The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 124

the L11w." They are separated by virtue of the new birth. They are separated by their own personal choice. They have gone to Christ "without the camp, bearin" his reproMh." They are no longer" conformed to the world." As Jesus" is not of the world, neither are they." "My kingdom is not of this world." 2, There is the idea of .•ecrecy. This is not altogether the believer's choice; it is inevitable. 'l'he new life of the Christian is "hid with Christ in God." As a spring or fountain has its source out of sight-yea, far down in secret caverns of the earth-so the believer has the roots ot' his new life in Christ. He has experiences now which others do not share, and which he had not aforetime; but these are entirely hidden from the public eye. New fellow- ship with God; new aims in life; new motives and impulses; new peace and hopes; new springs of joy he has, with which a "stranger cannot intermeddle," As the wind in its vagaries defies all the predictions of man (none can "tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth), so is every one that is born of the Spirit," "The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit; they are foolishness unto him." All life 1s mysterious; spiritual life is specially so. 3. There is set forth the fact of security. As a shepherd guards his flock, so the great Husbandman secures from adversaries his garden. "No wolf shall be there, nor any ravenous beast." The enclosure resists suc- cessfully even the" little foxes," who spoil the precious vines. The Christian is secure against the world, the flesh, and the devil; for all the attributes of God envelop him for his protection. He <lwells under the shield of the Almighty. The omnipotence of Jehovah is his fortress. God is "a wall of fire round about him." Hence "no weapon that is formed against him can prosper." As a garden enclosed, he enjoys impregnable securiry. 4. Here is the idea ef sacred11ess. 'l'he enclosed garden is set apart for the use of the king. It is devoted to one person and to one purpose, So Jesus claims this garden as his own, and what is true of the Church is true of every person composing that Church. The believer is a sacred person, a priest consecrated to holy service. He is God's man, attached to the court of heaven. Jesus said that he had "sanctified (or consecrated) himself, that they also might be sanctified (or consecrated) through the truth." Every part of the Christian is consecrated, viz. his endowments, his learning, his property, his time. For "we are not our own; we are bought with a price." Our business is to serve the kingdom. "For us to live is Christ." We are part of the "sacramental host of God's elect." II. OBSERVE THAT THIS GABDEN IS FAMOUS FOR FRUITFULNESS, "Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits," etc. 1. Abundant fruitfuln/!$8 is asserted. It was the earnest longing of Jesus Christ that his disciples "should bear much fruit, and that this fruit should abide." Very soon rich clusters of fruit did appear in bis Church. The prayerfulness culminating on the Day of Pentecost; the generous communism of the saints; the courage and zeal of many; the fervid piety of Stephen; the practical sympathy for the poor; the magnanimity of Barnabas; the whole-hearted consecration of Paul ;-these were the firstfruits of discipleship. And from that day to this fruit has abounded in the Church. The noble qualities of mind and heart ; the splendid virtues; the patience, fortitude, and zeal; the consecrated heroism of believers, have been the admiration and astonishment of the world. "Whatsoever things are lovely, excellent, pure, and of good report," these have been conspicuous in the Church. The elite of mankind is within the Church. 2, There is also variety of fruit. In nature God has made his goodness most manifest in t.ae vast variety of fruits with which our earth teems. Equally in the Church may we find a splendid variety of gifts and graces. The early fruits of humility and repentance and tender- ness of conscience soon appear. 'l'he spice trees of prayer and sympathy send forth a goodly odour. The trees of righteousnei;s and holiness bea1· large stores of precious fruit. In each succeeding age new excellences have appeared, new fruits have made this garden famous. Here and there you will find a gnarled and crooked tree that bears little fruit. But this is the exception; a blot upon the garden. You will find even in a royal garden some withered branch, some rank shoot that is unlovely and unfruitful. Still, we do not on that account condemn the whole garden. All temper- ance reforms, all hospitals and asylums, all plans for the betterment of humanity, all alleviations of misery and woe, have appeared among us as the fruits of Christ's life. The fruit abounds in variety almost endless. 3. Marie the utility of this fruit. 'l'he fruit was choice; the rareet fruits were there. Some were full of cooling juice, pleasant CII, IV, 1-16.] THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 113