The Book of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon Paraphrased, Text and paraphrase 2 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
ARGUMENT.
There are four Principal parts of this Chapter: Firſt, the Bride comes in expreſſing the deſire of all Iſrael, nay, of all Nations, to ſee the Meſſiah. Who, next of all, is brought in (v. 8.) teſtifying his love to all thoſe that ſeek after him. And then (all her Attendants having, with one voice, made a noble reſolution, not to be unworthy of ſuch love, v. 11.) She ſpeaks again, and declares her marvellous ſatisfaction in the knowledge and love of Him, v. 12. Which is the third part. And laſtly, they both conclude with mutual gratulations and praiſes, v. 15, 16: and, accompanied with the ſymphony of all their Attendants, v. 17. commend the excellency of their habitation.
1. THE ſong of ſongs, which is Solomons.
1. THE moſt excellent of all the Songs that Solomon (or any other perſon) ever compoſed: repreſenting the ardent deſire which was in him, and which he endeavoured to excite in all the people, to enjoy that great bleſſing of the Meſſiah. See Annot. [a].
Spouſe.
2. Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
2. With the thoughts of whom his mind being wholly poſſeſſed, he burſt forth into this moſt paſſionate ſtrain of affection to Him, ſaying, in the name of them all, O that He would come and ſpeak to us by himſelf, and not merely by his Prophets; who have told us ſo much of Him, that I cannot but wiſh to converſe familiarly with him, and receive the words of his own mouth (thoſe words of Grace, XLV. Pſal. 2. which will raviſh all mens hearts) and all other expreſſions of his incomparable love: Which is to be preferred infinitely before the moſt delicious pleaſures, that this good Land wherein we live affords; yea, before the very Sacrifices, and the Wine that is poured out upon the Altar unto God. See Annot. [b].
3. Becauſe of the ſavour of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
3. By whom Thou art ſo highly exalted, far above all other Kings and Prophets; and the fame which is already ſpread of Thee (XLV. Pſal. 8, 9.) and of the knowledge which Thou ſhalt impart unto the World, is ſo ſweet, ſo grateful and delicious, that for this cauſe all truly pious and holy ſouls (XLV. Pſal. 14.) are in love with thee, and long to ſee thee. See Annot. [c].
4. Draw me, we will run after thee: the King hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoyce in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
4. Appear then in thy Power, Majeſty and Glory, and by thy mighty Grace and love attract me and all my people to thee: which will make the whole World moſt readily and cheerfully devote themſelves unto thy ſervice. And, methinks, I behold this King in his Royal ſplendor, as if He were already come; nay, He hath made me underſtand the ſecret Myſteries of his Kingdom; which give me a taſte of that great joy, wherewith we have been told (XLV. Pſal. 15.) all Mankind ſhall enter into thy Society: And it is but reaſon that we ſhould all reſolve with the higheſt ſatisfaction of mind to rejoyce and triumph in thee, and never to think of thy love, and the bleſſings we expect from thence, but with a pleaſure beyond all other: and the better judgment any men have, and the more upright-hearted they are, the more perfectly will they love thee and thy unſpotted righteouſneſs. See Annot. [d].
5. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jeruſalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the Curtains of Solomon.
5. And do not take offence, O ye Daughters of Jeruſalem, at his kind reception of all Nations into his Kingdom, but hear their Anſwer to you, when you upbraid them with Idolatry, and all manner of impurity: which is the ſame with that of a lovely Shepherdeſs, when tann'd by lying much abroad in the Fields. My complexion indeed is dark and ſwarthy; but my features and proportions are comely and beautiful: though I ſeem as ruſtick as the Skins of the Tents, wherein the wild Arabs dwell; yet I am as amiable as the fine Linen, which makes the Curtains of the Apartment of King Solomon. See Annot. [e].
6. Look not upon me becauſe I am black, becauſe the ſun hath looked upon me: my mothers children were angry with me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
6. Do not deſpiſe me therefore, by conſidering only my outward hue, though it be exceeding black; ſince it is not naturally ſo, but contracted by being expoſed to the Sun: for my Brethren and Siſters, who ſhould have been more kind, did me the greateſt injury, and made me a Slave to the meaneſt employments, in which I could not preſerve my beauty; becauſe I was like one that being ſet to keep other mens Vineyards could not look after his own.
(Which is a lively Emblem of the Gentiles, who are deſcended from the ſame parents with your ſelves, and though by worſhipping the Sun, and by other Idolatries, they are become odiouſly polluted; yet, ſhall be cleanſed by becoming the Subjects of Chriſt: who will pity them, as ſeduced by falſe Teachers, and neglected by you; which made them embrace any Religion, rather than the true.) See Annot. [f].
7. Tell me, O thou whom my ſoul loveth, where thou feedeſt, where thou makeſt thy-flock to reſt at noon: for why ſhould I be as one that turneth aſide by the flocks of thy companions?
7. But let us all join together, profeſſing our moſt hearty affection to Him, and beſeech Him with one voice, ſaying, O Thou whom I love above all things, inſtruct me in thy heavenly Doctrine, and make to underſtand, not only where we may learn thy will, but alſo enjoy thy true Religion in quiet and peace: For we are weary of wandring uncertainly after thoſe who pretend to thy Spirit, but miſlead ſuch as are guided by them. See Annot. [g].
Bridegroom.
8. ¶ If thou know not, O thou faireſt among women, go thy way forth by the footſteps of the flock, and feed the kids beſide the ſhepherds tents.
8. Unto which his Anſwer is, Thy deſire of true knowledge hath already made thee moſt amiable in my eyes (XLV. Pſal. 11.) and therefore what thou underſtandeſt not I will teach thee. Forſake thoſe vain Religions (XLV. Pſal. 10.) by which thou haſt been deluded, and enter into the holy Aſſemblies of thoſe pious Souls that worſhip me: and bring thy young Converts, to be inſtructed by thoſe Paſtors, whom I will authorize in my Church. See Annot. [h].
9. I have compared thee, O my love to a company of horſes in Pharaohs chariots.
9. Where they ſhall grow in ſtrength, and increaſe in number; and under the conduct of thoſe Great Men, who ſhall guide and lead them, ſpeedily ſubdue all Mankind unto my obedience (XLV. Pſal 4.) for I have likened thee, whom I love, to thoſe victorious Armies of a mighty King, which trample all oppoſition triumphantly under their feet. See Annot. [i].
10. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
10. And then will the very outward face of the Church look moſt beautiful, by thoſe various Orders of ſpiritual Gifts, wherewith I will inrich her: which ſhall make her appear like a lovely Bride, when ſhe is decked with all her Jewels and Ornaments that add luſtre to her beauty. See Annot. [k].
Chorus of Virgins.
11. We will make thee borders of gold with ſtuds of ſilver.
11. Unto which all her Members ſhall contribute by their unanimous reſolution, to lead ſuch a life as may adorn their Religion; and make the Church ſhine in ſuch ſplendor and Glory, that She ſhall not come ſhort of Royal Majeſty, XLV. Pſal. 13. See Annot. [l].
Spouſe.
12. ¶ While the king ſitteth at his table, my ſpikenard ſendeth forth the ſmell thereof.
12. Whereby ſhe ſhall become fit for the affections of her great Lord, when He ſits upon the Throne of his Glory; acknowledging his Bounty in all the benefits and Ornaments He hath beſtowed upon her (IV. Philip. 18.) and making manifeſt the ſweet and fragrant odour of his knowledge in every place: (2 Cor. II. 14. compared with XLV. Pſal 8.) See Annot. [m].
13. A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he ſhall lie all night betwixt my breaſts.
13. From which knowledge every pious Soul ſhall derive the greateſt refreſhment, comfort and ſtrength; and therefore love Him above all things, and reſolve never to let Him ſlip out of their minds: but to preſerve the remembrance of Him moſt carefully, night and day, in their very hearts; as the moſt precious Cordial, in all conditions, unto their Spirits. See Annot. [n].
14. My beloved is unto me as a cluſter of camphire in the Vineyards of Engedi.
14. And indeed there is nothing of ſuch price, nothing ſo delicious among us for our bodily pleaſure, but ought to put us in mind how much more ineſtimable that knowledge is, which Thou, O Lord, who deſerveſt all our love, vouchſafeſt for the comfort and ſatisfaction of our Souls. See Annot. [o].
Bridegroom.
15. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair, thou haſt doves eyes.
15. Such ſhall be the language of thoſe who are acquainted with his worth, which ſhall increaſe their mutual affection unto each other; and move Him to give his Church more ſenſible teſtimonies of his love, and repeated aſſurances how amiable her purity and modeſty, her innocence and ſimplicity, as well as her decent order and comely Government, is in his ſight. See Annot. [p].
Spouſe.
16. Behold thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleaſant: alſo our bed is green.
16. And what can this love of his produce, but new admiration in her, of Him and of his love, burſting forth into ſuch expreſſions as theſe; yea, rather thou art moſt amiable and lovely (XLV. Pſal 2.) not I; whoſe beauty, and goodneſs, is but a weak reflection of thy incomparable perfections: which move Thee to communicate thy ſelf in the moſt delectable Graces, unto all thoſe that love Thee: who making one Body with Thee, may ſay, We feaſt together moſt ſumptuouſly, and are entertained every day with thoſe delights, which grow there only, where Thou vouchſafeſt thy gracious preſence. See Annot [q].
17. The beams of our houſe are cedar, and our rafters of firr.
17. Who haſt promiſed to dwell with us, in the ſeveral Churches of thy Saints; which are as ſo many living Temples dedicated to thy ſervice: and being protected and defended by Thee, ſhall remain ſo ſtable and firm, that they ſhall laſt for ever. See Annot. [r].