A Brief Exposition of New Church Doctrine # 101
101. That the Church is the Lord's, and that on account of the spiritual marriage, which is the marriage of good and truth, the Lord is called the Bridegroom and Husband, and the Church, the bride and wife, is known among 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 is he who stands and hears him, and rejoices because of the bridegroom's voice. John 3:29. Jesus said, While the bridegroom is with them, the sons of the marriage cannot fast. Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2. The angel said to John, Come and I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife (and from a mountain he showed him the holy city Jerusalem). Revelation 21:9-10. The time of the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready ...blessed are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:7, 9. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:16-17.
以賽亞書 58
1
你要大聲喊叫，不可止息；揚起聲來，好像吹角。向我百姓說明他們的過犯；向雅各家說明他們的罪惡。
2
他們天天尋求我，樂意明白我的道，好像行義的國民，不離棄他們神的典章，向我求問公義的判語，喜悅親近神。
3
他們說：我們禁食，你為何不看見呢？我們刻苦己心，你為何不理會呢？看哪，你們禁食的日子仍求利益，勒逼人為你們做苦工。
4
你們禁食，卻互相爭競，以凶惡的拳頭打人。你們今日禁食，不得使你們的聲音聽聞於上。
5
這樣禁食豈是我所揀選、使人刻苦己心的日子麼？豈是叫人垂頭像葦子，用麻布和爐灰鋪在他以下麼？你這可稱為禁食、為耶和華所悅納的日子麼？
6
我所揀選的禁食不是要鬆開凶惡的繩，解下軛上的索，使被欺壓的得自由，折斷一切的軛麼？
7
不是要把你的餅分給飢餓的人，將飄流的窮人接到你家中，見赤身的給他衣服遮體，顧恤自己的骨肉而不掩藏麼？
8
這樣，你的光就必發現如早晨的光，你所得的醫治要速速發明。你的公義必在你前面行；耶和華的榮光必作你的後盾。
9
那時你求告，耶和華必應允；你呼求，他必說：我在這裡。你若從你中間除掉重軛和指摘人的指頭，並發惡言的事，
10
你心若向飢餓的人發憐憫，使困苦的人得滿足，你的光就必在黑暗中發現；你的幽暗必變如正午。
11
耶和華也必時常引導你，在乾旱之地使你心滿意足，骨頭強壯。你必像澆灌的園子，又像水流不絕的泉源。
12
那些出於你的人必修造久已荒廢之處；你要建立拆毀累代的根基。你必稱為補破口的，和重修路徑與人居住的。
13
你若在安息日掉轉（或譯：謹慎）你的腳步，在我聖日不以操作為喜樂，稱安息日為可喜樂的，稱耶和華的聖日為可尊重的；而且尊敬這日，不辦自己的私事，不隨自己的私意，不說自己的私話，
