
Then we go on to another jewel, a very lovely one, though frequently out of sight — humility. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble;" He giveth it first, and giveth grace to supply it.
Another jewel in close connection with humility is meekness. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." He was meek and lowly of heart, and enjoins His disciples to imitate Him, that they may find rest to their souls.
Another very brilliant jewel is zeal. I do not want the meekness and humility of the Christian to dwindle down into Laodicean carelessness — that would tarnish his jewels; but I want the zeal of the Lord of Hosts, which is said to have eaten up my glorious Master, to eat me up also. I want, as He was, to be clothed with zeal, as with a cloak.
I will mention another jewel, making seven on this side of the face. It is a quiet jewel, but a very important one. I mean patience. "In patience possess ye your souls." "Let patience have her perfect work." I might lengthen this row of jewels, but I leave you to do it in your retirement, for I want to turn to the other cheek, and notice those jewels which are visible to the world. And when I have exhibited both cheeks to you, you may follow the advice of our Lord, "If thine enemy smite thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also. If they smite you on the cheek I have been naming, they will not hurt one of the jewels.
Now let us look at the other. The first jewel I mention is decision. A very important one, for you must know that if you are like the Israelites, halting between two opinions, the world will laugh at you; if they find you one hour very devout in the house of God, or perhaps reading the Bible or some good book, or even holding conversation scripturally and profitably on spiritual things, and another at some silly amusement, some careless kill-time pursuit of the world, they will say your religion is all hypocrisy, and I should not wonder if they are very near the mark.
Oh, for more decision! Then there is another jewel that the world will look at and admire — integrity. Oh, the disgracefulness of everything like duplicity among those who profess to belong to Christ! Oh, the dignity of a Christian being blessed with that integrity which says what it means, and means what it says — that will not, cannot, say and unsay, but is ever in the same mind as to the things which relate to God's glory, and to his own perseverance in the divine life!
Mark, another prominent jewel before the world is self-denial, just the contrast of selfishness. Again, another of these visible jewels is fortitude, which bears up the soul with a holy confidence, and shows a firm front to every enemy, and causes the soul to put on the armour of God, and make its stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Circumspection must be reckoned among the jewels that are visible to the world. Hence it is written, "See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise." And again, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without."
But there are two more I must just mention. Devotion. The spirit of devotion is invisible to the world, but its manifestation will be seen. Just the contrast of that levity, and carelessness, and trifling that characterize so many professors.
Then there is one jewel more I must name — joy "The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing" This, of course, will include gratitude, which, also, is a grace; but I put them together, and just remark that we are exhorted to "rejoice in the Lord always."
II. THE BRIDE'S NECK AND ITS ORNAMENTS.
The first question that arises is, What are we to understand by the neck of the Church? The neck is the part that unites the body and the head.
Then it must be the covenant of grace that is the neck; the living union between Christ and His Church. It is the strength, the support, and the medium of communication.
Now let us come to the ornaments. You are to recollect they are in the plural — chains. "Thy neck with chains of gold." The golden chain of doctrines. Observe, they are not detached links or rings, but they are closely linked together, and we cannot part with one link without breaking the chain.
What shall I say about the chain of promises? If I take a short summary of it I would just say, that they are distinct, that they are not to be separated, and, as we before said, they are linked together.
And hence we read that all the promises of God in Him (Christ) are yea, and in Him amen. Are they not well riveted? One more chain I must mention — the chain of privileges. The privilege of separation and distinction from the world — the privilege of high education, the Spirit of the Lord being the preceptor — the privilege of adoption, being at home at the Father's house — the privilege of feasting on a feast of fat things, provided and prepared by the Master of the feast, who is the Bridegroom — the privilege of attendants, servants such as you cannot find on earth.
Moreover, the privilege of advocacy within the veil. "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
Here are chains of gold, beloved, chains to hang about the neck. I tell you of these, as of the jewels, that Jesus has put them on, and they are invaluable;
though I know the carnal mind will prefer the tinsel, the toys, the gilded ornaments, the empty, light, worthless things, that look a little gaudy in external religion, rather than these gold chains.
Songs 2:13 13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 13 Fig trees are bearing fruit, while blossoms on grapevines fill the air with perfume. My darling, I love you! Let's go away together. 13 무화과나무에는 푸른 열매가 익었고 포도나무는 꽃이 피어 향기를 토하는구나 나의 사랑 나의 어여쁜 자야 일어나서 함께 가자 fig (무화과) grape (포도) * [ GoTo-> 1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 / 4:1 / 5:1 / 6:1 / 7:1 / 8:1 ] * [ Before <--- ---> After ] -------------------------------------------------- 포도나무는 열매를 맺지 않는 한 모든 나무에서 가장 쓸모가 없습니다 . 그것으로는 거의 아무것도 만들 수 없습니다 ; 당신은 포도덩굴에서 냄비를 걸 수 있는 충분한 나무를 자를 수 없을 것입니다 ; 당신은 그것을 가구로 만들 수도 없으며 , 건축 목적으로도 거의 사용할 수 없습니다 . 포도나무는 열매를 맺지 않으면 , 불에 태워서 제거됩니다 . 여러분 모두는 , 우리가 그리스도 안에 있고 , 또 그리스도 안에 거주하지 않는 한 , 어떤 열매도 맺을 가능성이 없다는 것을 알고 있습니...
Revelation 2:4-7 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 4 But I do have something against you! And it is this: You don't have as much love as you used to. 5 Think about where you have fallen from, and then turn back and do as you did at first. If you don't turn back, I will come and take away your lampstand. 6 But there is one thing you are doing right. You hate what the Nicolaitans + are doing, and so do I. 7 ...
Songs 7:6 6 How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! 6 You are very beautiful, so desirable! 6 사랑아, 네가 어찌 그리 아름다운지, 어찌 그리 화창한지 쾌락하게 하는구나 * [ GoTo-> 1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 / 4:1 / 5:1 / 6:1 / 7:1 / 8:1 ] * [ Before <--- ---> After ] ---------------------------------------------------- 이 (7)장의 초기 구절에 나오는, 신부의 아름다움에 대한 칭찬은, 진실한 사랑의 아름다움, 유쾌함, 즐거움과 관련하여, 아가서의 전체적인 정신과 잘 조화를 이루면서 감탄으로 이끕니다. I. 사랑의 아름다움과 좋은 봉사, 인간 마음 속의 감성과 인간 사회의 결속. 단순한 육체적 열정과 구별되는 것으로서, 왕과 그의 배우자 사이에 존재하는 것으로 묘사되는 그 부부의 사랑은, 가장 순수하고 최고의 탁월함으로 표현되는 이 아가서에서, 올바르게 담겨 있습니다. 종교와 도덕이 자연적인 충동을 억제하는 것은 사실이며, 성경에는 인간의 본성과 죄 많은 사회가 선호하는 유혹에 굴복하지 말라는 것에 대한 경고들로 가득합니다. 그러나 덕의 길이 좁은 길이라면, 아름답고 향기로운 경계에 꽃들이 없는 것은 아닙니다. 자치와 극기의 길은 그 자체로 즐거움이 있는 길입니다. 그리고 이 아가서의 한가지 목적은, 정식 성경에 있는 자리에 대한 하나의 정당화로, 인간 애정의 순수한 기쁨을 효과적으로 묘사하는 것 같습니다. 결혼이 개인적인 선호와 진지한 애착의 결과이고, 진지한 이성과 사전 계획의 지도하에 결혼이 시작되는 경우에는...
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