Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 2 · Verse 5
Verſ. 5.
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am ſick of love.
Here we have a wonderfull effect of thoſe former things which ſhee ſpake of; ſhe compared Chriſt unto an Apple tree, under whoſe ſhadow ſhe tooke delight, and ſat downe, and his fruit was pleaſant unto her pallate. He brought her into the houſe of wine, by the diſplaying over her the banner of love. Hence it is her heart is ſo much taken and raviſhed with love towards him againe, that ſhee is love-ſick, and ready to ſwoon therewith, and cryeth out to have them ſtay her up with Flagons, and to comfort her with Apples.
In the words we have,
Firſt, a requeſt of the Church, and this is two-fold; ſhee ſaith,
1. Stay me with flagons.
2. Comfort me with apples.
Secondly, we have the Churches reaſon of her earneſt requeſt, in theſe words, For I am ſick of love.
The thing ſhee ſo much requeſteth is ſpirituall ſuſtentation and ſtrength, compared with flagons of wine, and the ſavour of Apples. So that looke how comfortable wine is to the heart, and the ſavour of pleaſant apples to the ſenſe; ſuch, and much more is the ſenſe and ſweetneſſe of Chriſts graces to his Church.
Stay me with flagons, &c.
Stay) or ſuſtaine, ſtrengthen, prop, or uphold ye me. The ſimilitude is drawne from hence, when a Virgin is betrothed, foreign Inniaeas fuit, impoſuit, fulcivit, ſuſtentavit.and through the vehemency of her love towards her beloved, is ſick and ſwooneth. So here, the Church having taſted the ſweetneſſe of thoſe Apples, and of that heavenly wine, hath ſuch a deſire of Chriſt, that makes her breake forth into this patheticall exclamation, or ſuddaine outcry, Stay me with flagons, &c.
But unto whom doth ſhee cry out for theſe flagons, and for theſe ſweet Apples? She ſeemeth not to direct her words unto Chriſt, for ſhe ſpeaketh in the Plurall number, and not unto one ſingle perſon, ſaying, Stay or uphold ye me. Moſt thinke that ſhee ſpeaketh unto the Miniſters of Chriſt, and other Chriſtians, that they might uphold and ſtay her, applying the comfortable doctrines of the promiſes of the Goſpell unto her heart and conſcience, becauſe of her owne infirmities, and the want of the feeling of Chriſts love and graces. For ſpiritually we are ſuſtained and ſtrengthned by words and promiſes of Chriſt, theſe comfort the heart, theſe quicken the ſpirit, theſe ſtrengthen the weake faith, as the Apoſtle James ſaith, Be yee patient, ſtrengthen your hearts, for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh, Jam. 5. 8. And ſaith Paul, I long to ſee you, that I may impart unto you ſome ſpirituall gift, to the end you might be eſtabliſhed or ſtrengthned, Rom. 1. 11. Now then the Church calleth unto thoſe into whoſe hands Chriſt hath committed theſe treaſures to deliver unto her, towit, thoſe faithfull Servants, the Apoſtles and Prophets, and all holy teachers, for by the miniſtry of theſe, the Lord hath delivered unto his Church all thoſe heavenly myſteries of Salvation; and ſo the Apoſtle ſpeaks, That which I have received of the Lord (ſaith he) I alſo have delivered unto you, 1 Cor. 11. 23. And thus the Apoſtles were ſaid to Confirme (or eſtabliſh) the ſouls of the Diſciples, Acts 14. 21, 22. Now the Church doth direct her Speech unto them, not as unto the Authors, but as unto the miniſters of thoſe things: for ſhee knoweth that they be wholly and altogether in Chriſt. They are but as Stewards and diſpenſors of the myſteries of God, 1 Cor. 4. 1.
Hence Obſerve,
That Chriſtians in diſtreſſe deſire to be comforted of others.
Many times when we are not able to apply the promiſes of comfort unto our ſelves, yet others may ſo apply them, that we may be comforted. The Church addeth.
With flagons.
By Flagons no doubt ſhe meaneth by the figure Metonimie, the thing containing, for the thing contained: to wit, the Wine in thoſe Flagons, which muſt needs be meant of the wine of conſolation, and of grace and favour. So the cup is put for the wine therein, Luk. 22. 20. Now by Flagons is meant of the diſtribution of all good things in the Banquet of this Goſpell of Chriſt. When David had brought the Arke of God unto his place, and had Offered Burnt-offrings and Peaceoffrings, and bleſſed the people, He dealt to every one of Iſrael, both man and woman, to every one a loafe of bread and a good piece of fleſh, and a Flagon, 1 Chron. 16. 1, 2, 3. Meaning a Flagon of wine. And there is mentioned, in Hoſ. 3. 1. Flagons of grapes. That is, of wine made of Grapes.
Arius Montanus turnes the Hebrew according to the Letter thus, Ʋnderprop me in the Flagons: and ſo the foreign Fulcite me in lagenis. Arius Mont.next words, Comfort me in the Apples, that is, amidſt the Flagons, and amidſt the fruit: for the Text hath not the particle (Eth) with, but the letter Beth, which fignifieth in, among, ſooner then With. And you may take the ſenſe thus, is if the Church ſhould ſay: O my welbeloved, vouchſafe that thy Miniſters, towit, thy Prophets, Evangeliſts, Apoſtles, Teachers, &c. may apply unto me with all care and dilligence, all the cordiall promiſes of the Goſpell: theſe are the full flaggons of that ſpirituall wine which onelyonly can cheare and comfort me, who am ready to faint and ſwoon amidſt this divine Banquet: my ſenſes being weake to ſuſtaine the ſtrong odour of thy graces, unleſſe ſuſtained by ſome ſpirituall aſſiſtance from them that are able, ſweetly and comfortably to apply the promiſes of the Goſpell unto me.
Hence, Obſerve,
That the promiſes of the Goſpell yeild moſt comfort unto the Saints when they are ſweetly applyed unto them.
The Church here deſires to be ſuſtained with flagons of the wine of Chriſts grace and conſolation diſtributed unto her ſoule. It is the explication of Chriſts excellency and riches, and the applying of them to the hearts of the Saints, that brings comfort, peace, joy-unſpeakeable, and full of glorie. Hence it is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, Ʋnto me, who am leſſe then all the Saints, is this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles, the unſpeakable riches of Chriſt; and make known unto all men, what is the fellowſhip of the myſterie, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jeſus Chriſt; to the intent that now unto Principalities and powers in heavenly places might be made known by the Church, the manifold wiſdom of God, Ep. 3. 8, 9, 10. The Apoſtle doth teſtifie, that he was to diſplay and reveale the hidden myſteries of Chriſt unto the Gentiles; by which meanes, principalities and powers, to wit, the Angels, who are very deſirous to looke into, and contemplate the manifold wiſedome of God, and the diſpenſing of gifts and graces in Chriſt to the Saints: even theſe Angels might have a new proofe of the wiſedome of God, by the preaching of the Goſpell.
Thus for the firſt requeſt of the Church.
The ſecond followeth.
Comfort me with Apples.
The originall Rapad, ſignifieth properly to ſpread abroad as a bed to lye on, ſo it is uſed by Job, when he ſaith, I have made my bed in the darkneſſe, Job. 17. 13. that is, I have ſpread or prepared my bed; wee may read it, ſpread me a couch, bolſter me up, or, ſtrow me a bed. It was their manner then, to ſtrow their beds with hearbes, or to ſtuffe and bolſter them up. Now the Church meaneth the ſame thing by theſe Apples, laid as it were under her; as in the former words, by the flagons, for they uſed beds at banquets and feaſts, Amos 6. 4. Or, it ſignifieth her falling into a ſwoone; and then ſhee alludeth to the cuſtome of men, who, when others are ſwooning or fainting, are wont to put ſtrong ſmelling things into their noſtrels: ſo the Church meaneth, that for her comfort and refreſhing, and reſtoring her againe, as it were from death to life, ſhe would have the ſweet ſmelling Aples, to wit, the comfortable doctrines, and fruits of Chriſt, that are brought out of Chriſts treaſury, both held and applyed to her, that by that meanes ſhe may be recovered.
Hence, Obſerve.
That the only meanes to recover and refreſh a ſoule, that is ready to faint for want of the feelling of Chriſts love, is to apply the ſweet promiſes and conſolations of the Goſpell unto it.
For here the Church being inflamed with the love of Chriſt, that ſhe's ready to ſwoone and faint in the middeſt of the banquet, as it were for longing after her beloved, crying out with patheticall exclamation, Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples. The Church having requeſted ſome aid and help, ſhee rendreth a reaſon, and declareth what is her diſtemper.
For I am ſick of love.
Here wee have the reaſon of the Churches ſickneſſe, enlarged from the cauſe thereof, namely, love; ſhe was foreign Aegrotavit infirmus fuit.in languiſhing with deſire to enjoy the comforts of her beloved. The word cholah, ſignifies ſickneſſe or weakneſſe: ſo by this ſpeech may be meant her want of feeling and enjoying the preſence and comforts of Chriſt, for ſuch is the condition of the Church often. Now love is one of the ſtrongeſt affections, and therefore the ſickneſſe ariſing from it, muſt needs be very ſore; as may be ſeene in the example of Ammon, who was ſick of love for his Siſter Tamar, 2 Sam, 13. 1, 2, &c. now this ſickneſſe growing from love, let us conſider what love is.
It is an affection or motion whereby the will is inclined, with deſire of ſome good thing, with a ſtrong deſire after the fruition of that good, which is propounded to the ſoule. The cauſe then by which the heart is ſtirred, is the goodneſſe of ſome object propounded to the ſenſe, and by the ſenſe propounded to the heart. Now then wee may underſtand the cauſe of this ſickneſſe to be either.
Firſt, The ſence and feeling of Gods wrath due to her for ſinnes, and the curſe of the Law, according to that in Pſal. 90. 8. where the Pſalmiſt ſaith, Thou haſt ſet our iniquities before thee, our ſecret ſinnes in the light of thy countenance. Whereupon it is ſaid, The Inhabitant ſhall not ſay I am ſick; the people that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquitie, Iſa. 33. 24. when their ſinns were forgiven, their ſickneſſe was healed.
Hence, Obſerve.
That the apprehanſion of wrath due for ſin, cauſeth ſicknes in the ſoule.
Chriſt tels us, That the whole need not the Phyſitian, but they that are ſick, Matth. 9. 12. Sin-ſick ſinners will enquire and ſeeke the Phyſitian of ſoules. The ſenſe of miſerie is the primum mobile, the firſt mover, that ſets the ſoule in fainting and longing after Chriſt, for when the ſoule findes it ſelfe in darkneſſe without light, lying under the guilt of ſinne, and not able to deliver it ſelfe, this cannot but make it looke out for it ſelfe, and ſeeke with great importance for a Saviour. The Dove could find no reſt for the ſoale of her foot, till ſhe returned into the Arke. The Saints are very impatient of Chriſts abſence; for he may withdraw himſelfe for a while; he may withdraw his light and comfort from the ſoule, though he take not a way his love, yet he may ſuſpend the Acts of his love, he may ſeeme to frowne, he may ſo abſcond and ecclipſe his love, that the ſoule for a time loſeth ſenſe, and feeles not its owne happineſſe. Now when it is thus, Chriſt ſeemes to be gone, the comfort and aſſurance of his love is gone, joy and light is gone, O! how dejected, how diſconſolate is the ſoule then! It is a perfect hyeroglyphick or reſemblance of A wounded ſpirit, as Solomon cals it, when the ſoule is full of perplexities and feares, and can ſee no comfort; then it muſt returne to Chriſt, as to its ſtrong hold, there is my ſtay, there is my comfort, there I ſhall finde reliefe and refreſhment, or elſe no where. Or elſe.
Secondly, Wee may take the cauſe of the Churches ſickneſſe the object, to wit, the ſight of Chriſts loves, diſplayed by his banner, and by taſting of his banquet, even all the varietie of his ſweet graces: now becauſe her minde (which is the eye of the ſoule) could not ſuſtaine the glittering ſhine of his love, no more then Job could ſhut up the Sea with doores, Job 38. 8. or Agur cloſe up the winds in his fiſt, Prov. 30. 4. hereupon ſhe is as one in a Syncope or fit of ſwooning, being overcome with the bright and glorious beams of his love; as it was ſaid of the Queene of Sheba (according to Hiſtorians) who had no Spirit left in her, becauſe ſhe was aſtoniſhed at Solomons glorie, riches, wiſedom, and the like: So here the Church having both ſights and taſts of Chriſt love and ſweetneſſe, is as it were overcome with it.
Hence, Obſerve.
That the fulneſſe of Chriſts love to his Saints, doth as it were, tranſport and overcome them.
The Church had been in the houſe of wine, banquetting with Chriſt; and under the diſplaying of the banner of his love, upon which ſhe cryeth out, I am ſick of love, I am overwhelmed and overcome with his ſweetneſſe, hereupon her heart was ſo much raviſhed with love, that ſhe is love-ſick, and ready to ſwoon therewith. Or,
Thirdly, Wee may take her ſickneſſe to be her exceeding love towards Chriſt, that her heart is ſo raviſhed with love towards him, that ſhe is ſick. Love hath a ſtrong appetition of peculiarity, or private intereſt in the thing beloved: Here is a marveilous paſſion of love in the Church towards Chriſt: Now according to this interpretation, the ſimilitude is drawn from hence, when a Virgine is betrothed, and through the vehemencie of her love towards her Spouſe, is ſick, and ſwooneth; a greater or a more vehement love cannot be.
Hence, Obſerve.
That the Saints love to Chriſt, is vehement and ſtrong.
Here the Church is ſo taken and raviſhed with love towards Chriſt, that ſhe is love-ſick, and ready to ſwoone, and with a patheticall exclamation crie th out, as one that is ready to depart and dye, ſhe deſireth to be refreſhed with the ſweet water of life, diſtributed unto her in flagons, and the ſweet ſmelling Aples fetch out of Chriſts treaſury, and both held and applyed to her, that by that meanes ſhe might be, as it were recovered of her ſickneſſe. The faithfull ſoule taſting the ſweetnes of thoſe Aples, & of that heavenly wine, hath ſuch a deſire of Chriſt, as that ſhe cannot be any meanes be ſatisfied without the enjoyment of him. Here then is a ſickneſſe, but not to death, but unto life and ſatisfaction. Chriſt himſelfe pronounceth ſuch Bleſſed, that doe hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, for (ſaith he) they ſhall be filled, Matth. 5. 6. The ſweetneſſe of theſe Apples which ſhe taſted, and of that precious wine, brought her into this paſſion: yet her appetite and deſire of them, is not any thing at all diminiſhed, but ſhe deſireth to be more refreſhed and comforted with thoſe flagons of wine, and to have applyed unto her ſelf thoſe ſweet apples of Chriſt. When Chriſt doth firſt lead a ſoule into his Wine-Cellar, and doth refreſh it at the heavenly banquet of heavenly delights and comforts, he doth not diſtribute out a full meaſure of his ſpirit and grace, but as it were ſome taſts, or ſmall drops of them, which the Apoſtle cals The firſt fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 23. And The earneſt of the Spirit, Epheſ. 1. Now by theſe drops the Saints are ſo taken and raviſhed, with the wonderfull ſweetneſſe there is in thoſe heavenly things, that they are inſatiable in their deſire after a more plentifull meaſure of them. Thus for the Churches requeſt, with the reaſon thereof. Now followeth the fruit or effect of her requeſt.