A Commentary on the Song of Solomon, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
I Am the roſe of the field, and the lillie of the valleyes.
2 Like a lillie among the thornes, ſo is my love among the daughters.
3 Like the apple tree among the trees of the forreſt, ſo is my welbeloved among the ſons of men: under his ſhadow had I delight, and ſate downe: and his fruit was ſweet unto my mouth.
4 He brought me into the wine cellar, and love was his banner over me.
5 Stay me with flagons, and comfort me with apples: for I am ſick of love.
6 His left hand is under mine head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
7 I charge you, O daughters of Ieruſalem, by the ro…s and by hindes of the field, that ye ſtir not up, nor waken my love untill ſhe pleaſe.
8 It is the voice of my welbeloved: behold, he cometh leaping by the mountaines, and skipping by the hills.
9 My welbeloved is like a roe, or a young hart: loe, he ſtandeth behinde our wall, looking forth of the windowes, ſhewing himſelf thorow the grates.
10 My welbeloved ſpake and ſaid unto me, Ariſe my love, my fair one, and come thy way.
11 For behold, winter is paſt: the rain is changed, and is gone away.
12 The flowers appear in the earth: the time of the ſinging of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
13 The figtree hath brought forth her young figs: and the vines with their ſmall grapes have caſt a ſavour: ariſe my love my fair one, and come away.
14 My dove that art in the holes of the rock, in the ſecret places of the ſtaires, ſhew me thy ſight, let mee hear thy voice: for thy voice is ſweet, and thy ſight comely.
15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, which deſtroy the vines: for our vines have ſmall grapes.
16 My welbeloved is mine, and I am his: hee feedeth among the lillies,
17 Vntill the day break, and the ſhadowes flee away: returne, my welbeloved, and be like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountaines of Bether.
The Analyſis.
THere remain yet other Kings unto the laſt Zedekias, whoſe times are deſcribed, verſ. 1. 2. And ſuch ſhould the Church be untill their carrying away. In the Captivity it ſelf, there ſhould be ſome comfort at well to ſome few left in their Countrey, verſ. 3. as to the whole multitude in the enemies countrey partly, that the Bridegroom ſhould marvellouſly preſerve the Church there, verſ. 4. 5, 6, 7. partly that at length hee ſhould deliver thence, whereof there is an appearance more remote, verſ. 8. 9. neer at hand, verſ. 10, 11, 12, 13. and at length the effecting of it verſ. 14. Hitherto the Captivity, the ſtate of the reſtored condition ſhould be divers, which we have divided into two times. One to the birth of Chriſt, the other from thence to …is death. The time next after the returne, ſhould be ſome what troubleſome in the times next following, verſ. 15. which after a little while ſhould receive a tollerable reſt, verſ. 16. & 17. Then more afflicted in the latter age, ſhewed in the beginning of the Chapter following.
THE EXPOSITION.
Verſ. 1. I am the Roſe of the field, and the Lillie of the vallies.
IN this complaint the Church declareth her calamity, as if ſhee ſhould ſay: I ſmell moſt ſweetly as the Roſe, and am moſt beautifull as the Lillie: yet to the Cropping and trampling on of every one, I lie no leſſe open then the flowers in the valleyes, and thoſe which grow in paſture grounds. My wall is broken down, my hedge pluckt up by the root▪ and every one feedeth on my beauty at pleaſure, as the Heards on the graſſe in the fields. Yet I deſpaire not in theſe afflictions, being aſſured, that to my Beloved I am moſt ſweet and pleaſant. And ſo is the Church wont to be, who is never ſo much caſt down, but is now and then lifted up and refreſhed, by thinking on the excellencie which God hath be…towed on her. Thoſe times which followed the reſtoring of the Temple by Ioſias, do teach us that this complaint was juſt. Firſt, Ioſias himſelf, a moſt pleaſant flower of piety, ſweeter then any Roſe, was cropped by Pharaoh Neco, and ſlain at Megiddo. I…hoahaz his ſon when he had raigned onelyonly three moneths, was carried away Captive by the ſame Pharaoh, and the Countrey made tributary. Iehojakim ſerved Nebuchadnezzar. Ie…ojazin alſo after three moneths▪ Raigne was carried into exile with …is Courtiers and the Mightier men of t…e Countrey. But moſt apparantly under Zedech…s, in whoſe raigne, Ieruſalem was taken and mi…erably ſpoiled. The Temple burnt, the houſes puld down, the walles overturned, the City made equall to the ground, and the people (pulled from their Countrey ſeats,) carried Captive into bondage: as free libertie given to the enemie of making havock in the Church, as in the open fields. The enemy hath ſtretched out his hand, (Zame…teth Ieremy Chap. 1. 10) upon all her pleaſant things▪ for ſhe hath ſeen, &c.
Verſ. 2. Like a Lillie among the thornes, So is my L…ve among the daughters.
The Bridegroome anſwereth the former complaint, and teacheth plainly how his beloved is not d…ſtitute of that comfort which ſhee thought ſhe wanted: If ſhe would truly conſider that. He acknowledgeth her to be a Lilly, naked of her former fences, expoſed to the prey as in the open fields: Yet not void of all ſu…our but as it were, ſo guarded every where with a thick hedge of Briers and Buſhes, that neither the heards of Cattell, nor the wilde beaſts could approach to do her injurie: For the ſimiltude doth not onelyonly ſet forth her excellency, but chiefly her ſuccour and ſafety. That the Church ſhould certainly be preſerved ſafe and ſound, remaining in the midſtof her Enemies, and that ſhee ſhould bee no leſſe defended by her very enemies, then flowers are wont to be among the thornes, who beſet them about with pricking branches. It is manifeſt that the Church made triall of this comfort in thoſe hard times, when her ſafety was maintained by the helpe of them, by whoſe hoſtile hatred ſhee ſeemed, utterly deſtroyed. Pharaoh defended her againſt Nebuchadnezzer, and Nebuchadnezzar againſt Pharaoh. Neither of them would root out the Nation, as long as there was hope of faithfull obedience, but ſuppoſed to defend it for himſelf, as a ſound reſuge againſt the breaking in of Enemies, with theſe bryers for a time, ſhee put away extream calamity.
Verſe. 3. Like the Appletree among the trees of the forreſt, ſo is …y vvellbeloved among the ſons of men: under his ſhadovv had I delight, and ſate dovvne: and his fruit vvas ſvvete unto my mouth.
Hitherto the ſtate of the Church, untill they were carried away Captive by Nebuchadnezzer. Now the Captivity fo…loweth: whoſe firſt …omfort is reſt granted to the miſerable Reliques, which (when the reſt were carried away) had leave granted to remain in their own country. This comfort is declared by the ſimilitude of an appletree, which is but a low tree, neither in length of body or in farre ſpreading of limbs may it compare with many others, yet her fruit excelleth many others in profit and pleaſantneſſe. The ſimilitudes are alwayes fitted to the times and the divers conditions which the Church enjoyeth, This apple tree betokeneth Gedaliah whom Nebuchad-nezzer made governour over the people which were left in the land, 2 King. 25. 22. He was low in regard of the tallneſſe of the former Kings, or of thoſe high cedars which flouriſhed in the Babylonian mountains, yet in ſhadow he was very pleaſant, and in fruit wholſome, ſo that all the ſcattered Church flocked under his covering, chiefly when he had joyned the Prophet Ieremy to him, Ier. 40. For now were the cedar beams & the firre crafters broken, and no leave granted to remain, no not in the rubbiſh of the city. They dwelt at Mizpah in the open fields, or at leaſt under the ſhadow of trees. As alſo the prophet Micha foretold, Chap. 41. 10. Iohanan and the other Captains ſo rejoyced in this ſhadow, that they diſcloſed the treaſon of Iſhmael deſirous to prevent his wicked purpoſe with juſt puniſhment▪, Ier. 40. 13. 14. &c.
Verſ. 4. He brought me into the wine-ſeller, and love was his banner over me.
Such was the condition of the ſmall company remaining. The other captived multitude were kept in the enemies country 70. yeers: as it is declared in theſe four verſes. He brought me (ſaith ſhe) into the wine-ſeller, that is a place under ground, where wine is laid and kept for uſe, as if ſhe ſhould ſay he brought me into a ſorrowfull and dark hole as it were into a cave, and a place under ground, where notwithſtanding I found wine laid up, which was no leſſe appearance of his love towards me, then the enſigne or Banner carried before the ſouldiers is wont to be a ſigne of the captaines preſence.
This wine-ſeller was partly Babylon, whither the people were carried away by Nebuchad-nezzar: and partly Egypt, whither the reſt went of their own accord, when Gedaliah was ſlain. Ier. 41. Neither did the Church want comfort in theſe miſeries, whoſe priſon was furniſhed with wine. For the word of the Lord, (which is many times compared to wine) was plentifull in this priſon: and the love thereof as conſpicuous, as the Banner carried before the Army in the time of warre, Ieremiah ſending letters to thoſe that were carried away began this wine unto them▪ ſhewing them of the proſperity which God would give them in the land of their captivity. Chap. 29. But that which is here briefly ſpoken is de…l…r…d more at large in the verſes following. Here let us conſider the wonderfull mercy of our God, who ſeaſoneth his corrections, towards his Church with ſuch gentleneſſe, that when they think… themſelves, as it were, overwh…lmed and buried in the grave, yet there they finde wine and great plenty o… delights.
Verſ. 5. Stay me with Flagons, and comfort me with apples, for I am … of love.
Theſe words more plainly ſhew that the houſe of wine was no banqueting houſe, but a cellar wherein wines are laid up. For the lover is not wont to languiſh with deſire, where plenty of the thing loved is preſent: and ſuch is that banquet where the Maſter of the Feaſt is abſent. The Bride therefore fainteth, becauſe ſhe findeth not her beloved preſent in this wine-cellar, (for in adverſity God is ſaid to be abſent from us) ſo that ſhe had need to be upholden of her fellowes, l…ſt ſhe ſhould f…ll for want of ſtrength, wherein was moſt elegantly d…clared, what d…ſire the Church ſhould have tow…rds God during the captivity, and by what means ſhe ſhould be ſatisfied untill the full reſtitution. For in that ſhe deſireth Flagons and apples, ſhe ſheweth th…t theſe were ſufficient helpes for her; Apples are the fruit of a low ſhadowing tree, as before: Flagons are veſſels wherein wine is put, and out of which it is powred to drink; the apples betokened ſome inferiour perſons with power, under whoſe defence th… captived people might lurke in ſafety. The Flagons noted the prophets and prieſts, full of ſweet and wholſome doctrine: whereof there ſhould be ſome, which only like Flagons ſhould yeeld the wine of heavenly knowledge to the people, when plenty of hogſheads could not be had in exile and ſuch adverſity. God beſtowed the commodity of both in the caprivity, for he wonderfully exalted Daniel, Hananiah, Miſhae… and Hazaria…, who like wholſome apple trees, ſhadowed the afflicted Church with their boughes, and fed and refreſhed the miſerable people with pleaſant fr…it. God gate them favour with the Median and Perſian Kings, by whom (being appointed gover…our of the Provinces▪) they procured much reſt to their people, Dan. 1. 19, 20. and 2. 48, 49. Theſe were the apples by whom their feebleneſſe was ſupported. The Prophets were the Flagons. Ezechiel in Babylon, to whom the Lord joyned Daniel, who ſupplied both the parts of the apple and of the flagon, being advanced to great dignity and moſt excellent in the gui…t of propheſie; He ſuffered alſo Ieremy to be drawn into Egypt that either people might have flagons, out of which the… might draw the wine of God… word, both to quench their thirſt, and to ſuccour their fainting ſtrengths decayed.
Verſ. 6. His left hand is under mine head, and his right hand doth …mbrace me.
By this geſture of imbracing is plainly ſhewed, that God manifeſtly declared at that time how he loved his Church: for he did not only preſerve her by mans aid, but alſo defended her with his own ſtretched out arme from heaven, which we know was done, in the wonderfull deliverance, firſt of the three children out of the fierie furnace, who loved Religion more then life, Dan. 3. Then of Daniel himſelfe out of the Lions den, Dan. 6. For whiles Gods by ſuch wonderfull powerfull power preſerved the trees from all danger, which he had planted for a ſhadow to his Church, he might worthily ſeeme to hold the Church in his hands, and to imbrace her with both his armes.
Verſ. 7. I charge you, O daughters of Jeruſalem, by the Roes and by the Hindes of the field, that yee ſt…re not up, nor waken my love, untill ſhe pleaſe.
The daughters of Ieruſalem, are the citizens of the Church. The Roes and the Hindes, are thoſe nations which held the Church in captivity. The meaning of this verſe is, as if ſhe ſhould have ſaid (for they are the words of the Church, as the learned Tremelius and Iunius obſerve,) I require of you, ye daughters of Ieruſalem, that ye ſwear to me by the Roes and Hindes of the field, that if by your fault, ye drive away my love, from my imbracing; Thoſe Roes and Hindes ſhall revenge it on you with deſerved puniſhment. Not that it is lawfull to ſwear by enemies, or by any other then God, but figurativeſy by the forme of an oath, ſhe teacheth it ſhould be as certain that the citizens of the Church ſhould avoid all grievous offences, with no leſſe diligent heed (namely, for fear of the enemies among whom they lived) then if a convenant had been undertaken of that matter, and confirmed by an oath, wherefore the hiſtory of this oath is the reſt of the time of the captivitie.
Verſ. 8. It is the voi…e of my w…lbeloved▪ behold, he …ommeth leaping by the mountaines, and skipping by the hills.
Now after the ſeventy yeers captivity, followeth the delivery; whoſe prepartion a far off is contained in this & the verſe following, conſiſting of a threefold circumſtance: Of the voyce of her beloved. His ſwift coming; and his preſence. The voyce of my beloved: Shee falleth into this ſpeech abruptly, as if ſhe had heard the voyce of her beloved, …alling her from a far off, and had been ſmitten with a ſudden joy for the newneſſe of the matter, even that which ſhe chiefly deſired. Now in this whole preparation, King Cyrus repreſenteth the perſon of her beloved, whom God had ſtirred up to deliver the Church: Then after a long time, was the voyce of the beloved firſt heard, when the rumor began to be ſpred abroad, that the Medes and Perſians would make war againſt Babylon. The Prophets noted out Cyrus by name, many yeers before; that when they ſhould heare him preparing for war, they might not doubt, but it was the voyce it ſelf of the beloved, Iſay 44. 28. Thus ſaith the Lord of Cyrus, He is my Shepheard, and ſhall performe all my pleaſure: and 45. 1, 2, 3. Thus ſaith the Lord, to his anoynted Cyrus, whoſe right hand I have holden to ſubdue nations, &c. that thou mayeſt know, that I the Lord▪ which call thee by thy name, am the God of Iſrael. But the report was ſpred far and wide, before the Kings brought their hoſts to Babylon: Iſay▪ 21. 3. I was bowed down at the hearing of it, I was diſmaied at the ſeeing of it, my heart panted, &c. under the perſon of the Babylonians. And Jeremiah 50. 43. The King of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble, anguiſh took hold of him. And 51. 29. As Babylon hath cauſed the ſlain of Iſrael to fall, ſo at Babylon ſhall fall the ſlain of all the earth. But this voyce ſo fearfull to the Babylonians, was moſt pleaſant and acceptable to the oppreſſed and baniſhed Church. Now for the ſwiftneſſe of his comming it is ſaid, Hee came leaping, as it were, haſtning over the Mountains on ſtilts, ſo paſſing over the little hils, that hee did not at all touch them. In this manner was the comming of Cyrus, ſwift and ſudden. How much buſineſſe he brought to paſſe after he once, undertook it; he ſubdued the Armenians and Craeſus the Lydian, in a trice; the Hyrcanians, Bactrians, Suſians, Carians, Phrygians, and Cappadocians; he ſcarce touched with the tops of his toes, they ſo readily yeelded to him of their own accord: See Herodotus, Clio, Xenophon, Cyropaed.
Verſ. 9. My w…lbeloved is like a Roe, or a young▪ Hart, lo, he ſtandeth behind our wa…, looking forth of the windows, ſhewing himſelf thorow the grates.
The firſt part of this verſe declareth the ſwiftneſſe of the coming of Cy…s; the later part part deſcribeth his preſence, and that by three circumſtances: His ſtanding behind the wall; his looking thorow the window, and ſhewing himſelf th…row the grates; All which ſet forth unto …s, tho be…ieging of Babylon by C…rus and Darius: for theſe mountains and hils quickly paſt over; the Tents were pitcht at the walls of Babylon, there Cyrus ſtood a while behind the wall, doubting what to do: his retinue charging him, and nothing proſpering after his deſire; at length, hee looked forth thorow the letties of the windows; that is, hee took crafty counſell, and conſidered ſecretly, how he might gain the City; when turning the river Euphrates, he brought his army into the City by the channell ſo privily, that the City was take before any force of battery was felt. Neither ſhould any marvell, that the name of the beloved is given to a heathen King: for what, and ſoever the Church hath, the beloved himſelf yeeldeth it, but hee uſeth divers inſtruments, on whom hee beſtoweth his own Name, that all help may be properly underſtood to be of him whoſe name the inſtruments beare.
Verſ. 10. My welbeloved ſpak…, and ſaid unto me, Ariſe my Love, my fair one, and come away.
Such was the preparation farther off; that which is neerer followeth: Firſt, declared univerſally in this verſe, then ſeverally by parts in the verſes following▪ This ſweet and pleaſant ſalutation hapned at that time, when Babylon was taken, and Balſhazzer ſlain; the Medes and Perſians obtaining the Empire. See how the Edict of C…us, of delivering the people, agreeth with this pleaſant calling, Ezra 1. 3. &. 4. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jeruſalem, which is in Jud…, and build the houſe of the Lord God of Iſrael, (hee is the God) whi…h is in Jeruſalem. And whoſoever remaineth in any place where he ſ…ourneth, let the men of his place help him with ſilver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beſides the free-will offering for the houſe of God which is at Jeruſalem. Here the welbeloved boaſteth or glorieth in the beauty of the Spouſe, and while he breaketh the bonds of her ſervitude, and giveth her leave to depart, hee maketh proclamation, Ariſe, and come away. And verily, though Ezra, a moſt learned Prieſt, relateth that matter for the worthineſſe of it, moſt plentifully in the whole Chapter; yet there the thing done is ſcarce more plainly declared, then it is here foretold to be done.
Verſ. 11. For behold, Winter is paſt, the rain is changed and is gone away.
The ſeverall explication is manifeſted either in removing the hindring cauſes in this verſe, or by ſetting down the helping cauſes in the two verſes following. Winter, or the violent ſtorme is changed. This Winter is twofold, proper, and figurative: properly, it teacheth that about the end of Winter the people prepared for their return, ſtirred up thereunto by the Edict of Cyrus, which may be conf…med by probable reaſon; for their firſt feaſt after their return, was the Feaſt of Tabernacles. To the celebrating of which Feaſt, ſom… time paſſed before the people could come together, ſcattered through the fields and Cities▪ Ezra 3. 1. Then after certain ye…rs Hezra himſelf departing from Babylon, with a readier or more prepared band, ſpent four Moneths in the journey, Hezra 7. 9. whence it is likely that thoſe firſt betook themſelves to the journey in the beginning of the Spring, or not long after. The figurative Winter is the wrath of God, which (of late) fell upon the Iewes, like a horrible …torm, and ſcattered them hither and thither, like ſtraw or ſtubble. This wrath at length pacified, was changed into a great calme and quietneſſ….
Verſ. 12. The flovvers appeare in the earth, the time of the ſinging of Birds is come, and the voyce of the Turtle is heard in our land.
This, and the verſe following, ſhew the helping cauſes, which are alſo proper or metaphoricall. Proper, the commodity of the time, moſt pleaſant; whereupon hapned the decree and the counſell of returning, and the preparation thereof, whereof was ſpoken in the former verſe. Metaphoricall, God was not only mercifull, (as already hath been ſaid) but partly alſo the reconciſed will of ſtrangers, partl…, the exceeding readin…ſſe of the Ievvs themſelves. The nations hearkning to the Edict of Cyrus, and God inwardly ſtirring up their hearts, with how great deſire did they further the return, helping them abundantly, and furniſhing them plentifully with gold, and with ſilver, with aid, and with cattell, and with other precious things, Ezra 1. 6. The Ievves delight and pleaſure therein, no doubt was, that it might well be compared with flowers, with ſinging of Birds, and the blooming of trees: Alſo among the Ievves were divers orders of men, which ſeem here to be ſignified by the ſeverall ornaments of the Spring, which Ezra divideth into three ranks: The Elders of Families, The Prieſts and Levites, and the Common People, Chap. 1. 5. and 2. 70. Here Salomon proceede…h by an inverted order, making no reckoning of the dignity, but of the deed▪ and of the nature of it. I ſupp…ſe the common people are the flowers appearing in the earth, which grow confuſedly, here and there, one among another, and prevent the trees themſelves in their haſty ripening. Well, expreſſing the headlong ſtudy of the common people▪ who are wont to run before the induſtry of the Magiſtrate: The …nging Birds and Turtles, are men of the Leviticall Order, which went before the people, ſome with holy ſongs, and ſome with ſa…rifices, &c.
Verſ. 13. The Fig-tree hath brought forth her young figs, and the Vines with their ſmall grapes have caſt a ſavour: Ariſe my love, my fair …ne, and come away.
Hitherto the mean…r helping cauſes; here we have the mightier, and more principall: As if hee ſhould ſay, not only the Flowers of the graſſe, but alſo the ſhrubs and tallertrees, which ſhould guide and governe the people and multit…de, ſhould ſet their hands to worke, and bend all their force to bring back the people. Cyrus reſtored to them every inſtrument of ſilver and gold, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away. Zerubbabel, Joſhua, Nehemiah, and other excellent men, made themſelves Captains over the people, that by well ordering, they might bring all their deſires to a wiſhed end. So in this preparation here, ſhine as Stars, the Edict of Cyrus, the time of the yeere, the office of the Nation…, and the divers orders and degrees of the people returning, which are all declared more at large in the firſt and ſecond of Ezra; he uſeth the ſame compellation or calling by name, in the end, which hee did before, that hee might ſhew, as it were, with bounded limits, in what ſpace of time, this deſcription of the Spring is included.
Verſ. 14. My Dove, thou art in the …oles of the Rocke, in the ſecr…t places of the ſtaires, ſhew me thy countenance, let me heare thy voice, for thy voyce is ſweete and thy ſight comely.
The delivery it ſelfe is declared in this one verſe, which that it might appeare and ſinke the deeper in their mindes, he remembreth them of their late Condition by the holes of the Rocke and the ſecret places of the ſtaires▪ that the Church ſhould as well remember to attribute her received ſafety to God, who all this while yeelded her no leſſe refuge from the rage of her enemies, then the high rocks and darke lurking places are wont to be to the Doves. As alſo to put her in minde that the was not in her own habitation, but in a lurking place, …it to keepe her in ſafety in Exile, and not appointed to dwell in. …he muſt therefore depart out of that priſon, and make haſte to the Palace, which her beloved had built her. No doubt, they exhorted one another at that time, that they ſhould pre…er the promiſe of God in their Country ſeates, before the delights of the place, whereinto they were baniſhed, wherewith many were ſo taken and …nared that they altogether neglected a returne. Now whereas he requireth that ſhe ſhould ſhew him her countenance, and ſhould cauſe her voice to be heard; he ſheweth them that at length the Church ſhould be ſeene againe openly, which had long lyen hid from mens ſight in darkneſſe. And that voyce which her lover is ſo deſirous to here, is the voyce of mourning and weeping, whereby the faithful in the time of deliverance, ſhould acknowledge their former offences, whereby they had provoked God, and ſhould …arneſtly and heartily bewaile them. When ye ſhall call upon me (ſaith the Lord by Jeremy) that ye may go and pray unto me, then will I heare you: and ſeeking yee ſhall ſinde me, when ye ſhall ſearch for me with all your heart, Chap. 29. 12, 13. This is that countenance all overwhelmed with teares, in whoſe ſight God is ſo much delighted: this is that mournfull and ſuſpicious voyce, then which nothing is to him more ſweete or pleaſant: for ſo the ſecond company which Ezra brought backe, beginning their progreſſe with a Proclaimed faſt, ſhewed the ſame aſpect to their lover, cauſing him to heare a moſt ſweete voyce of the confeſſion of ſins, Ezra 8. 23.
Verſ. 15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes, that ſpoile the vines: for our Vines have tender Grapes.
Hitherto of the Captivity, now followeth the reſtored condition of the Church. And firſt of that State which it obtained next the returne in this, and the verſes following. It appeareth not plainly, whether theſe be the words of Chriſt, or the Church, or of both: truely that which is here commanded concernes them both: yet ſeeing it belongs to his government and authority, to take away all h…rtfull things, which may damnifie the Church, they ſeeme rather to be his. Theſe words teach three things of the Church of that time. Firſt, ſhe hath little Foxes lying in waite. Secondly, thoſe Foxes are to be taken and their deceipts made vaine. Thirdly, the beginnings of the reſtored Church were ſo tender, that they might be grievouſly hurt by the feebleſt enemie. As to the firſt, The Foxes betoken a craf…y, ſubtile and diſſembling enemy▪ whereunto alſo the Hebrew word very well agreeth, which ſignifies to deſtroy under a ſhew of friendſhip. As Uſurers uſe, who ſeeming to helpe poore men, utterly undoe them with borrowed money. How to the life happened theſe things. For we know with what craft the Enemies endeavoured to hinder the building of the Temple, craftily offering ayde, and corrupting the Counſellors with rewards, as long as the Kings favoured the Jewes, but when they ſaw their favours a little to decline, they ſpared no reproaches, and falſe accuſations, whereby they might procure hatred to the new returned Jewes: yea to their fraud they added force, endeavouring to hinder the begun work by Armes, Ezra 4. 23. Now theſe Enemies are called little Foxes, in regard of the Syrian, Aſſyrian and Babylonian Kings, which afflicted them in former times. Theſe Governours were baſe and obſcure perſons, yet could theſe little wilde beaſts do much in ſuch tender beginnings of the Church, whereby the worke of the houſe of God was hindred, and being begun lay ſtill about 27. yeeres▪ Ezra 4. 24. But at length thoſe little Foxes were taken, when Dariu… confirmed the building, and impoſed a moſt grievous puniſhment on thoſe that by any meanes hindred the worke, Ezra 6. 11. Yea there wanted not Foxes, for Nehemiah found Sanballat, Tobia… ▪ and the reſt of that crew as troubleſome as the former. Firſt, craft… ly ſtudying privily to oppreſſe them, Nehem. 4. 7. But miſſing thereof they attempted violence under colour of conference, having hired the Prieſts, Prophets, and chiefe of the people to deliver them Nehemiah. Theſe were Fox-like times, by the Teſtimony of Tobia himſelf, who ſaid, Nehem. 4. 2. Although they build, y…t if a Fox go up, he ſhall even breake downe their ſtony wall, &c.
Verſ. 16. My welbeloved is mine and I am his; he feedeth among the Lillies.
That is to ſay, we reſt quietly in one anothers love. He is contented with me onelyonly, and I with him alone. Her lover …ath ſuch care of his flock, that not like other heardſmen, he ſeeketh onelyonly graſſie Paſtures for his ſheepe, but alſo the delights of gardens for them. Then at length thoſe Fox-like times received a reaſonable happie condition, the holy Ceremonies were uſed, and all wicked ſuperſtitions were valiantly and conſtantly refuſed, to the which while the Church applyed her ſtudy, ſhe ſhewed her ſelfe to depe…d wholly on the love of her onelyonly Lover. Before the Iewes were bani…hed to Babylon, they were wont to follow ſtrange gods, wherefore they were ſo grievouſly and often reprehended by the Pr…phets, and which brought upon them almoſt utter deſtruction, and ſo long Captivity. In all which time they ſeemed no leſſe to have forſaked God, then God himſelfe to have forſaken their ſervices. But now at length called backe to their Country ſeates, they would preſerve chaſte piety with a more firme purpoſe, conſtant will and deſire. Neither would they ever hereafter depart from Gods holy Religion, even with the hazard of their lives, which came to paſſe acco… dingly, for we read of no troubles afterward in the Church untill the time of Alexander the great. Wherefore theſe 2. verſes comprehend the hiſtory of about two hundred yeares, namely from the reſtoring of the Church by Cyrus to Alexander the great, that is, during the whole Monarchie of the Perſians, as appearech by Ezra and Nehemiah.
Verſ. 17. Vntill the day breake, and the ſhadowes fly away, turne my beloved and be thou like a Roe or young Hart upon the mountaines of …ether.
The 2. former verſes ſhewed the condition of the Church next after their returne: this verſe intreateth of time a little farther off, yet with a continued order joyned with the former. Herein firſt he ſetteth down certaine bounds in the beginning of the verſe, and then delivereth the ſum of it in the reſt. The bounds define that ſpace in the compaſſe whereof this conſideration is contained: namely untill the day breake, &c. Which words ſignifie that moſt renowned day of Chriſts death: as it ſhall after appear: whoſe morning and mid-day are here moſt elegantly declared by adjuncts. All agree, that the aire or winde is uſually more troubleſome in the morning and evening then in the reſt of the day, as alſo Ariſtotle teacheth in his Problemes. But why is this day deſcribed unto us, by the troubleſome windy morning, and the vaniſhing ſhadowes? Becauſe it was chiefely to be noted in both theſe propricties. The morning blew turbulently, for ſtraightway in the morning, the high-Prieſts with the Elders and Scribes, held a Councell and delivered Ieſus to Pilate, Mark 15. 1. but at the 6. houre that is to ſay, noone it ſelfe, the ſhadowes flew away overwhelmed with darkneſſe in a ſtrange manner, ſo that the Iewes ſaw not yet an end put to their old ſhadowes, Mark 15. 33. But then eſpecially they vaniſhed, when the third houre after, at the death of the Meſſias, the vaile of the Temple rent in two parts, and the hand-writing of the Law (as well of all the Ceremonies as that which was againſt us) was altogether cut off. This is that day ſo famous in the Scripture, and ſo exactly defined, Dan. 9. 24. 25. Of this Chriſt▪ himſelfe maketh often mention, I…h. 7. 30. and 8▪ 20. and 13. 1. The time is here ſet forth of the condition of the ancient Church from Alexander the great to the death of Chriſt. So was that time limited. Now if ye ſeeke what the whole ſtate of the Church was during all that ſpace▪ The ſwift returne of her love, like a Roe on the mountaines of Bether, ſheweth it us. The Mountaines of Bether are in Gilead beyond Iordan, whence they take their name▪ for they are divided from the reſt of Iud…a by the River …ord…n. And that whole Tract is called Bithron, 2 Sam. 2. 29. as Tromelius and I…nius do obſerve. This ſimilitude teacheth that …er beloved ſeemed ſometimes to withdraw himſelfe, yet no farther then the neighbour mountaines of Bether, ſeated in the borders of the holy land, whence he could quickly come to her ayde, like a Roe or a young Hinde. Ptolemeus Lagi grievouſly afflicted Iudea, but is laſted not long. Nor was there any violence done to Religion. Afterwards Antiochus the great, ſtrove with the Ptolemees, Eupator and Epiphanes with doubtfull fortune of the warres, ſo that the …ewes were ſometimes conſtrained to change their Maſters, yet they alwaies proſpered without great danger of periſhing. Her beloved was not alwayes ready to helpe her, theſe firſt 137. yeeres, but he ſuffered her not long to complaine, running, ready to helpe her, from the bordering Mountaines as need required.