67. Constraining the Beloved.

It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. - Song of Solomon 3:4.

THE first position is "I passed from them." We must go beyond the fellowship of the best of men, and commune with him whom our soul loveth. Our love must lead to action: "I sought him." Those who love Jesus seek his presence with an agony of desire.

After this seeking, we read at first, "I found him not." Sad, but needful disappointment. But this lasts not for ever; we soon come into the region of our text, where everything is bright with sunlight. Three flashes of delight follow each other: "I found him"; "I held him"; "I brought him." May these be our joyous experience! To that end let us muse upon them and pray the Holy Spirit to help us.

I. "I FOUND HIM": or, love in fellowship.

1. I was inquiring for him.

2. I had got beyond all men and means, and could not be contest with any but himself.

3. I beheld his person. He drew near in his Word and ordinances. I perceived him by the Spirit. Faith saw him clearly.

4. I was assured of his presence. My heart felt peculiar influences operating upon it. It was a time of love.

5. I knew him to be mine. There were no doubts and fears. He was "my Beloved," and I was all his own.

6. I was filled with content. I looked for no one else, for in finding him I had found my all for earth and heaven. Do we know what this blessed finding means? If not, let us never rest till we do.

II. "I HELD HIM": or, love in possession.

1. By my heart's resolve, determining never to lose him again.

2. By my tearful pleas, entreating him not to make me wretched by withdrawing I pleaded —

· My joy in his society.

· My need of his gracious protection.

· My love to him, which made me hunger for him.

· His love to me, which surely would not let him leave me.

3. By making him my all in all. He stays where he is prized, and I set him on a high throne in my spirit.

4. By renouncing all other loves, sins, idols, etc. He is jealous, and I kept myself altogether for him.

5. By a simple faith: for he is pleased with trust; and dwells where he is rested in.

6. By his own power. "I would not let him go," because I held him by his promise, and by the power which it gave me. If you have Jesus, hold him. He is willing to be constrained. See how often, in his life on earth, "they constrained him," and he yielded to their will.

III. "I BROUGHT HIM": or, love in communication.

The love of Jesus creates in our hearts love to our fellow-believers for their Redeemer's sake.

The church of God is our mother: the holy assembly is her chamber, where we were born unto God, and nurtured in his fear. We are to labor to promote communion with Christ among those who are our brethren, taking Jesus with us whensoever we go up to the gatherings of the faithful.

This we should do—

1. By our own spirit: communing with Jesus before we go to public worship, and going there with him in our company.

· We shall always find him in the church if we take him in our hearts to its hallowed services.

2. By our words: we should so speak as to set forth Jesus, and promote fellowship with him. Alas, how many speak controversially, or without savor, or with carnal oratory wherein is no room for the Beloved! Oh, for a crucified style of speech!

3. By our prayers we should bring him into the assembly; ay, bring him into society where hitherto he has been unknown. The world also was once our mother. Oh, that we could introduce the Lord Jesus into her chambers, that he might reign and rule there! "Thy Kingdom come." By loving violence we will constrain him to come with us in his presence and power.

See what the church needs! — Christ in her midst.

See how he is likely to come! — he must be brought.

See what must first be done! — he must be held.

See who alone can do this! — those who have found him.

Yet see, also, who may find him! — all who love him, and seek him.

Are we among the number?