Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 5 · Verse 11
VERS. 11.
His eyes are as the eyes of Doves, by the rivers of water, waſhed with milke, and fitly fit.
SHe now deſcribeth his eyes, by the ſober comelines and beautie of them, they being full of innocencie, ſinglenes, and chaſtitie, which he meaneth to expreſſe, by comparing them to Doves eyes. The Spouſe attributeth it here unto Chriſt, which he before attributed unto her, Chap. 1. 15. Alſo Chap. 4. 1.
His eyes are as the eyes of Doves.
The eye of the Dove (as hath been ſaid before) is a beautifull eye, chaſt, and ſingle. To the Doves eyes therefore ſhe likeneth the eyes of her beloved: but ſhe doth not compare them to Doves eyes, that is, to every ſort of Doves eyes, but to ſuch as be moſt beautiful and cleare, which may appeare by the words following.
By the Rivers of waters.
By the Rivers, ſtreames, or currents of water, that runne violently, ſuch waters as are pure and cleane; that is, like ſuch Doves, as haunt and abide by the Rivers of waters, where they have plenty of water, to waſh themſelves and their eyes, to make them cleare and freſh, wee know that running water is good to freſh and cleare the ſight. And therefore the clearenes and beautie of theſe Doves eyes are ſet forth, in that they are mentioned to be ſuch Doves, as delight to be by the Rivers of cleare waters.
Then farther ſhe ſaith.
They be waſhed with milke.
This expreſſion declares a further brightneſſe in Chriſts eyes: ſo that if it be not ſufficient to reſemble them to Doves, that uſe the cleare ſtreames: then let them be compared to ſuch, as for the clearencs and freſhneſſe of their eyes, waſh themſelves in milke, that ſo they may appeare, and be judged white and comely, ſhining with cleare brightneſſe. She addeth.
And fitly ſet.
Fitly ſet, or ſitting in fulneſſe, or they remaine upon the fulneſſe. This expreſſion may admit of a double interpretation.
Firſt, If the ſimilitude of waters be continued, then wee may underſtand, full Channels of water, by which, Doves delight to fit, and therefore ſome render the words, They remaine upon the full veſſels: and ſo the meaning would be, That as Doves eyes be full of moisture, that remaine and continue by full Veſſells: ſo is Chriſt the head of the Spouſe, of whoſe fullneſſe the members receive grace for grace. But there is no ſpeech of Veſſellsin the Hebrew Text, but the words ſtand thus. They remaine upon the fullneſſe.
And here we muſt know, that the word here Tranſlated fullneſſe, doth ſignifie the hollow place in which a precious ſtone is ſet, as a Diamond, or precious ſtone in a Ring is made meet and fit to fill up the hollow place of the Ring. So the precious ſtones ſet upon Rings or rows upon the golden Ephod, Exod. 25. 7. had their hollow places in which they were cunningly ſet, and ſo were called the ſtones of fulneſſe, becauſe they did in ſo fit ſort fill their hollow places. So that as a precious ſtone is made fit for the hollow of the Ring: So the commendation of the eyes is, that they are fitted for the holes of the head. And as ſtones thus fitted and cunningly ſet in the Ring are ſeemly and beautifull, ſo it is a ſpeciall commendation of the eyes of man or woman, to ſtand even; for if the eyes doe ſtand forth too much, it is a deformity, as we uſe to ſay, goggle eyed: and likewiſe if they be ſunk in too deep, then they be, as we uſe to terme them, hollow eyed. Now Chriſts eyes are neither of theſe, his pure eyes are as pretious ſtones that are fitly ſet in their places: he is not goggled eyed, his eyes are ſteddy and firme, they be as a ſtone in a gold Ring, which cannot be turned out of their place: his eyes are evermore guiding his ſight to looke perfectly into all things, into the depth of mans heart, and into the depth of Gods ſecrets and counſells.
Hence Note,
That Chriſts eyes are pure, cleare, and comely. His eyes are as a flame of fire, Revel. 1. 14. And as Lamps of fire, Dan. 10. 6. That is, his eyes are bright, lightſome, and piercing: implying his omniſcience, whereby he is able to diſperſe all the darke clouds of ſin and ignorance, to cleare and enlighten all his Saints: and he is able to pry into all the corners of mens hearts, and diſcry the privie plots and contrivances of all his adverſaries, as in Jer. 16. 17. Prov. 15. 11. Job 34. 21, 22. Heb. 4. 12. 13. And his eyes are not full of light, but full of purity and cleanneſſe, like Doves: he is of more pure eyes then to behold iniquity, Habuk. 1. 13. His eyes are alſo full of grace and mercy, tenderneſſe and pity, yea, full of commiſeration to all his Saints, his eyes are alwayes upon them for good, as in Deut. 11. 12. Pſal. 34. 15. The Spouſe paſſeth from the commendations of his Eyes to his Cheeks.