Selected quad for the lemma: judgement_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A26545
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A paraphrase on the canticles, or, Song of Solomon by the late learned and pious Protestant, Thomas Ager.
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Ager, Thomas.
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1680
(1680)
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Wing A760; ESTC R6006
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180,518
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449
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A PARAPHRASE ON THE CANTICLES OR SONG of SOLOMON By the late LEARNED and Pious PROTESTANT THOMAS AGER LONDON Printed by A. Godbid and J. Playford and are to be sold by Samuel Sprint at the Bell near the Grate in Little-Britain 1680. THE PUBLISHER TO THE CHRISTIAN READER ALthough many profane persons as much as in them lay have debased the Authority of the Song of Solomon and not only excluded it from being Canonical but ranked it amongst those profane Writings which Heathen Poets were too much guilty of as if the wisest of Kings had meant nothing else by this but to serenade his Mistress yet certainly those that have a more deep Judgment and pious Consideration look upon it as the most exact piece of Poetry next to the Biblia bibliorum as the Psalms are particularly called that ever came forth into the World and it 's being received as Canonical for so many Hundred of years commented on by so many Worthy and Famous Men the several Parts and Members being so often treated on in Pulpits must needs be a great Argument that the Subject was something more than ordinary Had it been nothing else but a wanton Poem Posterity would never have so much admired it learned and curious Judgments never have Composed so many Paraphrases upon it A Song of Love indeed it is but of so great so good so glorious a Love as is reciprocal between Christ and his Spouse the Church wonderful and passing the Love of Women But I suppose the intricacy and difficulty of understanding it has been no small reason why some persons either out of laziness or impiety have so much disrespected it yet lest the Poyson should spread it self any farther in these following Sheets is laid down a sufficient discovery of the whole Mystery every Verse nay almost every Word being dissected and laid open in all their Significations proper and figurative and delineated so to the Life that he that runs may read in a stile as humble as the Author as pious and passionate as the Subject of the Book and with all possible Care and Industry that Human Learning sanctified by the especial Grace of God could shew or endeavour And certainly nothing can more need a Commentary than that which is altogether a Parable a form of speaking that Christ himself so much delighted in and sometimes condescended to interpret and the Doctrine of it being so useful and comfortable to to Mankind The Author of this ensuing Treatise as his Learning and Piety were very eminent so his Modesty was exemplary in so much that in all his life time he could not be induced by the intreaty and importunity of his Friends to Publish it yet least so precious a Jewel should lye in darkness first for the good of Souls and benefit of Human kind and next to perpetuate the Memory of this good and pious Man I have with the advice of his Friends and Relations thought fit to make known to the World the knowledge and goodness of the Author by the sufficiency of the Work Not at all doubting Christian Reader but that it will be acceptable to all pious and devout Spirits especially at this time when the Church of God is under Afflictions and the Enemies thereof are continually undermining and disturbing the Peace of it Yet God be praised though she be Black under Sorrows and Temptations yet she is Comely and the Knot of Love between Christ and his Spouse no mortal Hand will be able to untie which is and ought to be a Comfort to all Christians God give thee Grace to make a right use of the things herein contained and it shall be the greatest satisfaction that can happen to Thine in the Lord J. H. AN ENTRANCE Into the most Excellent SONG of SONGS WHICH IS SOLOMONS COncerning the time when SOLOMON wrote this Book whether before his Fall or after his Repentance it skills not much to know neither will any wise Man much contend about it as being a thing tending to Strife and Debate rather than to any godly Edifying in the knowledge of the Truth And to speak much for the Authority of it seeing it hath been received by the Church of God for so many Hundred years past both before Christ's coming and since and kept as it were in the Ark and Sanctuary of God with the rest of the holy Scripture when all the rest of his Songs were cast aside may seem to be ridiculous yet because that some in former times have endeavoured to blemish it counting it but a wanton Toy or Ballad about the gestures of Lovers it may not be amiss to speak a few words briefly in Answer to their Objections First then let it be considered that the matter herein contained must either pertain to Solomon and some Queen of his or else to the Lord Jesus Christ and his Queen Not to Solomon for the King that is here spoken of is set out as one keeping Sheep as in Chap. 1. which was not a thing proper for Solomon's Royalty And also to be without shut from his Wife as in Chap. 5. until the Dew fell upon his head which agreeth not to Solomon's Princely State For what Queen of his would offer him so much disgrace And for what is said of the Bride in this Song can never agree to any Queen of Solomon's for it is said that she was without spot and that her Bridegroom was gone she had lost him and that she was fain to seek him up and down the City and that she was taken of the Watchmen and beaten And who durst do this to any Queen of Solomon's Therefore seeing it cannot agree to Solomon nor to any Queen of his it can agree to none but the Lord Jesus Christ and his glorious Bride which is the Church But it is objected Object 1 that the Song speaketh want only of the gestures of Lovers and therefore they disdain it and account it not Canonical For Answer So the 45th Psalm Answ wherein the same matter is handled that is handled in this Book may as well be accounted not Canonical the whole Psalm being but an Abridgment of the matter herein contained They that will take exceptions against this Book because Christ expresseth himself after the manner of a Lover may as well except against that Scripture where the Lord says Behold I come as a Thief Now as Christ compares himself to a Thief not because he dealeth unrighteously but to shew the suddenness of his coming So he also compares himself to a Lover not because he delighteth in wanton gestures but because the Love between Man and Wife is a worthy and most excellent representation of the Love between Christ and his Church But they Object farther Object 2 that the Name of God is not at all used in this Song This proves nothing For it doth not follow Answ that because the Name of God is often used in great Volums that therefore it must be used in every Song