lls^ We should dread nothing so much as the loss of his pre- sence : and knowing what a holy and a jealous God he is, we should strive with all imaginable care to hold him fast, and avoid every thing which may " grieve his Spirit," and provoke him to depart from us.]
2. Seek to enjoy the most intimate commmiion with him —
[The Church, " which is the Mother of us all%" may be considered as the place to which the Bride strove to bring her Beloved. And we also, both in the closet and the Church, should seek such manifestations of his love, as cannot be en- joyed in the noise and bustle of the world. In all the ordi- nances of his grace, and at his holy table especially, we should labour to ensure his presence ; since without him they are only "as wells without water," which "fill with shame and confu- sion" the thirsty soul*. Nor be satisfied with any small com- munications of his grace and peace : seek the largest possible measure of them, even to " be filled with all the fulness of God." In a word, so " dwell in him, and let him dwell in you ;" and so be " one with him, and let him be one with you;" that you may even now, in communion with him, have an earnest of the blessedness of heaven, even of that joy, all " fulness of which is at his right hand for evermore."]
From her example, let us learn,
1. To fix our hearts supremely on the Lord Jesus
Christ—
[Four times does the Bride designate him by this character, " Him whom my soul loveth." Let him be familiarized to us also under the same endearing name. O let him be in our estimation " fairer than ten thousand, and altogether lovely ;" so that, if he interrogate us as he did Peter, Lovest thou me ? we may be able to make the same appeal to him as Peter did, " Lord, thou knowest all things ; thou knowest that I love thee."]
2. Not to indulge sloth in our pursuit of him —
[" The idle soul shall suffer hunger ; but the diligent soul shall be made fat." What darkness have many brought upon their souls by their unwatchfulness ! Peter was warned by our Lord to " watch and pray, that he might not enter into tempta- tion." But Peter slept ; and, though repeatedly awaked and reproved, gave way to sloth again, the instant he was left to himself. What advantage Satan took of him, we all know, and what were the bitter fruits of his supineness. Let us " he sober and vigilant." Let us not pray " upon our bed," as regardless whether we are heard or not, but let us " stir up ourselves to
r Luke xxiv. 28, 29. « Gal. iv. 26. ' Jer. xiv. 3.