3, 4. She is confident he would support and comfort her in time of danger, as he had done (ii. 6, 7). She again exclaims against all interruptions, and everything that would shorten her happy season of communion with her Lord; every unhallowed temper and vain pursuit by which his Spirit would be grieved, and made to depart. She had before called to her aid the figure of "the roes and hinds of the field "-animals so timid, and driven away by the slightest motion or sound of anything approaching them; intimating, that so surely and swiftly do worldly thoughts cause the departure of the Holy Spirit from the soul he is cheering and sanctifying.

5. The daughters of Jerusalem again express their admiring wonder of the spouse; each believer by faith, hope, and love of Christ, has come up from this present evil world; they relinquish earthly for heavenly things, and still mount upward in holy desires, affection, and conversation; leaning upon the power, love, and truth of Christ, and, in his strength, surmounting difficulties, resisting temptations, bearing affliction, without yielding to weariness or fainting in the ways of holy obedience. In this heavenly course, the established believer appears wonderful to the inexperienced inquirer; Christ had raised up each member of his Church from their low estate of sin and sorrow; he matures his people by his Spirit, giving efficacy to his word and ordinances-thus they receive their spiritual birth, nourishment, and comfort in the Church-" the mother of us all."

6, 7. The spouse entreats Christ to give her an assured

confidence and abiding place in his love-setting her name, as with the deep impression of a seal, upon his heart, and on his arm-that she might neither lose her interest in his love, nor the comfort of it. In enforcing this request, she represents the energy of holy love-that it would prove strong as death, and enable her to suffer every extremity rather than dishonour him; but the very suspicion of not being the object of his love would be "cruel to her as the grave," or more dreadful than death in its most tremendous forms. For love resembles fire kindled among coals, or charcoal made of those kinds of wood which emit the strongest heat and most vehement flame and it is a fire that no floods can quench—that is, no floods of temptation or sufferings can prevail against it; nay, if a man possess this love to Christ, no wealth can hire him to renounce it, nor can anything purchase it, or compensate for the want of it !

8, 9. The Jewish Church here intercedes for the Gentiles-a few believers were then found amongst them, as

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a little sister;" but they had not the word of God, and the ordinances of the sanctuary-they had no breasts of instruction or consolation; but, in due time, they would be spoken for by Christ: and what was the Church of Israel to do for them, then, as instruments of effecting the gracious purpose of God? To this question Christ answers, "If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver." If the commencement of this workeven the conversion of the Gentiles by the Spirit of Christ, through the preaching of the apostles and evan

gelists, raised up from the nation of Israel-were likened to a wall built upon him, the precious "Foundation and Corner-stone," to become a part of the spiritual temple; they would be so multiplied and encircled in process of time, that the Gentile Church would become a palace for the great King, built of solid silver, and far more splendid than Solomon's temple. If the first preaching of the Gospel to them was compared to making a door through the wall of a partition, that door would be preserved most effectually, as if encased with boards of durable cedar.

10. The ancient Church here thankfully reflects on her privileges; she was, before the coming of Messiah, as a wall built on the precious Foundation; the lively oracles and ordinances which she enjoyed were her security, as well as the sustenance and comfort of her children, and she was thus distinguished, because "then" (even when this difference existed) she was in his eyes as one that found favour with him.

11, 12. Solomon probably had a large vineyard, which he let out to keepers, each of whom paid him a thousand pieces of silver for the fruit, and they were supposed to clear two hundred. With allusion to this, the ancient Church is considered as a vineyard intrusted by its owner to the rulers, teachers, and congregation of Israel. The spouse determines to keep this vineyard under her own immediate care, that it might abound in fruits of righteousness to the honour of her Beloved, and the rich benefit of all engaged in the care of it. True believers, in

Israel, understood these obligations, and had the vineyard "before them as their grand concern. Thus the Lord received his revenue of praise; and the priests, Levites, prophets, and others, whose prayers, labours, and example, conduced to this end, were graciously recompensed.

13, 14. These verses close the conference between Christ and the spouse, and imply his personal absence from his people, during their continuance on earth. Christ first addresses the spouse as dwelling in the gardens or "vineyard "the assemblies and ordinances of his saints. The companions of the "Bridegroom"-" the spirits of just men made perfect, an innumerable company of angels." While the Church professes her faith and love, and renders her worship in presence of all these friends of her Beloved; the more she abounds in prayers and supplications with thanksgiving, the greater measure of true prosperity she enjoys. To this the spouse replies, by craving his speedy return to take her to be wholly with him; "the mountains of spices" seem to mean heaven and its exalted worship, of which all the incense and worship at the temple were a faint shadow.

Thus, in the glowing imagery of Oriental climes, we have many conditions of the universal Church collectively, and of its members individually, which are understood and felt by many in the present day—the real and ardent love of the young convert, endurance of persecution, consciousness of omission in duty, desire for instruction, much enjoyment in the ordinances of the sanctuary cases of slothfulness and forgetfulness, and

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consequent loss of the Divine presence, followed by heartfelt sorrow and persevering efforts to regain former happiness in communion with Christ: entire devotedness to his service, and maturity in his ways, with ardent longings for his visible presence, and willingness to part with life itself, if required for his sake. The Church collectively, in its harmony and qualifications for works of righteousness, distinct from the world, surrounded by heavenly guards, reflecting the light of the Sun of Righteousness, irresistible in its course, being arrayed in opposition to all iniquity, solicitous for the welfare of the infant Gentile Church-performing all its worship in the presence of a cloud of witnesses, unseen by the eye of sense, and, as with one voice, entreating the speedy advent of its promised Saviour.

No uninspired writer could describe these themes with such truthfulness and feeling. We behold the companionship of Christ and the believer-He in the highest heavens, in human nature, visiting their souls in love, either to reprove, comfort, direct, or in whatever way would most conduce to their holiness and happiness,—their feelings all in exercise towards him, and as sensibly affected as by the presence or absence of the most beloved earthly friend. The spiritual meaning of this surpassing song is another answer to the question afterwards asked by one of the apostles "Lord, how is it thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and