A Brief Exposition of the Whole Book of Canticles

THe Songs of Songs, which is Solomons.

verse 2

Let him kisse mee with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better then wine.

verse 3

Because of the savour of thy good ointments, thy Name is as ointment powred forth, therefore doe the Virgins love thee.

verse 4

Draw me, we will runne after thee: the King hath brought me into his chambers: we p. 2will bee glad and rejoyce in thee, wee will remember thy love more then wine, the upright love thee.

verse 5

I am blacke, but comely, (O ye daughters of Jerusalem) as the Tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

verse 6

Looke not upon me because I am black, because the Sunne hath looked upon mee: my Mothers children were angry with mee, they made me the keeper of the Vineyards, but my owne Vineyard have I not kept.

verse 7

Tell me, (O thou whom my soule loveth) where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noone: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

verse 8

If thou know not (O thou fairest among women) goe thy way forth by the footsteps of thy flocke, and feed thy kiddes besides the shepheards tents.

verse 9

I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaohs chariots.

Thy cheeks are comely with rowes of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

Wee will make thee borders of gold, with studs of silver.

While the King sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

A bundle of myrrhe is my welbeloved unto mee, hee shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

p. 314 My beloved is unto mee, as a cluster of Camphire in the Vineyards of En-gedi.

Behold, thou art faire, my love: behold, thou art faire, and hast doves eyes.

Behold, thou art faire, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

The beames of our house are Cedar, and our rafters of firre.

THE EXPLANATION.

The Song of Songs, which is Solomons.

Verse 2

Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better then wine.

p. 3IT was the manner of ancient times, at Espousalls and Nuptialls to indite and sing [Ruth 4. 11. 12.] (Epithalamia) love-songs: [Psal. 45.] The title of which Psalme may seeme to bee penned by one of the chiefe singers of the Temple, (who now were all of them Prophets; [1. Chron. 25. 1. to 5.] Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun,) upon occasion of Solomons marriage with Pharaohs Daughter; for though shee was a stranger by birth from the common wealth of Israel, yet his marriage p. 4was lawfull with her: And therefore, notwithstanding this marriage, his love to God is still commended, [1. King. 3. 1.] Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh King of Egypt, and [verse 3.] Solomon loved the Lord, &c. For, indeed herein Solomon was

First, a type of Christ, admitting the Gentiles into the fellowship of his marriage-bed.

Secondly, this Pharaohs daughter became a Proselite to the Jewish Religion, [Psal 45. 10.—14.] Hearken (oh Daughter) and consider, and incline thine eare; forget also thine owne people, and thy fathers house. &c.

Now though that marriage song was penned upon that occasion; yet it ascendeth farre above all earthly respects of worldly marriage, and by a divine and heavenly workmanship sets forth a heavenly marriage-song betweene Christ and his Church: of like Argument was this song penned by Solomon himselfe; not to expresse his affections to Pharaohs daughter, or hers to him, or the good parts of either of them: no, nor the like respects to any Shunamite amongst the rest of his wives, as some have vainly conceived; for then how absurd and p. 5monstrous were some of his comparisons, likening his spouse to A company of Horses in Pharaohs Chariot, her Head to Carmel, her Eyes to Fish pooles, her Nose to a Tower, her Teeth to a flocke of sheep, her whole Selfe to a terrible Army with Banners? But his scope is to describe the estate of the Church towards Christ, and his respect towards her, from his own time to the last judgement, as afterward it shall appeare.

Now, through this whole marriagesong this Decorum it keepeth, that though the Calamities of the Church be as well described throughout this song, as the comfortable condition of the same in all ages; yet such dismall passages are vailed and shadowed under some sweet and amiable resemblances, lest the joy of a marriage feast should be darkned by unseasonable mention of so sad occurences; Neither are all the passages of the estate of the Church in every age here described, (for how can that be in so short a song?) but the chiefe heads of things in every age are sweetly, and shortly, and lively, not onely pointed at, but decyphered. These verses containe p. 6First, [The title.] the title of the whole booke, verse 1.

Secondly, the description of the estate of the Church in the dayes, First, of Solomon verse 2.—4.

Secondly, of Solomon and Rehoboam, verse 5.

In the title we have

First, the form of the book, It is A Song.

Secondly, the excellency of it, A Song of Songs.

Thirdly, the Author of it, Which is Solomons.

First, of Psalmes.

Secondly, Hymnes.

Thirdly, spirituall Songs.

Amongst the Hebrewes there were Psalmes made to be sung with Instruments, [Psalmes.] as well as with voyce, and contained Arguments of all sort, for petition, thanksgiving, and instruction.

Songs were chiefly made for the voice.

Hymnes are properly praises of God; [Songs.] though any of these are somtimes put for all. [Hymnes.]

p. 7Use 1

First, this doth let us see, that it were to be wished, that this booke were turned into verse or meeter in each language, that wee might sing the Canticles as the Hebrews did.

Use 2

Secondly, this teaches us to strive for such a gracious frame of spirit, that we might alwayes bee fitted to sing to God.