1. God hath a peculiar love to this very relation, and often mentions it
the heavens,' &c., ver. 21. In what day? In the day of betrothing, in the day of the evangelical administration, when the contract shall be made between me and my church. Heavens, earth, corn, wine, and oil, the voice and motions of all creatures, are for Jezreel, which signifies the seed of God. This great prince he hath a care of all his subjects, so more peculiarly of his spouse and princess, which is his seed too, and all creatures shall be her servants. This fatherly relation and affection is strong and pure, not as the love which acts an ambitious man to ambition, or a covetous man to wealth; which respects nothing but the grasping and possessing the objects they doat upon, and have nothing of love for the objects themselves, therefore deserves not the name of love. But it is the love of a father, whose love is pure towards his children; he seeks their good as his own.
Consider these two things.
1. God hath a peculiar love to this very relation, and often mentions it with delight, as if he loved to hear the sound of it in his own lips:
Cant. 8:12, 'My vineyard which is mine, is before me.' Me, my, mine.
The church is always under his eye, seated in his affection, and God is pleased with his propriety in them. God never calls the world my world, though he created it; sometimes he saith, the earth is mine, but it is either to check the presumptions of men, who ascribe that to themselves which is due to the first cause; or to encourage his people in the expectation of deliverance, because all things in the earth are at his beck; or to shew his own sufficiency, without the services of his people; as when he saith, the earth is mine, and the fulness thereof; but it is never mentioned in such a way, as to discover any pleasure he hath in the relation between him and it, simply considered; but my vineyard, my people, my children, my jewels, my sanctuary, very often. So much doth God esteem his propriety in them.
2. This relation is prevalent with God in the highest emergencies and distresses of his people. The very consideration that they are his people, kindles his affection, and enlivens his strength for them: Isa.