Salomon speaks of another whilst he names himself he made himself or for himself a Throne What is a King without a Throne Christ as yet is without the Throne but now he is about to make one for himself which Throne shall be of the Wood of Lebanon That is the rule of Christ shall be that in the world was in the time of the Temples estate it is of the Wood of Lebanon and not a new Law to rule by 1. The Pillars of it are silver The Law was divided into two Tables which as Pillars hold up the Throne of Christ for it is said The Throne is established by Justice and then said to be silver because as Silver is to Gold so is the Law to the Gospel 2. Supporters That is those on which the Pillars stood were of Gold it being founded on the Will and upheld by the Power of this Almightiness of God and his Iustice 3. The seat thereof was Purple Purple being a rich and Kingly colour did set out the Authority Christ had received from God to rule by and that others had to rule under him 4. The middest of it was a Coal of Love To shew that that which was comprehended within the Pillars of the Law was Love a Love like that of Fire much water could not quench it and that Gods Throne of Justice was full of Love to the Daughters of Jerusalem or that God ruled in a way of Love over Men commanding love of men to himself and others 1. The Law being holy just and good not Tyrannous 2. Commanding Love condemning Envy Oppression Hate c. 3. In this it shews what manner of men they ought to be that ascend into this Throne to judge and what the judgement ought to be and how to proceed and whose it ought to be It is very noteable that God sets down the Daughters of Jerusalem that is those of the Gospel estate who indeed have the coal of love in them which kindled by Christ in them But now in this verse It is very noteable that God sets down the daughters of Jerusalem that is the Gospell estate who indeed have the coal of love in them kindled by Christ to God and man But now in this verse Ver. 11. He calls on the Daughters of Sion which I take to be those that shall injoy the Rule of the Law as the Jews once had and Gospell also or it may be the Jewish believers are meant in this place 1. The Spirit calls on them to go forth from their captivity of darknesse 2. And to see king Solomon that they may approve of his rule for all authority is now given the Son and shews that though when Christ came in the flesh they saw nothing in him now that he comes to raigne they shall behold another glory in him then before 3. It may be applied to the people and present state of the Jews that they on the giving up of the Kingdome by the Gentiles to Christ are called forth from their Dens of darknesse to see and behold what honor was now done to Christ to whom Solomon their most Royall King could no waies compare 4. Christ the true King of peace was now crowned with that crown that Solomon his Vicegerent was crowned by the Jews and so proved to be the Christ of which sales God against all the worlds great opposition yet have I set my King on my holy hill of Zion in which it appears that Zion was the place or Representative of Monarchy and the Rule of Christ to be as King in the world 5. It was the crown of his Metropolis for so {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies a Metropolis which is some eminent place and people are to do for Christ Rev. 6.2 a thing not yet done and that people do it shall be as the Metropolis of the great King or his Mother 6. This is done in the day of his Espousalls that is in that day Christ is espoused as Lord to the people the people as servants to the Lord in that day Christ contracts affinity with a people that they which before were not a people do become the people of the living Lord and those under other rule and law are beasts 7. It was the day of the joy of his heart 1. Christs heart longs for this day it is the travail of his soul 2. We are not more glad of Christ then he is of us for his delight are with the sons of men John 1.7.23.27 That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them Christ would have God love them as himself and that the sense of Gods loving him may be shed abroad in their hearts as loving them with the same love he loved him CAP. IV. Ver 1. BEhold thou art fair my Love behold thou art fair The Gentiles having set up the Mosaicall Rule and made Christ their King the Lord he commends her beauty under that administration 2. With her beauty she had simplicity in her Doves eyes not desiring any other Lord or Law but his 3. These eyes are said to be within her Lock Note She is not said to have any Head for Christ is the Head of the Church Estate not the worlds and therefore this here is spoke of the world 4. Her Hayre that is those of her constitution were Goats a Flock o Goats such as indeed the men of the world are from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifies fear they being held thereunder as yet Heb. 2.18 5. These are as those appear from Mount Gilead Mount Gilead was the place where Jacob and Laban made their Covenant and feasted and rolled a heap of stones See here by this the Nation as Goats first appear in making Covenant with God in which is known who the people are God hath chosen Gen. 21.48 Ver. 2. Thy teeth that is the Teachers of the Law were as a Flock Our translation adds of Sheep which is not in the Originall and omitted because not of the Church or Gospell fold as yet it being not set up among men 1. Again these Teachers seem to differ from the goats in the hair and are said to be shorn being such as had in some measure put off their old conversation and were come up from the washing of repentance and regeneration 2. Every one bears twins and none is barren among them they addicting themselves to fruitfullnesse in good works commanded by the Law and Gospell Ver. 3. As a thred are thy two lips The Law is fitly here compared to a line or thred and the two tables to the two lips who were to be spoke by as by a line thy speech is comly shewing that the Law taught now should be a comely a usefull thing to the people that were under the same to rule and govern them As a divided Pomgranat or a Pomgranat broken one half set on one side of the face and the other on the other so are thy temples The
Temples are the Magistracy who ruled and governed under Christ in the dispensations of the Law who were within the locks the people choosing them maintaining and defending them and shews that by divine authority it should come again to be set up among men two Judges judging in every city Esay 1.26 Ver. 4. Thy Neck is as the Tower David builded for an armory the neck is that the head rests on and is fastned to and is here compared to an armory which is the old Testament wherein the Worthies of God have their arms hung up for men to have at need in which there are a hundred bucklers for defence from Satans temptations and the old covenant made with God by many worthies the only preservative and safety of a nation Ver. 5. Thy Brests that is the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or the preparatory Ministery or doctrine of the Law like two young Roes being the beginning-knowledge for children which twins are one Law though two tables Christ the glory of God and man is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or Gloria the Glory feeds among the Lillies that is the Saints gathered into the the Church only on which saith Christ Ver. 6. I will go to my self that is I will be saith Christ with the Father and leave the world without manifestations of my presence untill the day appear and the shadows are fled for as yet the darknesse of the Antichristian estate or state of nature from which the shadows of that night were not fled untill which be done in the soul Christ is with himself not with the soul I will goe to the mountains of Myrrhe the three persons and to the hill of frankincense as one God Note In this estate though Christ were King yet his glory was not manifested thereunder untill the other administration of the day by which unbelief and ignorance are expell'd by the spirit or none can injoy Christ as he is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the glory The Church Estate Ver. 7. Thou art all fair my beloved there is not one spot in thee 1. In this Christ speaks to believers the Church 2. He commends all in her saying Behold thou art all fair 3. And her in all saying there is no spot in thee Ver. 8. Come with me from Lebanon 1. The Law estate is not to be continued in by the Elect. 2. Men continue in it untill called from it by Christ being shut up under the Law to the Faith that is after to be revealed Gal. 3.23 3. It is Christ calls men by the Gospell thence and makes them free from it 4. Christ is strength and help to bring men thence they cannot come thence alone without him thence he saith Come with me 5. My Spouse is a word never given the Law estate but the Church drawn from Lebanon and joyned to Christ by the new covenant 6. He calls her again and again from Lebanon to himself which shews how hard and how slow men are to believe and to leave themselves the Law estate Rev. 18.4 Saith the Lord thou shalt come with me and look or sing with me from the head of Amana Shiner Hermon hills about Judea 1. By Hills I understand the worldly powers and greatnesse thereof as under Antichrist and other Kings of the Nations 2. The top of or head of these hills are the supreme powers thereof 3. From these or their subjection they shall be fully set free after that the first people have crowned Christ King 4. When they come thence they shall sing and go forth with joy as Israel out of Egypt Hos. 2.15 5. In these hills or Dens of Lions Gods people have been kept all the time of Antichrist as Daniel in the Lions Den Christ untill the call having been there with them and kept them but now if they stay after the call and he leave them there they are threatned with ruine Rev. 18.6 6. From the mountains of Leopards that is the false Church estate which was a filthy spotted Beast quick and nimble for the pray the Beast and Kings ruling together Rev. 13.2 the Papacy is compared to a Leopard Ver 9. Thou hast ravished my heart my sister my Spouse 1. The Church relates to Christ as his sister being like us in all things sinne excepted and as a brother Heb. 2.11 2. As his Spouse and he her husband Ephes. 5.31 32· 3. He is much more delighted and taken up with her then she with him 4. This delight comes from one of the Churches eyes that is her eye of Faith or some person God raised up at that time to restore the Church by whom the Ministery of the Gospell which had been hid comes to be revealed and thus Moises said of Hobab that he might be eyes to them in their journey through the Wildernesse and who knows not that the Prophets were called Seers 4. With a chain of thy neck the body politick under Christ had a neck so the Church estate by which the head and body are united here by the Neck I understand the New Testament and it's Covenant made therein by which Christ and the Church are one 2. About this Neck there is a chain which Chain are the promises and profession of the Believer made before the Church of denying himself forsaking all and becoming Christs by which as with a Chain the Believers come to have their neck adorned by the Lord and shews that in this his glory was set forth and was become an Ornament unto him of praise Ver. 10. Upon taking the covenant and making this good promise and profession this good profession before many Witnesses as Paul speaks the Lord cries out How fair are thy Loves in the plurall my Sister my Spouse to shew she loved him in denying her self and in forsaking all and in bearing her crosse and in following Christ Christ takes no content in any thing but this nor no content in any man till then when they are under the Gospell Covenant then the souls love to Christ is better then wine to comfort him and refresh his soul after his suffering instead of the vineger and gall given him 3. Note the gradation better much better how much better then Wine which shews how acceptable the Believers love and service to Christ is and without love all service is nothing and that he looks on it in the parts thereof and calls them Loves 4. And the smell of thy Ointments then all spices 1. The Lord gives in this estate abundance of his Spirit Act. 2 17. 2. The graces hereof are called Ointments and they his annointed ones John 2.27 3. These Ointments have a savour of the Spirit and of the divine Nature 4. All Spices are no way comparable hereunto Ver. 11. Thy lips that is her speech or words being Evangelicall dropped as a honey comb full of honey and under her tongue that is she had in the meditation of those things she spake both
honey and milk the believer apprehended more then he could utter of Christ in his own soul And the smell of thy Garments in the plurall 1. The first Garment is that of Christ by Justification Believers putting on and being cloathed with Jesus Christ in the wedding garment of baptism 2. Is of sanctification cloathed with humility their feet shod with the Gospell their heads covered with the helmet of Salvation the girdle of Truth c. Ephes. 6.13 4. These garments in their smell are said to be like Lebanon that is the Law righteousnesse but more perfect and intire and of a more divine Nature through Christ Ver. 12. The Church is described to be 1. A garden as differing from the wildernesse or desert world 2. It is inclosed from the world that those in and of the world cannot come unto her or be of her Rev. 2.12.27 3. This inclosure is of the Spouse or Church under the Gospell from them that are of the world under the Law 4. A Spring in which riseth life comfort and content which Spring also is shut up that none can come at the water thereof 5. A Fountain sealed so that no Unbelievers can come at the Fountain for that Seal nor at the Spring or garden for the Inclosure but they must destroy the Inclosure first and then it ceaseth to be the Spouse of Christ Rev. 11.2 Zach. 13.1 1. The inclosing of the garden is Gods Ordinance set up in the Church for the admitting of Members or Believers and keeping or shutting out Unbelievers by which as by a fence it was hedged in Esay 5.2 2. As a garden it had all pleasant plants planted in it and when planted pruned and dressed and dunged as in the parable of the Fig tree Luke 13.8 whereas the trees of the Forrest grew wild or of the Wildernesse were not regarded 3. It is a Spring shut up with a door John 10 1.3 I am the door to which there is a Porter even the Spirit or as a stone must first be rolled away before any tast the water Gen. 29.2 of a well that is covered 4. A sealed Fountain and must be opened Zach. 13.1 to which is not only a cover but the cover sealed 1. Internally by the Spirit John 3.5 2. Externally by Baptism John 3.5 Ver 13. Thy Emissions are Paradise Pomgranats with fruits of delight 1. It is the use of the Spirit to distinguiâ—h things by the place they grow in or are of as the Grapes of one climate are far better then another the Vine of Sodom and Zion much differed in Gods eye from one came sweet wine the other sowre and bitter juice one had life and the other death in it and was of death So here the Pomgranats are of Paradise the delightfull fruits of Paradise which was a place exceeded all other for the choicenesse of fruit and shews believers now should by far exceed any ordinary men of any other age such also was the cypresse with the spikenard 1. By Pomgranats Brightman understands the Ministery then thus that the Ministery of this restored estate of the Church shall be from heaven or have a call from God intimated in that they are of Paradise Rev. 21.2 2. But I rather understand by the Pomgranats the Apostles 3. By the fruits of delight the Prophets in their Prophecies whose fruit is of much delight to the Saints in all ages 4. By Camphir the Evangelist sending out and evaporating it self into a most sweet savour being of the pure juice of a tree both bright and clear Ver. 14.5 By Spikenard the Pastor twice set down because his Ministery was exhortatory and respected the Society of the Teacher that went before and of the Evangelist that came after to minister perswading to exceed the infants and to attain perfection 6. By Saffron that is of a red and dying nature of things dipt in it and cordiall I understand the Teacher by whose ministery men were dipped in the bloud of Christ and call'd Christians 7. By calamus is meant the Elders who had the Reed of Rule or Government 8. By Cynamon the Deacons that were imployed about the Bark of the Tree to provide for the poor the Widdow and Orphans in their bodily estate 1. With all the trees of Incense that is all those Belivers under the ministery of the Evangelists partakers eminently of the divine nature 2. Trees of Myrrhe that is those Believers under the Pastor made spirituall 3. Trees of Aloes that is those under the Teachers Ministery who as yet are as it were carnall With all the heads of Balsamum or choice balsome which is that these all had the unction of the Spirit of grace upon them every one and therefore put in the last place and without which none might be admitted therefore the Spirit was given to every one to profit withall 1 Cor. 2.7 Ver. 15. In this also was the Fountain of Gardens which is Christ as a garden cannot thrive without it have a Well to water it in drought so cannot the Church be without Christ from whence the river runs in the paradise of God Rev. 22.1 2. A pit that is the Gospell into which the living water conveies it self and out of which the Saints are to draw it for their uses and occasions Esay 12.3 3. Streames from Lebanon which is the Law Ver. 16. Awake North wind and come O South wnd and blow upon my garden 1. The Garden is the Church 2. Christ calls it his he having redeemed it with his Bloud He seeth the wants of his Garden he calls to the winds the North Wind and the South Wind some understand here by the differing operations of the Spirit others the teaching of the Word 4 The end that the Balsome that is the graces of the Saints may be exercised quickned stirred up and brought forth in them in which the use of the Word is lively by Christ set forth Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruit 1. The Church longs to have Christ in her and with her 2. To have Christ eat his pleasant fruit in her that is that Christ should see what his death had done and Resurrection in saving sanctifying and redeeming so many precious souls from sin and death and hell which was the travail of his soul God promised the Lord Jesus he should see Esay 53.10.11 and now feeds thereon as on the pleasant sweet and delightfull fruit of his desires and Passion which is that other meat he had to eat I have another and how do I long untill it be accomplished CAP. V Ver. 1. I Am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse I have gathered my Myrrhe 1. That is Christ received that glory was given by the Church to him in his Divine Nature as Son of God with his Balsom that is the content he found in the graces of his Spirit appearing in the Saints all which they acknowledged to be from Christ and Christs as Paul Galat. 2.