VER. 1.-"The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's."
SONG o'er all songs transcendent; mighty theme
Amid the lovely, lovelier than all,
Amid the lofty, more majestic still,
More richly, more seraphically fraught
With music from the everlasting hills,-
In awe, in reverence, and yet with joy,
Turn we to listen to thy sacred tones;
And from the world, and the world's din removed
In sweet retirement with the book of God,
To cherish contemplation on each line,
Replete with meanings high and wonderful, (a)
Indited (b) by the Lord the Comforter!
Do
any frown on thee, thou sacred book,
As if by error mingling with the word?
Do any scoff because their carnal ear
Perceives no melody in angel strains?
Do any shrink lest hopeless mystery
(a) John xii. 16; xiv. 26; xvi. 13. (6) 2 Pet. i. 21; 1 John i. 4.
Repel the pray'rful scrutiny of faith
And lock thy treasures from their longing view?
May each, may all, that master-key of truth,
Its reference to Christ, through grace attain,
And, holding firm the torch of Scripture-light,
Comparing book with book, and text with text,
Enter the precincts otherwise obscure,
Of meditation on the Song of Songs,
And find them safe, and bright, and profitful.
But why the Song of Songs? 'Tis Solomon's-
It speaks of the Belov'd (c)—The King of Peace (d)—
Salem's great architect; it speaks of One
Who builds (e) a temple to Jehovah's praise,
Which the (f) descending glory shall pervade
And fill eternally :-it speaks of one
Whose enemies (g) shall all be clothed with shame,
While on Himself the universal crown
For ever radiates :-it speaks of one
At whose high throne of peace and equity
Prayer (h) shall be made, and happy nations bend
Rejoicing in his sway of righteousness-
It speaks of Jesus-precious to his Church,
Plenteous in grace, and (i) wise exceedingly.
(c) 2 Sam. xii. 25. [Margin], comp. with Matt. iii. 17.
(d) 1 Kings iv. 24; comp. with Col. i. 20, and Heb. vii. 2.
(e) 1 Kings vi. 14; comp. with John ii. 19, 21.
(f)2 Chron. vii. 1, 2; Hag. ii. 6, 7; comp. with Eph. ii. 21, 22.
(9) Ps. lxxii. 9; Micah vii. 17. (h) Ps. Ixxii. 15, 17; Rev. v. 13.
(i) 1 Kings iv. 29, 30, and v. 12; comp. with Luke ii. 47, and
iv. 22; Matt. xiii, 54; Col. ii. 4,
Oh happy (j) they, continually near,
Taught by his wisdom, at his (k) table fed,
And clothed with his apparel. Happy they
His servants, yea, his children, who enjoy
That beaming light, the glory of his grace.
VER. 2. "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth."
Oh for a share in such high benefits!
Oh for a seat (1) among that favor'd throng!
Oh for thy presence now! Redeemer come!
Thy Church implores the hallow'd privilege,
To feel thee near; thy saints intensely long
For tokens of thy tenderness divine.
Come then, oh come, to bless thine own elect,
And kiss them with the kisses of thy mouth.
The melted parent (m) when his son return'd
Weeping and penitent, disgraced and poor,
Fell on his neck, embraced him lovingly.
So welcome thy returning children, Lord!
So with a kind and reconciling kiss
Receive the humbled and the contrite home!
Forgiving (n) Father! bid them go in peace,
Fill'd with that (o) joy in thy paternal love,
By which thy sons are recognised and (p) sealed!
Thy (9) Spirit's witnessing, adoption's pledge,
In sov'reign mercy on their souls bestow !
2 Chron. ix. 7; Eph. i. 3.
Ps. xc. 13, 15; cxix. 76; cvi. iv. 5. (m) Luke xv. 20.
(n) Ps. li. 8, 12; cxlvii. 3.
(P) Gen. xxvii, 26; Gal. iv. 16.
Earth cannot (r) give it, nor earth's efforts quench, But 'tis the portion of thy lost ones found;
The prize of those who taste the blood-bought feast, And wear the blood-wash'd robe of righteousness; And he who hath it, hath eternal life.
Stamp then thine own, oh infinitely good,
With pardoning mercies personally (s) felt!
Yea, as of old, a way-worn, exiled man
Meeting the daughter of his mother's house
Own'd her at once his heav'n affianced bride,
(Though to be won by servitude and toil,)
And (t) Rachel kiss'd, and, as he kiss'd her, wept,
And years were days when measured by his love;
So, meeting in thine own (u) appointed hour
Mercy's long-chosen ones, with yearning heart,
Rejoicing over them with kind delight,
Betroth (x) them to thyself in faith and truth!
Withhold not, gracious Bridegroom of thy Church,
Withhold not from her ear that whisper sweet,
Thy Maker is thine husband, (y) fear not thou !" But let the bright assurance of thy love
Cheer us in life, and comfort us in death,
Smile (2) Lord, at last, on thy completed grace,
And in the day thine Israel must die,
Smooth the chill'd brow of each departing saint,
(r) John xiv. 27.
(t) Gen. xxix. 10, 11.
(x) Gen. xxix. 20; Hosea ii. 16, 19, (y) Isa. xli. 8; liv. 5; John xv. 14.
(s) 1 John iv. 13, 14.
(u) Gal. i. 15, 16.
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