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chariots of my willing people"-for so the word "Ammi-nadib" may be rendered. Ammi, signifies "my people" (Hosea ii. 1, margin), and Nadib is the word used in Psalm ex. 3, "Thy people shall be willing," &c. The intense earnestness of his Bride for communion with him, the stedfastness with which she looks after him, and the delight with which she welcomes him back, after for a season losing her sensible hold of him, stir up all his inmost affections towards her, so that he is overcome and carried away with them!

What amazing condescension in Jesus, that he should represent himself as capable of being so moved by redeemed sinners! Little do we think how, in these ways, we all become the subjects either of grief or of holy delight to Jesus. Christians do not consider as they ought the depth and intensity of his feelings towards them. "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee" (Isaiah lxii. 5). Alas! we know but little of sympathy with what he feels-but this should not be in the "members of his body." Should not the hands and feet move at all times in unison with the head? The Lord give us to share more of his joy (John xv. 11).

It is possible that the ultimate meaning of these words may be in reference to that " moment," when, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, we shall all be changed, and Jesus shall see of the

travail of his soul and shall be satisfied-when he will, as it were, forget the anguish of his travail, in the joy of the perfect manifestation of the sons of God.

Of that moment alone could it be said, in the full sense of the words, "Or ever I was aware," or "I knew not:" but "of that day and hour knoweth no man; no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father' (Mark xiii. 32).

But it will be when the autumnal fruits of the Church are fully ripe that the sickle will be put in, "because the harvest is come" (Mark iv. 28, 29, margin). The Lord Jesus will be in his garden inspecting the fruits, when he shall be, as it were, transported or carried away "on the chariots of his willing people;" and so shall they "ever be with the Lord." "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”—“ Or ever I was aware."

THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM.

Ver. 13.

"Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee."

The Lord has represented himself as carried away with his Bride, and this excites the cry from the daughters of Jerusalem, "Return, return, that we may look upon thee." Just as in 2 Sam. xix. 14, "All the men of Judah sent this word unto

the king, Return, thou and all thy servants." And whether the words be taken in reference to the whole Church, as caught up to meet the Lord in the air, or only to each individual member, as caught away in death, it is equally impossible for those who are left behind to follow them.

"In vain my fancy strives to paint

The moment after death," &c.

They can but long for the manifested glory of Christ and his Bride, at his coming again. Then each lost one will be found again; then Jesus will be "admired" in and by them (2 Thess. i. 10). Then the daughters, the queens, and the concubines will at once see, and bless, and praise "the Bride -the Lamb's wife;" and in looking at each glorified believer, they will but be looking at Jesus. Return, return that we may look upon thee."

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For then, if it be asked,

"What will ye see in the Shulamite ?"

The answer will be at once given,

"As it were the company of two armies."

Jesus and his Bride are emphatically one! This is "the great mystery" of this blessed book. They are no longer twain, but one!-for Christians are taken into Christ, and their life which is now "hid with Christ in God," shall then be revealed with him in glory.

Oh! what a wonderful position he has brought us into! Co-kings with Jesus, and even more—for we are "the Lamb's wife," the spouse of the Son of God-taken into marriage union with him and entering with him into God! "That they may be ONE as we are." "Two armies" might be rendered "two hosts" (compare Gen. xxxii. 2). Two, in one. How sweet to be thus in "the company" of Jesus, and to be seen 66 IN" him!

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In the Shulamite" shall be seen 66 as it were the company of Mahanain," or two hosts (margin). "As thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" (John xvii. 21, 22).

CHAPTER VII.

THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM.

Ver. 1. "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter!"

THERE is a change in the form of address in these words-from a bride to a "prince's daughter" -rendering it probable that here the daughters of Jerusalem are looking at the Bride "in the Shulamite," according to their desire (chapter vi. 13). They see in her the daughter of the King of kings, the Everlasting Father, given to his Son as "the Bride, the Lamb's wife." They own her royalty; they admire her beauty. "The king's daughter is all glorious within," &c. (Psalm xlv. 10-15). "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter!" "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!" (1 John iii. 1). "Ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. vi. 18).

What a precious word it was that was spoken

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