Matthew Poole and continuators on Song of Solomon 5

1 I Am come into my garden , my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrhe with my spice, I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk : eat, O friends c, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

This is the Bridegrooms Answer to her Request, delivered in the next foregoing words.

I have eaten of my pleasant fruits, as thou didst desire. I have taken notice of, and delight in the service and Obedience of my People.

The friends of the Bridegroom. Whereby he understands either 1. The holy Angels and glorified Saints, who in a sublime and spiritual sense may be said to eat and drink in Heaven, the happiness whereof is frequently represented under the name and notion of a Feast: Or rather 2. Believers or Members of the Church militant upon Earth, who by the Argument of Christs gracious presence with them, and acceptation of their works signified in the last words, are here invited and encouraged with great freedom and chearfulness to eat and drink their spiritual Food, to feed upon Gods Holy Word and Sacraments, to eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of the Son of God, who here gives them, an hearty welcome to this Feast.

Marginal references: Or, and be drunken with loves.

2 I sleep , but my heart waketh : it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh , saying, Open to me , my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled : for my head is filled with dew , and my locks with the drops of the night .

Heb. I was asleep, i. e. I was dull, and sluggish, and insensible of his kind Expressions, and offers of Grace.

Yet in my very sleep my thoughts were running upon my Beloved, as is not unusual in such cases, which at last awakened me. Thus she implies the conflict which was between the Flesh and the Spirit, and the Spirits Victory in the Combate.

Between sleeping and waking I fancied that I heard his voice.

By his Word, and Providence, and Spirit, at the door of mine Heart, desirous that I would receive him by Faith and Love. Compare Rev. 3. 20.

Inviting me to accept of his gracious Offers, and to let him into my Soul.

This heap of kind compellations signifies Christs sincere and fervent Affection to his People, notwithstanding her manifold imperfections and infirmities. The title of dove signifies her Chastity and constant Faithfulness to her Husband, for which Doves are famous. How she is undefiled see on ch. 4. 7.

Whilest I wait without thy door. He alludes to the custom of Lovers, which oft and willingly suffer such inconveniencies for their hopes and desires of enjoying their Beloved, and signifies his sufferings for the Churches good.

The dew which falls in the end of the night, or towards the morning, whence it is called morning dew, Hos. 6. 4.

3 I have put off my coat , how shall I put it on ? I have washed my feet , how shall I defile them?

My day-cloaths, as persons use to do when they go to rest.

It is inconvenient and troublesom to do it at this time. Thus she tacitly reflects upon the Bridegroom for coming to her so unseasonably, and giving her such disturbance, and puts him off to another time, and excuseth her non-admission of him by her present indisposition, and the difficulty of the thing required of her.

Which the Eastern people commonly did when they went to Bed, partly to cool their Feet, and partly to cleanse them from that dust and sweat which they had contracted in the day time by Labour and Travel, as being used to go barefoot.

4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door , and my bowels were moved for him .

He assayed to open the door. When his Word would not prevail, his Spirit, which is ca[illegible: 1+ letters]led the finger of God, Luk. 11. 20. compared with Mat. 12. 28. wrought inwardly upon my Conscience, and affected mine heart.

With compassion for him and his sufferings, and with affection to him; for both these ways is this Phrase oft used, as Iob 37. 1. Phil. 2. 1, 2. &c.

Marginal references: Or, (as some read) in me.

5 I rose up to open to my beloved , and my hands dropped with myrrhe , and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrhe, upon the handles of the lock .

I repented of my former drowsiness and neglect, and went forth to receive him.

i. e. With Oil or Ointment made of Myrrhe, which either 1. She had taken out of her own stock to prepare her self for the entertainment of the Bridegroom: Or rather 2. Dropped from the Bridegrooms hand upon the door in great abundance, when he put it into the [illegible: 1 word] of the door, v. 4. and consequently upon her hands and fingers when she touched the door to open it. By which she signifies that Christ though he withdrew himself from her, yet left a sweet savour behind him, in [illegible: 1+ letters]using into her, and stir[illegible: 1+ letters]ing up in her the Graces of the Spirit, such as Repentance, which is bitter as Myrrhe, earnest desire after Christ, &c.

Heb. with [illegible: 1 word] passing or flowing upon the handles of the lock, which place the Bridegroom had touched when he attempted to open it.

Marginal references: Heb. passing, or running about, Nah. 1. 8. Heb.

6 I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself , and was gone : my soul failed when he spake : I sought him , but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer .

Denied me his gracious and comfortable presence, as a just punishment for my former neglect and [illegible: 1+ letters]olly.

Either she repeats the same thing to shew how deeply she was affected with it: Or this is added to imply that he had not only stepped aside, but was quite gone away.

Heb. went out of me. I fainted and was ready to die away through excessive passion, as this Phrase is used, Gen. 35. 18. & 42. 28. and elsewhere.

Or, for what he spoke, for those endearing Expressions related v. 2. which then I did not heed, but this sad occasion brings them to my remembrance: as oft times that word which is ineffectual when it is preached, is afterwards brought to a mans Mind, and produceth blessed effects.

By diligent enquiry and importunate Prayer.

That so he might both chastise her folly, and quicken her desires, and prepare the way for a more hearty welcome, and his longer abode with her.

Marginal references: Ch. 3. 1.

7 The watch-men that went about the city , found me, they smote me, they wounded me ; the keepers of the walls took away my vail from me.

The Governours of the Church, as Ch. 3. 3. who, though by their place and office they be obliged to comfort and protect the faithful, do frequently discourage and oppress them, as they manifestly did both in the days of Isaiah, and Ieremiah, and the other holy Prophets, and in the time of Christ and his Apostles, and in divers other Ages.

With bitter Calumnies and Persecutions.

The same with the Watch-men, whose Office it is to keep the Gates and Walls of the City.

Which was an ornament of her Sex, Isa. 3. 23. and a badge of her Modesty, Gen. 24. 65. or an ensign of her Relation and Subjection to Christ, Gen. 20. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 5. And so the taking of this Veil away, signifies their contemptuous and injurious usage of her, their endeavours to blast her Reputation, and to represent and treat her as a common and impudent prostitute, and as one that had no Relation to Christ.

8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem , if ye find my beloved that ye tell him, that I am sick of love .

Of whom see on ch. 1. 5. & 2. 7. The Church having passed the Watch-men, and patiently born, and in a manner forgotten their injuries, proceeds in the pursuit of her beloved, and enquires of every particular Believer or Professor whom she meets concerning him.

That I am ready to faint for want of his presence, and the tokens of his Favour. Use all your interest and importunity with him on my behalf.

Marginal references: Heb. what.

9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved , O thou fairest among women ? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

Wherein doth he excel them? Which Professors of Religion might ask, because they were ignorant of Christs Excellency, and true Believers might ask it, that they might be more fully informed of it, and might give the Spouse occasion to discourse of that subject which was very grateful to them.

Whose Beauty may command the Respects and Affections of the most worthy persons; and therefore we conclude it must be some person of transcendent excellency with whom thou are so highly enamoured.

Marginal references: Ch. 1. 8.

10 My beloved is white and ruddy , the chiefest among ten thousand .

Which two colours rightly mixed together, make a Face beautiful. Or the white may note his pure and spotless Innocency, and the brightness of his Glory and Majesty, and the ruddy colour may intimate his bloody passion, which made him amiable both to God and Men.

Heb. the standard bearer; for such are usually persons of great Eminency, both for Stature, and Courage, and Dignity.

Among all persons, Angels or Men. A certain number is put for an uncertain. There are other Kings, and Priests, and Prophets, but none to be compared with him.

Marginal references: Heb. a standard-bearer. or, taller than ten thousand.

11 His head is as the most fine gold , his locks are bushy, and black as a raven .

It shines like Gold, not in respect of the Hair, which is black, as it followeth, but by reason of his Crown of pure Gold upon his Head, Rev. 14. 14 Whereby she implies that her Bridegroom was a King, which she declared above, ch. 3. 11.

In which a part of Mans Beauty consists. I shall not trouble my Reader with a distinct application of this and the following particulars, unto some special part or excellency of Christ, because such things are meer conjectures without any solid grounds, and the only design of this description seems to be this, to set forth the beauty of Christ under the notion of a most compleat and amiable person, in whom there is no defect nor blemish, from the crown of his Head to the sole of his Feet.

Which is mentioned, partly because this was esteemed a beauty, and partly because it was an evidence of his Youth and vigor, as grey hairs are characters of age and infirmity, Hos. 7. 9.

Marginal references: Or, curled.

12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters , washed with milk , and fitly set .

Lovely and pleasant, chaste and innocent.

Where they delight to abide, and wherewith they bath themselves, and wash their Eyes, where also their Eyes are most lively and beautiful, both by the reflection of the waters, and from that pleasure which they take in such places.

Which may belong either 1. To the Eyes, which are supposed to be washed with water, as white and pure as Milk: Or 2. To the Doves, which are intimated to be of a milk-white colour, which in those parts was most esteemed, which colour also made the Eyes appear more lovely.

Neither sinking into the Head, nor standing out too much, but in a moderate and comely scituation. Heb. sitting in fullness: which may note a full and competently large Eye, which is esteemed one beauty of the Eye.

Marginal references: Ch. 1. 15. & 4. 1.; Heb. sitting in fulness, that is, fitly placed, & set as a precious stone in the soil of a Ring.

13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices , as sweet flowers : his lips like lilies , dropping sweet smelling myrrhe .

His Face or Countenance, an eminent part whereof is the Cheeks, in which the Beauty or Deformity of a Face doth much consist.

Which being higher than other parts of the Garden fitly represents the Cheeks, which are higher than other parts of the Face.

Not of drie spices, for they are not in Beds, but of Aromatical Flowers which delight both the Eye with a pleasant prospect, and the smell with their fragrancy. This may also signifie the down or hair upon the Bridegrooms cheeks, which is the evidence of his mature and vigorous Age, and may denote that Christs sweetness and gentleness is accompanied with Majesty, and Gravity, and just severity.

This may be added to explain the former Phrase. Or, towers of perfumes, i. e. Boxes in which perfumes were put, which by their height or form, had some resemblance to a Turret.

Beautiful and pleasant. Or this is meant of that sort of Lillies which were of a red or purple colour, as ancient Writers affirm, and so signifie the grateful colour of the Lips. This may note that Grace which was poured into Christs Lips, and which flowed from them in sweet and excellent discourses.

Not only graceful to the Eye, as Lillies are, but also fragrant to the smell.

Marginal references: Or, towers of perfumes.

14 His hands are as gold-rings set with the beryll : his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with Saphires .

The instruments of Action and of Distribution, which may design the actions of Christ and particularly his distributing Gifts and Graces to his Members.

Beautiful, and precious, and richly adorned, as it were with Gold-Rings set with precious stones.

Which seems to be here used, either 1. Metonimically, for the Bowels which are contained in the Belly: Or rather 2. Synecdochically, for the whole Body, reaching from the neck to the bottom of the Belly, which is distinguished from the Face, and the joints, which are described in the other clauses. For he speaks here of those parts which are visible to the Eye. And thus here is a compleat description of Christs beauty in all parts from his Head to his Feet.

Of a pure and bright white colour, intermixt with blew veins; for some Saphires are of a bright blew colour.

15 His legs are as pillars of marble , set upon sockets of fine gold : his countenance is as Lebanon , excellent as the cedars.

The instruments of local motion, and the supporters of the body.

White, and streight, and well shaped, and strong. Which may note the firmness and stability of Christs Kingdom in spight of all opposition.

Which add both beauty and strength to them. These may note his Feet compared to Gold, either for their great price and worth, or for their singular brightness, for which they are compared to fine-brass, Rev. 1. 15. or, as others, for his golden shoes wherewith they were covered or adorned, as the Spouse is commended from her shoes, Cant. 7. 1.

Heb. his aspect or appearance, his form or Person, as this Hebrew word is elsewhere used.

In respect of its Cedars, as the next words explain it, to wit, tall, and upright, and stately, and withal pleasant to the Eye.

16 His mouth is ‖ most sweet , yea, he is altogether lovely . This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem .

Which was said before in other words, v. 13. and is here justly repeated, because it was a principal part of Christs beauty, and the chief instrument of the Spouses Comfort and Happiness, which wholly depends upon his sweet and excellent Speeches, his holy Precepts, and gracious Offers and Promises contained in the Gospel.

Not to run out into more particulars, in one word there is no part of him which is not exquisitely beautiful.

And therefore you have no cause to wonder or to blame me if I am transported with Love to so excellent a personage.

Marginal references: Heb. his palate.; Heb. desires.; † Heb. sweetness.