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Love's Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride

Name: Love's Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride
Author: William Guild

William Guild 1658

Guild offers a comprehensive explication and spiritual application of the Song of Solomon, interpreting it as an allegory of Christ's relationship with the Church.

EEBO-TCP A85763 (TEI), original spelling, printed page numbers. EEBO 99862605; STC/Wing Wing G2206

From the text

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

Verse 1. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.

THis Book of holy Scripture has for the penman thereof, (we see) Salomon, the wisest of Kings; for the matter, the worthiest subject, the mutuall love between Christ and his Church; for the style, the most sublime and pleasant, being amorous and a song; and for the speakers therein, the most heavenly and excellent, Christ Jesus and his Spouse.

The cause wherefore the holy Ghost represents this love and union between these two, in all this Song, by the similitude of matrimoniall conjunction, is, because in all other Londs of love or friendship, there is not either so sacred a ground of so holy and particular intire affection, nor such a communion of so deere things, as hearts, bodies, and goods, nor so strait a conjunction of parties, becomming thereby one flesh, not so durable for time, being dissolvable only by death, and the effect rather divine then humane, God using men thereby but as instruments to propagate his Church. Therefore the Holy Ghost being to represent unto us that which is otherwise in it selfe unconceiveable, could chuse no fitter similitude then this affection and union matrimoniall: Therefore also it is, that in other places of Scripture the Church is called the Bride and the Lamb's wife. Rev. 21. 9. and Ioh. 3. 29. our Saviour is called the bridegroom, & the Church his bride; whereby is evident, though this Bride and bridegroome bee not named by any proper names in all this Song, yet that it p. 2is without all controversie, that Christ and his Church are meant; these things being attributed in this song to both, to wit such beauty, glory, and excellency, as far surmounts all other beautie, glory and excellency in the world, and to represent in like manner, the spirituall and heavenly ornaments & gifts which he bestoweth on her, and the fruits of her love againe which she rendereth to him for the same, here are reckoned up all the sweetest, richest, and most precious things that are in the world.

This book then in generall is a continued amorous conference between Christ and his Church for the most part, wherein either they speake by way of a love-dialogue each to other, or else encomiastickly and by way of commendation one of another.

p. 2And in particular to come to this Chapter. 1 Wee have therein the generall title or inscription of the whole book contained in the first verse. 2. We have the three severall parts of the chapter; the first, wherein the church speakes, and which is supplicatory, the first six verses after the second, wherein Christ speakes, and which is directorie. ver. 8. and the last, where both speake, which is mutually laudatorie, in the last verses of the chapter.

In the generall title then, and inscription of the whole book, we have first the Title it selfe, or sort of writing, to wit, a Song. 2 The excellency thereof, a Song of Songs, so called after the Hebrew phrayse, as one would say, A song that excelleth all other songs, as our Saviour is called, Rev. 19. 16. the King of kings and Lord of lords. 3. The Author, or rather penman thereof, which is Solomons

First then it is called A song and men use to sing for joy, as we see Jam 5. 13. and Ephes. 5. 18. Exod. 15. 1. Judg. 5. 1. &c. And indeed the ground of the greatest joy that a christian soule can have, is this, that Christ Jesus hath vouchsafed to be joyned in such a straight and spirituall Union with man, that he hath maried himselfe to his Church, she to be his Bride, and he her Bridegroome; and wherefrom flowes such a communion of good things to her, which the heart cannot conceive enough, nor the tongue expresse.

Next, it is called for excellency, a Song of Songs, as excelling all others, so that it may be said of it, as is said of the vertuous woman, Many daughters have done worthily, but thou exceeds them all: the same being of the most excellent p. 3subject, the most excellent persons, and the most excellent and pleasant manner of Setting downe the same.

Thirdly, the author or rather penman, is Solomon who was a type of Christ and whose marriage with his Queen, spoken of Psal 45. was a type of this spoken of here between Christ and his Church, and who wrote this song as he was a Prophet, and as Peter shews us, not of the will of man, but as he was moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. and therefore is not carnally to be understood, but in a spirituall and a holy manner.

p. 3Observations.

1. Seeing that this Song is so highly praised, as to be called the Song of Songs, Let us have the greater care to attaine to the true understanding thereof, digging as it were in this excellent field to find out the treasure of true comfort and wisedom that lies hid therein.

2. Seeing that it was written by Solomon as a Prophet, and penman onely of Gods Holy spirit, and therefore is not the word or wisedome of man, but of God; therefore let us reverence and receive it accordingly.

p. 3Verse 2. Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better then wine.

HEre the Church begins the Dialogue, In which words is 1. her petition to her beloved, and 2. the reason thereof subjoyned thereto. Her petition then is, Let Him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth, according to that allegory under which the whole song is written, as betrothed lovers do by kisses expresse their love one to another, even so here the Church betrothed to Christ, as a bride desires his comfortable fellowship, and expression or assurance to her soule of his tender affection.

As for kisses we reade of sundry, for sundry ends, and signifiing sundry things in Scripture: for 1. there is a kisse of Salutation 1. Sam. 20. 41. 2 There is a kisse of Valediction. Ruth. 2. 9. 3 There is a kisse of reconciliation 2 Sam. 14. 33. and Luke. 15. 20. 4 There is a kisse of subjection. Psal. 2. 12. 5 There is a kisse of religious adoration. 1. King. 19. 18. 6 There is a kisse of approbation. Pro. 20. 24. 26. And 7. there p. 4is a kisse of love and affection, as, Gen. 45. 15. Seeing therefore that she speakes here of kisses in the plurall number, the kisses that she meanes are these two specially, of Reconciliation and Affection, to the which may be added the third of Approbation which is the sweetest of all, when he shall say, Come faithful servant, and enter into thy masters joy; And of this kisse is she most desirous, as we may see, Rev. 22. 17.

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To the right Honorable, Andrew Ramsey, Provost of Edinburgh, Archbald Sydserf, Robert…
Verse 1. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.p. 2
Observations.p. 3
Verse 2. Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love…p. 3
Verse. 3. Because of the savour of thy good Oyntment powred forth…p. 9
Verse. 4. Draw me, we will runne after thee, the King hath brought me…p. 19
Verse. 5. I am black but comely, (O ye daughters of Jerusalem) as the…p. 32
Verse. 6. Look not upon me because I am black, because the Sunne hath…p. 41
Verse. 7. Tell me (O thou whom my soul loveth,) where thou feedest?…p. 46
Verse. 8. If thou know not (O thou fairest among women) go thy way…p. 56
Verse. 9. and 10. I have compared thee (O my Love) to a company of…p. 59
Verse. 11. We will make thee borders of Gold with studs of Silver.p. 63
Verse. 12. While the King sitteth at his Table, my spikenard sendeth…p. 65
Verse. 13. A bundle of mirrh is my well be loved unto me, He shall…p. 67
Verse. 14. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of Camphire, in the…p. 72
Verse. 15. Behold, thou art fair, my love, behold thou art fair, thou…p. 74
Verse. 16. Behold thou art fair my beloved, yea pleasam; also our bed…p. 77
Verse. 17. The beames of our house are Cedars, and our rafters of…p. 79
Vers. 1. I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lillie of the vallies.p. 83
Verse. 2. As a Lilly among thornes, so is my love among the daughters.p. 85
Verse. 3. As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my…p. 88
Vers. 4. He brought me to the banquetting house, and his banner over…p. 93
Vers. 5. Stay me with flaggons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick…p. 99
Verse. 6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth…p. 104
Vers. 7. I charge you (ô ye daughters of Jerusalem) by the Roes, and…p. 107
Vers. 8. The voice of my Beloved: Behold, he comes leaping upon the…p. 110
Verse. 9. My beloved is like a Roe, or young Hart: behold, he…p. 113
Vers. 10. My Beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my Love, my fa…p. 116
Vers. 11. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. 12.…p. 119
Verse. 14. O my dove that art in the clifts of the rock, in the…p. 122
Vers. 15. Take us the Foxes, the little foxes, that spoile the Vines…p. 127
Vers. 16. My Beloved is mine, and I am his: he feeds among the…p. 133
Vers. 17. Untill the day break, and the shadowes flee away, turn, my…p. 135
Vers. 1. By night in my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth, I…p. 137
Verse. 2. I will rise now, and go about the City in the streets, and…p. 144
Verse. 3. The watchmen that go about the city found me, to whom I…p. 146
Vers. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him…p. 149
Vers. 5. I charge you, O yee daughters of Jerusalem, by the Roes, and…p. 152
Verse. 6. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness, like pillars…p. 152
Vers. 7. Behold his bed which is Solomons, threescore valiant men are…p. 157
Vers. 9. King Solomon made himself a Chariot of the wood of Lebanon.…p. 159
Vers. 11. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon…p. 163
Vers. 1. Behold thou art faire, my love, behold thou art faire, thou…p. 169
Verse. 2. Thy teeth are like a stock of sheep that are eaven shorne…p. 170
Vers. 6. Untill the day break, and the shaddowes fles away, I will…p. 173
Vers. 8. Come with me from Lebanon, (my Spouse) with me from Lebanon…p. 175
Vers. 9. Thou hast ravish't my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast…p. 177
Vers. 10. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse 〈◊〉 how much…p. 180
Vers. 11. Thy lips (O my Spouse) drop as an hony-comb, hony and milk…p. 181
Vers. 12. A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut…p. 184
Vers. 13. Thy plants are as an orchard of Pome granates, with…p. 187
Vers. 15. A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams…p. 189
Vers. 16. Awake, O north-w •… d and come thou south, blow upon my…p. 191
Vers. 1. I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse, I have…p. 197
Vers. 2. I sleep, but my heart waketh; it is the voice of my beloved…p. 200
Vers. 3. I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed…p. 209
Vers. 4. My beloved put in his hand by the lock of the dore, and my…p. 211
Vers. 5. I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with…p. 213
Vers. 6. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had with drawn…p. 214
Vers. 7. The watchmen that went about the City found me, they smo • e…p. 217
Observation.p. 220
Vers. 8. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my…p. 220
Vers. 9. What is thy Beloved more than another beloved, O thou…p. 222
Vers. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten…p. 223
Vers. 11. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushie…p. 224
Vers. 12. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of water…p. 224
Vers. 13. His. cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers; his…p. 225
Vers. 14. His hands are as gold-rings, set with the Berill; his belly…p. 225
Vers. 15. His legs are as pillars of Marble, set upon sockets of fine…p. 226
Vers. 16. His mouth is most sweet, yea he is altogether lovely; This…p. 226
Vers. 1. Whither is thy beloved gone. O thou fairest amongst women?…p. 230
Vers. 2. My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of…p. 231
Vers. 3. I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mine, he feeds among the…p. 233
Vers. 4. Thou art beautifull, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as…p. 233
Vers. 5. Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me, thy…p. 236
Vers. 8. There are threescore Queens, and fourscore concubines, and…p. 236
Vers. 10. Who is she that looks forth as the morning? fair as the…p. 241
Vers. 11. I went down into the garden of nuts, to see the fruits of…p. 242
Vers. 12. Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the Chariots of…p. 244
Vers. 13. Return, return, O Shulamite, return, return, that we may…p. 245
Vers. 1. How beautifull are thy feet with shoos O prince's daughter?…p. 247
Vers. 2. Thy navell is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor…p. 249
Vers. 3. Thy two breasts are like two young Roes that are twinnes.p. 251
Vers. 4. Thy neck is as a towre of Ivory, thine eyes like the Fish…p. 251
Vers. 5. Thine head upon thee is like Carmell, and the haire of thy…p. 252
Vers. 6. How faire and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!p. 253
Vers. 7. This thy stature is like to a palme tree, and thy breasts to…p. 254
Vers. 8. I said, I will go up to the Palme-tree, I will take hold of…p. 256
Vers. 10. I am my beloveds, and his desire is towards me.p. 258
Vers. 11. Come my beloved, Let us go forth into the field, Let us…p. 259
Vers. 13. The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner…p. 260
Vers. 1. O that thou were as my brother that sucked the breasts of my…p. 261
Vers. 2. I would lead thee and bring thee into my Mothers house, who…p. 264
Vers. 5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning upon…p. 266
Vers. 6. Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arme…p. 269
Vers. 8. We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts, what shall…p. 272
Vers. 9. If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver…p. 278
Vers. 10. I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then was I in his…p. 280
Vers. 11. Solomon had a vineyard at Raal-hamon, he let out the…p. 282
Vers. 13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken…p. 285
Vers. 14. Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or to a…p. 286