

Transcribed from the 1815 R. Thomas edition by David Price, email
ccx074@pglaf.org

                   [Picture: Public domain book cover]





                                   THE
                           _SPEEDY APPEARANCE_
                                    OF
                                  CHRIST
                          DESIRED BY THE CHURCH.


                        _BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF A_

                                 Sermon,

                    PREACHED ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND,

                            _August_ 27, 1815.

                                * * * * *

                              BY J. CHURCH,
                MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, SURREY TABERNACLE.

                      [Picture: Decorative divider]

      It shall be said in that day, lo, we have waited for him, he will
                                     save
                             us.—_Isaiah_ xxv, 9.

                   Even so come, LORD JESUS—Rev. xxii, 20.

                                * * * * *

                                Southwark:
             PRINTED BY R. THOMAS, RED LION STREET, BOROUGH.

                                * * * * *




A SERMON.


                       SOL. SONG, 8th Chap. last Verse.

    _Make haste_, _my Beloved_, _and be thou like to a Roe_, _or a young_
                     _Hart upon the Mountains of Spices_.

THIS divine Poem, is designed by the Holy Spirit, to exhibit the love of
God our dear Saviour, to his chosen people, with all the happy
consequences of that eternal affection.  The whole book is full of
Christ, as the all in all of the Church, which he has purchased with his
blood—the union subsisting between the elect head and chosen body.  What
Christ is to them, and they are to him, is strikingly set forth by many
well-known metaphors.  Perhaps there is nothing of greater importance in
the Bible than the Union subsisting between Jesus and his Church, the
whole Scriptures are full of it; all our salvation depends upon it.  The
highest idea of Union is that glorious oneness in the three Persons the
adorable Trinity; that though they are distinct in Persons, Names and
Offices, yet they are one in the divine incomprehensible Essence.

The next idea of Union is the hypostatical Union of God in our Nature:
the Word made Flesh and dwelling among us.  This is the mystery of
Godliness.  The Union between the head and members is the principal
subject of this Song.  That Christ and his People are one, is an
everlasting truth, the date of it is eternal, it is indissolvable, it is
mysterious, it is perfect, and will endure to all eternity.  Hence it is
compared to the Union that subsists between the foundation of a building
and its superstructure.  Christ is the foundation stone, the corner
stone, the tried stone, and will be the top stone.

This Union is set forth by the metaphor of the head and the body, while
the love that united both is set forth in this song, by the neck.  The
self-moving love of God will keep this body and head in eternal Union.
This is also represented by the Vine and the Branches.  _I am the Vine_,
_ye are the Branches_.  All our fruit depends on Union with this Vine—_In
me is thy fruit found_.  The scriptures shew this doctrine by the Union
that subsists between the Husband and his Wife: this says the Apostle _is
a great mystery_; _but I speak concerning Christ and his Church_.

In consequence of this Union with Christ and his People, they become
partakers of the same Spirit with him.  He that is joined to the Lord is
one spirit.  He took our nature, we take his spirit, and like the men of
Judah, we have two parts in David.  We are bone of bone, and flesh of his
flesh; and the Apostle tells us, _we are members of his body_, _of his
flesh_, _and of his bones_.  Christ being united to his Church, beholds
it with admiration; highly commends her, and to shew how dear she is to
him, he laid down his life for her, in the set time, to favor our souls.
He subdues our enmity, melts our hearts, reconciles our wills, draws our
affections to himself, and leads our faith to admire him, believe in him,
rest on him, and be satisfied with him.  He loves us, we love him; he
chose us, we chuse him; he is delighted in us, we in him; he sought us,
we seek him; he commands us, we commend him; he draws near to us, we draw
near to him; he loves the company of his people, they desire his; he
invites them to his arms, his house, his table, and to holy familiarity
with him.  His people seeing his glory, beauty, suitableness, and love,
intreat him to visit them, to meet them, to abide with them, to be in
them, walk with them, talk with them, and indulge them with his company.
Thus the Union is mutual, and sweet communion is the blessed effect of
it.  The Saviour must see of the travail of his soul, in their complete
conversion.  He longs for their coming home, and they long to get home to
see him, who is the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express
image of his Person.  Under this sweet influence of the spirit of love,
the Church breathes forth her earnest desires—_Make haste my beloved_,
_and be thou like to a Roe_,