Exposition of the Whole Bible

In this chapter an account is given of an adventure of the church in quest of her beloved; of the time when, and jjlacts where, aud the persons ol whom she sought him: aud of tier success upon the wliole; with a charge she giive to the daughters of Jerusalem, verse 1—5, by whom she is commended.. ver.se 0; and then Christ her beloved is described by her; by his bed. and the guard about it, verse 7,8; by the chariot lie rode in, verse 9, 10; and by the crown he wore on his coronation-day; to which sight the daughters of Ziou are invited, verse 1 1.

whom my soul loveih; I sought him, but I

FiiOM hence it appears, that tlie day was not as yet broken, which the church had mentioned in the last verse of the preceding chapter; but that the night was still upon her, even the night of Jewish darkness, when the shadows of the ceremonial law were stretched out upon her; yet having some small knowledge of Christ by types and prophecies, which had raised in her a desire of knowing more of him, as well as filled her with love to him, she sought after him; which at present was not attended with success, it not being his will as yet to appear to her in that manner she was desirous of: though indued the words may be taken in a more large and comprehensive sense; and may represent the state and condition of the church of Christ, and all true believers, in all ages of the world, at one time or another; and in them may be observed,

I. The church's case, which was the absence of her beloved. *

II. How she behaved herself under it, or what she did in order to remove it; " siie sought him." And, 1st. The person whom she sought is described; " him whom my soul loveih."

2udly. Tiie place where she sought him is mentioned; " on my bed." 3rdly. The time when; " by night." 4thly. The success she had in seeking; " but I found him not."

I. Tiie church's case here appears to be, absence of her beloved; which is not only manifest from her seeking of him, though that clearly shows that he was absent from her, but also from the time in which she sought him, which was by night; for as Christ's presence makes the believer's day, so his absence mak^s it night with them;- as well as from the place where she sought him, and that is, upon her bed; which shows that she was in a sleepy, slothful, and secure frame of spirit, which is never attended with a lively sense and feeling of Christ's gracious presence. Now from this being the church's case, we may observe, 1. That the change of a believer's frame is often very sudden; not only their frames are changeable, but they are often changed: it was not long since that the church was in the banqueting-house with Christ, and there had her fill of love, and was sweetly refreshed with his gracious presence: and though she fell into a relapse of dulness and sleepiness, yet he in love visits her again, and recovers her out of it; insomuch that she became so lively in the exercise of her faith, that she could claim her interest in him, and relation to him, aad say, " My beloved is mine, and I am his;" and yet now she is at a loss for him, and knows not where he is; she is grown dull and sleepy, carual and secure, and he withdraws himself from her; so that a believer can sometimes say, as the Psalmist did. Psalm xxx. 7, " I-ord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strcng;' and perhaps immediately, nay, almost at the very same time complain, " thou didst hide thy face.

Tanchuma in Yalkut in loc.

and I was troubled." 2. That Christ absents himself from his own ehurch and people; he " hides his face from the house of Jacob," from his own flesh and blood, from his love, his bride, and spouse; which he does both for her good, aud for the advancement of his glory: though Christ's absence is very uncomfortable and disquieting to his people, they cannot tell how to. bear it, especially when they are sensible of it; for sometimes they are not, but are attended with sleepiness, carelessness, and security; he is gone from them, and they are not aware of it, aud therefore are uncoucerucd about it, until such time as they are awakened by him, and then they are made sensible that lie is withdrawn from them: not but that Christ is always present with his church in some sense, though they have not always the comfortable sense of it upon their souls. 3. That Christ's absence does not dissolve that covenant-interest and union whivh his people have in him with him; though there may be a distance as to communion, yet there is a nearness as to union; she was his, aud he was her.«, now as much as ever, though absent from her; neither did it destroy that love and atfection which she liad in her heart towards him; for still it is " him whom her soul loveth," though she could not see him nor hear of him.

II. What the church did in this case, comes next to be considered: she sought him; which shows that she was sensible that he was gone from her. Believers are sometimes like Samson, they wist or know " not that the Lord is departed from"

seeking of Christ here; where may be observed,

1st. The descriptiou of the person whom she sought; " him w^hom her soul loved:" which shows not only the reality and sincerity of her love to Christ, whom she loved " with all her heart and soul, as appears from her retaining an affection for him, even when iu the worst of frames, and when he was departed from her; for nothing could separate her from the love of Christ; all the waters of afflictions, temptations, desertions, &c., could not extinguish that flame of love that was kindled in her soul: I say, it not only shows the heartiness aud reality of her love to Christ, but also that she sought him from a principle of love, and not with sinister euds aud views; she sought him because she loved him, and she loved him " because he lii-st loved her;" and this is an indication that she was not wholly forsaken by him; seeing this grace of love was in her soul, aud maintained there by a secret aud invisible hand, nay, brought iato act aud exercise in some measure.

2udly, The place where she sought him is also mentioned, and that is, on her bed: by which we are not to understand the temple, nor the church of Christ, and the public ordinances thereof; for had she sought there, she had sought aright; besides, these seem to be intended iu the following verse, by " the streets aud broad places" of the city; this bed is distinguished both from that mentioned in chap. i. 16, and also from that in chap. iii. 7; in the former of which places it is of it: perhaps she had slept quietly for some time, imagining that her beloved was with her, but finding herself mistaken, seeks for him: and fiom hence it also appears, that she saw her need of Christ's presence, had a value for it, and was in hopes of enjoying it again, othcruise she would never have sought for him. Now Christ's presence, when lost, should be sought after. 1. Timely, or " while he may be Itiund," as Isaiah says, chap. Iv. 6; for otherwise, by missing an opportunity, as Thomas did, he may be gone, as he was in chap. V. 6, when the church opened to him. 2. With our whole hearts; not feignedly or hypocritically, as some did, of whom complaint is made iu Isa. Iviii. 2; nor with worldly ends and views; not for loaves, as some of Christ's followers did. 3. Fervently, aud not in a careless and negligent manner; as it may be the church did here, aud therefore did not immediately succeed. 4. With care, diligence, aud constancy, until he is found, as the church did afterwards, in ver. 2, 3, 4. 5. In proper places, as well as at proper times; as in the church of Christ, and iu the public ordinances of the gospel, as well as privately iu the closet, by prayer, meditation, and reading; and such seekers as these are most likely to meet with success. Bat it will be proper to consider moie particularly the them; but it seems that the church was apprised called " our bed," Christ having a joint property in it; aud in the latter it is said to be his bed. Christ being the only maker and principal owner of it: but this bed is said to be hers, " bv night on my bed;" which was purely her own, aud where she was without the presence of Christ, who was justly displeased with her for being there: moreover a different word is here used than what is in either of those places. Some* by it understand the bed of contemplation; the bed being a proper jilace, as the night is a proper time, to have the thoughts composed iu meditation; see Psalm iv. 4; but it seems rather to intend a bed of affliction, sorrow, and tribulation, which she was cast into, in which she sought the Lord, as it is usual with persons in such a condition; see Rev. ii. 22, Hos. v. 15. Though I should choose to understand it of a bed of carnal ease and security, upon which she was fallen; and seems to be expressive of the manner in whicli she sought him, which was in a cold, lazy, lukewarm, and formal way, rather than of the place where.

3rdly. The time when she sought him, and that is, " by night;" w hich shows, that it was either a time of great affliction with her; or else, of darkness and desertion; this is manifest enough; as also, that she was very uneasy aud restless iu her present condition, being brought in somemea- sure to a sense of it; and that she had an exceeding great love for Christ, seeing, that at a time when others were taking their rest, she was seeking for him. In the Hebrew text the word is in the plural number, and may be rendered, hy nights-^ that it is one night after another successively, " 1 sought him;" but to no purpose; and so it may be expressive of her diligence and constancy in seeking, as well as of her condition when she sought.

4thly. The success she met with is here related, " 1 found him not;" either, because she did not seek him ariglit, as James says, chap. iv. 3, " Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss;" so she sought and found not, because she sought amiss, in a cold and lifeless way and manner; Christ would not be found in such a way of seeking: or else it was the will of Christ to be absent for a time, and not manifest himself upon first seeking; not for want of love to her, nor because he was regardless of her, but to exercise her grace, try her faith and patience, and to make her more earnest and diligent in her search: as also that she might prize him the more when she had him, as well as be more careful to retain him; which had the desired effect upon her, as appears from ver. 4.

Verse 2. I will rise now, and go about the city, in the streets, and in the hroad ways; I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, hut 1 found him not.

The church, finding that the former methods she had taken were not attended with success, consults others, being sensible that she was wrong before, which she resolves to pursue without any more delay. In these words we have,

I. The church's resolution, which consists of tlirec parts: 1st. To "rise now," immediately. 2ndly. To " go al-out the city." Brdly. To " seek Christ in the streets and broad ways " thereof."

II. Her performance of this resolution; " I sought him."

III. Her success in it, which was as before; " but I found him not."

I. Here is the resolution of the church, to take other methods than what she had done before, in order to find her absent beloved; which shows, not only that she was sensible that she had taken some wrong ones before; and that no good was to be obtained that way, for Christ would not be found in such a way of seeking him, as upon the bed; but also, that her former disappointment had not discouraged her from pursuing her search of him; nay, it had made her more lively and active, zealous and vigorous in it, as appears from tliis new resolution of hers, and her putting it into practice; which consists of the three following things.

1st. She resolves now to rise, that is, from lier bed of sloth and carnal ease, and to appear more vigorous; and that now, without any more delay; for resolutions are not to be breathed upon: no time should be allowed them but the present; we should immediately proceed to the performance of them, otherwise fiesh and blood, which are too often consulted in such cases, will find many ways to elude them; but these, as they are not to be made in our own strength, so neither are we to expect the performance of them by it; but, however, the church resolving to quit her bed, and forego her own carnal ease and pleasure in search of Christ, and that she might enjoy his presence and company, not only shows the exceeding greatness of her love to him, and the reality and sincerity of it, but also the uneasiness of her soul, and the distress of mind she was in; she could not be easy and contented without him, aud therefore resolves to seek until she found him.

2ndly. She not only resolves to rise, and that directly, but also to " go about the city." Her design in rising, was not to seek him in a superficial manner, but search the city, the streets thereof, and thus seek him whom her soul loved. By city is here meant the church of God, which is requently called so in scripture; see Psalm Ixxxvii. 3, Heb. xii. 22, 23; and no doubt but here is a regard had to the city of Jerusalem, by which name the church often goes, and to which it is frequently compared in scripture; but why it is so, will be shown on chap. vi. 4, and therefore I shall only at present show in what sense and for what reasons the church may be said to be a city, which are as follows: 1. Cities beinglarge and populous, and having in them great and spacious buildings, are generally built where there is good foundation: the church of God is a city that is well founded; for " the Lord himself hath founded Zion," and the foundation which he has laid there is a sure one; and that is Christ himself, who is able to support the whole building, and will never fail; for he is that Rock upou which his church being built, " the gates of hell cannot prevail against it." 2. Cities are commonly delightfully situated, upon an eminence, in a good air, and by a pleasant river: the church of God is " beautiful for situation;" it stands upon rising ground; this " mountain of the Lord's house is established upou the top of the mountains •," it is in a good air, and is comfortably fanned with the gentle and refreshing breezes of the blessed Spirit; it is situated by a pleasant river, even the river of God's bouudless love and grace, " the streams wheiTof make glad this city of our God." 3. In cities are usually fine, large, and magnificent buildings: the church is God's architecture; it is not of this building, and therefore must needs be well built; every believer is a temple, and that a temple of the Holy Ghost's; there is a great deal of glory, beauty, and excellency in these buildings, asvvell as strength and firmness; see Isa. liv. 11, 12, Rev. xxi. 10,

11, 12, 18, 21. 4. Cities are very populous and numerous; there are a great many inhabitants in them; so is the church of God: it is true, it is called but a liitle flock, when compared with the world, but yet considered by itself, it is very large and numerous; John saw at once, after he had beheld the forty and four thousand, "a great multitude, which no man could number," and that of such who belonged to Christ, and were saved by him; and so will the church, even on earth, appear very numerous; when those prophecies are fulfilled, which you may read in Isa. xlix. 10, 20, and Ix. 4 — 8. 5. In cities, as there are large numbers of inhabitants, so there is a diversity of them, as rich and poor, good and bad; in Christ's church here on earth, there is a very great difference of its members; some have greater gifts, and more grace than others have; some are more public-spirited than others, aud so of greater usefulness; some are real and hearty believers, others are only painted hypocrites; for there has been always tares among Christ's wheat, wolves and goats among his sheep, and some who have had a name and place in this city, whose names were never " written among the living in Jerusalem." 6. lu well regulated cities there is a good order and decorum kept; there are good laws made, and proper officers appointed to put them in execution; as well as a good watch and gnard provided for the security of the inhabitants: in the church of God, there are good aud wholesome laws enacted by the great Legislator, which concern the admission of persons into this city, their behaviour whilst in it, and their removal from it if disagreeble; and these are preferable to all others, not only because God is the author of them, but also, because they are written upon the hearts of all those who are true citizens, according to that promise, Jer. xxxi. 33, " I will put my law in their inward parts, aud write it in their hearts;" moreover, here are proper officers appointedjsuch as ministers of the gospel, who are to see that these laws are carefully observed aud exactly complied with; who also bear the character of watchmen in the next verse, being set as well for the defence of the church, as to give direction and instruction to her. 7. In cities there are peculiar privileges which belong to the citizens thereof; and so there are in the church of God: all, who are Christ's freemen, and are " fellow citizens of the saints," have a right to all the ordinances of the gospel, to all the privileges and immunities of Christ's house: they shall never be arrested by justice, nor be brought into a state of condemnation; nor is it possible for them ever to lose their freedom.

Now her " going about the city, " is, 1. Expressive of her diligence and industry in seeking Christ; she lost no opportunity; she souglit in all other places, aswellasi n the open streets, wherever she thoughthe might be fonnd,or there was any pro- babilityofhearing of him. (2.) It shows thepainsshe took, as well as the diligence she used in seeking; for it must be very painful and laborious to go round about or all over a city, especially a large one, such an one as Jerusalem was, to which the allusion is here made; her search was as sorrowful and as fatiguing, as that of Joseph and Mary, who, after three days search, in their company, among their kindred, and about the city, at length found Christ in the temple: but all this toil and labour she regarded not, so she could but find him whom her soul loved. (3.) This being done in the night, which was an unseasonable time to walk about the city in, especially for women, is a farther indication of the strength of her aflection to him, in that she did not value the reproach that might attend her. (4.) She not only ran the risk of reproach and scandal, but also of danger and mischief, which the night-season exposed her to, and which she experienced in chap, v. 7; but being fired with love and fearless of danger,*^ she puts all to the hazard, regarding no inconveniences that might ensue; for her heart was so set upon finding Christ, that she was resolved to try all ways, whatever she suffered in the experiment.

3rdly. She resolves to seek " him in the streets and broad ways;" where we have, 1. 'Ihe person whom she was resolved to seek described, him " whom my soul loveth;" which is the character she gives of him in the former verse; and shows that her love to him was still the same, was not abated, though she had been disappointed of finding him; nay, that it was rather increased, and therefore she repeats this over aud over, as uot knowing how to speak of him any other way. 2. The particular places in the city, wliere she resolved to seek him, " in the streets and in the broad ways;" by which we are not to understand places'* where worldly business is transacted, and to which crowds of peo; le flock for the same purpose, as the court, the market-place, or the exchange; for Christ is not found there; worldly employments, especially when immoderately pursued, rather draw souls from him thau bring them near to him: nor are the books, writings, ^ud tenets^ of the Gentile philosophers here iuiended; for she could not expect to find him there, wiiere he was never known or heard of: but by them we are to understand, either the Jewisli synagogues, where prayer was wont to be made, and the word of God preached, there being a probability of finding him there; or rather, the public ordinances of the gospel, which are the " streets and broad ways of this city," the church, in which Christ walks, and often shows himself to his people; and in seeking him here, she souglit aright; though, for reasons hereafter to be mentioned, she did not meet with immediate success. But these phrases may in general intend the diligence and exqiiisiteneas of her search, as in Jer. v. 1. So some cities are described as having broad ways in them, as Troy*^ and Athens.^

II. She gives an account of her performance of this resolution; I sought him, says she •. she not only resolved npon it; but also did it; nay, she no sooner said it but likewise did it. Resolutions, without putting them in practice, avail little; and unless they are made iu the strength of Christ, and are performed by the same, arc never performed, neither ariglit, nor to any good purpose; but this of hers was quickly performed; she was soon enabled to set about it, being assisted by divine grace, and not left to cumsuU with " flesh and blood."

III. Her success is also mentioned by her; " but I found him not:" which she seems to take notice of with much sorrow andcoucern; that though she had such an earnest desire after, so strong an affection for, and had been so diligent in her search of him, had spared no pains, aud had run all risks of losing her good name, and of being exposed to danger, and yet he would not show himself to her; she could not get sight of, nor hear any tidings concerning him; and this still shows that strong was her love; for had she not dearly loved him, she would not have been so much concerned at her disappointment in not finding him. And now this was, 1. To chastise her for her former negligence in duty, and for her indulging herself in carnal ease and security; for he seems resolved, that as she liad lost him through her ease, she should not find him vvitliout trouble; for we are not to suppose that he resented her present way of seeking, nor her present behaviour to him, which seems very agreeable; but this he does to show Low much he was affronted with her former carriage. 2. To exercise her faith, and try her patience: thus when the apostle Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9, was sorely buffeted by Satan, he " besought the Lord thrice that he might depart from him;" but all the answer he could for the present obtain, was, " my grace is sufficient for thee." 3. To show that even means themselves, though they are to bo used, are not to be depended on; these cannot help souls to a sight of Christ, unless he is pleased in them to reveal himself; for " when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?" yet nevertheless, they are to be carefully observed and diligently used by us.

Verse 3. The watulimen that go about the cldj found me: to whom I said. Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

The church continues to give an account of her adventure, and what befel her when in the streets and broad ways of the city; as how she was found by the watchmen, whose business is to take up and examine persons that they meet with in the uight; of whom she inquires after her lost spouse, but for the present can have no tidings of him. In these words we shall,

I. Inquire who are meant by " the watchmen."

II. What by their " finding" of her.

III. Consider the question proposed by her to them; " Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?"

IV. Show why no answer is mentioned, as returned to this question.

I. It will be proper to inquire who are meant by the watchmen here; and by them we are not to understand angels, as some;'' though these are thought to be called watchers, in Dan. iv. 13, 17; and are the saints' life-guards, attend upon their persons, watch over them, and encamp about them: nor the princes and great men of the world, who have the care and government o[ kingdoms, provinces, and cities; but are ignorant of Christ, and know not the " Lord of glory," as others:' nor false teachers,'' who are called, Isa. Ivi. 10, " blind watchmen, lumb dogs that cannot bark:" but rather, the true ministers of the Gospel; the prophets under the Old Testament, and the apostles aud faithful teachers under the New, who frequently bear the title of watchmen in scripture; see Tsa. lii. 8, and Ixii. 6, Ezek. sxxiii. 7. The Jewish writers' interpret these words of Moses and Aaron with the Levites, who kept the watch of the tabernacle. The ministers of the Gospel are called watchmen, cither in allusion to shepherds, who watch over their flock by night, Luke ii. 8; or else, to watchmen in cities, as here; and their work may be considered, I. With regard to themselves; they are to watch over themselves as well as others; they are to watch over their conversations, that they be as become the Gospel they preach, aud so that they may give no ill examples to others, nor cause the ways and doctrines oi Christ to be evil spoken of, and render their ministry useless; they are to watch over their doctrines, and take heed that they be agreeable to the oracles of God; and they delivered nothing but the "wholesome words of Christ Jesns," and such as may be for the edifying of their hearers, and suitable to the cases of souls; they are to watch all opportunities to preach this gospel, as the apostle says, 2 Tim. iv, 2, to "be instant in season and out of season;" and then they are to watch and observe the success of it, and how it is blessed and made useful to souls: moreover they ought to have a very great guard upon themselves; for if the enemy can but surprise, decoy, or corrupt them, it turns much to his advantage. Now ministtrs of the Gospel should take heed to themselves, lest they fall asleep, or grow careless and indifferent in the work of the Lord; or are diverted from it through the frowns or flatteries of the world; or be corrupted with errois and false doctrines; for these things tend much to the ruin of Christ's kiugJom and interest.

2. With regard to others, their work is, 1. To give the time of uight, as in Isa. xxi. 11, 12; the question is put, " Watchman, what of the night? "Watchman, what of the night?" the answer is, " the morning cometh, and also the night." Sometimes it is night with the chnrch; she is fallen asleep upon a bed of secnrity: the wise virgins sleep as well as the foolish; it is then the work of ministers to give the time of the night, to apprize the church what a condition she is in, and to enddavour to awake her out of it -. though sometimes the ministers, the watchmen, are asleep, as well as the churches, and know not what time of the night it is, which is a dreadful case; and then are the churches of Christ in a poor plight and condition indeed. 3. Their work is to give notice of approaching danger; they are to give notice of the danger that sinners are in, who are walking in the broad road to destruction; and also the danger that churches may be in through errors and heresies springing up among them, as well as by iodulging themselves in any vicious practices, which they are severely to check and reprehend. Now this work requires vigilance, prudence, courage, and faithfulness; and also shows the necessity and usefulness of the public ministry, which can no moi'e be dispensed with than watchmen in a city: and likewise what care the Lord has of his churches, in placing such officers in them, as well as the awfulness of the work they are concerned in; for if the watchman does not discharge his duty, the blood of those he has to do with will be required of him. These watchmen are farther described by their " going about the city:" by the city, we are to understand the church of God, as in the former verse: and their "going about" it, is mentioned to distinguish them from those that were upon the walls, who kept their stands, and did not stir from their places; and also to show their proper work and business, which, as it appears from hence, they are diligent in; and so it proves tliein to be true watchmen and faithful ministers of the Gospel, who, in imitation of Christ their Lord and Master, go about doing good to the souls of men.

II. Being thus in the discharge of their duty and using diligence therein, they found lire church; which is the nest thing to be inquired into: they found me; that is, they fell upon the subject of my case and condition in their sermons, and exactly took notice of and spoke to my case, as if somebody had told them of it beforehand, and as if they had particularly designed me above all the rest of their audience; which shows the power of the word, and its piercing and penetrating nature; it often finds out particular sinners in a congregation, and points out their particular sins unto them; it searches into the inward recesses of their hearts, brings secret sins to light, sets them in order before them, and brings them to an open and ingenuous confession of them; likewise it finds and points out the particular cases of believers, oftentimes unknown to the minister, and unlooked for by the believer, which seems to be the church's case here. It is amazing how this is sometimes effected; insoiuuch that some have thought that some friend or other, to whom they have communicated their cases, have told the minister, and he has purposely treated on such a subject to meet with them; tliough when they have more narrowly inquired into it, have found it otherwise, to their great surprise; nay, sometimes a minister, by stepping out of the way, going off from his subject, and making a digression, has met with souls, and hit their case, as Austin did with the Manichee. God has given many instances of the secret energy of the word, and the mighty power and grace of the Spirit, in applying it to the different cases of persons. But,

III. Having met with something under the ministry of the word suitable to her case, she is encouraged to take her opportunity, after public worship was over, to speak privately to the ministers, and propose this question to them: " Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?" in which may be observed, 1. The person concerning whom she enquires, and that is, him whom her soul loveth. Christ is still the subject of her discourse and enquiry; whether she talks with ministers or private Christians, she is uporrthe search after him; and though she cannot as yet find him, she is not discouraged from seeking; nor is her love aud affection towards him abated, though she cannot see him. 2. The manner in \vhich she proposes this question, and that is very abrupt; for without giving them an opportunity to speak to her first, or using any preface to excuse her freedom with them, she immediately puts the question, as soon as she came up to them, " Saw ye him,' &c., where it may be also observed, as has been already on chap. i. 2, that she uses the relative him without an antecedent, and does not express the person's name whom she inquires about; which shows the singular excellency of Christ, that he was to her the only him in the world; and likewise the singular esteem slie had for him, the strength of her affection to him, how much her thoughts were upon him, and her desires after him; insomuch that she thought every body must know whom she meant, and whom she loved, without mentioning his name; aud more especially it supposes, that she concluded that these ministers knew whom she meant. 3. Her putting this question to them, shows, (1.) That she had a value for them, had entertained a good opinion of them, aud judged them proper persons to apply to; which might arise from what she had met with under their public miuistry. (2.) That she was unwilling to let any opportunity slip, in which there was any likelihood of finding Christ: therefore si;e will not only hear the ministers publicly, but converse with them privately; and surh a practice is highly commendable in, and to be imiiated by all tlie saints; oftentimes raiicb is lost by missing an opporluuiiy. What did Thomas lose by not being with the rest of the diseiples when Christ appeared to them? "Why, a sight of Christ; and not only so, but also fell into a fit of unbelief. (3.) Tliat when persons apply to ministers, they should keep close to their own soul's cases, as the church docs here, and not trouble them with long and tedious discourses, filled up with invectives against their fellow Christians, and animadversions upon their weaknesses and imperfections; but their chief concern should be, the case of their own souls; and the subject of their discourse, Christ, and his grace. (4.) That ministers had need to be well acquainted with the various cases of souls, that they may know how to speak aptly to them, and communicate a word in season to their refreshment; which, when filly spoken, is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. But,

IV. Here is no answer returned to this question, that is here recorded; the reason of which is, not because they could not give one; nor were those blind watchmen, which were without the light of faith and experience themselves; those dumb dogs which cannot bark, and know not how to speak to the cases of souls, being unacquainted with them, of which we read in Isa. Ivi. 10; nor it may be, was it because they did not return an answer, though she has not recorded it; and if they did not, it might be owing to her overhaste in not waiting for one; or if they did, yet she not being able to apply it wilh comfort to her own soul, takes no notice of it; and this might be, to let her see the need of a divine blessing upon means, and the power and grace of the blessed Spirit to attend them: but yet though she did not find immediate comfort and relief, she might get something from them, wliich was afterwards useful to her, as seems to appear from the following verse; for oftentimes tlie Spirit of God brings to our remembrance, and sets home, with power upon our souls, things whicli have been dropped in the ministry of tlie word, or in private conversation, which were of no use in the hearing of them.

Verse 4. It was but a little that I jiassed from them, but I found him whom my soul lovelh; I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him unto my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

The church having sought about (he city, in the streets and broad ways of it, for iier beloved, and made inquiry of the watchmen concerning him, though attended with little success; yet is not discouraged, but keeps on seeking, till at length she finds him; which not only filled her wilh a transport of joy, but also puts her upon using all the means she could to continue him with her, and secure his presence and company for the future. Ju these words are

I. An account of the church's finding Christ; " 1 found him whom my soul loveth."

II. Tha place or time, where or when she found him; " It was but a little that I passed, from them, but I found," &c.

I. Tlie church gives an account of her finding Christ; " I found him," &c. She had sought, but not in vain; that promise was made good to her, " seek, and ye shall find:" which was also when all means failed: she had sought him privately, by prayer and meditation; and publicly, by an.attendance upon the ordinances of the gospel: she had heard the ministers of Christ preach, and had conferred with them alone, and yet could not find her beloved; which may inform us, 1. That means, though they are to be used, yet not to be depended on: they will not avail without a divine blessing; Bethesda's pool must be moved by an angel, or no cure can be performed; the Spirit of God must move upon the waters, the ordinances, or they will not convey light aud life to souls; Paul may plant, and A-pollos may water, but it is God only that giveth ihe increase; the most comfortable doctrines and precious promises of the Gospel, opened and delivered in the most powerful manner, will not be useful without the special energy of the Spirit. 2. That we should not be discouraged when all means fail; because he is found sometimes when they do so, as he was by the church here; therefore when, with Job, chap. xxiii, 8 — 10; wehavegone backward and forward, on the right hand and on the left, and yet cannot behold him; we should with him rest contented, aud say, he knoweth the way that I take, though I do not know which way he has taken; and when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 3. This shows us, that unless Christ show himself, there is no finding him; lor, " when he hideth his face, who can behold him?" 4. Finding Christ, when all means fail, gives the greatest discovery of Christ's love and grace, the freeness and sovereignty ot it; and makes it appear, that it does not depend upon our will or works, but upon his sovereign good will and pleasure. 5. Finding Christ after so many disappointments, must needs be joyful and welcome; she seems to speak it with an air of pleasure, and in an exulting manner, as those disciples did, who said, John i. 41, " we have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ;" for his long absence from her, and the fatigue she had endured in seeking of him, did but serve the more to endear and sweeten his presence to her.

2. She declares where or when she found him; " it was but a little that 1 had passed from them;" that is, either it was but a little space of time, as R. Aben Ezra observes; or, I had gotten but a very little way ere 1 found him. She is said to pass from the ministers, not out of disrespect unto them, for she had an entire value for them; nor because she had received no benefit from theufl, for they had hit her case, though she had not present euj oymeul of Clirist; nor was it because she was above niiuistcrs and ordiuaaces, for these will continue in the chuieh, and are to be used by bLlievers until the second coming of Christ: but this passing from them shows, that she did not rest here; that though she applied herself to ministers, and made use of ordinances, yet she did not forget Christ, but looked beyond all these to him; and went a little farther than she had done before, in the lively exercise of her faith upon him: also her meeting with Christ, when she had a little passed them, shows, that Christ is not far from his ministers and ordinances: for he has promised to be with them unto the end of the world: and therefore there is a very great encouragement for souls to attend unto from the church's experience, here recorded by them, not only from that promise, but also her.

III. Her behaviour to him is nest mentioned. 1st. She " held him fast, and would not let him go." 2ndly. "Brought him into her mother's bouse, and into the chamber of her that conceived herr

1st. As soon as she saw him, she laid hold on him, and cleaved so close to him, that he could not stir a step from her; which, on her part, is expressive, 1. Of her faith in him: it is the nature of faith to lay hold on Christ; the actings of it are frequently expressed by it; see Prov. iii. 18, Heb. vi. 18; the believer lays hold on Clirist as his Saviour; on his righteousness, and pleads it as his justifying righteousness before God; on Christ, as God's strength, to do all for him, and in him; and on the covenant which is in Christ's hands, with all the blessings and promises of it, and appropriates them to himself, Isa. sxvii. 5, and Ivi. 4. 2. Of her love and affection to him; and therefore she grasps him in her arms, will not let go her hold on him, nor sutfer him to stir from her; hut, could she have her will, would have him always in her sight; and, as Ruth said, chap. i. 16, to Naomi, where he goes, she is resolved to go; where he lodges, she will lodge; his people shall be her people, and his God her God; so pleased was she with him, so dearly did she love him. 3. Of her fears and jealousies lest he should remove from her: she knew the bitterness of Christ's absence, as well as had had experience of the sweetness of his presence, and therefore dreaded parting again; was afraid of every thing that had a tendency to it, and therefore gives that solemn charge she does in the following verse. 4. Of her steadiness and resolution to hold him, whatever was the consequence; though she might be reproached and persecuted for it, suffer the loss of her good name, and everything else that was valuable in this world; vet Christ to her was

Moreover, on his part, these words are expressive, (1.) Of a seeming offer or desire to depart; such an one as the angel who wrestled with.Jacob made, when he said, " let me go, for the day breakcth," Geu.xxxii. 26, wliicli, as it made him, so it made her cleave the closer to him, wrestle the more with him, and keep faster hold of him. (2.) Of a gracious allowance wliicli he hail granted her to lay hold on him: it is a surprising instance of his grace, that such vile, sinful creatures as we, should be sutfered to come so near his person. O astonishing grace! that such should be invited to come, and should be welcome to lay hold on Christ and his righteousness, and not incur the crime of rudeuess nor presumption. (3.) Of his wonderful condescension, to be held by a creature, and that a sinful one: it was not because she was stronger than Christ, that she held him: and would not let liim go, but because he condescended to let it be so; for she received the strength from him, by which she held him: it shows indeed the great power and strength of faith, thus to hold Christ; but then she had it all from him, who is the Obj.ect of it. (4.) Of that delight and pleasure he took in the exercise of her faith upon him: as it does not argue weakness in him to be held by her, so neither does it unwillingness; he was no more held against his will, than he was by a superior force; he was held by her because it was both his will, and well-pleasing to him; " without faith it is impossible to please God," or Christ; in the exercise of it they are much delighted, and are well pleased to he held as it were by it. 2ndly. The other part of her behaviour towards him, is, that she brought him into her mother's house, and into the most private and retired part of it, even into the chamber of her that conceived her; and this is indeed what she principally had in view in holding of him. The allusion is to the tents and apartments womeu had in former times, distinct from their husbands. Gen. xxiv. 67, and xxxi. 33. By her mother's house and chamber, the Targum understands the school that was kept in the chambers of Moses and Joshua, where the cliilJren of Israel studied the law; E. Sol. Jarchi interprets them of the tabernacle in Shiloh: as does R. Aben Ezra of the ark of the testimony. Some ■" think that by her mother's house, is meant the temple; and by the chamber the holy of holies, which was accessible to none but the high-priest: though Briglitman thinks that both tlicse phrases are expressive of Christ's incarnation, which the churcti was importunately desirous of, which may be expressed by her mother's house, and the chamber of her that conceived her; because in becoming iucarnate, he was a partaker of the same flesh and blood with her; and she may be said to bring him into it.

worth more than ten thousand worlds; nothing because it was for her sake that he assumed humau could tempt her to part with him. I nature. But I think it should rallier be under-