The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 213

things consist." 3. liis clOAm isfown,ded, on acknowledgment. We admit that we ara not our own. The enlightened conscience of every man testifies that God is the supreme Owner. We ere not masters even of ourselves, nor of. our own life. We did not choose in what year, or in what city, or in what family, we would be born. We have no control over our continuance in life. The voice from heaven says, "Return to the dust, ye children of men I" We have no control over the mode or the time of our departure. Nor have we unlimited control over our property. Sudden misfortune ma.y scatter our wealth. "Riches make themselves wings and fly a.way." We feel that we a.re accountable to God; for to the bar of our own consciences a.re we frequently brought, to be prejudged of the use we have made of life, and the decision of this court wili simply be ratified in the great assize. We aTe tenants at will. We have only a life-interest in our earthly possessions. We are stewards, not proprietors. II. OBSERVE· THAT Goo HAS MADE us KEEPERS, OR STEWARDS. "He let out the vineyard unto keepers." The interest of the Proprietor is to be kept in view. W a are "keepers" of his property. His good, not ours, must be sought. 1. Thu steward,- ship comprises everything. My body is not my own; it is a temple of the living God. Every organ of body and of mind is simply entrusted to my ea.re. My tongue is not my own ; it is an instrument for praising God. My learning is not my own ; it should be laid on God's altar. My will is not my own; it should be made submissive to God's will. Hourly my prayer should be, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Even the skill for gaining money belongs to another. "Sa.y not in thine heart, My power, and the might of my own hand, have gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he. that giveth thee power to get wealth." If I live to please myself, I am usurping the place of my Lord, and I incur his displeasure. 2. We are steward,s who know the will of 01J,r Master. He has not left us in ignorance respecting the business of our life, or in what way his property should be employed. 'l'he vineyard must be " kept," and must be ma.de fruitful. His Word is full ot instruction, which demands our careful study and our faithful observation. In these living oracles he clearly speaks," Son, go work to-day in my vineyard." ".A.s ye have opportunity, do good unto all men." "Follow me," says Jesus. In other words, he means, "Live as I live. Spend life in doing good." We cannot plead as an excuse for slothfulness that we know not the will of our Master. .And if we desire to obtain fuller direction, the Master himself is at hand, and guides every submissive soul. "Ask, and ye shall receive." For the promise still runs, "I will guide thee with mine eye." 3. We are stewards who have the ability to do our Master's will. He is no hard Task- master, requiring the tale of bricks without providing raw material. On the contrary, "his yoke is easy." In every oircuinstance, his friendly voice whispers," My grace is sufficient for thee." Often do we put up the prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done." But it behoves us to remember that the means for attaining this great end lie within our reach. Had all servants of God been faithful in their office, what a different world would this be to-day! Ho:w large a proportion of our fellow-men would be in the kingdom of God I It does not suffice that we serve Christ with one talent, while we allow other talents to lie idle. We cannot, with our money gifts, buy release from personal service. As no man ce.n transfer to another his mental endowments, or his social influence, or his personal responsibility; so no man can transfer to another man his work. In these vineyards, service by proxy is not allowed. 'l'hat person whom I presume to employ is already under the same obligation as myself, and cannot there- fore serve as my substitute. Nor can we hope to see any great enlargement in the kingdom of Christ until ea.eh separate disciple feels and realizes that the burden of the world's salvation rests upon him. "As each one hath received the gift, let him minister the same, as a good steward of the manifold grace of God." III. NoTE THAT Goo APPOINTS A BECKONING-TIME. In the annual vintage season, the husbandman was required tci make a proper return to the owner. This return might he made either in kind or in some equivalent. 1. There is a special season for this reckonin_q-time. Speaking generally, the reckoning-time will be at the day of judgment. Yet, for all practical purposes, this tenure terminates at death. Then our Lord comes, and convoys his servant home. 'l'hen the authoritative voice says," Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayost be no longer steward." '!'hen the faithful servant gives in his _account with joy. "He has boldness in the day of  '.?04 THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [011. vm.1-14.