VIRGIN is often used in Scripture, for a People, a City, a Nation. The Virgin the Daughter of Babylon, the Virgin the Daughter of Sion, the Virgin the Daughter of Israel, the Virgin the Daughter of Egypt, the Virgin the Daughter of Sidon, &c. All these Phrases signify the Province, the Land, the People, of Babylon, Sion, Israel, Egypt, Sidon, &c.
The Virgin, by way of Eminence or Excellence, is said of the Holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, a Virgin as well after as before her bringing forth: A Virgin marked out by those Words of Isaiah, Isai. vii. 14. Matth. i. 23.A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his Name Immanuel.
The State of Virginity was not thought an honourable State, in the Times of the Old Testament. When the Daughter of Jephthah found she was going to be sacrificed by her Father, before she could be Judg. x. 37, 38.married, she goes to bewail her Virginity upon the Mountains. Sterility was a Reproach in Israel: Isaiah, intending to shew Isai. iv. 1. Isai. liv. 4.the Scarcity of Men that should happen in Israel, says that this Scarcity should be such, that seven Women should offer themselves in marriage to one Man, and say to him, We shall be no Charge to you; we will maintain ourselves in Food and Cloaths; only take us for Wives, and deliver us from the Reproach of Barrenness that we are now under: Aufer opprobrium nostrum. The same Prophet comforts Jerusalem, saying, Thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shall not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
But under the New Testament, Jesus Christ recommends the State of Virginity, Matth. xix. 12.saying, There be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. St. Paul hath set 2 Cor. vii. 25, &c.this Advice of our Lord in a clear Light: Now concerning Virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore, that this is good for the present distress; I say, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh; but I spare you. But this I say, Brethren, the time is short: It remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep as though they wept not; and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy as though they possessed not: And they that use this World as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away. But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried, careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin: The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband, &c.