The mutual Joy of Christ and his Church is like that of Bridegroom and Bride, in that they rejoice in each other, as those that they have chosen above others, for their nearest, most intimate, and everlasting Friends and Companions. The Church is Christ's Chosen, Isa. 41. 9. I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away: Chap. 48. 10. I have chosen thee in the Furnace of Affliction. How often are God's Saints called his Elect or chosen Ones? He has chosen them, not to be mere Servants, but Friends; Joh. 15. 15. I call you not Servants;—but I have called you Friends. And tho' Christ be the Lord of Glory, infinitely above Men and Angels, yet he has chosen the Elect to be his Companions; and has taken upon him their Nature; and so in some Respect, as it were levelled himself with them, that he might be their Brother and Companion. Christ as well as David calls the Saints his Brethren and Companions, Psal. 122. 8. For my Brethren and Companions Sake I will now say, Peace be within thee. So in the Book of Canticles he calls his ⟨p. 21⟩Church his Sister and Spouse. Christ hath loved and chosen his Church as his peculiar Friend, above others; Psal. 135. 4. The Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar Treasure. As the Bridegroom chooses the Bride for his peculiar Friend, above all others in the World; so Christ has chosen his Church for a peculiar nearness to him, as his Flesh and his Bone, and the high Honour and Dignity of Espousals, above all others, rather than the fallen Angels, yea, rather than the elect Angels. For verily, in this Respect, he taketh not hold of Angels, but he taketh hold of the Seed of Abraham; as the Words are in the Original, in Heb. 2. 16. He has chosen his Church above the rest of Mankind, above all the Heathen Nations, and those that are without the visible Church, and above all other professing Christians, Cant. 6. 9. My Dove, my Undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her Mother; she is the choice one of her that bare her. Thus Christ rejoices over his Church, as obtaining in her that which he has chosen above all the rest of the Creation, and as sweetly resting in his Choice; Psal. 132. 13, 14. The Lord hath chosen Zion: He hath desired it.—This is my Rest for ever.
The mutual Joy of Christ and his Church is like that of Bridegroom and Bride, in that they rejoice in each other, as those that they have chosen above others, for their nearest, most intimate, and everlasting Friends and Companions. The Church is Christ's Chosen, Isa. 41. 9. I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away: Chap. 48. 10. I have chosen thee in the Furnace of Affliction. How often are God's Saints called his Elect or chosen Ones? He has chosen them, not to be meer Servants, but Friends; Joh. 15. 15. I call you not Servants;—but I have called you Friends. And tho' Christ be the Lord of Glory, infinitely above Men and Angels, yet he has chosen the Elect to be his Companions; and has taken upon him their Nature; and so in some Respect, as it were levelled himself with them, that he might be their Brother and Companion. Christ as well as David calls the Saints his Brethren and Companions, Psal. 122. 8. For my Brethren and Companions Sake I will now say, Peace be within thee. So in the Book of Canticles he calls his ⟨p. 21⟩Church his Sister and Spouse. Christ hath loved and chosen his Church as his peculiar Friend, above others; Psal. 135. 4. The Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar Treasure. As the Bridegroom chuses the Bride for his peculiar Friend, above all others in the World; so Christ has chosen his Church for a peculiar nearness to him, as his Flesh and his Bone, and the high Honour and Dignity of Espousals, above all others, rather than the fallen Angels, yea, rather than the elect Angels. For verily, in this Respect, he taketh not hold of Angels, but he taketh hold of the Seed of Abraham; as the Words are in the Original, in Heb. 2. 16. He has chosen his Church above the rest of Mankind, above all the Heathen Nations, and those that are without the visible Church, and above all other professing Christians, Cant. 6. 9. My Dove, my Undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her Mother; she is the choice one of her that bare her. Thus Christ rejoices over his Church, as obtaining in her that which he has chosen above all the rest of the Creation, and as sweetly resting in his Choice; Psal. 132. 13, 14. The Lord hath chosen Zion: He hath desired it.—This is my Rest for ever.
