Song of Solomon 5

Song of Solomon 5:1

MY Spouse] this is the bride groome, who answering his brides precedent desires, comes by a speciall, grace to visit her, taking a singular delight in her good works proceeding from the ground of his grace, and the manuring of his Spirit, whereby they are properly his own and consecrated unto him by the Church [O friends] that is to say, yee holy Angels and blessed Spirits rejoyee with mee, for the fruits which my Church Militant bringeth forth in the world, Luke 15:7. Iohn 3. 29 [Yea drink abundantly] the Italian, be drunken with love, that is to say, receive yee new matter of being ravished in the love of God, in that eternall glory which you are in, by considering the grace and vertues which are in your brethren and members upon earth; and by the enjoying of that common happinesse with them in perfect charity.

Song of Solomon 5:2

I sleep] this is the bride which relateth a new visit of the bridegroomes, with circumstances differing from the other, the meaning whereof is, I had a little laid aside my divine thoughts and meditations, still keeping the eye of faith open, and the care of the heart attentive when the Lord returned [That knocketh.] moving my heart by secret inspirations, to give full admittance and entrance to his grace and vertues, Revel. 3. 20 [Open to me] receive mee in thine heart, by a lively act of faith, for it is mine onely place of refuge and abode upon earth, out of which I finde nothing but annoyance and displeasure in the world.

Song of Solomon 5:3

I have put off] I have for a time laid aside this deep meditation, wherein my soule was wholly enfolded, how can I then betake my selfe to it againe so soone? my weaknesse in this life will hardly endure it [I have washed] like a traveller, that is newly come home. The meaning is, how should I then so suddenly fall a running after thee, which thou doest exhort mee to doe in all thy visites?

Song of Solomon 5:4

Put in his hands] a description of Christs power, to work that inwardly by his Spirit in a faithfull man, which he outwardly commandeth by his word, Acts 16:14. which notwithstanding he never accomplisheth, unlesse the faithfull man doe concurre thereunto with his will and action, as is set down afterwards [My bowels] all my affections being stirred up by this working of God, were moved to answer to his call, see Luke 24:32.

Song of Solomon 5:5

My hands] this signifieth that the grace of the holy Ghost doth alwayes accompany these endeavours of the faithfull in these actions of faith, even as a look that is oyled, openeth the easier.

Song of Solomon 5:6

My beloved] or Christ did suspend and keep back this rich communication of his grace and spirit which hee offered me, if so bee I had received it in time [My soule aed] repenances, and confessions of her defect of spirituall understanding, for that shee had not in time taken notice of Gods visite as Psal. 73. 2. Luke 19:44.

Song of Solomon 5:7

The watchmen] that is to say, the great ones and Princes of the world, and preservers of the peace thereof Son 3:3. Seeing mee inflamed with zeale to seek after Christ, did persecute, and torment me, through Gods permission for punishment of my negligence.

Song of Solomon 5:8

I charge you] the Italian, I adjure you, words of the generall body of the Church, directed to the faithfull souls, or to the particular Churches to which sometimes the Lord doth particularly communicate himselfe, whilest the Church in generall doth want these comforts; and they also sometimes by their prayers doe represent unto God the faith and sufferings of it.

Song of Solomon 5:9

What is] these are the brides companions, who ask the Church this question, to trie whether shee doth continue in the true knowledge of Christ and in the choyee which shee hath made of him amongst all other religions, and in her faith and love towards him; Or to shew that every faithfull person learnes to know Christ of the Church, Son 6:1.

Song of Solomon 5:10

My beloved] this is the bride, who by the divine prayses of the bridegroome testifieth that shee knoweth him from others, and that her love is wholly settled upon him [Is white] a mixture of the colours of a lively beauty, Psal. 45. 2. which may be applyed thus, namely, that Christ came with bloud to expiate sinnes, and with water to wash away the spots of it, and amend the defaults of it, 1 Iohn 5. 6 [The chiefest] the Italian, carrying the standard, that is to say, a man of note and eminency amongst all the other heads of people, Cant. 1. 7. and 2. 3. Or, he is the head of the militant Church, Exodus 17:15. Son 2:4.

Song of Solomon 5:11

Fine gold] that is to say, it glistereth in divine glory [Black as] smooth, and shining as a Raven in the Sunne.

Song of Solomon 5:12

His eyes] that is to say, his judgement is most pure Isaiah 11:3 Or his looks are most gracious and amiable, Cant. 1. 15. and 4. 1 [By the rivers] washing and cleansing themselves from dust and all other manner of uncleannesse [Fily set] the Italian, set as it were in in the foile of a ring]being in his divine face, they are like unto a precious jemme curiously set in a ing of great value.

Song of Solomon 5:13

His cheeks] that is to say, his aspect apprehended by faith in this world, and by cleer sight in life everlasting, containes in it the fulnesse of life and joy, Psal. 16. 11. and 17. 15. and 42. 5.[Lillies] namely, in candidnesse of perfect purity and truth, and in sweetnesse of benignity, and odor of divine grace, Psal. 45. 2. Esay 50. 4.

Song of Solomon 5:14

His hands] a signe of his possession, and distribution; that is to say, he hath those precious jewels, namely, the gifts of his holy Spirit in his own hands, and doth most liberally bestow and distribute them, Psal. 16. 11 [His belly] the seat of his bowels and signe of most tender naturall affections, Isaiah 16:11. Ier. 4. 19. which in Christ are most pure and abundant in precious gifts.

Song of Solomon 5:15

His legs] a signe of Christs firmnesse in his Kingdom, works, words, and government, and of his strength to trample upon his enemies, and of his untired power to accomplish the course of his office [Lebanon] a high and famous hill, full of excellent plants.

Song of Solomon 5:16

His mouth] the Italian, his palate, namely his word and Spirit, which is as it were the breath of Christs mouth.