Exposition of Song of Solomon 1, Treatise · Verse 3
Vers. 3. Because of the Savour of thy good Oyntments, thy Name is as Oyntment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love thee.
THis Verse containeth the Reason why the Spouse so affectionately desired the grace, favour, and Blessings of Christ; Because of the Savour of thy good Oyntments: And why the Upright-Virgin-Souls so loved Christ; Thy Name is as Oyntment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love thee.
1 Meditation. The Spouse (Churches and Saints) have, and can give, a Sanctified Reason for their spiritual affection unto Christ, and for their affectionate desires of spiritual communion with Christ, 1 Joh. 4.19. Psal. 116.1. Cant. 5.8, 9, 10.
The words are an elegant Periphrasis or Circumlocution declaring his Name, whose Communications of Grace, and Pledges of Love, the Spouse so affectionately desired.
Thy Name is as Oyntment poured forth] The Name of Christ is here described by an apt similitude to wit, Oyntment; set forth, 1. By the Fragrancy of it, The savour of thy Oyntment. 2. By the Soveraignty thereof, Good Oyntment. 3. By the Variety, Oyntments. And, 4. By the Abundance thereof Poured forth, which sheweth the freeness of the Dispensation.
2 Meditation. There is abundance of Excellency, Sweetness, and Soveraignty in the Name of Christ, O Lord our God! How excellent is thy Name in all the earth? Psal. 8.1, His Name alone is excellent, Psal. 148.13. My meditation of him shall be sweet, Psal. 134.34. And his fruit was sweet to my taste, Cant. 2.3. His mouth is most sweet, Cant. 5.13, 16. The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower, Prov. 18.10. They that know thy Name will trust in thee, Psal. 9.10.
Thy Name, &c.] By the Name of Christ in Scripture is meant, 1. Himself, who in respect of his Divine Nature is God, Rom. 9.5. of his humane Nature i… …, 1 Tim. 2.5. And of the union of both Natures in … Word (who is the second Subsistence in the divine Essence, 1 Joh. 5.7.) He is called Emanuel, that is, God with us, Matth. 1.23. 2. His Offices, who in respect of his Prophetical Office is called the Christ of God, Luk. 9.20. of his Priestly Office, is called Jesus, Mat. 1.21. and of his Kingly Office, is called the Lord of Lords, Rev. 19.16. 3. His Attributes; in which respect Christ is called Light, Joh. 1.9. Life, Joh. 14.6. Manna, Rev. 2.17. Bread, Joh. 6.48. and, Water of life, Rev. 22.17. 4. His Relative Name, or of relations; in which respect Christ is called a Father. Isa. 9.6. an Husband, 2 Cor. 11.2. a Brother, Cant. 8.1. a Friend, Cant. 1.16. an Head, Col. 1.18. Our Righteousness, Jer. 23.6. Our Sanctification, 1 Cor. 1.3. and Our Salvation, Luk. 2.30. 5. The Ordinances of God are understood by his Name, 1 King. 9.3. especially the Preaching of the Gospel, Act. 9.15.
In all which respects the Name of Christ is like Oyntment, which hath an excellent Soveraign virtue, and a sweet comfortable, delightfull favour.
As Oyntment] A good Name is compared to precious Oyntment. Eccl. 7.1. There are two sorts of Oyntment mentioned in Scripture: First, compounded by the Apothecary, and used, 1. To anoynt the Body, Mar. 14.3, 8. 2. To pour into Wounds, Luk. 10.34. And, 3. To make the face to shine, Psal. 104.15. Let thy head lack no oyntment, Eccl. 9.8. Secondly, commanded by the Lord, 2. Under the Law, Exod. 30.22, 23, 24, 25. wherewith, 1. The Tabernacle, vers. 26. 2. The Vessels, vers. 27, 28, 29. And 3. Aaron and his Sons, vers. 30. were anointed. 2. Under the Gospel, wherewith the Elders of the Church are to anoynt them that are sick or infirm in the Name of the Lord, Jam. 5.14.
The Name of Christ is like Oyntment to the Saints Souls in all these particulars, if spiritually applyed by faith.
Oyntments] Good Oyntments, to wit, the Spirit of grace, and the graces of the Spirit, 1 Joh. 2.20, 27. wherewith, 1. Christ th… King, Priest, and Prophet of his Church was anoynted … his fellows, Psal. 45.2, 8. Heb. 1.9. Isa. 11.2. Joh. 1.14, 16. And, 2. The Saints being Members of his Mystical body (the Church) whereof Christ is the Head, are anointed in their measure, 2 Cor. 1.21. Joh. 1.16. 1 Joh. 2.20, 27. Eph. 4.7.
3 Meditation. The Application of Christs Name by faith, in the communication of his Spirit and Grace unto his Spouse and Saints, will heal their wounded spirits, Isa. 61.1, 2, 3. recover their sick souls, Cant. 2.4, 5, 6. make them shine in their conversations, Isa. 60.1, 2, 3. and consecrate them as vessels of honor, and a royal Priesthood unto the Lord, 2 Tim. 2.21. & 1 Pet. 2.5, 9.
Poured forth] To wit, from one vessel into another, (to be used and applyed to the purposes aforesaid:) And this is done first when the Saints in Preaching, Prophecying, and Christian conference, communicate their spiritual gifts and experiences one to another, Zach. 4.2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Secondly, and more effectually, when Christ either mediately or immediately effuseth his Spirit and grace out of himself into the hearts of his Saints, Psal. 233.2, 3. Zach. 12.10. Rom. 5.5. which is shed on them abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, Tit. 3.4, 5, 6, 7.
This Effusion or pouring forth of the good Oyntment, causeth a sweet savour, which is fragrant in smel, like the smel of Spikenard, Cant. 1.12. which made the smell of the Spouses oyntments much better then all spices, Cant. 4.10. who was typed out by Isaac (the Son of the Freewoman, Gal. 4.22, 23, 24, 28.) of whom his Father said (when he smelled the smel of his raiment, which was indeed the goodly raiment of his Elder Brother put upon him.) See! the smell of of my Son is as the smell of a field, which the Lord hath blessed, Gen. 27.15, 27, 28. The smel of the Spouse her garments is like the smel of Lebanon, Cant. 4.11. when cloathed upon with the Garments of Christ that smel of Myrrhe, and Aloes, and Cassia, Psal. 45.2, 7. For God his God hath anoynted him, Psal. 45.5. And, Christ her Lord hath anoynted her, 1 Joh. 2.20.27.
By Spiritual Savour, you may understand [by a Synecdoche] all the objects of spiritual senses, as Tasting, &c. And his fruit was sweet to my taste, Cant. 2.3. Which are exercised, Heb. 5.14. whilest the Name of Christ is as Oyntment poured forth in the Ministery and Administrations of the Gospel, wherein is made manifest the sweet Savour of his Knowledge, 2 Cor. 2.14, 15.
4 Meditation. The Saints do exercise Spiritual Senses whilst Christ poureth forth the Savour of his Spiritual graces in the Ministery of the Word, and Administrations of the Gospel, 1 Joh. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. & 1 Pet. 1.2, 3. Cant. 2.3.
These Oyntments are called good Oyntments, from the Virtue, Efficacy, and Benefits which the poor Saints receive thereby; 1. The Spirit is good, Psal. 143.10. 2. The Favour of God is good, Psal. 4.6. 3. The Promises of Christ are good, Isa. 52.7. & Rom. 10.15. And all Spiritual Blessings in Christ are good in themselves, and in their Communitations. The Saints receive much spiritual good by the pouring forth of the Spirit and Grace of Christ, Mic. 2.7. Isa. 32.15.
Therefore do the Virgins love thee] Virgins, to wit, the Spouse her Companions, Psal. 45.14. Believers espoused to Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 11.2. who are not defiled with the false and superstitious worships of Babilon, Rev. 14.4. Wise Christians, who having Oyl in their vessels, with their lamps, [that is to say, Christs holy Spirit and sanctifying graces in their hearts] go out of themselves, out of Babilon, to meet the Bridegroom, Mat. 25.1, 4, 10. for they love him, Cant. 1.4. The upright love thee. Thy love is better then wine, therefore do the Virgin, love thee. The Saints love to Christ is the effect of Christs love to them, 1 Joh. 4.19. Love thee; that is to say, They have spiritual desires, heart-thirstings, and soul-longings after Christ, Psal. 73.25. O that I had Christ! Ah, that Christ would manifest himself unto me! O that God would reveal Christ in me! Give me grace, &c. I am sick of love, Cant. 2.5. and cannot live without renewed loves of Christ, the presence of my Beloved, &c.
5 Meditation. Christ alone is the most desirable object of a Beleevers love. Psal. 73.25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee: Which love-sick desire to enjoy her Beloved, engaged her heart to run after him; which that she might do the better, and with more freedome and spiritual liberty, she puts up another Petition, wherein the Spouse begs the attractive power of the Spirit of Christ upon her heart to draw her.