The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 33

should do, but the other we should not leave undone. Certainly begin with your own, H may be an awful peril to begin with others. But having committed your own aoul into Christ's blessed keeping, and found him your very Lord and Saviour, now go straight away encl try and persuade others to do just what you have done. Then you shall find fulfilled for you that parable of reward which all nature is full of. See that running brook. How merrily it prattles over the pebbles that form its bed, as it speeds away to render up its little tribute to the larger river, which will bear it on to the great and wide sea at last I The miry pond hard by the brook sneers at it, and says, "You haven't got so much water that you can afford to let it all run away in that wasteful fashion; you should take care of what you have got as I do." But the brook took no heed, and went on singing merrily just as before. And the hot summer came round at last, when, lo I the pond wa.~ dried up almost to its last puddle; but the brook went on as before, bright and clear and merry, sparkling and dancing along its appointed way. And we all know the reason why. The brook gave up its strength to the river, and that to the sea; but the s~a gave back in vapour all that she had received, and so the fountains from which the brook flowed forth were filled again, and the brook was glad and not sorry that she had given her strength to others, for now her waters had not failed like those of the pond, but were renewed to her day by day. And so, when the water of life flows into our souls, if we let it flow out again to bless the souls of others, be-sure that he who first gave us of this grace will give us yet more grace, and we shall find that there is that which scattereth and yet increaseth. The life of the merry healthful child spends itself in the vigorous activity of which it never seems to tire ; but that active exercise replenishes the child's life, and it makes increase in strength daily. So, then, as to the vineyards of your own soul and those of others, resolve and pray that you may not be found amongst those who keep neither. Pray, too, that you be not so unhappy as to be a keeper of but one, and especially if that one be not your own. But let this last condition of which we have been telling be yours. Keep your own vineyard and your brother's too.-S. C. Ver. 8.-llow to find God. The daughters of Jerusalem-the inmates of Solo- mon's harem-who scornfully addressed these wordB to the faithful girl who was mourning after her beloved, never meant to utter a great spiritual truth when they thus spoke; any more than Caiaphas did when he said, "It is expedient that one man die for the people." The doctrine of the atonement is in that Caiaphas-speech; and so, sacred suggestions for souls that seek their Lord are found in these wordB of Jerusalem's daughters. The parallel passage, or comment on this verse, is Heb. xi 12, "Be ye followers of them who through faith," etc. Now, it is suggested by this verse that if we would find God- I. WE MUST oo FORTH. (Cf. Heb. xiii.13, "Let us go forth unto him," etc.) We cannot stay (1) in the world; or (2) in any known sin; or (3) amid the common religionism of the day. II. Otra WAY MUST BE THE WAY OF THE LORD'S TRUE PEOPLE. We must go by "the footsteps of the flock." As to who the flock are, cf. John x. They are the true sheep of Christ; those whom he calls "my sheep." They consist not of those who are indifferent, still less strangers, and, least of all, hostile to him; but of those who have followed him, and do follow him "whithersoever he goeth." It is good, often times, when we are in doubt as to what we should do, to ask ourselves what some sincere follower of Christ whom we have known would have done in like circumstances. Such peoplo leave footprints, and they are clearly discernible, and if we track them we shall come where they are. !I[, WE MUBT FEED OUR SOULS UPON THE WORDS OF THE LORD'S SHEPHERDS. (Cf. Heb. xiii. 7, "Remember those who have the rule over you, who have spoken uuto you the Word of God," etc.) Such words are spoken in the Scriptures, and from many a Christian pulpit, and they who seek the Lord have ever found strength and help in the preaching of the Lord's true pastors. It is easy to joke and jibe at the pulpit, and to say it is time that it were put away amidst old lumber; but let the pulpit be filled by a real Christ-given pastor, the words that are uttered from it shall still feed the flock of God. But especially let us feed upon the Word of him who is "the good Shepherd," We shall never find him whom we seek unless we obey thetie counsels.  THE SONG OF SOLOMON.