The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 115

frustiln,rJ soul. The soul is, as it well may be, often overwhelmed with the sense of its own vileness and sin. It clings to Christ with the grasp of all but .despair. What a help to know that Christ'B estimate of us is not our own! How often we are able to help a man up by letting him see that we believe in him, notwithstanding he has done wrong I Arnold's word, "'l'rust a boy, and he will become trustworthy," is most true. The fact we are considering is not only full of consolation, but full of help to us poor sinful men. 2, Inspiration for the better life. If Christ thinks me so, I will strive to become so. Is this his ideal for me? I will, in his strength, strive to realize it. 3. The enlcindling and const!tnt rekindling of OV,T love for Ghrist.-S. C. Ver. 6.-Where Ghrist is now. "Until the day break," etc. I. BY THIS IS MEANT THE PRESENT LIFE. It does not matter whether the words ho taken as telling of the. time until the day break or until the day close. In the former case, the speaker would mean that all the night long he would be on the mountains of myrrh, etc.; but in the latter, he would mean that until the day were done he would be there. It matters not, for the present life may be likened to either night or day. 1J to the night, then night-time is meant to suggest the darkness in which men live. As to knowledge.:" We see through a glass, darkly." As to happiness: "Man is born to trouble." As to the use of life : men choose to walk in darkness. The land sits "in darkness ami in. the shadow of death," because they who dwell in such land are in that deep spiritual darkness of which the prophet tells. 1J to the day, then as the time for toil, the season for diligent work, the period during which the busy affairs of men are transacted-such is our life so long as it continues. On either interpretation the present life is meant. II. THE PLACE WHERE DURING THIS LIFE WE MAY FIND CHRIST. On" the mountains of myrrh," etc. By this is meant, not heaven, for we cannot ascend into heaven; and the place told of here is evidently a place accessible. Therefore we take the "moun- tains of myrrh," etc., to mean the C!hurch (cf. Isa. ii. 2). And there are many other Scriptures in which the Church is likened to hills or mountains (Ps. b::viii. 15, 16; lxxxvii. 1-3, etc.). Some have thought that the throne of grace, the place of prayer, is meant-and so it is; but more than that is included. Nothing less than the Church of Christ. And the similitude employed here is just. For the Church is as a moun- tain. 1. .For elevation. The Church should be above the world. Hence, in the magnificent minsters which adorn this and other lands, the sacred fabric towers in lordly heigllt far above all the dwellings that cluster around it. It symbolizes this very truth. Our Lord said, "Ye are a city set on a bill." 2. For visibility. "Which cannot be hid." Goodness ever betrays itself; like him from whom it comes, and of whom it was said, "He could not be hid.". Does the visibility consist in anything else but character? -Is not the Church the company of _all the good? 3. For its majesty. It is God's vicegerent here on earth. By it "kings rule, and princes decree justice." Kings were its nursing fathers and queens its nursing mothers (cf. Isa. Ix.). 4. For its immovability. (Ps. cxxxv. 1.) "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it," said our Lord. And here it is to-day, and it never seemed more likely to cor;tiuue than it does to-day. 5. Fur its fruitfulness. The mountains and hills told of are not mere rocky heights, stony and barren, but rich and fruitful, their sides covered with noblest trees. "'l'hey that be planted in the house of tho Lord," etc. 6. For its delightfulness. Myrrh and frankincense are the product of its trees, and make the whole plaoe fragrant, precious, full of delight to him who dwells or comes there (cf. "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than," etc.). Christ loves to be there, and his people love to meet him there. For it is the place of accepted prayer, of hallowed communion, of adoring worship, of manifold spiritual help. And there Ghrist is to be found. He is there according to his Word, in his unseen but real presence, and io his gracious power. Myriads attest this. Therefore- III. WE SHOULD BEEK HIM THERE. The verse seems to be a suggestion to this effect. To forsake the assemblies, communion, and fellowship of the Church is to suffer great loss. Some say, "We can pray at home;" and when they must be at home no doubt they can, but when they need not be we doubt if many do. Aud when we think of the treasure-store of help that is gained by them who seek the Lord in his  104 THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [<lH, IV, 1-10.