The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 118

as fragmnce, foll of a sweet acceptableness to Christ (cf. Matt. xxv., where it is told how the loving acts of his people dona to the poor and needy for his sake are, though so trifling in themselves, so wonderfully recompensed). Th118 the lives of his people diffuse a fragrance most acceptable to him in whoso name they are done. Y. HER FIDELITY. (Ver. 12.) The soul of the believer belongs to Christ. It is his possession-a garden closed, open only to him. All manner of intruders seek to find entrance there, and some of them seem for a while to succeed; but Christ sees that, in deed and in truth the soul owns only him as her Lord. You can force the needle of a compass right round, so that it should point the reverse of its right direc- tion; but take your hand off, and back it swings to where, if left to it.self, i-t always would be. And so with the soul of the believer. The violence of the world, the flesh, or the dc,il, or aU combined, often make the soul seem to belong to any one rather th,m Christ. But he sees how it is, and knows that when that violence is withdrawn the soul will surrender itself again to him, with cries and prayers 1md tears that it may nevermore belong to any but to him, and him alone. _, VI. THE souL's RICH FRUIT. (Ver. 13.) What these are, are told of here under the imagery of the fruits of an Oriental garden; and in Gal. v. 22 as the fruits of the Spirit. Like the fruits this ver. 13 speaks of, they are precious, fragrant, healthful, abundant, delightful, varied, beautiful, and spontaneous. Such are the fruits he desires; and, "supposing him to be the gardener," such as he would surely have in his garden. VII. TBE MIKISTRIES OF THE souL. (Ver. 15.) The grace of the redeemed soul is not confined to itself; it :flows out to others. Allusion seems to be made in this verse to the fountains of Solomon, which were" fountains of gardens." And we. are reminded of our Lord's words as to the" well of water" which should be in his .people, and which should spring up in them "unto everlasting life." And becall8e our Lord foresaw that through the souls he redeemed so many others should be blessed--each one becoming "a fountain of gardens," a well of living waters for the help and salvation of others- herein is another reason why God became man. It was part of "the joy set before him," for which be "endured the cross, despising the shame." Ruskin tells how in the slime taken from a city lane you have clay, soot, sand, and water. Submit. these to the laws of crystallizaLion, and the clay becomes sapphire, the sand becomes opal, with blue green, and golden hues; the soot becomes a lustrous diamond, and the water crystallizes into that thing of beauty, a snow-star. And more than science sees in any city slime Christ sees in the soul, sunken in the mire of sin though it be, which he redeems. Already be sees the flashing of the jewels into which he will transform it, and will 1,lace in his diadem for ever: such is part answer to the question, "Cur Deus homo? 11 -S.C. Ver. 16.-" Even so, oome, Lord Jesus!" This is the state of mind produced by the consciousness of Christ's gracious estimate of 118. We can sc~rce •believe that it is as he says, but that he counts us such makes us long to be such., Therefore in this verse we may hear the cry of the soul, that he would make us to be•wbat he says we are. "Even so, come," etc. Note-- _ _ • • I. WHAT THIS ASPIR,A.TION OF THE SOUL CONFESSES. 1.. The power of Christ to produce all this. Hence the appeal, "Awake, 0 north wind," etc. 2. That power actually at work. There are various precious plants of his own planting; his garden is not a wilderness. And there are the heavenly gifts of sun and rain and dew. 3. But nevertl,eless the fall results of his grace are not forthcoming. 'l'he fragrance so deliabtful and desirable is not yielded; there are fruits, but not yet ripened, so that they might be pleasant to him who eats them. The soul lives, but does not flourish. It has life, but not abundant life. How common all this is I Hence how ineffectual the lives of many Christians are! 4. ..4.nd the causes of this are indicated. 'l'he gloom and mist, the clouds so earth-born and dense, which overhang the garden of the soul and binder it from yielding its fragrance and fruit as it otherwise would. So t~1e si11-and-sorrow-laden clouds, and those which doubt and unbelief produce-these will mar the soul's life, and make it ineffectual for joy or help. • II. FoB. WHAT IT 18 WILLING. 1. For the north wind. (Of. Prov. xxv. 23; Job xx.xviii. 22.) The north wind, often stern and terrible, and very trying to plant-life. Yet here it is invited to come. 'l'he spirit of the well-known lines- Oil, IV, 1-16,] THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 107