and, by other writers , is represented as fair and beautiful; and the beautiful form of persons is expressed by it : and very fitly is the state of the church under the law signified by the moon, by which the ceremonial law seems intended, in Re 12:1; that lying much in the observation of new moons, by the which the several festivals under the law were regulated; and which law gave light in the night of Jewish darkness, into the person, offices, and grace of Christ; and though it was imperfect, variable, waxed old, and at length vanished away, yet the church under it was "fair"; there being a beauty and amiableness in the worship of that dispensation, Ps 27:4.
The next clause, "clear as the sun", may describe the church under the Gospel dispensation; when the "sun of righteousness" arose, and made the famous Gospel day; when the shadows of the old law fled away, Christ, the substance, being come; when there were more light and knowledge, and a clear discerning of spiritual and evangelic things: and, in all those periods, the church was "terrible as [an army] with banners"; to her enemies, being in a militant state; See Gill on "So 6:4".
The whole of this may be applied to particular believers; who, at first conversion, "look forth as the morning", their light being small, but increasing; and, as to their sanctification, are "fair as the moon", having their spots and imperfections, and deriving all their light, grace, and holiness, from Christ; and, as to their justification,clear as the sun, being clothed with Christ, the sun of righteousness, Re 12:1; and so all fair and without spot;[and] terrible as [an army] with banners, fighting the good fight of faith, under the banners of Christ, against all spiritual enemies.
Theocrit. Idyll. 18. v. 26. rododaktulov hwv, Iliad. 1. v. 477. & passim. hwv krokopeplov, Iliad. 8, v. 1. & 19. v. 1. Iliad. 18. v. 255. Odyss. 5. v. 390. Odyss. 15. v. 56, 250. "Tanto formosis, formosior omnibus illa est", Ovid.
Leander Heroni, v. 73. "Pulchrior tanto tua forma lucet", Senecae Hippolylus, Act. 2. chorus, v. 740. Vid. Barthii Animadv. ad Claudian. de Nupt. Honor. v.