The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 166

Vers. 1-3.-Succesiful quest after the chief good. The inquirer has ta.ken a step in advance. Awhile ho asked," What is there in Jesus that makes him so attractive'?" To this question the loving disciple had responded, He had answered the question fully. He had given a full description of the sinner's Friend. He had testified to the worth and excl'llence of the heavenly King. And now the inquirer asks further, " Where may I find this gracious Friend? My heart craves the good which this Friend alone can bestow. l fa.in would have him too. 'foll me where I may find him." I. HERE IS SUGGESTED A DILIGF.NT SEARCH FOR JESUS. 1. Spiritual life and foy in one attract others. Genuine piety acts like a magnetic charm. A well-kept garden, stocked with fragrant flowers, has strong attrnct.ions for a thousand men, and the fragrant graces of true piety have a like fascination. If "a thing of beauty is a joy for ever," the life of a true Christian, being of all things the most beautiful, is an Rbiding joy. '!'here is nothina so capable of manifesting beauty as character. If nil Christians were as gracious ancl lo;ing as they might be, what a benign effect woul,\ this havo on the ung:oclly ! 'l'llis is Christ'o method for propagating his gospel. "I am glorified in them." By which  THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [oli. vi. 1-13. - -- -------------------------------- 1,e meant to say, "All the charm of my character and all the fruit of my redemptiun ~ball be seen in the lives of my disciples." This will win the world's attention. 2. Clm'stian Churches are the objects of the wo,·ld's respect. 'l'his is not true of every com- munity that styles it~elfa Church. Bnt every true Church commands the respect and homage of mankind. And as a Church is simply an assemblage of individual8, ri genuine Christian bas a similar influence over men. Tbe bride of Christ is here addressed ns "the fairest among women." Purity and magnanimity of character command universal respect. Prejudiced men may malign and slander consistent Christians; they may envy their high attainments; yet in their heart of hearts they do them homage. They crave a good man's benediction. 3. Active search is needful, if we would find OArist. It is quite true that Jesns seeks the sinner. He came to" seek the lost." This first desire to have the rriendship of the Beloved has been awakened in the heart by the good Spirit of Christ. Nevertheless, there is a part we must perform, or we shall not gain success. We must strive to enter into the kingdom, or the portals will not open. 'l'he salvation of the soul is not to be attained by indolent passivity. There must be search, exertion, intense effort. We must break away from old companions. We must forego former indul- gences. We must gain knowledge of Christ. We must search the Scriptures. We must be much in prayer. We roust watch the stratagems of the tempter. We must seek if we would find. 4. To find Christ it is best to have an experienced guide. "That we may seek him with thee." The man who has found Christ, and knows well all the favourite haunts of Christ, is the best guide for others. No qualification in a guide is so good as personal experience. Nothing can take its place. No titles, no diplomas, no amount of intellectual learning, will take the place of experience. 'l'he pilot who has navigated a hundred ships through the rocky straits, though he may not be able to read a word in any language, is the best gnide to bring us safely into port. It is a foolish act to refuse the practical counsels of faithful Christians. A learned man once accounted for his eminent acquisitions by the fact that he had never hesitated to ask questions respecting the unknown. To find Christ is eternal life, therefore let us use every wise measure in order to gain so great a boon. II. V A.LUAllLE COUNSEL. "My beloved is gone down into his garden." 1. Here is confident assurance upon the matter. On the part of a real Christian there is no doubt where Christ can be found. His knowledge is clear, for it is well-founded. As surely as men know in what part of the heavens the sun will rise or will set, so the friend of Jesus knows where he can be found. So he speaks in no doubtful tones. There is no peradventure. "My Beloved is gone down into his garden." There he had always found the Saviour, when devoutly he had sought him. For" his delights are with the children of men." And his gracious promise to his Church has never been broken, "Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them." 2. In the society of living and fruitful saints Jesus will be found. He has gone "to the beds of spices." However imperfect and insipid our graces seem to ourselves, Jesus finds in them a sweet savour. The organ through which Jesus discovers theso gr.ices, and enjoys their fragrance and sweetness, is far more highly developed in him than in us. To his sensitive nature there is a fine aroma in our lowliness and patience, in our love and praise, which we had not suspected. Nor do the sweetest songs of angels attract him so much as the first lispings of a penitent's prayer. The nearer we get to Jesus tlie richer joy do we attain. There is a rare delicacy in the gladness, easier felt tha □ described. So in our fresh passionate love, and in our simple zeal, and in our childlike trust, Jesus finds profoundest satisfaction. In the midst of such virgin souls Le delights to dwell. These hold him, and will not let him go. What spice-beds are to every lover of innocent pleasure, the piety of true saints is to Jesus. Near such he may at any time be found. If any man longs to find the Saviour, he will find him in the vicinity of genuine believers. He is gone to the " beds of spices," perchance to some bedside, where deep-rooted love is blossoming and bearing fruit. 3. Purity of l,,eart winll Christ's presence. He is gone " to gather lilies." Using Oriental language to convey heavenly truth, he is described as a Shepherd who feeds his flock "among the lilies." In the former chapter we read, "His lips are like lilies." To express his fond- ness for purity, he portrays his uride as "a lily among thorns." In the use of all such language he utters his strong affection for that which is pure in moral character. If he 11too}JS in his pity to save a polluted sinner, he at the same time makes it clear that he Oil, VI, l-13,] THE SONG OF SOLOMON. Fi7