‘My Beloved’ – His Bride (Part 1)

Comely in Character–ch. 1. 5

“I, black, but comely, as the tents of Kedar, as curtains of Solomon.”

Note. it is the bride that is black, not the tents of Kedar, perhaps; not tilt? Curtains of Solomon, certainly. These may have been extremely beautiful. But even black tents … pitched among bushes of liveliest green, have a ‘ comely “appearance.” (Dr. Thomson, “The Land and The Book”)

Controlled in Desires–ch. 1. 9

“I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.”

“Horses originally came from Egypt, and those selected for Pharaoh’s own chariot would not only lie of the purest blood and. perfect in proportion and symmetry, but also perfect in training, docile and obedient; they would know no will hut that of the charioteer, and the only object of their existence would be to carry the king whithersoever he would go. So should it be with the Church of Christ … guided by the Spirit; holding the Head, and knowing no will but His.”*

Commended in Love–ch. 2. 1, 2

“The Bride is but a wild flower, a lowly, scentless ‘ rose of Sharon [that is, the autumn crocus), or a lily of the valleys,”

“The Bridegroom responds; Be it so ; but if a wild flower, yet, ‘ as a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”*

*Denotes quotations from “Union and Communion,” J. Hudson Taylor