DEVOUT AND EXPLANATORY REFLECTIONS ON IMPORTANT PORTIONS OF GOD'S WORD; OR, A Short Sermon and a Short Song FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. INTENDED AS AIDS TO PRIVATE AND DOMESTIC WORSHIP. BY GEORGE WYARD, Author of "Pastoral Letters," &c. IN FOUR ISSUES. ISSUE IV., COMPRISING OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER. London: PRINTED BY J. BRISCOE, BANNER STREET, FINSBURY; And may be had from him by all Booksellers in Town or Country, or direct from the Author, 197, Downham-road, Islington, London, N. 1866. REFLECTIONS. REFLECTION CCLXXIV.-OCTOBER 1. By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loveth."-Cant. iii. 1. JESUS wanted will be Jesus sought after, and sought unto; and Jesus felt to be wanted will be Jesus loved, and finally possessed and enjoyed. There is no doubt that the words spoken are often words used by a real child of God. They express the experience of one loving and wanting Jesus Christ. It appears to be night with the soul just now. This may be taken literally and figuratively; for it is often that the saint, under deep anguish of spirit, is full of tossings, and can get no rest-he sleeps not by reason of the trouble that presses him down-troubles of different kind-for one trouble seldom comes alone: there is often trouble upon trouble, and under these, in the dark silent watches of the night, Christ is sought, and sought by meditation, supplication, and in the deep ponderings of the soul. It is by night on our bed, when solitary and alone, that we seek him whom our souls love, though we do not always find to our soul's satisfaction: for there is sometimes long, seeking and not always finding there and then. But if there be real love, sincere love, and genuine love, it will not cease seeking till Christ wanted and loved be found, possessed, and enjoyed. Love is never satisfied till the object loved is possessed; and as 1 G g in nature so in grace. If Christ be not found in one manner of seeking, he will be sought for in another. "I found him not," is a plaintive expression, and significant of grief; but the soul is in earnest-it burns with love. Hence, the expression, "I will arise now and go about the city:" for the soul that wants Christ will never be happy only in the enjoyment of his love. I will seek him whom my soul loveth-whom my soul loves now— now, notwithstanding all. His absence does not damp my love, but rather creates greater fervency; and since I cannot find him in secret retirement, I will go into the public assembly of the saints-into the city-the spiritual Jerusalem-the place where the people of God gather together to worship: where they send up their prayers, supplications, and thanksgiving together as the heart of one man; and where the watchmen (the ministers of the gospel) are appointed to give instruction, by their preaching, to all inquiring ones. Thus, the soul is often stirred up by painful discipline to a proper use of all prescribed means; and when means are used to the seeking of Jesus, Jesus will be sooner or later found. It may be but a little that shall pass between the watchman of the city and its inhabitants, and the soul seeking Christ, yet Christ found, and found in all his suitableness and graciousness, will be Christ held fast by. Hence the acclamation of delight, "I found him, whom my soul loveth-I held him, and would not let him go." Christ earnestly sought and found is not to be easily parted with; and he that does earnestly seek shall assuredly find. I would not let him go, are expressions indicating sincere love and felt necessity: for Christ wanted cannot be parted with, for the soul feels it can neither be safe nor happy without him. He is felt to be wanted in all he is, and in all he has done. Wanted in his blood, in his righteousness, in his offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King. What a mercy the soul that has Christ will never be called upon to give him up! Christ and that soul are, ever one. Christ is wanted by none, but he may be had; and wanted nowhere, where he cannot be; and wanted for |