Exposition of the Song of Solomon, Chapter 1 · Verse 11
Vers. 11.
We will make thee borders of Gold, with studs of Silver.
In the 11. Vers. for confirming of the former consolation, he gives her a promise; the scope whereof is to obviat an objection, which jealous sense might make against what he hath said: How shall beauty be obtained, or continued? might she say, whence shall it come, seing I am so black and loathsome? To this he answers, as it were, by a sweet promise, We will make, &c. Wherein we may consider, 1. The thing promised, it's borders of Gold, and studs of Silver. 2. The party promising, and undertaking the performance of it: We will make them to thee, saith he.
Borders of Gold, and studs of Silver(it's like) have been some special ornaments in these dayes, and that which is here pointed at by them, in general seems to be an addition to what formerly the Bride possessed, he would add to her beauty, and gloriously compleat it: And certainly it must be an excellent work, which needs such workers as are here spoken of. We take the thing promised, to comprehend the increase, continuance and perfecting of her comelinesse and beauty; in which work the blessed Trinity are ingaged: and so, the second thing is, who undertakes it, We will make thee, saith the Bridegroom: This word make, in the Original is used for making of man at first, Gen. 1. 26. As also, for renewing of him, and begetting holinesse in him, Psal. 100. because it's no lesse work to renew, than to creat man. The number here is changed from the singular, I have compared, &c. Vers. 9. to the plural, We will, &c. As it is also in the first making of man, from the singular, He made Heaven and Earth, to the plural, let VsUs make man according to our Image; as if the Holy Ghost, purposly, in mentioning this renewing-work of grace, did allude to the first work of mans creation. And this, 1. To shew, the excellency of it, not that God was put to any deliberation, but that the work was, and is exceeding excellent, and there…ore deliberatly, as it were, gone about. 2. To shew, that man hath no more hand in his renovation than his first creation, that is, he is no more of himself able to bring about the one than the other. By this We, we do not understand God speaking of himself in the plural number, as in some languages, for honors cause, Kings do of themselves: For, 1. If that were more honorable, then it would have alwayes been used for Gods honour, especially at solemn times, such as when the Law was given; but we find the contrary true from the Scripture. 2. Although that manner of speaking be used in some other languages, yet it is never so used in the Hebrew tongue (as, by these who understand it, is asserted; and by some of the most Learned Iews is acknowledged) and therefore we understand the Trinity of Persons in one God-head to be here understood; for, this One is also Three, the Father, Son and Spirit, having a joynt design in promoving the Salvation of the Elect, Isa. 61. 1, 2. And grace being a work, and gift prayed for, from them all, Rev. 1. 4, 5. it must be understood of these three blessed Persons of the holy Trinity, this work being common to the three Persons of the God-head, and communicable to no other. This then makes the consolation strong; for, saith Christ, although the perfecting of your grace be a great task, and far above your reach, yet fear not, We, the Father, Son and Spirit have undertaken it, and shall make it out to you.
Hence we may lea…n, 1. That grown believers, even the Bride, hath need of more grace and spiritual comelinesse; There is a necessity of looking after a further growth in those, even to be transchanged from glory to glory, 2. Cor. 3. ult. 2. That growing ingrace, and perseverance therein, is a great consolation and com…ort to a true believer; and therefore the promise of it is given to the Bride for that end here. 3. That neither growth in grace, nor perseverance therein, is a work of the believers own working, but the omnipotency of grace is exercised here. 4. There is plurality of persons in the one God-head; The God-head, that is I, is also We. 5. All the persons of the blessed Trinity concur, and are ingaged in promoving the holinesse, and in perfecting the beauty of a believer. 6. All the graces of a believer are pieces of the workmanship of the holy Trinity: Grace then must be an excellent thing. 7. The perfecting and perseverance of a believer is infallibly sure and certain, seing all the persons of the Godhead are ingaged in this work; and they who this day are believers, may promise this to themselves. 8. Much of believers beauty is yet in the promise, and in the perfecting, so that it hath it's defects and imperfections while they are here. 9. What is promised is so sure, that it ought to be no lesse comfortable, than if it were injoyed; for the promise ought to have no lesse weight for that end, than the former commendation. 10. Christ allowes his people freedom from anxiety, because of things that are to come, and to be comforted in him against the feares of those, as well as to draw consolation from him against any evil that is present; therefore is this intimat unto them. 11. Believers ought still to hold all their injoyments and priviledges as from him, and the expectation of what is coming, as well as the performance of what is past. 12. Faith in the promise, hath a large comprehensive object to rest upon, and to draw consolation from, even the power of the Godhead, and what may be by the Father, Son and Spirit created, and brought about for a believers good, even though it have not at present a being; we will make thee what is wanting and what is needful, sayes the promise; creating power is ingaged to through his work concerning them, I creat the fruit of the lips, Isa. 57. 19. and I will creat Ierusalem a joy, &c. more cannot be desired, and lesse the Lord allowes not.