Song of Solomon 5:16

His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

And having now so largely particularized, she here sums up in one the whole description: as if she had said, time would fail to enumerate all: but such is my beloved, and such my friend, that he is altogether lovely, there is nothing in him but what is so. In his person, his offices, in every point of view, not only to me, but to all. Jehovah is unceasingly beholding him with divine complacency. Angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect in the Church above, centre their whole affections upon him. And the whole Church below look on no other for grace and salvation. If you therefore ask, who this is my soul loveth, and is everlastingly looking after: be it known unto you, oh! ye daughters of Jerusalem, that this is he. This is my beloved, and this is my friend. Pause, Reader! and ask your heart, whether such be your friend and your beloved also?

REFLECTIONS

READER! let us not dismiss this beautiful chapter, until we have once more looked up to God the Holy Ghost, and entreated him to show us our interest in what is here said of Jesus, and how far we can adopt a similar language concerning him. And first, let us never overlook the readiness of Jesus to comply with the wishes of his people in coming at their call. No sooner did the church invite her beloved to come into his garden, but we find Christ is come. And let us remark further, how gracious the Lord is in gathering his spices; his myrrh, and milk, and honey. Reader! be assured from hence, that every prayer of his people Jesus regards. Every sigh they utter comes up before him. As one of old said, so all may be assured: He putteth our tears into his bottle all these things are noted in his book. And as Jesus comes in the midst of his churches and people to gather, so doth he give unto them largely to enjoy. His language is, Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved!

Reader! are you acquainted with that state, of which the church in this part of the Song so greatly complains? Dost thou, by reason of a body of sin and death which thou carriest about with thee, groan, being burthened? Dost thou feel a heaviness not unlike the sorrow of soul which the disciples felt in the garden, and frequently dust thou feel that sad indisposition which disqualifies the soul for the sweet enjoyment of Jesus? And when at times under this dreadful deadness of affliction, thou hearest the voice of Jesus in ordinances, its providences; by rebukes, by chastisements; oh! what a decisive proof is this, in every heart that feels it, of the impossibility of any natural goodness in a creature, who is the subject of such infirmities? Precious Jesus! do thou by me, do thou by the Reader, and by every child of thine, follow up thy gracious calls, by opening the door of our hearts; and do thou come in, Lord, and revive thy work with the droppings of thy grace, and the fragrancy of thy Spirit's influences. And in those seasons, do not withdraw, thou dear Lord, neither be thou to us as the way-faring man that turneth in to tarry but for a night. Neither let thy servants, the watchmen of thy, city, wound us; but oh! let them point our souls to thee, and lead us to Jesus that we may tell our Lord we are sick, waiting for the renewed views of his pardoning grace, and mercy, that our souls may revive as the corn, and grow as the vine.

Are there any that enquire after my beloved? Do you desire to know, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, who Jesus is; what, he is; what he hath wrought; what he is doing, and can, and will do; and wherefore it is that he is my beloved, my only beloved, and why is it that I am so truly anxious for his love? Oh! for grace and power to tell you of his loveliness. Everything in Christ is precious. He is precious in his Person. Every feature of him is lovely. He is precious in his offices, precious in his character, precious in his relations; yea, there is nothing in him but what is precious; for he is altogether lovely, and the chiefest among ten thousand. And what would be alarming and distressing in others, becomes lovely in him. His cross and reproaches for his sake, how trying and painful soever to flesh and blood, are on his account, not only endurable, but productive of holy joy. And Jesus is this in all that belongs to him, and in all circumstances connected with him, for as he is in himself the first fair, the first beautiful; the first lovely; so he communicates loveliness to all that are united to him; neither is there anything lovely or amiable but what is derived from him. Do you enquire, then, what there is in my beloved, more than in another beloved I answer; All these things and a thousand more. And will you not love him with me, and delight in him also; oh that he that is my beloved, may be your beloved; and that you may at length say with me, This is my friend, and this is my beloved, O ye daughters of Jerusalem.