Morning, April 1
Go To Evening Reading
“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.”
Song of Solomon 1:2
For several days we have been dwelling upon the Saviour’s passion, and for some little time to come we shall linger there.
In beginning a new month, let us seek the same desires after our Lord
as those which glowed in the heart of the elect spouse. See how she
leaps at once to him ; there are no prefatory words; she does not even mention his name;
she is in the heart of her theme at once, for she speaks of him who was the only him in the world to her. How bold is her love! It
was much condescension which permitted the weeping penitent to anoint
his feet with spikenard—it was rich love which allowed the gentle Mary to sit at his feet
and learn of him—but here, love, strong, fervent love, aspires to higher tokens of
regard, and closer signs of fellowship. Esther trembled in the presence
of Ahasuerus, but the spouse in joyful liberty of perfect love knows
no fear. If we have received the same free spirit, we also may ask
the like. By kisses we suppose to be intended those varied manifestations
of affection by which the believer is made to enjoy the love of Jesus.
The kiss of reconciliation we enjoyed at our conversion, and it was sweet as honey dropping
from the comb. The kiss of acceptance is still warm on our brow, as we know that he hath accepted our persons
and our works through rich grace. The kiss of daily, present communion is that which we pant after to be repeated day after day, till it
is changed into the kiss of reception , which removes the soul from earth, and the kiss of consummation which fills it with the joy of heaven. Faith is our walk, but fellowship
sensibly felt is our rest. Faith is the road, but communion with Jesus
is the well from which the pilgrim drinks. O lover of our souls, be
not strange to us; let the lips of thy blessing meet the lips of our
asking; let the lips of thy fulness touch the lips of our need, and
straightway the kiss will be effected.