Matthew Poole and continuators on Song of Solomon 2

1 I Am the rose of Sharon, and the lilly of the valleys .

These are the words either 1. Of the Spouse, continuing her discourse. Or rather 2. Of the Bridegroom, drawing forth the Churches Affections to him. He compares himself to the Rose and Lilly, for fragrancy and beauty. Nor is it in the least degree indecent, that Christ should thus commend himself, partly because his excellency is so transcendently great, that he is free from all suspicion of Vanity and Self-flattery; and partly because it is suitable to the stile of such Writings, and to the present design of recommending himself to the affections of his Spouse. He mentions the Rose of Sharon, which was a very fruitful place, as is evident from 1 Chron. 27. 29. Isa. 33. 9. & 65. 10. and famous for Roses, as may seem probable from Isa. 35. 1, 2. or, as others translate it, the Rose of the field, which may note that Christ is not only pleasant and beautiful, but free and communicative, offering himself to all that come to him. The Lilly is a beautiful and glorious Creature, Mat. 6. 29. especially to one who beholds it through a magnifying Glass. He saith, the Lilly of the valleys, because they grew and flourished best in such low and waterish Grounds.

2 As the lilly among the thorns , so is my love among the daughters .

Compared with Thorns, which it unspeakably exceeds in Glory and Beauty.

So far, and much more, doth my Church or People, excel all other Assemblies or People. The title of Daughter is oft given to whole Nations; whence we read of the Daughter of Babylon, and of Egypt, and of Edom, &c. Isa. 47. 1. Ier. 46. 11. Lam. 4. 21. These are Christs words, to which the Spouse makes the following Reply. And it is observable here, that as Christ is here represented as a Shepherd, and the Spouse as a Country Virgin, so the similitudes here used are agreeable to that estate.

3 As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood , so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Whose fruit is very pleasant and wholsom.

Which are either barren, or bear ungrateful and worthless fruit.

Being weary and heavy laden with manifold sins and troubles, inward and outward, I confidently reposed my self under his Protection (which is commonly signified by a shadow, as Isa. 4. 6. & 25 4. &c.) and by him was defended from the scorching heat of Gods Wrath, and from the Curse of his fiery Law, and from the mischief or hurt of all sorts of distresses.

The benefits which I received by him, the clear, and full, and certain knowledge of Gods Will, and the way of Salvation, Adoption, and Remission of Sins, Faith, and Repentance, and all manner of Grace, and Assurance of Glory. Thus he was to me both a Sun, and a Shield, as is said, Psal. 84. 11.

Marginal references: Heb. Idelighted and sat down, &c.; Heb. palat.

4 He brought me to the banqueting house , and his banner over me was love .

Heb. House of wine, or, by a common Synecdoche, of feasting. By which he understands the places in which, or the means and instruments by which Believers receive the Graces and Blessings of Christ, to wit, the holy Scriptures, Ministers, & publick Assemblies, & all Christs Institutions.

Or, to, or towards me, by the lifting up or displaying whereof I was invited and encouraged to come in to him, and to list my self under him, as Soldiers are by the lifting up of a Banner or Ensign, of which see Isa. 11. 10. & 49. 22.

The Love of Christ crucified, which, like a Banner, is displaid in the Gospel, whereby sinners are drawn and engaged to come to Christ, see Io[illegible: 1+ letters]. 3. 14. & 12. 32. 2 Cor. 5. 14. The Motto or Device of Christs Banner was not like those of other great Generals, a Lion, or Leopard, or Eagle, but Love, by which alone Christ made all his Conquests.

Marginal references: Heb. house of wine.

5 Stay me with flagons , comfort me with apples ; for I am sick of love .

Or, Support me, keep me from sinking or [illegible: 1+ letters]ainting. The Spouse speaks this to her Bride-maids, the daughters of Ierusalem, as it is expressed v. 7. or to the servants or Friends of the Bridegroom there waiting, and to the Bridegroom himself; as a person ready to faint cries to any or all that are near to him, or her, for help.

With Wine, which is a good cordial, Ps. 104. 15. Pro. 31. 6, 7. and which was there present, v. 4. Flagons are here, and 1 Chr. 16. 3. put for Flagons of Wine, as it is fully expressed, Hos. 3. 1. or for the Wine contained in them, as the Cup is put for Wine, Luk. 22. 20. by a common Metonymy.

With odoriferous Apples, such as Pomgranates, or the like, the smell whereof was grateful and useful to persons ready to faint. By these Metaphors understand the application of the Promises, and the comfortable and quickening influences of the Spirit.

Either 1. With transports of joy, which somtimes causes a fainting of the Spirits, as Gen. 45. 26. 1 Kin. 10. 5. Or 2. With grief for his departure from her, of which we read, Ch. 3. 1, 2. or for fear of it. Or rather 3. With ardent desire of a stricter Union, and clearer discoveries of his Love, and perfect and uninterrupted Communion with him in Glory. That sickness is somtimes the effect of Love hath been oft observed by Physicians.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]

6 His left hand is under my head , and his right hand doth embrace me.

As a pillow for me to rest upon. No sooner did I cry out for help, but he was at hand to succour me, and did manifest his tender Care and dear Love to me.

Marginal references: Ch. 8. 3.; Or, was.; Or, did.

7 I charge you , O ye daughters of Ierusalem , by the roes, and by the hinds of the field , that ye stir not up, nor awake my love , till he please .

This verse is spoken either 1. By the Bridegroom, who having reposed the sick Church in his Arms, chargeth them not to disturb her, till she please, as the last clause, in this case, must be rendred. Or rather 2. By the Bride, as may be gathered, 1. From the connexion; because both the foregoing and following words are hers. 2. Because it was more decent for the Bride than for the Bridegroom to give this charge to the Bride-maids, the daughters of Ierusalem; and therefore in all places in this Book, where they are mentioned, the person speaking to them is the Bride, and not the Bridegroom, and particularly Ch. 3. 5. & 8. 4. where this verse is repeated, and is consessedly and evidently spoken by the Spouse.

My Bride-maids, Friends, and Members, over whom I have Authority.

Either 1. By the kindness you have to those pretty and amiable Creatures, as you would not injure nor disturb them, nor drive them away, but please your selves with the sight of them, as Shepherds and Country-Damosels commonly do. Or 2. By the Example of those Creatures, which are pleasant, and loving in their carriage towards one another.

Which have their usual abode in the fields.

That you do not disturb nor offend him by your miscarriages, but permit him and me to enjoy a quiet repose. Do nothing to grieve him, or molest me.

My dearly beloved, called Love Emphatically, to express her great passion for him. So Love is used, Cant. 7. 6. and in other Authors.

i. e. Never, as this word, until, in such like Phrases, is commonly used, as Gen. 28. 15. 2 Sam. 6. 23. Isa. 22. 14. For neither can sin ever please him, nor can the Church bear it, that Christ should ever be offended, or that her sweet Fellowship with him should be interrupted.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].; Ch. 3. 5. & 8. 4.

8 The voice of my beloved ! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills .

Methinks I hear his voice. The Spouse being now refreshed and revived with Christs presence, awakes out of sleep, and breaks forth into this joyful Exclamation. Christs voice is nothing else but the word of Grace revealed outwardly in the Gospel, or the Evangelical passages of the old Testament, and inwardly to the heart of the Spouse by the Spirit of God.

Either 1. He is coming, or will shortly come into the World; which Solomon and the rest of the Old-Testament Prophets, and Saints, did earnestly desire and confidently expect. Or 2. He is coming to me for my support and comfort.

He saith, leaping and skipping, to note that Christ came readily, and swiftly, with great desire and pleasure; and he adds, upon the Mountains and Hills, either with respect to Mount Zion or Ierusalem, in and from which Christ first discovered himself: or to signifie Christs fixed resolution to come, in spight of all discouragements and difficulties which stood in his way: or to shew that his coming was manifest and visible to the Eye of her Faith. Or in this Phrase he may have a respect to the Roes and Harts here following.

9 My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart : behold he standeth behind our walk , he looketh forth at the window , shewing himself through the lattess.

Either 1. In loveliness. Or rather 2. In swiftness, by comparing this verse with the former. The swiftness of roes is noted 2 Sam. 2. 18. 1 Chr. 12. 8. He is coming to me with all speed and will not tarry a moment beyond the appointed and proper season.

And whilest he doth for wise and just reasons forbear to come, he is not far from us. Though he be not yet come into the door of our House, yet he stands behind the wall of our House, and is always at hand, to give me that succour and comfort which I do or may need and desire. Both this and the following Phrases seem to note the obscure and imper[illegible: 1+ letters]ct manner and degree of Christs manifesting himself to his People, either 1. Under the Law in comparison of his discover[illegible: 1+ letters]es in the Gospel. Or 2. In this Life, in comparison of what he will do in the future Life.

From his high and heavenly palace towards me, to watch over me and refresh me with the prospect of his favour.

This Phrase and that, through the lattess, intimate that the Church doth indeed see Christ, but, as through a glass, darkly, as is said even of Gospel-Revelations, 1 Cor. 13. 12. and was much more true of legal Administrations.

Marginal references: Ver. 7.; Or, [illegible: 1 word].; Heb. [illegible: 1 word].

10 My beloved spake , and said unto me, Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away .

Invited and called me outwardly by his Word, and inwardly by his Spirit.

Shake off sloth and security, and disentangle thy self more fully from all the snares of this World, and of thy own Lusts, that thou maist be more ready to come to me, and more fit for my embraces.

Unto me, and with me, follow me fully, serve me more perfectly, labour for a nearer Union, and more satisfying communion with me.

11 For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over, and gone.

Which made the ways in some sort unpassable, and so might seem to hinder or allright thee from coming to me. This winter, and the following rain, may be understood either 1. Of worldly Tribulations, which he intimates to be past and gone, to wit so far that they shall not destroy nor hurt the Church, but on the contrary do her much good, both by multiplying her Members, and increasing her Graces, and promoting her Eternal Happiness. Or rather 2. Of spiritual Troubles arising in the Minds and Consciences of sinners, from a deep sense of the guilt of sin, the Justice and Wrath of God, the Sentence and Curse of the Law; all which made them afraid to come unto God, and desirous, if possible, to run away from him. But, saith Christ, I have removed this great impediment, God is ready to be reconciled, and therefore cast off all discouragements and excuses, and come unto me.

12 The flowers appear on the earth , the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land .

This and the following clauses are here alledged as evidences of the Spring time, which, in the mystical and principal sense, seems to signifie the day of Grace, or the glad tidings of Salvation proposed to [illegible: 1+ letters]nners in the time of the Law, by Types, and Shadows, and Promises, but much more clearly and fully in the Gospel, and all the discoveries and communications of Gods Grace to Mankind in holy Ordinances, in the Gifts, and Graces, and Comfor[illegible: 1+ letters]s of the Holy Spirit, vouchsafed unto, and appearing in Believers, as Buds and Blossoms do in the Spring time.

When Birds sing most [illegible: 1+ letters]reely and sweetly, as they do in the Spring. Or, as the ancient Translators render it, of cutting or cropping, not Trees, which agrees not with that season, but the flowers last mentioned, for Nos[illegible: 1+ letters]gays, or other uses.

Which changeth its place according to the season, as is observed, Ier 8. 7. and by all other Writers, who affirm that it disappears in Winter, and appears in the Spring, as some others Birds also do; but this seems particularly to be mentioned, because it doth not only give notice of the Spring, but also doth aptly represent the Spirit of God, which even the Chaldee Paraphrast understands by this Turtle, which appeared in the shape of a Dove, and which worketh a Dove-like Meekness, and Chastity, and Faithfulness, in Believers.

In Immanuels Land, as Canaan is called, Isa. 8. 8. in the Church.

13 The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs , and the vines, with the tender grape, give a good smell . Arise my love, my fair one, and come away .

Which it shooteth forth as soon as it doth Leaves, in the Spring-time, Mat. 24. 32.

Which, though not strong, is pleasant and grateful, and given by it in the progress of the Spring.

These words are here repeated, to shew both the Churches infirmity, and indisposition, which needs so many Calls and Arguments to press so necessary and advantageous a Duty; and Christs tender compassion to her weakness, and servent desire of converse with her.

14 O my dove , that art in the clefts of the rock , in the secret places of the stairs , let me see thy countenance , let me hear thy voice ; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely .

So the Church is called, partly for her Dove-like Temper and Disposition, because she is chaste, and mild, and harmless, &c. and partly for her Dove-like Condition, because she is weak, and exposed to Persecution, and given to Mourning, as Doves are, Isa. 38. 14. & 59. 11. Ezek. 7. 16. and subject to many Fears, and therefore forced to hide her self in Rocks, as it follows.

Where she hid her self, either 1. For fear of her Enemies, whom to avoid she puts her self into the Protection of the Almighty. Or 2. Out of Modesty, and an humble sense of her own De[illegible: 1+ letters]rmities, and Infirmities, which makes her endeavour to hid[illegible: 1+ letters] her self even from her Beloved, as ashamed to appear in his pr[illegible: 1+ letters]ence, [illegible: 1 word] is frequently the case of Gods People especially after [illegible: 1 word] into [illegible: 1 word]. And this sense seems to be [illegible: 1+ letters]avoured by the following words, in which Christ relieveth her against such discourag[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1+ letters]ughts.

In the holes of craggy and broken Rocks, which [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]airs. So the same thing is [illegible: 1 word] repeated in other words.

[illegible: 1+ letters]e not afraid nor ashamed to appear before me, come boldly into my presence and acquaint thy self with me.

Thy Prayers and Praises.

Thy Person and Services are accepted by me, and are amiable in my [illegible: 1+ letters]ight.

Marginal references: Ezek. 38. 20.; Ch. 8. 13.

15 Take us the foxes , the little foxes , that spoil the vines : for our vines have tender grapes .

The Bridegroom gives this charge to his Bridemen or Friends, whose Office it is to attend upon him, and to observe in Commands. By whom he understands those Magistrates and [illegible: 1 word] to whom, under Christ, the custo[illegible: 1+ letters]y of the Vineyards, to wit, the Churches, principally belong. These he commands to take the Foxes, i. e. to restrain them from doing this mischief.

Heb. for us, i. e. at our instance, and for our common good, as this spoiling of the Vines was injurious and grievous to them both.

The disturbers of the Vineyard, or the Church, Seducers or [illegible: 1+ letters]alse Teachers, who are fitly compared to Foxes here, and Ezek. 13. 4. partly to distinguish them from great Tyrants and Persecutors, who are compared to wild Boars, or other wild Beasts, Psal. 80. 13. as to Lions, 2 Tim. 4. 17. and partly for their fox-like qualities and actions, because they are very crafty and deceitful, 2 Cor. 11. 13, 14. Eph. 4. 14. and very mischievous also, Ezek. 34. 2, 3. 2 Tim. 2. 17. Tit. 1 10, 11. 2 Pet. 2. 2. He mentions Foxes, because these abounded in that Country, as is [illegible: 1+ letters]anifest from Iudg. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 4. Psal. 63. 10. Lam. 5. 18. &c. but under [illegible: 1 word] he comprehends all noxious Creatures, upon the [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].

This he adds, not as if the great Foxes were excused or ex[illegible: 1+ letters]mpted, but for more abundant caution to teach the Church to pre[illegible: 1+ letters] Errours and Heresies in the beginnings of them, before they spread, and grow strong and incurable.

Which Foxes do ma[illegible: 1+ letters]y [illegible: 1+ letters]ays, as those who write of them have observed, by g[illegible: 1+ letters]awing and brea[illegible: 1+ letters]ng the little Branches, and Leaves, and the Bark, by [illegible: 1+ letters]igging holes in the Vineyards, and so spoiling the Roots, by eating the Grapes, and other ways.

Which give us hopes of a good Vintage, and which are easily spoiled, if great care be not used to prevent it.

Marginal references: Ezek. [illegible: 1+ letters]34. Luk. 13. 3[illegible: 1+ letters].

16 My beloved is mine, and I am his : he feedeth among the lillies .

These are the words of the Bride, who having come to him upon his gracious Invitation, now maketh her boast of him, and of that intimate Union and Communion which was between them.

Either 1. He feedeth his flock in sweet and lovely Pastures, where there is not only Herbage to feed them, but Lillies to delight them. Or rather 2. He feedeth himself, i. e. he abideth and refresheth himself amongst his faithful People, which are compared to Lillies, above v. 2. and Hos. 14. 5. as Christ also is here, v. 1.

Marginal references: Ch 6. 3. & 7. 1[illegible: 1+ letters].

17 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away : turn my beloved, and be thou like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether .

Until the morning of that great and blessed day of the general Resurrection and Judgment, when all the shadows, not only of Ignorance, and Sin, and Calamity, but even of all Ordinances, and outward Administrations, shall cease, and make way for the immediate enjoyment of my Beloved. And this clause may be joined, either 1. With the foregoing words, and so the sense is, Christ doth and will abide with his Church as long as this Life and World lasts; which agrees with Christs Promise of being with his Church to the end of the World, Mat. 28. 20. But neither that nor this place imply that Christ will then forsake his People, but only secures Gods People against that which was the chief, if not only, matter of their fear, to wit, lest Christ should leave them, and cast them off in this Life, which if he did not, they were assured that hereafter they should be ever with the Lord, 1 Thes. 4. 17. For it is well known, and hath been oft observed already, that the word, until, doth not always exclude the time to come. Or 2. With the following words, Turn thou my B[illegible: 1+ letters]ved until the day break, &c.

Return to me. For although Christ had come to her, and she had gladly received and embraced him, yet he was gone again, as is here implied, and evidently appears from the next following verse. Which sudden change is very agreeable both to the nature and method of such dramatical Writings, & amatorious Transactions, and to the state of Gods People in this world, where they are subject to frequent changes, and vicissitudes of Christs withdrawing from them, and returning to them again.

In swiftness, make hast to help me, for I am ready to faint.

A place in the Land of Promise, possibly the same called Bithron, 2 Sam. 2. 29. where it seems those Creatures were in great abundance, or where they were commonly hunted, and so being pursued, they made all possible haste to escape.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1+ letters]. 6.; [illegible: 1 span]; Ch. [illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1 word].; Or [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].