Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 4 · Verse 12 – Verse 13,14
VERS. 12.
A garden incloſed is my ſiſter, my Spouſe, a ſpring ſhut up, a fountaine ſealed.
CHriſt being about to commend the fruits which he cauſed the Church to bring forth, doth firſt ſet forth her aptneſſe thereto in this verſe, and in the two following verſes doth alſo commend the fruits themſelves by numbring up their ſorts.
The aptneſſe of the Church to bring forth fruits, as are mentioned in the next verſes, is ſet forth by two ſimilitudes, both which ſet forth her praiſe.
1. Shee is compared to a Garden incloſed.
2. Shee is likened to a Spring or Fountaine, ſhut up and ſealed.
The firſt compariſon ſets forth the praiſe of the Spouſe. 1. In her ſafe protection in Chriſt. 2. Her faithfullneſſe and chaſtity to him, for ſhe is as a Garden incloſed.
Secondly, ſhee is highly extolled in that Chriſt is as a ſpring of living waters unto her, and ſhe alone partaketh of his heavenly treaſures. In that it is ſaid, ſhe is a ſpring ſhut up, a fountaine ſealed. So that though many in the world are made partakers of many outward priviledges, yet onelyonly the Saints are made partakers of the ſweet waters of life
A Garden incloſed is my Siſter, my Spouſe, &c.
If we obſerve the fore-going words we may read, Thou art a Garden. This word Garden notes the comelineſſe of the Church, and the pleaſure that Chriſt took therein. It hath its name in Hebrew of Protection, and preſervation, becauſe great care is taken of a foreign Hortus, a rad. foreign Operuit, protexit, defendit, conſervavit.Garden. The Church is here ſo called, as in verſ. 13. an Orchard, or, as it is in the Hebrew a Paradiſe, as if it were the onelyonly Eden of delight. All the world is a wilderneſſe or wild field in compariſon unto it.
Hence Note,
That the Spouſe is Chriſts Garden of delight. So Chriſt compareth his Church to a Vineyard. Now will I ſing to my Beloved, a ſong of my Beloved touching his Vineyard: My Beloved had a Vineyard in a very fruitfull hill, he hedged it, and gathered out the ſtones, planted it with the beſt plants, built a Tower in the midſt thereof, and alſo made a Wine-preſſe therein, Iſa. 5. 1, 2. The Church is Gods Garden or Orchard, and that in theſe reſpects.
1. The Garden is ſevered from all the reſt of the ground, from the field and from the wilderneſſe. So the Saints are ſevered to be elect veſſells of honour, from the other Clay which is o…ed to make veſſells of wrath. Jacob and h…ity was ſeparated being Children of the Promiſe, from Eſau and his Poſterity, which are according to the fleſh. Paul was ſeparated to the Goſpell, Rom. 1. 1. And which is more, he was ſeparated from his Mothers womb, and called him by his grace to receive his Sonne in him, Gallath. 1. 15.
2. In a Garden are all manner of pleaſant and wholſome Hearbs and Trees growing: So in the Church are all manner of uſefull ſpirits ſpringing up as the Trees of righteouſneſſe, to the praiſe of God.
3. A Garden is a place of pleaſure where men uſe to refreſh themſelves, and take pleaſure to walke in. So Chriſt taketh pleaſure in his Church, where he ſaith, Thou art all faire, &c. yea, Chriſt doth walk delightfully in this Garden, and calleth his friends thither to walke with him.
4. In a Garden is abundance of paines taken, to plant and dreſſe, and the like. So Chriſt worketh in his Garden, where he ſaith, Know yee not that I muſt goe about my Fathers buſineſſe, Luke 2: 49 He ſaith, he hath finiſhed the worke which the Father gave him to doe, John 17. 4. And what could I have done more for my Vineyard, which I have not done.
5. A Garden is commonly planted with the beſt plants, as God planted Eden, and the Maſter of the Vineyard did the like in his Vineyard, Iſa. 5. 1. 80 that the Trees of the Garden grow not naturally, as thoſe in the Wilderneſſe, which beare no fruit, but are planted by the labour of the husband-man. Thus David ſaith, The juſt man ſhall be like a Tree planted by the water ſide, which ſhall bring forth his fruit in due ſeaſon, Pſal. 1. 3. All the Frees in Chriſts Vineyard are planted by God, as Chriſt faith, Every plant which my Father hath not planted, ſhall be rooted up, Mat. 15. 13.
6. All plants in a Garden are not of one kind, neither doe they bring forth the ſame fruits, but diverſe according to their kind: So in the Church, the whole body is but one, but it hath many members, & all of the ſame body, which is one: now all theſe members have ſeverall operations and functions: and the members muſt have the ſame care one of another, as the Apoſtle treateth on at large, in 1 Cor. 12.
Againe, as Jeruſalem is builded as a City compact within it ſelfe: So the Spouſe is not onelyonly compared to a Garden, but,
A Garden incloſed.
The Hebrew word ſignifies locked, or barred, that is, foreign Clauſit, obſervavit, peſſulum obdidit.cloſe ſhut up, ſafe, free from danger, and the like. The word is uſed for bolting of a doore, 2 Sam. 13. 17, 18. Hence Note,
That the Church is an incloſed Garden. And it is an incloſure for three cauſes.
1. For diſtinction from other grounds.
2. For defence and ſafety.
3. Propriety for the owners owne uſe.
1. The Church as a Garden is incloſed for diſtinction-ſake, becauſe it is ſeparated from all other people, as a Garden is ſeparated from the wilderneſſe or common field. As the light was ſeparated from the darkneſſe in the Creation of the world, as the Jewes were ſeparated from the Gentiles by the partition-wall, and the moſt holy place from the Sanctuary, by the veile of the Temple: So the Lord hath ſeparated and choſen his people from among all Nations, Kindreds, and Tongues, foraſmuch as this foundation remaineth ſure, the Lord knows who are his, 2 Tim. 2. 19. And as the Prophet ſaith, The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked ſhall periſh, Pſal. 1. 6.
2. This Garden is incloſed alſo for defence, God hedgeth it on every ſide that the wild Boare may doe it no hurt. For walls, doors, locks and bars, are means of defence and ſafety: thus Jeruſalem was fortified with locks, and Bars, Nehem. 3. 3. 13. And when ſuch fences are wanting, all things lye to the ſpoile, as in Iſa. 5. 5. Pſal. 80. 12. Thus the Lord maketh his Church as a Towne walled about for defence againſt the enemies, that it cannot be conquered; as Jeruſalem was compaſſed about with hills. They that truſt in the Lord ſhall be as Mount Sion, which cannot be moved, but ſtandeth for ever: the hills compaſſe Jeruſalem round about, ſo is the Lord round about his people, from henceforth, for evermore, Pſal. 125. 1, 2. It is built upon a rock, that the gates of Hell ſhall not prevaile againſt it, Mat. 16. 18. And God hath promiſed to be a wall of fire round about Jeruſalem. Zech. 2. 5. And ſtrengthneth the bars of her gates, Pſal. 147. 13. He keeps his Vineyard night and day, …aſt any ſhould hurt it, Iſa. 27. 3.
3. This incloſure of the Church doth intimate the owners propriety, becauſe it belongeth onelyonly to him, he hath it for his owne uſe. Here is noted the chaſtity of the Spouſe, ſhe goeth not a whoring after other Gods, ſhe is not like the Harlot which ſitteth at the doore, and calleth to her the commers by, and ſaith, ſtollen water is ſweet, Prov. 9. 17. But the Spouſe of Chriſt is carefull to keep her ſelfe and all her plants and fruits holy, chaſt, pure unto her beloved onelyonly: ſhee openeth the gates that the righteous Nation may enter in, which keepeth the truth Iſa. 26. 2. But ſhee labours to withſtand the invaſion of the uncleane and abhominable, that it enter not in, Revel. 21. 27. The Apoſtle was jealous over the Corinthians with a godly jealouſie, and hath prepared them for one Husband, to preſent them as a pure Virgine to Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11. 2. The Spouſe ſaith, I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mine, Song 2. 16. So much for the firſt compariſon, wherein the Spouſe was compared to a Garden incloſed. It followeth.
My Siſter, my Spouſe.
Theſe words were expounded verſe 9. of this Chapter, therefore I will not ſtand here on repetition, but proceed to the ſecond compariſon, which is expreſſed in theſe words.
A ſpring ſhut up, a fountaine ſealed.
Here we ſee are joyned together a Garden full of ſweet plants, and a ſpring and fountaine of living waters. If the plants in a Garden be not watered, all will wither and be fruitleſſe. By this compariſon is inferred, that the Spouſe is not dry and barren, but a fruitfull Garden, it is never without water, and therefore cal'd
A ſpring, a fountaine.
A ſpring hath its name in Hebrew Gal, of the root Galal, which ſignifies the rolling and waving of the waters. Springs and fountaines are never dry, but ſend forth ſtreams of water continually. So that this ſignifieth the abundance of waters that the Church is ſupplyed with, it is as a Spring able to water all parts of the Garden.
Hence Obſerve,
That the garden of Chriſts Church is plentifully watered by his ſpirit and grace, and ſo made fruitfull. This garden is therefore well watered, there is a ſpring of living waters, which alwayes doe flow, wherewith every herb and pretious plant is watered. Thus Chriſt himſelfe teſtifieth, ſaying, He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water, John 7. 38. And when the Lord promiſeth a full ſupply of his Spirit, he ſaith, I will powre water upon the dry ground, and floods upon him that is thirſty, Iſa. 44. 3. This water fructifieth the barrenneſſe, molifieth the hardneſſe, and cooleth the hot diſtempers, and moiſtneth the drineſſe of the hearts of the Saints, and ſo makes them fruitfull Trees of righteouſneſſe to Gods praiſe. Water is comfortable to a thirſty land; ſo is the ſupply of the Spirit to a thirſty ſoule, hence ſaith David, My ſoule gaſpeth after thee as a thirſty land, Pſal. 143. 6. A River in Paradiſe was called Euphrares of foreign becauſe it maketh glad, ſo doth the overflowings of the Spirit of Chriſt into the ſoule, refreſh it, and make it glad and lightſome. It is ſaid that the joy of the Captives returning from Babylon, was like the waters of the South, Pſal. 126. 4. Intimating, that the South parts of the world thirſted after water in a dry Summer. Such is the joy of the dry and thirſty ſoule, when God cauſes his ſpirit to returne upon it, and refreſh it with heavenly ſupplies. It is promiſed, the Lord will ſatisfie thy ſoule in droughts, and make fat thy Bones, and thou ſhalt be like a watered garden, and like a ſpring of water, whoſe waters faile not, Iſa. 58. 11. Thus the Spouſe is a ſpring and a fountaine, not becauſe ſhee is the fountaine of grace, but becauſe Chriſts being in it, it is the onelyonly well-ſpring or fountaine of the waters of life unto all. But now it is added.
A Fountaine ſhut up.
Shut up) or locked, barred: that is, kept cloſe from enemies: So that though theſe waters abound, yet doe they flow onelyonly in Chriſts garden, no other gardens or plants are watered by them. It is ſo ſhut up that none can take of theſe waters, but by Chriſts conſent. Theſe waters are waters of the Sanctuary, and therefore not common to all, none are partakers of theſe waters, but the Spouſe, the Bride, the Lambs wife. It is added.
A Fountaine ſealed.
The confirmation of a thing is ſignified by the ſealing of it; ſo is the confirmation of the Spirit and grace of God, as appears, John 3. 3. & Epheſ. 1. 13. Now when a thing is ſealed, it is concealed from another: ſo this grace is not communicated to the wicked. Hence it is ſaid, Bind up the teſtimony, ſeale the Law among my Diſciples, Iſa. 8. 16. But it is hid from the world, none of them can come and take thereof. This ſpeech tendeth to the ſame end that the former ſimilitude did: all being ſpoken according to the manner of their Country, wherein water was not only ſkanty, and therefore a good bleſſing to enjoy it: but alſo there was much adoe to keepe it to themſelves, See Gen. 21. 25. alſo Gen. 26. 17, 18, 19, &c.
Now in that the Spouſe is compared to a fountaine ſhut up, and ſealed: it doth impart divers things.
Firſt, note.
That thoſe precious waters, by which the Spouſe is refreſhed, are pure and wholſome waters. For what elſe ſhould it be a fountaine ſealed, but to preſerve it pure and wholſome? This ſpirituall fountaine is not bitter, as the waters of Marah, where the Children of Iſrael could not drinke. The traditions of men may be compared to ſuch waters, which are filthy & corrupt waters; waters which ſtand open, are ſomtimes infected by poiſon, or other noiſome things falling in, as where it is written: there fell a great ſtarre from heaven, burning as a Torch, into the third part of the Rivers, and fountains of water, the name of the ſtarre is wormwood, and the third part of the wateers became bitter, and many men dyed of the waters, Revel. 8. 10. And againe in chap. 16. 14. The Angel powred out his viol upon the Rivers and fountains of water, and they became blood: Thus at the generall Apoſtacie many of the waters were corrupted, made bitter, and turned into blood. But the fountaine of the Spouſe is ſealed, no ſuch ſtarre can fall into it, to make it bitter: no ſuch viol can be powred into it to turne it into blood.
Secondly, note.
That this Spring and fountaine of living water is only to refreſh the Spouſe.
Theſe waters, although they abound, yet they flow not forth of the garden, they be ſhut up and ſealed, none other garden or plants are watered by them. Now ſome may object, that the doctrine of the Goſpell is publiſhed to all promiſcuouſly, how is it then a fountaine ſealed up? I anſwer, that the word doth in a ſort flow forth to all, which are not the true plants of the Lord; but it doth not water them, they have not lively, ſpirituall, and effectuall working of it, to make them grow and beare fruit. It is with them, as water falling upon a Rock, which doth only wet the out-ſide and not ſoften the rock or ſtone within, So that though the outward, litterall, and hiſtoricall part of the word be common to many, yet the ſpirituall part, and the lively efficacie thereof, is peculiar to the Spouſe alone: She only is refreſhed with theſe fountains of living water, her plants be watered all with them, and made fruitful. Thirdly Obſerve.
That the Spouſe is chast unto Chriſt.
She will bring forth fruit only unto him, and watereth no plants but her owne: when Solomon would teach ſpirituall chaſtitie, he doth thus expreſſe it: Drinke water out of thine owne Ciſterne, and running waters out of thine owne well: let thy fountaines be diſperſed abroad, and rivers of water in the ſtreets: let them be only thine owne, and not ſtrangers with thee: let thy fountaine be bleſſed, and rejoyce with the Wife of thy, &c. Prov. 5. 15. 18. Thus the Spouſe here is a fountaine ſealed up, ſhe is not for ſtrangers and ſuch as paſſe by, her care is to keepe her ſelfe holie, pure, and chaſt unto her beloved, ſhe watereth only her owne plants, ſhe keepeth watch, leaſt any uncleane thing ſhould enter, ſhe openeth her gates, that only the righteous Nation may enter in, as it is in Iſa. 26. 2. Thus we have the Spouſe ſet forth as a well watered garden apt to beare fruit: now what ſtore of all ſorts of precious fruits ſhe brought forth, the two next verſes doe ſhew, for here are reckoned up all manner of the beſt plants.
VERS. 13, 14.
Thy plants are an Orchard of pomegranates, with pleaſant fruits, camphire, with Spikenard.
Spikenard and Saffron, Calamus and Cynamon, with all the Trees of frankincenſe, myrrhe, and aloes, with all the chiefe Spices.
HEre is the goodlieſt garden, that ever was heard of, which is not only a garden incloſed, and ſealed; but is alſo full of all ſweet plants, here be ſweet fruits, here be all the chiefe ſpices, and ſweet incenſe, here is whatſoever is delectable and precious. Chriſt in his commendations of his Spouſe, doth enumerate and reckon up all manner of the beſt plants, ſaying.
Thy plants are as an Orchard of Pomegranates, &c.
Thy Plants, or thy off-ſpring, that is, thy Children or Members, all that are ſet or planted in thee. The Hebrew foreign Miſit, emiſit, inde foreign Propagines.word tranſlated plants, comes of ſending forth, that is, of growing, and bringing forth fruit: hereby is ſhewne, how full of pleaſant plants the Lords garden is, it is not only ſenced in, and well watered, but alſo repleniſhed with wholſome, ſweet and precious Plants.
Are as an Orchard, or P…cadiſe: ſo called of the Hebrew word Pardes, a place ſet with pleaſant plants, and Trees, as appeares, Eccleſ. 2. 5. As it were the garden foreign Paradiſus.of Eden, to which all the world is but as a wild Field or Widerneſſe.
Of pomegranates, or pomegranate-Apples, ſo Arius Mont. render it; they are ſo called, becauſe they were full of grains or kernels, theſe were very deare and precious, foreign punicorum malorum.yea very healthfull and good: for they were good to repreſſe the heat of choler, and malignitie of Fevers, they alſo comfort the ſtomack and belly, and prevent faintings and ſwoonings.
With pleaſant fruits, that is, abounding with ſweet fruits, and pleaſant things; ſuch as theſe were part of Joſephs bleſſing, as we may reade, Deut. 33. 13. of the precious fruits put forth by the Sun and Moone: ſo that beſide the Pomegranate, there were all other pleaſant fruits, and precious things, ſome particulars where of he reckoneth in this verſe, and in the verſe following.
Camphire, or Camphire fruits, or Cipres berries, for the word is of the plurall number. Camphire is a ſweet foreign Cyptei.gumme, but Cypres is a tree, very pleaſant and well ſmelling. The Hebrew Copher, (from whence the Cypres tree ſeemeth to be derived) ſignifieth Atonement and propitiation. Camphire with its ſweetneſſe doth much refreſh the Spirits, and cheereth up the minde. See this more explained, in Chap. 1. 14.
With Spikenard, or nards, this word is alſo in the plural number, though in the next vers it is uſed ſingularly: the plurall Spikenards, ſeemeth to imply all ſorts of nards: for there are divers ſorts: that which is of the true nard, is of exceding ſweet and pleaſant ſmel, by which it ſtayeth diſtillations of the head, and digeſteth cold humours, and the like. It was preoious and coſtly, as appeares Mark. 14. 3. Alſo Joh. 12. 3. And it groweth in India, Syria, and other places thereabouts. The word Spikenard is framed of the Hebrew word nerd, whence the Greekes call it Nardos, and the Latines Nardus. See it more explained in Chapter 1. 14.