Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 5 · Verse 12
VERS. 12.
His Cheeks are as a bed of ſpices, as ſweet flowers, his Lips like Lillies dropping ſweet ſmelling Myrrhe.
IN this Verſe we have two parts commended.
1. His Cheeks. 2. His Lips.
His Cheeks are a bed of ſpices, as ſweet flowers.
Cheeks are the grace and beauty of the face, they are here uſed to denote Chriſts preſence and heavenly countenance, which is ſweet, as ſpices and flowers. The Cheeks are ſet forth by a double compariſon. 1. They are likened to a bed of Spice, meaning a Garden bed, wherein ſpice aromaticall is ſet. The comedineſſe of his Cheeks is ſet forth in the word Bed, and the ſweetneſſe of them in the word Spice, for beds ſet out Gardens, and Spices we know ſmell well, and are very fragrant. She addeth.
And ſweet flowers.
Sweet flowers) or, Growne plants, ſo named of being growne great: The word alſo may be Tranſlated Towers, which have their names of greatneſſe. If we ſhould Expound the words then after the uſuall ſignification, we ſhould ſay, As the Towers of thoſe which make ſweet Ointments, but we may more fitly take them to be growne Plants of thoſe that deale with ſpices and ſweet Ointments, ſeing the proper ſignification of the word is of greatneſſe. By theſe Cheeks the comelineſſe and grace of Chriſt is ſet forth.
Hence Obſerve,
That Chriſt is full of grace and comelineſſe to all that behold him.
His Cheeks (which is the grace of the face) is for comelineſſe like a Bed, and for ſweetneſſe like Spice, and Growne plants. Chriſts comelineſſe and gravity, ſhines forth to all that behold him: all his graces are ſweet, and his fight and countenance hath a transforming vertue, it makes thoſe that behold him to be like unto him, while others behold his glory, they are transformed into the ſame image of his glory, from glory to glory, by the ſpirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3. 18. Thus much for the commendations of his Cheeks, that of his Lips followeth.
His Lips are like Lillies, dropping ſweet ſmelling Myrrhe.
The Lillies are very glorious, beautifull, and faire to behold, for that flower amongſt others, is of a goodly colour, and faire to look upon. This flower is commended in many places of this Song, as whereunto the Spouſe her ſelfe is compared in reſpect of her beauty, Chap. 2. 2. And in the ſame Chapter, verſ. 16. it's attributed to Chriſt alſo. See Chap. 4. 5. This flower is not onelyonly beautifull, but of a pleaſant ſmell, and of good and tall growth, all which tendeth ſtill to the expreſſing of the glory and beauty of Chriſt, and to the ſweet and pleaſant ſmells that are to be found in him. Now the Lillies are fragrant and ſweet of themſelves, yet ſhe addeth.
They drop pure Myrrhe.
Pure, or paſſing Myrrhe, ſuch as will paſſe, and is vendible among Merchants, as in Verſ. 5. it's meant the Ode of Myrrhe, which is the ſweeteſt of all. Now the Lips, here compared to Lillies, and ſweet Myrrhe, we know are the inſtrument of ſpeech, and therefore this is to be referred unto the holy, heavenly, ſweet and gracious doctrine of Chriſt. Honey and Myrrhe, that is, grace, love, goodneſſe, and mercy, did flow out of Chriſts mouth. In this reſpect the Spouſe ſaid before that her lips did drop as the Honey-comb: and now ſhe ſaith that his lips doe drop pure Myrrhe.
Hence Obſerve,
That the gracious, holy, and heavenly doctrines that proceed from Chriſt, are very ſweet and ſavory. The words which Chriſt ſpake when he was in the fleſh, are ſaid to be gracious words, Luke 4. 22. And in Pſal. 45. 3. Grace was powred out of his lips. The ſweetneſſe of his words are here ſet out by the ſimilitude of the pleaſant Lillie, and the ſweet Oile of Myrrhe: Such is the ſweetneſſe of the Goſpell in the hearts of believers. The word of God is full of ſweetneſſe, and all manner of delight, it rejoyceth the heart, as the Prophet ſaith, Pſal. 19. 6. ſpreading abroad the ſavour thereof, even far and neer, after the manner of the pleaſant Lillies, and moſt precious, pure, and ſweet Myrrhe. Chriſt ſaith, That out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh. Now Chriſts heart being a treaſure of good things, the dropping of his lips muſt needs be ſweet, that utter and ſpread abroad thoſe good things. Chriſt ſpeaks from the excellency of his Spirit, and from hearty affections dyed in love: his lips then muſt needs drop ſweetneſſe, they muſt needs have a pleaſant taſt.
It followeth.