The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 159

about Zion," tho psalmist continues, "and go round about her: tell the tower3 thereof. Mark woll her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following" (Ps. xlviii. 2, 12, 13). Zion was to the Israelites "the perfection of beauty" (Pa. 1. 2; Lam. ii. 16). The exiles in the days of the Captivity sang in plaintive strains, "If I forget thee, 0 Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not rem em her thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy" (Ps. cxxxvii. 5, 6). The great delight in return- ing from their long captivity was to think, "Our feet shall stand in thy gates, O Jerusalem." "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," they would say: "they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces" (Ps. cxxii. 2, 6, 7). And what Jerusalem was to the Israelites, that the Church ia to the heavenly Bridegroom. Her salvation was "the joy set before him," for which "he endured the cross, despising the shame" (Heh. xii. 2). He tells her towers; for " the Lord knoweth them that are his." He knows every living stone of the spiritual teml-'le, the Church, which he bath built upon the Rock of ages. He never forgets her. He intercedes for her, and is preparing a place for her, that hereafter 1• the nations of them which are saved may walk in the light of her" (Rev. xxi. 24). He prays now for her peace, and giveth her his peace-" the peace of God, which passeth all understanding." She is beautiful with the reflection of his perfect beauty. He will cleanse and purify her, and at the last present her to himself a glorious Church. And if the Church is fair in the Bridegroom's eyes, so in a degree is each converted and sanctified soul; in each such soul he sees something of that beauty of holiness which comes from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God. For they who love him, and seek to live in that fellowship which is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ, must, while they "behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord, be changed into the same image from glory to glory" (2 Cor. iii. 18). And if the dear Lord is pleased with the poor holiness of his people, how earnestly we ought to strive to purge ourselves from all pollution of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God I Earthly beauty is but a poor endowment; it soon fades and passea away. 'l'he inner beauty of a holy soul abides and increases continually, and is very precious and sacred; for such fair souls, washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, shall see the King in his beauty, and dwell in the light of the golden city. 2. She is terrible as an army with banners. The bride is beautiful not only for her attractive gentleness; she has a queenly dignity that could repel any presumptuous Rdvances. The beauty of the Church is a severe beauty, like the martial beauty of a bannered host. For, indeed, the Church is an army, the army of the living God; the banner of the cross shines in the vau, advancing ever forward. "The roy11l banner, forward go, The cross shines forth in mystic glow." That bannered host is terrible to the enemy. "Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers 01· this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness" (Eph. vi. 12). "They march unseen, Tho.t sacred band, in serried ranks 1urayed, Eoch cheering on hie brother to the fight. The Spirit-sword fl11shes in each right hand; The shield of faith protects ea.eh steadfast brc11st: 'fhe red cross banner glitters in their van, AB' thry press ever forwards; breathing all The selfs,\me prayer, the selfsame Presence high Abiding in each heart, the selfsame hope, The glory-orown in heaven, sustaining all." Each Christian soul has its place in that vast army ; each is a sworn soldier of the cross• each such soul is terrible to the enemy, because Christ is the strength of his peopl~, and they are moro than conquerors through him who loved them. "Satan trembles when he sees The humblest saint upon hie knees."  THE SONG OJ<' SOLOMON. ["11. vr. 1-18,