A Brief Exposition of the Book of the Song of Solomon, Chapter 8
THE CANTICLES, OR SONG OF SONGS, opened and explained.
THE TEXT. CHAP. 8.
O That thou wert as my brother that ſucked the breſts of my mother! when I ſhold finde thee out, I would kiſſe thee, yet I ſhould not be deſpiſed.
verse 2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mothers houſe, who would inſtruct me: I would cauſe thee to drinke of ſpiced wine, of the juyce of my pomegranat.
verse 3 His left hand ſhould be under my head, and his right hand ſhould embrace me.
verse 4 I charge you, O daughters of Jeruſalem, that ye ſtir not up, nor awake my love untill hee pleaſe.
5 (Who is this that commeth up from the Wilderneſſe, leaning upon her beloved?) I raiſed thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth, there ſhe brought thee forth that bare thee.
verse 6 Set me as a ſeale upon thy heart, as a ſeale upon thine arme: for love is as ſtrong as death, iealouſie is cruell as the grave: the coales thereof are coales of fire, which hath a moſt vehement flame.
verse 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the ſubstance of his houſe for love, it would utterly be contemned.
verse 8 We have a little ſiſter, and ſhee hath no breaſts, what ſhall we doe for our ſister, in the day when ſhe ſhall be ſpoken for?
verse 9 If ſhe be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of ſilver: and if ſhe be a doore, we will incloſe her with boards of Cedar.
verse 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
verse 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon, he let out the vineyard unto Keepers: every one for the fruit thereof, was to bring a thouſand pieces of ſilver.
verse 12 My vineyard which is mine, is before me: thou (O Solomon) muſt have a thouſand, and thoſe that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred.
verse 13 Thou that dwelleſt in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice, cauſe me to heare it.
14 Make haste my beloved, and be thou like to a Roe, or to a young Hart upon the mountaine of ſpices.
THE Church of the Jewes, both in City and Country thus gathered, doe here expreſſe her ardent affection to Chriſt, and due reſpect of him, which the old Synagogue ſhewed towards her whilſt he was converſant amongſt them in the fleſh. (Since ſaith ſhe) O that thou wert as my brother, &c. Chriſt was made our Brother by taking our Nature upon him at his Incarnation, and then hee ſucked the breaſts of the Church, attending to the Miniſtry of Iohn, and other Jewiſh Teachers: ſhe therefore to ſhew her affection, deſireth that he were now amongſt them converſant in their ſtreets againe in bodily preſence, ſhee would not doe then as the old Synagogue did, be aſhamed of him, or come to him by night; but ſhe would kiſſe him, and embrace him in the open ſtreets, and yet no man ſhould then deſpiſe her for her ſo doing,Ioh 4. 48, 49. as they did; but every one ſhould encourage her in her obſequiouſneſſe to him: She would not reject him,Luke 4. 28, 29. and thruſt him out of the Synagogue, as her old Anceſtors had done; but if ſhe found him without, ſhe would lead him, and invite him into their Synagogue, or Temple, there to inſtruct her, and teach her the will of her father;Mat. 27. 34 ſhee would not give him gall to eat, and Vinegar to drink, as her forefathers had done; but ſhe would cauſe him to drink of the beſt delicate ſpiced wine, and the juice of her Pomegranat.
His left hand ſhould bee under my head,Verſe 3. and his right hand ſhould embrace mee.]
The left hand of Chriſt is the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, which ſhall in thoſe daies ſupport and advance the Church, and hold up her head.
His right hand is the faithfull Miniſters,Ezek. 34. 23, 24, 25. which ſhall ſpeake comfortable things to her heart,Dan. 7. 27. and ſo embrace her, Iſa. 62. for this alſo ſee,*Cant. 2. 6. I charge you, O daughters of Ieruſalem, that you ſtir not up, nor awake my love untill he pleaſe.
The Church enjoying theſe great mercies and bleſſings from Chriſt, chargeth all her daughters, members, to walk ſo thankfully, and fruitfully towards God, and lovingly and helpfully one towards another, and ſo circumſpectly, and inoffenſively to them which are without, that no occaſion be given of their alteration of their happy eſtate. When the Church gave this charge before, it was in regard of the Roes and Hindes of the field;Chap. 2. verſe 7. fearefull Chriſtians comming on towards Religion, willing to flocke, and feed, and converſe with the ſheepe,Chap. 3. verſe 5. yet ready to ſtart and flee away upon any feare of danger of perſecution; but now no regard is had of theſe fearfull ones; for they that ſhall then remaine fearefull,Iſai. 65. 25. when the Church ſhall enjoy ſo great light and ſafety, they ſhall bee quite excluded from converſing with the Church.
For uſe, we may here learne
Ʋſe 1 Firſt, ſince the Church of the Jewes ſhall attaine to ſo great beauty, it ought to kindle our deſire to pray earneſtly for their converſion, that wee may behold the admirable fairneſſe thereof, and bee delighted with her conſolations.Iſai. 66. 11. 12.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, this doth teach us how to approve our ſelves pleaſant and faire in Chriſts eyes, even by keeping his Ordinances in integrity, and ſimplicity, and by a willing readineſſe to frequent the ſame.
Chriſt may ſee all the world, as hee did when Sathan*Eccleſ. 1. 2. 14. & 2. 11. 15. 17. 19. 22. 26. ſhewed it to him,Mat. 4. 8. 9. and yet not admire it,Luk. 4. 5. 6 yea, condemne it for vanity, as it is; but a well ordered Church, and ready, he admireth.
Ʋſe 3 Thirdly, here learn the more ſtraight and ſincere, the more patient and meek, the more faithfull, the more fruitfull in all holy obedience, &c. the more doe wee attaine to a Palme tree, like full ſtature of Chriſtianity.
Ʋſe 4 Fourthly, it may learne and direct Miniſters to apply themſelves to the eſtate of their people: If they bee bebes in Chriſt, to be as breaſts of Milke to ſuckle them: If they be grown to ripe yeares, to bee as cluſters of grapes to refreſh them with ſtronger liquor, be ready to poure out ſweet and comfortable liquor; but ſee ſome good calling to preſſing you to it, let all your Doctrine direct to Chriſt, and diſpenſe it with ſuch powerfull efficacy of the Spirit, that the drowſie ſluggard may bee raiſed up to ſome fruitfulneſſe, and more holy walking towards God.
Ʋſe 5 Fifthly, this may teach townes well provided for, to lend their beſt care and help for the edifying and calling home of Countrey Villages: Grudge not then at their ready reſort to the gate of your Aſſemblies, but rather encourage them, that they may be partakers with them.
Ʋſe 6 Sixthly, this lets us ſee, that time ſhall come when forward profeſſion ſhall be no diſgrace; yea, men ſhall kiſſe Chriſt openly, and ſhall not bee deſpiſed.
Ʋſe 7 Seventhly, the malignity of our Anceſtors againſt Chriſt and his Goſpel muſt provoke us to more embracing of him, and more ſubjection to him.
Ʋſe 8 Eightly, we may here ſee that a faithfull Miniſtry, and godly Magiſtracy is a pledge of Chriſts tender love, and kinde embracing of the Church.
Ʋſe 9 Ninthly, we are hence to take notice, that when a Church enjoyeth many gracious and ſweet bleſſings from Chriſt, it is good for her to ſee it and acknowledge it; and to be careful that all her Members may ſo walk, as their happineſſe be not interrupted. In the fourth verſe the charge runneth thus, That ye ſtir not up, &c. But in the Hebr. Why ſhould you ſtir up, &c. As who ſhould ſay, when all things are throughly and fully reformed and ſetled: Why ſhould you goe about any Innovation? This manner of charge was never uttered before, Cant. 2. ver. 7. to the end.
(Who is this that commeth up from the Wilderneſſe, leaning upon her beloved?) I raiſed thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth, there ſhee brought thee forth that bare thee.
Who is this that commeth up from the Wilderneſſe:] In theſe words the holy Ghoſt ſetteth out the calling and eſtate of two other Churches after the calling of the Jewes:
Firſt, the one ariſing out of the Wilderneſſe, ver. 5. 7.
Secondly, the other a little ſiſter, ver. 8. 10. together with the eſtate of the whole Church, as it ſhall then ſtand, from that time to the end of the world, ver. 11. 14.
This Church comming up from the Wilderneſſe is deſcribed,
Firſt, by the unexpectedneſſe of her ariſing, together with the admiration of the Jewiſh Churches there, ver. 5. Who is this that commeth up out of the wilderneſſe?
Secondly, by the place of her ariſing the Wilderneſſe.
Thirdly, by her familliar fellowſhip with Chriſt, joyned with her confidence on him, leaning upon her beloved.
Fourthly, by the means of the gathering and raiſing of this Church, I raiſed thee up under an apple-tree, &c. ver. 5.
Fifthly, by her earneſt deſire of his deepe affection to her, and continuall remembrance of her, Set me as a ſeale upon thine heart, as a ſeale upon thine arme, ver. 6. which petition of hers is urged by a motive, taken from the ſtrength and depth of her affection to him, which ſhe proveth,
Firſt, by comparing her affection as equall to three things moſt ſtrong,
Firſt, Death.
Secondly, to the Grave.
Thirdly, to vehement flames of fire, ver. 6.
Secondly, by comparing it to two things as leſſe than her affection, though they be alſo of great force,
Firſt, to many waters, which cannot quench her affection of love.
Secondly, to the whole ſubſtance of any mans houſe, which would bee contemned if it were offered to withdraw her from Chriſt, ver. 7.
The calling and eſtate of the other Church, the little ſiſter, is deſcribed by three paſſages,
Firſt, by the conſultation of the elder Siſters; to wit, of the Jewiſh Churches, and of that Church comming up out of the Wilderneſſe, what they ſhall doe for her when ſhe ſhall be ſpoken of, ver. 8.
Secondly, by a reſolution what they ſhall doe for her, ſutable to what her condition (as they ſhall finde her) ſhall require, ver. 9.
Thirdly, a ſatisfaction given by this little Siſter, to the elder, how her eſtate ſtandeth, together with the cauſe thereof, Gods favour, that they may the better know what courſes to take for her, ver. 10.
The eſtate of the whole Church, as it ſhall ſtand after the converſion of the Jewes, and of thoſe other Churches is ſet forth;
Firſt, from Chriſts care for them, expreſſed,
Firſt, in his watchfulneſſe over them in his owne perſon, which he amplifies by the leſſe care which Solomon had of his vineyard, committing the keeping of it to others, ver. 11, 12.
Secondly, in his charge to the Church, that he may heare her companions hearkening unto her, ver. 13.
Secondly, by the Churches prayer unto Chriſt, that he may haſten the tranſlating of them into heaven in the end of the world, ver. 14.
Who is this that commeth, &c.] Who theſe Churches ſhould be that remaine to be called after the converſion of the Jewes and Gentiles, we cannot conceive any more fitly than the Churches of Aſſyria; ſecondly, of Egypt, of which we read Iſa. 19. 23. 25. When a Church ſhall bee elected among the Jewes, ſignified by Ezekiels goodly Temple, the water of Gods Spirit ſhall flow from thence Eaſtward,Ezek. 47. 1. 9. goe downe into the Deſert, and from thence ſpread themſelves farre and neere.
This Deſert, or Wilderneſſe Eaſtward from Iudah, is the Wilderneſſe of Arabia, whither Spirituall graces ſhall be conveyed by ſome comming from Ieruſalem, and from thence they ſhall bee further carried into the Eaſt Countries, to the gathering, and converſion of the Aſſyrians and others: Whence it is, that Church ariſing from the Wilderneſſe of Arabia, is ſaid to leane upon her beloved in an Arabian word; as when the holy Ghoſt was to ſpeak of the Babylonian Captivity (or Winter) being paſt, he uſeth the Babylonian or Caldean word.Cant. 2. 11. So then, when the Churches of Iudea ſhall ſee ſuch a goodly Church ſpring from ſmall helpe, out of the Wilderneſſe of Arabia, beyond their expectation, they ſhall ſay of her, Who is this that commeth out of the Wilderneſſe, leaning upon her beloved? truſting by faith on him, and thereby attaining and enjoying fellowſhip with him: for to leane is put as an act of faith or truſting*Prov. 3. 5., and the geſture implieth familiar love*Iohn 13. 2…. & 21. 20..
It raiſed thee under an apple tree.] Chriſt, or the Church of the Jewes by his power raiſed up his Church by the meanes of ſome inferior Magiſtrate, reſembled here by an Apple tree, as before*Cant. 2. 3.: For though hee was not ſo high and mighty as the Cedars of Lebanon, or the Okes of Baſhan; yet eminent he was, and his ſhadow good, and his fruit cordiall and comfortable.
And the meanes of the gathering of this Church, being at firſt but an inferiour Magiſtrate; the Church had more need and uſe of faith to leane upon her beloved, when ſoveraigne authority did not countenance the worke.
There thy mother brought thee forth.] To wit, the Mother-Church of the Jewes, or the Catholique, which is the Mother of us all.Gal. 4. 26.
Set me as a ſeale upon thy heart,Verſ 6. as a ſeale upon thine arme, for love is ſtrong as death, jealouſie is cruell as the grave: the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a moſt vehement flame.
Set me as a ſeale upon thine heart, as a ſeale upon thine arme.] That is, let me be deep engraven as a ſeale is into thine heart or affection, and as a ſeale on thine arme, let me be continually in thy ſight and remembrance. And becauſe the heart is the ſeat of the will, and the arme of ſtrength, therefore ſhe deſireth his deep affection and mighty ſtrength and power alwaies to be preſent with her for her comfort and peace.
For love is ſtrong as death.] Death ſheweth his ſtrength,
Firſt, in ſubduing all ſorts of people high and low, young and old.
Secondly, accepting no compaſſion, nor yeelding to any oppoſition, but going through with his worke; ſuch ſtrength of love ſhal this Church ſhew to Chriſt, ſubduing all before her to the obedience of Chriſt, and not ſuffering any impediment to detaine her from him.
Iealouſie is cruell as the grave.] Jealouſie is a mixt affection of zeale or fervent love, and carries at any corrivalls, a rage with wrath againſt them: So fervent then ſhall the zealous love of this Church be to Chriſt, that ſhe may not endure any ſuch things as ſhall ſteale away the peoples hearts from Chriſt, or alienate or leſſen his affection to her, but as the grave,
Firſt, ſhee ſhall devoure all ſuch things, and bury them out of ſight, And
Secondly, there hold them under for ever.
The coales thereof are coales of fire, which have a moſt vehement flame.] The ardency of this love ſhall as coales of fire,
Firſt, enflame her in all her ſervices to Chriſt:
Secondly, burne up as ſtubble all impediments.
Firſt, All inward green luſts.
Secondly, outward entanglements.
(Vehement flame.) Hebr. Flames of God, that is, excellent or extraordinary; for in Scripture Phraſe, the things of God are tranſcendently excellent, as the Harpes of God*Rev. 15. 2., the Trees of God.*Pal. 1. 3.
Flames of God, divine and vehement; and indeed this vehement love being kindled by Gods heavenly Spirit, cannot be quenched with earthly things.
Many waters cannot quench love,Verſe 7. neither can the floods drowne it: if a man would give all the ſubſtance of his houſe for love, it would utterly be contemned.
That is, neither adverſities, though never ſo many, or deep, or ſtrong, as many waters and floods, ſhall withdraw this love from Chriſt; nor all the treaſures, and pleaſures, and credit, which the ſubſtance of any mans houſe might procure us, ſhall be of any reckoning in compariſon of Chriſt, to withhold our hearts from him.
We have a little ſiſter,Verſ. 8 and ſhe hath no breaſts, what ſhall we doe for our ſister, in the day when ſhe ſhall be ſpoken for.
Wee have a little ſiſter, &c.] The Church of Iudea and Aſsyria hearing of ſome good people growing up, and comming on in Egypt, they are ſolicitous what courſe to take for them for their growth and eſtabliſhment.
(A little ſiſter.)Iſa. 19. 18. In compariſon of the Jewes or Aſſyrians, for but five Cities in the Land of Egypt ſpeak the language of Canaan, and one of them ſhall be called the City of destruction.
And ſhe hath no breaſts.] No Miniſters to give to them the ſincere milk of the word or the meanes of conſolation in their oppreſſions and diſtreſſes.1 Pet. 2. 2.Iſa. 9. 20.
In the day when ſhe ſhal be ſpoken for.]
When the fulneſſe of time ſhall come, that ſhe ſhall grow up to ſuch a multitude of Profeſſors, as may bee fit to have a ſetled Church eſtabliſhed amongſt them; for there is a company grown up to be a fit Spouſe for Chriſt. When there are ſo many good Chriſtians as may conſtitute a well ordered Church.
If ſhe be a wall,Verſe 9. we will build upon her a palace of ſilver: and if ſhe be a doore, we will encloſe her with boards of Cedar.
If ſhe be a wall, we will build.] That is, if ſhe have a Chriſtian Magiſtracy; for the Magiſtrate is a wall.
Firſt, high, to keep out invaſions of enemies; even ſo doth he keepe out forraigne evills from breaking in upon his people.
Secondly, cloſe to keepe in his people within bounds from breaking out into diſorder.
Thirdly, firme, whereon to reare (if occaſion be) a ſilver Palace, whereon to lay the frame of a good motion, or courſe to bee taken for Publique good.
Fourthly, a Wall of partition, to divide betweene right and wrong, to give every man his own.
We will build upon her a ſilver palace.]
We will make her garment honourable and wealthy.
If ſhe be a doore.] That is, if ſhe have faithfull Miniſters, which as a doore, open the way to Chriſt, that the people may go in and out, and find paſture, in him: We will encloſe her with boards of Cedar.] Cedar is a Timber that will neither rot, nor breed wormes, and ſo will endure alwaies; Whence it was that the Heathen made their Simulacbra Deorum, Plin. lib. 13. cap▪ 5.Images of their gods of this wood, to make them ſeeme eternall. Theſe Siſter-Churches then promiſe, that if their little ſiſter of Egypt have any faithfull Miniſters, they will provide for their ſafety and peace, that they bee not diſcouraged, nor diſturbed in their function.
I am a wall,Verſ. 10. and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
The little ſiſter of Egypt reſolveth her ſiſters, that ſhee wants neither Chriſtian Magiſtrates, nor faithfull Miniſters, ſo full of wholeſome Doctrine, as that her breaſts ſwell like Towers; which yet ſhe acknowledgeeth to be a ſingular mercy and favour of Chriſt, and aſcribeth all her ſtore to his praiſe: Then was I as one that found favour in his eyes.
Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon: Verſe 11.A place ſo fruitfull that for excellency it was called the Lord of a multitude, or the owner of great encreaſe. He let out the vineyard unto keepers, who paid him a great rent, even thouſands for the fruit of it, and yet had a good portion, certain hundreds for their owne paines.
My vineyard which is mine, is before me:Verſ 12. thou (O Solomon) muſt have a thouſand▪ and thoſe that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred.
To wit, I let not out my vineyard to others, but I kept it my ſelfe alwaies; let Solomon take his thouſands for his fruits of his vineyard, and the Reapers their hundreds; I will not ſo doe, but take all the paines to keep my vineyard, and reap all the gaines of the fruits thereof to my ſelfe. The meaning is, when Chriſt hath gathered all theſe Churches of the Jewes, Aſſyrians, Egyptians, and neighbour-Nations, hee will then keepe his Church with his mighty power, that neither Dragons, nor wilde Bores, nor Foxes ſhall hereafter root it up, or make havock of it, as in time paſt they have done: This is expreſly foretold, and ſhall come to paſſe after the deſtruction of Leviathan the great Turke*Iſa. 27. 1. 3▪.
Thou that dwellest in the gardens,Verſe 13. the companions hearken to thy voyce, cauſe me to heare it.
Thou that dwelleſt in the gardens.] The Participle being of the Feminine Gender, ſheweth that it is the Church, not Chriſt that is here ſpoken to, who is ſaid to dwell in the garden; to wit, in the particular Churches, as the ſea dwelleth in each particular Countrey ſea; the German ſea, the Spaniſh ſea, the Balticke ſea, &c. So the Catholique Church is divided into particular Churches, or the Jewiſh Mother Church dwelleth by her authority and directions in all other Churches.
The companions hearkning to thy word (or voice) cauſe me to heare it.] So the words in the originall which implyeth either that Church would have the Mother Church of the Jewes take care of all other Chriſtian Churches, and give directions unto them, and yet not as unto her handmaids, but as to her companions; or elſe if the words be read according to the tranſlation, The companions hearken to thy voice, cauſe me to heare it: They imply, that after the calling of theſe Churches, this ſhall bee their conſtant eſtate to the worlds end, they ſhall all
Firſt, embrace one another as companions, not claiming Romiſh Supremacy.
Secondly, hearken to the voice and directions of the Mother Church, (in Solomons daies for wiſdome to him.)
Thirdly, continue in calling upon the Name of Chriſt without diſſipation and interruption to the end.
Make haſte my beloved,Verſ 14. and be thou like to a Roe, or to a young Hart upon the mountaine of ſpices.
This is the prayer of all the Churches; Now that all things are accompliſhed, the which Prophets and Apoſtles have foretold, that Chriſt would haſten his laſt comming as ſwiftly and quickly, as the ſwifteſt of the creatures, the Roe, or young Hart, to take them up with himſelfe into the higheſt Heavens of the Mountaines of ſpices, where are all manner of ſpices, where are all manner of ſweet and fragrant and pleaſant things, even fulneſſe of joy at Gods right hand for evermore.Pſal. 16. 11. Thus is the end of the Revelations, The Spirit and the Bride, and every faithfull ſoule ſaith in like ſenſe,Rev. 22. 17. 20. come Lord Ieſus, come quickly:
Ʋſe 1 The uſe of this is, firſt, to teach us that the Nations of the Gentiles ſhall not be caſt off from the fellowſhip of the Church, when the Jewes are called, as the Jewes were out of the Church, that the Gentiles might bee grafted in*Rom. 11. 19, 20.; but even after their calling, new Churches of the Gentiles ſhall bee brought in; yea, their converſion ſhall bring from the dead into the world:Rom: 11. ver. 12. 15. What ſhall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? yea, the Gentiles ſhall bring their glory to it, Revel. 21. ver. 24.yea, the curſed Canaanite ſhall not be excluded from partaking in this bleſſing *Ezek. 16. 55. 60. 61.. How much more may we hope then that theſe Churches of Chriſtendome, which have ſuffered ſo much with Chriſt, and for him, under the Dragon, and the Beaſt, and the Turk, ſhall partake with the glory of theſe Churches of the Jewes when the time ſhall come.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, this doth teach us how to attaine fellowſhip and holy familiarity with Chriſt, even by faith, leaning upon him as our beloved; infidelity and doubting hinder our ſweet communion with Chriſt, labour wee therefore to abandon it from us.
Ʋſe 3 Thirdly, we may here ſee the duty of inferiour Magiſtrates what it is, even to ſee that the Church be raiſed up under them, how much more to countenance and protect it with their ſhadow, and to comfort it with the fruit of their ſweet and wholeſome lawes and examples.
Ʋſe 4 Fourthly, this may ſerve for tryall of the goodneſſe of our affections to Chriſt; if we thirſt after his deepe affection to us, and continuall remembrance of us, if wee labour to ſubdue our ſelves and all ours to him, if wee jealouſly warre againſt all that which might impaire our love to him, if wee burne up all our impediments, if no afflictions can diſcourage us from him, if no proſperity can ſhake our intire deſires after him, we are then wel affected to him as this Church is: If we deſire to have ſuch deep place in Chriſts heart, it is a plain ſigne Chriſt hath a deep place in our hearts.
Ʋſe 5 Fifthly, this may ſhew us a meanes how to conſume all baſe and kitch inloves and luſts in us, ſet upon theſe ſenſuall worldly things; grow up in this ſpirituall love to Chriſt, and it will ſwallow up and conſume theſe leſſer fires; the greater light will extinguiſh the leſſer, as the Sun will put out the kitchin fire; ſo this ſtrong fire of Chriſts love in us will burne up, and eat out all luſt in us.
Ʋſe 6 Sixthly, this may comfort the true Church and children of God, in aſſurance of their perſeverance: if our love to him be ſo unchangeable, that many waters of afflictions cannot quench it, nor floods of temptations drowne it; if it be ſo ſtrong as death, that it will devour all before it, how much more is his love to us!
Ʋſe 7 Seventhly, this lets us ſee that the Churches that are well eſtabliſhed themſelves, muſt not contemne their weake neighbour Churches, but take care, and uſe all good meanes for their eſtabliſhment and growth: How far ſhould greater Churches bee from cutting off the breaſts, or breaking downe the walls of their ſmall neighbour-Churches.
Ʋſe 8 Eightly, this may teach Magiſtrates to be as walls to keep out all diſorder, ſtand up as a wall if there come in diſorders, ſtand ſo high that they cannot come over; if any would goe a begging, keep them in; reſtraine beggery, idleneſſe, drunkenneſſe, whordome, and prophaneneſſe, all evill courſes; be as a wall, whereon to reare a ſilver Palace for ever; whereon to lay the frame of a good motion, courſe, or order, to be taken for the publique good; any good motion made, or to be made; is as a wall to divide equally to all men their right.
Ʋſe 9 Ninthly, this may teach Miniſters to be as doores to open a wide entrance for the people to come to Chriſt; not as thoſe Scribes and Phariſees, which Chriſt complaines of*Luke 12. 52., which neither enter in themſelves, nor would ſuffer others: ſuch are rather Port-culliſes, yea, gates of Hell.
Ʋſe 10 Tenthly, this may let us ſee the duty of Magiſtrates; if Miniſters bee doores, it ſhould bee their care to hem them in with boards of Cedar, to provide for their ſecurity: it is the duty of every Magiſtrate and member to hem them in, that no enemy may be able to oppoſe them, but that they may be without fear among them, as it is*1 Cor. 16. 10., See that Timothy be without feare among you.
Ʋſe 11 Eleventhly, this may let us ſee a Church enjoying a faithfull Miniſtry, and a Chriſtian Migiſtracy, enjoyeth a ſpeciall favour from Chriſt.
Ʋſe 12 Twelfthly, this lets us ſee what great care Chriſt will one day have of his Church, though Lyons, Dragons, and Beares have broken in upon the Church to devour it; and beſides many Foxes have ſought to ſubvert it, and to cut the ſinewes of it aſunder, yet when Chriſt ſhall take the government of it into his hands, there ſhall be no enemy to offer violence to it: When the great Leviathan ſhall be puniſhed, even Leviathan that crooked Serpent, and the Dragon that is in the ſea ſhall be ſlaine; In that day ſing yee unto her, Iſa. 27. 1. 2.a vineyard of new wine; yea, the Lord will keepe it, he will water it every moment, leſt any hurt it, he will keep it night and day; yea, Chriſt will one day free his Church from all oppreſſion, and give free paſſage to all his ordinances.
Ʋſe 13 Finally, this ſerves to teach us all what affection we ſhould have to the comming of Chriſt to Judgement, to deſire him to be as the Roe or a young Hart upon the mountaines of ſpices; to take us up into the higheſt heavens, where are all manner of ſweet and fragant and pleaſant things, even fulneſſe of joy for evermore.
The faithfull Spouſes of Chriſt do earneſtly deſire his comming to judgement,Pſa. 16. 11. but Harlots would put off his comming:2 Tim. 4. 8. A chaſte wife, and a loyall Spouſe deſires her husband to ſend no more letters, but to haſten his returne, and come home; but a harlot would have her husbands comming deferred; ſo they whoſe hearts are a whoring after the world, neither deſire Chriſts comming, nor love his appearing. That we may therefore ſhew and approve our ſelves to bee the true Spouſes of Chriſt, deſire his haſty comming, and ſay, as Revel. 20. 20. Even ſo come Lord Ieſus, come quickly, Amen. The Lord work this good work and frame of grace in our hearts, for Ieſus Chriſts ſake, Amen. Alas who ſhal live when God doth this? Num. 24. 23.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Cotton, A Brief Exposition of the Book of the Song of Solomon (1642)