Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Canticles · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Verſ. 1. By night on my Bed I ſought him whom my ſoul loveth.]
SHee had not a name good enough for him: ſhee therefore makes uſe of this powerful Periphraſis. Before hee had been her Beloved, but now the love of her ſoul, becauſe now hee had withdrawn himſelf. It was night with her now; ſhee walked in darkneſs, and had no light, as Iſa. 50.10. and, as before day break, the darkneſs is greateſt: ſo was it now with the woful Spouſe. Shee was indeed upon her bed of eaſe, but to her in this caſe it was a little-eaſe, a bed of unreſt, her ſoul was toſſed and troubled with ſolitary ſeeking, longing and looking after him whom her ſoul loved. By night therefore, or night after night, ſundry nights together (as ſome read it) Shee ſought and ſought, being conſtant, inſtant and indefa…igable in the ſcarch, ſhee ſought him early and earneſtly, with utmoſt attention and affection, with her whole heart and ſoul, Jer. 29.13. according to the meaſure of her love to him, which was modus ſine modo, as Bernard hath it. Now whatſoever a man loves, that hee deſires, and what hee deſires, that hee ſeeks after; eſpecially if hee apprehend ſome ſingular worth in it. In Chriſt are hid all the treaſures of wiſdome and knowledge, Col. 2.3. Hee is better than Rubias, ſaith Solomon, and all the things that may bee deſired are not to bee compared unto him, Prov. 8.11. Hence the good ſoul ſeeks him, as eagerly as the Mammoniſt ſeeks ſilver, the Ambitioniſt honour, the affamiſhed man bread, the condemned priſoner a pardon, or as one that ſeeks for a loſt Jewel, hee over-looks all till hee hath found it; Chriſt I muſt have, ſaith ſhee, whatever it coſt mee: this gold cannot bee bought too dear. Shee longeth ſore, as David did, ſaying, Oh that one would give mee of the water of the Well of Bethlehem! 1 Chron. 11.17. Oh for a bleſſed arm-full of the Babe of Bethlehem! ſuch as Simeon once had; Give mee Chriſt, or elſe I die. None but Chriſt, none but Christ. All is but dung and droſs to Chriſt.Phil. 3. God offered Moſes an Angel to go along with them in the wilderneſs: Hee would have no Angel, nor ſtir a ſtep unleſs God himſelf would conduct them. Barak would not march without Deborah; &c.
I found him not] i. e. I had not ſo full a preſence, nor ſo faſt hold of him as I deſired, hee had got behinde the wall or the window, as in the former chapter, and (Joſeph-like) concealed his love out of increaſement of love; as alſo that hee may ſtir up ſtrong affections after him in the hearts of his people: for hee well enough knows how to commend his mercies to us, as Laban did his daughter Rachel to Jacob, by holding us off, by ſuſpending us for a ſeaſon. Even barren Leah, when unloved and unlookt on, becomes fruitful: and the drowſie Spouſe, when ſhee miſſeth her Beloved, becomes reſtleſs till ſhee have recovered him. In their affliction they will ſeek mee early, Hoſ. 5.15. Affliction excites devotion; and makes the Saints ſeek again with a redoubled diligence, as here. See Pſal. 78.34, 35. It fares with the beſt ſometimes, as it did with Saint Paul and his company in the ſhipwrack, Act. 27.20. when they ſaw neither Sun nor Stars for divers daies and nights together. In this diſmal and diſconſolate condition, if they can but caſt anchor and pray ſtill for day, Chriſt will appear (as here, verſe 3.) and all ſhall clear up, the day will dawn, and the day-ſtar appear in their hearts. Mourning laſteth but till morning, Pſal. 30. and the viſion is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it ſhall ſpeak and not lye, it will ſurely come, it will not tarry, Hab. 2.3. But what ſhall wee do in the mean while, may ſome ſay? how ſhall wee ſuſtain our ſpirits? ſith hope deferred makes the heart ſick? Though it tarry, wait for it, ſaith the Prophet, Have patience, and learn to live by Faith, The juſt ſhall live by his Faith, verſ. 4. Wee are uſually too haſty, and do antedate the promiſes: neither will any reaſon ſatisfie us, unleſs wee may have all Chriſts ſweetneſs at once, and at preſent. Excellent is that diſcourſe that Mr. Bradford the Martyr makes in a conſolatory letter to a good woman, that was troubled in conſcience. You are not content, ſaith hee, to kiſs Chriſts feet,Act. and Mon. 1490. with Magdalen, but you would bee kiſſed even with the kiſſes of his mouth. You would ſee his face with Moſes, forgetting how hee biddeth to ſeek his face, Pſal. 27. yea and that for ever, Pſal. 105. which ſignifieth no ſuch ſight as you deſire to ſee in this preſent life, which would ſee God now face to face: whereas hee cannot bee ſeen but covered under ſomething, yea ſometime in that which is clean contrary unto God, as to ſee his mercy in his anger, &c. How did Job ſee God, but as yee would ſay under Satans cloak? &c. You know that Moſes when hee went to the Mount to talk with God, hee entred into a dark cloud. And Elias had his face covered when God paſſed by. Both theſe dear friends of God heard God, but ſaw him not. But you would bee preferred before them. See now, my dear heart, how covetous you are. Ah bee thankful, bee thankful! But God bee thanked your covetouſneſs, is Moſes covetouſneſs. Well, with him you ſhall bee ſatisfied. But when? forſooth when hee ſhall appear, &c. God would have his people diſcontentedly contented with what meaſures of grace and feelings they have attained unto, and to know that Tota vita boni Chriſtiani ſanctum deſiderium eſt, Bern.the whole life of a good Chriſtian is an holy deſire after more: and that thoſe very pantings, inquietations and unſatisfiableneſſes cannot but ſpring from truth of grace, and ſome taſte of Chriſt.
Verſ. 2. I will riſe now and go about the City, &c.] The holy City Jeruſalem, whither the Tribes went up, the Tribes of the Lord unto the Teſtimony of Iſrael, Pſal. 122.4. There was the likelieſt place to finde Chriſt; there his Parents found him once after three daies ſearch (Luk. 2.46.) ſitting in the Temple: there hee dwelt amongſt men, there hee gave gifts unto men, and there-hence hee went forth abroad the whole world conquering, and to conquer, Rev. 6.2. Here therefore the Spouſe ſeeks him amongſt the people of God, and in his Word and Ordinances. Shee knew well that hee fed his flock among thoſe Lillies, uſed to go down into that his garden of ſpices, Cant. 6.1, 2. to take a turn amidſt thoſe golden Candleſticks, Rev. 1.13. to take a view of his Wedding gueſts, Mat. 22.11. yea to eat and drink in their preſence, and to teach in their ſtreets, Luk. 13.26. Abroad ſhee gets therefore, and that preſently.
I will riſe now] Saith ſhee, leſt I loſe mine opportunity: for if ſo, I may ſeek it with tears, and go without it with ſorrow. Men may purpoſe, promiſe, and expect a time of healing, and curing, when they ſhall bee deceived, and finde a time of trouble, Jer. 14.17. Many, I ſay unto you, ſhall ſeek to enter, and ſhall not bee able, Luk. 13.24. yea they ſhall go with their flocks; and with their herds, to ſeek the Lord; but they ſhall not finde him, hee hath withdrawn himſelf from them, Hoſ. 5.6. They came too late belike; they ſought not the Lord while hee was to bee found (vel ſero, vel certe non ſerio quaerebant) they called not upon him while hee was near, they ſtayed till hee was out of call, Prov. 1.28. till hee was reſolved to return either no anſwer at all, or ſuch a ſad anſwer as the Jews had from him, becauſe they ſtood out their day of grace, Yee ſhall ſeek mee, and ſhall not finde mee: and where I am, thither yee cannot come, John 7.34. And again, I go my way, and yee ſhall ſeek mee, and ſhall dye in your ſins, John 8.21. Oh dreadful ſentence! The Church her ſelf here, though never ſo dear to Chriſt, ſeems to ſome to bee guilty of ſloth and ſlackneſs in ſeeking after Chriſt, and doing it in her bed (as loth at firſt to diſeaſe her ſelf) or in holding him while ſhee had him, if whilſt ſhee was ſleeping, hee ſlipt away from her ſide. The wiſe Virgins alſo were napping and nodding, Mat. 25. and holy Auſtin confeſſeth, that hee could not anſwer that clear text, whereby hee was called out of his ſinful courſe,Confeſſ. lib. 8. cap. 5. Awake thou that ſleepeſt, and ſtand up from the dead, &c. but onelyonly by that wiſh of the ſluggard, Modo & ecce modo, Sinite paululum, &c. A little more ſleeps, a little more ſlumbers, &c. little and yet ſleeps in the plural. Thus Modo & Modo non habent modum, & Sinite paululum ibit in longum, as that Father hath it. Somewhat it was ſurely that makes the Church reſolve, as here, I will riſe now, or Let mee riſe now; I will ſtir up the gift of God that is in mee, I will ſtir up my ſelf to take better hold of Chriſt. Here is a tacit taxing her ſelf for ſome former ſlackneſs, after her former enjoyments, and familiar entercourſe with Chriſt. Wee are too ready, after wee have run well, to lye down and take cold, which may cauſe a conſumption: to pleaſe our ſelves in unlawful liberties, when wee have pleaſed the Lord in lawful duties. Hezekiah, after his notable ſervice both of prayer and thankſgiving, fondly over-ſhoots himſelf to the Babyloniſh Embaſſadors. Jonah after his Embaſſage faithfully diſcharged to the Ninivites, breaks forth into anger againſt the Lord. Peter being commended by Chriſt for the profeſſion of his Faith,Mat. 16. fell preſently ſo far wide, that hee heard, Get thee behinde mee Satan.
I ſought him, but I found him not] For trial and exerciſe of her faith and conſtancy. Then ſhall yee know, if yee follow on to know the Lord, Hoſ. 6.3. So then ſhall wee finde, if wee follow on to ſeek Chriſt, fetching him out of his hiding-place, as the woman of Canaan did. For hee would have hid himſelf, ſaith the Text, but hee could not, For a certain woman, &c. Mark. 7.24, 25. And as ſhee ſet him out, ſo ſhee followed him cloſe; refuſing to bee either ſaid nay, or ſit down with ſilence or ſad anſwers. The like did Jacob, Gen. 32. hee wreſtled with might and ſlight, hee would have a bleſſing whether God would or no, as wee may ſay with reverence. Let men go, ſaith God, No, thou ſhalt not, ſaith Jacob. Let mee alone that I may deſtroy this people, No,foreign Propter improbitatem. by no means, ſaith Moſes. In ſeeking of Chriſt, faith is not onelyonly importunate, but even impudent, Luk. 15.8. and threatens Heaven, as Nazianzen ſaid of his ſiſter Gorgonia. If hee have loſt his mercy, ſhee will finde it for him, Iſa. 63.15. If hee look ſtrange and ſtern, ſhee will both know him, and claim him amidſt all his auſterities. Verſ. 16. Art not thou our Father? Pſal. 63.8.If hee bee gone never ſo far, ſhee will follow hard after him, ſo Davids phraſe is, even as hard as her old leggs will carry (as Father Latimer ſaid) with Return for thy ſervants ſake. Wee are thine, &c. verſ. 17, 19. O Lord (faith the Church in Habakkuk) Art not thou from everlaſting, my God, and mine Holy One? It was a bold queſtion; but God aſſents to it in a gracious anſwer, ere hee went further. Wee ſhall not dye, ſay they abruptly, Hab. 1.12. Nay after two daies (for ſo long, it may bee, hee will hold us off, to try how wee will hold out ſeeking) hee will revive us, in the third day hee will raiſe us up, and wee ſhall live in his ſight, Hoſ. 6.2. Or if wee ſhould dye in this waiting condition, and in a ſpiritual deſertion, yet wee could not miſſe of Heaven, becauſe hee hath ſaid, Bleſſed are all they that wait for him, Iſa. 30.18.
Verſ. 3. The watchmen that go about the City found mee] i. e. The Angels, (who are Gods watchmen over the world, and are ſo called ſomewhere in Scripture) as alſo, Miniſtring Spirits, guardians of the Saints,foreign. Dan. 4.10 Ezek. 33.2 &c. But here I conceive are meant either thoſe Princes of the world, ſtrangers to the myſtery of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 2.8. and therefore can tell no tale nor tidings of him. For why, they are of Gallio's Religion, which is no better than a meer irreligion, Act. 18.15. being de regione magis ſoliciti quam de religione, as one ſaith: Or elſe, the Officers and Miniſters of the Church, ſet as Watch-men upon Jeruſalems walls, with charge never to hold their peace, day nor night, Iſa. 62.6. But they alaſs prove too too oft blind watch-men, dumb doggs, ſleeping, lying down, loving to ſlumber, Iſa. 56.16. And ſuch it ſeems were theſe here, by the ſmall directions they gave the Church, or intelligence of her beſt Beloved. Howbeit, becauſe the Prieſts lips ſhould preſerve knowledge,Heb. 13.1 and they are given for Guides to God, however they prove, ſhee repairs to them, or rather, lighting upon them, enquires for Chriſt.
Saw yee him whom my ſoul loveth?] They that love Chriſt in ſincerity, are apt to imagine that others alſo do love him no leſs than they. So much worth they finde in him, that they wonder how any can do otherwiſe than affect and admire him. This made Mary Magdalen, who loved much, to ask the Gardener (for ſo ſhee took him to bee) what hee had done with the Lords body, John 20.15. Whereabout ſhee thought hee had been as ſolicitous as her ſelf. So the Church here, Have you ſeen him? When they perhaps were perfect ſtrangers to him. But bee they as they will, they ſhould have known and loved the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, upon pain of utter cutting off, 1 Cor. 16.22. and whether they do or do not, they ſhall know that ſhee loves him; Quis enim celaverit ignem? for who can hide fire in his boſome, or musk in his pocket? The love of Chriſt cannot poſſibly bee concealed. A man may as eaſily hide the wind with his fiſt, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth it ſelf, as Solomon ſpeaketh in another caſe, Prov. 27.16. Hee that beleeves with his heart, will confeſs with his mouth, Rom. 10.10. Chriſts true worſhippers are marked in their fore-heads, Rev. 7.3. Antichriſts limbs receive his mark in their hands, chap. 13.16. which they can cover or diſcover, as they ſee occaſion. Wee have alſo many politick Profeſſors amongſt us, who for want of true love to Chriſt, either run away in the plain field, Heb. 10. ult. and ſo incur the danger of Marſhal Law: or elſe (under a colour of diſcretion) fall back into the rereward; the battel is ſharp, and it is not good to bee too forward. But is this thy love to thy friend, as bee ſaid to Huſhai the Archite? Davids Parents and brethren came down to him to the cave of Adullam, though to their great danger, 1 Sam. 22.1. And Baſil being blamed for his forwardneſs to appear for his friend in danger, anſwered, Ego aliter amare non didici, a friend is made for the day of adverſity.
Verſ. 4. It was but a little that I paſſed from them] It is probable, that lighting upon theſe watch-men, ſhee promiſed her ſelf much counſel and comfort from them; but was diſappointed. It pleaſeth God many times to croſs our likelieſt projects, that himſelf alone may bee l…aned upon. The poor ſoul in diſtreſs is apt to knock at the creatures door for comfort, to ſhark abroad, and to look this way and that way, as David did, for help. Yea many uſe the means as Mediatours, and ſo fall ſhort of Chriſt. It is a good Note that one makes upon this Text, that ſhee was a little paſt the watchmen;Mr. Dud'y Fenner. which ſhews, ſaith hee, that the Lord delaies comfort, to draw his Church thorow all his means, from the loweſt to the higheſt, where ſhee findeth in ſhort ſpace comfort; but many times not till ſhee is paſt: that they might not attribute it to the excellency of the means, but unto God.
Ideo minatur, ut non punia…. Chryſ.But I found him whom my ſoul loveth] Chriſt, as hee therefore threatneth that hee may not bee put to puniſh, ſo hee therefore hides himſelf (otherwhiles) that hee may come in again to his people with more comfort: And his uſual time to come in to them, is, when they have well-nigh done looking after him (as hee dealt by thoſe two that were travelling to Emmaus, Luk. 24.13.) when they have hanged up their hopes, and their harps together, and are ready to caſt away their confidence, and to leave looking any longer, Luk. 18.8. When the ſon of man comes (viz. with an anſwer to his peoples prayers, which they have now even given up for loſt labour) ſhall hee finde Faith upon the earth? i. e. will anybody ever think, that having ſtayed ſo long, hee would yet come at laſt? Chriſt loves to comfort thoſe that are forſaken of their hopes, and to give a bleſſing to thoſe times and means, whereof wee deſpair. The pains cannot bee caſt away which wee reſolve to loſe for Chriſt.
I held him, and would not let him go] Shee held him with both hands earneſtly: for Faith hath two hands, one receiving Chriſt from God, the other giving the beleever to God. With both ſhee holds Chriſt (the King is held in her galleries by the bonds of love, by the cords of kindneſs, Cant. 7.5. hee is even held priſoner in her company) but eſpecially with the former. Shee holds him, as Jacob did, Gen. 32.26. though with much conflict: the Devil ſtrikes hard at her hand, and would make her looſe her hold. Hence Faith is fain to tugg and wreſtle, even till it ſweat again. And therefore Paul calls it, foreign, the difficult work of Faith, 1 Theſ. 1.3. becauſe the beleever hath ſuch ado to hold his own. If hee cannot hold with his hands, hee will make uſe of his teeth (as it is ſtoried of Cynegirus that Noble Athenian, and of our Sir Thomas Challoner, A…lian. Camden.in the wars of Charls the fifth) any ſhift hee will make rather than part with Chriſt, whom his ſoul loveth: having faſtened on the tree of life, rather than drown, hee is reſolved to pull it up by the very roots. Let God fight againſt him with his own hand, and offer, as it were, to kill him, yet hee will hang on ſtill: hee will truſt in an angry God, in a killing God, as Job: and as Jacob, hee will wreſtle, and not let go, though alone, and in the night, and upon one leg. Loe this is the Generation of them that ſeek him, of them that ſeek thy face: this is Jacob, Pſal. 24.6. theſe bee Iſraelites indeed, John 1.47.
Until I had brought him into my Mothers houſe] That is, into my conſcience, ſay ſome, (where Faith dwelleth, and Chriſt by faith, Rom. 10.10. Gal. 4.19.) into the Synagogues of the Jews ſay others, or into the Congregations of the Gentiles. They do beſt that underſtand it of the Catholick Church, the ſupernal Jeruſalem, that mother of us all, figured by Sarah, Gal 4.24, 26. where Chriſt hath moſt delightful dwelling, a comfortable commoration, and as it were, conjugal cohabitation with his Spouſe, chamber-fellowſhip, Judg. 15.1.
Verſ. 5. I charge you, O yee daughters of Jeruſalem] As a further fruit of her revived faith, ſhee renews her conteſtation, and charge of ſanctification of life, ſuch as becometh the Goſpel; that Chriſt whom ſhee reſolves now to retain with her, bee not provoked by ſin to leave his people, Numb. 32.15. And in this vehement adjuration, no doubt, ſaith an Interpreter, but the Church had a ſpecial regard to the cuſtome uſed then, and yet even at this day uſed amongſt us: namely, that ſongs are ſung before the Bride-chamber, and certain noiſes of Inſtruments brought to wake the Bride and Bridegroom from ſleep. See the Note on chap. 2.7.
Verſ. 6. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderneſs] Who is this, ſay the Angels, thoſe friends of the Bridegroom (as ſome will have it) admiring the Churches high expreſſions, and continual aſcenſions in her affection to Chriſt? But I rather think it is the voice of the Bridegroom himſelf, raviſhed with the beauty and ſweetneſs of his Spouſe, and wondring at his own comelineſs put upon her; as well hee may; for quantum mutatur ab illa? Virg.Such a change hee hath wrought in her, as never was known in any. See Ezek. 16.6, 7, 8, &c. Moſes married an Ethiopian woman, and could not change her hiew. David married a ſcornful dame, a mocking Michol, and could not mend her conditions. Jobs wife continued to bee (as it is ſaid of Helena after the Trojan troubles cauſed by her) foreign, the ſame woman ſtill, no changeling Shee: but the Church, and all her genuine children are ſtrangely altered and metamorphoſed (as the Apoſtles word is, Rom. 12.2.) and this change is not moral, formal, meerly mental, temporal, partial, but ſpiritual, real, univerſal, both in reſpect of ſubject and object: for it is an intire change of the whole man, from the whole ſervice of Satan, to the living and true God in ſincere obedience to the whole Law, the whole courſe of his life throughout. A change ſo conſpicuous, and ſo ſtupendious, that not onelyonly ſtrangers take notice of it, ſtrange at it, 1 Pet. 4.4. and marvel much at the matter, ſaying,foreign. Who is this? Mat. 21.10. What is come to the man of late, that now it is, Ego non ſum? but Chriſt himſelf ſtands wondring at his own work, as hee did once in Nathanael, Behold an Iſraelite indeed (an Iſhmaelite by nature, but an Iſraelite by grace, as Gether, 1 Chron. 7.17. 2 Sam. 17.3.) John 1.47. and as before that in Araunah, that famous Jebuſite, 2 Sam. 24.18. compared with Zach. 9.7.
That cometh out of the wilderneſs] ſcil. Of this world, fitly called a wilderneſs, for the paucity of good people in it (the wilderneſs of Judea, where John preached was ſo called, becauſe but thinly inhabited) and plenty of Bears, and Bores, Lions, and Leopards, and other wilde creatures, whereunto wicked men for their ſavageneſs are commonly compared in Scripture. This aſcending of the Church out of the world, as Iſrael did out of Egypt, and their orderly marching thorow the wilderneſs into the promiſed inheritance, is worthily called a wonderful ſeparation, Exod. 33.16. And as that Angel that appeared to Manoah, by aſcending up in the flame of the Altar, is ſaid to do wondrouſly, Judg. 13.19, 20. So do the Saints by their daily devotions, as ſo many pillars of ſmoke, elationibus fumi, aſpiring to eternity, and coming up, (as Cornelius his prayers and alms did) for a memorial before God, Act. 10.4. And albeit their beſt performances are as ſmoke, black and ſooty in regard of infirmities and imperfections, yet they have a principle in them to carry them upward: they have alſo the High-Prieſt of the New Teſtament, not to preſent them onelyonly, but to perfume and becenſe them, as it is here, with myrrhe and frankincenſe, and ſweeteſt powders of the ſpice-merchant, that is, with the merit and mediation of his own moſt precious paſſion, Heb. 9.24. thoſe ſweet odours poured as out of Vials, into the prayers of Saints, Rev. 5.8. & 8.4. and ſo making both them and their ſervices acceptable to his Father. And as hee promiſed, John 12.32. that being lifted up himſelf by the croſs to the Kingdome, hee would draw all his to him; ſo wee ſee it fulfilled in the Saints, thoſe heavenly Eagles, ſoaring out of ſight: lowly in their ſpeeches, lofty in their actions, but eſpecially in their affections carried above all earthly objects, Col. 3.2. and not content till they are gotten home to Heaven; their commoration is here, their converſation above. Theſe heavenly Stars, though ſeen ſometimes in a puddle, though they reflect there, yet they have their ſituation in Heaven. Theſe birds of Paradiſe, though they may touch happily upon earth, yet they are moſtly upon the wing, and thoſe outward comforts and creatures are to them but ſcalae & alae, wings and wind in their wings, Zeph. 5.9. to carry them upward. Let ſhallow men wonder at worldly things, as the Diſciples did at the huge and fair ſtones of the Temple, Mat. 24. let them bee nailed faſt to the earth, as Siſera was by Jael, let them ever bow down-ward, as that woman in the Goſpel that had a ſpirit of infirmity, let them grovel and go upon their bellies, and feed upon earth, as the Serpent, Gen. 3. The Saints are of another alloy: their civil converſation is in Heaven,foreign. Phil. 3.20. their politick bent, aim and fetch is for Heaven: They are immortalitatis candidati, as the Ancients called Henock and Elias, they do paradiſum mente deambulare, as Hierome bids the young Hermite, take a turn ever and anon in paradiſe: and, after ſome ſerious thoughts of that bleſſed place, they break out, as Monica, Auſtins Mother did, into a Quid hic facio? What make I here? why haſten I not home to mine own Country? They ſend up many pious ejaculations, many holy ſallies, and as it were egreſſions of ſoul, many an humble, joyful and thankful heart to God. Mittunt preces & lachrymas cordis legatos, as hee ſaith, pillars of prayers, vollyes of hearty wiſhes they ſend up continually; laying up treaſure in Heaven, and thinking long of the time or ere they get thither.
Verſ. 7. Behold his bed which is Solomons, &c.] Or behold, the bed of Solomon, (as the Greek, explaining the Hebrew, hath it) Solomon was a famous figure of Chriſt: of his bed wee read nothing, but may well conceive, it was (as every thing elſe about him) ſtately and coſtly: And thereby is meant here Heaven, ſay ſome, whither the Church is brought in aſcending in the precedent verſe: and by the valiant Warders they underſtand the Angels, thoſe Mighties, Pſal. 103.20. But becauſe they are ſaid to bee valiant men of Iſrael, I rather aſſent to thoſe that think the godly Miniſters are here meant by the Mighties, and the Church, by Chriſts bed, where hee repoſeth and reſteth in his love, Zeph. 3.17. lodging betwixt her breaſts, Cant. 1.13. There is nothing more ſure, than that the bleſſed Angels do watch over the Church. What a guard by them had Jacob at Mehanaim, Gen. 32.1, 2where they made a lane for him (as the word imports) to provide for his ſafety? the like wee may ſay of Eliſha at Dothan, and divers others. I doubt not, (ſaith one) but as the Angels waited at Chriſts ſepulchre, ſo for his ſake they watch alſo over our graves, called our beds, Iſa. 57.2. Howbeit here, underſtand wee it of the Miniſters of the word, that watch for mens ſouls, and are frequently called watch-men. Sixty of them they are ſaid to bee, becauſe a great number, as the Levites were ſcattered up and down the Tribes of Iſrael (as ſalt is ſtrawed thick upon fleſh to keep it from putrefying. Yee are the ſalt of the Earth, Mat. 5. &c.) And valiant they are ſaid to bee: for valour and courage invincible is neceſſary to a Miniſter, who ſhall bee ſure to bee put hard to it; and therefore had need to bee (as Athanaſius was) an Adamant for his reſolute ſtout carriage; and to partake with the Diamond in the High-Prieſts breaſt-plate for hardneſs and hardineſs in ſtanding to and for the truth. Iſraelites alſo they ought to bee; Jews inwardly, not ſcoffing Iſhmaelites, prophane Edomites, falſe Philiſtins, but the valiants of Iſrael, ſuch as Davids band of Worthies was, 1 Chron. 11, & 12. faithful and godly patterns of piety, ſuch as will take heed to themſelves, and to the flock, waiting upon the Lords work, and watching for mens ſouls, as they that muſt give account, &c. Heb. 13.17. It is a great matter to bee of Chriſts life-guard. Remember what David ſaid of Abner, 1 Sam. 26.15.
Verſ. 8. They all hold ſwords, being expert in war] They not onelyonly bear arms,Judg. 8.20 foreign. Plutarch. but can handle them. Young Jether wore a ſword, but hee durſt not draw it, or ſtrike with it, when hee ſhould have killed Zeba, and Zalmunna. Themiſtocles ſaid of the Eretrians, a cowardly people, that they were like the Sword-fiſh, which hath a ſword indeed, but wants an heart. Such white-livered ſouldiers, ſuch faint-hearted ſword-men our Solomon hath no need of: Our Gideon will not employ them ſo far as to break a pitcher, or to bear a torch.Judg. 7. The fearful and unbeleeving ſhall never ſet foot in his Kingdome, much leſs bee Eſquires of his body; thoſe in that Office muſt hold faſt the faithful word (that ſword of the Spirit, that two-edged ſword) far beyond that of Goliah (and yet David ſaid, there was none to that) that they may bee able and apt by ſound doctrines, both to exhort the tractable, and to convince the gainſayer, Tit. 1.9. Thoſe that either cannot, or will not do thus, are no way fit to bee of Chriſts guard, becauſe they are more likely to betray him into the hands of his enemies, than to defend him from them; to act a Judas his part, than a Peters, who manfully cut off Malchus his ear, and choſe rather to be held temerarious, than timorous. Jeremy complains of the Paſtours of his time,Jer. 9.3. that they were not valiant for the truth, they had no ſpiritual metal in them: but as Harts and Stags have great horns and ſtrength, but want courage: ſo it was with theſe. St. Auſtin profeſſeth this was it that heartened him, and made him to triumph in his former Manichiſm, that hee met with feeble Opponents, and ſuch as his nimble wit was eaſily able to overturn. If gainſayers bee not powerfully convinced, how will they ſet up their creſts,Haeretici argumentis lapidandi. Hilar. and cry, victoria? If they bee not ſtoned with Arguments, how will they ſtart up, and outſtare the truth? There muſt bee therefore skill and will in all her Champions. They muſt alſo every man have his ſword upon his thigh, and bee ready for an aſſault. Seneca reports of Caeſar, that hee had quickly ſheathed his ſword, but never laid it off. And Suetonius tells us,Scilicet ut paratum & intentum momentis omnibus, &c. that hee would never fore-acquaint his ſouldiers of any ſet time of removal or onſet, that hee might never finde them unready. Chriſt expects the like care and courage in his Miniſters, leſt the Proverb bee verified on them, Ungirt, unbleſt.
And becauſe of fears in the night] Leſt evil ſhould befall Solomon, as it did Iſhboſheth, who was ſlain upon his bed by the ſons of Rimmon: leſt deeds of darkneſs bee done in a Land of light, and whilſt the watch-men ſlack their duty, the Rulers of the darkneſs of this world break in and play their pranks. Whilſt men ſlept, tares were ſown by the evil man, Mat. 13.
Verſ. 9. King Solomon made himſelf a Charriot] Hic locus lubricus est & difficilis. This is an hard Text, ſaith one. It had been eaſier (perhaps) if Commentatours had not made it ſo hard. The word rendred Charriot, is by others rendred a Bride-chamber, a Bed, a Throne, a Palace. foreign.The Hebew word is found in this place onelyonly: it hath the name of fairneſs and fruitfulneſs. Rabbi Solomon ſaith it is, Thalamus honorificus, a bed-chamber of honour, whereby wee are to underſtand again the Church, as wee did by bed in the former verſe. Shee is oft compared to an houſe, here to a Bride-chamber, and Solomons Bride-chamber, which muſt needs bee ſuppoſed very trimme, and ſet forth to the beſt. It is further ſet forth here by the cauſes; efficient, Solomon himſelf; Material, Cedar, Silver, Gold, &c. Formal, payed with love; Final, for himſelf firſt, and then, for the daughters of Jeruſalem. Firſt, Solomon himſelf made it, though a King. Stupenda ſane dignatio, a wonderful condeſcenſion. The Church is Chriſts own workmanſhip, his artificial facture, foreign.or creature (as the Greek word ſignifieth, Epheſ. 2.10.) that Maſter-peece of his architecture, wherein hee hath ſhewed ſingular skill, by erecting that glorious fabrick of the New Man, that New Heaven, and New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 3.13. For hee planteth the Heavens, and layeth the foundations of the Earth, that hee may ſay to Zion, Thou art my people, that hee may rejoyce in the habitable part of Gods Earth, Prov. 8.31. that hee may ſay, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will bee their God, and they ſhall bee my people, 1 Cor. 6.16. Chriſt wrought the Centurions faith, as God, hee wondred at it, as man. God wrought, and man marvelled, hee did both, to teach us where to beſtow our wonder. Paul praies for his Epheſians, that their eyes might bee enlightened to ſee the power that wrought in them, Chap. 1.18.
Of the Wood of Lebanon] See the Note on chap. 1.17. The Saints are the Churches materials, Rom. 1.7. 1 Cor. 1.2. The precious ſons of Zion, are comparable to fine gold, Lam. 4.2. Her Nazarites are purer than Snow, whiter than Milk, more ruddy than Rubies, their poliſhing is of Saphire, verſ. 7. And yet Bellarmine is not aſhamed to ſay,Lib. 3. cap. 2. de Eccleſ. militante. Nos etiamſi credimus in Eccleſia inveniri omnes virtutes, &c. Although wee doubt not but that all virtues are found in the Church: yet that a man may bee abſolutely called a Member of that true Church ſpoken of in Scripture; we hold not that any inward virtue is required, but onelyonly an external profeſſion of the Faith, and participation of the Sacraments.Cameron de Eccleſ. pag. 167. Belle hoc convenit Eccleſiae Romanae, ſaith a learned man. This deſcription ſutes very well with the Church of Rome. For certainly if there bee any virtuous perſons in that Church, id eis convenit per accidens, it is by meer accident, and not as they are in that Church, but as they diſſent from it: like as Cicero ſaith wittily of the Epicureans, that if any were good amongſt them, it was meerly from the goodneſs of their nature, for they taught and thought otherwiſe. And as Peter Moulin ſaid of many of the Prieſts of France, that they were for their loyalty not beholding to the Maxims of Italy, and yet Bellarmine hath the face to ſay,De notis Eccleſ. l. 4. c. 13 Sunt quidem in Eccleſia Catholica plurimi mali, ſed ex haeriticis nullus eſt bonus. Among Papiſts there are many bad men, but among Proteſtants, not one good man is to bee found.
Verſ. 10. Hee made the pillars thereof] i. e. The faithful Miniſters, called Pillars, Gal. 2.9. and that (Atlas-like) bear up the pillars of it, Pſalm 75.3. Thoſe that offer violence to ſuch, Sampſon-like, they lay hands upon the pillars to pluck the houſe upon their own heads. Yea they attempt to pull Stars out of Chriſts hand, Revelations 1. which they will finde a work not feiſable.
Of ſilver] For the purity of matter, and clearneſs of ſound: for their beauty, ſtability, and incorruption. Let Miniſters hereby learn, how they ought to behave themſelves in the houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. 3.15.
The bottom thereof of gold] Underſtand it either of Gods Word, which is compared to the fineſt gold, or of that precious grace of Faith the root of all the reſt: whence it is laid by St. Peter, as the bottom and baſis, the foundation and fountain of all the following graces, 2 Epiſt. 1.5. Add to your Faith, virtue, and to virtue knowledge, &c. they are all in Faith radically: every grace is but Faith exerciſed: Hence wee read of the joy of Faith, the obedience of Faith, the righteouſneſs of Faith, &c. Shee is the Mother-grace, the womb wherein all the graces are conceived: Hence the bottom of Chriſts fruitful bed, the pavement of his glorious Bride-chamber the Church, is here ſaid to bee of gold, that is, of Faith, which is called gold, Rev. 3.17. compared with 1 Pet. 1.7. that the tryal of your Faith (or your well-tryed Faith, for it ſeems to bee an Hebraiſm) being much more precious than that of gold, &c. And here,Bern. Melius eſt pallens aurum quam fulgens aurichalcum, gold though paler, is better than glittering copper.Splendida peccata. The Faith of Gods Elect is far more precious than the ſhining ſins of the beautiful abominations of meer Moraliſts. Suppoſe a ſimple man ſhould get a ſtone, and ſtrike fire with it, and thence conclude it a precious ſtone. Why, every flint or ordinary ſtone will do that. So to think one hath this golden grace of Faith, becauſe hee can bee ſober, juſt, chaſt, liberal, &c. Why, ordinary Heathens can do this. True gold will comfort the fainting heart, which Alchymy gold will not. Think the ſame of Faith.
The covering of it of Purple] I am of their mind, that expound it of Chriſts blood, wherewith, as with a Canopy, or a kinde of Heaven over head, the Church is covered and cured, Rev. 5.16. & 7.14. Rom. 6.3, 4. Purple was a rich and dear commodity amongſt them; ſee Prov. 31.22. & 7.5. Mark 15.17. Luk. 16.19. The precious blood of Chriſt is worthily preferred before gold and ſilver, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19.
The midſt thereof being paved with love] For Chriſt loved us, and waſhed us with his blood, Rev. 1.5. Hee alſo fills his faithful people with the ſenſe of his love, who therefore cannot but finde a great deal of pleaſure in the waies of God, becauſe therein they let out their ſouls into God, and taſte of his unſpeakable ſweetneſs, they cannot alſo but reciprocate and love his love. So the bottom, the top, and the middle of this repoſing place are anſwerable to thoſe three Cardinal graces, faith, hope and love, 1 Cor. 13.
For the daughters of Jeruſalem] This Charret or Bridal-bed hee made for himſelf, hee made it alſo for the daughters of Jeruſalem: for all his is theirs; Union being the ground of Communion. As wee muſt do all for Chriſt (according to that, Quicquid agas propter Deum agas, and again, Propter te Domine, propter te; choice and excellent Spirits are more taken up with what they ſhall do for God, than what they ſhall receive from God) ſo Chriſt doth all for us, and ſeeks how to ſeal up his deareſt love to us in all his actions and atchievements. Chriſts death and bloodſhed (ſaith Mr. Bradford) is the great Seal of England, yea of all the world, for the confirmation of all Patents and Perpetuities of the everlaſting life, whereunto hee hath called us. —This death of Chriſt therefore look on as the very pledge of Gods love toward thee, &c. See, Gods hands are nailed, they cannot ſtrike thee;Serm. of Repent. 63 his feet alſo, hee cannot run from thee. His arms are wide open to embrace thee, his head hangs down to kiſs thee; his very heart is open, ſo that therein look, nay even ſpy, and thou ſhalt ſee nothing therein but love, love, love to thee. Hide thee therefore, lay thine head there with the Beloved Diſciple, joyn thee to Chriſts Charret, as Philip did to the noble Eunuchs. This is the cleft of the Rock wherein Elias ſtood. This is for all aking heads a pillow of Down, &c.
Verſ. 11. Go forth, O yee Daughters of Zion] i.e. All yee faithful ſouls which follow the Lord Chriſt, the Lamb that ſtands upon Mount Zion, Rev. 14.1, 4. Yee ſhall not need to go far (and yet far yee would go, I dare ſay, to ſee ſuch a gallant ſight as King Solomon in his Royalty: the Queen of Sheba did) behold hee is at hand, Tell yee the Daughters of Zion, behold thy King cometh, &c. Mat. 21.5. Go forth therefore, forth of your ſelves, forth from your friends, means, all, as Abraham did, and the holy Apoſtles, Confeſſours, and Martyrs, and as the Church is bid to do, Pſal. 45.10. forget alſo thine own people, and thy Fathers houſe. Good Nazianzen was glad that hee had ſomething of value (to wit, his Athenian learning) to part with for Chriſt. Horreo quicquid de meo eſt, ut meus ſim, ſaith Bernard. Hee that will come to mee, muſt go utterly out of himſelf, ſaith our Saviour. All Saint Pauls care was, that hee might bee ſound in Chriſt, but loſt in himſelf.Epiſt. ad Gabr. Vydym. Ambula in timore & contemptu tui, & ora Chriſtum, ut ipſe tua omnia faciat, & tu nihil facias, ſed ſis ſabbatum Chriſti, ſaith Luther, walk in the fear and contempt of thy ſelf, and reſt thy ſpirit in Chriſt; this is to go forth to ſee King Solomon crowned, yea this is to ſet the Crown upon Chriſts head.Camd. Eliſab. Anno 1585. When Queen Elizabeth undertook the protection of the Netherlands againſt the Spaniard, all Princes admired her fortitude: and the King of Sweden, ſaid that ſhee had now taken the Diadem from her own Head, and ſet it upon the doubtful chance of war. Hee that forſakes all for Chriſt, and puts himſelf by Faith under his protection, ſubmitting to the Scepter of his Kingdome, and ſending a Lamb to this Ruler of the Land, Iſa. 16.1. in token of homage and fealty, his eyes ſhall ſee the King in his beauty; and inſtead of a Vivat Rex, hee ſhall break forth into this glorious acclamation, The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King, and hee will ſave us, Iſa. 33.17.22. It was St. Augustines wiſh, that hee might ſee Romam in flore, Paulum in ore, & Chriſtum in corpore, Rome, as of old, flouriſhing, Paul, as hee did once, preaching, and Chriſt, as in the daies of his fleſh, going up and down doing good. There are that hold, that by Solomon crowned here is meant Chriſt incarnated, taking fleſh, as a Crown, of his Mother Mary: and that this was the day of his Eſpouſals, when the Word was made fleſh, and the day of the gladneſs of his heart, when hee rejoyced in the habitable part of Gods Earth, (that is, in the humane Nature, wherein the fulneſſe of the Godhead dwelt bodily) and his delights were with the ſonnes of men, Proverbs 8.31. Some underſtand it of the Crown of Thorns ſet upon him by his Mother the Synagogue. Others the Reſurrection,Phil. 2.9. and that Name above all Names that hee gat by his Death. I am of Mercers mind, who expounds it of that glory that Chriſt hath when hee is preached up as the ſole and abſolute Saviour, and ſo beleeved on in the world,1 Tim. 3.16. that the obedience of Faith is yeelded unto him. When Faith and Obedience make a perfect pair of Compaſſes, then Chriſts head is compaſſed with a Crown. Faith as the one foot is pitcht upon the Crown of Chriſts head, whiles Obedience as the other walks about in a perfect circle of good duties, whereby hee is made glad, Pſal. 45.8.