Sermon Cloud

I charge you, O ye daughters of

Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up,

nor awake my love till he please.â€

Christ, described in the verses foregoing (of which before), here she

expresseth her delight in it and desire of the continuance of it; and

therefore, following on the allusion formerly insisted on, she speaks as one

would do to her companion, [as one] that had rest with one she loved: â€oeI

charge you, by all that is dear to you, — by the things you most delight in,

which among the creatures are most lovely, all the pleasant and desirable

things that you can think of, — that you disturb him not.â€

aim and desire is, that nothing may fall out, nothing of sin or provocation

happen, that may occasion Christ to depart from her, or to remove from that

dispensation wherein he seemed to take that rest in her: â€oeO stir him not up

until he please!â€

abstract, to express a pathos, or earnest affection; for so that word is

often used. When once the soul of a believer hath obtained sweet and real

communion with Christ, it looks about him, watcheth all temptations, all

ways whereby sin might approach, to disturb him in his enjoyment of his dear

Lord and Saviour, his rest and desire. How doth it charge itself not to omit

any thing, nor to do any thing that may interrupt the communion obtained!

And because the common entrance of temptations, which tend to the

disturbance of that rest and complacency which Christ takes in the soul, is

from delightful diversions from actual communion with him; therefore is

desire strong and active that the companions of such a soul, those with whom

it doth converse, would not, by their proposals or allurements, divert it

into any such frame as Christ cannot delight nor rest in. A believer that

hath gotten Christ in his arms, is like one that hath found great spoils, or

a pearl of price. He looks about him every way, and fears every thing that

may deprive him of it. Riches make men watchful; and the actual sensible

possession of him, in whom are all the riches and treasure of God, will make

men look about them for the keeping of him. The line of choicest communion,

is a line of the greatest spiritual solicitousness: carelessness in the

enjoyment of Christ pretended, is a manifest evidence of a false heart.

2. The spouse manifests her delight in him, by the utmost impatience of his

absence, with desires still of nearer communion with him. [240] Chap. viii.

6, â€oeSet me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is

strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals

of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.â€

the high priest of the Jews, in his spiritual representation of the church

before God. He had a breastplate which he is said to wear on his heart,

Exod. xxviii. 29, wherein the names of the children of Israel were engraven,

after the manner of seals or signets, and he bare them for a memorial before

the Lord. He had the like also upon his shoulders, or on his arms, verses

11, 12; both representing the priesthood of Christ, who bears the names of

all his before his Father in the â€oeholy of holies,â€

on the heart, is near, inward, tender love and care, which gives an

impression and image on the heart of the thing so loved. â€oeSet me,â€

spouse, â€oeas a seal upon thine heart;â€

most tender and affectionate love; let me always have a place in thine

heart; let me have an engraving, a mighty impression of love, upon thine

heart, that shall never be obliterated.â€

thoughts of Christ’s love to it. â€oeO that it were more, that it were more!

that I were as a ‘seal on his heart!’ â€

indeed, on serious thoughts, that the love of Christ is inconceivable, and

cannot be increased; but it would fain work up itself to an apprehension of

it: and therefore she adds here, â€oeSet me as a seal upon thine arm.â€

heart is the fountain, but close and hidden; the arm is manifestation and

power. â€oeLet,â€

and powerful persuasion of me.â€

continual mindfulness of Christ of the soul, as having its condition still

in his eye, engraven on his arm, Isa. xlix. 15, 16, with the exalting of his

power for the preservation of it, suitable to the love of his heart unto it;

and the manifestation of the hidden love and care of the heart of Christ

unto the soul, being made visible on his arm, or evident by the fruit of it.

This is that which she would be assured of; and without a sense whereof

there is no rest to be obtained.