Section 697
II. Christ, in verse 9, commends his church above all these queens
Concubines and virgins; he gives her two excellent titles, which show her to be superior to others; the first of which, "my dove," has been explained in chapter 2:14, and the other, "my undefiled," in chapter 5:2, and therefore need no farther explanation here. The things in which she appears to be preferable to all these fore-mentioned persons, are,
First, That she is but one, and they are many: which may be expressive, 1. Of the church's fewness in number; who, if compared with the nations of the world, which is the first sense given of the former words, she is but like one to sixty or eighty, nay to an innumerable multitude; there are but few that are chosen, though many are externally called: Christ's church is a remnant, according to the election of grace; it is but one of a city, and two of a family that Christ brings to Zion; they are but a little flock, to whom the heavenly kingdom is bequeathed. 2. Of the church's unity in herself. (1.) She is but one body; as there are various members in an human body, and yet but one body; so likewise is the church, though consisting of many believers; as there are many sheep and lambs in a flock, and yet but one flock, under the care of one shepherd; many beds in a garden, and a variety of spices, flowers, herbs and plants in these beds, and yet but one garden; even so, though there are many particular congregated churches, and in those churches many believers; yet there is but one "general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven." (2.) She has but one spirit, which actuates and influences this body, the same Spirit that dwells in the head, Christ, dwells in his body, the church; and the same that dwells in the body, dwells in every member of it; for though there are diversities of gifts, and various graces, yet there is but one Spirit who distributes them to the several members, for their use and profit. (3.) She has but one head and husband, Lord and Savior: she has but one head, to whom she holds, and from whom she receives life and nourishment, and so increases with the increase of God; but one husband, whom she owns and acknowledges as such, and to whom she is "espoused as a chaste virgin;" but one lord. under whose government she is, and to whom alone she yields obedience; and but one mediator, that she regards, and makes use of, and that is, "the man Christ Jesus." (4.) Though the church consists of many members; yet being but one body united to one head, and actuated by one and the same Spirit, they enjoy the same privileges; they are built upon one and the same foundation, Christ; they are washed in the same blood; they wear the same righteousness, and receive from the same fullness, "grace for grace." (5.) They make a profession of one and the same faith, for as there is but one Lord, so there is but one faith; the doctrine of grace is invariable; it is like the author of it, "the same yesterday, today, and for ever;" there never was another gospel, nor never will be; the faith which the church now professes, is what was "once delivered to the saints," to be kept by them; and which they, standing fast in one spirit, should strive for the purity of; which cannot be, unless they are "perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. (6.) They are in the same one in worship: the object of worship is one and the same; and so is the Spirit which assists them in it, as well as the form of it; for as there is but one Lord, and one faith, so there is but one baptism: whose subjects and mode of administration should continue the same, without any variation, until the end of time: and but one Lord's supper: and so it may be said of every other ordinance, and of every part of religious worship; for saints, as they worship one and the same God, under the influences of one and the same Spirit, and in the same way; so likewise should they, with one consent: which they cannot be said to do, when an ordinance is administered by some one way, and by some another. (7.) They are one in affections, or at least ought to be; their chief business should be to "keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace," and that from the aforesaid considerations: for this is one end of their calling, the glory of their profession, and a distinguishing character of their being the disciples and church of Christ. This may be also expressive of her being the only spouse and bride of Christ; "my dove, my undefiled is but one;" that is, though other princes may have their sixty queens and eighty concubines, and an innumerable company of virgins to wait upon them; yet I have but one, and am well satisfied with her, I desire none but her; my one is preferable to their many; as she says, "I am my beloved's:" that is, I only am his, he has none besides me and "his desire is towards me," and to none else.
Secondly, He says, that 'she is the only one of her mother." By her mother is meant "Jerusalem, which is above, which is the mother of us all:" and by her being "the only one of her mother," we are to understand that she had no other but her: for though we read, in chapter 1:6, of "her mother's children," yet we are to understand them of carnal professors; who had the name, but not the nature of children; were not true sons of the church, were bastards, and not sons. Or else the meaning is, that she was to him as a mother's only child; no mother could more tenderly love an only child, than he did her: so that it may be expressive of that strong affection and tender passion which he bore to her.
Thirdly, he says, that 'she is the choice one of her that bare her," which is a periphrasis of her mother; and her being the "choice one of her," shows how much she was valued and esteemed by her; of all her mother's children, she was loved the best. Moreover, the word may be translated, "the pure or clean one;"[4059] and so she is as clothed with that "fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints," as washed in Christ's blood, which "cleanseth from all sin;" as sanctified by the Spirit, purified by faith, and sprinkled with clean water, the grace of the everlasting covenant: also, as she was free from the pollution of error and false worship; was of an unspotted conversation; and was now, or at least had been lately, in the furnace of affliction, where Christ had purified her, and made her white and clean.