Sermons on the Song of Songs

My meaning is this. Fear may be compared to water, because of its power to cool the heat of carnal desires. “The fear of God,” says the Psalmist, “is the beginning of wisdom.” And we read in Ecclesiasticus, “And she shall give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink.” Now, if fear is wisdom, and wisdom water, fear may rightly be called water. Hence it is written in Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.” Furthermore, our minds may be likened to the water-pots which are described as “containing two or three measures apiece.” The three measures are the three fears. “And they filled them,” says the Evangelist, “up to the brim.” It is not one of the fears, nor two, but all three together that can thus fill our minds “up to the brim.” Fear God, my brethren, at all times, and with your whole hearts, and thereby you shall have filled your water-pots up to the brim. God loves integrity in the gift, fulness in the affection, perfection in the sacrifice. See, therefore, that you bring your water-pots full to the celestial espousals, so that of each one of you it may be said, “And he hath been filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord.” He who is thus entirely possessed with this fear, neglects nothing. How indeed can negligence find room for itself in a soul which is already full? For that which has capacity for more is not as yet completely filled. In the same way, this fulness of fear excludes high-mindedness. There can be no place for pride in him who is filled with the fear of the Lord. And similarly with the other vices. The fulness of holy fear leaves no room for any of them. But when your fear is thus full and perfect, then, at the blessing of the Lord, charity will mingle its sweetness with your waters, as without charity, “fear hath pain.” For charity is the wine which “cheereth the heart of man.” But “perfect charity casteth out fear,” so that where before was water, there is now wine, unto the praise and glory of the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.