expression put into the mouth of a poor, miserable, forlorn being, in another parabolical description, which does not require its meaning to be adjusted to any literal sense-' 'I will arise, and go to my father,' &c. We are not obliged to suppose the youth literally lying or sitting, when he said this, only declaring his sense of his present sunk condition, and his earnest desire to get out of it. Yet I see something of an objection appearing on the face of this quotation, as if the conversion of a sinner was his own act, if not entirely, yet at least originally, which may be thought a dangerous doctrine, and contrary to that admirable prayer, 'Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings,' &c. But let it be remembered, that both in the Song, and in the parable, there are hints given, (which is all that can be done in parabolical narration), sufficient to set aside any such fancy. In the case of the prodigal son, he is represented as having been long in his father's family, well acquainted with, and still retaining a memory of, the many good things enjoyed there: Consequently, as having had the means of Knowledge, and an early impression from the influence of preventing grace, which, like good seed sown, will some time or other produce fruit, either to edification, or, if abused, to destruction. The father in the parable could not with propriety be said to have given the prodigal any help when at a distance in a far country. But

VOL. II.

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from

1 St Luke xv. 18.

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from the way in which he is afterwards introduced, we may conclude that his heart had been always warm towards him, his thoughts dwelling affectionately on him, and his eyes looking wistfully after him While he was yet a great way off, his father saw him',' &c.-had been expecting him, waiting for him, directing his eyes to the way in which his son went, and so perceiving him without being perceived by him. This was all that the parabolical father could be said to do: He did all that he could. Shall we not believe that the true, the heavenly Father, does the same? But in the Song before us, there is more to be urged. I will arise, says the church: Not of her own primary motion, or as an original suggestion of her own mind; but as the result of, and in obedience to, the call of her Beloved, which she had heard before. In answer to, and through the force of this, she replies here, I will rise now; similar to what we read of the Psalmist's devout resolution, • When thou didst say, Seek ye my face, my heart 'said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek 3. I will arise, and go about—I sought him, but I found him not. Still the melancholy difficulty recurs. What! not find him, after so much labour in searching for him! What can be the reason of this? Let us pause a little before we pass sentence, and ask, Where it was that she sought him? In the

streets

r. Ver. 20.

2 Chap. ii. 10. Rise up my love,' &c.

--

3 Psalm xxvii. 8.

streets of the city, and in the broad ways.-These are not the most likely places wherein we may hope to find him. Places of great concourse, whether for diversion or business, are not those, it seems, which the delight of the devout soul' usually frequents. There is one who tells us, that the broad way leadeth to destruction'; so is not the proper place in which to seek for the Saviour, the Lord of life. Indeed we find this same royal bard, in another of his poetical works, personifying WISDOM, as standing in the top of high places, crying at the gates, at the entry of the city, &c. But what or who were his company there? The simple,' we are told, and fools, and such as wanted understanding; even as we find him really and actually, when in flesh, conversing with publicans and sinners. Yet it will not be said, that these were the ordinary places, in which his disciples were to seek or find their beloved Master. And I think it is worth the while to observe, that we seldom or never read of him walking in the streets or broad ways, but for the most part withdrawing himself to places of privacy and retirement; or, when at any time he appeared in public, it was in the temple, the place which he ' had chosen to put his name there.' It was there, where, in the childhood of his flesh, his sorrowing mother, like the church in the Song, after three days' painful search to no purpose, found him, busy even then in his divine employment. The history

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of

St Matth. vii. 13.

? Prov. viii. and ix.

of this real, well attested circumstance, may in some measure open up the intendment of the emblematical description before us. The streets of the city, and the broad ways, where the solicitude of the church sought her Beloved, but could not find him, may perhaps point to the long frequented, and still so much extolled paths of what is called Natural knowledge and rational enquiry;' where the philosophers and sages, (the merchants, as it were, the busy men of the city), assembled and made a bustle about they knew not what. These were the great ones, who made a figure in the streets and broad ways, and trusting to their own wisdom, like the Pharisees in their righteousness', despised others. Yet we see the Beloved was not there. And indeed in such a course of enquiry he never was, never is to be found. Natural knowledge, that is, the feelings and pressures of nature, under which we all groan in common, and of which we come to the understanding without a teacher, may discover to us, that we want something, but can neither direct nor assist our search; as the poorest idiot that breathes can feel himself sick, though he can do nothing for his recovery. So is the church here, in a consternation and hurry, restless and uneasy, while missing her Beloved, running hither and thither in quest of him, to those places of resort, where she naturally, but foolishly concluded she might find him. This indeed is nature. Our

wants

St Luke xviii. 9.

wants and sorrows drive us upon many shifts, and toss us from side to side. Every probability of success we grasp at; and except in one way, a way not to be attained by the voice of nature, or speculations of reason, we must lay our account to be disappointed. In the streets, and in the broad ways, I will seek him whom my soul loveth; I 'sought him, but I found him not.'

VER. 3.-The watchmen that go about the city found me, to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

Meantime let it be and even as it were expresses herself. There is no con

What these watchmen are, we shall see in our view of the 5th chapter, where, at the 7th verse, they are more fully spoken of. observed, with what anxiety, forwardness, the fair one here Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? nexion in the original between her mentioning the watchmen, and her putting the question. Our translation inserts, to whom I said, which our language has been thought to require, more for the sound than the sense. But the beautiful abruptness of the Hebrew strongly paints the flutter and emotion of the devout heart. And we know, that 'out of the abundance of the heart the mouth 'speaketh.' My heart was hot within me,' says another man of God', then spake I with my 'tongue,'

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Psalm xxxix. 3.