Exposition of the Song of Solomon, Chapter 8 · Verse 5
BRIDE.
Vers.—5.
I raised thee up under the Apple-tree: there thy mother brought thee forth, there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
The second part of this verse, in these words, I raised thee up, &c. are not without obscurity: We take the words to be a new argument of the Brides, whereby (a…ter this exclamation of the daughters of Ierusalem) she comes in to presse her former suit upon the Bridegroom, and proceeds in it, as being loath to be interrupted or diverted from her direct application to him; wherefore, she seems to take no notice of what the daughters spoke, and makes no reply, but instantly goes on in her wrestling with him, as if nothing had been spoken by them. That they are words spoken to him, the A…xes in the Original make it clear; for, although there be no such difference in our Language, whereby we may discern whether the word thee, be masculine or feminine, as spoken to man or woman, yet in the Hebrew there is a clear difference; And so, the word thee, I raised thee, being in the Original of the masculine gener, it's thee man, or thee my beloved, or husband; and therefore, they cannot be understood as his words to her, but as hers to him, seing it may be clearly discerned in the Original that they belong to a man, and it's a different word from that which is ordinarily spoken of a woman; and there being no convincing example to the contrary, we must so understand the words here, and to understand them otherwise, would bring-in needlesse confusion in that Language. Next, that her scope is to presse for neernesse with him, both what went before, and what follows, do demonstrat: which also the opening of the words will confirm. In them there are two experiences asserted, which tend both to this scope: The first is her own experience, I raised thee up under the Apple-tree. The second is, the experience of all other believers, there thy mother brought thee forth, there she brought forth (for thee in this repeated expression, is not in the Original) that bare thee.
By the Apple-tree, we understand Christ himself, who is so called, Chap. 2. 3. because of his fruit and shadow, under which she sat down. To be under the Apple-tree, suppons her to be neer him, and actually delighting her self on him, as being abundantly refreshed under his shadow, as was cleared, Chap. 2. 3. Her raising up of Christ, imports these three things, 1. A duty on her part (to say so) putting him to shew himself someway for her, more than formerly he had done: So to raise, or awake, when it is applyed to God, signifies, as, Psal. 7. 6. Psal. 44. 23. Awake, why sleepest thou? arise, cast us not off? So then, the meaning of this expression, I raised thee, is, I dealt with, and importuned thee in this. 2. It implyes importunity in dealing with Christ, incessantly she stirred him, and with petitions pressed him; So, when it is said, Isa. 64. 7. No man stirrs up himself, &c. The word, stirrs up, is the same word, and imports more than to pray: It signifies livelinesse and wrestling in it, as fowls use to stirr their young ones when they would have them flying, from which the word is borrowed. 3. It implyes successe, I not only made application to thee, and was helped to be serious; but I prevailed, and thou was awaked and raised, and did make thy self in more than an ordinary way manifest to me, and for me, when I being admitted under thy shadow, took that opportunity to deal with thee. This then is the scope and strength of this first assertion, It's no marvel (saith she) that I long for thy company; for, by former experience I have found the good of it, not only for present ease under sad difficulties, but also I have been thereby helped to more liberty in prayer, and have had successe for attaining new experiences of thy love; Therefore, I desire thy company still, and cannot but desire it.
The second assertion is more broad and extensive, Not only I (saith she) have found it so; but all thy people have found accesse to thee, or thy blessed company and presence singularly usefull, to make them fruitful, as having much influence thereon. So, by Christ's mother, here we conceive, is understood the believer, in whom he is formed and brought forth, as we cleared on Chap. 3. 11. and they bring forth Christ, 1. By giving him a beeing in their hearts, where he had it not before; his image is in some respect himself, and when his image is brought forth in the soul, Christ is said to be formed and brought forth there. 2. By bringing forth of the fruits of Christ's Spirit before others; when being, as it were, in travel in the pursuit of holiness, they are helped to manifest his image (after which they are created) in their conversations. 3. By attaining to the knowledge of this, that Christ is in them; believers being, as it were, in travel, till they know their delivery; but when that is clearly made out, and intimate to them, then (as the woman that brings forth a man-child, Ioh. 16. 21.) they are at quietnesse, as being delivered. The force of the Argument lyes in the word there, which relates to the Apple-tree; under the Apple-tree (saith she) where I raised thee up, being admitted to thy fellowship; there also they were made fruitful, and delivered from their former pangs and travel, even as I was; and when it is found in the experience of all thy people, as well as by me (saith she) that thy presence and company is so useful, it can therefore be no delusion, nor is it any wonder that I so presse after it: And by this it seems, that bringing forth of Christ in this second part, is the same in substance with raising of him up in the former, to wit, the obtaining of some sensible manifestation of Christ's respect, by which, these who were formerly in pain to have Christ formed in them, are now delivered and eased from the flames of jealous love, that are as pangs to such as travel in birth (as it were) to have their interest in Christ made clear, as the words in the following verse expresse. Obs. 1. That which in a believers experience hath proven useful, is in a special manner lovely and commendable to them: Experience is a most convincing demonstration of the worth of any thing, and leaves the deepest impression thereof behind it. 2. The more any by experience have learned Christ's worth, and the more they have tasted that he is gracious, their affections do the more vehemently stir after him. 3. Christ's presence hath many great and excellent advantages waiting on it; It brings …ase and quietnesse to the soul, and gives refreshment under his shadow, it gives accesse to pray with freedom, and duties then have usually a sensible successe. 4. The believer looks upon it as a great mercy to have freedom in prayer, and to be heard when he prayes; That by prayer she raised Christ up, is remembred as a mercy not to be forgotten, and this yet commends unto her the good of sitting under his shadow. 5. Accesse to Christ is no time for security, but for prayer; and when the believer is admitted to solace himself in Christ's presence, then should he be diligent in wrestling with him, and improving that opportunity for pressing after a further manifestation of him. 6. There are some experiences that are unquestionable to all believers, though they be mysteries to all others in the world. 7. It is not a little strengthning, yea, exceedingly confirming to believers, when their experience and the experiences of other believers co-incide, and jump in the proof of the same thing. 8. Although believers may in some things differ, yet there are some things commonly found good in experience by them all: This is the advantage of Christ's company, there was never a believer that attained it, but he …ound much good of it; and these who still travel for it, apprehend groundedly that there is an unspeakable good in it.