the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me*^." Yet how long does he stand and knock in vain! His pleadings too, how kind, how gracious, how forcible they are ! " Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Wherefore say my people, we will come no more unto thee^?" " Turn ye unto ine ; for I have redeemed you : I am even married unto you*^:" " Turn ye, turn ye; why will ye die, O House of Israel?" But all his expostulations have been to no purpose with respect to the generality ; and even on the best they are far from operating to the extent they ought. St. Paul could say, " The love of Christ constraineth us," or carries us away like a mighty torrent : but how many are the seasons when his attractions are not so felt by us, and when, instead of regarding him as " the chiefest among ten thousand," we see scarcely any " beauty or comeliness in him for which he is to be desired ! "]
3. Our vain excuses with which we cloke our sins —
\_Soniething arising out of our present circumstances we are ready to plead in extenuation at least, if not in excuse, for our sloth. But, if we would deal faithfully with ourselves, we should see that all our pleas are a mere cloak for self-indulgence : we are called to " crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts," but we do not like self-denial : to " mortify our earthly mem- bers" is a work in which we cannot bear to engage: the "cutting off" a right hand, and plucking out a right eye" is so painful to us, that we cannot be prevailed upon to put forth the resolution it requires. We promise ourselves a " more convenient season," which in too many instances never comes at all. Like those in the parable, we find some reason for declin- ing the invitations sent us, and return for answer, " I pray thee have me excused" ]
A due consideration of her fault will prepare our minds for,
n. The reproof she met with —
At last, beginning to see her error, she rose to open to her beloved : and with such ardour of affection did she open to him, that " myrrh dropped, as it were, from her hands upon the handle of the lock." But behold, he was gone ; and though she sought him, she could not find him ; and though she called after him, he gave her no answer. The watchmen too reproved her with great severity, as questioning even the sin- cerity of one who could so treat the beloved of her soul. And such reproof must we all expect, if we give
<i Rev. iii. 20. f .Ter. ii. 31. *" Jer. iii. 12, 14.