Psalms 45

a song of loves] A marriage song or Epithalamion of the well-be-loved (Virgins) verse 9, 10, 14: sung by them. To this Hymne we may apply those words, Ephes. V. 32. It setteth forth Christ in his glory; and his Spouse, the Church, in her beauty. See Heb. I. 8. John III. 29. Apoc. XXI. 9, 10. Typified here in Solomon, and Pharaohs daughter; wherein yet some things are proper only to the Antitype.

My heart] Matth. XII. 34.

Psalms 45:1

touching the King] My Poëms of the King. He the matter subject of this Song.

Psalms 45:2

Thou art fairer] Cant. V. 10,—16. John I. 16. Heb. VII. 26.

lips] Cant. V. 13. Luke IV. 22. Esay L. 4. John I. 18. and III. 37.

Psalms 45:3

gird thy sword] The spiritual sword is the Word of God, Ephes. VI. 17. Therefore Christs sword properly cometh out of his mouth, Apoc. I. 16. And with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked, Esay. XI. 4.

Psalms 45:4

ride prosperously] As in a triumphant Chariot, Esay LIII. 10.

because of truth, &c.] Sitting and riding as it were, upon these three royal vertues and graces; & they, as it were, drawing the Chariot.

truth] Ephes. I. 13. Prov. XX. 28.

Meeknesse] Matth. XXI. 5. and chap. XI. 29. and chap. XII. 19, 20. Esay XLII. 2. Zech. IX. 9.

righteousnesse] 7. Dan. IX. 24.

teach thee] Experimentaly, by its own actings, Psal. XCVIII. 1. Esay LXIII. 5.

Psalms 45:5

Thine arrows] Heb. IV. 12. 2 Cor. II. 14, 15. and X. 4, 5. This verse not so properly suits to Solomon, or befits him. Therefore a greater then Solomon is here, Matth. XII. 42. Esay XLIX. 2. Of these arrows is that true, 2 Sam. I. 22. and 2 King. XIII. 17.

Psalms 45:6

Thy Throne] Heb. I. 8. 2 Sam. VII. 16. Psal. X. 16. Esay IX. 7. Luke I. 33. Dan. III. 44, 45. and VII. 14 Psal. CXLV. 13. John XVIII. 36. Neither doth this sixth properly pertain to Solomon, either for the perpetuity of his Throne; or righteousnesse of his Scepter: But to Christ, who is here called God.

the Scepter] Esay XI. 3, 4. Psal. XCVI. 10.

Psalms 45:7

Thou lovest righteousnesse] Esay XI. 3, 4, 5. and chap. IX. 7. and LXI. 8.

Therefore] To that end and purpose anointed; not anointed for that cause and merit, because he loved righteousnesse. As Esay LXI. 1. And so is therefore to be understood in the second verse aforegoing. So Gen. XVIII. 5. and XIX. 8.

God thy God] The first of these may be read either in the Nominative, or Vocative case. The later is God anointing; who is truly the God of the Messias; as Psal. XXII. 1.

hath anointed] God anointed him to his Offices of Prophet, Priest, and King: as such Officers were of old anointed, Exod. XXIX. 7. 1 Sam. IX. 16. 1 King. XIX. 17. But this anointing here is to be understood of spiritual, inward, invisible anointing, Acts X. 37, 38. And so Psal.

CV. 15. The Patriarchs are stiled anointed, who never were so outwardly with material oile. And this spiritual Anointing here is the superabundant infusion of the gifts and graces of the holy Ghost, not into the Divine nature of Christ properly, which is incapable of grace infused, or of having any thing added to it; but into his Humane nature, plentifuly furnishing him with all abilities and graces for his execution of his said Offices, Luke IV. 17,—21. Esay LXI. 1. Dan. IX. 24.

Yet as he is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Emmanuel, the Mediatour, reserving ever the property of either nature intire to it self, He may be said to be anionted in both natures, taking anointed in that sense as it denotes the designation and inauguration of him to his said Offices. And this Anointing may be appliable specialy to the time of his Incarnation, of his Baptisme, and of his Rising from the dead.

above thy fellows] Both Kings, Priests, and Prophets, Psal. LXXXIX. 27. above all his fellows, in nature, Heb. II. 14. in Christian Prerogatives, 1 John II. 20, 27. Apoc. I. 6. 1 Pet. II. 5, 9. And this both extensively, and intensively; Esay XI. 2. John I. 16. and III. 24.

Psalms 45:8

garments] Are odoriferous, as these aromatique spices and smels; ot by suffumigation of them.

out of the Ivory palaces] 2 Kings XXII. 39. Amos III. 15. 1 Kings X. 20. Meaning, that either the King cometh out of them, as the bridegroome; like that Psal. XIX. 5. Or that the garments were taken out of such palaces or coffers.

Whereby they have made thee glad] By those odoriferous smels and perfumes: Prov. XXVII. 9. Or those that meet thee, or the bridegromes friends John III. 29. by their joyful acclamations and congratulations. Or, as some, more then theirs that make thee glad, i. e. thy garments more odoriferous then theirs, thy fellows and friends. All this was true in Solomon literaly. Much more in Christ spiritualy and mysticaly. Whereof his Spouse makes use, Cant. I. 3. Esay LXI. 10.

Psalms 45:9

Kings daughters] The daughters of minor-Kings, or great Princes: or such as for their deportment, port, and abiliments, might be so esteemed. As Judg. VIII. 18.

thy honourable women] Those beloved Virgins, intimated in the Title; honoured also by their invitation to this marriage, and honouring it, as the brides maids.

thy right hand] The prime place next the King: as the left hand is the second place; the King being in the middle. So Bathsheba, 1 King. II. 19. So Christ in respect of his Humanity, Matth. XXVI. 65.

did stand] Or sit; had her seat, or station. So both standing and sitting on Gods right hand, in one and the same sense, are ascribed to our Saviour, Mark XVI. 19. Acts VII. 56. For us, See Ephes. II. 6.

the Queene] This royal and honourable English word is very nigh the dishonest name of a Queane. And so the Hebrew word here used 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for a Queene, a wife, is very nigh to the unseemely word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: for which the Massorets, as more mannerly forsooth, still in the margin put another word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Deut. XXVIII. 30. Esay XIII. 16. Zech. XIV. 2. Jer. III. 2.

in gold] In cloath of gold; of threads of gold, of fine glistering gold, with rings, chains, and bracelets of gold, the most pure and splendent gold, Job XXXI. 24. Cant. V. 11. Dan. X. V. Of the several names of gold in the Hebrew, see the Annotations on Job XXVIII. 15,—19.

Of Ophir] See the Observations on 1 King. X. 11.

Psalms 45:10

Hearken] Matth. XVII. 5. Rom. X. 17.

O daughter] John I. 13. Apoc. XXI. 9, 10.

forget also] Luke IX. 23. and XIV. 26. Matth. X. 37. As Abraham did, Gen. XII. 1. and Ruth, chap. I. 16, 17.

Psalms 45:11

So shall] Upon these termes, more and more.

greatly desire] This true in Solomon. But Christ loves his Spouse first, 1 John IV. 10. Loves her in her blood, Ezek. XVI. 6.

thy Lord] 1 Pet. III. 6. Judg. XIX. 26. And that no common or vulgar person. In the highest degree is Christ so to his Spouse the Church, even her Lord and God.

Worship thou him] Pharaohs daughter was with civil worship to do it to Solomon, with civil reverent incurvation and adoration. The Church to Christ, with religious worship.

Psalms 45:12

of Tyre] Of this Citie, see the Annotations on Amos I. 9. This rich Merchant-Citie, the prime Mart for traffick, should bring to Solomons Spouse gifts and nuptial presents. And much more, Tyre and all Heathen Nations should bring themselves, and their Gifts, with all offices of submission and subjection, to the Spouse of Christ, Esay XLIX. 23. and LXVI. 12. Psal. LXXXVII. 4.

the rich] Esay LX. 3, 10, 11, 16.

Psalms 45:13

glorious within] 1 Pet. II. 4, 5. Not Helen without, and Hecuba within. This true in Solomons Spouse partly. But in Christs Spouse true altogether, by her bridegroomes donation and operation, Ephes. V. 27.

Psalms 45:14

brought] With pompe, joy, and jubilation.

of needle-work] As formerly costly for matter; so here curious for Art and work. As the like, Exod. XXVIII. 6, 8, 15, 39.

Psalms 45:15

with gladnesse] As is fit in marriage solemnities.

they be brought] The Spouse first; the Virgins and brides maids, following and waiting on her; Cant. IV. 8. Apoc. XIX. 7, 8, 9. 2 Cor. XI. 2.

palace] As the wise Virgins, Matt. XXV. 10.

Psalms 45:16

thy children] We read not that Pharaoh’s daughter had any child by Solomon. But this is abundantly verified in the Church, the Spouse of Christ; Esay XLIX. 18,—21. and LIV. 1, 2, 3. Heb. II. 13.

Psalms 45:17

I will] Saith the Psalmist; by himself; and by informing others so to do.

thy Name] The name of the Bridegroome.

therefore] By my example; as well as for all the reasons foregoing in this Psalme.

praise thee] Christ the Bridegroome, for ever and ever: whereas Solomon by his foul fall worthily merited and inherited shame and dispraise.