deepe waters and calamities as of his greatest deliverances And the holy ghost saith Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes And though singing be chiefly fit and requisite in mirth yet wee should be fit also for a Psalme in our affliction But we commonly in our ill howers are too sullen to sing and in our merry moods our spirits vanish away in carnall mirth and jolity but whatsoever the estate of the Church be we should have our spirits as ready to sing as to pray Use 3 Thirdly is reproved that ancient law and custome of the Synagogue which prohibited young men under thirtie yeares of age the reading and use of this booke but what age fitter for songs then cheerfull youth And further the amorousnesse of the dittie will not stirre up wantonesse in any age if the words be well understood but rather by inflaming with heavenly love will draw out and burne up all earthly and carnall lust and even as fire in the hand is drawne out by holding it to a stronger fire or as the light and heat of the Sunne extinguisheth a kitchin fire so doth heavenly love to Christ extinguish base kitchin lusts A Song of Songs That is a most excellent Song the chiefest of Songs as when they would expresse the holy place they say The holy of holiest The Lord of lords the King of kings the Servant of servants an Hebrew superlative so this is the chiefest Song first of all Solomons other Songs even of his thousand and five Secondly of all Songs without exception for though David was in his time the sweet singer of Israel yet as Solomons throne exceeded his in all other magnificence so did his name exceed his also yet this is no disparagement to the other Songs so neither that some of Davids Psalmes should bee stiled golden Psalmes All purified gold yet some gold wrought more exquisitely then others and finer engraven then others even some portion of the pure and holy word of God more exquisitely penned and polished then other The first Reason why this Song is more excellent then others is because this Song speaketh not onely of the chiefest matter to wit Christ and his Church but also more largely then any of Davids Psalmes and with more store of more sweet and precious exquisite and amiable Resemblances taken from the richest Jewels the sweetest Spices Gardens Orchards Vineyards Wine-cellars and the chiefest beauties of all the workes of God and Man Secondly this Song admitteth more varietie of interpretation then any other and also of singular use some have applied it to expresse the mutuall affection and fellowship betweene Christ and every Christian soule some between Christ and the Catholick Church some to particular Churches from Solomons time to the last judgement And there is an holy and usefull truth in each one of these interpretations but the last doth exceedingly magnifie the wonderfull excellency of this Song making it a divine abridgement of the Acts and Monuments of the Church And that this booke was chiefly penned to bee such an historicall prophecie or propheticall history may appeare First by the Correspondency or sutablenesse of the words of this Song to the events of each age Secondly by the Repetition of the same description and other occurrences in divers parts of this Song which would be a needlesse tautologie if it were spoken of the same persons in the same time as you may see if you compare Chap. 4. 2. with 6. 6. and 2. 7. with 3. 5. and 8. 4. 3. 6. with 8. 5. Reason 3 Thirdly by the diversities of descriptions of some persons which would intimate and imply a contradiction if they were not spoken of severall times and severall persons Reason 4 Fourthly by the sudden admiration of some new persons and occurrences Use 1 First wee may here see the eldest sonne of Wisedome giveth the double portion of excellency to this Song above all others yea since the Holy Ghost giveth it it is not therefore onely Canonicall Scripture but an eminent portion of it It were profane blasphemie to preferre this Song above other Songs of holy Scripture if it were not also given by divine inspiration as well as they to preferre the invention of Man before the wisedome of God were sacrilegious madnesse And although none of Gods ten proper names in Hebrew be once mentioned in this Song yet that impeacheth not the authority of this booke more then it doth of Hester where no name of God is mentioned at all Besides this booke is full of such names of God as sute more with the arguments as Welbeloved Brother Shepheard O thou whom my soule loveth the chiefest of ten thousand Use 2 Secondly this must exhort us to a more studious reading and meditating of this booke as of a most excellent portion of holy Writ Use 3 Thirdly this shewes us that as this Scripture is Canonicall so the Pen-man of it is a Canonicall Saint in Heaven for hee must needs be so according to that not of Peters successor as the Papists would have it but of S. Peter himselfe Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost so that hee must needs be a Saint by S. Peters confession and not he onely but Christ himselfe saith All the Prophets are in the kingdome of God Now all the Prophets came not neere this Prophet and there was no Scripture but it was penned by a Propheticall and Apostolicall spirit and though Solomon did fall yet If he commit Iniquitie I will chasten him with the rod of Men c. verse 15. But my mercy shall not depart from him as I took it from Saul If some say By this it was meant that God would not take away his kingdome to this it is answered he did take it away but hee would not deale with him as he dealt with Saul so then this telleth us Solomon is a Saint in Heaven Which is Solomons Solomon the penner of it but a wiser then Solomon indited it The Holy Ghost maketh choice of his Instruments according to the use he had to put them to to set forth the estate of his Church by the choycest treasures of nature Hee useth Solomons spirit which was as large as the sand of the Sea shore And as God led Moses to the top of mount Pisgah to behold all the places and situations of Israel So he lifted up Solomons spirit to the mountaine of Activitie that I may so speake where onely all times to come are present to behold the estate of the Church throughout the present and all after ages This is to teach us as it was said before that Solomon is a canonized Saint else hee had not beene a Pen-man of Canonicall Scripture canonized not by Peters pretended successors who have shamefully erred in this kinde but by Peter himselfe yea by a greater then Peter or Solomon even Christ Jesus That
A BRIEF EXPOSITION Of the whole Book of CANTICLES OR SONG OF SOLOMON Lively describing the Estate of the Church in all the Ages thereof both Jewish and Christian to this day And Modestly pointing at the Gloriousnesse of the restored Estate of the Church of the Iewes and the happy accesse of the Gentiles in the approaching daies of Reformation when the Wall of Partition shall bee taken away A Work very usefull and seasonable to every Christian but especially such as endeavour and thirst after the setling of Church and State according to the Rule and Pattern of the Word of God Written by that Learned and Godly Divine John Cotton Batchelor of Divinity and now Pastor of the Congregation at Boston in New-England LONDON Printed for Philip Nevil at the signe of the Gun in Ivie-Lane 1642. THE CANTICLES OR SONG OF SONGS opened and explained THE TEXT CHAP. I. THe Songs of Songs which is Solomons verse 2 Let him kisse mee with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better then wine verse 3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy Name is as ointment powred forth therefore doe the Virgins love thee verse 4 Draw me we will runne after thee the King hath brought me into his chambers we will bee glad and rejoyce in thee wee will remember thy love more then wine the upright love thee verse 5 I am blacke but comely O ye daughters of Jerusalem as the Tents of Kedar as the curtains of Solomon verse 6 Looke not upon me because I am black because the Sunne hath looked upon mee my Mothers children were angry with mee they made me the keeper of the Vineyards but my owne Vineyard have I not kept verse 7 Tell me O thou whom my soule loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy flock to rest at noone for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions verse 8 If thou know not O thou fairest among women goe thy way forth by the footsteps of thy flocke and feed thy kiddes besides the shepheards tents verse 9 I have compared thee O my love to a company of horses in Pharaohs chariots verse 10 Thy cheeks are comely with rowes of jewels thy neck with chains of gold verse 11 Wee will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver verse 12 While the King sitteth at his table my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof verse 13 A bundle of myrrhe is my welbeloved unto mee hee shall lie all night betwixt my breasts 14 My beloved is unto mee as a cluster of Camphire in the Vineyards of En-gedi verse 15 Behold thou art faire my love behold thou art faire and hast doves eyes verse 16 Behold thou art faire my beloved yea pleasant also our bed is green verse 17 The beames of our house are Cedar and our rafters of firre THE EXPLANATION Cant. 1. verse 1. The Song of Songs which is Solomons Verse 2 Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better then wine IT was the manner of ancient times at Espousalls and Nuptialls to indite and sing Epithalamia love-songs The title of which Psalme may seeme to bee penned by one of the chiefe singers of the Temple who now were all of them Prophets Asaph Heman Jeduthun upon occasion of Solomons marriage with Pharaohs Daughter for though shee was a stranger by birth from the common wealth of Israel yet his marriage was lawfull with her And therefore notwithstanding this marriage his love to God is still commended Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh King of Egypt and Solomon loved the Lord c. For indeed herein Solomon was First a type of Christ admitting the Gentiles into the fellowship of his marriage-bed Secondly this Pharaohs daughter became a Proselite to the Jewish Religion Hearken oh Daughter and consider and incline thine eare forget also thine owne people and thy fathers house c. Now though that marriage song was penned upon that occasion yet it ascendeth farre above all earthly respects of worldly marriage and by a divine and heavenly workmanship sets forth a heavenly marriage-song betweene Christ and his Church of like Argument was this song penned by Solomon himselfe not to expresse his affections to Pharaohs daughter or hers to him or the good parts of either of them no nor the like respects to any Shunamite amongst the rest of his wives as some have vainly conceived for then how absurd and monstrous were some of his comparisons likening his spouse to A company of Horses in Pharaohs Chariot her Head to Carmel her Eyes to Fish pooles her Nose to a Tower her Teeth to a flocke of sheep her whole Selfe to a terrible Army with Banners But his scope is to describe the estate of the Church towards Christ and his respect towards her from his own time to the last judgement as afterward it shall appeare Now through this whole marriage-song this Decorum it keepeth that though the Calamities of the Church be as well described throughout this song as the comfortable condition of the same in all ages yet such dismall passages are vailed and shadowed under some sweet and amiable resemblances lest the joy of a marriage feast should be darkned by unseasonable mention of so sad occurences Neither are all the passages of the estate of the Church in every age here described for how can that be in so short a song but the chiefe heads of things in every age are sweetly and shortly and lively not onely pointed at but decyphered These verses containe First the title of the whole booke verse 1. Secondly the description of the estate of the Church in the dayes First of Solomon verse 2. 4. Secondly of Solomon and Rehoboam verse 5. Thirdly of Rehoboam verse 6. 9. In the title we have First the form of the book It is A Song Secondly the excellency of it A Song of Songs Thirdly the Author of it Which is Solomons The Song of Songs c. In Collos 3. 16. there is mention made First of Psalmes Secondly Hymnes Thirdly spirituall Songs Amongst the Hebrewes there were Psalmes made to be sung with Instruments as well as with voyce and contained Arguments of all sort for petition thanksgiving and instruction Songs were chiefly made for the voice Hymnes are properly praises of God though any of these are somtimes put for all Use 1 First this doth let us see that it were to be wished that this booke were turned into verse or meeter in each language that wee might sing the Canticles as the Hebrews did Use 2 Secondly this teaches us to strive for such a gracious frame of spirit that we might alwayes bee fitted to sing to God This Song containes the estate of the Church as well in the worst as best times yet Solomon can as well sing in the misery of the Church as in her prosperity And David hath as well Psalmes of his
promise reacheth further then to preferre Solomon before Saul in reserving the kingdome to his posterity which he tooke from Saul for even from Solomons posteritie the kingdome was cut off in Jechoniah The promise therefore of mercy to Solomon above Saul reacheth to the bestowing of an heavenly kingdome upon him Besides in that place two blessings are promised First Adoption I will be his father c. Secondly Establishment in Gods house and kingdome so that if the latter promise should not evince his perseverance yet the former doth Use 2 Secondly this is to stirre us up to the reading and meditation of this booke the more for the Penmans sake The 2. 3. 4. verses sing and shew forth the estate of the Church in Solomons time Verse 5. the estate of the Church as well in Solomons time as in Rehoboams The verses following to the ninth the estate of the Church in all the time of Rehoboam In the Church of Solomons time foure passages are chiefly observable First Solomons choyce of heavenly wisedome by which chiefly wee enjoy sweet and familiar fellowship with God 1 King 3. 5. to 10. This is expressed verse 2. Secondly the sweet savour and fame of Solomons gifts and graces to the winning of the love and admiration of the sonnes of men Thirdly the drawing and gathering of all Israel to the Kings chambers the Courts of Solomons Temple or his care to bring on his people to the publick worship of God and their respect of him in regard thereof Fourthly the fall and deformity of the Church by Idolatrous worship and toleration thereof in many and yet the keeping of the native beautie of the Church in many others Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth c. It is a prayer of the Church or which is all one some chiefe member of it for a pledge of Christs sweet and familiar acquaintance and love and fellowship with her Kisses are pledges and incentives of love Men shall kisse his lips that answereth upright words This is the effect of upright Answers men kisse his lips but God kissing a mans lips is the cause of mans answering upright words his breathing into our mouths a right answer maketh us speake accordingly as on the contrary when one answers perversly unjustly erroneously Satan then hath kissed them with his kisses hee hath sitten as a lying spirit in their mouths The kisses of his mouth which is more then the kisses of his lips the one is a silent gesture of love the other implieth also amiable speeches when Christ First by the voice of his word or Secondly by the breath of his spirit doth either First put wisedome or grace into our hearts or Secondly speake peace or comfort to our soules I create the fruit of the lips peace peace c. Solomons wisedome is the grace of God as wickednesse is folly The beginning of this wisedome is the feare of God the end of it is the keeping of Gods Commandements This wisedome whoso findes findes Christ the wisedome of the Father in whom God is well pleased with us and in whom hee as it were kisseth us This wisedome doth not onely enable us to walke godlily to our salvation but likewise fits us to goe in and out before our families before our people and so enlarges us to all duties of our callings And to walke in the wayes of this wisedome brings peace to our soules and to those that live under us All her paths are peace For thy love is better then wine The favour of God in giving wisedome and thereby peace to a mans selfe and others depending on him is more worth then wine that is then whatsoever makes the heart of man glad This prayer was powred out by Solomon the chiefest member of the Church in this time when he prayed for wisedome and preferred it before long life riches victory over his enemies c. Or else this whole verse may expresse the desire of the Church to Solomon that he would expresse his love to her by his divine sentences and bookes and songs which are better then their civill peace then the sitting under their own Vine and Fig-tree Because of the savour of thy good oyntments Good oyntments are the gifts and graces of Gods spirit But the anoynting which ye have reccived of him c. so called because they heale a broken heart as oyle the oyle of Gods grace heales the bruises of the soule Secondly as oyle doth make the face to shine so do they Thirdly as by the holy oyles all the vessels of the Tabernacle were consecrated so by these graces all the vessels of mercy are consecrated to God Fourthly by the oyntment were anoynted to their offices Kings Priests and some Prophets so by these graces are wee annointed to God our Father in Christ Kings Priests and Prophets Savour is the manifestation of these graces as oyntments are manifested by their savour Thy name is as an oyntment powred forth that is precious sweet and famously renowned therefore doe the Virgins love thee The Virgins in this song are such as Christ hath not yet espoused to himselfe nor spoken for in way of marriage such as carnall Jewes or the Gentiles Love thee That is First honourably esteeme thee Secondly affect thy sight and fellowship Thirdly seeke after thee This was fulfilled in Solomon His owne people reverenced him even all of them his name was famous in all nations round about him all the Kings sent to him and of all people some came to heare his wisedome The Queen of Sheba commeth from the uttermost parts of the earth to heare it and counteth his people happy under it Hiram King of Tyre blessed God for his wisedome Draw me It may well be the speech of Solomon to Christ praying that Christ would draw him to the Father neere unto him in holy duties and promising to bring all the people to runne with him after God Or it may be the speech of the Church to Solomon desiring him to draw them together by publicke edicts and proclamations to the solemne duties of Gods worship and promising to come freely to run together willingly in the times of such assemblies which was done The King hath brought mee into his chambers That is into those bride-chambers where Christ familiarly converseth with them which were three First the Tabernacle of Gibeon Secondly the Arke at Jerusalem Thirdly the Temple Into these Solomon brought the whole congregation of Israel to solemne sacrifices The words following in this verse shew a threefold respect which the people beare to Solomon First they rejoyced in him Secondly they remember his love better then wine Thirdly the upright love him Their rejoycing in him is recorded their remembrance of his love more