Loves Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride, Treatise · Chapter 1 · Verse 1
Verſe 1. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.
THis Book of holy Scripture has for the penman thereof, (we ſee) Salomon, the wiſeſt of Kings; for the matter, the worthieſt ſubject, the mutuall love between Chriſt and his Church; for the ſtyle, the moſt ſublime and pleaſant, being amorous and a ſong; and for the ſpeakers therein, the moſt heavenly and excellent, Chriſt Jeſus and his Spouſe.
The cauſe wherefore the holy Ghoſt repreſents this love and union between theſe two, in all this Song, by the ſimilitude of matrimoniall conjunction, is, becauſe in all other Londs of love or friendſhip, there is not either ſo ſacred a ground of ſo holy and particular intire affection, nor ſuch a communion of ſo deere things, as hearts, bodies, and goods, nor ſo ſtrait a conjunction of parties, becomming thereby one fleſh, not ſo durable for time, being diſſolvable only by death, and the effect rather divine then humane, God uſing men thereby but as inſtruments to propagate his Church. Therefore the Holy Ghoſt being to repreſent unto us that which is otherwiſe in it ſelfe unconceiveable, could chuſe no fitter ſimilitude then this affection and union matrimoniall: Therefore alſo it is, that in other places of Scripture the Church is called the Bride and the Lamb's wife. Rev. 21. 9. and Ioh. 3. 29. our Saviour is called the bridegroom, & the Church his bride; whereby is evident, though this Bride and bridegroome bee not named by any proper names in all this Song, yet that it is without all controverſie, that Chriſt and his Church are meant; theſe things being attributed in this ſong to both, to wit ſuch beauty, glory, and excellency, as far ſurmounts all other beautie, glory and excellency in the world, and to repreſent in like manner, the ſpirituall and heavenly ornaments & gifts which he beſtoweth on her, and the fruits of her love againe which ſhe rendereth to him for the ſame, here are reckoned up all the ſweeteſt, richeſt, and moſt precious things that are in the world.
This book then in generall is a continued amorous conference between Chriſt and his Church for the moſt part, wherein either they ſpeake by way of a love-dialogue each to other, or elſe encomiaſtickly and by way of commendation one of another.
And in particular to come to this Chapter. 1 Wee have therein the generall title or inſcription of the whole book contained in the firſt verſe. 2. We have the three ſeverall parts of the chapter; the firſt, wherein the church ſpeakes, and which is ſupplicatory, the firſt ſix verſes after the ſecond, wherein Chriſt ſpeakes, and which is directorie. ver. 8. and the laſt, where both ſpeake, which is mutually laudatorie, in the laſt verſes of the chapter.
In the generall title then, and inſcription of the whole book, we have firſt the Title it ſelfe, or ſort of writing, to wit, a Song. 2 The excellency thereof, a Song of Songs, ſo called after the Hebrew phrayſe, as one would ſay, A ſong that excelleth all other ſongs, as our Saviour is called, Rev. 19. 16. the King of kings and Lord of lords. 3. The Author, or rather penman thereof, which is Solomons
Firſt then it is called A ſong and men uſe to ſing for joy, as we ſee Jam 5. 13. and Epheſ. 5. 18. Exod. 15. 1. Judg. 5. 1. &c. And indeed the ground of the greateſt joy that a chriſtian ſoule can have, is this, that Chriſt Jeſus hath vouchſafed to be joyned in ſuch a ſtraight and ſpirituall Union with man, that he hath maried himſelfe to his Church, ſhe to be his Bride, and he her Bridegroome; and wherefrom flowes ſuch a communion of good things to her, which the heart cannot conceive enough, nor the tongue expreſſe.
Next, it is called for excellency, a Song of Songs, as excelling all others, ſo that it may be ſaid of it, as is ſaid of the vertuous woman, Many daughters have done worthily, but thou exceeds them all: the ſame being of the moſt excellent ſubject, the moſt excellent perſons, and the moſt excellent and pleaſant manner of Setting downe the ſame.
Thirdly, the author or rather penman, is Solomon who was a type of Chriſt and whoſe marriage with his Queen, ſpoken of Pſal 45. was a type of this ſpoken of here between Chriſt and his Church, and who wrote this ſong as he was a Prophet, and as Peter ſhews us, not of the will of man, but as he was moved by the holy Ghoſt 2 Pet. 1. 21. and therefore is not carnally to be underſtood, but in a ſpirituall and a holy manner.
Obſervations.
1. Seeing that this Song is ſo highly praiſed, as to be called the Song of Songs, Let us have the greater care to attaine to the true underſtanding thereof, digging as it were in this excellent field to find out the treaſure of true comfort and wiſedom that lies hid therein.
2. Seeing that it was written by Solomon as a Prophet, and penman onelyonly of Gods Holy ſpirit, and therefore is not the word or wiſedome of man, but of God; therefore let us reverence and receive it accordingly.