Song of Solomon 4

Song of Solomon 4:1

BEhold] the bridegroome of his own accord sheweth himselfe to his spouse, and finds her well disposed in all manner of holinesse and exercises of piety, from whence growes this approbation and prayse of her [Thou hast doves eyes] a description of the Churches pure and simple faith, Son 1:15. [within thy locks] locks are a womans naturall vaile and modest covering, 1 Corinthians 11:15. and here are signes of modesty and humility [That appeare from] Gileadis a hilly countrey fitting to pasture such cattell in, and being high they may be seene a great way off. So the Churches modesty must be known to all men, Philip. 4. 5.

Song of Solomon 4:2

Thy teeth] this belongeth to the accomplishment and perection of beauty, which requireth a just proportion in all parts; and doth distinguish the Church from violent and ravenous worldly men, who have sharp crooked teeth made like sawes, like unto wilde beasts, and doe alwayes hunt after prey and blood. By these descriptions of beauty in all parts is signified that the spirit of regeneration worketh upon the whole man in all manner of vertue [Which came up] and are cleane and white.

Song of Solomon 4:3

Thy lips] thinne and vermilion lips are a most remarkable part of corporall beautie, and are a signe of health and grace to represent the purity and spirituall grace of the Church in her speech,Ephes. 4. 29. Colossians 4:6. [Thy Temples] which are the true seat of the signes of modesty, to shew the holy and inviolable chastity of the Church, and the tendernesse of her conscience.

Song of Solomon 4:4

Thy neck] a figure of the uprightnesse and stedfastnesse of the Church in elevating her selfe in heavenly thoughts, lively hope, good conscience, free and confident conversation Lev. 26. 13. 2. Sam. 2. 22. Iob 11. 15. Psal. 3. 3. to which is opposite the hanging downe of the head, and a dejected countenance, Genesis 4:5. Luke 18:13. Lo, here againe strength and greatnesse joyned with perfect beauty, as Cant. 1. 9. & 7. 4 [Build] the Hebrew word is very ambiguous, peradventure it was some great tower, or strong place where Captaines did exercise youth in the handling of their weapons, and other warlike exercises, and it might bee that house of fathers mentioned, Nehemiah 3:16. Others, built with battlements, or, for an Armory, or store-house of Armes [Of mighty men] see 2 Samuel 23:8. 1 Chronicles 11:11.

Song of Solomon 4:5

Thy two] which sheweth the uniformity of the heart, without variation of hypocrisie or dissimulation: And the similitude of these beasts without gall doe shew the mildenesse, simplicity, and purenesse of it see Proverbs 5:19. [which fed] that is to say, which are tame, and have put off all manner of wildenesse, to shew that all the righteous mans vertues proceed from the sincerity without fraud of Gods word, wherewith he is fed, 1 Peter 2:12.

Song of Solomon 4:6

I will] after I have so sweetly visited thee, I will goe up againe into heaven which is the habitation of my glory, my seat of immortality and incorruption (figured by these spices which doe preserve the body from putrefaction) untill the last great day in which thou shalt bee perfectly joyned unto mee, 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Revelation 19:7.

Song of Solomon 4:7

All faire] in regard thou art pardoned thy sinnes, which maketh God look upon his Elect in grace, as holy, and cleane from all spots; and also in regard of regeneration by the spirit, which reformeth the whole man to the likenesse of Gods image. Now Christ considereth and approveth of this his work, and not of the reliques of the old man, which he covereth with the cloak of his justice, and annilates by little and little with his Spirit, untill shee bee quite freed thereof in heaven, see Numbers 23:21. Isaiah 1:18. Ephes. 5. 26. 27.

Song of Solomon 4:8

Come with mee] raise thy selfe up through faith and desire to mee, and my heavenly Kingdome, Cant. 2. 10. 13. From amidst the world which is likened to those high hills that are full of wilde beasts; and so is the world full of violence and cruelty against the Church, see Psal. 76. 4. Zach. 4. 7.

Song of Solomon 4:9

Thou hast ravished] thy lively faith in mee, hath caused mee to bestow my whole heart and love upon thee, Psa. 45. 10. 11 [With one chaine] to shew that those gifts which are acceptable to Christ in his Church, are those gifts of grace, which hee hath bestowed upon her, and adorned her with, and not her naturall gifts of themselves, Cant. 1. 10. and 7. 1 Ezech. 16. 10. 11. 12.

Song of Solomon 4:10

My sister] as well by reason of the communion of humane nature, as by the heavenly fathers adoption, Ioh. 20. 17. Hebrews 2:11 [thine Ointments] that is to say, the exercises of the gifts of the holy Ghost, which are poured down upon the Elect, and figured by the unctions used in ancient times, 2 Cor. 1. 21. and 2. 15 Philip. 4. 18. 1 Iohn 2. 20. 27.

Song of Solomon 4:11

Thy lips] thy sanctified mouth, bringeth forth words of invocation, praise, and confession, and preacheth my word, which are things most pleasing to mee, and doe much edifie and comfort the faithfull [Of thy garments] namely, of the gifts of the holy Ghost, with which I have cloathed thee, see Genesis 27:27. Psal. 45. 13. 14. Ezech. 16. 11. 13 [Lebanon] a hill of Cedars, and other odoriferous plants, Hos. 14. 6. 7.

Song of Solomon 4:12

A garden] a description of the Churches inviolable spirituall chastity of Gods secure watch which hee guardeth her with.

Song of Solomon 4:13

Thy plants] namely, the true Elect which are now termed young and tender, in comparison of the ripenesse and perfection which they shall attaine unto in the Kingdome of Heaven, see Isa.5. 7. and 60. 21. and 61. 3 [Camphire] the Italian, Cypresse, see upon Son 1:14. Now by those aromatick plants, joyned to fruits to eat, is meant the variety and sufficiencie of the Churches graces and vocations, whereof some are more ordinary, but necessary; other some more rare and exquisite for the Churches ornament, recreation, and enrichment; but especially for the glory of God, see 1 Cor. 4. 7. and 12. 7. 8.

Song of Solomon 4:15

A fountaine] the Italian, O fountaine, here the Bride speaks, and it is an exclamation of the Church, who acknowledgeth her life, and spirituall nourishment 〈…〉her gifts and vrtues to proceed from her Bride-groomes grace, who is to her as a living spring in a garden, which he had termed her to bee, verse 12. Now Christ may be termed a spring in his eternall Godhead, a well in his Office of Mediator, the Father having gathered together in him all the waters of grace; and all the running streames in the communication of the spirit, Isaiah 12:3.

Song of Solomon 4:16

Awake] that is to say, O holy Ghost doe thou animate and vivifie in me the gifts and vertues which I have received from my bridegroome, that they may not remaine idle, and buried in me, but may be stirred up, to beare fruits pleasing to God untill they come to full ripenesse and perfection, seeing they are imprinted in mee by thy power, see 2 Timothy 1:6 [North, South] by these two wide of opposite qualities, is signified the same spirit working either coolnesse and refreshment of comfort, or heat and servencie of zeale.