Vere. l-3.-17ie Mdowr of spiritual love. There is no measure, no restraint, in this language. If it is possible for human love, when duly placed, to be too fervent and absorbing, this is when that is given to the creature which it behoves us to reserve for the Creator. Passion and poetry combine to express the deepest emotions, the most ardent wiRhes of the soul. I. THE OBJECT OF SPIRITUAL LOVE, 1. In loving Christ the soul centres its purest e.nd strongest affections upon One who is in himself infinitely excellent. Earthly love is often the creature of the imagination, conceiving beauty and excellence which do not exist, or which exist in a measure extravagantly exaggerated. There is no possibility of thinking too highly of the Saviour, of admiring him too absorbingly, of loving him too warmly. He is all, and more than all, that our imagination can picture. 2. In loving Christ the soul does but render to him what bis services and his sufferings deserve from our hearts. "We love him, because he first loved us." He has done for us what none other could or would have done. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." la it possible to overstate. our obligations-to offer him more than he has a right to expect and. to claim from us? II. THE YEARNING OF SPIRITUAL LOVE, Love would receive from the beloved. Two points are suggested by the passionate and glowing language of the text. 1. A desire for intimacy,. for closest fellowship, for endearing friendship. 2. A desire for instruction, for lessons such as Christ only can convey to the soul of the disciple. It is well that we should look to our Lord for all things, for the wisdom that guides, the love that cheers, the grace that supports and sustains. The proper attitude of the Christian towards his Lord and Saviour is an attitude of dependence, of supplication, of expectation. III. THE TRIBUTE OF SPIRITUAL LOVE. Love would give to the beloved. And the saved, rejoicing soul would fain offer of its best to Christ. The kisses, the spiced wine, and the pomegranate juice which the bride would offer to her spouse may suggest to us that Christ looks for the affection, the holy service, the consecrated devotion, of those for whom he died, What can we give him? If we cannot bathe his feet with tears or anoint bis head with precious and fragrant unguents, we can at all events offer to him the sincere affection of the heart, a constant place in our thoughts, the tribute of our praise, and, to crown all, the service which, being rendered to his people, he will accept as given to himself.-T,
Ver. 5.-" Leaning upon her beloved." .As a skilled artist by two or three strokes brings some incident vividly and picturesquely before the eye, so does the poet here by a few words picture before us a scene harmonious with the whole composition, and depict the mutual relation of the two personages of this exquisite dramatic idyll We see the britle returning to the home of her youth, quitting the familiar pastures, and approach- ing the dear abode; she is "leaning upon her· beloved." If true love is suggestive of true religion, as is not to be doubted, tbeu we .may regard this attitude as having its analogue in the Christian's wonted experience as related to his Lord. I. THE CHURCH'S INNATE WEAKNESS. Men sometimes use extravagant language regard- ing the Church, as though in itself it were great and powerful. But the juster view to take is that suggested by the posture of the beloved coming up out of the wilderness. All the Church has is derived; she can neither stand nor walk alone; her steps would falter if unsupported, would stray and err H unguided. II. 'rHE CHURCH'S DIVINE l!'RIEND AND HELPER_- Christ, who bas called his Church into fellowship with himself, is alone able and willing to take her under his protection an,l control. He knows the way in which she is to walk, the enemies she will encounter, the dano-ers by which she will be assailed. And he has all resources of spiritual strength and wisdom, encouragement and love. Every earthly counsellor and friend has limited powers, which sooner or later will surely fail. There is no measure to Christ's capacity to save and bless. III. THE Cnuncn's WILLING, GRATEFUL, AND CLINGING DEPENDENCE. They who would 206 THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [ea. vm. 1-14,