The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 70

would destroy whole vineyards. Their flesh was sometimes eaten in autumn, when they were grown fat with feeding on grapes. Thus Theocritus says- "' I ham the foxes with their bushy tails, Which numerous spoil the grapes of Meoon's vines When fall the evening she.des.' And Aristophanes compares soldiers to foxes, because they consume the grapes of the countries through which they pass" (Burrows). But now as to the spiritual teachings which are contained in these words. We have brought before us here- I. A SAD POSSIBILITY. Vines that promised well, spoiled. 'l'ranslated into the language of the Spirit, they speak of blessed beginnings of the Divine life in the soul not realized. Few things are more beautiful than the beginnings 'of the Divine life. The promise and hope they give rise to of matured and rich and Christ-like character fill the devout-minded observer-especially if he himself has prayed and watched and toiled for such beginnings-with a deep and sacred joy. What does he not anticipate from them? What of influence on others, in the Church, the home, the business, the world generally? What of service for Christ and truth and all goodness? Hence when he sees that tenderness of conscience, that prayerfulness, that gentleness and humility, that alacrity in service, ths.t delight in worship, all which mark these beginnings, how can he but be glad? or how can any one who has a Christ-like heart in him? But few tJ.ings are more sad tban to sc,e all this hopefulness and promise spoiled. And such things do happen. "Ye did run well; who did hinder you?" so said St. Paul to the foolish Galatians who had so bitterly disappointed him. And bow often in our Lord's ministry had he to bear this disappointment l Again and again there would come to him those about whom bright hope might have been cherished-amiable, well-disposed, warm-hearted, intelligent, pure-minded, generous, much esteemed., kindly, lovable, and beloved. Such people were irresistibly drawn to him, and for a while they would follow him; but then after a while we find something offending them, and they go away. Christ drew their portrait in his parable of the sower, where he likens. such to the seed sown on the stony ground. Quick to spring up and present the appearance of vigorous life, but as quick to wither away when the sun's scorching heat smote them as it smote all else. And surely, in the spoiled vines told of in our tex.t, we have another of these Bible portraitures of the same, or a similar class. And where there is not the actual destruction and perishing of what is good, there is yet the spoiling. The vines are not cut down, they are not hindered from bringing forth any fruit; the foe told of" spoils," v.hich is less than to destroy. .And how often we have to mourn this "spoiling of the vine"! Neither we nor others come up to that elevation of Christian character which might fairly have been expected. Many people are, in the main, worthy; there is very much that is excellent in them, but their characters are sadly marred. They are ineffectual; they do not tell for any real or large amount of good in any one, anywhere. Their type of life is low; they have the name and the form of godliness, but all too little of the power. They are respectable, decorous, outwardly religious, and live, as we sa;r, consistently with their profession. But if you come to know them, how little of their real life is touched by their religion; what a mere veneer it is on their ordinary exist- ence! How little it does for them in making them really.holy or happy, or powerful for good! They began well, but they have sunk and settled down to this. He who looks tLat these people should bring forth their fruit in due season-plentiful fruit, much fruit, the best fruit-will assuredly be disappointed. "And what binders them? Now, mark you, it is not said here, as in that mournful psalm, 'The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up, and the wild beasts of the field devour it.' It is not said here, 'It is burnt with fire and cut down, and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance." It is not said here, 'Why bast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they that go by pluck off her grapes?' No; it is the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the tender grapes." Therefore let us now look at this- IT. lTs Too xucH NEGLECTED CAUSE. It is the little sins, the small faµlts, .the slight self-indulgences, what we count as trifles and think nothing, or almost nothing, o'-these are the little fox.ea which spoil the tender grapes. A.11 sins waste a.nil. destroy the soul. Not merely the wacre but the work of sin is death. Some there are so notorious that they are as St. P~ul says, " open beforehand, going before to judgment."  Oll, II, 1-17,] 'l'HE SONG Q.Jj' SOLOMON. 59