in Ids saintB. This series of metaphors is suggestive of many meanings. In our holy principles, in our sacred dispositions, in our prayers and our praises, in our words and self-sacrificing deeds, Jesus takes delight. The myrrh and spice may indicate tho perfumo of our intercession, or the pleasure which he finds in our harmony of praise. Since he has constructed all musical harmonies, and fashioned the human voice to produce this minstrelsy, surely he is moved to delight when love to him stirs all the powers of song. Every endeavour ~o please him, every aspiration after holiness, every noble purpose, every act of self-denial, all efforts towar,l a freer communion with him, -these are fruits of the Spirit, in which Jesus finds delight. Blurred a~ these arc with imporfection, we count them very unworthy, and perhaps too much underrate them. If Jesus appreciates them, and derives satisfaction from them, is not this great encouragement to bring forth more fruit? Many products of nature are here brought into service to illustrate a Christian's spiritual fruitfulness. One bas said that wine may represent those labours of ours which result from deep thought, self-denial, anci. generous consecration, for wine must be pressed from the grape with toil and ea.re. But milk is n natural production, and may represent those little deeds of kindness which flow from a quiet outgushing of daily love. A vigorous fancy will find a. hundred suggestions in these similitudes. The essential lesson is this, that the Son of God has a. large accession of joy from all forms of genuine piety. His people are his vineyard, his inheritance, and in them he finds delight. III. A GENEllOUS PAllTICIPATION. "Eat, 0 friends; d1ink, yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloved." 'l'he satisfaction which Jesus finds, he forthwith shares with bis chosen. If there be a smile on the Bridegroom's. face, it will soon co=unica.te itself to the bride. If the Head have gladness, so will all the members in the mystical body. 1. Jesus uses very tenaer titles to designate his saints. He calls them "friends." The old explanation of a friend suits well in this place, viz. one soul dwelling in two bodies. Jesus com- pletely identifies himself with us. Once ,ve were aliens, enemies, rebels, but the old enmity is changed into a sacred and insepa.rable friendship. Jonathan gave proof of hie friendship,with David when he stripped himself of raiment and put it upon his friend; But our Immanuel bas surpassed all orders of creatures in his practical deeds of kindness. Further, he calls them his "beloved." He presseth into service every human .form of speech. May I take this word- as addressed to me? Most certainly I may, for I am not excluded. No·saint has attained to this rapturous privilege by any personal merit. "He died for the ungodly." Though the chief of sinners, "be loved me; he gave himself for me." Yes; mystery though it ,is, it is also plainest among facts, that into my penitent heart Jesus comes to dwell, and into my ear he whispers this endearing word," Beloved." 2. Observe the provisions prepared. They are of two kinds; viz. food and drink. Very properly may we regard the food as revealed truth. To appreciate the eternal facts of God's redemption, this is solid food. 'l'his is the manna whir.h cometh down from heaven. The only food for the hungry soul is truth. "Christ said not to hie first conventicle, • Go forth and preach imposture to the world,' But gave them truth to feed on."
Thie is heavenly nutriment, and is indispensable. And what else can the drink be, but the mercy of our God, flowing from the fount of his eternal love? All truth and all grace are in Jesus; hence he. says to us, "He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." 3. Mark the fulness of tl,e entreaty. "Drink; :yea, drink abundantly." No ii;enerous host likes to see bis guests making pretence. of eating or driuking. It implies that they doubted his welcome, and took: care to have a meal before they came. This is dishonouring to the giver of the feast. And Jesus will have none of that. He knows well that the thirst of the soul can ho allayed nowhere but from him. He knows well that no one can have a surfeit of his mercy. Of other things we may eat and drink more than is for our good, but of tho love of Christ we cannot hnve too much. The love. we partake in shall become in us "a well, springing up unto ~verlasti_ng life." However ~uch 'Ye tak(?, we do not diminish the supply. Trembling at his table, I have sometimes said, "Lord, I am too unworthy to sip II drop of thy mercy. My sin is unusual, crimson, n.ggrnvateJ." Bue 116 THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [OH, lV, 1-10,
he str11ightway replies, "For thee it is provided. Drink; yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloveJ."-D.