An Exposition of the Song of Songs, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
The Spouſe.
Antiochus Epiphanes, Defiling the Temple, and taking away the Daily Sacrifice, is now ſet out in this following Canticle.
Notes explaining the Senſe. aAlthough the Jews, after their Captivity met with many Troubles, and were a low Tributary Government, as before declared by the Apple-tree; Yet there was no Calamity from the days of Cyrus till Chriſt, ſo renowned by Daniel's Prophecy, and Explained by the Maccabean Hiſtory, and the Hiſtory of Joſephus, provided by God on purpoſe, as for that Tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes: and its ſo Renowned, that it might be a Type of Antichriſt.HOw quick theNotes explaining Words. 1The Night of Adverſity and Troubles. Night o'ertakes me, yet inNotes explaining Words. 2Solomon's Temple was the Bed. Bed
I thought to find thatNotes explaining Words. 3The Enjoyment of Chriſt. Princely Loved Head:[By Night on my Bed I ſought Him whom my Soul loveth]
Whom my Soul claſps in deareſt Tyes, but He
Was thence withdrawn, the Temple could not be
Our Bed in this Black Time, when violate[I ſought Him but I found Him not]
By th' Beſtial Fury ofNotes explaining Words. 4Who according to Daniel's Prophecy, caſt down the Sanctuary by his prophane Tyranny, 1 Mal. c. 1. &c. Antioch's Hate;
Our raviſh'd Bed could then no longer eaſe[I will riſe and go about the City in the Streets, and the broad Ways]
My Thoughts ſo full of Anguiſh, nor appeaſe
My boyling Heart one minute, I ſtart out
From its now-loathedNotes explaining Words. 5The Temple ſo defil'd could not be uſed for Sacrifice; But as Dan. foretold the Daily was taken away, Dan. 8. 13. Shroud, and ſearch about
The Streets and open'ſt Ways, if in the Throng[I will ſeek Him whom my Soul loveth]
I meeting Him Remonſtrate might my Wrong:
But Oh, I foundNotes explaining Words. 6The Multitude were corrupted by Fear and Flatteries, according to Dan. 11. 31, 32. Compared with the Maccabean Hiſtory▪ the Publick had betray'd[I ſought Him, but I found Him not]
Their Faith to th' Tyrant, I no longer ſtay'd
In ſuch a Fruitleſs ſearch,Notes explaining Words. 7The Prieſts whoſe Lips preſerve Knowledge, of which Judas Maccabeus was a Principal. the Watchmen I apply,[The Watch-men that go about the City found me]
Who are in Truſt ſuch Queſtions to unty;
The ſacred Guard my Love fix'd to their Bounds,
My quick Enquiries viſit all their Rounds,[I ſaid, ſaw ye Him whom my Soul loveth?]
With this one Queſtion; Have ye ſeen the Him
The Him, whom my Soul Love's, that only Him?
[It was but a little I paſſed from them]They durſt notNotes explaining Words. 1The Violence of the Tyranny of Antiochus was ſo great, there was no publick Miniſtry. loudly Speak, but ſilent Guides
Of Truth they gave me unto him, who ſlides
[But I ſaw him whom my Soul loveth]Into my Chaſt Embrace; Juſt as I mov'd
From that ſo happy Watch; Him my Soul lov'd
INotes explaining Words. 2Yet the Action, and the Example was ſuch, and the Zeal for Truth, and Reſiſtance to that Corruption ſo bold, that Chriſt ſoon appeared, 1 Mac. c. 1. ſoon eſpy'd, By Faith and Love I hold,
[I held him, and would not let him go]Arm'd with my Prayers, ſtrongeſt when moſt bold;
AndNotes explaining Words. 3Jacob wreſtled with the Angel, and would not let him go, Gen. 2. 32. 28. &c. Jacob-like my Love I'de not let go
Notes explaining the Senſe. aThere is nothing ſo Remarkable in prophecy as the Re-ſettling Jeruſalem, after the Tyranny of Antiochus, ſo that on that Account the Church is ſaid to hold Chriſt, and not to let him go till the Incarnation; for notwithſtanding the after Troubles of the Jews, the Publick Worſhip of God was not diſturbed till the very coming of Chriſt.Once from me more, till he had Bleſs'd me ſo,
[Ʋntil I brought him into my Mothers Houſe]That humane Nature ſhould theNotes explaining Words. 4The Body of Chriſt, repreſenting his Humane Nature, He Calls a Temple, John 2. 19. Temple be,
Where I might Worſhip His Divinitie.
[And into the Chambers of her that conceived me]Thus dwelt the Word in Fleſh, as in theNotes explaining the Senſe. bThere cannot be a more ſignificant Repreſentation of the Incarnation, than of Chriſt brought into the Houſe of the Churches Mother, and into the Chambers of Her that Conceived the Church, that is Eve the Mother of all Living, from whom the Bleſſed Virgin deſcended, and out of whoſe Chambers Chriſt came ſo peculiarly. Houſe
MyNotes explaining Words. 5The Promiſe was eſpecially veſted in the Seed of the Woman, of which Eve was the Mother. Mother bred Poor Me; Here me t'Eſpouſe
In Promiſe firſt he graciouſly did deign;
AsNotes explaining Words. 6The humane Nature of Chriſt was as private Chambers. private Chambers, here His Myſtic Reign
InNotes explaining Words. 7Chriſt began his Spiritual Reign in the Form of a Servant, in the Preaching the Goſpel. Servants humble Form began; In this HeNotes explaining Words. 8In that Nature he Aſcended on High. climb'd
A Glory yet not ſeen, but duely tim'd
For its Appearance: While thus my Love reſts
[I charge you, O ye Daughters of Jeruſalem, by the Roes and by the Hinds of the Field]Contented not to ſtir, my Care conteſts
A-new, You Salem's Daughters, by the Hinds
And Roes o'th' Field, Gentiles whom nothing binds,
But my Love's Power; Which if You diſpleaſe,
[That ye ſtir not up, nor awake my Love till he pleaſe]Theſe Roes and Hinds, as Wolves and Tygers ſeize
You as their Prey; Oh then let noNotes explaining the Senſe. cThere was no Offence of Chriſt ſo great at that time, as not to wait the Meſſenger of the Covenant coming into his Temple, and aright to prepare for Him, who was as a Refiners Fire to Purifie the Sons of Levi, to which the fore-nam'd Sects were ſuch Enemies. Notes explaining Words. 9The Great Offence, that at this time might provoke Chriſt, was not waiting for the true Meſſiah, and diſacknowledging the true Signs of Him, by thoſe prejudic'd Sects among them, viz. the chief Prieſts, Scribes, Phariſes, Sadducees, and Sanhedrim of the Jews.Offence
Till my Love pleaſe Him waken, and Incenſe:
Let no falſe Sects preſume to Antedate
My True Love's coming, and awake Debate
'Twixt Him and Salem's Daughters till He come
An humble Shepherd to his Flock, and bring them Home.
The Incarnation of Jeſus Chriſt, ſet out by the Chorus of Saints.
While ſevenNotes explaining Words. 1Seventy or ſeven Tens of Weeks, making 490 Years. Decads of Prophetick Weeks
HadNotes explaining the Senſe. aAbout the end of the ſixty fifth of the ſeventy Weeks, Chriſt was born. almoſt run their Courſe, whatNotes explaining Words. 2Time is as it were Ambitious of the moſt noble Productions. all Time ſeeks,
Some noble Product, that may guild its Sphere
Doth here Ennoble it; One 'gins to appear,
NoNotes explaining the Senſe. bThe greateſt Production Time can hitherto boaſt of, is, the Coming of Chriſt in the Fleſh. Age can ſecond;Notes explaining Words. 3The Lord whom you ſeek ſhall ſuddenly come into his Temple; But who may abide? &c. The Deſire of all Nations, ſo was the Reception of Chriſts Birth by the Angels, the Shepherds, and other holy Perſons in the Goſpel Hiſtory. Wonder, Fear, Deſire
Are each its Harbingers; Natures dull Fire
CanNotes explaining the Senſe. cOne of the greateſt Myſteries of Religion, is, God Manifeſt in the Fleſh. no ſuch BirthNotes explaining Words. 4Refine and exalt Nature unto a higher pitch. Calcine;Notes explaining Words. 5Who can declare this Generation? The Word was made Fleſh, John 14. 5. Incarnation
Empales this Myſterious Generation,
All vulgar Style's too low;Notes explaining Words. 6Schelom ſpeaks in the name of the Saints. Schelom Wiſe King
Inſpir'd Divinely, does this Secret ſing
By us, who with profoundeſt Reverence
Of Love, and Wonder, thusNotes explaining Words. 7Sing With Triumph. Caroll our Sence.
[Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderneſs]Notes explaining the Senſe. aAs nothing followed more fitly according to Daniel's Prophecy, than the Incarnation of Chriſt, (Meſſiah on the troublous Times of Antiochus) ſo all humane Wit and Phancy may be appeal'd to, whether any thing can be more fitly expreſs'd.Who'sNotes explaining Words. 1A Queſtion of Holy Admiration this that comes as from aNotes explaining Words. 2In regard of the Solitude and Meanneſs in which Chriſt was born and liv'd. Wilderneſs,
Unknown and unattended? Who'll confeſs
To Glorys hid'd?Notes explaining Words. 3Triumphant Pillars of Divine Knowledge, Power, Grace, but cover'd with the Smoke of outward Poverty, and the malicious ſlanders of the Phariſees. Pillars indeed ariſe
[Like pillars of Smoke]With him, but ſtill of Smoke, which does diſguiſe
The flame of Ether; oyl'd yet with Perfumes
[Perfum'd with Myrrh and Frankincenſe]Of Myrrh, of IncenſeNotes explaining Words. 4Richly yet perfum'd with all Heavenly Graces. Frank, of all the Gumms,
And Powders, that from far the Merchants bring:
Notes explaining Words. 5His very Infancy was Homag'd by the three Magi or Wiſe Men from far with Gold, Myrrh, and Frankincenſe, as an Emblem hereof, but the Glory of his own Divinity far excell'd.Three Sages Homag'd thus the Infant King:
[With all the Powders of the Merchant]Far Richer yet in▪s native Glory He,
The Treaſures of his own Divinity.
Thus roſe the Miracles of his whole Life,
Where Cloud and Luſtre ſtill maintain'd a ſtrife:
The out-ſide Meanneſs, and the in-ſide Glory
Enrich the whole moſt myſterious ſtory.
[Behold His Bed, which is Solowons]Conſider well theNotes explaining Words. 6The humane Nature may be compar'd to a Bed, where the Divinity lodg'd as in a Temple. Bed, where the Word lay,
'Twas Schelom's humane Nature, which had ſtay
Truely Divine; AngelicNotes explaining Words. 7Angels continually attended upon Chriſt, as his conſtant Guard; when He bringeth his firſt Begotten into the World, He ſaid, Let all the Angels of God Worſhip Him. Guards attend,
Who can this Sacred Bed ſafer defend,
[Threeſcorevaliant Men are about it]Then Schelom's threeſcore Valiant Iſraelites;
[Every Man hath his Sword on his Thigh, becauſe of Fear in the Night]Whom Skill and Valour ſhield 'gainſt all affrights,
While they arm'd at all points defie the Dread,
Wherewith the Night can threat the Royal Bed.
[King Solomon made himſelf a Chariot of the Wood of Lebanon, he made the Pillars thereof of Silver, the bottom thereof of Gold, the covering of it of Purple, the midſt thereof being pav'd with Love for the Daughters of Jeruſalem]This Schelom, God with us, His Body fram'd
So rich with all the Graces, that are nam'd,
That Schelom'sNotes explaining Words and Senſe together. 1Solomon's Royal Chariot is deſcribed with all its rich and coſtly Materials from top to bottom. Chariot of ſweet Lebans Wood,
Which on its Silver Pillars firmly ſtood,
Founded in Gold, and with the Purple crown'd
Is Emblem faint this Myſt'ry to expound:
But yet which all Types ſtill excels in Grace,
While Schelom Notes explaining Words and Senſe together. 2Solomon's Chariot was adorn'd with the moſt beautiful pictures of the Daughters of Zion, to expreſs his Love to them.Salem's Daughters did enchaſe
In beauteous Images throughout this State,
That thus Triumphing He might celebrate
His love to them;Notes explaining Words and Senſe together. 3This was a faint Image of the Excellent Humane Nature of Chriſt, in which, even to the Death of the Croſs; He bare the Names of the People on his Heart, and offered himſelf a whole Burnt-offering for them through the greatneſs of his Love. Great Schelom was inſpir'd
With hotter Flames, which his whole Body fir'd
In… Sacrifice to Juſtice, while He bore
Theſe Salems Daughters on his Heart, and wore
Their Names wrought into his with Love ſo high,
No parallel can e'er be found to Vye:
And in this Chariot, thus inflam'd He rode
InNotes explaining Words and Senſe together. 4The Crown of Chriſt is that which he receiv'd at his Reſurrection, when he was Annointed with the oyl of Joy above his Fellows, (as Solomon was Crown'd with higheſt Joy,) a Pledge of his Eternal Kingdom, and Eſpouſal to his Church; Revel. 19. 1. Triumph over Hell, it captive ſhow'd;[Go forth, oh ye Daughters of Zion, Behold King Solomon with the Crown]
And as theNotes explaining Words and Senſe together. 5As Bathſheba receiv'd the Crown from David for Solomon, ſo God made good his Promiſe to Eve, the Seed of the Woman, &c. by this Crown of Chriſts Reſurrection and Kingdom. Royal * Bathſheba receiv'd
The Crown from David's Mouth, that Schelom wreath'd,
With which to Salem's Daughter He eſpous'd
Himſelf, and ſwelling Bowls of joy Carous'd.
Thus Zion's Daughters, Holy Souls, come forth
From meaner Thoughts to thoſe of higher Worth,
Behold King Schelom riſen from the Dead,[Wherewith His Mother Crown'd Him in the Day of his Eſpouſals, and in the Day of the Gladneſs of his Heart]
A Crown of Majeſty Empales his Head:
His Mother Crown'd Him; For to th' Womans Seed
By promiſe of the Father 'twas decree'd:
And yet his greateſt Joy is to Eſpouſe
His Church, till He his Crowned Glory ſhows;
In Seal of which, this Eulogy of praiſe,
That follows next, is like a Crown of Raies,
Set on his Spouſes Head by his own Hand,
Whoſe Act no Gate of Hell can countermand.