68. The Conquest of a Holy Eye.

Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me. - Song of Solomon 6:5.

Much of our life's business consists in overcoming evil, but here we have to deal with overcoming him who is perfect good.

It is not to be supposed that there is any opposition in the heavenly Bridegroom, nor any unwillingness to be overcome by his bride: no, it is the loving heart of Jesus which is readily overcome by the love of his chosen one.

Let us learn from this most remarkable exclamation:

I. THAT LOOKING UPON HIS CHURCH HAS OVERCOME THE HEART OF THE LORD JESUS.

1. He left heaven to be one with her. He could not bear to see her ruin, but left his Father that he might share her lot.

2. He died to redeem her: "found guilty of excess of love."

3. His delight is in her now; she is lovely in his sight.

4. His eternal joy is to spring from her: he will see in her the result of his death-agony: "he will rest in his love."

Jesus is so overcome that he still gives all that he is, and has, yea, and his own self, to his beloved.

II. THAT THE EYES OF HIS CHOSEN STILL OVERCOME THE LORD JESUS.

Because his eyes are full of love, therefore is he overcome by our eyes when we are —

1. Looking up in deep repentance.

· At first seeking for pardon.

· At times when we pine for restoration from backsliding.

· Whenever we are struggling to maintain fellowship, and mourning our breaches of it.

· Whenever we groan under inbred sin, and would be free from it.

2. Looking at him by faith for salvation.

· At first, by a desperate act, daring to glance with feeble hope.

· Afterwards, in simplicity, day by day gazing at his wounds.

· In deep distress still hoping on, and never removing our eyes.

3. Looking for all things to his love alone.

· When in sore trouble, patiently submitting.

· When in humble hope, quietly waiting.

· When under severe tests, firmly believing.

· When in full assurance, joyfully expecting.

4. Looking in prayer.

· In personal trouble, like Jacob, pleading the promise, and saying, "I will not let thee go." The Lord says, "Let me go."

· In holy compassion pleading for others, like Moses, to whom the Lord said, "Let me alone."

5. Looking in rapturous, restful love.

· He is altogether lovely, and all mine: my eyes swim with tears of delight as they gaze on him, and thus they overcome him.

· My heart burns with love to him, and I adore him; and this wins everything from him.

6. Looking in sacred longing for his appearing.

· Pining for a personal revelation of himself to me by his Spirit.

· Most of all, sighing for his speedy coming in the glory of the Second Advent. He replies, "Behold, I come quickly!"

Oh, the power of a spiritual man with Jesus!

Oh, the power of a church with heaven! The Lord will deny nothing to the prayer of his elect.

III. THAT IF THE CHURCH WOULD BUT LOOK TO HER LORD MORE SHE WOULD OVERCOME THE WORLD MORE.

To overcome the Lord is the greater thing, and when this is done, the church may well go forth conquering and to conquer all that is less than her Lord. The eyes of the church should be set on Jesus, and then she would overcome. If we were —

1. Weeping for dishonor done to him, he would see this, and retrieve our defeat.

2. Depending on him for our strength, our faith would give us victory through Jesus' love.

3. Obediently following his commands, he would then feel it right to give honor to his own truth, and to reward obedience to his own precepts.

4. Confidently expectant of victory, Jesus would make bare his arm for us. Faith's eyes calmly watching, or flashing with exultant expectancy, would be as flames of fire to the foe.

5. Eagerly pleading for his interposition, our tearful, earnest eyes would soon succeed with our gracious God.

See the secret of strength. Look to Jesus, and overcome.

Let us lament our infrequent use of this conquering weapon.

Now for a long and loving look at the Bridegroom of our souls.

Help us, O Holy Spirit, to whom our eyes owe their sight!