An Exposition of the Song of Songs, Title page – Preface
AN EXPOSITION OF THE Divinely Prophetick SONG OF SONGS WHICH IS SOLOMONS. Beginning with the Reign of David and Solomon▪ Ending in the Glorious Kingdom of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Adjuſted to the Expoſitor's Line of Time, and Illuſtrating it. And Compoſed into VERSE. By T Beverley.
London, Printed for the Author. 1687.
THE PREFACE TO THE Expoſition of Solomon's Song, by way of Juſtificacation; that the Expoſition ought to be Prophetical.
THAT This Book of Holy Scripture hath been under a high Character of Honour in the Church of God, and hath Imprinted an Awe and Veneration of it ſelf upon the Minds of Wiſe and Holy Men, is out of doubt, both among Jews and Chriſtians.
It is enough known, that the Jews prohibit any to read it, till the Sacerdotal or Thirtieth Year of Age; Now though this may ſavor of an over Fear, which in Religious Matters dwells at the next door to Superſtition; Yet ſtill it ſhews of how ſublime a Majeſty and Eſtimation this Song appear'd to them.
And with the ſame profound Reverence all Chriſtians approach it, who have any ſerious Senſe of the Dread due to Sacred Oracles; This Thing therefore is not of any doubt.
But it is a Queſtion of much greater Intricacy and Perplexity, what the drift, ſcope, and deſign of ſo unconteſtably a Divine and Spiritual Song is.
The generality of Interpreters look upon it, as a Catholick ſeat, or Univerſe of Allegories, repreſenting the Myſtical Communion betwixt Chriſt, and his Spouſe the Church, and every Believing Soul in it.
Now although I defer, as much as Any of the moſt Devoted to ſuch Holy, Spiritual, and Heavenly Meditations, as are deriv'd with Advantages of Piety and Prudence from this ſtupendious Allegory, Yet I cannot, for this very great Reaſon, Reſt in that Expoſitory Sentiment, that makes it the grand ſcope of the Holy Spirit to give Riſt to ſuch Meditations.
And this is my Reaſon; All parts of Scripture have ſome ſo limited, determinate, defined ſcope and end, that they cannot be miſled from it by any Interpretation; But it cannot be imagin'd, or with any ſemblance ſuppos'd, that from this Song, there can be drawn a Frame or Platform, either of the ſtate of the Church, or of particular Souls in Relation to their Communion with Chriſt, or of Religious Diſcipline, or Rules of Life, that ſhould traverſe and cut with variety of Motions, backward and forward, that ſo Indefinite variety, that theſe ſo manifold, both new and repeated Emblematiſms require.
If then there be not a Frame and Model to ſtint and confine Interpretation, this Song muſt be left to the differing Phantaſies of all its Interpreters, how many ſoever, and nothing left to controll or correct them, who do but keep to the general Analogy of pious Senſe, and natural Knowledge.
For when the whole Univerſe ſerves the Images of thi… Sacred Poeſie, and that every Sprig may ſome way reſemble God; It may conſequently be made ſerviceable to ſome ſpiritual Meditation, and moral Document; and ſo proportionably ſeeing the Communion betwixt Chriſt and his Church, is of the ſame Divine, Spiritual, and Holy Nature, every Particle of Nature uſed in this Song, ſhall be ſubject to as many Deſcants upon it, as there are Ingenies to extract them, agreeably to that foreſaid Analogy of Faith, and common Philoſophy: And ſo the Song, and the ſeveral parts of it, unſtable as Water, having no conſiſtent Figure of their own, ſhall receive ſ…ape from every Veſſel the Interpreter brings to it.
But it ſurpaſſes my Underſtanding or Belief, that ſo infinitely Wiſe, and divinely Prudent an Author, as the Holy Spirit, ſhould write in ſuch a Laxity as this, Known to whom are all his Works of Scripture from the beginning to the end; and all the various Cenſures and Senſes each Iota of them ſhall undergo, and hath ſupreme and determinate Counſels of his own, which ſhall Over-rule them all. And ſo in this Song.
And indeed, if this Liberty, and Largeneſs of Interpretation were allowed, It would yet be never poſſible to give any decent and congruous Agreement betwixt the Spouſe of Chriſt, and a Company of Horſes in Pharaohs Chariot, Teeth like a Flock of Sheep bearing Twins, Eyes as Fiſh pools, Locks buſhy, and black as a Raven, that ſhould expreſs the Communion betwixt Chriſt and his Church, without ſome other Key of Interpretation, that keeps the whole Tight to ſuch a Frame and Model of things, as was before deſir'd.
There are ſome Interpreters therefore (though ſo very few as hardly to eſcape the Note of ſingularity) and of very Venerable Name, who have underſtood by it a portraicture of the various States, through which the Kingdom of Chriſt hath paſs'd in relation to his Church, and ſo reciprocally of his Church in relation to his Kingdom. And from theſe, I confeſs, I receiv'd the firſt Thoughts, that ſuch a Table is moſt agreeable to this Divine Compoſure.
And herein I am not aſham'd to acknowledgde, I have borrowed moſt light from that very Admirable Man, Mr. Brightman, with whom Mr. Cotton, that great Light of the Church of God in New England Symboliſes.
And yet I have retired from them, in a careful Avoidance, to preſs theſe Divine Figures too hard, leſt wringing them ſhould bring forth Blood; or to make the purſuit too far, leſt the Expoſition ſhould be too curious and minute: For in all Prophetical Expoſitions, I think, there is moſt ſafety of Truth in reſting upon the Bulk and Body of Scripture Prophecy, and of Hiſtory, when only Humane Hiſtory leads the Application; but when Sacred Hiſtory conducts it, One may be much more bold, or where the Inſtance is ſingular and notorious, as in Antiochus Epiphanes.
And, as I have retired in theſe particularities of Interpretation, from thoſe two, by me ſo honoured Expoſitors of this Song; ſo I have as freely diſſented from them, whereſoever I ſee Reaſon.
And upon this occaſion, I take liberty to make this Digreſſion, and to obſerve; It is a very frivolous Undertaking, to attempt to bl…ſt the Interpretation of Prophetical Interpreters, as of Mr Mede, Mr. Brightman, and that to me above all others moſt Indear'd Name of the moſt Learned, Pious, and Honoured Dr. More, on Daniel, and the Apocalypſe, and Others; Becauſe either Events have not anſwered their Calculations, or becauſe they differ among themſelves.
For herein is the great Miſtake, Men are angry Theſe Prophetical Expoſitors do not, as inſpired Writers, give Oracles; Whereas God may wonderfully, and beyond the ordinary ſtandard, aſſiſt his Servants in ſome grand Points, to bring Light into the World, and to make great Efforts into the retired parts of Scripture, viz. the Prophecies, and yet leave them in many Particulars, to the Fallibility of their own Minds, and ſo to Miſtakes.
For this is the Diſtinction betwixt the immediate Aſſiſtances of God, vouchſafed to the Sacred Pen-men, and Thoſe, whom he leads by the Mediation of their own Learning, Search and Judgment: To the one, He dictates wholly from himſelf, To the other, by an Excitation of their Faculties to make a due Inquiry, and then to adjoin themſelves to greateſt Evidences of Reaſon: Together with which, he may as he pleaſes extraordinarily awaken, inject, infuſe into their Minds, but ſo that the whole Aſſurance they have depends upon Evidence, and all they claim to of Aſſent, is upon the ſame Evidence; where this then fails, Miſtake enſues, and Aſſent is not due.
From hence it follows; As they may miſtake, ſo they may differ, and One be in the right upon better Evidence, where another is in the wrong upon no Evidence, or inſufficient Evidence; Or Both may be Right, or in an Errour on the ſame accounts, and yet Both theſe may be in great Things eminent Miniſters of the Truth of God to his Church, and agree therein, being excited and conducted beyond the ordinary level of Men, to attain Evidences true and firm in ſuch Points; where the generality, yea, where very few enter at all. And therefore thoſe Miſtakes and Differences, ſhall not in the leaſt invalidate the great Truths, wherein they have Evidence, and wherein they Agree: For all is to be valued by Evidence; And Ignorance, Inapprehenſiveneſs, Want of Diligence in others, in Trying and Judging theſe Evidences, to diſtinguiſh between Miſtake and Truth, and their Rejection of all for want of ſuch Infallibility and Agreement, makes no alterations in things themſelves, which neither will deceive, nor can be deceived.
And withal obſerve, here are no more Grains of Allowance required in this Caſe, than in all kinds of Learning, Knowledge, Science, and Arts in the World, which do not proceed upon Infallibility, nor determine in any greater Univerſality of Conſent. No not Theology it ſelf, beyond the very expreſs Aſſertions of Scripture: If Men have a greater Antipathy and Averſion to make out after, to try or to receive Prophetical Knowledge, and to think it Reaſon enough to do ſo, becauſe Men miſtake and differ, (which ſame thing they do in all things) and though their Agreements in grand Points (as in all other Caſes) is ſo valueable, It cannot be helped, till a better State of the World cure this ſo general Malady.
But to return from this long, but moſt neceſſary Digreſſion upon this Occaſion. Although I do with all Thankfulneſs acknowledge the Helps I have received, yet I humbly avow with lowlieſt Thankſgivings to God; I have proceeded upon theſe peculiar Grounds, deriv'd from his Word alone.
I find no way of Interpretation ſo like to Circumſcribe and Define the Sacred Senſe of this Song, as a Prophetical Courſe of Time, which the Church paſſing through under the various Elevations and Depreſſions of the Kingdom of Chriſt, it becomes capable of theſe ſo various Pictures; And, as in the Courſe of Time, God requires and calls back what is paſt into wonderful Agreements with what is preſent and to come, upon which Solomon ſays, There is no new thing under the Sun; So in this Song, ſuppoſing it ſuch a Table of Time, the Figures and Allegories in which thoſe paſt things are pourtray'd, may be requir'd and repeated; For the States come to be repeated in their likeneſſes alſo, and ſo the old Emblems are often recall'd, and no new ones choſen for them.
1. This then laid in the Foundation, I farther obſerve; From the very Beginning to the End of this Song, there are under the Emblems of Spices of ſweeteſt Smell, and richeſt Perfume, couch'd a preparation to a Royal Annointing, in agreement with the Great Title of Chriſt, Meſſiab, or Annointed, and alſo in alluſion to Paradiſe, the Palace Royal of his Kingdom; in all theſe there is a Deſignation of his Kingdom, who is the Bridegroom, and the Beloved of his Church, His Spouſe, and Bride, which makes this Song Panegyrical or Inaugurative.
2. Again therefore I obſerve, There is from the Beginning to the End of this Song a conſtant Deſign of drawing all the Preparations to a Marriage and Nuptial Solemnity, by the holieſt, pureſt, and moſt ardent Affections, and all kind of Ceremonies, and Retinue, and Courtſhip for Eſpouſals, and for the Glories and ſolemnization, that agree to the Nuptial Love and Honour Chriſt is pleas'd to put upon his Spouſe and Bride, the Church; And that as Marriage (which is a great Myſtery, as the Apoſtle ſays, ſpeaking concerning Chriſt and his Church) was inſtituted in Paradiſe, and there had its Beginning; So in the Paradiſe of God it hath its Complement and Perfection. Now hereunto agree the ſo often mention of Flowers, Gardens, Virgins, a Bed, Eſpouſals, and innumerable the like: by which this Song looks ſo like an Epithalamium or Marriage-Song between Chriſt and his Church, Revel. c. 19. c. 21.
3. Further, Becauſe as the Grandeur of a Kingdom was by the Ancients addulced and ſweetned with the Emblems of the Tenderneſs, Care and Propriety of a Shepherd in his Flock; and that the Entertainments of Love and Amorous Contemplations were agreeable to the Shepherd's Life: Therefore in this Song, there is ſo often mention of Kids, Sheep, Goats, Roes, and Hinds, Lyons, Leopards, Roes and Hinds of the Field of a wilder Race; of Shepherds, and the Mountains They and their Flocks walk upon, whereby this Song hath ſo much of a Paſtoral in it.
4. And laſtly, Becauſe Enemies are oft to be overcome, before Kingdoms can be enjoyed in Peace and Luſtre; there is therefore ſo often mention of Valiant Men, Arms, Armory, and Armies, by which this Song becomes Heroic and Triumphal.
And all theſe things are drawn into Song, according to the general Uſage in ancient Times to Compoſe into Poeſy▪ both their Wars, the Glory of their Kings, and alſo their Amours, and Paſtoral Divertiſements.
From theſe Conſiderations then, we may have a general proſpect and view upon the Frame and Model of this Song, and ſo as to fix it, and not leave it to the Pleaſure of every Mercurial Phantaſie.
5. Seeing every Courſe of Time, that is to be limited and circumſcribed, and pourtrayed, as in a Model and Table, muſt have a Point, when it begins, and when it ends, and a medium or middle Line, in which it runs along; I obſerve there are great Inducements, as poſſibly we can deſire, to begin the Song in David, who was the firſt Royal Anceſtor of Jeſus Chriſt, the King of his Church, and the moſt Eminent Typical Meſſiah, or Annointed of the Lord, Annointed with holy Oyl: A King raiſed from a Shepherd to be ſo, wherein he was as it were by Education fitted to a Paſtoral Government, and prepared to become the ſweet Singer of Iſrael, in agreement ſo far with this Song, and a moſt renowned▪ Warrior, who Atchieved by Conqueſt his Kingdom, and was therein eminently a Prophet and a King, and not without ſome providential Reſemblance of a Prieſt, in being girded with the Prieſtly Ephod before the Lord; Thus every way in ſo Eminent a Perſonage, this Song was to begin, who was ſo great a Type, and alſo in his Pſalms ſo great a Prophet of Chriſts Kingdom, as therein to give the Kiſſes of Chriſts mouth, as he in his ſeveral Annointings, diffus'd the ſavour of Chriſts Oyntments, and drew the Virgins after him.
In Union with David, Solomon his Son is to be joyn'd, who enjoyed in Splendor, Peace, and Magnificence the Kingdom that was the Acqueſt of David's Wars, whoſe many Wives and Concubines, like the ſixty Queens, the eighty Concubines, and Virgins without number, [c. 6. 8.] which make the Spouſe of Chriſt, and eſpecially his Marriage of Pharaoh's Daughter with Royal Eſtate, are greatly ſerviceable to this Song, and to the Repreſentations it gives of the Spouſe of Chriſt, and of his Marriage to it: For that moſt Illuſtrious and Celebrated Queen, Pharaohs Daughter, (undoubtedly a Convert to the God of Iſrael,) was not only a Type of the Gentile Church in general but particularly of its State in the Philadelphian Interval, ſo highly Honoured, Revel. 3.
And for her, as a Type of the Church in that ſtate, that Divinely Prophetick Fourty fifth Pſalm was compoſed in ſo much Agreement with this Song; a Song of Loves, ſet to a Muſical Inſtrument, or Tune, called Shoſhannim, or the Lillies, among which, this Song Repreſents ſo often Chriſt and his Church Feeding; an Emblem of Purity at laſt ſet in Glory and Luſtre.
Now the Principal Intention of that Pſalm, is under the Type of Solomon and Pharaoh's Daughter to Repreſent Chriſt Annointed, as on the Mount of Spices, for his Appearance on his Royal Throne; and taking his Church in the Philadelphian ſtate to Himſelf, as his Bride, agreeable with the cloſe of this Song: agreeable with the Promiſes to the Philadelphian Church, agreeable with Revel. 19. and c. 21.
And the very ſilence of Solomon's Iſraelitiſh Wives, ſeems not to be without a Myſtery; but to expreſs that long Deſolate ſtate of the whole Seed of Iſrael under the Goſpel, and yet there is a Revival at laſt in the Shulamite, as Solomon had undoubtedly Iſraelitiſh Wives, and in his Repentance Return'd to them, c. 6. 12, 13.
And even in thoſe Wives of the Idolatrous Nations, Solomon took, who Turn'd away his Heart from God, He may be thus far a Type of the Love of Chriſt to the Heathen Idolatrous World, and alſo of that great Scandal, This hath againſt him the True Meſſiah given ſo long to the Jews, from which yet Chriſt ſhall be vindicated at the Converſion of ALL, as Solomon is by this Song, together with the Book of Eccleſiastes, Vindicated from the Infamy of his Idolatry; It being ſo Royal a Monument of his Repentance: This Solomon was alſo He, who Built the Temple of God, and his own Houſe of State, that ſerve alſo in this ſong as Types; who laſtly was a great Prince in Wiſdom, and the Largeneſs of his Mind. This ſo great a Type, yea ſo great a Prophecy of Chriſt in his own Perſon and Reign, and Marriages, is commiſſion'd as the moſt Elect Perſon to ſing this ſong, this Prophetical ſong of the Kingdom of Chriſt, as David did in ſo many Pſalms. And ſuch a Song was to be expected from ſo great a Prince, and ſuch a Son of Wiſdom, whoſe Wiſdom had not been perfect in Honour, without ſuch a Prophecy of the Kingdom of Chriſt; Seeing Prophecy and Prophecy of Chriſt was the higheſt point of Wiſdom; And it ſtands with Eccleſiaſtes as a Monument of the Repentance of this Great King after his Fall.
Let then the Epoch of this Song be David's and Solomon's Reign in Conjunction, and the beginning of the Courſe of Time to Chriſts Kingdom in this Song, fix'd here; And immediately after Solomon's death begins not a new Courſe, but a new Character of this Courſe of Time, carried on from Time to Time in the moſt Known, Remarkable, and Chronicular Events, of greateſt Renown in Scripture-Hiſtory, or Prophecy, or Both; or Scripture Prophecy, and Humane History that cannot be denyed, nor to have been ſuch noble Events.
Now then if in the very ſame order theſe Events keep with the Courſe of Time, They have alſo ſuch fit Emblems and Reſemblances of them in this Song, and in the ſame order that They have all along to this very Day in the Courſe of Time, I cannot account this leſs than great Evidence, This Song is ſuch a Frame or Table of Time, as I aſſert it.
And that theſe may ſtand Fair, Viſible, and Together; I have Calendar'd them in the Annexed Table, and Referr'd them to each part of this Song, together with their References to each Page of the Book; and alſo according to their Scituation, and Place in the Courſe of Time, and according to that Settlement I have endeavour'd to vindicate to them that in Courſe of Time, by My Line of Time.
Now I cannot but add, as a farther Evidence of the Epoch of this Song, and that it deſigns a Courſe of Time, of which I gave Intimation juſt now, viz. That after the Reign of David and Solomon, In the Diviſion of the Ten, and the Two Tribes, making a Houſe of Judah, and a Houſe of Iſrael, Ezekiel's Days for Years Began, as an Introduction of Prophetical Time, and, as ſhall be declared a Medium, or Mediation betwixt Historical and Prophetical Time: and on which the whole Courſe of Prophetical Time Runs; Upon this very point of Time, This Song gives thoſe two Remarks. 1. Of that Diviſion, by the Tents of Kedar, and the Curtains of Solomon, And then of Rehoboam's Servitude under Shiſhak, King of Aegypt, where to diſtinguiſh, or rather to make moſt notorious that Time; There is a more Uncouth Reſemblance, than is to be found in the whole Song beſide, viz. I have compared Thee, O my Love, to a Company of Horſes in Pharaoh's Chariot, c. 1. 5. 9. as is Declared in the Expoſition.
A Second Thing I cannot but add in Confirmation of the Cou rſe of Time, is, That foraſmuch as it was Fore-ſeen, there would not be after the History of the Acts of the Apoſtles, Scripture Hiſtory to bear up the Prophecy of Daniel, looking beyond that Time; nor of the Apocalypſe, Given after that Time, We have therefore before the Apoſtolical Time a Precedent of depending upon the moſt undoubted Humane Hiſtory, for one of the moſt Remarkable Prophecies in the Judgment of all Expoſitors, and in which ſome would fain Abſolve all Daniel's Prophecy, viz. the Tyranny of Antiochus, Taking away the Daily Sacrifice; as great a Tyranny and Deſolation of their Worſhip, for the ſhort time it laſted, or greater than any the Jewiſh Church ſuffered till their Final Deſolation; And This, though ſo ſolemnly prophecied of by Daniel, we have only the Hiſtory of the Maccabees and of Joſephus to depend upon for the Expoſition of it; And it is counted ſo enough, that no Interpreter doubts it.
Why then ſhould we not be as well ſatisfied in undoubted Humane Hiſtory concerning the Roman Antichriſt, the Antitype to Antiochus, that he is that Man of Sin in 2 Theſſal. 2. and the Beaſt, Rev. c. 13. c. 17. And it is very remarkable, how much in the ſame Emblems This Song may be fairly ſuppos'd to Deſcant on Both, as it were the Type and the Antitype; The Type, c. 3. before the Incarnation. The Antitype, c. 6. before the preparation of All Things, and their running on to the Glory of Chriſts Kingdom, in c. 7. c. 8. And while there is an Agreement, the due Diſtances are alſo maintain'd.
Thus the Epoch, and ſo much of the Running on of the Courſe being Remonſtrated upon, let us conſider the Period and Concluſion, and ſee if the Song does not draw all things to their Conſummation in the Glory of Chriſt's Kingdom, as into the Time of the Fulleſt Confluence of all to the True Church of Chriſt, as one Gentile Church, viz. the Fulneſs of the Gentiles; The Antichristian Converts; and the Reformed Churches; Then the Jews or two Tribes Congregated to it, as the Princes of the Eaſt looking out as the Morning; and at laſt the Ten Tribes; And then the whole Mountain of Spices flows into an Everlaſting Unction of Chriſt into his Kingdom, who is then Annointed with the Oyl of Joy above his Fellows: A Kingdom above all Kingdoms, and beyond which, There is nothing but Eternity.
And Concurrent with this End, is the Higheſt Purity, the moſt Ardent Love betwixt Chriſt and his Church, the fulleſt Enjoyment, as in not only a Supreme, but an only Kingdom; and, as in the Paradiſe of God; as is ſo Remarkable, that it cannot be miſs'd in the latter part, or the three laſt Chapters of the Song: What then can, if This does not deſerve to be the Period and Point of the Courſe of Time, and of this Song Commenſurate to it; and ſo Adequate to Daniel's laſt Words of Prophecy, and the drawing up all to an End in the Revelation.
Upon the whole then, There cannot be a greater proof of a Frame, ſyſtem, or Model in any Writing, that doth not openly declare it ſelf to be ſo, than to find out a juſt Order and Series, and due Connexion in the Parts; Nor in a Myſtical Frame, than that the Parts do fairly Expreſs and Expoſe the Things, that in ſuch a Frame, They are ſuppoſed to Expoſe: And if it be accounted in Philoſophy a good Diſcharge to give an Hypotheſis or Scheme of Nature agreeable, and to keep All Appearances ſafe in Relation one to another; I hope it will be Eſteemed a good Acquittal of my Undertaking, not only to Project a Frame or Syſtem of this, but to find that Frame laid in Scripture-Hiſtory, and Prophecy, or in Scripture-Prophecy, and Unconteſtable Humane Hiſtory, as of Antiochus his Tyranny juſt now to this purpoſe Inſtanc'd, and to find the Images of Prophetick Song all along Agreeing.
And I hope, it will be no more diſallowed to Expound this Song into a continued Parable without dowright Demonſtration, than it is to Expound the Parts of this Song in ſeveral and particular Parables, with as little Demonſtration as General Interpreters do: In fine, that the whole Song ſo laid into a Parable, may be Accepted▪ as well as any other Theological Parable, of which there are Examples, ſeeing all the Parts and Lines on which it is grounded, are undoubtedly Divine, and the Expoſition ſo fairly put for, to be Juſtified as Divine alſo.
For I acknowledge, That which enabled me to bring this Song into the Contexture, wherein it is now Preſented, and that which gave me alſo the occaſion, and the Engagement to do it, is, The Scripture-Line of Time, I lately Publiſhed, To which I have in the Title declared, It is Adjuſted; and which I have purſued along in the Expoſition of the Song, both in the Signification of the Emblems, and in the Notes of Time.
And it is upon This Hope, that Theſe two may give Light and Strength, one to another.
For the ſame Things variouſly Repreſented, make them clearer and eaſier to general Apprehenſion; Some Things being plainer to ſome in one Dreſs, to ſome in another, and each gives Light to the other, when They are Compar'd.
And in this Song, and its Expoſition, Things lye much nearer and cloſer one to another; They are more ſuddenly ſeen and Apprehended, more eaſily Graſp'd, and more eaſily Remembred: And what requires either fuller Diſcourſe, or Proof, may be ſought in thoſe larger Prophetical Diſcuſſions of the Line of Time.
But above All, The Compare of theſe Three Great Prophets, (beſides others) viz. Solomon, Daniel, John, the Three Beloveds, does exceedingly inlighten and ſtrengthen my Prophetical Scheme; For when the Three Frames differ in Circumſtances, and yet agree in Eſſentials; There can be no greater Conviction of a Deſign'd Scheme of Prophecy, nor happier Conduct into it, than their compare one with another: And ſuch a three-fold Cord is not eaſily broken. And in the Mouth of not Two but Three Witneſſes, every word is Eſtabliſhed.
I have choſen to Preſent this Song in Verſe, in Conformity to the Divine Poeſy, not pretending to Excel herein, much leſs to come within any diſtance of the Original; but to come ſomething nearer the High Spirit, and Lofty Air of this Song, than plain Expoſition in Proſe could do; I am alſo in Hope, that the Diverſion and Acceptableneſs of Words in number and meaſure, may Invite to the Conſideration of the Matter ſo convey'd, and that while the Poetry is Cenſur'd and Condemn'd, yet the Senſe may ſlide in, and lay hold of the Judgment.
And leſt any Difficulty in ſuch a ſtinted Form of Words ſhould occur, I have by brief Notes Explaining Words and ſenſe, endeavoured to Illuſtrate ſuch Difficulties.
And, as I deſire, This Poem ſhould look backward to the Line of Time I have already, or ſhall with this offer to any Hand, ſo I deſire It ſhould look forward to a ſecond Part, now in the Preſs, and wherein I Beg the aſſiſtance of all who ſhall be induc'd to favour the Undertaking.
To conclude, That all Things may be made moſt plain, I have plac'd this Table, as in Entrance to the Expoſition of this Song; That every one may run and Read thoſe great Heads of Prophecy in their order, and in the Series of Time, wherein they are ſet; the Events themſelves none can deny to be the greateſt, that can be found in Scripture-Hiſtory, or ſuppos'd in Scripture-prophecy, nor call in queſtion their ſucceſſive Order in Time; So that every one may compare the Images, which are undoubtedly Divine, and then ſet them cloſe to the Expoſition, which is in the Line of Time endeavour'd to be prov'd Divine alſo, by immediate Scripture Conſequence; and when their place in Time cannot be conteſted what can be doubted;
There is but one grand Event, which I can think of, which can in this Song be ſuppos'd to be omitted; And that is the Deſolation of the Jews by the Romans: But that, asunfit for a Song of Loves is glided over, and rather ſuppos'd by the Gentile Church, entring into the whole play of the Song then deſcrib'd, even as Gods Caſting the Ten Tribes out of his ſight, is ſilently made known by the Songs Reference to the Houſe of Judah only: And obſerve, thoſe Jewiſh Deſolations are ſhaded over in the Red Horſe of War in the Apocalypſe, and given in Daniel, but in the way of Appendage to the Cutting off the Meſſiah. But moſt fully given Ezek. c. 16. c. 23.
To Conclude, as I humbly Beg the Prayers of All, who have Favour for Endeavours in the Clearing of Prophecy; So I moſt Humbly and Ardently Pray for Bleſſing from Above, upon what is here Preſented, that we may Read and Underſtand this Prophecy, and may wait and come to the End of the 1335 Days, For the Time is at Hand.