Observe the sweet titles with which the heavenly Solomon with intense affection addresses his bride, the church. "My sister"—one near to me by ties of nature, partaker of the same sympathies. "My spouse"—nearest and dearest, united to me by the tenderest bands of love. My sweet companion, part of my own self.

"My sister" by my incarnation, which makes me bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh. "My spouse" by heavenly betrothal, in which I have espoused you to myself in righteousness. My sister, whom I knew of old, over whom I watched from your earliest infancy. My spouse, taken from among the daughters, embraced by arms of love, and pledged to me forever.

See how true it is that our royal Kinsman is not ashamed of us! He dwells with manifest delight upon this twofold relationship. We have the word "my" twice, as if Christ dwelt with rapture on his possession of his church. "His delights were with the sons of men"—why? Because those sons of men were his own chosen ones. The Shepherd sought the sheep because they were his sheep. He came "to seek and to save that which was lost" because that which was lost was his long before it was lost to itself or lost to him.

The church is the exclusive portion of her Lord. None else may claim a partnership or pretend to share her love. Jesus, your church delights to have it so!

Let every believing soul drink solace from these wells. Soul! Christ is near to you in ties of relationship. Christ is dear to you in bonds of marriage union. And you are dear to him! Behold, he grasps both your hands with both his own, saying, "My sister, my spouse." Mark the two sacred holdfasts by which your Lord gets such a double hold of you that he neither can nor will ever let you go.

Be not, O beloved, slow to return the hallowed flame of his love.