SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER 1 A description of the earnest longing of the church after Christ, SONG OF SOLOMON 1:1 . A confession of her deformity; prayeth for direction. SONG OF SOLOMON 1:5 . Christ's direction and command, SONG OF SOLOMON 1:8 . He showeth his love to her both for her strength and come... [ Continue Reading ]
LET HIM KISS ME WITH THE KISSES OF HIS MOUTH. The beginning of this book is abrupt, and may seem disorderly; but is very suitable to and usual in writings of this nature, wherein things are not related in an historical and exquisite order, but that which was first done is brought in as it were accid... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF THE SAVOUR OF THY GOOD OINTMENTS; because of those excellent gifts and graces of God's Spirit wherewith thou art replenished, and which flow from thee upon thy members, THY NAME; either, 1. Thou thyself; NAMES being oft put for persons, as ACTS 1:15 REVELATION 3:4. Or rather, 2. Thy fame... [ Continue Reading ]
DRAW ME; by thy grace and Holy Spirit effectually inclining my heart to come unto thee, as this phrase implies, JEREMIAH 31:3 HOSEA 11:4 1 THESSALONIANS 6:44,45. As thou hast outwardly called and invited me, so do thou inwardly move me, who am naturally averse and backward to follow thee. WE; both I... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM BLACK. It might be objected, Who art thou, that thou shouldst have or pretend to such a royal Bridegroom, and such honours and favours? To this the church answers, I confess, as to myself and outward appearance in the eyes of the world, I have not that pomp and beauty which men admire, but am b... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK NOT UPON ME, with wonder and disdain, because of my blackness, as it follows. BECAUSE THE SUN HATH LOOKED UPON ME: my blackness is not essential, and inseparable, but chiefly caused by the scorching beams of the sun, i.e. of sore persecutions and tribulations, which by God's permission have bef... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM MY SOUL LOVETH, notwithstanding all these discouragements mid afflictions which I suffer for thy sake, and for my love to thee. Being reproached and persecuted by others, I flee to thee, O my only refuge and joy, and I beg direction and help from thee. WHERE THOU FEEDEST, understand, thy flock,... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU KNOW NOT, to wit, where I feed my sheep. For this is Christ's answer to his spouse or people. O THOU FAIREST AMONG WOMEN; though thou art black in thine own and others eyes, yet thou art very beautiful and amiable to me, as being washed white in my blood, and beautified with my gifts and gra... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE COMPARED THEE, Heb. _I have made thee like_; which may be understood either, 1. Verbally, by comparing. Or, 2. Really, by making a real resemblance in quality or condition. _To a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots_; either, 1. For comeliness; for a horse is a very stately and beautifu... [ Continue Reading ]
ROWS OF JEWELS; which being fastened to the heads of brides, used to hang down upon and to adorn their cheeks, according to the manner in those times. He mentions the cheeks as the chief seat of beauty; and he intimates that the church's beauty is not natural, nor from herself, but from the jewels w... [ Continue Reading ]
WE; I thy Bridegroom, with the cooperation of my Father, and of the Holy Spirit. Such plural expressions are sometimes used in Scripture concerning one God, to note the plurality of persons in one Divine essence, as hath been noted upon GENESIS 1:26, and elsewhere. BORDERS OF GOLD WITH STUDS OF SILV... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING, my royal Husband, SITTETH AT HIS TABLE; either, 1. With the spirits of just men and blessed angels in heavenly glory, to which Christ was advanced after his sufferings, and from which he poureth down his Spirit upon his people. Or rather, 2. With me in his gospel and ordinances, in which... [ Continue Reading ]
A BUNDLE OF MYRRH; or, _a bag of myrrh_; in which there was a considerable quantity of the gum which droppeth from the myrrh tree. Myrrh is bitter to the taste, but sweet to the smell, and therefore was ever reckoned amongst the best perfumes. See EXODUS 30:23 PSALMS 45:8 1 THESSALONIANS 19:39. IS M... [ Continue Reading ]
CAMPHIRE; or, _cypress_, as others render it. It was an odoriferous plant growing in vineyards, and some think that it was a most pleasant kind of vine, like that which bears muscatel grapes; yea, some very learned men understand it of that plant which dropped balm, which grew in or near the place h... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU ART FAIR: this is the speech of Christ. The words are doubled, partly to note the certainty of the thing, notwithstanding her mean and modest opinion of herself; and partly to manifest his high esteem and fervent affection for her, and to assure her that, notwithstanding all her infirmi... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU ART FAIR, MY BELOVED. The church here again speaks, and retorts Christ's words upon himself: If I am fair, it is only by thy grace and favourable acceptation; thou, and thou only, art fair indeed, thy beauty is exquisite and perfect. PLEASANT; as thou art beautiful in thyself, so thou a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BEAMS OF OUR HOUSE ARE CEDAR; not only strong and incorruptible, but also fragrant and delightful. Though I am in myself but a mean and rustic person, yet the house to which I invite thee, and where thou and I shall dwell together, is, by thy favour, built with cedar; whereby is here signified t... [ Continue Reading ]