which meet us in every part of the creation, which shines forth exceeding beautiful in the spring, which is a kind of new creation; or rather, a resurrection, inasmuch as those herbs and plants, and flowers, which were in appearance dead and buried during the winter, again revive, and yield their reviving sweets, and wholesome produce, and strengthening virtue unto us.

And we may well be led to admire the goodness of God herein, it being an infallible truth, "that the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." This most delightful change, which is now to be seen in the face of nature, is, under God, the effect of the gentle showers, the soft air, and the warm sun, all which contribute to clothe the fields with grass, the trees with buds and blossoms, the hedges with flowers, and to produce life and vivacity throughout creation. And it

should serve to remind us of the most blessed effects, which divine grace produces in the souls of the Lord's people. The scripture, which I have chosen to be the subject of our present meditation,

contains a description of the spring, such as is inimitable. The Holy Ghost, in this divine treatise, which is styled "The Song of Songs," is pleased to consecrate a variety of images taken from nature, and makes use of them, and sanctifies them, to illustrate and set forth our Lord Jesus Christ, and his grace and love towards the church by them; and likewise to describe by them the graces of his beloved people also. The chapter from whence our text is taken, contains a sacred dialogue between Christ and the church. He begins with a description of his own beauty and excellency, and goes on to describe the beauty and excellency of his beloved spouse the church, and compares her to a lily, and calls her my love, which draws forth the heart of the bride, the Lamb's wife, and she breaks forth into the highest praises and commendations of her beloved. She extols him to the skies. And Christ vouchsafes to bring her "into the banqueting-house, and his banner over her is love." For $ there is nothing but love, everlasting, unceasing love, in the heart of Christ

towards his people. Christ having entertained his spouse with the blessings of his love, a solemn charge is given that no disturbance be made. "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." Holy souls, when favoured with real communion with Jesus, are very watchful over themselves, lest by giving way to any carnal affections, their beloved Jesus should be offended. And then the church relates what Jesus her beloved said unto her. "The voice of my beloved! behold he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills." The voice of Christ is truly reviving, charming, and ravishing unto the souls of his people. They account themselves truly blessed when they hear it in the word; and it is this which makes the word precious unto them. Many hear the word of Christ, but they do not hear Christ in the word speaking unto them. It is Christ's voice heard in the word that quickens souls and makes them alive unto God. Believers hear Christ's voice dis

tinctly and plainly, and they admire and adore him for his marvellous grace and condescension herein. Behold, he cometh to meet his people, and to bless their souls with his loving-kindness, which is better than life itself. Leaping upon, and over all the mountains of distance and opposition, of sin and guilt, of barrenness and corruption. Skipping upon the hills, denoting his eagerness to relieve, comfort, and enjoy the company of his people. "My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." The church here gives a particular account of what Christ said unto her. "My beloved spake." She calls him, "My Beloved." This is Christ's title, Beloved; yea, he is the well-beloved of his people. He is the

Father's beloved, the saint's beloved; and he is my beloved, saith the gracious soul. "And said unto me," distinctly and plainly, with an energy which cannot be described nor expressed, the effect of which has drawn my heart, and warmed my whole soul, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." And then the reason of his invitation and command is given; "For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone." I shall, in attempting an explanation of our text, endeavour to explain, first, the literal and natural meaning of the passage. And, secondly, the mystical and spiritual meaning of it. And, First. Here is a most beautiful description given us in it of the beauties of the spring. The winter is past, cold frosts removed from the earth, and the rains which fall in winter seasons, which serve to make it more dark, uncomfortable, and disagreeable for travelling, are over and gone. The heavens shine clear and serene; the sun sheds his influences in a most bountiful manner; so that nature revives, and puts on her lively green. The showers of rain which