Leaning on My Beloved

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Song of Solomon 8:5.

Who! the wonder and joy of angels, the envy of devils, the contempt of the world, because a miracle of grace. Upon whom shines the glory of God’s justice, the riches of mercy, the abounding of his love, and the efficacy of his power? It is, a poor sinner, hopeless, and helpless in himself, coming up from a dismal, dreadful, dangerous state, leaning upon one who is mighty to save. Some over-rate Christians. They paint their characters so very strong and perfect, as though they forgot that they are in themselves nothing but poor sinners, whose nature is only evil continually. And these people also under-rate them, not considering what they are in Christ— new creatures, perfectly righteous—without spot of sin— infinitely glorious and comely in God’s sight. Consider, (1st.) this wilderness. You are in it, and will be coming up out of it, till you get out of the body. It is your fallen nature, called flesh. It is inhabited by none but beasts of prey and devils of destruction: cursed sins and abominable lusts. There is no path in it to life, only to death and damnation. Though you are out of it, as to your state, yet you are really in it, as to your experience. Therefore you are still coming up from it. How? (2d.) Consider this posture: Leaning. It implies weakness, weariness, languor, fainting: yet aspires to ascend, to get on and get out. Do not you find this exactly your case? You are weary of the wilderness of nature and sin, and long to get out of it; yet find not strength in yourself to ascend. Bless your soul, that you have a Beloved to lean upon. He is your Beloved, if you take him as such. You will find him the Beloved of your soul indeed, if you lean upon him. (3d.) What is it to lean upon Jesus? (1st.) It is to cast yourself, the whole weight of yourself, sin and misery upon him, as having undertaken to support and sustain you. (2d.) To join or cleave to him, and associate with him; refusing all other props and supports but him. (3d.) To rejoice and delight your soul in him and in the company of him. (4th.) To strengthen yourself in him, and get strength from him. Just as a weak person does by leaning upon a staff in his journey. Jesus is all this to the mind by faith. Well then is he called our Beloved. What remains, but that we prove his love by the faith of our hearts? So let us glory of him, and honour and serve him as the beloved of our souls; till, leaning upon him all our journey through the earth, we come to enjoy him in heaven.

I’ll trust, and lean, and sweetly sing
Of my Beloved dear;
Tho’ I’m weak, in want of ev’ry thing,
He doth my spirits cheer.

I have no strength, support, or hope,
But what from Christ doth spring:
His love does keep my spirit up,
While faith’s kept on the wing.

- William Mason, A Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God, Volume 2, July 14