Sermons on the Song of Songs

Therefore, my brethren, if “the flowers have appeared” and “the voice of the turtle is heard in our land,” truth has been discovered both by sight and by hearing. The voice is perceived by the ear and the flowers by the eye. Now, as was said in the previous interpretation, the flowers represent miracles, which, when added to the voice of preaching, engender the fruit of faith. For although “faith comes from hearing,” the confirmation thereof comes from sight. The voice has sounded in our ears, the flowers have glittered before our eyes, “and truth is sprung out of the earth” by the confession of believers, whilst words and signs concur in bearing witness to the faith. “Thy testimonies are become exceedingly credible,” since the flowers corroborate the evidence of the voice, and the eye that of the ear. Sights and sounds confirm each other, so that the testimony of two witnesses—I speak of the eye and the ear—may obtain credence, according to the word of the Lord. Therefore Christ said to the Baptist’s disciples, “Go and report to John what you have heard and seen.” He could not have demonstrated to them more briefly and clearly the certainty of the faith. In a short time, the like conviction was spread over the whole earth, and by means of the same compendious mode of persuasion. “Report what you have heard and seen.” O truly “abbreviated word”! Yet how “living and efficacious”! Surely it is not with any dubious misgiving I shall proclaim that which I have witnessed with my eyes and my ears. The world listens to the trumpet of salvation, it is dazzled with the splendour of corroborating miracles, and it believes. Men are easily convinced of a doctrine, when they see it confirmed by wonders. So we read in the Gospel that the apostles “going forth preached everywhere, the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed.” We read again how Christ was transfigured on the mount and shone with dazzling brightness, and yet received also from heaven the testimony of the Father’s voice. Finally, in the account of His baptism in the Jordan, we have the Spirit, in the form of a dove, manifesting Him to the eye, and the heavenly voice witnessing of Him to the ear. Thus, by the mercy of God, these two, the word and the sign, ever co-operate for the producing of faith, so that truth may find easy admission to the soul through the open windows of sight and hearing.

The Bridegroom continues, “The fig-tree hath put forth her green figs.” Let us not eat of such figs, my brethren, for being yet unripe they are not wholesome. They do indeed resemble good figs, but more in outward appearance than in flavour, herein, perhaps, typifying hypocrisy. Nevertheless, we ought not to throw them away, because we may find them useful at another time. They will fall from the branches of themselves, and before the season, “as the grass upon the tops of houses, which withereth before it be plucked up,” as the Psalmist says, speaking, I believe, of hypocrites. Nor is it without reason that there is mention made of the green figs in this marriage hymn. Many things besides comestibles have to be provided at a wedding; and if these green figs will not serve as food, they may be useful for some other purpose. And so little to be disregarded or passed lightly over do I judge that purpose, whatever it may be, that I will not attempt to confine the discussion thereof within the time I could now give to it at the close of this sermon. I prefer to postpone it to another day and a freer hour. As to whether this is necessary it will be for you to decide, after you have heard what I shall have to say. And meantime, do not forget to obtain for me by your prayers the power and the opportunity to express what I have in my mind, unto your own edification, and the praise and glory of the Spouse of the Church, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.