plar of their own conduct towards their wives. Let us therefore, as we did before, consider what it is that Christ is now daily doing for his church. He is watching over her with unceasing solicitude; He counts the wrongs that are offered to her as done to Himself; He provides for all such necessities; He pardons, for the great love He bears to her, all her offences; He directs Her by his counsel; He supports her in every difficulty; He lends a ready ear to all her complaints; He sympathises with all her weaknesses; He partakes of all her sorrows.

"Thus, lest there should be any mistake or misunderstanding, it is expressly revealed, that in the management of the common family, the husband stands in a situation analogous to that in which even Christ stands to the church. Nothing being so essential to mutual harmony and harmonious operation, as an explanation of the grounds of authority, and the true character and connexion of such an intimate relation as this; in addressing the wife, she is informed, not by the husband, but by God himself, that as Christ is her

D

governor in the church, so is her husband in the family. His authority over her there, however, like that of the Saviour over the church, is founded in the love which he bears to her, the protection he affords, and the provisi on which he makes for her, of all the necessaries, and, if possible, all the conveniences of life. What a serious situation, then, and how full of responsibility, is that of every husband! The obedience enjoined by God is, it seems, not for the husband's gratification merely, but for a higher end; and in return for the honour which is put upon him, he is bound to the fulfilment of corresponding duties."—Anderson.

To the like purpose it is said, in the marriage-service of the church of England,"Matrimony is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of St. Paul to be honourable among all men."

After the minister has, in God's name, declared the parties wed, the congregation implores God's blessing upon them in these words:" O God, who hast consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage, and unity betwixt Christ and his church, look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife according to thy word, as Christ did love his spouse the church; who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh; and also that this woman may be loving, amiable, faithful, and obedient to her husband."

In every country, but especially in christian countries, the laws affecting man and wife do accurately set forth the offices of Christ and his church. The wife, upon her marriage, loses her own name by its being absorbed into that of her husband; so the church is no longer sin and folly, but righteousness and wisdom in Christ. The wife, however mean her born condition, becomes equal in rank to her husband, even to

be, by marriage, the partner of a throne; the poor mortal, dying church shall sit upon Christ's throne, and be, as He is, a sovereign and a priest. The wife, whatever may be the amount of her debts, is not answerable, but the husband must defray them all; in like manner the church, who was ruined, and had nothing wherewith to pay, has had every obligation discharged by the wealth and love of the Lord Jesus.

The line, then, of the husband's duty toward his wife, is according to that which the Lord pursues towards his Church. In the parallel passage in his epistle to the Colossians, the apostle says, "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Although he told the wives to "submit," he does not order the husband to "rule." Directions are seldom given to urge us to do that which we are inclined to do, and all mankind have "the love of sway." Whenever a direction is given for any duty, we may rest assured that it is a warning to us that we are naturally disposed to violate it. As, therefore, it is natural for a wife to

dislike to submit to her husband, so is it natural for a husband's love to diminish towards his wife. The definition of what God means by love is given in the epistle, addressed to the Corinthians, the parts of which that are principally applicable to the present case are, that it "suffereth long, and is kind-is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil-beareth all things-hopeth all things--endureth all things." O how genuine affection frames excuses for its object! How it puts the most favourable construction upon actions! How reluctant it is to impute unworthy motives! The injunction, however, of the apostle implies that husbands are tempted even to be "bitter." Yet what can they have to bear from their wives in comparison to what Christ had to bear from them; if Christ were not to "suffer long and be kind," what must become of all husbands, from the days of Adam down to the day of judgment? If Christ were "easily provoked," where would any one be at the present moment? Where could love for their wives be manifested in these particulars, if their lives were one unceasing round