七月二十二日
我作你們的丈夫。（耶3：14）
基督耶穌與他的民藉著婚姻的關係結合起來。他愛他的教會像愛一個童貞女一樣，她還受捆鎖的時候他就愛她了。他勞苦工作，像雅各爲拉結的緣故一樣，直到爲她償付完了她的贖價，現在他用他的聖靈尋找她，使她認識他，幷愛他，他等羔羊婚筵的榮耀日子來到，好彼此歡聚。尊榮的新郎現在還沒有使他所愛的、完全的新婦進到父前得到天上的尊貴，他還沒有使他所愛的妻子和王后得到當得的榮尊：她還在悲哀的世界上作客旅，還寄居在基達的帳棚裏；但她現在已是耶穌的新婦和佳偶了，乃是他心所寶，他眼所貴，寫在他的手上，與他成爲一體的。他在地上向她盡了丈夫的一切愛情的責任。
他供給她一切的需要，償付了她所欠的一切債，准她使用自己的名字，幷分享他的富足。他絕不會向她變心變節。他從不說休她的話，因爲他說“休妻的事……都是我所恨惡的”。死亡只能分割人與人的聯繫，但它幷不能斷開這種屬靈的婚姻關係。
人在天堂上雖然幷無嫁娶的事，像天使一樣；但是有一個例外，因爲在天上基督要和他的教會一同吃婚姻的筵席。這種結合是永久的，所以也是最親密的一種婚姻。丈夫的愛雖然潔淨而熱烈，但比起我們主耶穌基督心中的火就顯得微弱而冷漠了。基督爲了愛教會所以離了父，親自爲她成爲肉身，降卑爲人，這種結合超出了人類的一切婚姻關係。“……基督是教會的頭，他又是教會全體的救主。”
July 22
“I am married unto you.” — Jeremiah 3:14
Christ Jesus is joined
unto His people in marriage-union. In love He espoused His Church as a chaste
virgin, long before she fell under the yoke of bondage. Full of burning
affection He toiled, like Jacob for Rachel, until the whole of her
purchase-money had been paid, and now, having sought her by His Spirit, and
brought her to know and love Him, He awaits the glorious hour when their mutual
bliss shall be consummated at the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Not yet hath the
glorious Bridegroom presented His betrothed, perfected and complete, before the
Majesty of heaven; not yet hath she actually entered upon the enjoyment of her
dignities as His wife and queen: she is as yet a wanderer in a world of woe, a
dweller in the tents of Kedar; but she is even now the bride, the spouse of
Jesus, dear to His heart, precious in His sight, written on His hands, and
united with His person. On earth He exercises towards her all the affectionate
offices of Husband. He makes rich provision for her wants, pays all her debts,
allows her to assume His name, and to share in all His wealth. Nor will He ever
act otherwise to her. The word divorce He will never mention, for “He
hateth putting away.” Death must sever the conjugal tie between the most
loving mortals, but it cannot divide the links of this immortal marriage. In
heaven they marry not, but are as the angels of God; yet there is this one
marvellous exception to the rule, for in Heaven Christ and His Church shall
celebrate their joyous nuptials. This affinity as it is more lasting, so is it
more near than earthly wedlock. Let the love of husband be never so pure and
fervent, it is but a faint picture of the flame which burns in the heart of
Jesus. Passing all human union is that mystical cleaving unto the Church, for
which Christ left His Father, and became one flesh with her.
