2. Another name by which Christ is called, and which may be said to be as " ointment poured forth," is the name Jesus, which signifies, a Saviour, and was given him, because he " saves his people from their sins." Christ is, in the everlasting Gospel, revealed as a Saviour; it is therein declared, that the design of his coming into the world was to save sinners, and that he has obtained eternal salvation for them, and is both able and willing to save the chief of them; the discovery the Gospel makes of him is exceeding delightful and pleasant to awakened sinners. This name Jesus, a Saviour, how sweet is it to such who have seen the exceedins sinfulness of sin, themselves lost and undone ihereb)', and in a peri.^hing state and condition! the news of a Saviour are good news and glad " tidings of great joy " unto them; the discovery of it is like the breaking open a box of ointment, and pouring it out; it at once removes the filthy stench of sin from the sinner's nostrils, and that sadness and sorrow of heart which arise from the guilt of it upon the consciencs.
3. Christ's name, Immanuel, may be said to be as " ointment poured forth," which signifies " God with us;" and there are two things in it which make it like " ointment poured forth," that is, exceeding odorous and grateful to believers.
1. That he is God; hence they know, and are well assured, that he is able to save them; that the work is not too heavy for him; that he has not undertaken that which he is not able to accomplish, which they would have reason to believe, if lie was only a creature: from hence they comfortably conclude, as well they may, that all he did was efficacious, and answered the purposes for vvhich it was done; as that his sacrifice was efi'ectual to atone for and expiate sin; his blood to procure the pardon of it, and thoroughly cleanse from it; his righteousness to justify from all sin, and render them acceptable in the sight of God; and all this, because they are the sacrifice, blood, and righteousness of one that is God. From this name they also gather, that he having taken the care and charge of them, " is able to keep them from falling;" and that none is able to pluck them out of his hands, no more than they can separate them from his heart, which they could not be so assured of, was he a creature.
2. Another thing which makes this name like " ointment poured forth," is, that he is " God with us;" God dwelling and conversing with us, God in our nature, God manifest in the flesh; hence it appears, that He who is the great God, and our Saviour, is near akin to us, and we to him; being " flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone," we are both of one and the same nature, and therefore he is not ashamed to call us brethren; and his assuming our nature, gives him a I'ight, as well as makes him a proper person to be our Goel or Redeemer, whereby all the blessings, which he procured in this natui-e, are communicated to us, and not to angels; now what makes this name still more sweet, savoury, and delightful, is, that he, who is Immanuel, God with us, God in our nature, is, and will be on our side; and if God be with us, and for us, who shall be against us?
4. Christ's name, " the Lord our righteousness," may be said to be as " ointment poured forth," by which he is called, Jer. xxiii. 6; this is exceeding grateful, sweet, and precious to a poor sinner; one who has seen his own righte- ousness as filthy rags, aud as an unqleaa thiiig, how does he value Christ as the Lord his righ- • teousness! he counts all things but loss and dung, in comparison of him, aud desires ouly to be found in him, and iu his rigliteousness, and not; m his own; but what makes this so exceeding precious to him, is, because it acquits from all sin, and s;cures from all wrath and condemnation, and renders him spotless, unblameable, and irreproveable iu the sight of God.
5. Any, or all of those names of Christ, in Isa. ix. 6, may be said to be as " ointment poured forth," they being exceeding precious and delightful to believers; such as Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting "Father, aud Frince of peace. Christ's name " Wonderful," is so; he being wonderful iu his incarnation and grace, in his person and offices, in his works, relations, and characters; this emits a sweet odour to believers, even like a box of ointment opened to them: and so is his name " Counsellor;" under which character he acted from everlasting, consulting with the other two persons, our eternal welfare in the ancient council of peace; and still continues to bear this character, which he makes good, by giving to us the best advice and most wholesome counsel, and this he does freely and faithfully: his name, " the Mighty God," carries in it as much sweetness and comfort to the believer, as it does greatness and majesty; and that endearing title, the " everlasting Father," who, as such, loves his children with an everlasting love, and has made everlasting provisions for tlienr, aud takes everlasting care of them, fills those he stands thus related to, with the utmost pleasure: and that noble character, the " Prince of peace," which he bears on the account of his having obtained peace by " the blood of his cross," for rebellious sinners, so sweetly diffuses the odour of his grace, that it charms and captivates the believer's heart. The names of true lovers are dear to each other, to which the allusion is; they love to hear their names mentioned, &c., which are as precious ointment, as delicious nectar." Or else,
Srdly. By Christ's name, we may understand his Gospel; thus, the apostle Paul is said to be a chosen vessel, to hear the name of Christ before the Gentiles, that is, to preach his Gospel to them; he was a vessel full of the precious ointment of the Gospel, and his preaching of it was the pouring of it forth, which was exceeding grateful to poor sinners. The Gospel to some is like a box of ointment shut up; it is hid unto them, they know it not, it is a sealed book, a hidden mystery, an unpleasant story, and unsavoury words; it sends forth no other savour than that " of death unto death;" but unto others, it is like a box of ointmeut opened, and poured forth, which diffuses and spreads a sweet and delightful odour abroad. The ministers of the Gospel make manifest the savour of Christ's knowledge in everyplace where they are sent, aud become to some the " savour of life unto life;" they open the box, and pour forth the ointment of the Gospel, which coming with power, is received with pleasure; and being " worthy of acceptation," it meets with it in the hearts of awakened sinners.
4thly. By the name of Christ, may be inteuded the fame which was, aud still is spread abroad of him: some Jewish writers^' expound it of a good name or good report which Solomon says, " is better than precious ointment," Eccl. vii. 1; and then the sense is this, " such is the fame that is spread abroad ot thee, of thy greatness and goodness, of thy beauties and excelleueies, that even those who have ouly heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, and to whom, at present, thou art not known by sight, liave fallen in love with thee." In the days of Christ's flesh, his name was renowned his fame was s^iread far and near, for the good he did to mankind, in healing the sick, and curing all manner of diseases; for the surprising miracles which he wroui;ht, and for the work of the ministry, whicli he was engaged in; his matter being excellent and divine, words of grace and wisdom, such as " never man spake;" and his manner of delivery being with power and authority; and now his fame is great, aud an excellent report is spread abroad of him, through the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, for the mighty achievements of his grace, aud what his arm of Almighty power has done, in working out, and bringing in salvation for poor sinners; as also for those peculiar blessings of grace, which souls daily receive from him, as well as for those personal excellencies which are in him; now such a report going abroad of him, his name being thus " as oiutraent poured forth," the virgins love him, souls flock after him, and come unto him. "Which brings me to consider,
III. The influence that all tliis has upon the hearts of others; " thorcfore do the virgins love thee." In explaining which clause, I shall endeavour,
1st. To show who are meant by the virgins.
2udly. Give some account of the nature of their love and atfectiou to Christ.
1st. Let us consider who are intended by the virgins. Some think carnal professors are here meant, who are called virgins iu scripture, though foolish ones; but their love is not real, such as this seems to be in the text: others have thought that they are the uncalled and unconverted among the Gentiles, who are not yet espoused to Christ; but they rather appear to be true believers in Christ, by their love to Jiim, for " faith works by love;" aud, perhaps, persons lately converted are
AN EXPOSITION OF Tlffi
intended, whose love to Christ is generally warm and lively, and their afFections strong, not having as yet met with those chills, nor attended with that coldness and indifFerence, which too often, and too soon, befal God's children: the first love is the best and strongest, but oftentimes doth not last long, warm and lively, being gradually chilled with the aboundings of corruption within, and the snares of the world without; though, perhaps, all true believers, whether of a later or of a longer standiug, may be uaderstood here, and may be justly called virgins.
1. For their chaste and strict adherence to Christ, their only husband, to whom they are espoused; "I have espoused you to one husband," says the apostle, " that I might present you a chaste virgin to Christ," 2 Cor. xi. 2; these being betrothed to him, " in righteousness, in lovingkindness, in mercies, and in faithfulness," know, own, and acknowledge him as their Lord and Husband, and steadfastly adhere to him as such; he is a Head, both of eminence and influence to them; to him they hold, and him alone they submit unto as such; he is the Saviour of the body, the church, and they acknowledge him to be theirs, and will have no other. Their language is, " Ashur shall not save us, neither will we say any more to the works of our hands, Ye are our gods." They make use of none, as the mediator between God and them, either as a mediator of redemption, or of intercession, but the Lord Jesus Christ; him they know and love, to him they have given up themselves, and by hiin they will abide, as their He.ad and Husband, their Saviour and Mediator.
2. For the singleness of their love and affection to Christ. Their love is not common to all; it is not bestowed upon any creature, but purely reserved for him who alone deserves it; they can every one of them say, " Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee," Psal. Ixxiii. 25. Christ requires all their love, he will admit of no rival in it, and they are heartily willing to bestow it all upon him. Those who love any creature, or creature-enjoyment more than Christ, or equally with him, are not worthy of him, nor worthy to be called by the name of virgins.
3. For their incorruptuess in the doctrine of faith: this is what tlie apostle seems to have a I'egard to, when he declared his fervent desire to present the Corinthians, as a chaste virgin to Christ; he was jealous, lest they should be seduced through the subtilty and craftiness of illdesigning men, and their pure minds be corrupted and drawn aside " from the simplicity that is iti Christ;" lest they should be polluted with error, and so not answer the character of virgins, which they had hitherto borne, and which he earnestly wished might continue with them. Now virgins are such, who having received, " hold fast the faithful word, as they have been taught;" whose souls having been " nourished up in the words of faith," and of good doctrine, and established therein, cannot be moved from thence, but will earnestly contend, and strive together " for the faith once delivered to the saints."
4. For the truth and sincerity of their worship: they are such who " worship God in Spirit and in truth;" who make the word of God, and his will therein revealed, the rule to act by, in all solemn and social worship, and not the authorities, customs, and inventions of men; and when they are concerned iu any part of religious woiship, their desires are, that their hearts and souls may be engaged tlierein, they are not of those wlio " draw near to God with their mouths, and with their lips honour him, but have removed their hearts far from him, and their fear towards hiin, taught by the precepts of men;" for as they have not committed spiritual whoredom, which is idolatry, so they serve the Lord with pure spirits; they desire that whatsoever they do, more especially in divine worship, might be done in faith, from » principle of love to God, and according to his word and will: these are they who are said not to " be defiled with women, for they are virgins; these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth," Rev. xiv. 4; iu every ordinance and institution of his, which he in his word has pointed out unto them, and marked out for them.
5. For the purity of their lives and conversations; they hold " the mystery of the faith," not merely notionally and by a profession of it, but " in a pure conscience," and hereby "adorn the doctrine of God, our Saviour;" their garments are, in some measure, kept from being spotted with the " pollutions of the world," and which they also frequently wash and make " white in the blood of the Lamb." Besides, " that grace of God, which bringeth salvation," Tit. ii. 11, 12; that is, the doctrines of grace, which bring the news of salvation by Christ, to poor sinners, " teach them, that denying uugodlines and worldly lusts, theij should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" which through the mighty power of God's grace, they are in some measure enabled to do.
6. For their fairness and beauty. Virgins being fair and beautiful, believers are therefore compared unto them; for though they are black in themselves, yet they are comely iu Christ; though full of spots iu themselves, yet, as considered in him, they are " all fair, and there is no spot" in them: through that comeliness, which he has put upon them, they are a perfection of beauty, and being so, are the delight of Christ, and wonder of angels.
7. For their gay and costly attire, and yet modest behaviour. Virgins, in their youthful days, if modest, though their attire is gay and splendid, suitable to their age, yet are of decent and becoming behaviour. Believers are richly attired: these virgins appear in cloth of gold, " in raiment