A Commentary on the Song of Solomon, Title page – Summary
A COMMENTARY ON THE CANTICLES OR THE SONG of SALOMON.
VVherein the Text is Analiſed, the Native ſignification of the Words Declared, the Allegories Explained, and the Order of times whereunto they relate Obſerved.
By THOMAS BRIGHTMAN.
Unto which is added brief notes out of ſeverall Expoſitors of the Revelation, touching the riſing and fall, progreſſe and finall deſtruction, of the Enemies of the Church; with ſome other Obſervances out of divers Writers.
LONDON, Printed by Iohn Field, for Henry Overton, in Popes-head-Alley. 1644.
TO THE READER.
THat which the Queen of Sheba once affirmed before Salomon, is very true; The Inſtruments 1 King. 10. 9.of Gods bleſsings are the arguments of his love: whence it is apparent that God did wonderfully declare his tender love to the Church upon earth, in continually raiſing famous men, who like burning lights in golden Candleſtickes, did ſhine forth to the honour and glory of his Sanctuary. And as no age (ſince the Apoſtles time) hath been ſo glorious for the light of truth, and the abundance of lights as the preſent, ſo I hope (without prejudice to any) our Brightman of bleſſed memory, for names ſake, may deſervedly finde a place among thoſe that were moſt famous in this kinde; for truely whilſt he lived he was, as Chriſt ſaid of Iohn Baptist, A burning and a ſhining light. He wasIoh. 3. 33 famous in Preaching, and for his converſation making himſelf an example to the Church, by practiſing what he Preached, living according to the rule of his Doctrine. Yea and that which is wonderfull, this light of ours being extinct, ſtill ſhines brightly, for what elſe is his Apocalyps of the Apocalyps, but a Light ſhining in darke places? for ſurely ſo myſterious is that parcell of Scripture, that it is not to be interpreted by wit, but by the Spirit of Divination. But our Brightman hath made ſuch plaine interpretation thereof, that thou mayeſt eaſily behold the great myſtery of Iniquity of the Beaſt of Rome, as alſo Gods great mercy in calling the Jewes. And although many learned men have (to their glory) …ent their whole time in the interpreting this part of Scripture; yet this our Author hath interpreted this and other moſt difficult places; witneſſe the Song of Solomon, and the latter part of the Prophecie of Daniel. Concerning the Song of Solomon, the Law of the Jewes is very well knowne by which young men under the age of thirty (before which time they did not enter into the Prieſt-hood) were interdicted to reade it, le…t thoſe things which were myſtically ſet forth, ſhould by the ſwaying of their paſsions, be enterpreted in the worſt ſenſe. But our Brightman amongſt others that have deſerved well in this alſo▪ expreſſes every word ſpiritually, whereby thou mayeſt receive Divine and heavenly pleaſures. All things are expounded with great labour, and applyed with great Judgement; inſomuch, that in this new path, you may walk in the foote-ſteps of the Spouſe, Jeſu Chriſt: or as the Jewes call it, enter the Sanctum Sanctorum.
The manner of his handling this Scripture, eſpecially in the application, is univerſall; for he held this prophecie to be wonderfully difficult, whence it is no marvell, if ſome doubt whether he did attain to the genuine interpretation of the Song: but ſince the diffiulty of the Allegory hath occaſioned ſuch variance amongſt the Interpreters, that it may almoſt be ſaid; as many men, ſo many mindes: I hope it will not be diſtaſtefull to the Church of Chriſt, that the labours of this her godly ſonne are publiſhed in Print, whereby the Reader may perceive the Authors great knowledge in this myſterie: hee doth acknowledge a marriage beween Chriſt and his Church; but in this he differs from the reſt of the Interpreters, that what they conclude to be always, he reſtrains to certain times. I confeſſe, he that for ſakes the ancient opinions of learned and godly men, and propounds to himſelf a new way, in which he walketh all alone, may (in good manners) be thought to erre; but becauſe ſometimes he that readeth underſtandeth that, which the Prophets themſelves which Propheſied it did not know, and becauſe our Brightman, for his ſingular meekneſſe, humility, and godlineſſe, was thought by them amongſt whom he lived and had to do, to be free from all manner of affectation of Noveltie; as alſo becauſe he is not ſingular in his manner of interpreting: for amongſt the Hebre…es, Aben Ezr… conceives the myſterie from Abraham to the Meſſias, to be here ſet forth; And ſome amongſt us from the Meſsias to the Churches freedome under Conſtantine: And in this they all agree, that ſome things are particularly to be applied. And laſtly, becauſe our Author doth not deſire credence in any thing, but where it may be grounded upon1 Theſ. 21. 1 Cor. 14. 33. a ſure foundation, therefore feare not, try all things, and hold faſt that which is good; The ſpirits of the Prophets are ſubject to the Prophets.
But admit this Propheticall and particular application doth not pleaſe you; yet to behold the whole condition of the Church from the time of David, till time ſhall be no more; and this ſet forth in a ſhort and eaſie table, cannot chooſe but be both profitable and delightfull unto thee.
Reader, I thought good to premiſe theſe things for thy ſake, and for the Authors praiſe; (at which I chiefly aim) much more might be ſpoken, but read the Author, who in the Explication of the firſt verſe, doth by way of Pro…m…, admirably ſet forth the authority, excellency and uſe of this Song of Songs.
By the way, I pray take this caution, if you once enter the Portall, come not back untill you have ſurveyed the whole building, the curioſity of whoſe ſtructure, ſurpaſſes my expreſsion.
Let God ſo ſhine upon us with the light of his Countenance, that there may alwayes be a Brightman in Britaine, to the ſetting forth of the glory of God in his Sonne Jeſus Chriſt: Farewell.
A Table of the whole book of CANTICLES.
The parts of the Song
Inſcription, v. 1.
A ſong of the Church
Legall
Before the Captivity. v. 1.
In Captivity, cap. 2. ad v. 15.
After to Ch…iſt—
his birth ad cap. 3. 6.
his death ad cap. 4. 6.
Evangelicall
Begun ad cap. 4. 6.
Finiſhed, and this
In its parts, that is, in its
Former Age,
pure
obſcure
cap. 5.
with a miſt
with darkeneſſe
reſtored ad cap. 6. 9.
Latter Age,
its Prince
borne.
growne up.
Inferiours
firſt, cap. 8. 5. 6. 7.
ſecond, cap. 8. 8. 9. 10.
In the whole, cap. 8. 11, 12, 13, 14.