Song of Solomon 7

The Bridegroom who sp... ke the l... st words,... ere continueth his speech, and breaks forth into an elegant and particular d... scription and commendation of the Spouse, partly from the parts, and partly from her Ornaments. In which the same thing is was concerning her description of the Bridegroom, that there is necessity of a distinct application of parcel of it, the design being only this, to describe the Beauty and Glory of the Church under the representation of a beautiful and noble Woman, This also is observable, that in the description of Christ she begins at the Head, and so goeth downward, Ch. 5. 11, &c. but Christ in the description of the Spouse proceedeth from the Feet upwards.

HOw beautiful are thy feet Which being the chief instrument of our motion from place to place, is oft used me... onimically for the motion itself, and so may here signifie either the inward motions, the workings of the affections, or the outward motions, the steps or actions of the Life, both which are right and amiable in Believers. with shoes Which were anciently evidences of a free and comfortable state, whereas slaves and mourners use to go baresoot, 2 Sam. 15. 30. Isa. 20. 4. which also in Women of high quality were adorned with Gold and other Ornaments; of which see Isa. 3. 18. These may also signifie that the Feet of Believers should be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. Eph. 6. 15., O princes daughter Both by Birth, being born of God, and by disposition and deportment agreeable to that quality.! the joints of thy thighs Either 1. The hollow place in which the Hip or Thigh-bone moveth and turneth itself: Or rather 2. The Hip or Thigh-bone which moveth there: for this is more fitly compared to a jewel well set. Some understand this of some Ornaments worn by Women upon those parts; for the word rendred joints may signifie girdles, or any Ornament which encompasseth any part of the Body, and the same words which signifie thighs are both in Hebrew, and other Languages, somtimes used concerning the legs. Which being admitted, this might seem to be understood of the Brides Garters about her Legs, which not unfitly follows the Shoes upon her Feet last mentioned. But this sense seems not to suit so well with the following comparison as the former does. are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman Like jewels orderly and excellently set by a skilful Artist. So this signifies the uprightness and decency of her going, which depends very much upon the right scituation of the Hip or Thigh-bone, which when it is dislocated or disordered causeth a lameness or uncomeliness in going; whereby he understands the orderliness and amiableness of her conversation..

Thy navel is like a round goblet To which it is not unfitly compared because it is of a round form, and hollow, and has windings and circlings in it. which wanteth not liquor Thy Navel is not only comely but fruitful. For the Navel is the proper instrument of nourishing the Child or Children which are in the Womb. And so this seems to signifie the Churches fruitfulness partly in her self, in cherishing and improving all the Graces and good motions of Gods Spirit within her; and principally in reference to those many Children which she bears and feeds in her Womb with the wholsom liquor of Gods Ordinances.: thy belly In which thy Children are for a time contained and fed. is like an heap of wheat i. e. Of wheat corn, round and swelling, as it is in Women with child, and full of nourishment, not only of Liquor as was last said, but also of Meat, which may note the various provisions which Christ has laid up in his Church according to the several capacities of her Children, Milk for Babes, and stronger Meat for those who are grown up., set about with lilies Not for defence, which the Church does not need, having the strong God for her Protector, but for Ornament and Beauty. Whereby is implied, that she is not only fruitful but beautiful, and that her Children are not only numerous and well fed, but also comely and delightful to the Eye, as Lilies are, and withal pure and innocent, in which respect both Christ and the Church are compared to Lilies, Cant. 1. 1, 2..

* Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins Which is repeated from Ch. 4. 5. where it is explained..

Thy neck Of which see on Ch. 4. 4. is as a tower of ivory Clear, and smooth, and long, and streight, and erected., thine eyes Of which see on Ch. 1. 15. & 4. 1. like the fishpools Full, and clear, and quiet, and pleasant. Possibly h... re were two fishponds, which being conveniently seated in a large field, might bear some resemblance to the Eyes placed in the Head. in Heshbon A pleasant and well watered City, beyond Iordan, as we may guess from Num. 32. where doubtless there were some eminent and well known fish-pools, as further appears by the exact description of the particular place here following, in which they were., by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose The instrument of smelling and discerning between pleasant and loaths... m things; which may signifie the Churches sagacity in discerning between good and evil. is as the tower of Lebanon Which, though it be not elsewhere mentioned, was in all probability built by Solomon in the Mountain of Lebanon, which was the Northern Border of the Land of Israel towards Damascus, and therefore a very fit place for a watch Tower. To this Tower her Nose is compared, not for its greatness, but for its comely and convenient proportions, and beautiful aspect, which doubtless were in this as well as in the rest of Solomons Buildings., which looketh toward Damascus Which words seem to be added to distinguish this from another Tower or Building, in, or near to Ierusalem, which was called the house of the forrest of Lebanon, 1 Kin. 7. 2..

Thine head Which may signifie the Churches Mind or Understanding, which is seated in the head. upon thee Which is upon thee, or above the rest of thy Body. is like Carmel Eminent and pleasant to the Eye and fruitful as Mount Carmel was, as has been formerly noted. Which may note that her Mind was adorned and replenished with knowledge and other excellent Gifts of the Holy Ghost. Or, as others render it, like crimson or purple, which is called Carmel, 2 Chr. 2. 7. & 3. 14. because those fishes, out of which they had their purple, were taken in the Sea bordering upon Mount Carmel. And so the same thing is repeated in the next clause in other words., and the hair of thine head like purple Which colour was anciently much esteemed, and commended as by sacred, so also by prophane Writers., the king is held in the galleries In which he walketh, and having once espied thee, is captivated by thee, and unable or unwilling either to depart, or to take off his Eyes from thee, as if he were fast bound and chained to thee. The galleries may note either the Ordinances, or rather the Churches, in which Christ walketh, Rev. 2. 1. in which Christ and Believers converse together..

How fair and how pleasant art thou It were infinite to reckon up all the particulars of thy Beauty, in one word, thou art universally amiable beyond Expression., O love, for delights For those various lovely features which are in thee, and for the great and manifold delights which are or may be enjoyed in conversing with thee.!

This thy stature is like to a palm-tree Tall and streight, or upright, as a Tree. And he seems to mention the Palm-tree, rather than any other, partly because it grows more directly upward than other Trees; and partly because it is constantly green and flourishing, and groweth upward in spight of all pressures, and therefore was used in festival solemnities, Lev. 23. 40. Ioh. 12. 13. and was a symbol of Victory, Rev. 7. 9. In all which respects it fitly represents the state of Believers., and thy breasts to clusters Large, and round, and full of juice. See on v. 3. This particular is added as an evidence of her maturity and married estate, and of her fruitfulness. of grapes Which word may easily be supplied out of the next verse. Although the fruit of the Palm-tree also is said to grow in clusters..

I said Within my self, I resolved., I will go up to the palm-tree I will climb up, that so I may take hold, as it follows of the boughs, which do not grow out of the sides, as in other trees, but only at the top of it., I will take hold of the boughs thereof Partly to prune and dress them, and partly to gather the fruit. Whereby is signified Christs care of his Church, and his delight in her.: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose Of thy breath; which is oft called the breath of, or in, a mans nostrils, Gen. 7. 22. Isa. 2. 22. Lam. 4. 20. like apples Either 1. Common Apples, which sometimes yield a very pleasant smell: Or 2. Odoriferous Apples. See on chap. 2. 5..

And the roof of thy mouth Either 1. Thy speech, the pala... e being one of the principal instruments of Speech: Or rather 2. Thy taste, whereof the Palate or Roof of the Mouth is the most proper and principal instrument, Iob 34. 3. But then this is not to be understood actively of her tast, but passively of the tast or relish, which her beloved had of her; as in the foregoing clause, the smell of her nose was not meant subjectively or actively of that sense of smelling which was seated in her Nose, but objectively or passively of the breath of her Nostrils, which was sweet to the smell of her beloved. like the best wine Grateful and refreshing., for my beloved Either 1. For thee my beloved, who reapest the comfort and benefit of that pleasure which I take in thee: Or 2. For me thy beloved, or, according to thy usual expression, for my beloved. Which words Christ takes as it were out of her Mouth, and repeats them emphatically. Which agrees very well to the stile and usage of these dramatical and amatorious Writings. And this clause further intimates the Churches Loyalty or Faithfulness to Christ, that she reserves her self, and all her Loves for Christ alone., that goeth down sweetly Whereas bad Wire either goeth down slowly and tediously, or is not permitted to go down at all; Heb. that walketh directly, or, that moveth itself aright, which is given as the Character of good Wine, Pro. 23. 31. causing the lips of those that are asleep, to speak Causing the most dull, and stupid, and sleepy headed persons to speak, and that fluently and eloquently, which is a common effect of good Wine..

I am my beloveds This and the following verses contain the words of the Bride, in answer to the Bridegrooms most indearing Expressions delivered in the foregoing verses., and his desire is towards me I perceive, and am fully satisfied, that he heartily loves me. It is my duty to have my desire towards him as my Husband, according to Gods Sentence, Gen. 3. 16. but it is a wonderful condescension in him, that his desire is towards me..

Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field That being retired from the crowd, we may more freely and sweetly converse together, and may observe the state of the fruits of the Earth.: let us lodge in the villages In one of the villages, as Cities is put for one of the Cities, Judg. 12. 7.:

Let us get up early The Church having offended and lost her beloved by her former laziness, now doubles her diligence, and discovers how earnestly she was set upon the following work. to the vineyards To particular congregations. See Cant. 6. 1. Isa. 5. 1., let us see if the vines flourish, whether the tender grapes appear, and the pomgranates bud forth Let us enquire into the success of our Labours, what Souls are brought in and built up, how they prosper and grow in Grace, whether they abound in good Works, &c.: there will I give thee my loves There I will discover the sincerity and fervency of my affections to thee, and maintain communion with thee in thy holy Ordinances..

The mandrakes This Hebrew word is used Gen. 30. 14, 15. and the signification of it is very much doubted and disputed by Interpreters; of which see my Latin Synopsis on that place. But this is certain that the word signifies sweet and pleasant flowers, and therefore if it be understood of Mandrakes, they were of another sort than ours, as it is no unusual thing for flowers of the same kind in several Climates to have very differing Natures and Qualities. give a smell, and at our gates Either 1. Growing there upon the Walls, or in Gardens, or Orchards, near the door of our dwelling-House: Or rather 2. Brought thither by divers Persons to congratulate and adom our Nuptials, or laid up for our entertainment, as may be gathered from the nature of the fruits, which were not only new, and growing, but also old, and laid up, as it here follows. are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old Fruits of this year, and of the former, that the variety might delight. Which seems to be spiritually meant of the various fruits and operati... ns of the Spirit, and degrees of Grace in several Believers., which I have laid up for thee Which have been produced by my Ministry for thy Service and Glory., O my beloved.