Exposition of Song of Solomon 1, Treatise · Verse 4
Vers. 4. Draw me, and we will run after thee, &c.
GOD draweth Souls, either by outward means and mercies, onelyonly, which is sufficient to leave them without excuse, Rom. 1.19, 20. But not effectual to Salvation. So did God draw all Israel after the flesh, Hos. 11.4, 8, 12. Or else together with outward means by his holy Spirit, Jer. 31.3. Which is Effectual, First, in their Calling and Conversion unto Christ, Joh. 6.45. Secondly, unto their progress and growth up in Christ. And so Christ draweth all his Israel after the Spirit, Joh. 12.32. This drawing in the Text relateth principally to the latter sense; Draw me, to wit, effectually and powerfully; and that not onelyonly unto Christ in Conversion, but after Christ in Conversation, 1 Joh. 2.6. Draw me not onelyonly from the World, from Satan, from Sin, and from Self; but allure me, and incline my will and affections, my resolutions, desires and loves after thee my beloved Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Meditation. Outward means and mercies may engage persons to follow Christ for Loaves: The Spirit and power of Grace must cause them to follow Christ for Love, Joh. 6.26. 2 Cor. 9.14. Psal. 110.3.
Souls need drawing by the Spirit of God in the means of Grace; and that not only in their first conversion, but afterwards in their Christian conversation. They need such powerful drawing in their first Conversion, because they have, 1. No Active power of themselves to come to Christ, Joh. 6.44. 2. No Subjective power of themselves to submit unto Christ, Rom. 8.7. But on the contrary, they have 1. a resisting power in their will to refuse the offers of Grace, Joh. 5.49. And, 2. a contradicting power, opposing the offers of Grace in the preaching of the Gospel, Act. 13.45. They have need of such powerful Drawing after Conversion, because, 1. Of strong corruptions opposing and hindring them from following Christ, Gal. 5.17. 2. Of the weakness of grace, whereby they faint and wax feeble in the way of holiness, Heb. 12.12, 13.
2 Meditation. Gracious Souls are not satisfied with grace received, but desire and pray for more.
They know, 1. There is more in Christ to be received, Joh. 1.16. 2. The grace of yesterday is not sufficient for the duty and work of this day, 2 Tim. 2.1. 3. Their vessels are not full, they have not attained, they are not perfect, Phil. 3.12, 13, 14, 15. 4. Grace in truth engageth the heart after growth in grace, 2 Pet. 3.18. 5. The beginning of grace causeth the soul unto go on unto perfection, 2 Cor. 7.1. 6. A smal measure received maketh a Saint restless and unsatisfied until it come unto the measure of its fulness, Eph. 4.7, 13.
We will run after thee] The words are a Metaphor borrowed from persons who run in a race, 1 Cor. 9.24. and fitly ayplyed unto Christians, Heb. 12.1. Which signifieth, 1. The Spouse her readiness of affection to follow her Beloved, Isa. 55.5. As Elisha, who left his yoke of Oxen and ran after Elijah, when he had cast his mantle upon him, 1 Ki. 19.19, 20, 21. 2. The Saints celerity, or speedy motion after Christ, Psal. 119.60. I made haste, and delayed not, to keep thy commandements. 3. The unweariedness of the Lords people to follow Christ in his wayes, Isa. 40.31. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall run, and not be weary.
In that she saith [after thee] it implyeth, 1. That she had not attained, neither was already perfect, she counted not her self to have apprehended, Phil. 3.12, 13, 14. But, 2. That the reaching forth unto those things which are before, pressed and followed hard after Christ. Psal. 63.8. My soul followeth hard after thee.
3 Meditation. Christs powerful Drawing maketh the Saints willing to follow him in all his wayes. Psal. 110.3. In the day of thy power thy people shall be willing. The Will being thus efficaciously and sweetly drawn by Christ, doth will that which is good freely and really. Rom. 7.18. To will is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man, Rom. 7.22. Ask the Sun why it shineth, the answer is, because its his Nature; the Sun cannot but shine, the Fire cannot but heat: so, if you ask a gracious soul, Why do you pray so often? mourn for sin so much? hear Sermons so constantly? wait on God so diligently in all his holy ordinances? Why do you so love Christ, and so prize Christ? and so press after the mark of the high calling in Christ? Why do you follow so hard after Christ? A good and honest heart would give this answer, It is my New Nature, I am partaker of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. and I cannot but love Christ, and prize him. The love of Christ constrains me, 2 Cor. 5.14. I cannot but pray, mourn, hear, and wait on him in all his ways. My Beloved draweth me with the cords of conjugal and covenant-love, Hos. 11.14. and I am made willing with desire and delight to follow and run after him.
4 Meditation. Though the Saints cannot keep pace with Christ in walking exactly after his example, yet they are Willing, and Resolve to run after him, and to follow his steps, Psal. 63.8. Phil. 3.12, 13, 14. He that saith he abideth in Jesus, ought himself also so to walk even as he walked, 1 Joh. 2.6. For hereunto are we called, Christ having left us an example, that we should follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2.21. Which though the Saints cannot do exactly in all things, yet they are willing, and resolve so to do by his strength, and in their measure, Psal. 119.32, 60. & Phil. 3.13, 14. They set the Lord alwayes before them, Psal. 16.8. And they encline their hearts to perform his statutes alway, even unto the end, Psal. 119.111, 112. Yea, and it is their sorrow and burthen, when they fall short, or do not walk up to the rule of a new Creature, and they cry after him, follow hard after him, and run after him; stil keeping Christ in their eye, Psal. 25.15. & 123.1, 2. & 121.1, 2. Mine eyes (saith David) are ever towards the Lord.
The King hath brought me into his chambers] The King, viz. Solomon, who brought the Congregation of Israel into the Temple, which he builded at Jerusalem for the worship of God, 1 King. 8.1, 10, 62, 66. But in the Mysterie of this Scripture is meant King Jesus, who is the blessed and onelyonly Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, 1 Tim. 6.15, 16.
5 Medit. Soul-government solely belongeth unto Jesus Christ. The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King, Isa. 33.22. The King of Zion, Psal. 2.6. and the King of Saints, Rev. 15.3. The government shall be upon his shoulder, Isa. 9.6. Hence may be truly inferred, that
1. Saints must not be the servants of Men in the things of Christ, 1 Cor. 7.23. For none can serve two Masters, Matt. 6.24. If they seek to please Men, they are not the servants of Christ, Gal. 1.10. They ought to obey God, rather then Men, Act. 5.29. and not worship God after the Commandements, Traditions, and Doctrines of Men, Col. 2.8, 20, 22.
2. Sin and Grace cannot reign together in one and the same heart, Rom. 5.21. Sin shall not have dominion over you, because you are under Grace, Rom. 6.14. The Saints may not serve their Lusts, but their Lord Jesus. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ; and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, Rom. 13.14.
3. Christ and Antichrist (the Man of Sin) are opposite in their government about Spiritual matters, 2 Thes. 2.3, 4. Christ giveth liberty of conscience unto his saints, Gal. 5.1, 2. Therefore his yoke is easie, Matt. 11.28, 29, 30. And they sit down under his shadow [or government] with great delight, Cant. 2.3. But Antichrist opposeth Christ, and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, shewing himself that he is God, by imposing Laws, Commandements, and Traditions of men upon the Saints and Churches of God, contrary unto Christ, (Compare 2 Thess. 2.3, 4. with Col. 2.8, 20, 22, 23.) using a Coercive power to force their obedience unto, and observance of such Antichristian Inventions, and Superstitious Traditions of men, Joh. 9.22, 34. & 3 Epist. Joh. 9, 10, 11.
His chambers] Christ hath his Guest-chamber, Mar. 14.14. his Bride-chamber, Mat. 9.15. and his Bed-chamber, Cant. 3.7. to wit, his Sanctuary, Exod. 15.17, 18. his Temple, 1 King. 8.1, 10, 62, 66. and his Church, Act. 2.47. into which Christ brought his people, in their Assemblies, Act. 1.13, 14. to partake of his holy ordinances, Act. 20.7, 8, 11. wherein the Saints had communion, 1 Cor. 10.15, 16, 17. not onelyonly one with another, but also fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ in the Spirit, 1 Joh. 1.3, 4. to their comfort.
6 Meditation. Christ bringeth Beleevers into his Churches, and giveth them Spiritual Communion with himself in his holy ordinances, Joh. 10.9. Isa. 25.6. The King brought me into his chambers. Christ bringeth Beleevers into his Churches; first, by opening their hearts to desire it, Psal. 27.4. And secondly, by opening the hearts of his people in the Church to receive them, Act. 9.26, 27, 28. And then Christ doth open his owne heart unto them, and doth admit them into a more inward and sweet Communion with himself in his holy Administrations, Rev. 3.20. Cant. 5.1. All my springs are in thee Psal. 87.7.
We will be glad and rejoyce in thee] We, that is, the whole Church, which is but one (Cant. 6.9.) Mystical body, whereof Christ is the Head, Col. 1.18. And in that respect used in the Singular Number, Draw me, Hath brought me; But consists of many members, 1 Cor. 12.12, 27. united by the Spirit of faith unto Christ the Head, Ephes. 4.13. and by the Spirit of love unto the Church, the Body, Col. 2.2, 3. and in that respect used in the plural number, We will run after thee, We will be glad and rejoyce in thee.
7 Meditation. The Spouse of Christ is but one mystical Body, consisting of many spiritual members, compacted and fitly joyned together. 1. One Body, which is the Church of the first-born, written in Heaven. Heb. 12.22, 23. 2. Many members, which are [conjunctim] all the Churches of the Saints, 1 Cor. 14.33. and every individual Beleever, 1 Cor. 12, 1…7. 3. Compacted and fitly joyned together. Their hearts being knit together in love, Col. 2.2. and in faith, Ephes. 4.13. faith in Christ, and love to all the Saints, Col. 1.4. We will be glad, &c.
Gladness and joy in the Lord is a spiritual Affection in a gracious heart, Gal. 5.22. Seeking the Lord in his way, Psal. 105.3, 4. Springing from faith in the love of Christ to his soul, 1 Pet. 1.8. whereby he is enlarged to delight in the Lord above all things, Psal. 37.4. and against all discouragements, Hab. 3.17, 18. to rejoyce in the God of his salvation.
8 Meditation. Christ in his Churches, Ordinances, and holy Administrations, is the object of the Saints Joy, Psal. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee. None but Christ, none but Christ in Promises, in Duties, in Ordinances, in Churches, faith a gracious Soul, can satisfie me. It is not communion with Saints, enjoyment of Ordinances, and the Priviledges of Church-fellowship that doth quiet and comfort the hearts of the Saints, but Christ himself by the communication of his holy Spirit, and sanctifying grace therein, unto their poor hunger-thirsting Souls.
Thus Beleevers live above Ordinances upon Christ in the use of Ordinances, neither resting in them, nor sleighting of them. They esteem a Name in Gods House (which is the Church of God, 1 Tim. 3.15.) better then Sons and Daughters, Isa. 56.5. because they enjoy Christs presence there, Mat. 18.20. and the satisfying goodness of the House of God, Psal. 65.5. & 36.7, 8, 9.
We will remember thy love more then wine] Of the Loves of Christ you read in Vers. 2. and in what respects Christs Love is better then Wine, unto which I refer you.
To remember Christ loves is to celebrate the memorial thereof, Psal. 20.7. as the Spouse did in this Scripture, where she records the loves of Christ, and often maketh mention thereof; and good reason, for Christ records the remembrance of her love to him, Jer. 2.2, 3. I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine Espousals, &c. This engaged her affections, and endeared her heart, and that in sincerity of Spirit to love Christ which she thus expresseth.
The upright love thee] Upright in Heart, Psal. 94.15. in Speech, Isa. 33.15. and in Way, Psal. 119.1. Love here is a Conjugal Spiritual love, which doth affect both union and communion with Christ her Beloved, whose excellency consists in its entireness, fervency, and fruitfulness, Rom. 7.4.
9 Meditation. The Remembrance of Christs love to his Saints, engages and endears their hearts who are upright to love him, because he first loved them, 1 Joh. 4.19. dyed for them, Rom. 15.13. and washed away their sins in his owne blood, Rev. 1.5, 6.