Matthew Poole and continuators on Song of Solomon 1:8

8 If thou know not , O thou fairest among women , go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock , and feed thy kids beside the shepherds tents .

To wit, where I feed my Sheep. For this is Christs answer to his Spouse or People.

Though thou art black in thine own and others Eyes, yet thou art very beautiful and amiable to me, as being washed white in my Blood, and beautified with my Gifts and Graces.

Observe and follow the paths which my Sheep have trodden before thee, of my faithful Servants, Abraham, and others, whose Examples are propounded for our Imitation, Rom. 4. 12. Heb. 6. 12. For the church in all Ages is one and the same, and there is but one way for the substance, in which all the Saints from the beginning to the end of the World do walk, Christ being yesterday, and to day, and the same for ever, Heb. 13. 8. and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World, Rev. 13. 8.

Take care for the feeding or teaching of all, and especially of young and weak Christians, who do and shall associate themselves to thee, whom the Holy Ghost calls Lambs, Joh. 21. 15, 16. as here Kids. For although grown and wanton Goats are commonly used in Scripture in a bad sense, yet the Kids of the Goats do somtimes note Believers, as Isa. 11. 6. and Kids were among those Sacrifices which represented Christ, Heb. 9. 12, 13, 14.

Under the conduct, and according to the instruction of my faithful Shepherds, or Pastors, first and chiefly those who have gone before thee, the Prophets and Apostles, and after, and in subordination to them, and to their Writings, others whom I shall raise from time to time to feed my People with Wisdom and Understanding.

Marginal references: Ch. 5. 9. [illegible: 1 word] 1.