The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 78

many be ~•as known throu,!l_h bis voice of wisdom-through his voice of tender lnvltR- tion :rnd generous l~ve, "The voice of my Beloved." "FRith cometh by hoaring." To thr !wart Jesus Chnst still speaks. The sweet toMe of his love win us to obedience. 'Tis not only a voice, but "the voice of my Beloved." II. THIS LANGUAGE IS A PICTURE OF CrrnrsT's COMING AT OUR OON\"ERSTON. In the day of our personal regeneration, Immanuel came into our heart to d~·ell. Then Rll t lie mountains of opposition were levelled, and all the abysses of dearadation were filled up.. We str~ightway P:'5Sed o~t of darknoss_into light, out ofbondag~ into liberty, out of hamshrnent mto s~nsh1p. If 1~ wer~ not a time of har~cst, when men g~ther up the ripe. sheaves of plenty, 1t was a sprmg-tlme, when young life appears, and gives fair promise of growth and fruitfulness. So we could sing, •• For, lo, the winter is past, the rain i8 over and gone." 1. .A surprising change. lf ever a miracle has been wrought on earth our regeueration is a miracle. It is a new departure in life. We, who once loved sin' now bate the abominable thing. ,ve had "sold ourselves for nought;" now we ar~ redeemed with priceless blood. We were righteously condemned; now we are righteously accept.ed. We are brought into covenant relationship with God. In that day hell was exchanged for heaven. It was a day of jubilee. '1.'hrough all the ranks in heaven a thrill of gladness ran. The barrenness and death of winter were gone, and spring, fresh with life a.nd hope, filled the soul. The heavenly Bridegroom had arrived, 2. Varied beauty is here represented. "The flowers appear on the earth." Bright and fragrant flowers a.re fit emblem~ of Christian virtues. The early flowers of meekness and peni- tence send forth a goodly smell, and the spicy beds of obedience produce a rich aroma. Some Christians are like violets, unconscious of their eweetness; some are like saow- drops, lacking character; some are full of sacred enthusiasm, rare roses, like Augustines and Am broses and Lnthers. The brightest and noblest specimens of men are found in 1.he Church. 3. .And fruitfulness is also foreseen. "The fig tree putteth forth her green figs." True religion is not mere sentiment; it is practical; it is•beneficial to mankind. "Whence sprang our hospitals, our asylums, olll' penitentia1ies, our alms- houses ? They have all sprung from Christ, as the Root. When the Spirit of the Lord anointed Jesus, he preached good tidings to the poor; he announced "liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to those who were bound." No life has been so fruitful in good results as the life of Jesus Christ, and every true disciple aspires to be fruitful too. In the first age of Christfanity, Paul 6aw many excellent fruits-:--'' love, joy, peace, long-suffering, meeknes..-," etc. And the catalogue has been growing from that day to this. 4. Gladness is another feature in the c<>ming of the Bridegroom. "The time of the singing of birds is come." If any event ou earth can awaken joy, ~urely this musi in a superlative degree. If, on the return of spring, lark and linnet 11.nd thrillih trill their notes afresh, and fill the woods with music, can we restrain our joy when the spring is within u&-a new incoming of heavenly life? 'l'his joy is joy of the richest quality. It is the cream of aU joy. It is joy akin to that which floods the heart of God. We did not know what joy was until Christ visited the heart. Said Rutherfor,l, " Hold, Lord! it is enough. The vessel cannot contain more." " It is meet that we should make merry and be glad." Let nature share in the gladness'! It is the birthday and bridal of the soul in one I 5. This new love is held precious by Christ. "Sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is lovely." We 'cannot understand why our attachment and our loyalty should be so highly esteemed by Jesus; yet so it is. He "rests in our love." He "rejoices over us with singing." He calls us "his jewels -his treasures." He has bis "inheritance in the saints." Where the disciples meet, he delights to come. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth" him. And such complacent joy does he find in his consecrated servants, that he says," I am glorifiocl in them." In the visions of heaven vouchsafed to St. John, the redeemed of earth occupied a place nearer to the throne than the unfallen angels. They are sty led "messengers," "ser- vants;" but consecrated men af·e designated "brethren." Ill. THIS LANGUAGE IS DESCRIPTIVE OF REVIVAL AFTER TEMP.ORARY DEADNESS. Tho corning of Christ to the soul is like a restoration to life after fainting, or like new life after sle.ep. 1. The novelty of spiritual life, arising from contrast, does nlJ! abide. 'l'he joy that springs from pardon does not remain, just as the freshness of sprmg doe1:1 not continue all the year. When the new experience becomes a settled thing, the gladuess that could not at first but break into a song subsides-into a calmer deligbt, oe. 11. 1-17.] 'rHE SONG OF SOLOMON. 67