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 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 CANTIC I. CHAP. I. Verse 1. THe Song of Songs which is Solomons Ver. 2. O let him joyn his lips to mine And solace mine with his Thy matchless love excelleth wine No Vintage joy like this Ver. 3. The savour thy good Oyntments shed The Odours of thy name The Virgins hearts have ravished And their desires enflame Ver. 4. Draw me we will run after thee Ther 's none but thou can do 't Me hath the King where I would be Into his Chambers brought Thus made glad wee 'l rejoyce therein Thy loves so far above We will remember more than wine Thee do the upright love Ver. 5. You Daughters of Ierusalem I 'm black but comely so Thus both as Ismaels Tents I seem And Solomons Curtains too Ver. 6. Look not upon me cease to gaze Now we so black you see Because the Sun with scorching rayes Hath so discoloured me My Mothers Children me betray'd And in their anger they Me keeper of the Vineyards made But mine neglected lay Ver. 7. My Dearest unto me make known Where thou dost feed thy Flock Where thou dost make them rest at noon ' By what cool stream or rock Lest I should be as one of them That turn aside to those Their Flocks which thy Companions seem But are disguised Foes Ver. 8. O thou whose beauty doth excell All others of thy Sex If this because thou can'st not tell Thy troubled mind perplex Go forth and in those foot-steps tread Those tracts the Flock frequents And thou thy Kids securely feed Besides the Shepherds Tents Ver. 9. My Love I have compared thee Unto those stately Steeds Which in King Pharoahs Charots be So much thy praise exceeds Ver. 10. Thy Cheeks are comely and thy Neck To all that do behold Those with these rows of Jewels deckt This with that chaine of Gold Ver. 11. That thou may'st yet more splendid And more illustrious be shew Borders of gold will we bestow With silver studs on thee Ver. 12. My Spikenard while the King doth sit And entertain his guests At his full Table then of it How is the smell dispers'd Ver. 13. A bundle of refreshing Myrrh To me is my Beloved Hee'st lye betwixt my breasts and there Rest all night un-removed Ver. 14. As Camphire-clusters when they blow Is my Beloved to me As those which in those Vineyards grow Which in Engedi be Ver. 15. Behold thou' rt very fair my Love Behold thou' rt very fair Thou by thine eyes might'st be a Dove So milde and chaste they are Ver 16. All beauties my Beloved show In thee and there are seen Behold thou' rt faire and pleasant too Also our bed is green Ver. 17. The beams which o're our house are laid And every Mansion there Are all of goodly Cedar made Our Rafters are of Firr Chap. II. Ver. 1. A Rose when it doth freshly blow The Sharon-Rose am I The Lillie of the Valley too And all their praise out-vie Ver. 2. And as the Lillies to the briers When these encompass this So my fair Love when she appears Amongst the Daughters is Ver. 3. As the fair fruitful Apple-tree Amongst the Forrest ones Soe's my Beloved such is he Compared with the Sonnes Under his shaddow I sat down Where my delight surpast And his rare fruit before unknown Was sweet unto my tast Ver. 4. He brought me to his Banquet-house For entertainments made And love was over me his Spouse The Banner he displaid Ver. 5. Stay me with Flagons stay me soon With Apples O remove These fainting fits or ere I swoon For I am sick of Love Ver. 6. Under my head when I take rest He doth his left hand place And with his right hand o're my breast He doth me fast embrace Ver. 7. You Daughters of Ierusalem I by the Rose and Hind Adjure you and by all of them The fields have of their kind Now my Beloved takes his ease That you due silence keep Nor stir him up until he please Nor once disturb his sleep Ver. 8. 'T is my Beloved's voyce I hear Behold he 's coming still Leaping upon the Mountains there Skipping from hill to hill Ver. 9. Like a swift Roe is my Belov'd Like a young Hart he is Loe he behind our wall remov'd Looks through the Lattices Ver. 10. To me then my Beloved spake Rise up and do not stay 'T is time to rise my Love awake My fair one come away Ver. 11. For loe the Winter now is past Which was so sharp and sore The threatning rains which fell so fast Are gone clean blown o're Ver. 12. The flourie spring adorns the Earth Birds sing in shadie groves The Turtles 't is a time of mirth Now murmur to their loves Ver. 13. Fig-trees put forth green Figgs likewise Vines tender grapes and they Smell O how sweet my Love Arise My fair one come away Ver. 14. My Dove who in the Rock dost bide Within the clifts immur'd Who dost within the stairs reside There secretly obscur'd Thy countenance to me disclose Thy voice to me advance For sweet is thy melodious voice Comely thy countenance Ver. 15. For us the ravening Foxes take Spare neither old nor young Which of our Vines such havock make For they have Grapes begun Ver. 16. He who is my Beloved indeed Is mine and I am his The place
THE CANTICLES OR Song of Solomon PARAPHRASED AND Explained by divers others Texts of Scriptures very useful By the Learned Reverend and Faithful Minister of Christ Mr. Arthur Hildersham of Ashby-Delazouch As also the same together with the two Songs of Moses and the Song of Deborah Collected into Meeter LONDON Printed by T. Milbourn for Robert Clavel in Cross-key Court in Little Britain 1672. READER THose Scriptures 1 Cor. 14 15. I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also Eph. 5. 18 19. Be filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making Melody in your hearts to the Lord. Col. 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. James 5. 13. Is any merry let him sing Psalms do not only direct and teach us the true manner and end of singing Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs but do also I think prove the singing of them to be a duty and warrant the collecting of them into such Meeter and Tunes as is most suitable to us for that purpose Those which are here presented upon this account are the Song of Moses Exod. 15. The Song of Moses Deut. 32. The Song of Deborah Iudg. 5. And the Song of Songs which was Solomons to which because the Song of Solomon is very mystical and the Meeter here presented is not intended for a Paraphrase but a Translation and that it will be hard at least for ordinary capacites in singing especially the Song of Solomon to sing with understanding without some plain exposition of it I have made bold to annex a Paraphrase being one that was composed by that Reverend and Learned Minister of Christ Mr. Arthur Hildersham as I had it transcribed out of his own by a faithful hand which is the rather to be recommended because it is short plain exemplified with several quotations of Scripture and accommodated to the present Translation of the Bible This excellent Author left also a Paraphrase upon the whole Bible out of which this was taken if the publishing of this might provoke or be an occasion of the publishing of the rest I should be glad however I have commuicated what I had which hoping it may be much to thy satisfaction and advantage I leave with thee and rest A PARAPHRASE UPON THE Canticles or Song of Solomon Illustrated with several Cotations of very many other Scriptures very Useful c. 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 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. 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 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 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 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
only for their sharpness of sight their understanding and knowledg like unto the eyes of the Fowle but also for their chastity and 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 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 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 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 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 new-born 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 South-wind 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 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 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 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 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
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 strengthen and bless their labours work with and by them if I be from them they can do nothing And
where he delights to feed Amongst the Lillies is Ver. 17. Till day my Dear it 's light impart And duskie shaddow 's flee Turn thou and like a Roe or Hart On Bether Mountains be Chap. III. Ver. 1. BY night upon my Bed I sought Him whom my Soul doth love I sought him but I found him not My pains did fruitless prove Ver. 2. Perplexed I resolv'd to rise And search the Citty round Both narrow streets and broader wayes At least till I had found Thus searching I pursu'd more hot Him whom my soul doth love I sought him but I found him not My pains did fruitless prove Ver. 3. Me wandring thus the Watch did find As they the round had been To whom I said with troubled mind Have ye my Soul's Love seen Ver. 4. No sooner I from them was gone Nor many steps had past But him my Soul 's beloved one I found and held him fast Nor let him go till I had brought Him to my Mothers house The chamber where the most devout Conceived me his Spouse Ver. 5. You daughters of Ierusalem I by the Roe and Hinde Adjure you and by all of them The Fields have of their kind Now my Beloved takes his ease That ye due silence keep Nor stir him up until he please Nor once disturb his sleep Ver. 6. Who 's this presented to our eyes Who from the Desart comes Who does like smoak in pillars rise Perfum'd with fragrant Gums The gums of Myrrh and Frankincense With what Sabea else Affords for all the powders thence Wherein the Merchant deals Ver. 7. Behold his Bed even Solomons A guard about it stands Of threescore valiant Champions Drawn out of Israels bands Ver. 8. So dreadful to their Enemies All Warriours skil'd in fight Their bright swords mounted on their thighs Because of fear by night Ver. 9. For his delight King Solomon A sumptuous Charot made Of Cedars fetch 't from Lebanon Where he his stores had laid Ver. 10. The Pillars which the frame sustain Where all with Silver wrought And what he for the Throne ordained With Gold from India brought With Tyrian Purple he did face That part which was above And for Ierusalems daughters grace The midst he pav'd with love Ver. 11. Goe forth yee Sion daughters goe Behold King Solomon O what a bright and glorious show Now he his Crown has on The crown which on his sacred head His royal Mother plac'd When he his Nuptial finished And was with joy's embrac'd Chap. IV. Ver. 1. BEhold thou' rt very fair my love Behold thou' rt wonderous fair Thou hast the eyes as of a Dove Couch't underneath thy hair Whose dangling curles resemblance bear Unto the numerous flocks Of climbing Goates as they appear From Gileads towring rocks Ver. 2. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep New washt and even shorne All which have twins they bare and keep None barren or forlorne Ver. 3. Thy lips are like a scarlet thred Whence graceful accents flow Thy temples in thy locks not hid Like some Pomegranate show Ver. 4. Thy neck like David's tower doth stand Built for a Magazin Wherein a thousand bucklers hang All shields of mighty men Ver. 5. Thy two breasts are like two young Roes Twins of one fruitful Dam The Lillies O how sweet to those They feed amongst the same Ver. 6. Until the morning light appear And shaddow flee from hence I le get me to the Mounts of myrrh And hill of Frankincense Ver. 7. Thour' t fair my Love thou art all fair As fair as fair can be No stain thy fairness doth impare There is no spot in thee Ver. 8. Come O my Spouse O come away With me from Lebanon Look from the top of Amana Of Shenir and Hermon From every dark devouring Cave The dreadful Lions-dens And mountains where the Leopards rave O come with me from thence Ver. 9. My Sister thou my Spouse that eye This chain about thy neck My ravisht heart in Fetters tie And all my powers subject Ver. 10. My Sister O thy lov 's so fair My Spouse it wine excels Nor any Spice of all that are Sweet as thine Oyntments smells Ver. 11. Like hony-combs thy lips my Spouse Drop honey all along A stream of milk and honey flowes From underneath thy tongue The Robe and Vesture thou hast on The Garments thou dost wear Smell like the smell of Lebanon And all that 's pleasant there Ver. 12. My Sister she who is my Spouse What enclos'd gardens be Or springs shut up which no man knows Or Fountains seal'd is she Ver. 13. An Orchard stor'd with pleasant fruits Such fruits thy plants do bear Pomegranat-trees there spread their roots Camphire and Spikenard's there Ver. 14. Sweet Spikenard Saffron newly blown Disperse their savour thence With Calamus and Cinnamon And trees of Frankincense Myrrh Alloes and all that 's rare With every precious spice Whose Odours do perfume the aire And Lovers hearts entice Ver. 15. From thee those living springs proceed Those streams in plenty run Which do our plants with moysture feed As from Mount Lebanon Ver. 16. Awake O North O South arise Upon my garden blow That from each rich and precious spice A fragrant smell may flow Ver. 17. Beloved grant my humble suit Come with a Lovers hast Into thy gardens eat the fruit That most delights thy tast Chap. V. Ver. 1. INto my garden I am come My Sister-Spouse most dear Of every spice have gathered some And with my spice my Myrrh In hony-combs all pure and fresh My honey I have eat I 've drunk my wine new from the press With milk warm from the Teat Come Friends for you is all this store Eat till ye have enough Drink O Beloved nor give o're Till you 'r enflam'd with love Ver. 2. Although I sleep and lie secure My restless heart doth make 'T is my Beloved's voyce I 'me sure His knock and he that spake My Sister open unto me My Love O thou more milde Then gaulless Doves I long to be With thee my undefil'd The dews which on my head have light My drenched hair do fill The dropping moysture of the night Down from my locks distill Ver. 3. Shall I now I am all undrest Go cloath my self again My feet washt fair in hope of rest Shall I so soon distain Ver. 4. But when I my Beloveds hand Upon the latch discernd Greiv'd that I should so long withstand O then my bowels yearnd Ver. 5. And rising if he still was there To open to his knock My hands dropt myrrh sweet smelling myrrh As I but toucht the lock Ver. 6. To my Beloved thus kept out Then opened I the doore But my Beloved griev'd no doubt Was gone away before My soul because he did complain Fail'd me my heard did break I sought and call'd but all in vain to find or make him speak Ver. 7. The Watch both they that walkt the round And they that kept the wall Found smote gave me many a wound And
took away my vaile Ver. 8. You Daughters of Ierusalem I charge you ere you move Tell my Belov'd ye finding him That I am sick of love Ver. 9. O thou of all our Sex most faire What 's thy Beloved trow Or what 's he more than others are That thou dost charge us so Ver. 10. Why my Beloved to be breif Pure white and ruddie is Amongst ten thousand he is cheif And beauties master-peice Ver. 11. His head is of refined gold His locks all bushie grow With curles which in each other fold Black as the pruned Crow Ver. 12. His eyes as if he were a Dove By some clear rivolet Washed in milk and as they move Alike exactly set Ver. 13. His cheeks as beds of Spice and flowers Which pleasant smells confer His lips like Lillies filling ours With drops of fragrant Myrrh Ver. 14. His Hands as rings of gold with Jemms Of blazing Berril made His Belly pollisht Ivorie seems With Saphires overlaid Ver. 15. His Legs like marble pillars stand Upon gold sockets plac'd His Countenance like Lebanon With loftie Cedars grac'd Ver. 16. His Mouth most sweet and all of him Most lovely this O this O Daughters of Ierusalem My Souls beloved is Chap. VI. Ver. 1. FAir Virgin parallel'd by none If thou canst tell us doe Whither thy Soul 's beloved's gone That we may seek him too Ver. 2. Down to his Garden my belov'd And beds of spices there Is gone to feed on fruits improv'd And gather Lillies fair Ver. 3. I 'me my Beloved's He is mine In love which words exceeds Our hearts doe mutually combine He amongst the Lillies feeds Ver. 4. Fair Tirza comely Solyma Thy beauty love excels No Army in Battalia Thy Terrors parallels Ver. 5. O turn away thine eyes from me Each glance in fetters locks Thy hair a flock of Goats might be When seen on Gilead's rocks Ver. 6. Thy teeth like Sheep as they anew Come from the washing all Of which not one a barren Ewe But equal Twins let fall Ver. 7. Thy temples to the rest so rare Compleatly adequate Do underneath thy well-spread hair Look like the Pomegranate Ver. 8. They boast of many Queens great store Of Concubines a train Of Virgins infinitely more Than numbers can contain Ver. 9. My Dove my undefii'd is one Her Mothers only dear The all and very choice alone Of her who did her bear The Daughters this unparallel'd Saw and her praise confest The Queens and Concubines beheld And did pronounce her blest Ver. 10. Who 's this who like the new begun And pleasant morning show's Fair as the Moon bright as the Sun When most illustrious Who though so pleasant fair and bright Yet terrible the dread Of Armies does not more affright When they their Ensignes spread Ver. 11. I to my pleasant Gardens went Where spicy Nutmegs blow To see the fruit and increment Which in the Valley grow To see the Vines if they their jems Disclos'd young clusters bear To see the Granats on their stems In their first bud appear Ver. 12. I e're I was aware or knew With strong desires enclin'd As in Amin'dabs Charots flew Whose wheels out-strip the wind Ver. 13. Return O Shulamite return Return to Us that we Who for thy absence greatly mourn Thee once again may see What is there in the Shulamite May such desires create Two Armies prevalent in fight A strife inveterate Chap. VII Ver. 1. HOw beautiful for thee most meet Thee so illustrious O Princess daughter are thy feet Thy Feet adorn'd with shoes How are the junctures of thy Thighs Like jewels which impart To curious and admiring eyes The skilful Workmans Art Ver. 2. Thy Navel's like a Goblet set With moisture standing out Thy Belly like an heap of wheat With Lillies round about Ver. 3. Thy Breasts are like two new-wean'd Roes Twins of one fruitfull Dam Ver. 4. Thy Neck like a fair Turret shews Which they of Ivory frame Thine Eyes the fish-pools in Heshbon By th'gate of Beth-rabbim Thy Nose the Tower of Lebanon Facing Damascus seem Ver. 5. Thy Head like fruitful Carmel is Whose hair 's like purple stain'd Within his royal galleries How is the King detain'd Ver. 6. How fair and pleasant for delight I thee O love esteem Ver. 7. Thou mighst a Palm be by thine height Thy Breasts fair clusters seem Ver. 8. I said unto the Palm aloft To it 's sweet fruit I 'le go And take hold of the boughs thereof Which the victorious show Also thy Breasts shall kindly swell Like clusters of the Vine Thy Nose shall as ripe Apples smell No breath 's so sweet as thine Ver. 9. Thy Pallat too the best wine shows For my Beloveds sake Which goes down sweetly as it goes Making th'asleep to wake Ver. 10. I 'm my Beloveds none but he To me can title claim And in him zealous love to me Doth strong desires enflame Ver. 11. Come my Beloved let us goe And walk the Fields throughout And for our lodging take into Some Village there about Ver. 12. Then to the Vineyards let 's be gone And ere it's day be there To see the Vines if they come on And their young grapes appear To see how the Pomgranets prove Whether they bud or no There will I give out of my love And all on thee bestow Ver. 13. My Dear the Mandrakes give a smell And at our gates there be Fruits new and old what ere excel Which I 've laid up for thee Chap. VIII Ver. 1. WEr 't thou my Brother wer 't thou this And suck't my Mothers breast Thee when I found without I 'de kiss And unreproved rest Ver. 2. Then bring thee to my mothers house Who would me discipline There thou with my Pomegranate juice Should drink of spiced wine Ver. 3. As a soft pillow to my head He should his left hand place And with his right hand gently spread He should me fast imbrace Ver. 4. You daughters of Ierusalem Now my Belov'd's at rest Stir not besure nor waken him Till he himself thinks best Ver. 5. Who 's this whose feet the hills ascend Who from the Wilderness Com's leaning on her darling friend A pleasing sight is this From under the fair Apple tree I rais'd thee up even there Thy Mother who conceived thee Did thee conceive and bear Ver. 6. O let me as a seal be set And on thine heart imprest And as a seal and annulet Upon thine arm be plac't For love's as strong as death the grave Then jel'sie not more cruel Whose flames are fierce and alwaies have A fresh supply of fuel Ver. 7. Not many waters nor great floods Can quench or drown the same Nor will a man for all one 's goods His part in love disclaim Ver. 8. We have a little Sister one Whose breasts do not appear What 's for our Sister to be done In th' day they spake for her Ver. 9. Is she a Wall on her will we A Silver palace build Or if a door wee 'l cause