Song of Solomon 7:11

Christ has made it to appear how much his desire is towards us, and we are very ungrateful if ours be not towards him. Note, Communion with Christ is that which all that are sanctified earnestly breathe after; and the clearer discoveries he makes to them of his love the more earnestly do they desire it.

At Stephen's death the disciples were scattered from it through Judea and Samaria, preaching the word (Ac 8:4-25). Jesus Christ was with them, confirming the word with miracles. They gathered the old fruits, of which Jesus Christ had sown the seed (Joh 4:39-42), as well as new fruits. lodge--forsaking home for Jesus Christ's sake (Mt 19:29).

THE daughters of Jerusalem had been praising the Church as the fairest among women. They spoke of her with admiring appreciation, extolling her from head to foot. She wisely perceived that it was not easy to bear praise, and therefore she turned aside from the virgins to her Lord, making her boast not of her own loveliness, but of her being affianced to her beloved—"I am my Beloved's and His desire is toward me." Solomon has said, in his Book of Proverbs, "As the fining pot for silver and the furnace for gold so is a man to his praise," meaning to teach us that praise is a serious ordeal. Very many men can bear censure and abuse, for their spirit rises so superior to it all that they are even profited thereby. But to be flattered, or even duly honored, is not so easy a thing to endure. The sun's warm beams made the traveler unbind his coat when the wind made him wrap it the more closely about him—the warmth of praise may make us relax our integrity—unless we are very watchful. How many have been foolish enough, when standing upon a pinnacle, to look down and admire their own elevation and then their brain has reeled and they have fallen to their own shameful ruin? If we must at any time listen to the praises of our virtues. If we have served God so that the Church recognizes and rewards our usefulness, it is well for us to listen just as long as we are obliged to do, but no longer. And then let us turn aside at once to something more practical and more healthful to our own spirits. The spouse seems abruptly to break off from listening to the song of the virgins and turns to her own husband-Lord, communion with whom is ever blessed and ever profitable. She says to Him, "Come, my Beloved, let us go forth into the field." To lodge in communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill.

I REMEMBER to have heard it said that when a Church is in a right condition, all that it wants on the Sabbath is that the sermon should be like the orders given by a commanding officer to his troops—it need not be rhetorical or eloquent, it only need be clear and plain—a word of direction for the Lord's servants. If the soldiers are prepared for action they will not look to be regaled with oratory, but having heard the words of command they will, with all their hearts, go about to obey them.

I REMEMBER to have heard it said that when a Church is in a right condition, all that it wants on the Sabbath is that the sermon should be like the orders given by a commanding officer to his troops—it need not be rhetorical or eloquent, it only need be clear and plain—a word of direction for the Lord's servants. If the soldiers are prepared for action they will not look to be regaled with oratory, but having heard the words of command they will, with all their hearts, go about to obey them. Assuredly the Church needs instructing, consoling and edifying, as well as directing, but this morning I feel that I have a word from the Captain of our salvation, addressed first to this particular regiment and next to those other portions of the Grand Army which are represented here this morning. I speak as unto wise men—judge what I say! Traveling along our island just now you see everywhere the sickle, or the reaping machine, in full work. Harvest whitens the plains! Everywhere the loaded wagons are bearing home the precious fruits of the earth. My spirit is stirred within me and my soul is on fire, for I see everywhere a harvest except in the Church of Christ. Reapers are busy everywhere except in the fields of our Divine Boaz. All fields are ripe but those of Bethlehem! All barns are filling but those of the Great Husbandman! Christ Jesus has scarcely a sheaf ingathered of late. We hear of very few results from the sacred sowing of the Word of God. Here and there the Church, like Ruth, gathers an ear—a very precious ear, it is true—for who shall estimate the value of a single soul? But we have no wave-sheaves as in the days of Pentecost, or, if we have them, they are few and far between. And as for the harvest home which we have so long expected, our eyes fail in looking for it in vain.

THE daughters of Jerusalem had been praising the Church as the fairest among women. They spoke of her with admiring appreciation, extolling her from head to foot. She wisely perceived that it was not easy to bear praise, and therefore she turned aside from the virgins to her Lord, making her boast not of her own loveliness, but of her being affianced to her beloved—"I am my Beloved's and His desire is toward me."