Sermons on the Song of Songs

“Draw me; we will run after Thee to the odour of Thy ointments.”

“Draw me; we will run after Thee to the odour of Thy ointments.” What? Has the Spouse need to be drawn?—need to be drawn after her Beloved? As if, forsooth, she followed Him reluctantly, and not rather most eagerly! But not everyone that is drawn, is drawn unwillingly. The weak and the ailing, unable of themselves to go to the bath or the banquet, are not displeased at being drawn thither; although, on the other hand, it is doubtless against their will that malefactors are drawn to judgment and punishment. Further, it is evident the Spouse desires to be drawn, since she prays for this. But she would not make such a petition, if, of herself, she were able to follow her Beloved as she wished. But why has she not this power? Are we to say that even the Spouse is infirm? Had one of the “young maidens” confessed herself weak and begged to be drawn, we should not have felt any surprise. But who does not find it hard to believe that the Spouse herself, as if sick and feeble, has really need of being drawn, whereas she seemed to be strong and perfect enough to be able to draw others? What certainty can we have now of the health and strength of any soul, if we admit infirmity even in her, who, by reason of her singular perfection and more excellent virtue, is honoured with the name of Spouse of Christ? But, perhaps, the Church spoke thus when she beheld her Beloved ascending into heaven, expressing in those words her ardent desire to follow and to be assumed with Him to glory? And yet every soul, without exception, to whatever perfection she may have attained, so long as she groans in the “body of this death,” and is kept confined in the prison of this wicked world, burthened with infirmities, tortured with the memory of her sins—every soul, I say, has to submit to the necessity of mounting to the contemplation of things divine by ascents too slow and gradual for the eagerness of her desires. For she does not as yet enjoy the liberty of following the Bridegroom “whithersoever He goeth.” Hence that tearful cry of lamentation, “Unhappy man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this death?” Hence, too, that suppliant prayer, “Bring my soul out of prison.” Therefore, let the Spouse also say with tears, “Draw me after Thee,” because “the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.” Or, it may be, these are the words in which the Church gives expression to her desire “to be dissolved and to be with Christ.” Especially, as she observes, that they, for whose sake it seemed necessary that she should still abide in the flesh, are now progressing favourably in the love of the Bridegroom, and are firmly rooted and grounded in charity. It was to call attention to this, that she premised the words, “Therefore, young maidens have loved Thee.” In this sense, then, she seems to say, “Behold the young maidens have loved Thee, and in love are securely united to Thee, and hence, have no longer any need of me. And as there is now no reason for prolonging my sojourn on earth, draw me after Thee.”

This latter I should take to be her meaning, had her prayer been, “Draw me to Thee.” But because she says “after Thee,” I am more inclined to think her request is that she may be given the strength to follow the footprints of His, the Bridegroom’s, example, and the grace which would enable her to be emulous of His virtues, to direct herself by the rule of His life, and to conform her own to His divine character and disposition. For in this she is especially in want of assistance, in order that she may be able to deny herself, and to take up her cross and so follow Christ. Herein the Spouse has certainly need to be drawn, and to be drawn by none else than by Him Who said, “Without Me you can do nothing.” “I know,” she seems to avow, “I know that I can by no means attain to Thee, except by walking in Thy footsteps. But even this I am unable to do without Thy help. Therefore, I beg that Thou wouldst draw me after Thee. For ‘blessed is the man whose help is from Thee; in his heart he hath disposed to ascend by steps in the vale of tears,’ and is destined, sooner or later, to come to Thee on the mountains of unending bliss.” How few are they, O Lord Jesus, who desire to follow Thee! And yet there is none without the wish to attain to Thy presence, since everyone knows that “at Thy Right Hand are delights, even unto the end.” Hence it is that all yearn to enjoy Thee, though not all are willing to imitate Thy example. All long for a share in Thy kingdom, but all are not desirous to participate in Thy cross. Such, for instance, was Balaam, who prayed, “Let my soul die the death of the just, and my last end be like to them.” He wished to resemble the just in their end, but not in their beginnings. So, too, carnal men, who abhor the spiritual life, still would like to die like spiritual persons, knowing how “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” For “when He shall give sleep to His beloved, behold the inheritance of the Lord!” And again, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” On the other hand, according to the Psalmist, “The death of the wicked is very evil.” They are at no pains to seek Him Whom they would be glad enough to find. They would wish to overtake without the labour of pursuing. Not so those to whom the Lord said, “And you are they who have continued with Me in My temptations.” O sweetest Jesus, happy are they who are accounted worthy of such testimony from Thy divine Lips! They in truth followed after Thee, both with their feet and with their affections. Thou didst make known to them the ways of life, calling them after Thee Who art the Way and the Life. And Thou didst say, “Come ye after Me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.” Also, “If any man minister to Me, let him follow Me, and where I am, there also shall My minister be.” Therefore they could say, as it were, glorying, “Behold, we have left all things, and have followed Thee.”

In the same way, then, Thy beloved Spouse, having left all things for Thee, desires to be ever led by Thee, to be ever walking in Thy footsteps, and to follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest. For she knows well that “Thy ways are beautiful ways, and all Thy paths peaceful,” and that whoso follows Thee “walketh not in darkness.” But she asks to be drawn, because “Thy justice is like the mountains of God,” for climbing which her own strength is not sufficient. She prays to be drawn, as being aware that “no one cometh” to Thee unless Thy “Father shall d raw him.” But whomsoever Thy Father draweth, these Thou Thyself dost also draw; “For the works which the Father doth, these the Son also doth in like manner.” And she more boldly begs to be drawn by the Son, as by her own Bridegroom, sent by the Father to meet her on the road, as a Guide and Director, Who should walk before her in the way of moral discipline, should smooth for her the path of virtue, “instruct her as Himself,” and give her “a law of life and instruction,” and all to the end that “the King might desire her beauty.”