Song of Solomon 1:9

Song of Solomon 1:9

It is thus that love multiplies itself by many images. Love sees the image of its dearest one everywhere, and claims it as its own. Look at the power of fancy, this creative and symbolising power, this power of reading the inner mysticism and ideality of things (1) as a joy, (2) as a danger, (3) as a responsibility.

I. A joy. In finding new symbols we find new pleasures, and in the inspiration of our love we turn all things visible to new and sacred uses. This is the joy of Christ Himself in the 13th chapter of the Gospel by Matthew. The object of His love was the kingdom of heaven, and day by day He compared it with new comparisons, and so gave His Church the treasure of His parables.

II. Not only is this power of fancy a keen and thrilling joy, but it is a positive and an immediate danger. The danger arises from the fact that we may consider our duty done when we have instituted a beautiful comparison. Our religion may perish in sentimental expressions; you may die in words. The danger is, that if we live the parabolical life we may never advance to Gethsemane and Golgotha. We may create a kind of artificial life, and thus miss the great utilities of our being. Not the heart that is swiftest and surest in the creation of symbols is always to be trusted in the hour of pain and distress.

III. A responsibility. We are to be transformed by the beauty that we admire. In comparing Christ with things beautiful, noble, grand, we are writing a heavy indictment against ourselves if we profess to be His followers, and do not rise to the grandeur of the occasion. As he who passes through a garden of roses brings with him part of the fragrance breathed from the beauteous flowers, so we who come forth from the fellowship of Christ are to show somewhat of the radiance of His countenance, and to speak somewhat with the eloquence of His accent.

Parker, Inner Life of Christ,vol. ii., p. 289.

References: Song of Solomon 1:9. Parker, Fountain,March 31st, 1881.Song of Solomon 1:9. D. Moore, Penny Pulpit,No. 3520. Song of Solomon 1:12. J. M. Neale, Sermons on the Song of Songs,p. 49. Song of Solomon 1:13. Ibid.,p. 58; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. x., No. 558. Song of Solomon 1:16. Ibid., Evening by Evening,p. 143.Song of Solomon 1:17. Ibid., Morning by Morning,p. 104.Song of Solomon 2:1. Ibid., Sermons,vol. xiii., No. 784; Ibid., Evening by Evening,p. 122; Ibid., My Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes to Malachi,p. 204.Song of Solomon 2:2. Ibid., Sermons,vol. xxvi., No. 1525.Song of Solomon 2:3. Ibid.,vol. xix., No. 1120; Ibid., Morning by Morning,p. 238; J. M. Neale, Sermons on the Song of Songs,p. 76. Song of Solomon 2:3; Song of Solomon 2:4. F. Perry, Penny Pulpit,No. 388. Song of Solomon 2:3; Song of Solomon 2:5. Expositor,3rd series, vol. i., p. 160.