expressed in Song of Songs 5:10.^134 King is not the only Puritan that connects
contemplation with spiritual marriage. Owen comments, “this is a little glimpse of
some of that communion which we enjoy with Christ.... In the contemplation of the
excellencies, desirableness, love, and grace of our dear Lord Jesus.”^135 Likewise Rous
captures the importance of how contemplation deepens the enjoyment of Christ in
spiritual marriage:
The highest and happiest, and sweetest harmony is, when the soule is in an
unizonthus tuned to Christ Jesus, resoundeth in him, toucheth and moveth him. And with her Saviour and husband: every touch and sound of the soule
as with the sound of outward musicke the spirit of God came upon the
Prophet; so with the sound of this inward musicke (be it in contemplations,
ardencies, desires, invocations, resolutions) the spirit of Christ Jesus commeth
more powerfully and plentifully into the soule.^136
Edward Pearse also recognizes how contemplation encourages and enriches spiritual
marriage, “[t]hus Christ is every way acceptable, and infinitely acceptable, and as
ever, Soul, thou wouldst be indeed espoused to him, dwell much in study and
contemplation of his acceptableness. Labour to be possest with a deep and daily
renewed sense of it, which will sweetly draw and allure thy Soul to him.”^137 Both
delight and enjoyment were significant experiences of being in union and communion
with Jesus. Rous confesses, “[f]or the soule having tasted Christ in an heavenly
communion, so loves him, that to please him is a pleasure and delight to her selfe.”^138
Furthermore, Rous declares the richness that the believer can expect from this
spiritual marriage, “that an heavenly joy is to the soule a restaurative medicine: and
that when she enjoyth her Saviour in the contemplations and tastes of his love, then is
(^134) King, Marriage of the Lambe (^) , 18. Sibbes also employs Ps 27:4 to proclaim
Christ’s beauty in relation to contemplation. 135 Breathing After God, 237.
136 Owen, Communion with God, 154.^
Rous, Mysticall Marriage, 306-7, cf. 88, 268, and 282 for other benefits and fruit
of spiritual marriage. 137
Pearse, Best Match, 226, cf. 215 where a similar declaration is made following a
reference to Bernard. (^138) Rous, Mysticall Marriage (^) , 73.