The song — The most excellent of all songs. And so this might well be called, whether you consider the author of it, who was a great prince, and the wisest of all mortal men; or the subject of it, which is not Solomon, but a greater than Solomon, even Christ, and his marriage with the church; or the... [ Continue Reading ]
Let him — The beginning is abrupt; but is suitable to, and usual in writing 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 accidentally, after many other passages: as we see in Homer, and Virgil, and others... [ Continue Reading ]
Ointments — Because of those excellent gifts and graces of God's Spirit wherewith thou art replenished. Thy name — Thy report, the very mention of thee, and all those things by which thou makest thyself known to men, thy word, particularly thine offers of pardon and salvation to sinners; and all thy... [ Continue Reading ]
Draw me — By thy grace and holy spirit. We — Both I, thy spouse, and the virgins, my companions. And this change of numbers teaches us that the spouse is one great body, consisting of many members. Run — Will follow thee readily, chearfully, and swiftly. The king — Christ, the king of his church, ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Black — I confess, as to myself, I am contemptible and deformed. She alludes to the complexion of Pharaoh's daughter. Comely — Yet I am glorious within, and comely through the beauty which my husband hath put upon me, by his graces conferred upon me, in justification and sanctification. Daughters —... [ Continue Reading ]
Look not — With wonder and disdain. Mother's children — False brethren, who pretend that the church is their mother, when their actions demonstrate, that God, the husband of the church, is not their father; hypocritial professors, who are, and ever were, the keenest enemies; false teachers, and thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Tell me — Notwithstanding all these discouragements and 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. Feedest — Thy flock, discover to me which is thy true church, and which are those assemblies... [ Continue Reading ]
If — This is Christ's answer. Go — Observe and follow the paths which my sheep have trodden before thee, my faithful servants, Abraham, and others. For the church in all ages is one and the same, and there is but one way for the substance, in which all the saints from the beginning of the world walk... [ Continue Reading ]
Compared thee — For strength and courage, to overcome all thine enemies. For horses are famous for that property, and the strength of the battle was then thought to consist much in horses, and chariots, especially in a company or multitude of them. And the church in this book is represented not only... [ Continue Reading ]
Jewels — Which being fastened to the heads of brides, used to hang down upon their cheeks, in those times. He mentions the cheeks, as the chief seat of beauty. Chains — Whereby, as well as by the rows of jewels: he may seem to design all those persons and things wherewith the church is made beautifu... [ Continue Reading ]
We — I and my father. Will make — Beautiful and honourable ornaments.... [ Continue Reading ]
The king — My royal husband. Sitteth — With me in his ordinances. Spikenard — The graces of his spirit conferred upon me, here compared to those sweet ointments, which the master of the feast caused to be poured out upon the heads of the guests, Luke 7:38, in which ointments, spikenard was a chief i... [ Continue Reading ]
Myrrh — Myrrh, was ever reckoned among the best perfumes. Shall lie — This phrase may denote the churches intimate union with, and hearty affection to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
Camphire — We are not concerned to know exactly what this was; it being confessed, that it was some grateful plant, and that it sets forth that great delight which the church hath in the enjoyment of Christ. Engedi — A pleasant and well — watered place in the tribe of Judah, where there were many pl... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold — This is the speech of Christ. The words are doubled to manifest his fervent affection for her. Doves eyes — Which are mild and harmless, chaste and faithful. And by the eyes he seems to design both her outward behaviour, and the inward disposition of her mind.... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold — The church here again speaks, and retorts Christ's words; thou, and thou only art fair indeed. Pleasant — As thou art beautiful in thyself, so thou art amiable and pleasant in thy condescention to me. Bed — This seems to denote the place where the church enjoys sweet fellowship with Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
Cedar — Not only strong, but also fragrant and delightful. Cypress — Which also was strong and fragrant, and therefore suits well with cedar.... [ Continue Reading ]