Primary Source

A Commentary on the Canticles

Name: A Commentary on the Canticles
Author: Thomas Brightman

Thomas Brightman 1644

An extensive biblical commentary on the Song of Solomon with allegorical interpretation, supplemented by eschatological observations on Revelation and church history.

EEBO-TCP A29507 (TEI), original spelling, printed page numbers. EEBO 13572179; STC/Wing Wing B4681; ESTC R19776

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, in the spelling of this edition.

A Table of the whole book of CANTICLES.

The parts of the Song

Inscription, v. 1.

A song of the Church

Legall

Before the Captivity. v. 1.

After to Ch◊ist—

Evangelicall

Finished, and this

In its parts, that is, in its

Former Age,

pure

obscure

with a mist

with darkenesse

Latter Age,

its Prince

borne.

growne up.

Inferiours

1 LET him kisse mee with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

2 Because of the favour of thy good oyntments, thy name is as an oyntment powred out: therefore the virgins love thee▪

3 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will rejoyce and be glad in thee: we will remember thy love more than wine: the righteous do love thee.

4 I am black, O daughters of Ierusalem, but comely, as the tents of Kedar, and as the curtaines of Salomon.

5 Regard ye me not because I am black: for the sunne hath looked upon me. The sons of my mother were angry against me: they made me the keeper of the vines: but I kept not mine own vine.

6 Shew me, O thou whom my soule loveth, where thou feedest, where thou lyest at noone: for why should I be as she that turneth aside to the flockes of thy companions?

7 If thou know not, O thou the fairest among women, get thee forth by the steps of the flocke, and feed thy kids by the tents of the shepherds.

8 I have compared thee, O my love, to the troope of Horses in the chariots of Pharaoh.

9 Thy cheekes are comely with rowes of stones, and thy necke with chaines.

p. 98010 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver▪

11 Whiles the king was at his repast, my spikenard gave the smell thereof.

12 My welbeloved is as a bundle of myrrhe unto me: he shall lye between my breasts.

13 My welbeloved is as a cluster of camphire unto me, in the vines of Engedi.

14 My love, behold, thou art faire, behold, thou art faire: thine eyes are like the doves.

15 My welbeloved, behold, thou art faire and pleasant▪ also our bed is greene:

16 The beames of our house are cedars, our rafters are of Firre.

O Mercifull Father in Iesus Christ, I 〈…〉 th◊e 〈…〉 thy holy Spirit for a guide unto me, to 〈…〉 these thy ◊idden Mysteries. All the knowledge of 〈…〉 is exceeding delightfull and pleasant: yea that which stands before the door, and offereth it self freely to every one: how delicious then is that which thou hast layd up in the inward treasuries, shut up with so many lockes and bolts, that no mortall man can breake through unto it, but he to whom thou wilt vouch◊a◊e an entrance for thine onely sons sake. Be present, I beseech thee, & thou which hast poured forth fiery tongues in times past upon thy servants, grant that I may understand the language of the Bridegroome and of the Bride, and may declare their speech pu ely and holily to thy servants; to the glory of thy Name, and the edifying of thine Elect, through our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ.

Amen.

p. 980The Analysis, or Resolution.

THe Authority of this Song is declared by the Inscrittion. Then he prosecuteth is purpose in verse, which is wholy imployed in describing 〈…〉 condition of the Church, aswell as it was Legall, from p. 981the time of David to the death of Christ, in the 3▪ first chapters, and to the 6. verse of the 4. chapter. As also, as it is Evangelicall unto the second comming of Christ to the end of the book. The Legall Church is set forth in a divers fortune, which for plainnesse ◊ake we divide into 3 times. First what it should be till the Captivitie, in the whole first Chapter, and the 2. first verses of the second. Secondly, what in the Captivity it self, to the 15. verse of the same Chapter. And lastly, what i◊ should be afterward to its last abrogation or dissolvi◊g, which reacheth to the 6. verse of the 4. chapter. Before the Captivitie, beginning at his Father David, he sheweth what condition that enjoyed under him, verse 1. 2. afterwards under himselfe, vers. 3. And from thence what it should be under his sonne Rehoboam, to the 9. verse: under Abija and Asa, vers. 9, 10, 11. under Iehosaphat, vers. 12. under Iehoram, Ahazia, Ioash, Amaziah, Huzijah, Iotham, and Ahaz, verse 13. under Hezechia, verse 14. under Manasses and Iosias, verse 15. and 16.

p. 981Vers. 1. Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mo◊th, for thy love is better then wine.

THis Prophesie following agreeth well neere in all things with that of Saint Iohn in the Revelation. They fore-shew the same events in the like times. And either of them directeth his course to the same marke. They differ so much in beginnings as Salomon exceeded John in age. They also follow somewhat, a divers manner of handling it. John setteth forth the strifes and battells of the Church more at large, and exactly painteth out her enemies with a greater caution or heed taking. But this Propheticall Paranymph (or marriage maker) toucheth these things more sparingly, desirous onely to set forth the joyfull events of the Church, he scarcely mentioneth at all any accidents, whereby this nuptiall song might be disturbed: or at least so seasoning her troubles, that much pleasure may alwayes appeare in them.

But first let us weigh the words, then let us see the Application: Kisses are sometimes taken for saire, milde, and pleasant words, as chidings and brawlings are compared to wounds, as Salomon saith, Prov. 27. 6. The wounds of a lover are more faithfull then the flattering kisses of an enemie. …

Keep reading

Full text search, AI synthesis across 1,234 Reformed primary sources, and seamless reading — all in one place.

Start Free Trial to Read

TO THE READER.
A Table of the whole book of CANTICLES.
CHAP. I.p. 979
A Prayer.p. 980
The Analysis, or Resolution.p. 980
Vers. 1. Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mo • th, for thy…p. 981
Vers. 2. Because of the savour of thy good ointments, thy name is as…p. 983
Vers. 3. Draw me, we will run after thee▪ The King hath bro • ght me…p. 983
Vers. 4. I am black, but comely (O ye daughters of Jerusalem) as the…p. 985
Vers. 5. Look not upon me because I am black, because the sunn • •…p. 985
Vers. 6. Tell me (O thou whom my soule loveth) where thou feedest…p. 986
Vers. 7. If thou know not (O thou fairest among women) goe thy way…p. 987
Vers. 8. I have compared thee (O my Love) to my Mare, or to my Troope…p. 987
Vers. 9. Thy cheeks are comely with Turtles, or withrows of Jewels…p. 988
Vers. 10. Wee will make the borders of Gold with studs of Silver.p. 989
Vers. 11. Whilest the King was at his repast, my Spik • nard gave…p. 990
Vers. 12. My w • lbeloved is as a bundle of Myrhe unto me: He shall…p. 990
Vers. 13. My welbeloved is as a clustre of Camphire unto me, in the…p. 991
Vers. 14. My love, behold thou art fair, behold thou art fair: Thine…p. 991
Vers. 15. My welbeloved, behold thou art fair and pleasant: Also our…p. 992
Vers. 16. The beames of our house are of Cedar, our Rafters are of…p. 993
CHAP. II.p. 993
The Analysis.p. 995
Vers. 1. I am the Rose of the field, and the Lillie of the vallies.p. 995
Vers. 2. Like a Lillie among the thornes, So is my L • ve among the…p. 996
Verse. 3. Like the Appletree among the trees of the forrest, so is ••…p. 996
Vers. 4. He brought me into the wine-seller, and love was his banner…p. 997
Vers. 5. Stay me with Flagons, and comfort me with apples, for I am…p. 998
Vers. 6. His left hand is under mine head, and his right hand doth •…p. 999
Vers. 7. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the Roes and by…p. 999
Vers. 8. It is the voi • e of my w • lbeloved▪ behold, he • ommeth…p. 999
Vers. 9. My w • lbeloved is like a Roe, or a young▪ Hart, lo, he…p. 1000
Vers. 10. My welbeloved spak • , and said unto me, Arise my Love, my…p. 1001
Vers. 11. For behold, Winter is past, the rain is changed and is gone…p. 1001
Vers. 12. The flovvers appeare in the earth, the time of the singing…p. 1002
Vers. 13. The Fig-tree hath brought forth her young figs, and the…p. 1003
Vers. 14. My Dove, thou art in the • oles of the Rocke, in the secr •…p. 1003
Vers. 15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes, that spoile the vines…p. 1004
Vers. 16. My welbeloved is mine and I am his; he feedeth among the…p. 1005
Vers. 17. Vntill the day breake, and the shadowes fly away, turne my…p. 1006
CHAP. III.p. 1007
Vers. 1. By night on my Bed I sought him whom my soule loveth: I…p. 1008
Vers. 2. I will rise now, and go about the Citie, in the streets and…p. 1009
Vers. 3. The watchmen that go about the city found me, to whom I…p. 1009
Vers. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him…p. 1010
V. 5. I charge you, O ye daughters, of Ierusalem, by the Roes and by…p. 1011
V. 6. Who is this that cometh out of the wildernes like pillars of…p. 1011
Ver • . 7. Behold his bed which is Salomons: threescor • valiant men…p. 1012
Vers. 8. They all • old swords, being expert in war: every man hath…p. 1012
Vers. 9. King Salomon made himself a Chariot of the wood of Lebanon.p. 1013
Vers. 10. He made the Pillars thereof of silver, the bottome thereof…p. 1013
Vers. 11. Go forth, O yee daughters of Sion, and behold King Salomon…p. 1014
CHAP. IIII.p. 1015
The Resolution.p. 1016
Vers. 1. Behold, thou art fair my Love, behol • , thou art fair: thou…p. 1017
Vers. 2. Thy teeth are like a flocke of sheep that are even shorne…p. 1018
Vers. 3. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is…p. 1019
Vers. 4. Thy neck is like the to • er of David, built for an Armory…p. 1020
Vers. 5. Thy two breasts are like two young Roes, that are twins…p. 1021
Vers. 6. Vntill the day break, and the shadowes fli • away: I will…p. 1021
Verse 7. Thou art all faire my love, there is no spot in thee.p. 1022
Verse 8. Come with me from Lebanon (my Sp • use) with me from…p. 1022
Vers. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart (my sister, my spouse) thou ••…p. 1023
Vers. 10. How fair is thy love (my sister, my spouse,) how much…p. 1023
Vers. 11. Thy lips (O my spouse) drop as the honycomb: Hony and milke…p. 1024
Vers. 12. A Garden inclosed is my sister, my Spouse, a spring shut…p. 1025
Vers. 13. Thy plants are an Orchard of Pomegranats with pleasant…p. 1026
Vers. 15. A fountain of Gardens, a well of living waters and streames…p. 1027
Vers. 16. Awake, O North-wind, and come thou South, blow upon my…p. 1027
Vers. 17. I am come into my Garden, my Sister, my Spouse, I have…p. 1028
CHAP. V.p. 1029
V • r • e 1. I •• eep, but my h • art waketh, it is the voyc • of my…p. 1031
Verse. 2. I have put off my coate, how should I put it on: I have wa…p. 1032
Vers. 3. My beloved put his hand by the hole of the door▪ and my •…p. 1033
Vers. 4. I rose to open to my beloved and my hands dropped with…p. 1033
Vers. 5. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawen…p. 1034
Vers. 6. The watchmen that went about the City found me: they smote…p. 1034
Vers. 7. I charge you, O daughters of Ierusalem, if yee finde my…p. 1035
Verse. 8. What is thy beloved more then another beloved, O▪ thou…p. 1036
Vers. 9. My beloved is white and ruddie, the chiefest among tenn •…p. 1036
Vers. 10. His head is as the most fine gold, his lockes are bushie…p. 1037
Vers. 11. His eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the rivers of water…p. 1038
Vers. 12. His cheekes are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his…p. 1039
Vers. 13. His hands are as gold rings set with the Beryll: his belly…p. 1039
Vers. 14. His legs are as pillars of Marble, set upon sockets of fine…p. 1040
Vers. 15. His mouth is most sweet, yea, he is altogether lovely: This…p. 1041
Vers. 16. Whither is thy b • loved • one, O thou fairest • mong…p. 1041
CHAP. VI.p. 1042
Verse▪ 1. My beloved is gone down • into his garden, to the beds of…p. 1043
Verse 3. I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mine: he feed • th among…p. 1044
Verse • ▪ Thou art beautif • ll O my love, as Tir • a • , comely as…p. 1045
Vers. 4. Turn • way thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me…p. 1046
Vers. 5. Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the…p. 1046
Ver • . 6. As a piece of Pomegranate, are thy temples within thy…p. 1047
Vers. 7. There are threescore Queens, and fourscore Concubines, and…p. 1047
Vers. 8. My Dove, my undefiled is but one, she is the only one of her…p. 1048
Vers. 9. Who is she that looketh f • rth as the morning, fair as the…p. 1051
Vers. 10. I went downe into the Garden of Nu • s to see the fr •• s •…p. 1052
Vers. 11. Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the Chariots (or…p. 1053
Vers. 12. Return, return, O Shulamite, return: return, that we may…p. 1053
CHAP. VII.p. 1055
Verse 1. How beautifull are thy fe •• e with sh • oes, O Princes…p. 1057
Verse 2. Thy navell is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor▪…p. 1058
Ver • . 3. Thy two breasts are like two young Roes that are twins.p. 1059
Verse 4. Thy necke is as a Tower of Ivory, thine eyes like the…p. 1059
Vers. 15. Thine head upon thee is like Carmell, and the haire of thy…p. 1061
Vers. 6. How fair and how pleasant art thou O Love, for delights!p. 1062
Vers. 7. This thy stature is like to a Palm-tree: and thy breasts t •…p. 1063
Vers. 8. I said, I will go up to the Palm-tree, I will take hold of…p. 1063
Vers. 9. And the roof of thy mouth like the best Wine that goeth down…p. 1064
Vers. 10. I am my beloveds, and his desire is towards me.p. 1064
Vers. 11. Come my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us •…p. 1065
Vers. 12. Let us get up early to the vineyards: let • s see if the…p. 1065
Vers. 13. The Mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner…p. 1066
CHAP. VIII.p. 1067
Vers. 1. O that thou wert as my brother that sucked the breasts of my…p. 1069
Vers. 2. I would lead thee, I would bring thee into my mothers house…p. 1069
Vers. 3. His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand…p. 1070
Vers. 4. I charge yee, O daughters of Ierusalem, that yee stir not…p. 1070
Verse 5. Who is this that commeth up from the Wildernesse, leaning…p. 1071
Vers. 6. Set me as a seale upon thine heart, as a Seale upon thine…p. 1072
Verse 7. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the flouds…p. 1072
Verse 8. We have a little sister, and she bath no breasts: what shall…p. 1073
Vers. 9. If shee be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of…p. 1074
Vers. 10. I am a wall and my breasts like towers, then was I in his…p. 1074
Vers. 11. Salomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon, he let out the…p. 1074
Vers. 13. O Thou that dwellest in the Gardens, the Companions hearken…p. 1075
Vers▪ 14. Make hast▪ or fly hence my beloved▪ and bee thou like to a…p. 1076
The Popes SPECTACLES Or his CLJMACTERJCALL yeere calculated in August, Anno 1623.p. 1079
First Paulus Secundus and Grebnerus of Misma the Germane Astrologian.p. 1085