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
Resurrection being very sweet and saving as the Tree of Liâ—e Rev. 22.2 Christ giving the savour thereof in the sweetness of Gods Divine love and mercy to her thereby verse 4. He brought me into the house of Wine 1. That is the society of men in Christ where the Lords Supper was to be administred at which the whole Church met partly celebrated by Wine in which the Churches estate was fully constituted 1 Cor. 11.20 2. Called the House of Wine because the wine of Gospel joy and peace is there to that society most Divinely published and applyed 3. Love was his Banner over me 1. The Banner signifies Christ held out in the Gospel 2. This Banner was his love 3. This love as A Banner conserved her and was spread over her wrapping her as it were up therein as in a garment of love Verse 5. The Church being in this flourishing estate once again declines but it is after a long time of prosperity predicted Rev. 20.7 Satan is again let loose verse 8. He again by false Doctrine deceives the world few are freed from his delusions when there will again open and secret Anti-christian enemies arise and bring a very great persecution of the Saints but not so overcome them as before v. 5. the Anti-christian Ministry said to be dead at the binding of Satan or said again to live after the 1000 years and the Devil got his liberty when the Church cryeth stay or support me with Flaggons or Vessels in which the Wine or Gospel-grace was laid up in which shewes she was much burthened and oppressed and cryes for support and help from the World in which it seems she had few left to comfort her Comfort me with Apples Christ is compared to the Apple tree and the works of Christ for the Church in his Mediatourship are those Apples with which she would be comforted I am sick saith she of love That is she loved Christ dearly but the Priests were false to her and would not satisfie her they kept both Flagons and Apples from her also leaving her to her fainting estate Verse 6. Christ supplies their lack and he puts one hand under her head that hangs down and is very heavy and the other embraceth her that is holds her up that she sink or faint not which ends in sleeps and drowsiness Verse 7. Are the words of Christ as {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the Femenine clears sufficiently again he speaks them to the Daughters of Jerusalem that they wake not his love that is the Gentiles Church until she be made willing thereunto Now in this verse Christ concludes the first period of the Gentiles Church having in it its rise its fall its restauration and decay after that again That in this Part is meant undeniably the Gentile Church 1. She had never received a kiss from Christ that is Christ never owned her as yet 2. She is shaddowâ—d out by Pharaoh's daughter a Gentile 3. She is made keeper of the Vinyards the Iews being broken off 4. She keeps not her own Vinyard but turns Antichristian 5. The Saints are employed in Pharaohâ—s Chariots or Wars in Reformations 6 The fellowship intimated in the bed Cap. 1. verse 16. which she had with Christ now was new and of no long contiuance before the Gospel estate she being without God and Christ in the world Eph. 2.12 7. These things are so spoken of the Gentiles that they cannot be rightly applyed to the Iews Church or State The Jewish Church begins Cap. 2. Verse 8. 1. The Voyce of my Beloved The Baptist was that Voyce in the Wilderness that prepared the way of Christ or gave notice of his coming 2. John he came leaping upon the Mountains as it were to beat them into a Plain This coming sets out the end of his Ministry and what he was to do upon the Hills also Luke 3.5 Verse 9. My Beloved that is Christ is like the Roe or rather the Church apprehends in Christ the likeness of glory or appearance of glory in his Divine Nature and says my Beloved is to be assimulated to glory or the yong of Rams in his Humane Nature being the Lamb slain from the beginning of the World Behold he standeth behind our Wall the Humane Nature was as a Wall behind which Christ stood being among the Iews his Humanity and the meanness of his Estate was as a Wall which hindred them from the sight of him it may be applyed to the Ceremonial Law he looketh through the Windows that is the Divine Nature did manifest it self through those out-lets as by the Windows of the Humane Nature whereat he gives out the knowledge of his God-head as by the hand when he did any wonders God came to manifest himself to those that saw them so when he taught he manifested himself by that Teaching to men God as it were looking out at the Windows in his forgiving sins c. Thus Paul to Timothy God was seen of men shewing himself through the Lettice by the many ways God had to discover himself by Christs Humane Nature to man 1 Tim. 3.16 manifested in Flesh Verse 10. The Church speaks of Christ as her Love he answers her love and speaks in love to her again it was both answer and speech also to the Churches he now teacheth and the Church knows his voice from any other He saith to her Arise that is from thy earthly estate to a heavenly from a servant to a Queen from beggarly Rudiments to Royal Ornaments Again he calls her to come away the first shews how hardly the Iews were brought from their Ceremonies or that they were first brought in part from that way of worship by Christ and then fully afterward by his Apostles The words in the Original signifie come from thy self first as natural and secondly as a member of the Iews Church here Prophetically is hinted at Christ calling the Apostles call the seventy's call at several seasons Verse 11. He useth reasons to perswade her hereunto that she may not doubt to Arise and come away upon his call which shews men should not do any more then they have warrant for in the Word from God to do but sit still until they have his Word to walk by as Mat. 14.28 Peter did 1. The winter is past a time that is bad to travel in for a woman in which the Lord compares the law estate to winter the Gospel to summer in the winter the days are short and nights long the Sun shaddowed not shining with so strong a heat all things dead and cold so were the Ceremonies and Service of that time if compared with the staâ—e of the Gospel 2. The Reigne or Ministry is now changed from Law to Gospel Heb. 7.12 3. It is now come to me I am now thy Priest and no more Aaron 26.28 Verse 12. The flowers appear on earth who are the Apostles the first fruits and the voyce of the Turtle which is Christ
out by ours as some on this Text indeavour Note Some on this description made of Christ indeavour to set forth his beauty by ours or that is in us when the Prophet apprehended in Christ his Divine Nature as well as human in which his lovelynesse and beauty mainly did consist and of which no human figure can be any representative at all Saith Giffard hereon I do not hold it necessary to interpret every part as signifying somewhat but only this The Spouse describing Christ maketh her description according to the parts of the naturall Body of man but observe you the names of the parts indeed are expressed in which is his humanity but the Representatives differ as gold from the head of man Doves from the eyes rings from the hands c. Brightman speaking of the person of Christ and two Natures sayes Unum idem corpus ambâ— constituum unde non minus illius quà m hujus veuustas ad totius pulchritudinem pertinet Ac peritissimus artifex hac varietate satietati occurrit nec Sponsam indecore monstrosam proteam effingit Bernard ends his Exposition with the beginning of the Churches description of Christ saying Obuixè adjurat paratè respondet figurat ornatè distinctè partitur 〈◊〉 perâ—ranfit sum â—uim stringit noscio an sufficienter exprimit scio quidem quod affectuosè concludit and after O gratiosus Sponsus amabilis valde in quo Generatio Divina candet rubet humana Ver. 13. His cheeks are as a bed of Spices or Balsom 1. The Cheek is that part of man by which he is usually known from others so Christs discovery was in the spirituall residence of the divine grace and glory appeared to be in him â— If we read the word Spices then in him and from him issued all calling and authority of the Ministeriall Officers and Offices he being King Priest Prophet Apostle Evangelist Pastor and Teacher of the Church in which these Offices as plants in a garden bed had their rise residence and being 3. Sweet Flowers these sweet flowers were the tops of the Balsom or Spices as the tops of the Towers thereof which were the Apostles who were the flowers and the other Ministery the stalks they stood upon in whom the Lord was especially made known and in their Doctrine and Gifts of the Spirit conferred on them with their calling in which the Kingly Priestly and Propheticall Offices of Christ and Power in an eminent way are set forth 4. His lips like Lillies there being no guile found in them nor from them in which they exceeded Lillies Myrrhe dropped from them that is divine wisdome and knowledge he only bringing Life and Immortality to Light Ver. 14. His hands are as gold rings set with Berill others read the words thus His hands are as rings of gold set with Chrysolit Brightman manus ejus orbes auri repleti Berillo Thalasio I read them thus his hands are globes of gold made full or full set with Tarsis for so the 70. render the word retaining the Hebrew {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a word sometime rendred the Hyacinth the Onix Berill Chrysolite Carbuncle so that either the word should be retained or said to be set with every precious stone 1. Christs hands are as gold because what he did was done by a Divine Power and Authority 2. They are round which shews the perfections of them for forma rotunda est capacissima 3. The Works of Christ had all kind of Excellency in them and were as precious stones adorning his hands of all sorts and kinds 4. If we read them Rings of Gold 1. It shews the Authority Christ had from his Father to execute all his Offices and do all his Works for so the Ring in Scripture set down signifies Authority 2. It had not only power in the hand and Authority in the Ring but a pretiousnesse of use for all men that it did concern in the precious Stone in which was no Tyranny and oppression but Life and Salvation His belly is as bright Yvory overlaid with Saphyrs Ver. 14. His legs are as Pillars of Marble set on sockets of fine gold 1. In the Pillars of Marble is set out the strength Christ stood by and the sure standing of all such as stood on his strength 2. They are set in sockets of Gold the Divine Nature ministring thereto help and strength 3. By {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I understand Leg and Foot and shews that the affections of Christ were of a Divine Nature set out by the sockets of fine gold 4. His countenance or appearance was as Lebanon as the choise Cedars overlooking all earthly and carnall things and set on the top of the mountains or Powers of the world Ver. 15. His Pallat or Mouth is of most sweet things that is Christ reveals and discovers most sweet things for Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christs discovery in which are the sweets of God and man 2. All in him are desireable as these are excellent before so all else in him are so and nothing in him but is so where as God or Man occasioning the joy of all 3. This is my beloved Christ ye see is known of his Saints which is the cause they love him for love cannot be sincere that is not grounded on knowledge 4. She knows him as her friend supplying and supporting her in all her extremities by a long and daily experimentall knowledge she had of his being to her so Hosea 2. I will return to my first husband then was it better with me then now 5. The application of this description is made to the daughters of Jerusalem who hereupon are greatly drawn to inquire after and to know him CAP. VI Ver. 1. WHere is thy beloved gone Christ is dearly mist when mist and he is hardly found when gone from men 2. See she asks of them they ask of her for Christ they are as well troubled for him as she when they knew him and what needs there were of him 3. They inquire where he is turned aside alluding to Cap. 5. Ver. 6. 4. They inquire that they might seek Christ with her in which it seems that the Lord will cause the Jews as well as the Gentiles to lay out for Christ together one provokes the other 5. The Jew hath the first discovery of Christ from the Gentile Ver. 2. A church is gathered called the Garden and his Garden the first church 2. He is found among the Gentiles first who discover him to be gone down into his garden his church not into Antichrists 3. To the beds of Balsom viz. the Administrators of the church in them Christ appears as the means by which he restores the Church 4. Feeding in the gardens not garden signifying the severall distinct churches rising from that first Vid. Cap. 1. Ver. 5. 5. And to gather Lillies that is call the Saints and unite them into fellowship with himself in the way of