The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 185

let the alarm-bell of the gospel sound in bis e11r. Such methods as true wisrlom and love can devise should be vigorously employed. How precious is the moment! .Anon it will have fled. '!'here is much to be done. Impression has to be m~dc, instruction given, feeling aroused, conviction wrought, desire excited, resolution taken. Every inquirer after God should be sought out-should be the object of the Christian's concern. V. IN HOLY SEBVIOE THERE IBA PRESENT REWARD. "The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old." 1. The reward i.i the outcome of natural law. As the fruit is already in embryo in the seed, so is reward already in the service, though as yet undeveloped. As hell is the ripe fruit of sin, so heaven is the ripe fruit of holy service, The faithful steward of ten talents shall have ten talents more entrusted to him: this is his reward. The plea.~ant fruits of the garden shall be the reward of the faithful husbandman, Such fruits are "old and new." Others preceding us have sown good seed, done noble work in the vineyard. We enter upon the results, and gather in the fruits. Old fruit at times is preferable to new. .Apples and nuts mellow with age. So the ripe wisdom of old saints is a spiritual banquet. The promises given to .Abraham have a good flavour. The faith that has been of long standing-the faith of Elijah and Paul, e.g.-is a very pleasant fruit, while fresh.zeal and fresh courage are equally delightful. "Fruits old and new." 2. God's provision for us is ample. If we go diligently about our Master's work, be sure that he will provide. He had said, "Let us get up early, and go forth into the vineyards;" and lo I when noon came and hunger looked for a meal, here at the gate was a royal provision. So Jesus taught his first disciples, that if they attended to his business he would take the responsibility for their wants. He gave to Peter and his comrades a miraculous draught of fishes; then he said, "Feed my sheep; " " Go into all the world, and preach the gospel; " "My God shall supply all your need, out of his riches in glory by Jesus Christ." 3. Jesus provides a rewcird suitable to every taste. • .All manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee." When our Immanuel spreads for us a banquet, nothing shall be wanting. Is there a fruit anywhere in God's universe that will meet a want of mine or satisfy a longing? It shall be given me. " He will give thee the desires of thy heart;" "In his garden is all manner of pleasant fruit." 4. Present rewards are the pledge of greater. These fruits are found " at our gates." It is as if our Immanuel had said, " This is only the beginning of good. There's more to follow." .And this is most assuredly true. Pre- sent possessions are only pledges and earnests of higher and 1icher good. The love or Christ·in the heart .is an entrancing joy, but I shall have a larger experience of it by- and-by. These attainments of piety and excellence are "treasures uf the kingdom," but I shall grow richer yet. My knowledge of God in Christ is a precious possession, but the '' half hns not been told me." Jesus has many things to reveal to ·me, but I cannot bear them yet. No 1 '' Eye bath not seen, nor bath ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for them that love him." VI. IN HOLY SERVIOE WE GAIN FULLEST ASSURANCES OF !MllUNUEL's LOVE. "There will I give thee my love-presents." Toward the close of his ministry Jesus said to his disciples, "He that keepeth my coinmandments, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and we will come unto him, and will make our abode with.him." Thie is the lov·e-token, or the love-present, which our Immanuel gives us, viz. his abiding presence in our hearts-the sunshine of his love. The idler iu God's vineyard need never be surprised if he Jack the full assurance of his son- sbip. It had never been promised him. To give this love-present to such a one would be a premium upon indolence. Mark ~hat it is in the field of ~ervice that Jesus gives his love-tokens. It is to earnest and faithful labourers he coolers the full assur- ance of hope. The consensus of observation testifies that in seasons of apathy and slothfulness we lose the assurance of heaven. But when we run with alacrity in the path of service, then heaven opens to us, and we_ read our ti~lo c\ear. _Is it a real joy to us when we look into the face of an earthly friend and realize his tender sympathy? Must it not be a greater joy to look into the face of Jesus and feel that he is onr Brother? Do the minstrels of the woods pour out a fresh tide of song when tne geuial sun of May shines upon them? And when we come into the warm sunsbiue ol linmanuel'ij love, and know that he has made with. us an everlasting covenant, ~hall  'l'HE SONG OF SOLOMON. [en. vu. 1-13.