Hosea 2:18-19 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven… The Scripture often mentions espousals and marriage to express the great mystery of the grace of God to His people. The Holy Ghost seems to delight much in this allegory: there is none more frequent in Scripture, and it sheds very great honour on the married state. Married people should so live, that all who behold the sweetness, the happiness of their lives, may be reminded thereby of the sweetness and happiness which is in the Church's communion with Jesus Christ. Now, in a married condition there are these four things most remarkable. 1. There is the nearest possible union. "They twain shall be one flesh." 2. In nothing in the world is there so full a communication of one creature to another as in marriage; so in our spiritual marriage with Christ there is a most intimate communion. 3. In a married condition, there is a mutual, entire love. That is, loving the person more than the benefits received from him. True love can be satisfied with nothing else but love. Entire love is a love in all conditions. In love there is unspeakable delight.There are two soul-staying and soul-satisfying grounds to assure of Christ's betrothing Himself for ever. 1. When a soul is taken into Christ, it receives not only pardon for sins past, but there is forgiveness in store for all future transgressions. 2. Another argument for perseverance is, that it is a spiritual mercy purchased by Christ, as well as any other grace. (Jeremiah Burroughs.) Parallel Verses KJV: And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. |
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