THOU THAT DWELLEST IN THE GARDENS - Robert Murray Mcchene
“Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it. Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.”—Song viii., 13, 14.
I. The description of the Church, or of the believing soul: “Thou that dwellest in the gardens.” This is true of the believer in two ways.
1. He is enclosed and separated from the world: “A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse.”—Song iv., 12. All believers dwell within an enclosure. Just as the gardens in the East are enclosed with a fence of reeds, or of prickly pear, or by a stone wall, so all that are Christ’s are enclosed out of the world. Jesus says: “If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” Paul says, he was “separated unto the Gospel of God.” And again, John says: “The world knoweth us not, even as it knew him not.” Great mistakes are made here. There are many hedges that are none of Christ’s planting. Many are separated, but not unto the Gospel of God. (1.) Some are separated by education. They are brought up far away from the noise and bustle of the world. They see little of its vices, and hear little of its profanity. They are never allowed to come within its magic ring. They are a kind of separated people. But, ah! they have a world in their own heart. (2.) Some, again, are separated from the world by worldly griefs and distresses, or by sickness of body. Their proud spirit is broken. Their heart used madly to follow the world; but now it sickens and dies within them; desire fails. They have no more heart for their idols. These are a kind of separated people. But, ah! they dwell not in the gardens; that is the separation of nature, not of grace. (3.) Some have a haughty separation from the world, like those that said: “Stand back, for I am holier than thou: like the Pharisees, who would not speak to a publican. These are known by their little compassion for the world. Ah! these do not dwell in Christ’s garden. (4.) There is a nominal separation from the world. These people have a name to live, and are dead. They belong, it may be, to a peculiar congregation, and to a peculiar prayer-meeting; they have a Christian name and a Christian appearance; they often speak as Christians, and are spoken of as Christians; the world are afraid of them, and treat them as if they were believers; but all the time beneath that mantle there beats an unchanged, unbelieving, ungodly heart . Ah! brethren, tins is a separation of Satan’s making. .
But all that are truly Christ’s are dwellers in the gardens. They are separated from the world by an infinite, impassable chasm.
1st, By blood. Just as the houses of Israel were separated from the houses of the Egyptians by having the doors sprinkled with blood; so there are a set of men in this world, the doors of whose hearts have been sprinkled with blood. The blood of Christ upon their conscience marks them out as pardoned men. They had the same nature as other men; the same enmity to God, and desperate departure from him; they had the same love of idols as Other men; they spent their youth in the same sins as other men; many of them went into the lowest depths of sin; but the Lord Jesus loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood. “Justified by faith they have peace with God.” These are they who dwell in the gardens. Ah! brethren, have you been separated by blood ?—have you got the red blood of Jesus, making your soul different from the rest of men ?
2d, By his Spirit. All that are truly Christ’s are separated from the world by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. “If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature.” He has got new desires given him. Once he desired what other men do—praise of men, a name, power, money, pleasure. These were the chief objects set before him. Now these have lost their power over him. The world is become crucified. Now he desires more nearness to God—more complete change of heart; he desires to spread the knowledge of Jesus over the world. He is separated unto the Gospel of God. He has got new sorrows. Once all his sorrows were worldly sorrows—he wept at the loss of friends or this world’s possessions; but now these sorrows are light afflictions. His heaviest grief now is, when he is deserted of God—when he wants the presence of Christ and the smile of God; or perhaps the absence of the Spirit and the burning of corruption within, or sin abounding around him, makes him sigh and cry; or the ark of God makes his heart tremble. That man is separated—he dwells in the gardens;
Dear souls, have you been thus separated from the world? “We are bound always to thank God for you, beloved: became be hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” Ah! brethren, does the blood of Christ separate you from the unpardoned world? Does the Spirit of Christ separate you from the unregenerate world? Is there a real, eternal separation made between you and the world? If not, you»will perish with the world.
2. Dwelling in the gardens seems also to mean dwelling in delight. When God made man at the first, he planted a garden eastward in Eden; and out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food— the tree of life also in the midst of the garden. And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress and to keep it. That garden was a sweet type of the delight of Adam’s soul; and there, day by day, he heard the voice of God walking in the garden, in the cool of the day. When Adam fell, God drove him out of the garden into this bleak world, covered with thorns and thistles, to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Man no more walked with God in a garden of delights. But when a sinner is brought to Christ, he is brought into Christ’s garden: “We who believe, do enter into rest.” He says: “I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” He becomes one that dwells in the gardens. True, he is one coming up from the wilderness. This world is a wilderness to the believer —full of pain, sickness, sighing, death—a world that crucified his Lord, and persecutes him—a cold, unbelieving, ungodly world. Still, the soul dwells in the gardens: “His soul shall dwell at ease.” True, a believer has his times of desertion, and clouds, and doubts, and deep waters. At such times, his cry is: “O wretched man!” Still, when his eye rests on Jesus, his soul dwells in a garden of delights.
Oh! brethren, have you been brought into Christ’s garden; have you found great delight in him; a better Eden—a right to the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God? Many of
you think it a dull thing to become a Christian. You look upon
their outside, their quiet, humble walk, through the world. You
think them dull, morose, severe. But, O man! you are only
looking at the shell: could you see what is felt within—could you
see the sunshine of heaven that rests upon that soul, could you
taste for a moment the pleasure of being at peace with God, you
would feel that all your pleasures are but the husks which the
swine are eating.
” Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
And the man that getteth understanding.
She is more precious than rubies;
And all the things thou canst desire
are not to be compared unto her.
Length of days is in her right hand;
In her left hand riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
She’s a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:
And happy is every one that retaineth her.”
Ah! brethren, go and learn the hymn that begins—
“Shall men pretend to pleasure
That never knew the Lord ?
Can all the worldling’s treasure
True peace of mind afford?”
II. The complaint of Christ: “The companions hear thy voice.”
1. The soul in Christ has many sweet companions, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. The soul that is united to the vine tree is united to all the branches: “We know that we are passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren”—”I am a companion of all them that fear thee.”
Believers have many things to say to ode another; as John says to Gaius: “I had many things to write unto thee, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: but I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face.” So did believers in the days of Malachi: “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard.” And so do believers still. They may tell of their past experiences modestly, humbly, with self-loathing, and for the glory of Christ; as Jesus told the maniac: “Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee” (Luke viii., 39); and an David speaks: “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”— Ps. lxvi., 10.
They speak to one another in their distresses, as it is written, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” Not comfort yourselves, but comfort one another, it is God’s ordinance that comfort should be ministered by believer to believer; that the gentle hand of love should bring the cup of consolation. They speak to one another of Jesus: “Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?”— “Whither is thy Beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy Beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee?” They exhort one another daily, while it IS called to-day.
Ah! this is a true mark of all true believers. “The companions hearken to thy voice.” How many of you may know that you are not in Christ by this, that you have never learned the pure language of Canaan. True, there are many have the outward phrase of Christians, and have much talk, who will turn out to be clouds without rain, foolish virgins, having a lamp, and wick, and flame—no drop of oil within; still, if you have not the speech of Canaan, if you have not a word for those that are journeying towards glory, I fear you belong not to that company.
2. Hear the complaint of Christ. “Cause me to hear it.” Christ complains that we speak more to one another than to him. This is too often the case, especially with young believers. When the bosom is filled with joy. the believer pours it out before his companions, rather than before the Lord. In sorrow, when clouds have covered the soul, Christ is forgotten, and some companion sought out to hear your complaints. In difficulty, how often the believer runs first to some companion on earth for counsel! Now the word of Christ is, “Cause me to hear it”—Run first to me.
(1.) Because Christ is a jealous Saviour: “I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous Cod.” When Christ took us to himself he raid, “Thou shalt call me Ishi. and shalt call me no more Baali; for I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth.” Remember how he said, “Lovest thou me more than these ?’ And we said to him, “-What have I to do any more with idols ?” Now, the Lord Jesus cannot bear that we should have a nearer friend than himself. He must be our next of kin. We must lean on the Beloved. “Cause me to hear it.”
(2.) Because in him is the full supply of all our need. True, the companions are lovely and pleasant in their lives; but where did they get all the grace that made them so? Was it not from Christ? Perhaps we love their gentleness and meekness; their holy wisdom, to advise us in difficult circumstances; but ah! where did they get all that? from Jesus. They are but cisterns; Christ is the fountain. They are but creatures; Christ is the Creator. We must leave them, and betake ourselves to him. “Cause me to hear it.”
(3.) Communion with Christ is always sanctifying. Communion with men, even with good men, often hardens and hurts the soul. Are you telling experiences? you are apt to be man-pleasing, to seek to appear something wonderful, very humble, or very believing; you are apt to seek the praise of men more than the praise of God. Are you seeking comfort? you are apt to lean on the creature, and to forget the only Comforter; but communion with Christ is always sanctifying. Oh! it is good for the soul to meet with Jesus. Oh! if you would go to Jesus and tell him all; if you would cause him to hear it, how much happier lives you would lead! Let there be the utmost frankness between your soul and Christ. Cover no sin before him; pour out every joy, unbosom every grief, seek counsel in every perplexity. See here, he bids you come and tell him all: “Cause me to hear it.”
III. The believer’s prayer.
1. He prays for a swift return of Christ to his own soul. It is the presence of Christ with the soul that gives true peace and true holiness. It is not circumstances, nor ministers, nor place, nor time, but Jesus present. To sit under his shadow, gives great delight. To lean upon the Beloved alone supports his faltering steps. A true believer cannot be satisfied while Christ is away; “Make haste, my beloved.” One that is not a wife may be content with other lovers; but the faithful wife longs f.ir the return of her Lord. The ordinances are all cold and barren till he return. Ministers speak, but not to the heart. The companions cannot give rest nor case. Oh, brethren! do you know what it is to long for himself; to cry, “make haste, my Beloved?”
2. He prays for a swift return of Christ to the Church.—It is the presence of Christ that makes a sweet time of refreshing in ii Church. When he comes leaping on the mountains, skipping upon the hills, the flowers immediately appear on the earth. The Lord’s people are quickened in all their graces; they begin to sing songs of deliverance; anxious souls spring up like the grass; and the whole garden of the Lord sends out spices. Ah! if the Lord Jesus were to come in here with power, I would preach and you would hear in another way than we do. I could not be so hardhearted, and you would be melted under his Word. Oh! will you not pray, “Make haste, my Beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.” Is not such a time desirable ?
3. He prays for the second glorious coming of Christ. It is the real visible coming and presence of Jesus, the king, in his beauty, that will perfect the joy of his believing people. (1.) The love of the soul will then be satisfied. At present we are tossed with many doubts. Am I really converted? Am I in Christ? Will I persevere to the end? The soul has oftentimes a hungering after Christ, and cannot get its fill. But when we shall see him as he is, the shadows will all flee away. We shall never have another doubt for ever; we shall be ever with the Lord. (2.) Jesus shall then be fully glorified. At present he is scorned and spit upon. His enemies have the upper hand. Kings despise him, and most men lightly esteem him. But then he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. AH his saints shall then bless him. “Men shall be blessed in him. All nations shall call him blessed.”
Ah! my friends, can you honestly say you long for that day’, Is it a blessed hope to you? Those only who can say, “My Beloved,” can desire his coming. “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.” Ah! brethren, when Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven, every eye shall see him; and most of you, I fear, will wail because of him. Ah, there he is! the Saviour we rejected, neglected all our life, despised; there he comes to take vengeance on us that know not God, and obey not the Gospel.
Those of you that can say, “My Beloved” are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Your prayer is: “Make haste, my Beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.”