language, when he says that the words of God are sweeter than honey to his mouth," "sweeter than honey and the honeycomb." (Psalms cxix. and xix.)

After describing, in these words, the beauty and splendid dress of the bride, the Song goes on to speak of her as hidden from all but his eyes.

V. 12.-"A garden enclosed is my sister, my

spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.” In the East, where springs are rare, and often scanty, it is common for a covering to be put on a well by its proprietor to prevent its water from being exhausted. A stone, properly secured, was laid on the mouth of the well, and this marked by a seal. The having dug the well gave a right of possession to it, as we see in the history of Isaac and Abimelech. The seal set on it stamped it as belonging to the owner, and a stranger had no right to touch the well so set apart. And, though the outside would show the passer-by that there were waters underneath, those waters were hidden from his view.

All this makes the sealed well a fitting emblem or figure of the believer. Though, in one sense, Christians are to be as 66 a city set on an hill," and as "lights in the world," in another sense, they are like hidden fountains: the world does not know their secret spring of strength and comfort; their motives are misunderstood, because men do not know the principle that guides them. When Festus

declared that Paul was mad, it was because he did not know what the motives and feelings were which moved the Apostle to act as he did, and therefore, his conduct seemed to him quite unaccountable. So then Christians are not to be discouraged because they are often mistaken by others. Their inner life

"The founda

is, in fact, "a sealed fountain." tion of the Lord standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." (2 Tim. ii. 19.)

He is safely guarded will not allow any to "Lest any harm it, I (Isa. xxvii. 3.)

Again, in another way, a Christian may be compared to a "well enclosed." by his Heavenly Master, who pluck him out of His hand. will keep it night and day." V. 13, 14.-"Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, spikenard and saffron; calamus (or sweet-smelling cane) and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all the chief spices."

Here the graces of the bride are compared to sweet perfumes and aromatic herbs. So the Christian's labours of love are called in more than one place, "a sweet savour," and faith in Christ is also called by the same name. "For we are unto God a

sweet savour of Christ." (2 Cor. ii. 15.) "Having received the things which were sent

from you, an odour of a sweet smell.” (Phil. iv. 18.)

The Christian is also compared by our Lord Himself to a plant planted by our Heavenly Father, (Matt. xv. 13), and to the branches of the true vine (John xv. 1—6).

In the Old Testament, God's ancient people, the type of the Church, are compared repeatedly to a vineyard (Isaiah v. 1-8, and xxvii. 2, 3; Psalm lxxx. 8; Jer. ii. 21); and to trees by the waters, (Numb. xxiv. 8); and the individual believer is compared to "a tree planted by the rivers of waters." (Ps. i. 3; Jer. xvii. 8.)

V. 15.-" A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon."

Here the comparison made is not only to garden watered, but to a fountain or source of living water; and it is remarkable that our Lord, in John iv. and vii., dwells much on this truth,— that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart not only strengthens and refreshes, but makes that heart itself a source of life and strength to others, just as a spring of water fertilizes the country through which it flows.

"The water that I shall give him shall be to him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John iv. 14.)

When we look down into a well, it often, at first sight, might be taken for a mere tank or cistern, or pool of standing water; but we look a little closer, and we see a stir in that quiet surface, and bubble

after bubble rising to the top; we see there is life in the waters. They cannot become stagnant and corrupt; and that little spring which we see so gently bubbling to the surface, may one day become a mighty river, carrying with it riches and fertility wherever it flows. And so it is with the Christian. Often so weak and imperfect is he, that in the beginning of his course, standers by might say he had no grace; but look closer, and even if man's eye fail to see it, God perceives the stir in the waters, -the movement at first too feeble to be seen of men-the faint cry of faith, like the feeble voice of a new-born infant, which shows the soul is alive. The Lord saw this in Paul, when he said to Ananias, "Behold, he prayeth." That first prayer was like the bubbling up of the spring, it showed there were living waters, and those waters did indeed become rivers, "springing up unto everlasting life.”

The streams of Lebanon were and are particularly celebrated for their freshness, coolness, and clearness. This is alluded to in a verse of Jeremiah, which is seldom well understood. "Will (a man) leave the snow of Lebanon (which cometh) from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken ?" (Jer. xviii. 14.)

The correct interpretation of this, as we were told by a learned Hebrew scholar, should be,-" Will the

snow of Lebanon come (or flow) from the stones of the field, or shall the cold flowing waters come from a strange (or another) place?"

The prophet points out, that the cold fresh streams of Lebanon could only flow from the mountains, and not from the dry parched stones of the plain; even so that which is good cannot proceed from what is evil. The following remarks have been given us by a traveller in the East :

"I shall never forget the day we encamped by the Pharphar; a long, hot ride, among mountains, for the most part barren and monotonous, had at last brought us to a slope of the brightest green that the weary eye could possibly rest on; here, between banks literally enamelled with flowers, flowed the beautiful little river whose waters, coming straight down from the snow-capped summit of ancient Lebanon, are cold and delicious in the hottest day; and clear as crystal they sparkled in the sunbeams.

"As we descended from our horses, and hastened to 'drink of the brook in the way,' I thought of the 'streams from Lebanon' of Scripture, and felt how suitable was the emblem to the waters of Life! All around was bare, save where this life-giving, refreshing stream made its way-there was fertility and beauty; and no summer heat could deprive the channel of its waters, and leave a parched and stony