putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines for our vines have tender grapes.

PART II. -CHAP. II. 16–III. 5.

Christ having given this call, and partially appeared, does not tarry fully with the Bride, but rather leaves her to enjoy and improve the fruits of the Spirit; and she comforts herself with the thought that they are united even in absence. Yet she now begins in earnest to entreat Christ to return quickly over all obstacles.

He answers not; the darkness increases; the Soul seeks some rest without him, but cannot find it, and arises, as at midnight, to search for him openly, and with all its energy. Teachers and ordinances reveal him not, but help toward his discovery. The Soul soon finds him, and enters into fulness of rest as before, but with this difference, that it will not now consent to possess Christ alone, but along with many Brethren.

THE BRIDE.

My beloved is mine, and I am his; he feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

CANTICLE III.

CHAP. III. 6-v. 1.

THE BRIDEGROOM WITH THE BRIDE; CHRIST WITH HIS
CHURCH; THE COMMUNION NEVER INTERRUPTED

THROUGHOUT THIS CANTICLE.

PART I. -CHAP. III. 6-II.

Christ in the body prepared for him, in union with his Church, attended by ministering angels, lovingly inviting the still unconverted Daughters of Jerusalem; crowned with thorns by his own in the day of his espousals on earth, crowned with joy by the Church in every saved soul now brought to him, and in the multitude of the redeemed at the marriage of the Lamb.

INQUIRING SPECTATORS.

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man bath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple; the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

PART II.- -CHAP. IV. I-7.

The beauty of the Believer to Christ; the single eye; the uncut locks of soul-dedication to the Lord; the spiritual appetite for the Word, and faith feeding on Christ; the blood-cleansed conscience and pure tongue; holy shame and godly sorrow; holy liberty and triumph; faith and love in equal beauty; warning of his departure; the soul in Christ without blemish.

CHRIST.

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate

within thy locks. Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

PART III. -CHAP. IV. 8-v. I.

Christ invites the Church into the kingdom he has prepared for her on earth, afterward in heaven.

He commends the attractiveness of the believer's graces.

He describes his kingdom as securely enclosed, replenished with living water, and planted with all trees of righteousness; invokes the Holy Spirit to descend and diffuse abroad the fragrance of his own death and merits.

The Church invites Christ to come into his own kingdom.

Christ comes, and gives his broken body and shed blood as a feast of life and ioy to the Church.

CHRIST.

Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with