11. So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty. Wholehearted love is the duty and bliss of the marriage state in every
case, but especially so in this lofty mystic marriage. The church must forsake
all others and cleave to Jesus only, or she will not please him nor enjoy the
full manifestation of his love. Jesus sees a beauty in his church which he
delights in most when it is not marred by worldliness. He has always been most
near and precious to his saints when they have cheerfully taken up his cross
and followed him without the camp. His Spirit is grieved when they mingle among
the people and learn their ways. No great and lasting revival of religion can
be granted us till the professed lovers of Jesus prove their affection by
coming out from an ungodly world. For he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
He has royal rights still; his condescending grace does not lessen but rather
enforces his authority. The husband is the head of the wife; the love he bears
her does not lessen but strengthens her obligation to obey. The service of God
perfectly carried out is heaven upon earth. Jesus, teach us to be wholly thine.
Bear with us, and work by thy Spirit in us till thy will is done by us on earth
as it is in heaven.
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