' was no more spirit in her :' she was overcome with admiration and astonishment. Such is the state of a believer's mind, favoured with intimate communion with his God, and with eminent discoveries of his glory. Thus it was with David, when he ' rejoiced with great joy • on occasion of the people's offering willingly 'for the temple;' and he said, 'Now there'fore our God, we thank thee, and praise thy ' glorious name. But who am I, and what is

my people, that we should be able to offer so ' willingly after this sort? for all things come ' of thee, and of thine own have we given 'thee'. And, when he reviewed the divine conduct toward him on another occasion, overwhelmed with gratitude, he exclaimed, " and " is this the manner of man, O Lord God 2 !"

So when at a distance from the house of God and means of grace, with what pleasure does he recollect his former enjoyments, and with what anxiety pant for their return!

• O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:

My soul thirsteth for thee;

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My flesh longeth for thee;

• In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

• To see thy power and thy glory,

• So as I have seen thee in the sanctuary :

• Because thy loving kindness is better than life

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My lips shall praise thee.

To the experience of David we might add

that of Isaiah, of Paul, of John the Divine, and

others. Nor is it in scripture only that such

sublime expressions of devotion are to be met with: there are several instances, both in the martyrology, and in authentic religious biography. It is enough to mention the names of Fenelon, Boyle, Watts, Col. Gardiner, and Mrs. Rowe; in whose experience we meet with examples of that rapturous devotion which has at times overcome the mortal frame, and led them to say with Paul, in another caseWhether in the body, or out of the body, I 'cannot tell_God knoweth.'

In such a frame of mind we suppose the spouse to have confessed herself sick-faint, or wounded with love': completely conquered by the display of his tenderness and affection, when his banner over her was love:' which expression is very properly thus expounded by an old writer. 'The banner of our Lord is his 'love, which he hath publicly declared to us, 'that he might draw us to himself: by which 'also, when we are come to him, he retains 'us with him; and strengthens us with the

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same when we fight against our spiritual ene'mies. And that we may always look upon

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it, he carries it over us; that is, renders his 'love most familiar to us. He that knows not ' this banner, can be none of his soldier; and 'he that deserts it is undone, unless he pre'sently return to it. So that as the Roman

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legions had their several names (the pious, 'the faithful, &c.) in like manner this may be * called amoris legio, the legion of love*.'

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2

Τείρωμενη αγαπης. LXX. Amore languo. Vulgate.
Dalherrus in Patrick.

Ec

In this situation the spouse fell into the arms of her beloved, where `she found tenderness, support, relief. His left hand was under her head, and his right hand embraced her. He supported her with cordials, wine, and fruits. It is not here necessary to descend to particulars. Whatever be the believer's wants, he may find a rich supply in the gospel, administered by the tender hand of that Saviour, who is 'touched ' with the feeling of our infirmities;' who knows how to speak a word in season' to him that is faint or weary; who giveth 'strong 'drink unto him that is ready to perish; and • wine to those that be of heavy hearts.'

Verse 7.

Bridegroom. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

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Before the antelopes, and before the hinds of

the field,

That ye disturb not, nor awake
This lovely one, until she please.

As this verse, with little variation, occurs in two other places, it may be considered as a kind of chorus; but whether it be spoken in the person of the bridegroom, or the bride, is doubtful. In the other passages, these words appear to be uttered by the spouse, notwithstanding the construction of the original' would

lead us to refer them to the beloved; but in
the present instance the strict grammatical
sense seems the most natural. Still, in one
respect, the verse may be considered as the
language of the spouse, repeating what her
beloved had said: that is, she relates that her
Lord embraced her, and while she rested on
his bosom, he hushed the virgins her compa-
nions, which may be supposed in waiting:
'Disturb not my love until she please.' In the
version, however, I have endeavoured to pre-
serve the ambiguity of the original, as a trans-
lator cannot be too faithful.

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The other difficulty is kept out of sight in the common version, but there can be no doubt that the original properly means, 'I adjure you,'-I charge you upon oath that ye disturb not my love, &c. But how shall we reconcile this with the law of Moses, and the manners of the Hebrews, who were strictly forbidden to swear by any name except JEHОVAH? I know that commentators and critics have not been unfruitful in evasions; but they are, in general, so futile that I think them not worth reciting; and would sooner at once confess my inability to untie the knot, than thus violently cut it. There is one circumstance, however, which may throw considerable light upon the expression.

Notwithstanding the Jews were commanded to swear only by the incommunicable name, they were admitted to call in witnesses to their oath, and in the want of others, the animals of the field were judged sufficient, or perhaps

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preferred. A remarkable instance of this occurs in the history of Abraham and Abimelech. After swearing an oath of fidelity, and making the usual presents on such occasions- Abra• ham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by 'themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abra'ham, What mean these seven ewe lambs, ' which thou hast set by themselves? And he ' said, These seven ewe lambs shalt thou take ' of my hand, that they may be a WITNESS unto ' me that I have digged this well'.' The same custom, it appears, is continued in the east to the present day; and points out the proper use of these antelopes and hinds of the field,' as witnesses to the solemn adjuration in this poem. This is indeed hinted at among the seven senses enumerated by Dr. GILL, who remarks that sometimes heaven and earth, animate and inanimate creatures, are called in scripture" to

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Gen. xxi. 30. I confess myself indebted to the ingenious editor of Calmet for this passage, produced for a very different purpose in his Fragments, No. LXIII. (P. 111.) where he mentions a similar covenant between Mr. Bruce, the celebrated traveller, and an Arabian shekh. To account for the introduction of deer instead of sheep, it is only necessary to suppose that the former might be in sight and not the latter; though it might be added, antelopes and hinds are some of the finest objects of poetic imagery.

As to the particle Beth ב, which I have rendered before instead of by, I think I have at least kept equally to its radical idea-in, which ought to be preserved in all its various renderings; e. g. In-into-within-in respect of in the manner of-in opposition to---in connection with-in the midst of-in presence of, i. e. before, which I conceive to be the best rendering here, and in some other texts. * See Deut. xxx. 19. Josh. xxiv. 27.

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