Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 4 · Verse 3
VERS. 3.
Thy teeth are like a thred of ſcarlet, and thy ſpeech is comely, thy Temples are like a piece of pomegranate within thy locks.
UNto the three former, now other two particulars of praiſe doe follow in this third verſe, viz. the lips, and the Temples. Touching the firſt he ſaith.
Thy lips are like a thred of ſcarlet, and thy ſpeech is comely.
The inſtruments of ſpeech, and the chiefeſt grace of the countenance are the lips, and therefore the ſpeech is commended by the inſtruments thereof, which are the lips.
Thy lips are like a thred of Scarlet, &c.
Here are two things commended in the lips.
Firſt, They are ſmall, in as much as they are reſembled by a thred or line.
Secondly, They be red of colour, and therefore he mentioneth Scarlet: a red colour of a double die.
Now if a Virgine be never ſo beautifull, if her ſpeech be rude and unpleaſant, it diſgraceth all, therefore he addeth.
Thy ſpeech is comely.
Comely, gracious, and to be deſired. The Hebrew Nava, ſignifieth comely, beatifull, amiable, and to be deſired. foreign Cupivit, concupivit, affectavit, in Niph. foreign Deſiderabilis, & per metalepſin, pulcher, decorus, conveniens fuit.The Greeke tranſlateth it goodly, faire, beautifull. This comelineſſe of the Spouſe is in her ſight, countenance and ſpeech.
Now by the lips of the Church are commended her prayers and praiſes, her doctrines and thankſgivings, which are all uttered with her lips. The Spouſe uttereth theſe not with ſwelling words of vanitie, or taught by humane wiſedome, but by the Spirit of the Lord, which poureth grace and utterance into the ſoule. Now in that the Church is commended for her ſpeech, and that from the beauty of her lips.
Hence Obſerve.
That the ſpirituall prayers and praiſes of the Church are gracious and comely.
Hence it is, that the very lips that are but the inſtruments of her ſpeech, are commended for their beautie. The ſpeech of man declareth what is in the heart, for Chriſt ſaith, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh. And a good man out of the good treaſnre of his heart bringeth forth good things, and an evill man out of the evill treaſure of his heart, bringeth forth evill things. By nature, there is nothing in mans heart, but that which is corrupt and abhominable, and ſo in all men, as the the Apoſtle ſaith, The poyſon of Aſpes is under their lips, Rom. 3. But by the operation of the holy Spirit, the hearts of the Saints are filled with faith and love, and then the ſpeech is gracious. Such ſpeech as proceedeth from a heart ſpiritualized, winneth love and likeing. It was ſaid of Chriſt, that he was fairer then the Children of Adam, Grace was powred out of his lips, Pſal. 45. And the Apoſtle prayeth, that a doore of utterance may be opened unto him. Let a man be never ſo learned, if the doore of utterance be ſhut up, his ſpeech ſhall profit little. It was falſly objected againſt Paul, as a reproach unto him, that he was rude in ſpeaking, 2 Cor. 11. 6. The truth is, he willingly avoided that painted kinde of eloquence, which carnall men, and ſuch as have itching eares, doe commonly delight in, but he wanted no kinde of utterance which was fit for the preaching of the Goſpell, to wit, the plaine evidence and demonſtration of the Spirit.
So much for the praiſe of the Churches ſpeech, ſet forth by the beauty of her lips. The next particular followeth.
Thy Temples are like a piece of pomgranate within thy locks.
He deſcribeth another part of the countenance or face, viz. the temples of the head, ſpeaking alſo of them according to the cuſtome then uſed, women ſuffering their haire to hang about their temples, becauſe it's ſaid, within thy locks.
By Temples are meant, each of the temples of the head, and hereby may be meant the cheekes alſo, which are joyned to the temples: Now by the temples or cheekes, is commended the beauty and modeſty of the Church.
The Pomgranate was of uſe in the old Tabernacle and Temple: Aarons Coat was hanged with Pomegranates and bels: Bels for the ſound of doctrine and prayer, and pomegranate for reſtraining and healing the diſtempers, and diſeaſes of the people. The Pomgranate when it is broken in pieces hath many graines and kernels in it, and alſo much juyce, whereby it is medicinable. Theſe are commended for repreſſing the heat of the choler, and the malignity of fevers, & alſo for comforting and ſtrengthning the ſtomack and bowels, keeping from fainting and the like. Now ſome do apply this to the Paſtors of the Church, and the ſimilitude of the Pomgranate, to denote the fruit and benefit that commeth by ſuch. But I rather take it to be meant of the ſpirituall beautie of the Church; for, the Pomgranate being broken or cut, is of a glorious or ruddie colour, like unto Roſes: So that the temples or cheekes of the Spouſe is commended for beautie, that together with faire and white, there is a mixture of red.
Hence Obſerve.
That the Spouſe of Chriſt is very beautifull and glorious.
The chiefeſt grace of the countenance lying in the Temples, they are ſet forth by a compariſon taken from the Pomegranate, and alſo her temples ſhine forth at her locks, beyond her haire, that ſo the beautie of the Spouſe is ſo naturall unto her, that it needeth not vaine and wanton adorning: I doe not meane that her beautie is a naturall beautie, yet though it be ſupernatural it is made connaturall unto her: ſo that the Spouſe need not ſeeke after worldly glorie to beautifie her ſpirituall beautie withall, for her glorie farr ſurpaſſeth all the glorie of the world; the glorie of the world is but an outſide, painted excellency, there is no ſubſtantiall glorie in it; but the glorie and excellencie of the Spouſe, is a reall and divine excellencie and beautie. The Spouſe is beautifull in reſpect of her ſpirituall graces received from Chriſt. A deformed perſon, of a meane complexion and conſtitution, yet notwithſtanding when he ſhall ſhew himſelfe to be of a lovely, gracious, and ſweet diſpoſition, this breeds love and likeing towards ſuch a one, though wee ſee nothing in the outward man to be lovely: ſo though the Saints are cloathed with no outward beautie, yet in reſpect of that ſpirituall wiſedome, goodneſſe, and love that is in them, they are very excellent and deſireable.
So much for the commendation of the firſt particular.
The ſixth followeth.