most endeared affection, and complained of the incon- venience he had sustained through herunwatchfuhiess, she still gave but little heed to his voice. In liot countries, " the night dews" are not only strong, but often very injurious to those who are exposed to them : yet even this consideration did not operate to produce in her that activity which the occasion required.
Instead of rising at his call, she urged vain and foolish excuses to justify her neglect; and in fact told him, that his visit at that time was miacceptable. These excuses were only a cloak for her own sloth and self-indulgence : had her graces been in lively exercise, the obstacles she complained of would have vanished in an instant. This conduct gives a striking picture of what too generally obtains amongst our- selves : it shews,
1. Our slothful habits —
[There is in the very best of men " the flesh yet lusting against the Spirit, as well as the Spirit striving against the flesh, so that they cannot do the things they would ^." Even St. Paul complained, that, whilst with his mind he served the law of God, with his flesh he was still in some measure sub- jected to the law of sin, not indeed as a willing servant, but as a captive, who in vain sought a perfect deliverance from that detested enemy''. True indeed, where due vigilance is kept up, " the old man" cannot gain any permanent advantage : but even when " the spirit is willing, the flesh is too often weak ;" and all in some degree find, that " when they would do good, evil is present with them." It is indeed greatly to be lamented, that *' the Wise Virgins" should ever so resemble the Foolish Virgins, as to "slumber and sleep" like them: but so, alas! it is : and when, by reason of our failures, we are ready to complain, " Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord ! " we need the rebuke which was given to that petition, " Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, and put on thy strength, O Zion '^ ! "]
2. Our insensibility to the kindness of our beloved —
[How inexpressibly tender are his addresses to us ! See the invitations, the entreaties, the expostulations that pervade every part of the sacred volume ; and say whether they be not sufficient to melt the most obdurate heart ? " Behold, I stand at the door and knock : if any man hear my voice, and oj)en
a Gal. V. 17. ^ Rom. vii. 14, 18, 22, 23. = Isai. li. 9, 17. and lii. 1.