"Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."-1 JOHN i, 3. LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO., BERNERS STREET. MDCCCL. INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS ON THE SONG OF SOLOMON. "THE general character of this Book in contrast to Ecclesiastes is very striking. Ecclesiastes, from beginning to end, tells of the vanity of the creature -Canticles, of the sufficiency of the beloved. Ecclesiastes, the world is searched through and through in all its treasures of wisdom, of pleasure, and of riches; but an object to satisfy the heart is not found in them all. "All is vanity, yea, vanity of vanities! "In Canticles, what a contrast! An object to satisfy the heart is found; that object is not the creature, but the beloved. One verse in St. John's Gospel gives the contrast perfectly (John iv. 14). Ecclesiastes is the first half of the verse-Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again;' Canticles is the latter half of the verse-'Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.' 'His love' is better than wine; than riches, than treasures, than all things."-EXTRACT. |