Sermons on the Song of Songs

My brethren, every man who walks not according to the flesh but according to the spirit should recognise himself to be the spiritual temple of God. Such is the doctrine of St. Paul, for he says distinctly, “The temple of God is holy, which you are.” Be careful, then, of this spiritual edifice which is yourselves, lest haply when it begins to rise towards heaven, it should suddenly totter and fall for want of strong beams to support and secure it. Take care, I say, to furnish it with firmly-fixed and incorruptible girders, such as the “fear of the Lord” which “is holy, enduring for ever and ever”; patience, whereof it is written, “Patience hath a perfect work,” “The patience of the poor shall not perish for ever”; perseverance also, which can continue steadfast under any weight of superstructure, and extends itself unfailingly throughout the endless ages of a blissful immortality, according to the word of the Saviour, “He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved”; but above all divine charity which “never falleth off,” “for love is strong as death, jealousy as hard as hell.” In the next place, it is necessary to bind and fasten to the girding beams lighter wood-work which may serve for rafters and for the ornamentation of the house. It is a duty to have this also of precious and beautiful material, but only for such as may have timber of that kind within reach. For by these rafters I understand the word of wisdom and knowledge, the gift of prophecy, the grace of healing, the interpretation of tongues, and such-like endowments, which are recognised to be rather useful for embellishing the soul than essential to her salvation. “Now, concerning” matters of this kind “I have no commandment of the Lord, but I give counsel.” Considering that such cypress-wood is sought for with labour, found with difficulty—this earth of ours, especially in the present times, being known to produce but very little of it—and elaborated with danger, my counsel and advice is that you should not be oversolicitous in your search for it. Let your rafters be made from the wood of other trees, which, although less beautiful in outward show, is proved by experience to be equally strong, whilst it is at the same time more easy to obtain and is possessed with more security.

Would to God that I, like so many others, were abundantly supplied with the wood of those trees which grow in such numbers in the Bridegroom’s garden, that is, in the Church! The trees I am speaking of are “peace, goodness, benignity, joy in the Holy Spirit,” to “shew mercy with cheerfulness,” to “give with simplicity,” to “rejoice with them that rejoice,” and to “weep with them that weep.” Would you not, my brethren, deem that house, so far at least as concerned the rafters, sufficiently, even richly adorned, which you observed to be fully and properly raftered with this kind of wood? “I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of Thy house.” Give me always, I beseech Thee, of this wood, that I may have wherewith to adorn for Thy repose the bridal-chamber of the conscience. I do not mean my own conscience only, but my brother’s also. So shall I be content. There shall be others no doubt, who will follow my counsel and example herein, contenting themselves with what, as I think, gives contentment to the Bridegroom. As for the more precious material of the cypress-wood, I leave that to the holy apostles and other apostolic men. And you, dearest brethren, although you also may lack this nobler timber, nevertheless, if you possess the other, be of good cheer; approach with all confidence to Him Who is the “chief Corner-Stone, elect, precious”; be you “built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets” as “living stones” unto “spiritual houses, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” Our Lord, and the Bridegroom of the Church, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.