The Book of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon Paraphrased, Text and paraphrase 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
ARGUMENT.
Here begins the third of thoſe interlocutory Diſcourſes, which compoſe this famous Song: part of which only is contained in this Chapter. In which the Bride and her Companions ſpeaks all; but one Verſe, which ſeems to be ſpoken by the Bridegroom. For whoſe coming ſhe ſtill longs; and is introduced full of ſolicitude about it. Which proved not in vain but was gratified with ſo much ſatisfaction in the hope of it, that, as He takes care it ſhould not be diſturbed, ſo all her Companions rejoyce exceedingly in it. For thoſe are the two parts alſo of this Chapter. In the firſt of which ſhe teſtifies her earneſt deſire to find Him; who filled her with joy, when ſhe had got a ſight of Him (in the four firſt Verſes:) in the ſecond, they that attended on her (after He had renewed his former charge, v. 5.) are tranſported with joy, to behold the multitude of his Followers; and the greatneſs of his Royal Glory. Which is the ſenſe of the reſt of the Chapter.
Spouſe.
1. BY night on my bed I ſought him whom my ſoul loveth: I ſought him, but I found him not.
1. MAny have been my thoughts about Him, who (by what the Prophets have foretold of Him) is become the Beloved of my Soul. But though I have ſought Him in the greateſt retirements, and when my mind was moſt compoſed, and that one night after another; though with a diligent ſearch I have ſought Him in all the holy Books; yet I can find no more than predictions and ſhadows of Him, which aſſure me He will come; but cannot bring me to the ſight and clear knowledge of Him. See Annot. [a].
2. I will riſe now, and go about the city, in the ſtreets, and in the broad ways I will ſeek him whom my ſoul loveth: I ſought him, but I found him not.
2. Whereupon I reſolved to leave theſe private Studies, and to go abroad and conſult with others: And there is no place which I have not frequented, where I thought I might learn any thing of Him. For I have fetcht a compaſs round the whole City of Jeruſalem (which is the holy City, the joy of the whole Earth) and there is not one Street, not any place of publick reſort, but I have gone into it, and inquired after Him, both in the leſſer and greater Aſſemblies; I enquired of all the holy men I could meet withal: but could meet with no more tidings of Him; whom my Soul longs to ſee; becauſe I love Him above all things. See Annot. [b].
3. The watchmen that go about the city, found me: to whom I ſaid, Saw ye him whom my ſoul loveth?
3. But in the midſt of theſe anxious thoughts there was ſome ſatisfaction preſented to me, from ſome of thoſe great Miniſters of God, who watch for the good of others; and employ themſelves every where to direct his people: of whom I made the ſame enquiry if they could tell me any thing of Him, who had engaged my affections ſo much, that I could not often enough profeſs my love unto Him. See Annot. [c].
4. It was but a little that I paſſed from them, but I found him whom my ſould loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mothers houſe, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
4. For I received ſuch illuminations from them, that I had not long left their Company, before I ſaw this Beloved of my Soul, as if He had been actually preſent with me; Which tranſported me with ſuch joy, that I could not think of parting with ſuch a ſight, but took faſt hold of Him; to keep Him with me, till I had ſhown unto all that wait for Him, what I had been ſo happy as to find my ſelf. See Annot. [d].
Bridegroom.
5. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jeruſalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye ſtir not up, nor awake my love.
5. And here again I heard Him graciouſly renew the Charge He had given before (II. 7.) to all my Companions, ſaying, I conjure you by all that is dear to you, not to diſcompoſe, or give the leaſt diſturbance to this love; but let it enjoy its ſatisfaction, to the height of its deſires. See Annot. [e].
Companions.
6. ¶ Who is this that cometh out of the wilderneſs like pillars of ſmoke, perfumed with myrrhe, and frankincenſe; with all powders of the merchant?
6. And now, what is this that we ſee? Who is this goodly perſon? or rather this Crowd of people coming up out of deſolate places, in one Body, to Mount Sion: and appearing like the Pillars of Smoke which ariſe from the Altar of Burnt Offering; and no leſs acceptable to God, than the ſweet odours that aſcend from the Altar of Incenſe, in the Holy place? See Annot. [f].
7. Behold, his bed which is Solomons, threeſcore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Iſrael.
7. Behold the love which the great King hath to her having prepared all things for her reception into Society with Himſelf: of whoſe Royal perſon and happineſs Solomon himſelf in all his Glory, is but a Figure. Who is magnificently attended indeed, and ſtrongly guarded in his Palace, by a number of valiant perſons that encompaſs him night and day, in his Bed, and in his Throne: but are not comparable to the power, and force, and multitude of that heavenly Hoſt, which ſecure the Church in her enjoyments, and take care of her continual ſafety. See Annot. [g].
8. They all hold ſwords, being expert in war: every man hath his ſword upon his thigh, becauſe of fear in the night.
8. Who are all unanimouſly bent, and in a conſtant readineſs (like that Guard of valiant men about Solomon, with their Swords drawn in their hands) being no leſs skilful than able to ſuccour and defend his people, from all the aſſaults of their inviſible Enemies; who ſeek to deſtroy them, by raiſing terrible perſecutions againſt them. See Annot. [h].
9. King Solomon made himſelf a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
9. But all in vain; for, as King Solomon hath cauſed a Chariot of the choiceſt Cedar to be made for him, and for his Royal Spouſe, to appear in publickly, when he makes his progreſs through the Kingdom; ſo doth this far greater King ride on proſperouſly (XLV. Pſal. 4.) by the means of ſuch Inſtruments as He himſelf hath formed, and enlarges the Borders of his Church, by the preaching of his everlaſting Goſpel. See Annot. [i].
10. He made the pillars thereof of ſilver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple; the midſt thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jeruſalem.
10. Unto which the magnificence▪ and riches of that Chariot is not worthy to be compared; tho', be Pillars of it being of Silver, the Back, the Sides, and the Seat being of Cloth of Gold, the Curtains and Covering of it being of the brighteſt Purple, the Carpet alſo under the feet being curiouſly wrought with the moſt lovely Figures, by the Daughters of Jeruſalem, they make it very inviting to all Spectators: For what is this to the wonderful love of God, and to the Riches of his Grace, in his great and precious promiſes (far dearer to all good Souls than thouſands of Gold and Silver) which the Goſpel calls us not only to behold, but to enjoy? See Annot. [k].
11. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his eſpouſals; and in the day of the gladneſs of his heart.
11. Make this then a Feſtival Day, and let no Domeſtick cares hinder you from bearing a part in the publick joy: but as all the Daughters of Jeruſalem went out to behold the Glory wherein King Solomon ſhone, when he appeared in State, with that Royal Crown, which his Mother put upon his head, on his Marriage-day, that day which completed all his joys (XLV. Pſal. 15.) So let all the people of God every where admire and extol the ſurpaſſing Glory of that great King, who ſhall appear to be crowned with Glory, Honour, and Joy by God Himſelf; on that happy day, when he ſhall publickly own His Church, and give her the higheſt teſtimony of His endleſs love, XIX. Revel. 6, 7, 12. See Annot. [l].