December 21

1 Whether is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee

2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

3 I am my beloved, and my beloved is mine: he ferdeth among the lilies.

4 Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners

5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats last appear from Gilead;

6 Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.

7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.

8 There are threescore queers, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.

9 My dove, my undefiled, is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her

10 Who is she that locketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?

11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.

12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Ammonadib.

13 Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

"I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded" (verse 11). This is spoken of the blessed Redeemer. He tends the fruits of His grace which spring in the lowliest valleys, and marks the first buddings in the new convert, or the feeble believer.

"The more we grow in grace, the more will God love us. Is it not that we pray for? the more growth, the more will God love us. The husbandman loves his thriving plants; the thriving Christian is God's Hephaibah, or chief delight. Christ loves to see the vine flourishing, and the pomegranates budding. Christ accepts the truth of grace, but commends the growth of grace: 'I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.' Would you be as the beloved disciple that lay in Christ's bosom? would you have much love from Christ? labor for much growth, let faith flourish with good works, and love increase into zeal."—Watson.

Closet Promise.—This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend.—Sol. Song v. 16.

Why should I be solitary if Jesus Christ is my friend? Why should I fear if He walks by my side? Why should anything be burdensome if He lays it upon me and helps me to bear it? What is there in life that cannot be faced and borne—ay, and conquered—if we have Him, as we all may have Him, for the friend and the home of our hearts.