Everlasting Espousals from Thoughts
of God by John McDuff, 1864 How precious are your thoughts unto
me, O God! I will betroth you unto me forever. I will betroth you in righteousness
and justice, in love and mercy. Hosea 2 verse 19 The most endearing as well as
the most exalted relationships of earth are employed to illustrate
and symbolize God's love to his people. He is represented as
comforting as a mother, pitying as a father, sympathizing as
a friend, healing as a physician, bestowing as a king. Here, he
is described as entering into everlasting espousals with his
church, and with every redeemed member of it. in the depths of
eternity past, pledging his vow to his betrothed bride, putting
the engagement ring on her finger, summoning righteousness, justice,
love, and mercy as witnesses of the magnificent ceremony to
sign and ratify the marriage contract. How uncertain are Earth's
apparently securest ties! Brother may be severed from brother,
husband from wife, child from parent, friend from friend. But in our union with God, linked
to Him in the bonds of the everlasting covenant, the pang of separation
can neither be felt nor feared. Age can never plow its furrows
on the brow. Sickness can never blanch the
cheek. Death can never unlock the fountain
of tears. The grave can never close over
our loved and lost. I will betroth you to me forever. As in the human union which here,
as in other passages, is made the type and symbol of the nobler
covenant, that divine espousal is reared on the twofold basis
of honor and of love. Righteousness and justice, the
two representatives of God's honor, come first. Love and mercy
follow. It is a union founded on everlasting
truth, justice, and rectitude. These attesting witnesses signed
the contract around the Cross of Calvary. There, mercy and
truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have
kissed each other. Christ also loved the Church
and gave himself for it. What an endless dowry did that
mighty sacrifice purchase and secure for the Bride of Heaven. Soon the festival day shall be
here, when the betrothed spouse shall be presented to the heavenly
bridegroom, ushered into the blessed pavilion of his own presence. The marriage procession is even
now on foot. The train is sweeping along to
the hall of the king's palace. Righteousness, justice, love,
mercy. These are the four torchbearers
lighting the way to the gladsome scene. Have we heard and obeyed
the midnight summons? Behold, the bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him. Let them
boast in this alone, that they truly know me and understand
that I am the Lord who is just and righteous. whose love is
unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord,
have spoken.