The Book of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon Paraphrased, Text and paraphrase 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
ARGUMENT.
Here begins, as I take it, a new part (which is the VIIth) of this Song; and reaches to Verſe the eleventh. In which the Spouſe is repreſented returning again, as they deſired in the end of the foregoing Chapter: and, appearing in greater luſtre than before, the Company of Friends who attended her, praiſe her beautiful perfections; in ſuch a deſcription as was made of them, Chap. IV. though varying from it in ſeveral things (Which is the ſumm of the firſt nine Verſes.) Of which perfections ſhe modeſtly acknowledging her Lord to be the Author, and aſſuming nothing to her ſelf (v. 10.) is excited thereby only to do the more good, and to labour to extend his Empire over more hearts; who were not yet ſubject to Him, v. 11, &c. Where the VIIIth part of this Song begins, and continues to the fifth Verſe of the next Chapter.
Companions, or Daughters of Jeruſalem.
1. HOW beautiful are thy feet with ſhooes, O princes daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
1. AND now that ſhe appears again, like the Daughter of the great King, in all her Royal Apparel (XLV. Pſal. 13.) who can chuſe but admire the beauty of the meaneſt thing belonging to her! The very ſhooes of thy feet are moſt lovely; and ſo are all the Ornaments of thy Thighs, which were made by no common or careleſs Artiſt, but by one that hath herein ſhown the beſt of his skill. See Annot. [a].
2. Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat, ſet about with lilies.
2. Which other excellent Artiſts have equalled in that part of thy Veſture, which covers the middle of thy Body: in the very Centre of which is a Fountain; within a curious Work, riſing up like a Heap of Wheat, encompaſſed round about with Lilies. See Annot. [b].
3. Thy two breaſts are like two young roes that are twins.
3. Above which, thy two Breaſts riſe up ſo purely white and exactly round, and every way of ſuch juſt proportions, that two young Kids, which were formed together and brought forth at the ſame time, are not more like one another, or more lovely than they. See Annot. [c].
4. Thy neck is as a tower of ivory, thine eyes like the fiſhpools in Heſhbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim: thy noſe is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damaſcus.
4. Thy Neck alſo lifts up it ſelf, with the ſame or greater Beauty, wherein we before beheld it (IV. 4.) being no leſs ſmooth and purely white, than it is ſtraight, and well-ſhap'd. And the famous Pools, at the great Gate of Heſhbon alſo, are not more quiet and clear than thy eyes: which are as pure and free from all perturbation, as they are fair and large: between which thy well-proportion'd Noſe riſing up, adds as much Beauty and Majeſty to thy Face, as the Tower of Lebanon (whoſe top ſhows▪ it ſelf above the Trees) doth to that noble Foreſt. See Annot. [d].
5. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.
5. And now that we take a view of thy head, we ſeem to be come to the top of Mount Carmel; which is not more richly adorned by Nature, than its excellent form is by Art: which hath contrived the moſt Royal Ornaments for it, and made thee an object fit for the King's affection; who beholding thee from his Palace, is fixed in contemplation of thy Beauty. See Annot. [e].
6. How fair and how pleaſant art thou, O love, for delights!
6. Which cannot be deſcribed, but only admired, and conſtrains all to ſay: O how happy art thou! and how happy are they who are acquainted with thee! For what Beauty is like to that, or what pleaſures comparable to thoſe; which thou imparteſt to them that are in love with thy delights. See Annot. [f].
7. This thy ſtature is like to a palm-tree, and thy breaſts to cluſters of grapes.
7. Whoſe tall and upright Stature adds much to all this Beauty; and makes thee reſemble the goodly Palm-Tree: within whoſe Boughs thoſe Cluſters hang, to which we may compare thy Breaſts between thy Arms. See Annot. [g].
8. I ſaid, I will go up to the palm-tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now alſo thy breaſt ſhall be as cluſters of the vine, and the ſmell of thy noſe like apples:
8. Which ſeem to be ſtretched out to receive us into thy embraces, and invite me and all my Company, with a joint reſolution, to ſay, We will take hold of the Boughs of this Tree; we will get up into it and taſte of its Fruit: And now ſhall be happy indeed, and enjoy thoſe ſweet delights which flow from thy Breaſts, and from the Breath of thy Mouth; far more refreſhing and comfortable, than the choiceſt Fruit, that this good Land affords. See Annot. [h].
9. And the roof of thy mouth like the beſt wine for my beloved, that goeth down ſweetly, cauſing the lips of thoſe that are aſleep, to ſpeak.
9. For the richeſt and moſt generous Wine, which when we have taſted. we ſay, Let it be ſent to the beſt of Friends, is not more comfortable to the bodily Spirits, though it be ſo powerful as to make Old men brisk, nay, to enliven thoſe that are at the point of Death, than thy words are to raiſe and reſtore the Souls of thoſe, who imbibe the ſenſe of them into their minds. See Annot. [i].
Spouſe.
10. ¶ I am my beloveds, and his deſire is towards me.
10. If there be any thing in me that is pleaſing to you, and deſerves ſuch praiſes, aſcribe it all to Him from whom I received it: for, as I have often ſaid, I am his intirely, and He is pleaſed to be entirely mine; having eſpouſed Himſelf unto me with great deſire, XLV. Pſal. 11. See Annot. [k].
11. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field: let us lodge in the villages.
11. And O that He (without whom I can do nothing) would accompany me in the charitable deſign I have, to go and viſit other people, beſides you, O ye Daughters of Jeruſalem! Let us go, my Beloved, unto thoſe poor deſpiſed people that live in the Fields and Country-Villages: let us, not only go to them, but, dwell among them. See Annot [l].
12. Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us ſee if the vine flouriſh, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.
12. Let us diligently viſit the Vineyards, that have been newly planted there; and beſtow our utmoſt care upon them: let us ſee if they give any hope of good Fruit; in promoting which, I will give Thee a proof of my extraordinary love. See Annot. [m].
13. The mandrakes give a ſmell, and at our gates are all manner of pleaſant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
13. And Behold the happy ſucceſs of ſuch care and diligence! the moſt excellent Fruit is already ripe, and meets us with its refreſhing ſmell; there is nothing ſo choice and ſo pleaſant, but it grows every where; and is at the very Gates: and that in great plenty and variety, both of this Years Fruit and of the laſt: which ſhall all be reſerved for thy uſes, and employed for thy honour, O my Beloved, from whom it all comes; and for the good and profit of thoſe that belong to Thee. See Annot. [n].