The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 97

been our Bun of Righteousness, then his departure makes our night. All the things relating to the spiritual world a.re dark to us if Jesus be absent. We cannut see the face of our Father. We cannot read our titles clear to the heavenly inheritance. '!'here is no growth of holy virtues in us. We cannot run the heavenly race. It is a time of wintry darkness and wintry barrenness if Jesus keeps away. No artificial light can take the place of Immanuel. 3. There is sound resolution. The soul has reached a noble resolution. "I will rise now." Some resolutions which we make are worthless. 'l'hey are made under excited feeling, or from a passing fear, or they are the outcome of a shallow nature, which lightly esteems a pledge. But a resolution made in the strength of God is a firm step taken in advance. It is the first step in a series; for the strength of God is behind it. Genuine resolution never waits. It moves onward at once. No sooner had the prodigal boy resolved to return, than "he arose and came to his father." So here the bride says in the same breath, "I will seek him . . . . I sought him." 'l'he future is instantly translated into the present. Good resolution id not a pillow to sleep on; it is a horse which we should instantly mount. 4. There is active and persistent search. No journey is too great if we can only find our Beloved. Thousands travel every year over hot sands to Mecca in the hope of getting nearer to Mohammed, and so gaining his empty favour. Sharp privations are gladly endured in order to purchase this worthless merit. Gold-seekers will voyage to the antipodes, and will run a thousand risks to obtain the virgin ore. Then does not highest wisdom impel us to seek the" unsearchable riches of Christ"? Shall the common adventurers of earth put us to shame? We must seek everywhere, in all likely places. If in one search we have been disappointed, we must try another. Columbus was not easily daunted when he was on the search for a new continent. Many noble lives have been sacrificed in the effort to find a sea-route over the North Pole. Joseph and Mary did not easily abandon the search for the child Jesus. Pressed down with sorrow, they • sought him in one company after another, oor gave up their effort until they found the lad. '' The subtle chemist can dissect And strip the creature naked till he find The callow principles within their nest. What bath not man sought out and found But bis dear God?" 5. First disappointments will not deter us. "I sought him, but I found him not." 'l'he earnest seeker after Christ is not easily daunted. The first hindrance will not depress him, nor the second, nor the twentieth. Delays in finding Jesus only whet his appetite, and spur him on to fresh search. Failure in finding Christ is in no sense a defeat. It is a gain in knowledge. It is helpful in experience. It is part of the process in the attainment of success. Difficulties make the man. If one road does not lead to righteousness and rest, another road will; for there is a road. And Christ i11 watching us carefully to see if we are faint-hearted. The first experiment to utilize electricity for illuminating a. city did not succeed, nor the sec<rnd; yet mechanicians persevered until they reached the goal. And every a.wakened sinner is resolved to find Christ, or to die in the attempt. Our own blunders, as a rule, a.re the cause uf delay. 6. There will be inquiry for Ghrist from qualified persons. "The watchrue11 that go a.bout the city found me : to whom I said, Saw yo him whom my soul loveth?" These watchmen fitly represent the pastors of the Church. They know the haunts and habits of the Prince. They know the pror:cness of man's heart to err. They know the subtleties of the adversary and the deceitfulness of sin. Therefore a faithful pastor is a good guide for seeking souls. These under-shepherds are ever on the look out for Christ-seekers. We read, "'!'hey found me." Then they were seurching for such. This is their business. As a man who has navigated a ship a hundred times through an intricate rocky channel makes the best pilot, so they who have themselves found Christ and walk daily with him are best qualified to lead wanderers into his fold. Shrink not from asking counsel. Avail yourself of every help. II. JESUS FOUND. "I found him whom my soul loveth." 1. Jesus uses consecrated men to bring his chosen ones into his presence. Those who know him best are honoure,I BG TlJE SONG OF SOLOMON.