Loves Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride, Treatise · Chapter 2 · Verse 6
Verſe. 6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
The church having called before for ſtaying, and comfort, at the hands of the miniſters of the Word, here, finding and feeling ſtraightwais Chriſts help, like a loving husband taking about her, as the Apostle ſhowes, Eph. 5. 29. ſhe acknowledges and confeſſes that all the efficacy and chief application is from the Lord himſelf, Saying, his left hand is under my head and with his right he doth embrace me.
Now, hand is ſometimes put in Scripture properly, for the member of the body, ſo called, Gen. 19. 16. And ſometimes figuratively, and when it is applyed to God, as here, it ſignifieth ſometimes, God effectuall purpoſe of things to be done, as Act. 4. 28. 2. Sometimes, Gods actuall power in performance, as 2. Chron. 6. 15. 3 His help and furtherance of others in performance of his good-will as, Ezra. 8. 18. 22. and Neh. 2. 8. 4 His power reſiſting and diſappointing, yea deſtroying his enemies who do oppoſe, and delivering his owne, Ezra. 8. 31. Exod. 15. 6. 5 His bountifull providence towards all, and chiefly towards his owne, Pſal. 145. 16. 1 Chron. 29. 16. 6 His gracious protection, Iſay, 49. 2. 7 His upholding with ſtrength and comfort, as here, and Pſ. 37. 24. and 18. 35.
Alſo we have in Scripture a creating hand of Gods, Job. 10. 8. 2 A redeeming hand, Luk. 1. 74. 3 A conducting hand, Pſ. 73. 23. and 4. A receiving up hand, or manus ſuſcipiens, Pſ. 31. 5. In like manner, hands of mercy offering, Iſay. 65. 2. and a hand of juſtice puniſhing, Heb. 10. 31. Likewiſe a right hand (as here) embracing, and a left hand ſupporting, both comfortable to the godly, but the left hand dreadfull to the wicked, Matth. 25. 41. Of theſe two hands ſayes Bernard, Laevâ levat, dextrâ ſuſcipit; in laeva miſerationes et merita, in dextra remunerationes et praemia: Or, as Solomon ſayes, length of dayes are in her right hand, (ſpeaking of wiſedom) and in her left hand riches and honours, Pro. 3. 16. But ſimply to looke here to the mind of the Holy Ghoſt, howſoever ſome expound theſe two hands to be the old and new Teſtament compaſſing the ſoul about with the divers comforts that are in them, as a left hand under, and the right hand embracing one above, do compaſſe and claſp the body, yet both theſe hands of his ſignifies, that all that Chriſt is, his god-head and man-hood, natures and offices, life and death, buriall and reſurrection, aſcenſion and coming againe to Judgment: all theſe by the powerfull application by the ſpirit of grace and faith applyed to the love-ſick ſoul afford great comfort and refreſhment.
Obſervations.
1. We ſee Chriſts great love, who leaves not his own in their infirmities, or ſtraits corporall or ſpirituall, but is neer unto them and preſent with them, even in the greateſt ſeeming deſertions, to ſupport and ſtay them, when with Peter they are (as it were) ſincking, or, as it is ſaid, Matth. 8. 25. ready to periſh; and who applyes himſelf unto them, and embraces them as Eliſha 2 King. 4. 34. applyed himſelf to the Shunanites child, to revive him; or as, for the comfort of the dejected prodigall, his father ranne unto him, embraced him, and did kiſſe him. Therefore let us ſtill relye on his, more then fatherly tender care, and ſay with David, Pſ. 119. 116. Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live, O Lord, and let me not be aſhamed of my hope in thee.
2. We ſee that the flaggons ſhe ſought to be ſtayed by them, and the appl…s for her comfort, availes not to preſerve her from ſwoonings, nor raiſing up againe, till he put his left hand under her head, and with his right embraced her, to ſhow thereby unto us, that except with the outward miniſtry for comforting, raiſing, or ſtrenghning a ſoul, himſelf concurre by his inward efficacy, and powerfull work of grace, all what Paul or Apollos, or any ſuch could do, can no wais availe, It is therefore that which we ſpecially ſhould beg and deſire.
3. Here we have a notable comfort, that he embraces her, when ſhe is ſo weake and in a ſwoond that ſhe cannot imbrace him: and therefore although our ſpirituall fainting be great, and our faith ſo weake, that we are ſo farre from being able to hold faſt, and (with Jacob) wreſtle for a bleſſing, that our grip ſeems altogether to be looſed, and we beginne to ſinck as it were; yet be of good comfort, that we do not ſo much apprehend, as our ſafety ſtands herein that we are apprehended, and gripped unto, or held up, by the hand of the Almighty, and out of whoſe hand, none is able to pull any one of his ſheep.
4. She ſought only from the ſervants to be ſtayed by flaggons and comforted by apples, becauſe of her love-ſickneſs, and yet ſhe gets more, even her loves neer preſence, and his loving embracement, and holding up of her head. So ready is the Lord to give to his owne more then their hearts can of…imes deſire or they expect or look for, as he did to Solomon; and Jacob, who looked not to have ſeene Joſeph before his death, and behold the Lord has ſhowne to me (ſayes he) even thy ſeed alſo.
5. We ſee how thankfully ſhe acknowledges her beloved's kindneſs and care of her, declaring the ſame and how ſenſible ſhe was thereof, which ſhould teach us to do the like, to his glory, who is ſo bountifull towards us; and thereby alſo to comfort and confirm others, telling them, what the Lord has done to our ſoul; and to manifeſt our thankfulneſſe, as David vowes to do, ſaying, Hold me up, O Lord, and I ſhall be ſafe, and I will have reſpect unto thy ſtatutes continually.