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A76634
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A version of Solomon's Song of Songs Together with the XLV. Psalm. By Joseph Stennett.; Bible. O.T. Song of Solomon. English. Stennett.
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Stennett, Joseph, 1663-1713.
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1700
(1700)
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Wing B2633AC; ESTC R212810
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17,489
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68
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A VERSION OF SOLOMON's Song of Songs Together with The XLV PSALM By JOSEPH STENNETT Isa 54.5 Thy Maker is thy Husband the LORD of Hosts is his Name Eph. 5.32 This is a great Mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church LONDON Printed for Dan. Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple-bar and Andr. Bell at the Cross-keys and Bible in Cornhil 1700. THE PREFACE THO 't is generally agreed that this Poem was compos'd by Solomon yet some have denied that he wrote it by Divine Inspiration and make his Design to be only that of celebrating his Amours with Pharaoh's Daughter or some other person This was formerly the Opinion of Theodorus Mopsuestanus and was condemned in the 2d Council of Constantinople and Grotius of late in his Annotations on this Book declares himself to be * Hoc canticum est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter Solomonem filiam regis Aegypti interloquentibus etiam choris duobus tum juvenum tum virginum qui in proximis thalamo locis excubabant nuptiarum arcana sub honestis verborum involucris hîc latent quae etiam causa est cur Hebraei veteres hunc librum legi noluerunt nisi a jam conjugio proximis Creditur autem Solomon quò magis perennaret hoc scriptum ea arte id composuisse ut sine multa distortione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in eo inveniri possent quae Dei amorem adversùs populum Israeliticum exprimerent quod sensit ostendit Chaldaeus hîc paraphrastes nec aliter accepit Maimonides Ille autem amor typus cùm fuerit amoris Christi erga ecclesiam Christiani ingenia sua ad applicanda ad eam rem hujus carminis verba exercuerunt laudabili studio H. Grot. in Cant. much of the same mind tho to qualify the matter a little he tells us 'T is thought that Solomon the better to eternize this Book compos'd it so artificially that without much straining there might be Allegories enough found in it to express the Love of God to the Israelitish Nation which the Chaldee Paraphrast perceived and declar'd and Maimonides understood it no otherwise And this Love being a Type of the Love of Christ to his Church Christians have laudably exercis'd their minds in applying the words of this Poem to this purpose But with how little reason any have presum'd to deny the Divine Authority and spiritual Design of this Book will appear when 't is considered That it has always been numbred among the Canonical Books of the Old Testament both by Jews and Christians The Title given it by the Chaldee Paraphrast is Songs and Hymns which Solomon the Prophet the King of Israel utter'd by the Spirit of Prophecy before the Lord the Lord of all the World The extreme Reverence the Jews had for it as containing Divine Mysteries of the highest rank was the reason of their prohibiting their Children to read it as well as the first Chapter of Genesis and both the beginning and end of the Prophecy of Ezekiel till they arriv'd at 30 years of Age. They call it The ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy of Holies and say its Divine Authority was never so much as controverted among them by any but the Profane They say the Name Solomon mention'd in this Song is sacred and to be ascribed to the Messiah the Prince of Peace And the most celebrated Christian Writers both Antient and Modern so generally agree in the Divine Original of this Song that it is as needless as it would be endless to name ' em 'T is true this Poem treats of two Lovers sometimes under the character of a Shepherd and Shepherdess and sometimes under that of a Prince and Princess But does it thence follow that it has not a Mystical Sense designing to set forth the mutual Love of Christ and his Church when 't is so usual a thing to find Allegories in the Divine Writings The 45th Psalm celebrates the same mystical Espousals and very much in the same strain a Version of which I therefore added at the end and John the Baptist gives the Character of Bridegroom to our Blessed Saviour John 3.29 as well as John the Apostle Rev. 19.7 9. The Apostle Paul uses the same kind of Language Eph. 5 22-33 2 Cor. 11.2 when he alludes to Marriage in speaking of the mystical Vnion of Christ and the Church Indeed it may be allow'd that here are divers Allusions to Solomon and his Queen their Court and Gardens c. and the rather because Solomon was an eminent Type of Christ but Longè majora canuntur and a Greater than Solomon is here as is evident not only from what has been already said but from the improbable things that will result from the contrary supposition For instance if Solomon were one of the principal Subjects of this Song is it to be imagined that he would speak so largely in his own praise and magnify his own Beauty to so high a degree On the other hand is it likely he should one while so plainly set forth the defects and imperfections of his Bride and at another time extol her to the Skies Is it to be thought he would make her so amorous and importunate in her inquiries after him or that he would represent his Queen running unattended thro the streets of Jerusalem in the night to seek him and so exposing her self to all manner of Affronts and Abuses contrary to the rules of Decency This no way agrees with the modesty and reservedness of her Sex especially in those times and in that place nor with the greatness of her Quality for in this part of the Song she is not considered as a Shepherdess in a Country Cottage but as a Princess in her City-Palace Now all this and much more to the same purpose which for brevity sake I for bear to mention will very well bear a mystic Sense and may easily be accommodated to Christ and the Church For 't is no wonder if Solomon speaks highly in the praise of this Heavenly Bridegroom and represents this Bride sometimes veil'd with Blemishes and Infirmities and sometimes without any Defect shining with Beauty and Glory because the various conditions and frames of the Church of Christ make her appear very much to differ from her self when viewed in different respects and at different times 'T is no trespass on her Modesty but an addition to her Glory to represent her Love to Christ extremely fervent Her diligent Inquiry after him in the night when withdrawn from her after she refus'd him admission her Sorrows and Afflictions in seeking him her transports of Joy when she finds him all sute very well with what passes between our Saviour and his Spouse while she continues in this lower World It is likewise worth observation that the Tower of Lebanon spoken of in this Book Chap. 7.4 which in all appearance is the same with the House of the Forest of Lebanon mentioned 1
mind of the Holy Spirit that we may improve both in Grace and Knowledg And the Providence of God has furnished various helps to this end and some in our own Language The Learned and Judicious Mr. Ainsworth's Annotations on this Book very well deserve to be perused by such as aspire after the knowledg of those excellent things of which it treats What is represented to pass between Christ and the Church in general in this Song is in a great measure applicable to the Transactions between him and every particular Christian Here we may discern the pious Soul convinc'd of Christ's Loveliness and Worth inflam'd with Love towards him and earnestly desiring and seeking intimate Communion with him tho she meets with many difficulties in her way We afterwards find her transported with joy upon the reception of many signal favours from him and very ample demonstrations of his Love which are attended with the most grateful expressions of Love on her part After this through her negligence and the power of Temptation she grows cool and languid in her Affection to him upon which he as it were retires and hides himself from her he withdraws the manifestation of his Kindness the want of which alarms and awakens her from her slothful Frame and seems to fill her with almost as much Sorrow as his Smiles gave her Pleasure her joyful Raptures are now turned into Sighs and Complaints However she resolves to seek her absent Lord till she finds him her Zeal revives she makes great protestations of the Sincerity of her Love and resolutions of her future Constancy she diligently enquires after him and at length after having past through many Dangers and Difficulties she meets with him Their renewed Communion then furnishes 'em both with the sublimest and most endearing Expressions of Joy and Love and they take the greatest complacency in each other's Society by turns describing one another's Beauty till at last she seems impatient of longer delays and to desire a yet fuller and more perfect enjoyment of her Beloved Lord by a Translation from the Kingdom of Grace into that of Glory This seems to be the general Plot and Design of this Divine Poem And those gracious Souls who are truly converted to God and have experienced the renewing Influences of the Divine Spirit to maintain their spiritual Life who have a spiritual relish or to use our Saviour's Phrase savour the things that be of God tho themselves are accounted the foolish things of this World will easily find much intelligible and instructive matter in this Holy Song while the wise men of the World are pos'd with Mystery and stumble at it Not but that the wisest and most learned Christian may find some difficulties in it as well as in many other parts of the Scripture capable to exercise his pious Industry To conclude 2 Tim. 3.16 17. If the whole Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to all Good Works Then this part of it is useful to these purposes And we shall do well to attend to the Apostle's Exhortation who says Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom Col. 3.16 teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. And if this small performance shall by the Divine Blessing any way contribute to the strength of those pious Affections which devout Souls bear to the Blessed Jesus it will be the satisfaction and joy of him who esteems it the highest Honour in the World to be a Servant and Friend to the Heavenly Bridegroom and heartily wishes Grace may be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Eph. 6.24 Amen J. S. To Mr. Joseph Stennett on his Excellent Version of the Book of Canticles LET untun'd Souls Poetic Flights despise Who to the Heights of Verse could never rise Insensible to all the Charms of Wit And lofty Sense in flowing Numbers writ Whilst I unskill'd to imitate admire The Hebrew Song of Songs tun'd to an English Lyre Sublime the Theme This Sacred Poem treats Of Love Divine with all its charming Sweets Under a King's and Shepherd's Name conceal'd The Love of Christ is to his Church reveal'd He tho the Soveraign Lord God over all Blessed for ever condescends to call His Church collected from the wretched Race Of sinful Adam when adorn'd with Grace His Royal Bride and as a Bridegroom loves With soft Endearments all her Passions moves Her mighty Joys she does in transport tell As on the Subject she could ever dwell But ah too soon forgetful of her Bliss She grows secure and then she grows remiss Till her provok'd yet constant Lord withdraws And gives her time to mourn her Fault and Loss Then Cares and Fears possess her troubl'd Soul And anxious Doubts within her Bosom roll No Ease no Quiet can the Fair One find Till his Return restores her peaceful Mind Th' inspired Poet thus in Mystic Lays The Church's Duty sings her Saviour's Praise The Prince and Preacher both in one combine And with strong Reason courtly Language join To beautify a Subject so Divine But all these Beauties were to Us obscur'd By distant Time and Place yet just secur'd Of the true Sense in rough unpolish'd Prose Till You Preacher and Poet too arose To storm the Heights of Sacred Poetry And boldly set the Smiling Captive free Tho in an English yet a charming Dress Great the Attempt and equal the Success Jos Collet CHAP. I. Verse 1 SOLOMON'S Song of Songs PART I. The Bride Verse 2 O Let him seal his Lips on mine His Kisses breath a Love Divine No Juice the generous Vine can bear May with thy sweeter Love compare Verse 3 The precious Ointments on thee shed Around their liberal Odors spread And with their Odors spread thy Fame Sweet as rich Oils diffus'd thy Name Thy Name the Virgins Hearts inspires With sacred Love and pure Desires Verse 4 Draw me by thy Almighty Charms We 'll run we 'll fly into thy Arms. Me happy me the King of Kings Into his Bridal Chambers brings Joy sits upon our Hearts and Tongues Joy tunes our Thoughts and tunes our Songs We 'll think upon this Love of thine More than full Bowls of sparkling Wine For every Soul that 's Good and Just Loves Thee my Dear and love Thee must PART II. Verse 5 O Daughters of Jerusalem Fair Offspring of a noble Stem Tho I confess my Skin is brown My comely Features you must own I 'm black as Tents of Kedar are As Solomon's Curtains I am fair Verse 6 O do not with censorious Eyes Survey my Face and then despise The Sun has view'd me many days And scorch'd my Beauty with his Rays My Mother's Sons against me fir'd With an uncomely rage conspir'd To make me keep and dress