By night — When others compose themselves to sleep, my affections were working towards him. I sought — I sought for Christ's gracious and powerful presence. I sought — This repetition denotes her perseverance and unweariedness in seeking him. Found him not — For he had withdrawn the manifestations o... [ Continue Reading ]
The city — The city of God, the church in which Christ resides. Broadways — Not finding him in private prayer, and meditation, I sought him in the places of public assemblies and ordinances. Found not — He saw fit still to delay the discoveries of his grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
The watch — men — The ministers of Christ, and rulers of the church. Go about — To prevent disorders and dangers. Him — She does not name him, because she thought it needless, as supposing a person of such transcendent excellency could not be unknown to men in that capacity. Their answer is not ment... [ Continue Reading ]
Found him — Christ met me, and manifested his love to me. Mother's house — As the spouse here, signifies particular believers, so her mother is the universal church, or the true Jerusalem, which hath its rise from above, which is the mother of us all, Galatians 4:26, in which Christ and believers ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Who — The persons speaking seem to be the daughters of Jerusalem, who upon occasion of the bride's speech to them, make this reply. The person spoken of is the spouse. Wilderness — Believers were to be called, not only out of the holy land, which was as the garden of God, but also out of the Gentile... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold — The bride — men continue their speech, and from the admiration of the bride, proceed to the admiration of the bridegroom. Bed — The bed seems to denote the church, which is comely through Christ's beauty, and safe by his protection, in which Christ is glorified, and believers enjoy sweet fe... [ Continue Reading ]
Every man — Is prepared and ready to fight, to prevent those dangers which are frequent in the night season. The night may denote the whole time of this life, which may well be called night in respect of that ignorance and error wherewith it is attended, (as the future life is compared to day) this... [ Continue Reading ]
A chariot — In which the royal bridegroom and bride might ride together in state. By this chariot he seems to understand the word of Christ dispensed by his ministers, whereby Christ rides triumphantly in the world, and believers are carried into heavenly glory. Of Lebanon — Of cedars, which wood be... [ Continue Reading ]
He made — There is no necessity that either this or the following particulars should be distinctly applied to several things in the gospel; this in the general may suffice, that as all the particulars are added to shew the perfection and beauty of the chariot, so they do imply that Christ's word is... [ Continue Reading ]
Go — The church bids particular believers go forth to see this sight. Solomon — The Messiah, of whom Solomon was an illustrious type. The crown — Which being applied to Solomon, may design that garland or crown which was usually worn in nuptial solemnities: but being applied to Christ, it denotes th... [ Continue Reading ]