tions shall be desolation, and even to the consummation and decision it shall be poured on the desolate, verse 27; this end is described by these words of the Lord in Matthew, When ye shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, let him that readeth note it well, chap, xxiv. 15. That by Jerusalem in the passage above adduced, is not meant the city of Jerusalem which was inhabited by the Jews, may appear from many places in the word, where it is said of that city that it was entirely destroyed, and that it was to be pulled down, as Jerem. v. 1. chap. vi. 6, 7. chap. vii. 17, 18. chap, viii. 6, 7, 8. chap. ix. 10, 11, 12. chap. xiii. 9, 10, 14. chap. xiv. 16. Lam. i. 8, 9, 17. Ezech. iv. 1 to the end. chap. v. 9 to the end. chap. xii. 18, 19. chap. xv. 6, 7, 8. chap. xvi. 1 to 63. chap, xxiii. 1 to 40. Matt, xxiii. 37,38. Luke xix. 41 to 44. chap. xxi. 20, 21, 22. chap, xxiii. 28, 29, 30, besides many other passages; and also where it is called Sodom, Isaiah iii. 9. Jerem. xxiii. 14. Ezech. xvi. 46, 48; and in other places.
That the church is the Lord's, and that by virtue of a spiritual marriage, which is that of goodness and truth, the Lord is called the bridegroom and husband, and the church the bride and wife, is known amongst Christians from the word, particularly from the following passages, John said of the Lord, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice, John iii. 29. Jesus said, Can the children of the bride-chamber fast as long as the bridegroom is with them? Matt. ix. 15. Mark ii. 19, 20. Luke v. 35. I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, Revel, xxi. 2. The angel said to John, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride the lamb's wife, and
