Section 689
II. Lest this should not be sufficient to commend her beauty, he says also, that she is as
"Comely as Jerusalem;" which was not only the chief city in Judea's land, but as Pliny[4042] says, was the most famous of all the cities in the east; nay more, it was "the joy of the whole earth:" the church goes under this name, both in the Old and New Testament; for which, see the following texts, Isaiah 40:2 and 52:1; Galatians 4:25, 26; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2. Now she may be said to be "comely as Jerusalem," for the following reasons: 1. Jerusalem was a well-built city, its houses were closely joined together, and its streets uniform; hence the Psalmist says (Psalm 122:3), "Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:" so the church of Christ, and the members of it, as they are built upon the same foundation, and are closely joined to the same head, Christ; so they are strictly united one to another, and are like "a building fitly framed together," or like an human body that is "fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth;" all the members being set in their proper places, in a just symmetry with, and subserviency to each other (see Ephesians 2:20, 21, 4:16). 2. Jerusalem was not only the metropolis of Judea, but was the chief city in all the world, as has been observed: and this may set forth the super-excellency, glory and comeliness of the church, above all the world besides; which will more manifestly appear, when "the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and be exalted above the hills, and God's Jerusalem be a praise in the earth," (see Isaiah 2:2, 62:7). 3. It was a very beautiful city;[4043] it had many beautiful structures in it, particularly the temple, which was the finest building that ever was seen in the world; it was also very beautiful for situation, as well as for buildings, and therefore was called the perfection of beauty; as the church also is, being beautified with the garments of Christ's salvation. 4. It was a very rich and opulent city; especially in Solomon's time who "made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones:" in the church, not only the unsearchable riches of Christ, are preached, but also the immense riches of divine grace and mercy are expended upon the members of it; so that every inhabitant of this Jerusalem is a king and a prince: How rich must that city be, all whose inhabitants are kings and princes? such are the saints, the members of Christ's church, who are made by Christ kings and priests to his Father. 5. It was not only the place of the residence of the kings of David's line, where they had their palaces, and kept their courts; but also, what made it more glorious and comely than all the rest, it was "the city of the great king;" even of him who is the King of kings, who was set up by his Father, as king over his holy hill of Zion: so the church is Christ's palace, where he keeps his court, grants his presence, shows himself, and entertains his friends as courtiers; it is his rest, his habitation, where he dwells and delights to be, having chosen it for that purpose, 6. What made Jerusalem also exceeding comely, was, that the worship of God was kept up there: here was the temple; here sacrifices were offered up; hither the tribes went up to worship; and therefore is called, the city of our solemnities: Christ's church is the place of worship where saints assemble together, where God is reverenced and adored by them; where the sacrifice of prayer and praise are offered, up; where the word of God is preached, and his ordinances administered, to the comfort of his saints, and to the glory of his name. 7. Jerusalem, as it was beautiful in its inward buildings, so it was likewise in its outward fortifications, which were both natural and artificial; it had not only many towers and bulwarks, which were its artificial fortifications,, but had also mountains around it, which were natural ones; and for this reason the church and people of God are compared to it, in Psalm 125:2. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth, even for ever:" God himself is a wall of fire around his church; Christ is a strong tower in the midst of it, and salvation has God appointed for walls and bulwarks about it. 8. Jerusalem was a free city, as is Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all; it had many privileges and immunities, as has also the church of Christ, and all the members of it; all who are "fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God," are all Christ's freemen, and enjoy the liberty of the gospel, and can never lose their freedoms, nor be deprived of them; they shall never be arrested by divine justice, nor come into condemnation, nor be reduced to a state of bondage.