Exposition of Song of Solomon 1, Treatise · Verse 13
Vers. 13. A Bundle of Mirthe is my well beloved unto me: he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
IN this verse you have, First, The Spouse, the Churches, the Saints high esteem of Christ, declared, 1. By her compellation, my well-beloved, 2. By a fit comparison, As a bundle of Mirrhe unto me. Secondly, The Syouse's holy Resolution to entertain Christ into nearest and dearest communion, He shall lye all night between my breasts.
A Bundle of Mirrhe &c.] Mirrhe was one of the principal Spices in the holy oyntment. Exod. 30.23. It was offered to Christ at his Birth, Mat. 2.11. and with it his body was anointed at his death. 19.39, 40. It was used also in perfums Cant. 3.6. and was of a sweet smell. Cant. 5.5. and called pure Myrrhe, Exo. 30.23. Pliny. Lib. 12. cap. 16. reporteth, that there is an Odoriferous tree called the Mirrhe-tree, that sweateth out a sweet Gum, which is called Stacte, or Mirrhe, bitter in tast, but sweet in smell, unto this bitter-sweet Gum, the Spouse compares Christ crucifyed, whose sufferings though very bitter unto him, were exceeding sweet and Soveraign unto her.
1 Meditation. The bitter Agony and sufferings of Christ applyed by the Spirit, and faith unto poor Souls are exceeding sweet. Ephes. 5.2. Christ hath loved us, and hath given himselfe for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling Savour. The fellowship of Christs sufferings makeeth the Spouses fingers drop with sweet smeling Mirrhe, Phil. 3.10. & Cant. 5.5. And his lips (to wit, his promises of pardon and grace, spoken unto the hearts of his Saints) drop sweet smelling Mirrhe, that is to say, are full of divine sweetnesse, Cant. 5.13.
A bundle of Mirrhe, or a bag of Mirrhe] By which Metaphor is implyed, First, the abundance & variety of spiritual Excellencies in Christ, to wit, of the Spirit and of spiritual blessings, Ephes. 1.3. Secondly, a plentiful preservative against the infection of sin and it's ill Savour. Sin is said to be sealed up in a bag or bundle. Job. 14.17. which sendeth forth an ill savour, and is very bitter, yea and infecting to the hearts of Christians; therefore by faith Christ crucified, is compared to abundle of Mirrhe, that the benifits of his death and resurrection may comfort and preserve the Soules of beleevers from the bitternesse and deadly infection of sin, and his pardoning sanctifying grace may be a sweet smelling Savour in the soul.
2 Meditation. Christ is most sweet unto poor Souls, when sin is most bitter. Rom. 7.22, 23, 24, 25. O wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this Death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. When a Soul is under the conviction of sin, sees his lost and perishing estate, is troubled and burthened, with the guilt and polution of his iniquity, Oh how sweet is the love of God in Christ, applyed by faith in a promise of grace unto his heart by the Spirit of God? And what an excellent Soveraign cordial is Christ, in any of the promises, duties, or ordinances unto a wounded conscience, an afflicted Spirit, and poor disconsolate Soul, troubled for his sins? Isai. 61.1, 2, 3. & Mat. 11.28, 29. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden and I will giuegive you rest, and you shall find rest unto your Souls.
He shall lye all night betwixt my breasts.] By Breasts are here meant the hearts of beleevers, which is Christs bed-Chamber. Cant. 3.7. where he who is her beloved Lord and husband, is most really and cordially entertained by his Spouse into nearest and dearest Communion of the Marriage-Covenant.
3 Meditation. A Christians heart is Christs Lodging. Eph. 3.17. Christ dwels in their hearts by faith. Psa. 152.13, 14. This is my rest forever, here will I dwel, for I have desired it. O blessed Guest! My well-beloved Lord Jesus Christ, shall have my whole heart for his Bed-chamber, and he shall lye all night betwixt my breasts. The Saints desire to have their bears prepared as a bed of Spices, to entertain their spiritual Husband, with faith, love, and all other fruits of the Spirit, Cant. 7.13. And Christ perfumeth the Saints hearts with his Mirrhe, to wit, his Spirit and grace, Jam. 4.6.
By Night you may understand, first, a time of rest, peace, and pleasure. Isa. 21.4. with Eccle. 2.23. The Spouse could not rest without the presence and enjoyment of her Lord Jesus Christ. If a poor Soul lodg upon a bed of down, it cannot rest unlesse it have Christ in his armes, what outward peace, pleasure and quiet enjoyments soever, a gracious Soul may possesse in this world, yet it cannot rest nor be satisfied without the bosome loves of Christ. The Soul hath no peace, takes no pleasure in any Creature-Comforts, unlesse it have the imbracings of Christ, whatsoever creature-enjoyment or Contentment Beleevers have in this life, yet they reserve their hearts for Christ, and for his loving kindnese.
4 Meditation. Gracious Souls cannot rest satisfied in all creature-enjoyments without the presence, loves, and manifestations of Jesus Christ. Cant. 3.1, 2, 3, 4. Christ is the top of all the new creatures contentments, Col. 3.11. The Lord Jesus is the cheif of all the Spirtuall man's relations, Cant. 5.10.16. None lieth so near the Spouses heart as her welbeloved: her spiritual Husband only is admitted into secret communion with her heart, he shall lie all night betwixt my Breasts.
Secondly, By Night you may also understand a time of affliction, Lam. 3, 1, 2. whether through dark desertion, or stormy Temptation &c. Whether through violent persecution, or prevalent Corruption &c. However it is Night with the Spouse, the Churches, the Saints of God, when they are under any such kind of Dispensations, and during that dark and cloudy dispensation, the Spouse most affectionately desires heart communion with her beloved.
5 Meditation. Christ hath most of his Spouse's affections, when she is exercised with greatest afflictions. Cant. 5.8. Then she was sick of love, she could not live without Christ in her armes, in her bosome, yea in her very heart, he shall lie all the night (to wit, of affliction, temytation, persecution, and desertion) betwixt my breasts. Oh! what heart-workings have gracious Souls after Christ under these dispensations, afore mentioned! How are their desires enlarged, and their loves encreased at such times towards Jesus Christ! And if he delay his coming and communion with them, then they suddainly grow heart-sick for his presence, Cant. 2.4, 5, 6. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love.