The Ceems & are lost sight of Christ. He was the correason.

Imeriting of sen the prays for his re- Return 0 Lori, how long."

I urn fyseit us again" So

span** Tara anto ne, accorting to the multitude of Ty ender mercies:* and run,3

ne, ma lure merry m ne

← O turn unto

There are imes then when the Church feels the absence of her beloved Lori, and is conscious of His orsaking her. Cader such desertion she betakes herseif a prayer and calling upon God

We often speak and hear others speak of the hiding of God's countenance as if it were His delight to distress His people and make so severe a trial of their faith, that their very life becomes a burden to them.

But in most cases (I say not all) is there not a cause, some “secret sin," and departure from God on our own part first which leads to His from us,

I. Ps. lx. 1. 2. Ps. lxix. 16. 3. Ps. lxxxvi. 16.

1

as it is written, "thine own wickedness shall correct thee ?"

But what encouragement is there for prayer! "Turn again O Lord and forsake me not utterly."

Mourn and pray for His return. Plead His own promises. Remember that sooner may Heaven and earth pass away, than the promises of God in Christ Jesus, fail to be fulfilled to the last jot and tittle.

If you are of the number of Christ's flock and know His voice and follow Him, He will not forsake you utterly, neither turn aside for ever. David was forsaken, but not like Saul. but not as Judas.

Peter was forsaken,

The Church in our text is forsaken, but not utterly, for she tells us that though she wandered about the "streets and in the broad ways," (seeking her Beloved)," it was but a little," and she found Him whom her soul loved.

"Be thou like unto a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether." May thy return be as swift as the running of the roe and young hart! The Believer is most impatient of Christ's absence. The "Mountains of Bether," or more literally "mountains of separation or division," may refer either (I) to Christ's first coming in the flesh, when He abolished all the ceremonial law of Moses which had been a wall of separation between Jew and Gentile, 2. Chap. iii. 4.

1. Jer. xi. 19.

and in that sense mountains of division, or (II) to Christ's spiritual coming to a Believer's soul, which until grace opens the door, is separated from God by walls of wickedness and "mountains of Bether:" or (III) to Christ's second coming when He shall descend with the voice of the archangel and trump of God, making those clouds His chariot which are now like mountains of division between earth and Heaven, and separate the Church militant on earth from Christ triumphant in glory.1

I think we can only fully interpret the text, and adopt its language as our own in the last sensethat second glorious appearing and coming of the Lord to perfect the redemption of His people: to receive to Himself His own kingdom, and execute the judgement committed into His hands by His Father.2

It is to this glorious event for which the Church has so long prayed "Come Lord Jesus, come quickly." The Church now may take up the language of this text, as the Church of old did, in reference to Christ's first coming, and say—" Until the day break," &c.

Can we each take up this language before our Lord and Master and use it with the fervent sincerity of the faithful in the text?

What do we think of Christ? Is He our Beloved?

1. Thes. iv. 16. 2. Jno. v. 22. 3. Rev. xxii. 20.

Have we found Him to be the pearl of great price? the balm of Gilead for the wounded conscience? the good Samaritan, who, finding us among thieves, stripped and bruised, and wounded, bound up our wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and provided for our future sustenance?

Can we say of Him "this is my Beloved, and this is my Friend?" Then like the Church in the text, we may indeed pray "Until the day break, &c."

Let God's dear children then take up this prayer, especially in a day when holy men, and men skilled in prophecies of Scripture, and watching the signs of the times think the coming of our Lord very nigh. Oh! should not the children of God long and pray for that coming?

Is not the Lord as welcome as He is dear to His Church?

Crushed and bleeding humanity, groaning under the sufferings of ten thousand wrongs, cries out "Return O Lord, how long?"

The earth, weary with its burdens of sin and sorrow groans for redemption, "Return O Lord, how long ?"

The Church, weary of its struggles and sorrows, and sins, re-echos the cry," Come Lord Jesus!"

CHAPTER III.

1. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

2. 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.

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

4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth?

Of all troubles, soul troubles are the heaviest to bear. Griefs of the body and for the things of the body are indeed heavy to endure without murmuring or complaining. "But a wounded spirit who can bear?" For a soul which hath found Christ exceeding precious-hath rejoiced in His full salvation, "hath sat under His shadow with great delight," hath realised the assurance of a personal union with Christ."" My beloved is mine and I am His.'