Himself, or hide His face, then idols or other lovers will readily
present themselves, and seek to possess His room. But, be chaste and
true to your Beloved, as the spouse who, in His absence, could not be
contented, but used all means and diligence until she found Him."

In a sermon on Song v. 16,--"His mouth is most sweet, yea, He is
altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my friend, O ye
daughters of Jerusalem,"--the following affecting views are presented:
"The second property of Christ's love is, that it is a _strong_ love,
which appears from what He hath done for sinners. He has done great
things for sinners. He took upon Himself all the sinless infirmities of
human nature--not sinful nature. Yea, He endured a shameful and
lingering death, besides a flood of wrath that he waded through, such a
flood of wrath as would have drowned all the sons and daughters of Adam
to all eternity. Thus 'He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we
might be made the righteousness of God in Him.' Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Oh, my friends,
if ye will follow Christ through all the steps of his humiliation, ye
may see that the love of Christ is strong love, which makes him endure
such things for sinners. He gives great things to sinners, whereby He
shows the strength of his love to them; for He gives grace and glory,
and no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly; for He
saith, 'Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me, be with
me where I am, that they may behold my glory which Thou hast given me.'
Christ gives the believer union with himself and communion in glory with
the Father, even a share of that glory which the Father giveth Him, He
giveth them. He gives them a crown of righteousness which shall never
fade away; and He gives them to drink of the rivers of his pleasures,
that are at his right hand for evermore. Oh, my friends, Christ doth not
prig with His spouse: He will keep nothing back from them, that He sees