Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
If we read this passage spiritually it will not be the less beautiful afterwards, to take it literally; for in both views there is great loveliness in it. If Jesus be my fountain, and the church saith he is (Song of Solomon 4:15) then from him, and in him, will all my springs be. And in this sense he will be my own: for as I am his by purchase and by gift; so Christ is mine by gift, and by marriage, having betrothed himself to his people forever. Hosea 2:19. And surely such an alliance will induce faithfulness both to the Lord, and to his people. Who takes a more effectual method to observe fidelity in all the departments of chastity, and the several branches of moral life, than the soul that is faithful to Jesus? Dear Lord! be thou to me all I need, and then by thy Spirit and the preventing and restraining influences of thy grace, I shall be following the apostle's maxim both in thinking and in doing, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report. Philippians 4:8.