Song of Solomon 1:3

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

It is the Church which is here addressing herself to Jesus. And the substance of what this verse contains seems to be, that there is in her esteem so much fragrancy and preciousness in the very name of her Lord, that, like the holy ointment of the sanctuary, which was both costly and odorous, her spiritual senses were gratified by it. And not only the Church, but the heart of the virgins were sweetly influenced by the same. It may be proper to remind the Reader, that the Lord himself gave Moses the prescription for making the holy ointment, to be used in the sanctuary, with which Aaron and his sons, and the tabernacle were to be anointed. See Exodus 30:22. And we find in after ages, that the consecration of kings, and priests, and prophets, as well as the vessels of the tabernacle was by this ointment. Hence, therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ is said to be anointed, both as King in Zion, as Priest after the order of Melchisedek, and as Prophet, when he was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor. He as our great Head and Mediator, was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows, when, like another Aaron, (and whom Aaron typified), the holy oil of the Spirit was poured out without measure upon his sacred head, which ran down to the skirts of his garments, even to the humblest and poorest of the members of his mystical body, who are said thereby to have an unction from the Holy One, and to know all things. 1 John 2:20; Psalms 45:7; Psalms 45:7; Isaiah 61:1; Psalms 133:2. Reader! how sweet is it to observe, that our Lord Jesus Christ, whose name for his redemption-work to his Church and people becomes so precious and savoury, was thus anointed as the God-man Mediator from all eternity. Well may his name be as ointment poured forth, when we behold him as the anointed of the Father, full of grace and truth, and engaging before all worlds for our redemption, anointed by the Holy Ghost from the womb in his human nature, at his baptism, through his whole offices and ministry, and, when returning triumphant to glory, receiving all the gifts of the Holy Ghost for his people, and all power as Mediator both in heaven and in earth. Reader! is not his name as ointment poured forth to you? - But here is another sweet part in this verse to be noticed by us. The Church calls these ointments thy good ointments. Yes! they are peculiarly belonging to our Jesus. They are his, in common with the Father and the Holy Ghost, as God. All things were made by him, and without was not anything made that was made. John 1:3

But these are yet more peculiarly his as God-man Mediator, because by redemption-work he hath purchased all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit for his people: for all these are included in the covenant. See Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 44:2, etc. And they are his, being himself the sum and substance of the whole of them, to bestow them on whom, and in what degree and extent he pleases; for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and it is of his fulness all his people receive, and grace for grace. John 17:2; John 17:2. Reader! is not Jesus name most sweet and precious to you on these accounts? Doth it not give a lift to your soul, when you hear him say, I have all grace, and faith, and strength, and consolation, and every new covenant mercy; and I have it for my people. But we must not stop here in our review of this blessed verse. The Church saith, that it is the name of Jesus which is as ointment to her soul. Here, therefore, as no one particular name is mentioned, and he hath condescended to reveal himself under so very many, and all of them most precious, precious names, have we not authority to conclude, that every name of Jesus is; or ought to be, like the most fragrant ointment to our spiritual senses? And didst thou not, dearest Jesus, purposely in this verse cause thy Church to speak only of thy name in general, without particularizing which, that thy people might learn from hence, that all are equally dear, and all equally to be prized, as the most costly ointment of the sanctuary? Reader! where shall you and I begin, or where end, in the enumeration of the many precious names of the Lord Jesus. Oh! my adored Lord God, I would call thee Jehovah, Alehim, Adonai, Emmanuel, the Lord our righteousness, Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. The Shiloh, the redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. The Christ of God, the sent of God, the anointed of God, the sealed of God. I would call thee Jesus, the Saviour of poor lost sinners, my Saviour, my King, my God. Oh! how shall I enumerate the thousandth part of thy loveliness, or of the sweet savor of thy name. Blessed be God, there is salvation in no other; my soul renounceth every other, most completely and fully satisfied as I am, that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12. There is yet remaining to be noticed, that part of this lovely verse which speaks of the virgins affection to Jesus: therefore do the virgins love thee. By the virgins, it seems probable is meant true believers. And this title of virgins is not singular when applied to such, for the undefiled in heaven before the throne are called by the same name. Revelation 14:2. And there is a great propriety in it, if we consider that the followers of the Lamb are supposed to have a single eye to the Redeemer's glory: are chaste in life, in conversation, in doctrine, in fellowship, and above all in their attachment to Jesus. Paul beautifully speaks of believers to this effect in one of his epistles: I am jealous over you (says he) with godly jealousy, for I have espoused to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2. Reader! do you and I love Jesus on the same account? Have we such regard to his person, that his name, his people, his word, his ordinances, and all that belong to him, are precious in our esteem? Every poor follower of Jesus may ascertain his real love and faith in the Lamb by this rule. Peter saith, that unto them which believe he is precious. 1 Peter 2:7. Then it will plainly follow, and I am a believer if Jesus be precious to me.