CHAP. I.

VER. 1. THe Song] So is this Book cal­led, in respect both of the Matter of it (which is a de­clamation of the holy Espou­sals, and Sweet communion between Christ and his Church, and of the mu­tual love and affection they bear each to other) and the Poetical Manner of penning it. [Of Songs] i. e. The most [Page 2] sweet and excellent Song, as in the like phrase, Canaan is called a ser­vant of servants, the vilest and ba­sest, Gen. 9. 25.

Ver. 2. The Church, after the manner of Lovers, begins abruptly and passionately, [Let him] i. e. Let Christ my beloved [Kiss me with the Kisses of his Mouth] manifest and confirm to me his Love; To this end (among others) kisses were given, 1 Cor. 16. 20. [For, thy] She changeth the person after the pathe­tical and passionate manner of vehe­ment lovers; [Loves] so the Heb. readeth: whereby she intimateth the abundance and intimateness of his love (Ephes. 3. 19.) for so in the Heb. phrase is the plural num­ber used [are better than Wine] are more comfortable, and glad the heart more than Wine, which of all creatures is most effectual to make the heart merry, Iud. 9. 13. [Page 3] Psal. 104. 15. Ier. 31. 5, 6.

Ver. 3. Because of the savour of thy good Oyntments] Because of the Oyle of Gladness, that fulness of Grace, and of the Spirit, wherewith thou art anointed, Psal. 45. 7. which is the fountain from whence all Grace is derived to the Church, Io. 1. 16. Psal. 133. 2. [Thy Name] thy holy Word and Gospel, where­by thou makest thy self known, Psalm 138. 2. Mat 19. 29. com­pared with Mar. 10. 29. Act. 9. 15. [is as an Oyntment poured forth] i. e. as the sweet and pretious Oyntments (which were much used in those Countries) did then cast forth their sweetest savour when they were poured out, (Mar. 14. 3. compared with Io. 12. 3.) So the excellency that is in thee, being published by the Gospel, doth make thee most sweet and amiable, [The Virgins] such as keep themselves pure and [Page 4] undefiled from Idolatry, and all wordly Pollutions [love thee].

Ver. 4. [Draw me] O pull me more and more out of the bondage of Satan, and of my own corrup­tion, Mat. 6. 13. Give me both a will and a power to come unto thee Io. 6. 44. Phil. 2. 13. [Wee] I and the children which thou hast given me, then [will run after thee] will cheer­fully and readily obey and follow thee, Psa. 119. 32. Mat. 4. 20, 22. [The King] Jesus Christ my Hus­band who is also my Lord and King, Psal. 45. 11. Yea the King of kings and Lord of lords, Rev. 17. 14. and 19. 16. [hath brought me into his Chambers] hath already brought me into those places where his Jewels and chief treasures are laid up, and where he useth most in­wardly and familiarly to converse with, and communicate him-self to his beloved, viz, the places of his [Page 5] publique and solemn Woship, Psal. 26. 8. and 27. 4, 5. and 36. 8. and 63. 2. and 65. 4. [We will be glad and rejoyce in thee] thus will we be affected while we are in thy Chambers, Psal. 29. 9. Is. 56. 7. [we will remember] we will medi­tate and speak of [thy loves more than Wine] thy favour and the com­fort to be found therein, as of that which is more sweet and comfort­table than any Wine, Psal. 4. 6, 7. [The upright love thee] All whose hearts are sound and free from hy­pocrisy, having tasted of, and been satisfied with the pleasures of thine house, cannot choose but love thee.

Ver. 5. I am black but comely] I confess that in respect of my outward estate & condition I am nothing ami­able, nor have any thing to allure a carnal eye to affect or love me; yet have I an inward beauty and excel­lency (Psal. 45. 13.) to be discer­ned [Page 6] by such as are spiritual. [(O ye Daughters of Ierusalem)] O ye which being members of the visible Church, and apt to take of­fence at this my outward estate, which is [as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon] as those tents and curtains that being on the outside weather-beaten, had within, great Treasures and Riches.

Ver. 6. Look not upon me be­cause I am black] Do not too much eye or observe and despise me for the deformity of my outward estate and condition; but consider the true cause thereof [because the Sun hat looked upon me] The heat of persecution (whereunto I have al­wayes been much subject) as the Sun in his strength shining full upon my face, hath scortched and tanned me, Mat. 13. 6, 21. [The Sons of my Mother were angry with me] such as by out­ward profession were Children of [Page 7] the true Church, yea, that did bear cheif sway in it, were the chief au­thors of this my persecution, being angry with me for this my since­rity, Gal. 4. 29. [They made me the keeper of the Vineyards] they com­pelled me through their violence & mine own weakness, to observe their fancies, and to fashion my self to the customes and manners of o­thers [but mine own Vineyard have I not kept] The duties God assigned me for the gathering and ordering of his People, and making of them fruitful to Him, I have neglected.

Ver. 7. Tell me (O thou whom my Soul loveth) where thou feedest, where thou makest thy Flocks to rest at Noon] Show me these assemblies where thy saving Ordinances are to be found, wherein Thou (the chief Shephard, Psal. 23. 1. Io. 10. 11. 1 Pet. 5. 4.) performest all the offices of a careful and faithful Pastor, both [Page 8] feeding them with knowledg and understanding, Ier. 3. 15. and giving them comfort and repose in all their afflictions, Ezek. 34. 12, 16. [For why should I be as one that turneth aside] As I fear nothing more than the falling away or de­clining from thee, and the purity of thy Worship; So, unless I joyn my self to those assemblies where thine Ordinances are to be had, I shall not be able to keep my self from declining, Heb. 10, 25. compa­red with ver. 23. [by the flocks of thy companions] My danger to turn aside and decline from thee, is the greater, because I live where thy companions are such as pretend to be the friends of thee the Bride­groom, and to mourn for thee; but do indeed nothing less, being Idola­ters and false Teachers, Iud. 14. 20. 2 Cor. 11, 13.

Ver. 8. If thou know not] If [Page 9] (which is strange) thou be, through thy confidence, and the prevailing of false teachers, ignorant or brought to doubt hereof [O thou the fairest among women] Thou (who though thou be black in thine own eyes, and in the eyes of carnal men; yet art in mine, through the imputation of my Righteousness, and the Sancti­fication, that is begun in thee, far more beautiful then any other Wo­man) must, [Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flocks] observe, and mark well the footsteps, and way, that the Antient People, and flock of God, (the holy Patriarks and Prophets) have trodden, and walk in it, Ier. 6. 16. [And feed thy kids] feed the faithful flock, (who are oft compared to young and little ones, not only for that they are so in their own sense, and in the opinion of the world; but for that, indeed, they are not come to their full growth, [Page 10] but growing daily, Mat. 18. 10. Gal. 4. 19. 1 Io. 2. 18. and 5. 21.) [besides the Shepherds - tents] in those Pastures wherein those Anti­ent Pastours were wont to pitch their Tents, and feed their Flocks.

Ver. 9. I have compared thee] I who best know thee, and can best judg of thee, and in whose judg­ment thou mayest quiet and com­fort thy self, have esteemed thee to be like, ([O my Love] or O my fellow and companion, so is the Wife called, Mat. 2. 14.) [To a company of Horses in Pharoas▪ Cha­riots] for that honourable service thou doest unto me, in my spiritual warfare, unto the horses that Pha­raoh used in his Chariots, which of all other horses, for their state­liness and courage, did most excel for that purpose, 1 Kings 10. ver. 28, 29.

Ver. 10. Thy cheeks are comely [Page 11] with rows of Iewels, thy neck with chains of Gold] Though thy chief beauty be inward, yet even those thy outward parts, which are most conspicuous, and the principal seals of beauty, want not that goodly orna­ment, but the graces of my Spirit, where withal, as with most pretious jewels, I have adorned thee, do shine evidently in thy whole conversation, and make thee gratious even unto Men, Prov. 4. 9.

Ver. 11. We] All the three Per­sons in the Trinity (unto whom on­ly, and to all whom any work of our Sanctification, and Salvation must be ascribed) [will make thee bor­ders of Gold, with studs of Silver] will increase the Graces of the Spirit in thee, and cause thee to grow in holiness; so making thee more and more glorious in the sight of God and men, Mat. 25. 29. 2 Cor. 3. 10.

[Page 12] Ver. 12. While the King sitteth at his Table] whilest Christ my Lord and King sheweth himself present in his Ordinances, according to his promise, Mat. 18. 20. and 28. 20. wherein he spreadeth and furnisheth his Table, feasteth his People, and ad­mitteth them to dine & sup with him, Mat. 22. 4. Rev. 3. 20. [my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof,] the graces of his Spirit which he had bestowed upon me, and which are more sweet and comfortable to my Soul, than any Spikenard to my sense, were stirred up, revived and quickned in me, Luke 24. 22.

Ver. 13. A bundle of myrrh is [my well-beloved unto me] Christ my Husband is to me for the sweet­ness and comfort my Soul findeth in Him, as a bundle of myrrhe (which was one of the sweetest things those Eastern-Countries did afford, and whereof the sweetest Oyntments [Page 13] and Perfumes were wont to be made, Exod. 30. 23. Psal. 45. 8. [He shall lye all night betwixt my breasts]: according to the manner of women, who wear their Nose-gays there; so shall my well-beloved still dwell in my heart, Eph. 3. 17. So is the phrase there taken.

Ver. 14. My beloved is to me as a cluster of Camphire] Howsoever o­thers esteem of my beloved, and feel no sweetness in him; he is, in my estimation and feeling, as delectable as a cluster of the sweetest Cam­phire or Cyprus [in the Vineyards of Engedi] even of that Camphire or Cyprus that grows in the Vineyards of Engedi, which was a very fruit­ful place, being both near the Sea, and full of pleasant springs. See Plin. l. 12. c. 24.

Ver. 15. Behold thou art fair my Love, behold thou art fair,] Thou, O my Church whom I dearly love, [Page 14] art indeed (however thou seemest to thy self or others,) amiable, beauti­ful, without all spot or wrinckle; My beauty, even my perfect holiness, and righteousness, being put upon thee, and made thine, Eph. 5. 27. [Thou hast Doves eyes] Thou art, for thy Chastity, (which chiefly shew­eth it self in the eye, as uncleanness also doth, Iob. 30. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 14.) like unto the Dove, which is a most chaste Creature, and true to her Mate, not so much as casting thine eye, in spiritual fornication, up­on any Idol, or false worship, Ezek. 18. 6.

Ver. 16. Behold thou art fair, my beloved, yea pleasant,] q. d. Dost thou commend My beauty? nay, thou art beautiful indeed, Psa. 27. 4. through the abundance and perfecti­on of grace and goodness that dwells in thee (in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily, Col. 2 9. [Page 15] every way pleasant and delecta­ble; from thee only have I all that little beauty that is in me, and in thy beauty only do I rejoyce, 1 Cor. 1. 30, 31. [Also our Bed] The place wherein we enjoy one another, to the procreation and begetting of chil­dren to God, viz. the holy Assem­blies, where thou plantest thine Ordi­nances, Psa. 87. 5, 6. Ia. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 2. [is green] is fruitful, growing and flourishing: though our Children dye, wither, and fall away, yet such spring up in their room, Isa. 49. 20. and 54. 1, 2. Ier. 30. 19, 20.

Ver. 17. The beams of our houses are Cedar, and our rafters of Firre,] The Catholick Church which thou hast chosen to be thy House, 1 Tim. 3. 16. wherein by thy Grace, I also do dwell, and shall ever continue, Ps. 23. 6. is dure­able and everlasting, and consisteth [Page 16] of such parts and members, as shall never perish nor decay, Ps. 24. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 23.

Chap. II.

Ver. 1. I Am the Rose of Sharon] This is the speech of Christ, who praiseth himself, which were unseemly for the Church, or any man to do, Prov. 27. 2. 2 Cor. 10. 18. and 11. 16, 17. as Io. 6. 35. I am a pleasant and delecta­ble sweetness, I am like the Rose of Sharon; which was a very fruitful soyl near unto Bashan, 1 Chron. 5. 16. and 27. 29. and therefore bore the sweetest Roses, [and the Lillie of the Vallies,] for beauty and glory, like the goodliest Lillie, [Page 17] which for its beauty and glorious gloss did excel, Mat. 6. 29.

Ver. 2. As the Lillie among the Thorns] As the Lilly excelleth great­ly the Thorns, and appears so much the more beautiful, by growing a­mong them, and being compared with them, [so is my love among the Daughters] so my dear Spouse, my faithful people living among other people in the World, (who are noe better then Briers and Thorns, Mic. 7. 4. (do not only excel them much, Prov. 12. 16. but the beauty and glory of my graces in them do shine so much more, by how much the more corrupt the times and places are wherein they live, Gen. 6. 9. Phil. 4. 22. 2 Pet. 2. 8.

Ver. 3. As the Apple-tree among the Trees of the wood, so is my be­loved] As the Apple-tree excelleth all other the Trees that grow in the Wood, because it is not only shady, [Page 18] but beareth comfortable fruit, so is my beloved Husband [among the Sons,] among all Angels and Men, in both these respects most excel­lent, Eph. 1. 21. Heb. 1. 4. [I sate down under his shaddow with great delight,] as he that travelleth in hot weather, is much refreshed by resting himself under the shaddow of a broad Tree, and full of leaves, (in which respect this Comparison is much used.) so have I, in the heat of all my afflictions and temptations, found my self much refreshed and comforted, by resting and reposing my self by faith under my Beloved, Mat. 11. 28. [and his fruit was sweet to my taste,] yea, I have also tasted more sweetness in him, then in the most delicate fruit, that ever Tree bore.

Ver. 4. He brought me to the Banqueting house] He of his free love, and by his mighty power, [Page 19] (2 Tim. 1. 9. Io. 6. 44. brought me to his house, even to the place where I might enjoy the comfort of his Ordinances, where he feasteth his Saints, and satisfyeth them with the comforts of his word and Spirit, Ps. 65. 4. Isa. 25. 6. [and his banner over me was love,] Heb. his love over me a banner, that where­by he draweth me, and all my com­pany, as his spiritual Soldiers toge­ther unto himself, as to our Cap­tain and Head, and whereby also he keeps us close unto him, (which is the cheif use of Banners, Ier. 4. 5, 6. Isa. 11. 12.) was his love, 2 Cor. 5. 20. 1 Io. 4. 19.

Ver. 5. Stay me with Flagons, and comfort me with Apples,] Com­fort and keep me from fainting (O ye my faithful Servants and Mini­sters) by applying to me the sweet and comfortable promises of the Gospel, which are as the purest to [Page 20] me, Psa. 104. 15. effectual to cheer and make glad the heart, Isa. 25. 6. and 55. 1. And as the Ap­ples that yield the delicatest scent or taste to refresh the spirits: [for I am sick of Love,] for the love I bear to my Lord and Saviour, troubleth and disquieteth me, that I do no more fully enjoy him. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 4. 8.

Ver. 6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth im­brace me.] He, (my beloved Lord and Saviour,) and he only support­eth me, in these my spiritual faint­ings, putting his hand under me, Ps. 37. 24. and by his peace which passeth all understanding, keeps and upholds my heart and mind, Phil. 4. 7.

Ver. 7. I charge you, O ye Daugh­ters of Ierusalem,] I do in most earnest manner require you, that pro­fess your selves members of the Vi­sible Church, [by the Roes, and by [Page 21] the Hindes of the field,] by whatso­ever you take most delight and plea­sure in, [that you stir not up, nor awake my Love till he please.] That you do no way by the least provoca­tion disquiet, or interrupt the sweet peace I enjoy in my sweet Saviour, so long as he shall be pleased in his mercy to continue it to me.

Ver. 8. The voice of my Beloved] I do evidently discern in the Mi­nistry of his word, the voice of my Lord and Saviour calling upon me, and speaking to my heart, Io. 10. 4, 5, 27. and 6. 45. [He cometh leaping upon, or over the Mountains, skipping upon, or over the Hills, or Hillocks.] He also cometh towards me, and draweth near unto me, to comfort me, with the sence of his gratious presence, Ia. 4. 8. Rev. 3. 20. Yea, he cometh speedily, and will not be letted, either by my grosser sins, (like Mountains) which [Page 22] I in times past have committed, and have now repented of, or by my daily slips and infirmities, like Hil­locks, Psa. 32. 5. Isa. 1. 18. Rom. 8. 35, 39.

Ver. 9. My Beloved is like a Roe, or young Hart.] Yea, in this his readi­ness and swiftness to come to me, and shew himself present with me, for my comfort in all my distresses, he is like unto the Roe or young Hart, Heb. 10. 37. [Behold he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the Windows, shewing himself through the Lettice.] Yet doth he not in this life fully and clearly ma­nifest himself to me, but by degrees so far as he shall see fit and expedient, more darkly and obscurely under the Law, and more evidently and com­fortably under the Gospel, 1 Cor. 13. 9, 12. 2 Cor. 3. 18.

Ver. 10. My Beloved spake and said unto me,] I heard him speaking [Page 23] unto me in the Ministry of his Word, and calling upon me, [Rise up my Love, my fair one, and come away:] awake and rowze up thy self, O thou who notwithstanding all thy weak­ness art dear unto me, and beautiful in mine eyes,) out of thy carnal se­curity, and resting too much in out­ward things, and set thine affections more upon Heaven; things that are above, Eph. 5. 14. Col. 3. 1, 2.

Ver 11. For loe the Winter is past, and the Rain is over and gone.] For, consider well the change, which the Lord hath wrought in the estate, wherein thou wert before; thy calling which was like the Winter, uncom­fortable, nnd unfruitful, is now past and gone: thou art not under the Law, but under grace, Eph. 2. 11, 13. and 5. 8. Ro. 6. 15, 17.

Ver. 12. The Flowers appear in the Earth, the time of the singing of Birds is come, the voice of the Turtle [Page 24] is heard in our Land.] Being now in the state of Grace, fruitful unto God, bearing such fruits, as are most plea­sant and delightsom unto him through me, Phil. 1. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Yea, art able to rejoice in the Lord, and to sing praises unto him, Eph. 5. 19. Yea, thy voice (which art as a chast Turtle, true and Constant in in thy love to me) is heard in pray­ers and supplications unto God, and by his spirit thou cryest Abba Fa­ther, unto him, Rom. 8. 15.

Ver. 13. The Fig-tree putteth forth her green Figs, and the Vines, with the tender grapes, give a good smell.] As when the Fig-tree putteth forth, not her leaves only, but her green Figs, and the Vine her young grapes, its an evident sign that winter is gone, and that Summer is at hand, and even begun, Mat. 24. 32. So is this a good evidence, that the Winter of thy Natural estate is past with [Page 25] thee, and that thou art now in the state of Grace, that thou begins to be fruitful to God, Io. 15. 4. And though these fruits of the Spirit which thou bringest forth, be yet but small, tender, and young (even the first fruits of the Spirit,) in comparison of what they shall be in Heaven, when thy Sanctification shall be per­fected, Rom. 8. 22. 1 Cor. 13. 9. 10, 12. yet is it such Fruit that thou bearest, as my Father counts him­self greatly delighted in, and bene­fited by, (as men do by the Fruit of the Vine and Fig-tree) and as may give thee assurance that he will bring thee to full ripeness and perfection in his Kingdom, Io. 15. 2. Phil. 1. 16. and therefore seeing the Summer is so near, when thy Fruit shall be ful­ly ripe, seeing thy Salvation is near­er, then when first thou believedst, Rom. 13. 11. 12. [arise my love, my fair one, and come away] shake of [Page 26] all carnal security, and love to earth­ly things, (O thou that art so dear unto me, and so beautiful in mine eyes) and set thy affections upon Heaven, where I am, and where thou shalt fully enjoy my presence.

Ver. 14. O my Dove,] O my be­loved Spouse, who among all others, thy virtues excellest in this, that thou art true and faithful in thy love to me, and will not in any false worship bestow thy love upon any other, Ex. 20. 6. [that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the Stairs,] that (as the timerous Dove in such places, as no Kite or Hawke can have access unto,) art safely hidden with God, in the unchange­ableness of his secret Council, con­cerning thy Election, and under the protection of his Almighty power, Col. 3. 3. Psa. 27. 5. and 31. 20. and 91. 1. [Let me see thy Countenance, let me hear thy voice,] [Page 27] Come and resort often to me in mine house, in the use of my Ordinances, and ply me with thy Prayers, Heb. 4. 16. and 10. 22. [for sweet is thy voice,] I take great delight in thy prayers, Pro. 15. 8. [And thy Countenance is comely,] thou art ami­able unto me, and I delight to be­hold thee.

Ver. 15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes,] q. d. Rouze up thy self out of thy security, and come a­way, (as ver. 10. 13.) exercise thy self, in my spiritual Hunting, and even in the Hunting and taking the Foxes, such as either by false or un­sound doctrine, and bringing in cor­ruption of manners, do subtilly and closely, (the one by great shews of Truth and Holiness, the other by ur­ging or pleading the liberty of Chri­stians, may take in indifferent things,) [that spoil the Vines,] that se­duce and corrupt the People of God, [Page 28] 12. 15: [for our Vines have tender Grapes,] for the Gospel begins to prosper and become fruitful, which will provoke Satans malice, and move him to use his uttermost in­deavours to hinder the growth of it, Mat. 13. 24, 25. Yet is the Fruit but young and tender, my peo­ple are yet but weak in the faith, and therefore in great danger to take hurt.

Ver. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his,] q. d. these gratious in­vitations of my Lord and Saviour, do quicken and revive my Faith; wherefore I am feelingly and com­fortably assured, that he himself, and all that he shall do, and suffered for his Elect, with all the merit thereof, is wholly mine, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Io. 20. 28. Gal. 2. 20. and I am wholly his, given to him in the eter­nal Election of his Father, redeemed by him; wholly at his command, gui­dance [Page 29] and governance, Psa. 116. 16. and 119. 94. [he feedeth a­mong the Lillies,] he who is the true, careful, and painful Shepherd of Is­rael, (Psal. 23. 1. and 80. 1. Io. 10.) Feedeth his flock not in a bar­ren Wilderness, but in a most fruit­ful and pleasant place; for so is the House of God, (the place where his People feed upon his holy Ordinan­ces) called, Psa 36. 8. and 81. 1.

Ver. 17. Until the day break, and the shaddows fly away, turn my Be­loved,] O my dear Lord and Savi­our, leave me not while I remain in this Vale of misery, which is so full of the darkness and shaddows of sin, ignorance, temptation and affliction; but be ever gratiously present with me to assist and comfort me, even till the day come, when our marriage shall be consummate, and I shall fully enjoy thee, and see thee as thou art, 1 Cor. 13. 12. 1 Io. 3. 2. which is [Page 30] called the Morning, Psa. 49. ver. 14. [And be thou like a Roe, or young Hart by the Mountains of Be­ther,] yea come thou unto me in all my necessities speedily, and without delay, Psa. 70. 1, 5.

Chap. III.

Ver. 1. BY night on my Bed, I sought him whom my Soul loved,] q. d. My Lord and Saviour (whom I do love un­fainedly, and above all other things) having (in my sence and feeling,) with-drawn himself from me, I sought earnestly, and laboured to recover my comfort in, by serious meditations and tryal of mine own heart, and crying ùnto him upon my bed in the night, when I was most [Page 31] free from all other distractions, Psal: 4. 4. and 77. 2, 3. but could not find him.

Ver. 2. I will rise now, and go a­bout the City in the streets; and in the broad wayes, I will seek him whom my Soul loveth,] I then resolved with my self to spare no pains, or en­deavour, whereby I might recover my comfort, and therefore to go a­broad, and use the help of others, whose knowledge and experience might be better then mine own. And that which moved me to take this pains, to seek my Lord and Sa­viour, and to recover the comfort and feeling of his gratious presence, was the truth and unfainedness of my Love to him, 1 Thes. 1. 3. Heb. 6. 10. [I sought him, but I found him not,] Though by this means also, I sought him earnestly, making the best use of the conference and prayers of such as I could meet withal, yet [Page 32] neither could I this way recover my comfort.

Ver. 3. The Watchmen that go about the City found me,] q. d. At length, while I was thus seeking for my beloved, the Pastors and Gover­nours of the Church, whom the Lord hath appointed to be as Watchmen to this Citty, Isa. 62. 6. Ez. 3. 17. and who go about, and dili­gently look into the Estate of all Gods people committed to their charge, Act. 20. 20, 31. [found me] came to enquire into mine E­state, [to whom I said, saw yee him whom my Soul loveth,] q. d. my heart was so full, that I stayed not till they questioned or demanded any thing of me, but I required of them, and sought help of them to recover my comfort, in my Lord and Saviour: and could not conceal from them, the unfeigned and fervent love my my Soul bore unto him.

[Page 33] Ver. 4. It was but a little, that I passed from them, but I found him whom my Soul loveth,] q. d. Though while I was with the Watchmen, and faithful Ministers of the Lord, and enjoyed Gods Ordinances in their Ministry, I seemed in my own feel­ing, to receive no benefit by it, yet within a while after I did: I lost not my labour in seeking and using all Gods means, for I recovered the comfort which I had lost, I found and felt the gracious presence of my Lord and Saviour, whom my Soul dearly and unfeignedly loveth, [I held him, and would not let him go,] q. d. The great vexation of Spirit, that I found all the while that I thought him to be absent from me, made me more highly to prize him, and to lay the faster hold on him, by renewing my faith, to make him the more sure unto my self, and to re­solve with my self, that I would ne­ver, [Page 34] through my carnal security, or a­ny other sin lose him again, nor de­prive my self of the comfort I found in him, [until I brought him into my Mothers house, and into the Chamber of her that conceived me,] until, (in the publick assembly, where I was regenerate by the immortal seed,) I had testifyed my Love to him, and my thankfulness for this great mercy I had received in the recovering of my comfort.

Ver. 5. I charge yee O yee Daugh­ters of Ierusalem,] See Cap. 2. 7, 9. q. d. Now I have found him again and recovered his sweet peace and comfort that I have in him, take heed you do by no means interrupt it, for it's long of our selves, if at a­ny time we be deprived of it.

Ver. 6. Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderness, like Pillars of smoak, perfumed with Mirrhe and Frankinsense, with all powders of the [Page 35] Merchant?] q. d. Who is this? and how unknown for her worth and excellency to the World, 1 Iohn 3. 1. that forsaking in her affliction, and leaving this world, which is as barren of any vertue or piety, as any Wilderness, (Isa. 40.) aspireth and mounteth up in her desires to­wards Heaven; which desires of hers, are as sweet, and acceptable unto me, as the sweetest incense and per­fumes that are in the World? 2 Cor. 5. 1, 4.

Ver. 7. Behold his Bed, which is Solomons,] q. d. Is it marvail my dear Lord, though my desires and affections, be thus carried up towards Heaven, there is thy Bed, the place where I shall ever enjoy thy compa­ny, and solace my self in thy love? 2 Cor. 5, 6, 8. Phil. 1 23. Thes. 4. 17. Who as thou art indeed the true Solomon, so thy Bed doth far exceed in glory and delight, the bed [Page 36] of Solomon, though it were very glo­rious, [threescore valiant men are a­bout it, of the valiant of Israel,] q. d. Though Solomons bed was so guard­ed by threescore of the choicest for valour of all Israel, yet is thy bed (O my Lord and Saviour) far more glorious, for it is attended with 20000 of Angels, whereof every one excelleth in strength the mighti­est host of men, Psal. 68. 17. Dan. 7. 11. Psa. 103. 20. Isa. 37. 36.

Ver. 8. They all hold swords, being expert in War, every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night,] q. d. And as the valiant men that guard Solomons bed, were ever ready with their Weapons to defend him, from any treason that might any way be attempted against him in the night, so are those glori­ous and mighty Angels that attend the bed and throne of my Lord and King, ever ready prest to do his will, [Page 37] and use all their strength and wis­dome in his service.

Ver. 9. King Solomon made him­self a Chariot (or Bride-bed) of the wood of Lebanon,] q. d. Solomons stately bride-bed, was made of the goodly Cedars that grew in Leba­non, which was a very durable wood; but this bed that I speak of, this bed of my Lord and King, is far more durable, and shall never decay, Heb. 11. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 1.

Ver. 10. He made the pillars thereof of Silver, the bottom thereof of Gold, the covering of it of Purple, the midst thereof being paved with Love, for (or of) the Daughters of Ierusalem,] Solomons bride-bed was indeed very rich, having pillars of Silver, the bottom of Gold, the co­vering of Purple, all embroidered, as it were in the midst paved with needle-work, which the daughters of Ierusalem, out of their love and du­ty [Page 38] wrought for him: but those hea­venly mantions wherein I shall, as in his bride-bed, continually rest with my Lord and Saviour, doth beyond all comparison, excell it in riches and glory, Rev. 21, 11, 18, 24.

Ver. 11. Go forth O ye daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon with the Crown, wherewith his Mother crowned him in the daies of his e­spousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart,] q. d. O ye members of the visible Church that live in Zion, go forth of your houses, and behold King Solomon riding in his Princely Chariot through Ierusalem, in great state and glory, having on the Crown which his Mother be­stowed upon him, in the day of his contract, which was the day of his greatest joy; and consider that all the glory of Solomon, was but a Type and representation of the glo­ry and Royal Majestie of my Lord [Page 39] and Saviour, Hebrews 2. 7. Rev. 19. 13.

Chap. IV.

Ver. 1. BEhold thou art fair my love, behold thou art fair,] q. d. Surely O my Spouse, whom I dearly love, thou art in my eye, and estimation, admirably fair and beautiful, both in respect of that perfect holiness and righteousness of mine, which is imputed unto thee, and put upon thee; as also of the ex­cellent graces of my sanctifying spi­rit, that are inherent in thee, [thou hast Doves eyes,] thy Teachers and Ministers, whom I have set to be as thine eyes, to guide and direct thee, are not only for their sharpness of sight, their understanding and know­ledg, like unto the eyes of the Fowle, but also for their chastity and [Page 40] care to maintain the purity of my Religion and Worship, not cast­ing their eyes upon any Idol, or false Worship, [Within thy locks] This sharpness of spiritual sight and understanding, this sinceri­ty and purity of thy Teachers, is well discerned by me, though it be as it were somewhat covered, and obscured by the weakness and con­temptible estate of the multitude of Believers, (as it were with thine hair hanging over thine eyes,) do follow them, and depend upon them, Io. 7. 48, 49. [Thy hair is as a flock of Goats, that appear from mount Gi­lead,] That multitude of Believers that are in thee, howsoever they be contemptible, and obscure thy beau­ty in the eyes of worldly men; yet to me they are both for their num­ber, and their spiritual comeliness, and the goodly graces of my spirit, which I discern in them, like to a [Page 41] flock of Goats, that feeding upon Mount Gilead, are both fat and flourishing.

Ver. 2. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which come up from the washing, whereof e­very one beareth twins, and none is barren amongst them] The Teachers (who in respect of their chief work, to prepare and chew (as it were) the food of life for thy little ones, and of that bony strength and courage, to endure and overcome the mighty op­pressions they continually meet with­all, are fitly compared unto teeth,) are like unto a flock of Sheep, de­pending wholly, and following the direction of me the great Sheapherd, and joyning together for the mutual strength, and comfort, in a holy con­cord and association. Yea, they are like to such a flock of sheep as are even shorn, and come up from the washing, shewing no inequality or [Page 42] difference in degree one above ano­ther; and being all sanctifyed and purged from their uncleanness, and are fruitful also in their minds, not one of them barren and unprofitable.

Ver. 3. Thy lips are like a thred of Scarlet, and thy speech is comely,] q. d. As the chief beauty and com­liness of the lips consisteth in the smalness and thinness, and in the readiness of them; so do thy lips. i. e. thy doctrine, excells in both these respects: for as it swelleth not with the ostentation of earthly and car­nal wisdome, Io. 3. 31. 1 Cor. 2. 4. so is it for the principal ob­ject and matter of it, nothing else but a preaching of my Cross, and as it were dyed red with my blood, 1 Cor. 1. 17, 18, and 2. 2. Yea, thy whole speech and manner of uttering this Doctrine, is comely and gratious, suitable to the Heavenly doctrine it self, which thou dost de­liver, [Page 43] 1 Cor. 2. 13. 1 Pet. 4. 11. [thy temples are like a peice of a Pome­granet within thy locks,] q. d. the natural colour of those parts wherein beauty is chiefly discerned, is such, as thou needest not the help of wanton adorning, nor any worldly glory to set thy self forth witthall.

Ver. 4. Thy neck is like the Tower of David, builded for an Armoury,] Thy holy discipline and government, which as the neck beareth up and sup­porteth the doctrine, and Ministers, is like unto that tower of David, which was made for an Armoury, mentioned, Neh. 3. 19, 25, 26. [whereon there hang a thousand Buck­lers, all Shields of mighty men,] which hath ready in it great store of spiritual armour, and means to pro­tect and keep safe thee, and thy ho­ly doctrines and worship from Ad­versaries of all sorts: yea, such ar­mour and means of defence, as have [Page 44] been well tryed and approved in ma­ny victories, atchieved by the Lords Worthies.

Ver. 5. Thy two breasts are like two young Roes that are Twins, which feed among the Lillies,] Thy Teachers up­on whom my People being like new­born Babes, do hang and depend for the sincere milk of the Word, are themselves full of good nourishment, and fit to give such nourishment un­to my People.

Ver. 6. Until the day break, and the shaddows fly away, I will get me to the Mountains of Myrrh, and to the Hill of Frankinsense] See Chap. 2. 17. I will in respect of my Bodily presence withdraw my self from thee, and keep my corporal residence in the Heavens, even in the holy Mountain of the Lord, where is all fulness of joy and pleasure.

Ver. 7. Thou art all fair my love, there is no spot in thee,] q, d. Yet, [Page 45] O my love, I would not have thee think, this my withdrawing my self from thee, riseth from any dislike I have of thee, for any of thy corrup­tions, or infirmities; for thou art in mine eye, and account, without any spot or deformity at all, and perfect­ly beautiful and amiable in every member; partly because my blood hath throughly washed thee from all the spots of thy sins, and my perfect righteousness and holyness is imputed to thee; and partly because the time will come, that thou shalt be perfect­ly sanctifyed; which because I clear­ly foresee it, as well as already done, makes thee amiable unto me.

Ver. 8 Come with me from Le­banon (my Spouse) with me from Le­banon, look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the Lyons dens, from the Moun­tains of the Leopards.] Lebanon and Amana were Mountains in the Nor­thern [Page 46] borders of Iudea; Shenir and Hermon was on the same Hill, scituate in the East, Deut. 3. 9. These Hills were inhabited by Bruitish men, Heathens, and Idolaters; so that, the meaning is, as if Christ should say thus to the Church, come and be with me, in my heavenly mansions O my Spouse, with whom then I will consummate my marriage; (for so the word Chalath here used doth signifie, viz. one not espoused only, but marryed) and be thou ga­thered unto me from all the parts of the Earth, even from the most sa­vage and barbarous places, where Lyons and Leopards, even men of cruel dispositions do inhabit, Ezek. 11. 6.

Ver. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse, thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck,] q. d. O my beloved, who art both Sister [Page 47] and Spouse unto me, and knit unto me by my taking thy Nature upon me, and uniting thee to my self by Faith, by all the nearest Bonds that can be imagined, thou hast marvel­lously delighted me, even with that sincerity, and that sharpness of un­derstanding, even to discern of things that differ, which I observe in any one of thy Teachers, and with any one of those excellent graces of my Spirit wherewith thou art a­dorned.

Ver. 10. How fair is thy love, my Sister, my Spouse; how much bet­ter is thy Love than Wine, and the smell of thine Oyntments than all Spices,] The Love that I discern in thee towards me my beloved, makes thee more amiable in my eye, then can be expressed; and doth more cheer and refresh me, then any wine can do the heart of man: and the pleasant and comfortable savour [Page 48] which the graces wherewith God hath endued thee, doe send forth, is far better than can be re­sembled by the most fragrant Spices that be in the world.

Ver. 11. Thy Lips O my Spouse, drop as the Honey comb, Honey and Milk are under thy tongue,] q. d. Thy speech O my beloved, in thy Teach­ers and Ministers, is most sweet and pleasant; yea, thy doctrine which is under thy tongue, ready to come forth, is both for the wholesome nourishment it yieldeth to the little Ones, like Milk; and from the vir­tue that is in it, to preserve thee from corruption like Honey; [And the smell of thy Garments, is like the smell of Lebanon,] and thy very gar­ments, that which is outwardly to be seen of men, in thy whole con­versation, is for the sweetness, and the comfort it yeildeth unto others, like to the smell of those fragrant [Page 49] Trees of spices that grow in Le­banon.

Ver. 12. A Garden inclosed is my Spouse, my Sister, a Spring shut up, a Fountain sealed,] My Church which is most dear unto me, as being united unto me, by all the nearest Bonds that may be, is both a Garden full of the Trees of Righteousness, Isa. 61. 3. bearing all the most wholesome and pleasant fruits of ho­liness and righteousness; and a Spring and Fountain wherein the water of life floweth and runneth continually. Yea, she is as a Garden enclosed, and Fountain shut up and sealed, being fenced and protected by my power, who am as a wall of fire about her, to keep her from the rage of cruel Enemies, (Iob 1. 10. Zac. 2. 5.) which like the wild Boars and Beasts of the field might waste & de­vour her, & keeping out also by her censures and discipling, the filthy and [Page 50] prophane, from defiling those holy things, which I have trusted her with­all; the knowledg and comfort whereof is not come unto all, but hid and shut up from most men, and opened only unto such as my Father is pleased to reveal them unto.

Ver. 13. Thy plants are as an Orchard of Pomegranets, with plea­sant fruits, Champhire and Spikenard. Ver. 14. Spikenard and Saffron, Calamus and Cynamon, with all Trees of Frankinsence, Myrrh, and Aloes, with all the chief Spices,] q. d. the plants that grow in this garden, the Persons that are members of my Church, specially such as are pub­lick Persons in it, are (for this come­ly order that they keep among them­selves, and for the pleasant Trees, and manifold vertues that are to be found in the fruits they yield,) like unto an Orchard of Pomgranates; yea, all the fruit that grows in this [Page 51] Garden, the graces of my spirit, which abound in all my people which I have planted in mine house, do de­light me more then all the sweet spi­ces in the World can do the sences of any mortal men.

Ver. 15. A Fountain of Gardens, a Well of living Waters, and streams of Lebanon.] q. d. All this excel­lency O my Lord and Saviour, which thou art pleased to ascribe unto and commend in me, alas, is none of mine, but such as I have wholly re­ceived from thee alone. All these my Trees and Plants, which bear such pleasant fruits, as they are alto­gether of thy planting, so with thy watering them continually with thy grace and blessings, they become so fruitful as thy are; for thou art unto all my Gardens, i. e. my particular Assemblies, and Congregations, through the Abundance of thy grace and gifts of thy spirit, not only [Page 52] as a Fountain, which somtimes by the extreamity of the heat in Summer, is wont to be dryed up; but as a well which being deep, is better fenced from the Sun, yea, as a well of such waters as is fed with a spring continu­ally issuing; yea, thou art like unto those streams which run from the spring in the great Hill Lebanon.

Ver. 16. Arise thou North Wind, and come thou South-wind, blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow out, let my Beloved come into his Garden, and eat his pleasant fruit] O let the spirit of God which is in ope­ration like unto the North and South­wind, binding and opening, drying and moystening, so work with his Ordinances in my Soul, that I may abundantly bring forth such fruits, as he may delight in; and let my dear Lord and Saviour come and be in the mid'st of the Assemblies of his Saints, which are his own Gardens and Vine­yards [Page 53] planted, watered and dressed by his own hand, and accept of the Services of fruits and obedience, which his Saints do there offer unto him; which as they are wholly his own, he is pleased to express great delight in.

Chap. V.

Ver. 1. I Am come into my Garden, my Sister, my Spouse; I have gathered my Myrrh, with my Spices: I have eaten my Honey-comb with my Honey; I have drunk my Wine with my Milk; eat O Friends, Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O Be­loved] q. d. Doubt not thou of my presence with thee O my Beloved; I am ever with my people assembled [Page 54] in my name, and have already taken notice of, and delighted my self greatly in the graces and fruits of my spirit, that I have discerned in them; and not only in those that come from such of thy members as are eminent and excellent in gifts (like to Myrrh, and Spices, and Wine,) but even in them that proceed from the meanest and weakest of all my people (like to Honey, Honey-combs, and Milk;) and as I my self am thus delighted and refreshed with the fruits of my spirit in my people, so ye my Friends, my Ministers, that wooe for me, and faithfully labour to draw my peoples affections to me (as Io. 3.) and ye my holy Angels, whose Mini­stry likewise I use in furthering this work, let this be your delight and joy also to see my people bring forth such fruit.

Ver. 2. I slept, but my heart waked; it is the voyce of my beloved that knock­eth, [Page 55] saying, open to me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Un-defiled; my Head is filled with the dew, and my Locks with the drops of the night] q. d. I grow carnally secure, yet was I not in a dead sleep; for, my heart even then was awake, the mortal seed re­mained in me; neither did I yeild to my security with the full sway of my Soul, for in this my spiritual sence­lesness and carelesness I did discern the voyce of my dear Lord and Savi­our; who when I was thus forgetful of him, forgot not me, but sought un­to me, and called upon me, yea, with great importunity (by his word and spirit) knocked at the door of mine heart, as if in a most loving and affectionate manner he should have said thus unto my Soul: O thou that in respect of the unity of nature that is in us, and for that we have the same Father (Io. 20. 17. Heb. 2. 16, 17.) art my Sister, whom in respect [Page 56] of the sweet familiarity that is be­twixt us, I account as my special Friend, and am ready to reveal all the secrets of my Fathers will unto; thou which for thy simplicity and inno­cency, and for that care thou hast to keep thy self undefiled from all spiri­tual Fornications, I do so much de­light in; open thou unto me, give me free access into thy heart, receiv­ing my comforts and promises with more affection, love, and delight; for I have endured many sorrows and afflictions for thy sake, and that I might enjoy thee.

Ver. 3. I have put off my Coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my Feet, how shall I defile them?] q. d. I was not in so dead asleep, but this calling and knocking of my Lord and Saviour did awake me, and I heard him well enough, and might have risen to open unto him; for I was able (which greatly increased my sin) to make to [Page 57] answer unto him, when in the Mini­stry of his word he sought to raise me out of my security; I did well e­nough discern it was he that spoke to me, and what it was that he required of me, but I had reasonings within my self against it: and what did I answer to him? what did I object against him? Surely that it would be a mat­ter of too great painfulness and trou­ble, and cause me to forgoe a great deal of worldly ease and delight, for me, thus to open unto him, and to give him all my heart, to yeild to him such absolute obedience in all things, and to serve him with all the affecti­on of my heart; for this sleep that I was fallen into, was not upon the ground, or in my chair, but in my bed; I had washed my feet, and put off my cloaths, and lay'd down qui­etly to take my rest; I had entertain­ed a resolution within my self to en­joy the entertainments and ease of this world.

[Page 58] Ver. 4. My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the doore, and my bowels were moved for him] My dear Lord and Saviour did not only call upon me, and knock to awaken me, and get me to open to him, but sought to open my door himself, putting in his hand by a hole that was in it, to that end, i. e. stirring me up also by the good motions of his spirit, to yeild more chearful and resolute obedience unto him; which when I did perceive, and consider with my self, my heart did then begin to smite me, and I was much troubled in my self for my sluggishness and security, and for an­swering him as I had done.

Ver. 5. I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet-smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock] q. d. I did not only see my own folly, and grieved for it, but I did also rowse up my self to go and open to my Be­loved; [Page 59] I resolved with my self to entertain him better, and receive him into my heart; which so soon as I had done, I found marvellous sweet­ness and comfort in that which he had left behind him, in the graces of his holy spirit, which his calling on me in so comfortable a manner, by the Mi­nisters of his Gospel, had stirred up and revived in me.

Ver. 6. I opened to my Beloved, but my Beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone; my Soul failed when he spake; I sought him, but I could not find him; I called, but he gave me no answer] q. d. I did at length unfain­edly affect my dear Lord and Savi­our, and was willing to open my heart unto him, and give him the full possession of it; but he had now with­drawn from me the comfortable feel­ing of his gratious presence, and then was I brought to the brinck of despair, by remembring how gratiously and [Page 60] lovingly he had spoke unto me; and how ungratiously I had rejected him; and being in this case, I did both by meditation and fervent prayer, labour to recover my former feeling of his sweet and comfortable presence, but could not prevail.

Ver. 7. The Watchmen that went about the City, found me; they smote me, they wounded me; the keeper of the wall took away my vail from me] q. d. Whilst, I thus not only by my private prayers and meditations, sought to re­cover my feeling of the comfortable presence of my Lord and Saviour, but by going abroad, and making use of the helps from others the Mini­sters and Governours of the Church, whose office is to watch the city of God, and to keep the walls of it, and who did accordingly go about the City to over-see and take heed to all the flock, Act. 2. 28. found me out, and in their Ministry met with my [Page 61] foul sin, whereby I had so rejected my Saviour; and by the power of the word, and the rebukes thereof, did even smite me, and wound my heart, humbling me much more deeply for my sin; yea, they took away my vaile from me, laid me open, shamed me, and exposed me to all reproach, 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. Psal. 145. 5.

Ver. 8. I charge you O Daughters of Ierusalem, if ye find my Beloved, that ye tell him that I am sick of Love] q. d. Finding no more comfort in the publique Minister of the Word, I sought help by the Prayer and Coun­cil of such of the faithful as I could meet with, and earnestly charged them, that if themselves did meet with my Beloved, and find any com­fort in him, they would be earnest with him in their prayers for me, and make known unto him my case, that the love I bear unto him, maketh me languish with grief, and anguish of [Page 62] heart for his absence from me.

Ver. 9. What is thy Beloved more than other beloved, O thou fairest among Women? What is thy Beloved more than other Beloved, that thou doest so charge us?] O thou, in whom we see and acknowledg more grace, and goodness, than is to be found in any other, and whom in that respect we honour; tell us what is the cause of this affection thou bearest unto Christ, which seemeth strange unto us; what excellency is there in him above all other things, that men use to set their hearts and affections up­on? Yea, we pray thee tell us what thou hast seen in him; that thou doest thus importune us.

Ver. 10. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thou­sand] q. d. My dear Lord and Savi­our is every way fit and able to justi­fie such as come unto him; for he is both white, holy, harmless, and un­defiled, [Page 63] and separate from sinners; and ruddy through the merit and blood of the everlasting Covenant, which speaketh better things than that of Abel; yea, he is greater, and far more excellent, not only than a­ny mortal Creature, but then the very Angels themselves, Psal. 46. 2. 7. Heb. 1. 4.

Ver. 11. His Head is as the most fine Gold; his Locks are bushy, and black as a Raven] q. d. In respect of his Kingdom and Soveraignty, he is the God of Gold; not only most ex­cellent and precious, (the being King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Rev. 19. 16.) but most pure also and per­manent; his Throne is for ever and ever; a Scepter of Righteousness, is the Scepter of his Kingdom, Heb. 1. 8. His hairy-locks, the multitude of the faithful that hang and depend upon him, as upon the head; as they [Page 64] are bushy in respect of their num­ber, and the foulding and twineing one within another, through their mu­tual agreement and love; so are they black, and set forth, as a shadow in a picture, the excellent beauty that is in his face.

Ver. 12. His eyes are as the eyes of Doves, by the Rivers of water, washed with milk, and fitly set] q. d. His eyes are as clear & quick - sight­ed, Rev. 4. 14. 2. 18. chast, and al­so shining; white, without any spot or blemish; pure and clean, behold­ing no corruption, which he either revengeth not, or healeth not in his own blood, Heb. 1. 13. in a comely manner filling the hollow places prepared for them with absolute per­fection, beholding the state and ne­cessities of his Servants.

Ver. 13. His Cheeks are as a bed of Spices, with sweet Flowers; his Lips like Lillies, droping sweet smel­ling [Page 65] mirrh] q. d. His open face and cleer manifestation of himself, is full of spiritual sweetness and comfort; his speech and doctrine also is most gra­tious, and such as rejoyceth the heart, Luk. 4. 22. Psa. 19. 8, 10.

Ver. 14. His hands are as gold rings set with the Berril, his belly is as bright Ivory, over-laid with Sa­phirs] q. d. The works of his hand, all his administrations, are most glorious and seemly; his bowels or secret parts, the inward councils of his heart, when once manifested, and re­vealed, appear all pretious, and full of miraculous glory.

Ver. 15. His leggs are as Pillars of Marble, set upon sockets of fine Gold, his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars,] q. d. his divine power and providence, where­by he sustaineth all his works, is ever­lasting, most pure and glorious; His whole countenance, whereby he [Page 66] shews and makes himself known to his people, viz. his publick Worship and Ordinances, Gen. 4. 14. is full both of sweetness and comfort, and of spiritual stateliness and Majesty.

Ver. 16. His mouth is most sweet, yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O Daughters of Ierusalem,] The words of his mouth are most sweet and comfortable, yea, there is nothing in him, whether you consider his Na­ture, or his Offices, his Active or Passive obedience, but it is most love­ly and amiable; and therefore O my friends, sith my dear Lord and Sa­viour, is such an one as I have de­scribed unto you, marvail not though I do thus earnestly seek him.

Chap. VI.

Ver. 1. WHether is thy Belo­ved gone, O thou fairest among Women? whether is thy Beloved turned aside, that wee may seek him with thee?] Tell us O thou, whom for the graces of God, shining in thee, we do honour above all o­thers, and who, (though thou soughtedst to us to help thee to him, as ver. 8.) art only able to tell us where he is to be found. Tell us we pray thee, whether thy dear Lord, and Saviour, is gone, and where he useth to be when he absenteth him­self from thee, that we also (who by this description thou hast made of him, are drawn to a love and admi­ration of his excellencies,) may seek [Page 68] him with thee, without whose help and company we have no hope to find him.

Ver. 2. My beloved is gone into his Garden, to the beds of Spices, to feed in the Garden, and to gather Lillies.] If you would indeed seek my dear Lord and Saviour, I will tell you where you may find him: He is gone to the Assemblies of the Saints, that joyn together in the use of his Ordinances; that's the place of his chief residence and abode, where He delights to be, that's his Garden, which he planteth and watereth; those are his beds of Spices, the place where the sweet graces of his Spirit grow; there he refresheth him­self, with the spiritual service that is done to him by his Saints, and ga­thereth the goodly and pleasant fruits of their holiness, and righteousness, to make use of them for his advan­tage and glory.

[Page 69] Ver. 3. I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine, he feedeth among the Lillies] q. d. Now by this Me­ditation of the excellency of my Lord and Saviour, and speech I have had thereof for the instruction of o­thers, and drawing them to love him, I feel my faith revived in me, and am fully perswaded, that I am his dearly beloved, and he with all his merits and graces are wholly mine, See Chap. 2. and ver. 16.

Ver. 4. Thou art beautiful O my Love as Tirzah, comely as Ierusa­lem, terrible as an Army with ban­ners] q. d. Though I have for thy sluggishness, and neglecting me too much, through thy carnal security, withdrawn my self from thee for a time, yet do I still esteem highly of thee; for thou, in thine Assemblies and Societies, art in mine account, as beautiful and pleasant for the delight I take in thee, as Tirzah, (which for [Page 70] that cause, sundry of the Princes of Israel made choice of, for their seat and place of aboad, 1 Kings 14. 17. and 15. 33. and 16. 8, 23.) as comely for the decent order of them, (Col. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 14. 40.) as Ierusalem, a Citty fitly compact together, Psa. 122. 3. which for the good order and government thereof, and for the house of God in it, was called the perfection of beauty, and joy of the whole earth, Lam. 2. 15. yea, terrible, in re­spect both of my word that is taught, and my spiritual censure, that are exercised in them, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5, 6. Psal. 1. 8, 12, 13. Zac. 12. 2, 9. as an Army with banners.

Ver. 5. Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have over-come me, thy hair is as a flock of Goats, that appear from Gilead] q. d. When thou doest set thine eyes directly and sted­fastly upon me, I take so great de­light [Page 71] and pleasure therein, that I am even as it were overcome, and raised with joy. See Chap. 4. 1.

Ver. 6. See Chap. 4. 2.

Ver. 7. See Chap. 4. 3.

Ver. 8. There are threescore Queens, and fourscore Concubines, and Virgins without number] q. d. Although numbers of other Compa­nies and Societies in the world, that seem in their outward glory and pomp, that are like to the Queens and Concubines of some great King, and the train of innumerable Virgins attending upon them.

Ver. 9. My Dove, my undefiled is but one, she is the only one of her Mo­ther, she is the choice one of her that bare her, the Daughters saw her, and blessed her, yea, the Queens and the Concubines, and they praised her] q. d. Yet are none of them all in true glo­ry and dignity to be compared to my Church, who is most sincere, and [Page 72] void of guile, most pure, and uncor­rupt in her Religion, and that wor­ship she doth unto me, her Mother that bare her, i. e. that Ierusalem that is from above, my holy Catho­lick Church, where she was begotten by the word of truth, acknowledgeth her only for her natural Child, and esteems her above all others that bear the Name of her Children; neither is she thus highly esteemed of by me, and the whole company of holy and elect people only, but all that do make but an outward professi­on of the faith, when they see her, and consider her beauty, and glory, are ready to speak all good of her; yea, even they that most abound in the glory, and pleasures of this world, cannot but praise and admire her, Deut. 4. 6.

Ver. 10. Who is she that looketh forth as the Morning, fair as the Noon, clear as the Sun, and terrible as an [Page 73] Army with banners] q. d. They shall in admiration of thee say, who, and how excellent is this blessed society of the peo­ple of God; the beauty and glo­ry whereof doth thus increase con­tinually, being at the first, in the light and beauty of knowledg and grace, but like unto the Morning, or dawning of the day, after like the Noon, and never ceaseing to grow and increase till it be like the Sun it self, in his brightness: Terrible also (as v. 4)

Ver. 11. I went down into the Gar­den of Nuts, to see the fruits of the Valley, and to see whether the Vines flourished, and the Pomegranets bud­ded] When I for thy sluggish­ness, and too much neglect of me, did seem to withdraw my self from thee, I did not altogether forsake thee, but went to visit thy publick Assemblies, which are as a well­dressed [Page 74] and pruned Orchard, to see and delight me with the beholding the beginnings of grace, and first­fruits of my spirit in my people; who though they grow in the Valley, and are lowly in their own eyes, yet are they in mine account as the Vine and Pomegranet - Tree, whose fruit is most pleasant and comfortable.

Ver. 12. Or ever I was aware, my Soul made me like the Chariots of A­minadab] q. d. When I had but a little while estranged my self from thee, mine affections were so strong­ly bent unto thee, that I could not be long absent from thee; but on a suddain, even ere I was aware, I was carried with a vehement desire (as upon such Chariots as Noble men use to ride in) to return unto thee again, and restore thee to the comfortable feeling of my gratious presence with thee.

Ver. 13. Return, return, O Shu­lamile; [Page 75] return, return, that we may look upon thee; what will ye see in the Shulamite? as it were the company of two Armies] Therefore since my desire and affection is such toward thee, return thou also, I earnestly and importunately require thee, O Shulamite, the true Daughter of Ie­rusalem, which was antiently called Shalem, Gen. 14. 18. Psal. 76. 2.) to thy former feeling and delight in me, that I and my holy. Angels may behold it, and rejoyce in it, Luk. 15. 10. And ye, O ye holy Angels, when ye behold my Church, what shall ye see in her? Surely such a goodly and comfortable sight as Iacob at Mahanim, Gen. 32. 1, 2. even the company of my people, whom I have often compared to an Army with Banners, and your selves the Host of God, appointed to be her guard for her safety and protection.

Chap. VII.

Ver. 1. HOw beautiful are thy Feet with Shooes, O Princes Daughter; the joynts of thy Thighs are like Iewels, the work of the hand of a cunning Workman] Oh how beautiful and seemly in mine eys art thou, in thy returning unto me: O thou, who in respect of thy new birth, art truly honourable; thy affections (which as thy feet do bring thee unto me) being shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, ready and prepared through the knowledg of the Gospel of peace, to go through thick and thin after me; make thee very amiable unto me, and thy holy desires (which like the joynts of thy Thighs, make thee nim­ble, [Page 77] and with chearfulness and speed to come unto me) are more precious in my account, than the richest Jewels, being wrought in thee, not by any skill or power of thine own, but by the hand, the spirit of my Hea­venly Father.

Ver. 2. Thy Navel is like a round Goblet, that wanteth not liquor; thy Belly is like a heap of Wheat, set about with Lillies] q. d. Thou art most fruitful, for thy Navel is not dry, but full of natural and kindly moisture; thy Belly in respect of the fruitful­ness of it, may be compared to a field of Wheat, that doth not only bear store of Corn in the mid'st of it, but is fruitful, even in the utmost sides and corners of it, and is not fenced and encompassed about with a a Thorny hedge, but with Lillies, which as they are most pleasant to be­hold, so use they not to grow and prosper, but in fruitful soyles, and [Page 78] are themselves very fruitful also.

Ver. 3. Thy two Breasts, are like two young Roes that are Twins] Thy Teachers upon whom my people hang like new-born Babes for the sin­cere Milk of the Word, being full of chearfulness and swiftness, do with a ready mind deliver to my people the food of their Souls, and do with their mutual consent and agreement greatly grace the Ministry also.

Ver. 4 Thy Neck is like a Tower of Ivory, thine Eyes like the Fish-pools of Heshbon, by the gate of Bath­rabbim; thy Nose is as the Tower of Lebanon, which looketh towards Da­mascus] q. d Thy holy Discipline and Government, which like the neck, supports the Doctrine and Mi­nistry, is for the strength and beauty of it, like a Tower of Ivory. Thy Teachers and Ministers whom I have set to be the eyes for thy guidance and direction, are for the clearness [Page 79] of their sight, and the flocking of my people unto their Ministry, like the Fish-pools in Heshbon, that were by the gate, at which, the greatest number of the people were wont to go in and out. Thy Nose, the Or­gan of smelling, is perfectly featured like the curious Tower of Lebanon, that looks toward Damascus, i. e. the judgment and faculty in discerning of Doctrines, and the spirits of thy Teachers is exact.

Ver. 5. Thy Head upon thee is like Carmel; and the Hair of thine head, like Purple; the King is held in the Galleries] q. d. Thine Head is for comliness and freshness of colour and vigour, like Carmel, that fruit­ful Mountain, 1 Sam. 25. 2. 2 King. 19. 23. The multitude of Teachers (who for their number, are as the hair of their head) are all as Kings and Princes (whose manner was to be attired in Purple, Dan. 5. 7, 16. [Page 80] 29. Mar. 15. 17.) Rev. 1. 6. Zac. 12. 8. The King, i. e. my Self and Heavenly Father, are in our desires and affection (through the delight and pleasure we take in thee) even tyed and bound to be ever with thee, in thy galleries or walking-place; the place of thy publique meeting, or holy Assemblies.

Ver. 6. Oh how fair, and how plea­sant art thou, O Love, for delights] But why should I insist on thy comli­ness and beauty, on thy several parts and members; thou art throughout, and all over, (through the imputation of my perfect holiness and righteous­ness unto thee) so fair and beautiful in mine eyes; and I do take that ex­ceeding delight and pleasure in thee, (O thou that art not only beloved of me, but even my Love; I love no­thing else but thee, nor can ever be weary of loving thee) as I am even in a vehement admiration thereof, and [Page 81] can find no terms or comparisons sufficient to express it.

Ver. 7. This thy Stature is like to a Palme-Tree, and thy Breasts to clusters of Grapes] q. d. Thou art in thy whole body like to the Palme-Tree, which besides the pleasant fruit it beareth, cannot be kept from growing, or flourishing, by any waight or burden that is laid upon it; no affliction or persecution can hin­der thy growth, but it will rather cause thee to flourish the more, Psal. 92. 12, 14. Thy Ministers and Teachers, are for their comfort, that their Doctrine worketh in the hearts of my people, and for the plenty and abundance of fruit which they do yeild, fitly compared unto clusters of Grapes.

Ver. 8. I said, I will go up to the Palm-Tree; I will take hold of the boughs thereof; now also thy Breasts shall be as clusters of the Vine, and the smell [Page 82] of thy nose like Apples] q. d. I re­solved with my self, when I saw how thou dost flourish, and how fruitful thou art, to dress and prune thee, that thou mayest be more fruitful, and to gather and refresh my self with the pleasant fruits of holiness, and righteousness which thou bring­est forth. yea, I will also, in joyn­ing my self unto thee, bless thee; causing thy Teachers to abound yet more and more in the fruitfulness and comfort of their Doctrine, and ma­king such a sent and savour to come from thee, as shall (like the pleasant Apples) refresh the spirits of my peo­ple that are ready to faint.

Ver. 9. And the roof of thy mouth, like the best-Wine, for my Beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep, to speak] q. d. And the uttering and deliver­ing of thy Doctrine, by the Preach­ing of my Ministers, shall be for the [Page 83] comfort and benefit of my beloved ones, like unto the best and strong­est wine, not only for the sweetness and delight they shall take in it; but for its force and opperation also, for it shall waken and revive such as are even in a dead sleep of sin, and cause them to shew and declare it by speaking the language of Canaan to the praise and glory of God, Isa. 35. 6.

Ver. 10. I am my Beloveds, and his desire is towards me] q. d. Is it so, that notwithstanding all my weak­ness & corruptions, that thou esteem­est of me? Well then, I do fully believe in my heart, and profess with my mouth, that I am my Beloveds dear Spouse; his body, flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone; yea, that I am not my own, but wholly at his will and command to serve and o­bey him; and his desire, and his care, and affection is wholly set upon me, and bent for my good.

[Page 84] Ver. 11. Come my Beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us lodg in the Villages] q. d. Let us O my dear Lord and Saviour go together, with patience and diligence, using our joynt-endeavours to do our spiritual Husbandry upon such of thine Elect as are abroad in the world, and do not yet inhabit the City of our good, nor are Members of his visible Church.

Ver. 12. Let us get up early to the Vineyards; let us see if the Vine flou­rish, whether the tender grape appear, and the Pomegranets bud forth; there will I give thee my Love] q. d. Let us with speed and diligence comfort and visit all those Nations and peo­ple, whom God in his Council and decree, hath determined to call and make his Church, in whom (though they yet bear no fruit unto him) he doth already by his grace, work some aptness and readiness to receive and embrace the means of their Salvati­on, [Page 85] and to bring forth the pleasant fruits of righteousness to God; let us I say, use the means with all diligence that they may be called and convert­ed, and with patience expect fruit from them. [There will I give thee my loves] q. d. there and among the people (whether this be meant of the calling of the Gentiles in the Apostles days, or of the conversion of the Jews) thou shalt more fully enjoy me, and beget Children of me unto God, then ever yet thou did'st.

Ver. 13. The Mandrakes give a smell, & at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my Beloved] Let us the rather do this, because the time is even come, that those, thine Elect, which are yet without thy visi­ble Church, should be called and made fruitful unto God; those a­mong them that will not only bear fruit themselves, but also provoke o­thers [Page 86] to do the like, do (even as it were already) begin to shew them­selves; yea, the fruits of righteous­ness and holiness of all sorts, which we take pleasure in, are even at our gates ready for us to receive and refresh our selves withal, which the Nations are apt to yield upon the Husbandry we shall do upon them, and means we shall use for their Conversion; yea, the fruits of the Gospel, which these Nations shall yeild, are even the chiefest dainties which I have laid up and reserved for thee, O my dear Lord and Saviour.

Chap. VIII.

Ver. 1. O That thou wert as my Brother, that sucked the breasts of my Mother, when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee, yet, I would not be despised] q. d. O that the day were come, wherein thou by taking our nature upon thee, shall become my Brother, Heb. 2. 11, 14. and make thy self under the same Law, that we are subject to, submitting thy self to all the Ordi­nances, whereby my Mother (the holy Catholick Church,) doth give suck and nourishment unto her chil­dren; then would I more openly and familiarly converse with thee, and testifie both my homage and [Page 88] love unto thee; and yet (and yet so clearly, that thy glory shall be mani­fested to the world, as) all men shall count thee worthy of that duty I shall do unto thee, and not despise me for it.

Ver. 2. I would lead thee and bring thee to my mothers house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my Pomegranate.] q. d. Then would I, (when thou hast first re­vealed thy self unto me, and vouch­safed me the honour, that by my means, thou shouldst first be made known to the Gentiles, bring thee forth by publishing thy Gospel unto all Nations,) into the Assemblies and solemn Meetings of the univer­sal Church (whose daughter I am,) where I shall be more fully instructed in thy will, then hitherto I have been; then would I entertain thee with a royal feast, of the manifold and di­vers [Page 89] graces of thy people, wherein I know thou would take more de­light, then any man taketh in the wine, that is most delicately spiced, or in the most comfortable juice of the Pomgranate.

Ver. 3. His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should imbrace me] q. d. Then will my dear Lord and Saviour wholly rest and repose him in my bosom; then shall I enjoy his comfortable and lo­ving embracings, and have more full and sweet communion with him then formerly I have had.

Ver. 4. I charge you O ye daugh­ters of Ierusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love until he please,] q. d. I do in most earnest manner re­quire you all, ye that profess your selves Members of the visible Church, that you do no way by the least aversion, disquiet or interrupt this my sweet peace and comfort, I [Page 90] have so long as he shall please in his mercy to continue it unto me.

Ver. 5. (Who is this that cometh up from the Wilderness leaning up­on her Beloved?) I raised thee up under the Apple-tree, there thy Mo­ther brought thee forth, there she brought thee forth that bare thee.] q. d. Then and in those daies it shall be said of me, who, or how excellent a person is this, that forsaking in her affections, and leaving the World, (which is as barren and uncomforta­ble to live in, as any wilderness, Isa. 40. 3.) and renouncing the pleasures, and delights of it, resteth wholly on her beloved Lord and Sa­viour; I have not now of late begun to love thee O my dear Lord and Sa­viour, but I raised thee up, and lay­ing hold on thee by faith, stirred up thy love towards me, even under that Apple Tree, where, after I had by the subtilty of the Serpent, de­stroyed [Page 91] my self, the Lord restored me to life by that gratious promise, Gen. 3. 15. In that place, and that time, wert thou first by faith form­ed in the womb of the Catholick Church, Gal. 4. 19. and brought to light.

Ver. 6. Set me as a Seal upon thine heart, as a Seal upon thine arm, for love is strong as death, jealousie is cruel as the grave, the coales thereof, are coales of fire, which hath a most vehement flame] q. d. be thou never un­mindful of me, but let me be as the impression of a Seal, both in thine heart, and in thine eye continually; for love requires love, and my love to thee, is so Ardent and strong, that I can no more resist it, then a man is able to resist, and withstand Death it self, against which it a were a solly for any to strive, and contend; and my jealousie, lest any should be­reave me of thy love, or any thing [Page 92] alienate thy affection from me, con­sumeth me like the grave; in which respect also it's like to the hottest fire, the most fumous and raging flame that devours all.

Ver. 7. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the Substance of his house for love, it would be utterly contemned] q. d. yea, my love to thee is is not only so ar­dent and strong, but durable and un­changeable, no floods of persecuti­on and affliction shall ever be able to quench it; nor if all the delights and pleasures of the World should be offered me to draw away my love from thee, I would utterly despise them.

Ver. 8. We have a little Sister, and she hath no breasts, what shall we do for our Sister, when she shall be spoken for] q. d. We have the Church of the Gentiles, which in [Page 93] the eternal Council of God, is our Sister, and is yet in her non-age, not ripe for marriage, being unable through the want of thy serving Or­dinances, to bring forth or nourish any Children unto thee, when the time shall come, that she shall grow riper in years, and her friends shall set her forth, and speak for her, (as the manner is to do for Maids to be bestowed in Marriage,) i. e. when the time shall come that God in his decrees hath set for her calling and conversion, and when all the faithful shall labour by their prayers to fur­ther it, what shall we do for her, what wilt thou out of the richness of thy wisdom and grace, and what shall I when thou wilt be pleased to use me, as thine instrument in this work, do to increase and adorn her?

Ver. 9. If she be a Wall, we will build upon her, a Palace of Silver: and [Page 94] if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of Cedar.] q. d. If the Church shall enjoy the benefit and defence of a good Government, we, i. e. I by thy Ministry will make it a glorious Church, like to a stately and sumptuous Palace, meet for the King of Glory to dwell in; if she shall for a time want the benefit, and have only the help of the sound doctrine of Salvation, through faith in me, (who am the door, whereby mine Elect enter into the Kingdom of grace and glory, Io. 10. 7, 9.) then will we so strongly inclose and fence this doctrine, by my provi­dence and powerful assistance of my Spirit, as it shall never decay, nor the gates of Hell prevail against it.

Ver. 10. I am a wall, and my breasts like Towers, then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.] q. d. O my dear Lord and Saviour, let this thy promise be fulfilled to [Page 95] the new estate of thy Church, for (fore-seeing by Faith, and being fully assured of that glorious and blessed estate I shall be in at that time, when the Gentiles shall be called, as if it were already come to pass.) I do in thankfulness and joy of heart, pro­fess and glory, that I am, for the strength and defence I have, through the government thou hast established in me, as a strong Wall; and my Mi­nistry, by which, as by breasts I nou­rish my Children, is through the a­bundance of the sincere Milk of the Word, wherewith it is furnished like unto great Towers; in respect whereof, I shall be most acceptable unto thee, and thine affection and favour shall be increased towards me.

Ver. 11. Solomon had a Vine­yard] (in a most fruitful place, even) at Baal-hamon] a place, that as far exceeds others in fruitfulness, as the [Page 96] Lord and Master doth excel in digni­ty; the multitude of his Servants and Followers that are under him; he could not dwell in this Vineyard, nor keep it, and dress it himself, but was fain to let it out to others that might keep and dress it; yet receiv­ed he much benefit by this his Vine­yard, for every of his Tenants and Farmers that did Husband it, brought unto him for his Rent, 1000 pieces of Silver; which amounts unto 125. l.

Ver. 12. My Beloved which is mine, is before me] q. d. But my Church, which is my Vineyard, is always in my sight; I dwell in it my self, watch it, and dress it my self, and put it not forth to others, though I use the help and ministry of my Ser­vants, both in planting and watering of it, in watching, keeping, & dressing of it; yet am I with them alwaies my self, as the Chief and Master-Work-man; and do encrease, [Page 97] strengthen, and bless their labours, work with, and by them; if I be from them, they can do nothing. And therefore, whereas thou O So­lomon, received'st but five parts of the increase of thy Vineyard, how fruitful soever it be, and are fain to allow a sixth part thereof to them that dress and keep it; the whole profit and fruit that my Vineyard, (my Church) doth yeild, redoundeth wholly to my Self; and my Servants that labour in it, work not for them­selves, but Me alone.

Ver. 13. Thou that dwellest in the Gardens, the Companions hearken to to thy Voyce, cause me to hear it] q. d. O my dear Church and Spouse, who hast thy chief aboad, and art most seen in the Assemblies, where my people meet together to worship me, which both for the pleasantness and fruitful­ness, are like to the choicest and sweetest Gardens; all the faithful [Page 98] which have a most near communion with me, and among themselves, will hearken unto thy voyce and mi­nistry; let me by their prayers and praises, and holy confessions they make of my truth, wherein thou hast instructed them, hear and discern that they have indeed hearkened unto thee; for therein shall I take great comfort and delight.

Ver. 14. Make hast my Beloved, and be thou like to a Roe, or to a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices] q. d. O my dear Lord and Saviour, do thou soon finish these days of sin and misery, and be thou like the Roe or young Hart in thy speed in come­ing to judgment, and gathering toge­ther all thine Elect, to take them with thee into thy Kingdom, which as it is fitly compared unto a Mountain, be­cause it is in the highest Heavens, so may it be called a Mountain of Spi­ces, because there shall be fulness of joy and pleasures for ever more.