It is the duty, indeed, of faithful watchmen, to take
notice of poor, troubled, deserted souls; — not to keep at a distance,
but to be willing to assist. And a truly pressed soul on the account of
Christ’s absence cannot cover its love, but must be inquiring after him:
“Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?” — “This is my condition: I have had sweet
enjoyment of my blessed Jesus, — he is now withdrawn from me. Can you help
me? can you guide me to my consolation. What acquaintance have you with
him? when saw you him? how did he manifest himself to you, and wherein?”
All these labourings in his absence sufficiently discover the soul’s
delight in the presence of Christ. Go one step farther, to the discovery
that it made of him once again, and it will yet be more evident. Verses 4, 5, “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. I charge you, O ye daughters of
Jerusalem,” etc.