A Brief Exposition of the Book of the Song of Solomon, Chapter 3

A Brief Exposition of the Book of the Song of Solomon · Chapter 3

p. 81THE CANTICLES, OR SONG OF SONGS opened and explained.

THE TEXT. CHAP. 3.

BY night on my bed I ſought him whom my ſoule loveth, I ſought him, but I found him not.

verse 2 I will riſe now, and goe about the city in the ſtreetes, and in the broad wayes, I will ſeeke him whom my ſoule loveth: I ſought him but I found him not.

verse 3 The watch-men that go about the city found me, to whom I ſaid, Saw ye him whom my ſoule loveth?

verse 4 It was but a little that I paſſed from them but I found him whom my ſoule loveth: I held him and would not let him goe, untill I had brought him into my mothers houſe, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

p. 82verse 5 I charge you, O yee daughters of Jeruſalem, by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, that yee ſtirre not up, nor awake my love till he pleaſe.

verse 6 Who is this that commeth out of the wilderneſſe like pillars of ſmoake▪ perfumed with mirrhe and frankincenſe, with all powders of the merchant?

verse 7 Behold his bed, which is Solomons: three-ſcore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Iſrael.

verse 8 They all hold ſwords, being expert in warre: Every man hath his ſword upon his thigh, becauſe of feare in the night.

verse 9 King Solomon made himſelfe a charet of the wood of Lebanon.

verse 10 He made the pillars thereof of ſilver, the bottome thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the middeſt thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jeruſalem.

verse 11 Goe forth, O ye daughters of Sion, and behold King Solomon with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his eſpouſals: and in the day of the gladneſſe of his heart.

p. 83THE EXPLANATION.

Cant. 3. ver. 1.

By night on my bed I ſought him whom my ſoule loveth, I ſought him, but I found him not, &c.

THis Chapter ſetteth forth the eſtate of the Church from after the dayes of Nehemiah, to the time of Chriſts ſojourning here on earth, in a two-fold period:

Firſt, under the Maccabees, ver. 1.—6.

Secondly, in John Baptiſt's time, verſe 6.—11.

The ſtate of the Church in the Maccabees time was,Verſe 1. partly, full of calamities, as a time of darkeneſſe, By night I ſought him; and partly ſweetned with ſome more comfortable iſſue.

This calamity is ſet forth,

Firſt, By reſemblance to night, By night I ſought him.

Secondly, By the abſence of Chriſt, whom ſhe ſought in vaine:Verſe 2.

Firſt, In her bed, verſe 1.

Secondly, In the ſtreets of the City, verſe 2.

Thirdly, Amongſt the watchmen, ver. 3.

p. 84The comfortable iſſue of her ſeeking Chriſt is ſet forth,

Firſt, By her finding of him, verſe 4.

Secondly, By her holding of him, ver. 4.

Thirdly, By her bringing of him into her mothers houſe, verſe 4.

Fourthly, By her charge to the daughters of Jeruſalem, to walk circumſpectly, that this eſtate be not interrupted, verſe 5.

By night:]Verſe 1. that is, in time of darkneſſe, and publicke calamity; when Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horne waxed exceeding great, waſted the pleaſant land, caſt ſome of the hoſt and ſtarres of heaven to the ground; when hee tooke away the daily ſacrifice, and trode downe the Sanctuary,Dan. 8. 9.—12.Dan 8:9 and caſt downe the truth to the ground; when he robbed the Temple, murthered the people, ſpoiled the City, made lawes for profaning the Sabbath, for offering Swines fleſh, for neglecting Circumciſion, when he ſet up the Statues of Jupiter Olympias, the abomination of deſolation in the holy place, when he burnt the bookes of the Law, and made it death to have a Teſtament; when he brake downe the Altar and ſet up another, when hee put women to p. 85death who had cauſed children to be circumciſed, and hanged children upon the neckes of their mothers, 1 Mac. 1. 23. to the end.

In my bed:] Not in my bed of eaſe and ſloth, (as ſome take it) for what eaſe could the Church take in the night time of calamity?Chap 1. 16. & 3. 7. but in my bed, that is, in the place and duties of Gods worſhip, the Temple and the ordinances.

I ſought him whom my ſoule loveth.] I deſired and endeavoured to have fellowſhip with Chriſt, but I found him not, the Sanctuary being polluted and the daily ſacrifice taken away, and profane Idols ſet up in the place.

In the ſtreets of the City:]Verſe 2. that is, in the open aſſemblies of the faithfull, in the Synagogues, in the cities of Judea and Jeruſalem; but behold there Altars erected to Idols, and incenſe burned, and the books of the Law caſt into the fire**1 Mac. 1. 57.—59.1 Macc 1:57: Yea, behold the citizens of Jeruſalem all fled and gone**1 Mac. 1. 40.1 Macc 1:40: and the reſt went in proceſſion to Bacchus ††2 Mac. 6. 7.2 Macc 6:7.

The watch-men that goe about the citie:]Verſe 3. To wit the Levites, who anſwered her with ſilence; but a little after ſhe found p. 86ſuccour at Modin, for the Prieſts, Mattathias and his ſonnes, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon, and the reſt that went about to repaire the ruines of the Church and Common-wealth; to theſe the faithfull Church repairing,**1 Mac. 2. 42, 43.1 Macc 2:421 Macc 2:43 and finding deliverance and comfort, by Judas eſpecially, or rather by Chriſt in him††1 Mac. 3. 6,—8.1 Macc 3:6, Shee left him not till ſhee had brought him into the Temple, where ſhe ſoone after cleanſed the Sanctuary, and reſtored the purity of Gods worſhip, and offered ſacrifice according to the Law, ſo that ſhe found great comfort and joy in the duties of Gods worſhip**1 Mac. 4. 42, 46.1 Macc 4:421 Macc 4:46. Thus againe found they Chriſt in a typicall Saviour, held him by faith, and, with courage and zeale, brought him into the Temple and Sanctuary, the houſe and chamber of her mother; that is, of the former Church of Iſrael, or of the Catholike Church, for the Church of the former ages is the mother of the latter; or the whole Church is the mother of each part in uſuall phraſe of Hebrew ſpeech: The Temple is the houſe of both, the Sanctuary is the chamber of her that bare her.

p. 87I charge you,Verſe 5. O yee daughters of Jeruſalem, by the Roes and by the Hinds of the field, that ye ſtirre not up, nor awake my love till he pleaſe.

I charge you, &c.] See the ſame words opened, Chap. 2. 7. The Church chargeth all her daughters, all her members, to take heed, leſt by their undiſcreet dealing, or any wicked practiſe, they ſtirre up the neighbour Princes of Syria and Egypt; not to diſturbe the peace of the Church, and to provoke Chriſt againe to leave them deſolate; which though Jaſon and Menelaus and Alcimus broke††2 Mac. 14. 14.2 Macc 14:14, yet they prevailed not ſo farre, but Chriſt was ſtill found in the Temple of the faithfull till his comming in the fleſh.

Who is this that commeth out of the wilderneſſe lake pillars of ſmoake,Verſe 6. perfumed with mirrhe and frankincenſe, with all powders of the merchant?

Who is this that commeth out of the wilderneſſe.] This is a deſcription of John Baptiſt, and of the Church gathered by his Miniſtery in the wilderneſſe: which is ſet forth,

Firſt, by the admiration and inquiſitiveneſſe of the old Synagogue after him p. 88and his baptiſme: Who is this that commeth, or ariſeth, &c. which was fulfilled **Ioh. 1. 19John 1:19: To whom the Jewes ſent Prieſts and Levites to aske him,Luk. 3. 15.Luke 3:15 Who art thou? and all men muſed whether he were not the Chriſt.

Secondly, by the place of his ariſing, and the Church with him in the wilderneſſe ††Luke 3. 2.—4.Luke 3:2.

Thirdly,Mar. 1. 3, 4Mark 1:3Mark 1:4 by the manner of ariſing, like pillars of ſmoake, which

Firſt, ariſeth from fire, as the Church aroſe from zeale and fervencie of Johns miniſtery.

Secondly, aſcendeth on high, as the propagation of this Church did, even to Jeruſalem††Mat. 3. 5, 6.Matt 3:5Matt 3:6.

Thirdly, fils the countrey, as the Church did with rumour and increaſe of it**Mat. 3. 5, 6.Matt 3:5Matt 3:6.

Fourthly, by the excellent fragrancie and ſweetneſſe of the graces thereof perfumed ††Chap. 1. 13., preſerving from putrefaction: ſuch was the powerfull zeale of John and his miniſtery, ſtrongly fragrant as Myrrhe, and preſerving his hearers from phariſaicall hypocricy;Mat. 3. 7.—10.Matt 3:7 Frankincenſe is of like ſtrong fragrancy, and of chiefe uſe p. 89in making of the holy incenſe††Exod. 30 34.Exod 30:34; by which prayer was ſignified**Pſa. 141 2.Ps 141:2, to intimate the fragrancy and fervency of his prayers, who taught all his diſciples to praybbLuk▪ 11. 1.Luke 11:1.

With all powders of the merchant.] to wit, perfumed with the ſweet graces of God,ccLuk. 1. 15.Luke 1:15 filled with the holy Ghoſt above all Prophets, yea above all that were borne of womenddMat. 11. 9, 11.Matt 11:9Matt 11:11; whence alſo he ſeaſoned all ſorts of his hearers with graces and directions fit for their ſeverall callingseeLuk. 3. 10.—14.Luke 3:10.

Fifthly, by the doctrine of John, who expreſly preached the Lord Jeſus manifeſted in the fleſh.

Behold his bed which is Solomons,Verſe 7. three-ſcore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Iſrael.

Behold his bed which is Solomons.] this doctrine the Church of that time received and beleeved: In which doctrine, that firſt Church firſt diſcerned and beleeved,

Firſt, the Temple of Chriſts body; for the bedffChap. 1. 16. & 3. 1. was taken, as alſo it is here, for the Temple, which was the type of Chriſts bodyggIoh. 2. 19, 20.John 2:19John 2:20.

Now, this as John pointedhhIohn 1. 29, 30.John 1:29John 1:30, Behold the p. 90lambe of God; as here it is ſaid, Behold his bed. This Temple it is the Temple of Solomon, of Chriſt; in him the God-head dwelleth bodily.Col. 2. 9.Col 2:9

Secondly, the guard of Angels attending it,Ioh. 1. 51.John 1:51 to prevent the feare of Herods enmity and others.Mat. 2. 13. 19.Matt 2:13Matt 2:19

Thirdly, the maker of his humanity, verſe 9. King Solomon made himſelfe a Couch, the word may be tranſlated Coach or Couch: this latter I rather take, partly for the Etymologe of Apirion, fol. 38. to be fruitfull as the brides bed is, and partly for agreement with the former word Bed, ver. 7.

No earthly father, but Chriſt by his owne Spirit made his owne body, and his owne bed in his mothers wombeiiLuk. 1. 35.Luke 1:35.

Fourthly, the matter of it, the wood of Lebanon, for the Virgin Mary dwelt in Nazareth of Galile at the foot of Lebanon.

As Solomons Temple, the type of Chriſts body, was made of the wood of Lebanon,Hoſ. 1.Hos 1 the Cedar which is free from corruption; ſo was the body of Chriſt ſound from ſeeing corruptionkkPſal. 16. 10.Ps 16:10.

Fifthly, the ornaments of it, which were

p. 91Firſt, partly his offices:

1. Prieſtly, as pillars of ſilver abiding the fire of Gods wrath, and pure as ſilver tried in the fire.Heb. 7. 26.Heb 7:26

2. Propheticall, delivering us a word precious as gold, even as fine goldllPſal. 19. 10.Ps 19:10.

3. Kingly, whence it is ſaid, ver. 10. The covering of it of purple, the royall ornament of Kings.

Secondly, partly, the affection wherein he undertooke and executed theſe offices,Verſe 10. love of the daughters of Jeruſalem, ver. 10. All theſe John declarethmmIoh. 3. 29. to the endJohn 3:29.

Secondly, hee exhorteth and ſtirreth up the faithfull to behold,

Firſt, ChriſtnnIoh. 1. 29.—end.John 1:29.

Secondly,ooVer. 11. The ornaments wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his eſpouſals. The day of his eſpouſals was the day when God the Father contracted him with the Church**Mat. 3. 17.Matt 3:17; whence after hee is called the BridegroomeppIoh. 3. 29.John 3:29, and John the Bridegroomes friend, his Diſciples the children of the Bride-chamber: And the Church henceforward in this booke is called the Spouſe, not before. The crowne wherewith his mother crowned him, is the teſtimony of Chriſts ſoveraignty, p. 92which John and the faithfull gave himqqIoh. 1. 33, 34, 35, 49. & 3. 29.—36.John 1:33John 1:34John 1:35John 1:49John 3:29.

Firſt of the eſtate of the Church under the Maccabees.

Uſe 1 Firſt, this doth teach us with what intent wee are to come before God in the publicke aſſemblies, namely, to ſeeke Chriſt the love of our ſoules; not to ſhew our fine garments, wantonly to gaze at beauties; not to ſatisfie the Law or friends, for faſhions ſake; but to ſeeke Chriſt inſtructing us in temptations: Some come to catch ſomething from Chriſt to entrap him, &c. but it is our duty to come unto him, as a Spouſe to her husband, for ſeed; ſo we muſt come to Chriſt, that hee may caſt the ſeeds of grace into our ſoules, that we may bring forth fruit unto him.

Uſe 2 Secondly, this lets us ſee the changeable eſtate of the Church; ſhee that rejoyced in the preſence and fellowſhip of Chriſt, and could ſay,**Cant. 2. 16.Song 2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his, now ſeekes him every where, and with much difficulty and anguiſh **Verſe 1, 2, 3.. And ſo it is oft with every true member of the Church, as wee may ſee it was with David ††Pſal. 119 24, 25. & 30. 6, 7, 8.Ps 119:24Ps 119:25Ps 30:6Ps 30:7Ps 30:8: ſo it is now with p. 93our brethren beyond the ſeas, whom you might have commended a yeare or two agoe, and have found Chriſt there; but now he is gone, ſhe ſeekes him but findes him not: See the Church of God ſometime enjoyes all the ordinances of God, ſometimes none; ſo a Chriſtian ſoule ſometimes hath Chriſts left hand under her head,Cant. 2. 6.Song 2:6 and his right hand to embrace her, ſoone after ſhe findes him not ſo: Wee muſt not condemne the Church for this; for they that are tenderly beloved of Chriſt may ſometimes ſeeke him and not finde him.

Uſe 3 Thirdly, this may comfort ſuch as ſeeke Chriſt in all his ordinances: they ſhall either finde him in them; or, after the uſe of them, in ſome unexpected or extraordinary helpe. The Church here that found not Chriſt in the Temple, nor in the aſſemblies and recourſe of Chriſtian people, nor in conference with the Prieſts, found him ſoone after in an unexpected and extraordinary helpe, even Judas Maccabeus, verſe 4. for indeed it was extraordinary for the tribe of Levi to take up the ſword and ſcepter, which indeed belonged to Judah: ſo you ſee p. 94when ordinary meanes faile, God will be found in extraordinary: Whoſoever then would finde Chriſt, and ſeeke him every where, they ſhall ſurely finde him either in his ordinances, or out of them.

Uſe 4 Fourthly, this lets us ſee the affectionate cleaving of ſuch to Chriſt, as have long ſought him and not found him till at laſt: ſuch lay hold on him, and will not let him goe, verſe 4. which is one Reaſon why Chriſt ſometimes hides himſelfe from us, that wee might ſeeke him the more diligently, and, having found him, cleave to him more ſtedfaſtly; and this God lookes for at the hands of his.

Uſe 5 Fifthly, this doth exhort Chriſtians that live among bad neighbours to walk the more circumſpectly, as the daughters of Jeruſalem are here charged upon oath to doe, ver. 5. being between the Syrians and Egyptians. It is a charge given by the Church to her daughters, to take heed they ſtirre not up her love, nor awake Chriſt till he pleaſe.

Two Reaſons are given for it▪

Firſt, It may provoke Chriſt of bring another eſtate upon the Church p. 95which will not bee good for it.

Secondly, in regard of fearefull Chriſtians, for they will ſtart away; many are willing to come into the Church, but if the profeſſion of Chriſt be troubleſome and hot, they will not abide it: therefore this charge is needfull that we may walke holily, that Chriſt be not ſtirred up, nor theſe fearefull Chriſtians diſcouraged. See this handled, Chap. 2. verſe 7.

Thus farre the firſt part, in the time of the Maccabees: Now Secondly of the eſtate of the Church in John Baptiſt's time.

Uſe 1 This is firſt to ſhew us, that God can raiſe up a Church even in the wilderneſſe,Verſe 6. to the admiration of obſervers: and ſo hee can raiſe up our neighbour Churches, now brought to a wilderneſſe. This may comfort us in regard of them; for though they be now deſolate, yet we may hope a time will come when they ſhall riſe againe.

Uſe 2 Secondly, ſee here is a part of the duty of ancient Chriſtians, not to maligne the graces of God in thoſe that come after them, but to admire them**Verſe 6., Who is it p. 96that commeth out of the wilderneſſe like pillars of ſmoake, perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankincenſe, &c.

Uſe 3 Thirdly, this ſhewes what gifts and graces are moſt requiſite in a Miniſter, and doe moſt adorne him, even zeale in his Miniſtery, and fervency in prayer, and all ſorts of ſweet graces to ſeaſon and direct all ſorts of his people in their ſeverall callings,Verſe 6. as John did**Luke 3. 10.—14.Luke 3:10, when the people came and ſaid, What ſhall we doe? He anſwered and ſaid, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, &c. So John was perfumed with graces for all men: for men muſt not come into the Miniſtery with judgement and learning alone, for theſe may come from nature; but they muſt come perfumed with graces, to keepe themſelves and others from putrefaction; yea, they muſt labour for thoſe graces which will give a ſtrong ſent to ſave themſelves and others.

Uſe 4 Fourthly, this ſhewes us the manhood and Godhead of Chriſt; Chriſts humane nature is the Temple, or bed wherein the Godhead reſteth bodily, and the Godhead made this Temple or bed for himſelfe,Verſe 7, 9. no earthly father for him.

p. 97Uſe 5 Fifthly, ſee here the protection and gardiance the Angels give to Chriſt,Pſal. 91. 11, 12.Ps 91:11Ps 91:12 and in him to the Church and all his members,Pſal. 34. 7.Ps 34:7 verſe 7, 8.

Uſe 6 Sixthly,2 Kin. 6. 16, 17.2 Kgs 6:162 Kgs 6:17 wee may here ſee in Chriſt whatſoever is behoovefull for all our ſalvations.Heb. 1. 14.Heb 1:14 In regard of his Prieſtly office hee is pure as ſilver,Rev. 5. 11. & 7. 11.Rev 5:11Rev 7:11 to cleanſe our impurity, and to abide the fire: In regard of his Propheticall office hee is precious as gold, to enrich our poverty: In regard of his Royall and Kingly office he is glorious as purple,Verſe 10. and cloathed with it, to advance our baſeneſſe: His heart, or middeſt, is even paved with love of us: His heart is an hearth (for ſo the word ſignifieth) whereon the fire of his love towards us burneth continually; let us then love the Lord Jeſus againe, and receive the ſeeds and fruits of his grace, and then ſhall we ſee his heart flaming with love to us: and then whatſoever befals, bloudſhed, warre, captivity, &c. all comes from love; his whole heart is paved with love.

Uſe 7 Seventhly, let us take up our thoughts and meditations about Chriſt; let us goe forth and behold him; let his p. 98abundant graces fill our empty ſoules.

Uſe 8 Eighthly, if thou beeſt a daughter of Sion, thou art contracted to Chriſt; and know it by this, Doſt thou read his letters? art thou delighted with them? and doſt thou rejoyce to ſpeake to him again by prayer? If thou doſt, it may be the joy of thy heart, for thy eſtate is good.

Uſe 9 Laſtly, this doth exhort us all to give up our ſelves as ſpouſes to Chriſt, and that with all gladneſſe of heart, ſince he is affected to us, who yet hath nothing from us but debts and beggery: and they that doe give themſelves up to Chriſt, need not feare wanting comfort; for no ſpouſes ſhall finde ſuch comfort as they. Shall he be glad to have us, a company of beggars; yea, as I may ſay, a company of deaths? and was it the gladneſſe of his heart to be eſpouſed to us, which was when his Father contracted him to us, and ſhall we think it a day of deading to ſet our feet into Chriſts bed? Al the merchants cannot ſet forth our excellency, when he ſhall pay all our debts, and adorn us with all his graces; therefore let us go forth, and bring him home to us, we ſhall then finde him comfortable to us in the day of eſpouſals.