O that thou [wert] as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! [when] I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised. Ver. 1. _Oh that thou wert as my brother._] Heb., Who will give thee for a brother to me? - _q.d., _ Men may give me many other things, but Go... [ Continue Reading ]
I would lead thee, [and] bring thee into my mother's house, [who] would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. Ver. 2. _I would lead thee and bring thee._] With solemnity and joy. She speaks it twice, as fully resolved to do it; and hereby to bind he... [ Continue Reading ]
His left hand [should be] under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. Ver. 3. _His left hand should be under my head._] Or, prayerwise, Let his left hand, &c. Conscious and sensible of her own inability, she begs the benefit of both Christ's hands, and all little enough - his whole power a... [ Continue Reading ]
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, until he please. Ver. 4. _I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem._] _See Trapp on "_ Son 2:7 _"_ Why should you stir up?] What shall you get by it? or what reason can ye give for it? But lust is headlong, and conside... [ Continue Reading ]
Who [is] this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth [that] bare thee. [Ver. 5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness?] _See Trapp on "_ Son 3:6 _"_ There are con... [ Continue Reading ]
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame. Ver. 6. _Set me as a seal upon thine heart,_] _i.e., _ Be thou as "a merciful and faithful high pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if [a] man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Ver. 7. _Many waters cannot quench love._] Water was proven long since to be above fire, in that ancient contest between those two nations a... [ Continue Reading ]
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? Ver. 8. _We have a little sister._] Thou, Lord, and I have such a sister - _sc., _ the Church of the Gentiles, known to thee, and afore appointed to conversion, as James speake... [ Continue Reading ]
If she [be] a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she [be] a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. Ver. 9. _If she be a wall, we will build upon her, &c._] Christ answers, If she be, as she ought to be, strong and well grounded in the faith, able to bear a good weight... [ Continue Reading ]
I [am] a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. Ver. 10. _I am a wall; and my breasts like towers._] If she be a wall, saith Christ. I am a wall, saith this Church of the Gentiles; I will carefully keep the doctrine of truth committed unto me, I will stan... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand [pieces] of silver. Ver. 11. _Solomon had a vineyard in Baalhamon._] So hath Christ in a "very fruitful hill." Isa 5:1 Solomon's vineyard must needs be of the best, for... [ Continue Reading ]
My vineyard, which [is] mine, [is] before me: thou, O Solomon, [must have] a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. Ver. 12. _My vineyard, which is mine, &c._] And therefore most dear unto me, for ownness makes love. _Patriam quisque amat: non quia pulchram, sed quia suam._ _a... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear [it]. Ver. 13. _Thou that dwellest in the gardens,_] _i.e., _ O thou Church universal, that dwellest in the particular churches, frequently called gardens in this book. The French Protestants at Lyons called th... [ Continue Reading ]
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices. Ver. 14. _Make haste, my beloved._] Heb., Flee, or speed thee away, as Amaziah said to Amos, "Go, flee thee away into the land of Judah." Amo 7:12 And as a senator of Hala in Suevia wrote to Brentius,... [ Continue Reading ]