Song of Solomon 2:10

Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.

Listen, I hear the voice of my Beloved! He speaks to me! Fair weather is smiling upon the face of the earth, and he would not have me be spiritually asleep while nature is all around me awaking from her winter's rest. He bids me "Rise up," and well he may, for I have been dallying with worldliness. He is risen, I am risen in him, why then should I hold onto the dirt? Away from base loves, desires, pursuits, and aspirations, I would rise towards Him. He calls me by the sweet title of "My love," and counts me fair; this is a good argument for my rising. If He has exalted me, and thinks me beautiful, how can I linger in the tents of worldly wanderes and find congenial associates among the heathen sons of men? He calls me, "Come away." Further and further from everything selfish, grovelling, worldly, sinful, He calls me. Even from the outwardly religious world which doesn't really know him, and has no sympathy with the mystery of the higher life. He calls me. "Come away" has no harsh sound in it to my ears, for what is there to hold me in this wilderness of vanity and sin? O my Lord, I wish that I could come away, but I am caught among the thorns, and cannot escape from them. I wish it were possible to have neither eyes, nor ears, nor a heart for sin. You call me to yourself by saying "Come away," and this is a melodious call indeed. To come to You is to come home from exile, like landing out of the raging storm, like coming to rest after long labour. To come to You is the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes. But Lord, how can a stone rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit? O raise me, draw me, with Your grace. Send forth the Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise until I leave life and time behind me, and indeed come away to You.