The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 120

pining in a gaol. Is this consistent with the jurisdiction of a benevolent God? Or if there be a God, the man has serious doubts whether the Bible can be accepted as a revelation to men of God's plane and designs . . Evidently the book ie marked with imperfect.ions, traceable to man. Or he is perplexed with the theories respecting Christ's atonement. Is it possible for one person to bear the penalty of another's guilt? Or he is in darkness touching man's future sta.te. Will there be a resurrection of the body? Will the identiClll man have a second life? What will become of the ungodly? How can redemption be a success if the majority of men perish? He is compassed a.nd overborne with these shadows. What sha.11 be his course? 2. Note his conduct. "I will take me to the mountains of myrrh," etc. Now, mountains are the emblems of substantial durability. Changes may pass over the plains of earth, but the hills abide. So amid all this flux of doubt some things are certain. It is certain that I ought to be truthful. I must ever follow the truth, and must hate falsehood. It is certain that I ought to k meek, patient, industrious, sober, chaste; a diligent inquirer after the truth, a champion of righteousness. These are our "mountains of myrrh," and on these we will dwell until clearer light dawns upon our path. 3. Mark his expectaNon. Certainly these shadows of night shall in due time vanish; the day of perfect certitude will da.wn. Perhaps the mind itself, a.s an instrument for discerning truth, may grow more perfect. Perhaps some element of probability has been under- rated. Perhaps personal inclination ha.s biassed judgment. Very likely new light from some quarter will break upon us touching the destiny of mankind. We will calmly wait. We will keep our minds open to instruction, open to correction, and light will assuredly come. We find a sweet and healthful fragrance in a life of conscientious service, and we a.re in the best position to catch the first rays of the morning son. • II. Tms LANGUAGE DESCRIBES THE PURPOSE OF A MAN WHO ASPIRES TO A HIGHER PLA:t-.'E OF C!mrsTIA.N LIFE. He is now a.mong the mists of the valley; he resolves to dwell in the clear bracing a.ir of the breezy hills. 1. Note his lamentations. He is in darkness respecting his personal relationship with God. He questions the reality of his faith. His religion is devoid of joy.. Now and again some old lust reasserts its power. The old life and the new still struggle for the mastery, He makes no progress in holinens or in self-conquest. He finds no liberty in prayer, no sweet sense of the Brother's friendship. He is impotent. He waits for light and help from above. 'Tis a da.rk and wintry night. 2. Observe his purpose. "I will betake me to the hills of fraDkincense," etc. There a.re some things be cannot do for himself. But there are some things he can do. He cannot create light, but he can climb into the place where the light is best seen. He will act as a dependent servant, and carefully do .his Master's will He will deny himself all evil indulgence. He will dwell upon the fragrant mountains of Divine promise. He will be a devout searcher of the Scriptures. He will confess his every sin before God, and cherish a temper of self-humiliation. He will hope for clearer proof of sonship. He will aspire for the full light of God's countenance. What God has done for others, he will surely do for him. 3. Note his outlook. "Until the day breaks," etc. Most certainly "we have not yet attained." There is a higher experience to be reached, greater conqueits to be gained, It is possible to haye closer and more joyous friendship with God, It is possible for the principle of generous love to be fully dominant in the soul. There is fine scope for the development of faith. We want a more entire consecration to our Lord. In a word, we want the heavenly King to reign in us more manifestly. .And that spring- morn of consecration and of gladness shall come. 'l'he "shadows shall flee away, the day shall break." !II. THIS LANGUAGE WILL EXPRESS THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE REBPEOTING THE TRIUMPH OF CHmsT's KINGDOM. Now darkness and light commingle in the world like a thick mist in the valley. But presently the lighL shall conquer. 1. Observe the present condition of Messiah's cause. In some empires that cause moves forward, in others it apparently retrogrades. Once flourishing C~urches are now dead. '.fhe Church~s. of Antioch and Samaria. and Carthage have disappeared. Waves of ritual superst1t1on have swept over some regions where once godly Churches flourished. Forms of faith have disappeared. The seraphic zeal of one age yields to spiritual stupor in the next, We scarcely know whether the kingdom of grace i.8 on the ebb tide or OD the flow OH. IV. 1-16.] fHE SONG OF SOLOMON. 109