Song of Solomon 1

Song of Solomon 1:1

OF songs] Namely, the most divine and excellent Canticle of all those that Solomon penned, 1 Kings 4:32.

Song of Solomon 1:2

Let him kisse me] The Bride, namely, the Church desires, that Christ who hath contracted a spirituall mariage with her, the accomplishment of which is deferred untill eternall life should come in the meane while at severall times to give her more expresse assurances of his grace, should draw neerer unto her with more intimate approaches of his presence and power, and should give her more lively inspirations of his Spirit, which is as it were the breath of his mouth Then Wine] Whose property is to comfort the heart to engender new spirits, purge them, warme them, and refine them. So Gods grace infused into a faithfull mans heart, doth comfort it, and inflame it to heavenly things.

Song of Solomon 1:3

Of the savour] all the faithfull soules, which are like so many chaste Virgins, whereof the universall Church is composed, are enticed to love thee fervently, by reason of the gifts of the holy Ghost, wherewith the Father hath anointed thee, Psa. 45. 7. 9 & 133. 2. Isay 11. 3. which gifts thou powrest upon them by the preaching of the Gospell, 〈◊〉 Cor. 2. 14. 16 Thy name]Namely, the knowledge of thee.

Song of Solomon 1:4

Daw me] Cause mee, by vertue of thy Spirit to raise my selfe from the earth up to heaven, where thou dwellest, and where the end or marke of my heavenly vocation is, that where thou art I may also be, perfectly united with thee. See Hosea 11:4. John 12. 32. & 17. 24 We will runne]That is to say, thy Spirit shall not worke in us with an insensible motion, without any interchangeable or voluntary action on our side, like unto weights which are drawne up with engines. But it shall cause us to will and move as thou doest, and after thee. For Gods grace doth not destroy the manner of rationall working in man, but onely addeth a supernaturall vertue to it. Philip. 3. 12. 14 The King] Namely, Christ Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father, hath by his death and resurrection given me right to come into heaven, which is as it were the bride-groomes chamber, John 14:2.

And by faith I am assured, one day to be really brought into it. Ephes. 2. 6 We will remember] That is to say, I and all my true members, will voluntarily renounce all carnall delights, that our only joy may be in thee who hast so loved us, and that hast within thy selfe the true object and cause of love The upright] This seemeth to be added for to exclude hypocrites, which are in the externall Church from these holy desires, and meditations.

Song of Solomon 1:5

I am black] If you will judge rightly of me, and be joyned to me, looke not upon my outward wretchednesse and deformitie with the eyes of the flesh, but view mine inward spirituall beauty with the eyes of the Spirit. Psal. 45. 13. which beauty consists in the purity of the soule, through the remission of sinnes, the renewment of regeneration, and by the ornaments of the gifts of the Spirit, Ephes. 5. 26. 27 O daughters]. The Church directs her speech, to the particular elect, the children of the spirituall Jerusalem. Galatians 3:26. Revelation 3:12 The tents] Which on the outside were of poore and base stuffe, but withinside were richly adorned, and full of treasure Of Kedar] namely, the Arabians who dwelt in tents, yet were very rich and glorious, Isay 21. 16.

Song of Solomon 1:6

The sonne] That is to say, God from above hath as it were burnt and scorched me up with afflictions and troubles Mothers children] here on earth worldly men, that are of the same humane race as I am, being vexed at my profession, and my separation from them, have set upon me, and persecuted mee Were angry] They have contended with me They made me] They have set me to laboursome and unfitting worke, to serve mine enemies: which hath drawne me away from the care of my selfe, who am the Lods vineyard: and kept me from the governement and care of particular Churches which was committed to me.

Song of Solomon 1:7

Tell me] being weary of the troubles which I undergoe in this world, my recourse is to thee O Christ who art the soveraigne shepheard: to have thee bring me to the enjoyment of thy heavenly glory: where in the high and firme point of the eternall day of thy happinesse, thou thy selfe immediately feedest thine elect, with the full communication of thy goods, and grantest them rest from all their labours, Revelation 7:15-17 For why] Were it sitting that I should corrupt my selfe here in the world, by reason of thy being too long from me; or that the world should take me to be a poore vagabond creature whom thou hadst forsaken? Because that the fashion of unchaste women was to be in the fields covered over with vailes. Genesis 38:14 The flockes] Amongst other nations, who vaunt themselves, saying, they enjoy the presence of their Gods, termed (though falsely) heads of nations, deliverers, and guardians of men, which thou indeed and truly art. See Isay 53. 12.

Song of Solomon 1:8

If thou] The bridegroome shewes himselfe according to his brides desire, and tels her that she must understand that the onely way to come to his everlasting rest, is to come out of the world in heart and affection, imitating the Churches example in all ages And eed] Whilest thou art in this world, employ thy selfe in the worke of the ministery, and the gathering together of the Saints. And never doe thou stray from the example of those great shepheards, namely, the Prophets first, and then the Apostles. See Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Song of Solomon 1:9

Compared thee] That is to say, in the course of thy heavenly vocation, my Spirit shall carry thee with untired swiftnesse, like unto the swiftnesse of Pharaoh King of Egypts Chariot-Horses: the horses of that countrey being very famous for their goodnesse, 1 Kings 10:28. Isay 31. 3. See Son 6:12. Isay 40. 31. And in this booke in praysing of the Church he often joyneth strength with beauty. Canticles 4. 4. and 6. 4. 10. and 7. 4.

Song of Solomon 1:10

Thy cheekes] Thy face is faire, not so much by reason of thy naturall gifts; as by reason of the ornaments of my grace and Spirit, Cant. 4. 9. and 7. 1. which I will still increase in thee, untill such time as I doe crowne them in the eternall life.

Song of Solomon 1:12

While the King] this is the bride, who saith, that whilest Christ is in heaven, enjoying eternall pleasures, Isay 53. 11. she endeavours to present unto him the exercise and practice of her vertues; and especially the pure preaching of his Gospell, 2 Corinthians 2:15. Which are like sweet odours wherein he delighteth. See Luke 7:38. John 12:3.

Song of Solomon 1:13

My well beloved] All these sweet smelling odours of good workes, proceed onely from Christ who dwelleth and reigneth in my heart by his Spirit.

Song of Solomon 1:14

Camphir, the Italian, Cypresse] A rare plant like to the Woodbine, which bringeth forth a white flowre in very sweet clusters, and groweth onely in the land of Jurie, or as some say, in Egypt, see Son 4:13 Of Engedi] A pleasant place in the land belonging to the Tribe of Judah. Iosh. 15. 6.

Song of Solomon 1:15

Behold thou art] This is the bridegroome Doves eyes] The sight of thy faith, wherewith thou doest contemplate in Spirit, is sweet, amiable, simple, and chaste.

Song of Solomon 1:16

Behold] This is the Bride Pleasant] Faire, of a sweet and pleasing beauty, not terrible nor majesticall Our bed] I have prepared thee an habitation in my heart, full of joy and feasting. Like unto a bridall-bed decked with garlands and greene boughes. In middest of the assembly of the faithfull, as in a palace built with precious stuffe.

Song of Solomon 1:17

Of fire] the Italian, Cypresse] the Hebr. signifieth a particular kind of cypresse which spreadeth the boughs abroad, contrary to your ordinary cypresses and smells very sweet, and yieldeth very exquisite Timber, and is not to be found, but onely in the Levant, or Easterne Countries, in Latine is called Bruca a name very neare the Hebrew name.