John Trapp on Song of Solomon 1:13

Verſ. 13. A bundle of myrrhe is my Well-beloved, &c.] The Bride proceeds to return all the glory to her Bridegroom (of all that good that hee had praiſed her for before) by a ſecond ſimilitude here, and by a third in the next verſe: for in this argument ſhee thinks ſhee can never ſay ſufficient. It is the manner of Maids to wear Noſegaies of ſweet flowers in their boſomes, and to make no ſmall account of them. Myrrhe is marvellous ſweet and ſavoury, Pſal. 45.8. Prov. 7.17. See Plin. lib. 12. cap. 15, 16. but nothing ſo ſweet as the Lord Chriſt is to thoſe that have ſpiritual ſenſes; Whom therefore the Spouſe here placeth between her breaſts, that there-hence the ſweet ſavour may aſcend into her Noſtrils. Again, Myrrhe hath a bitter root, Mark 15.23. Chriſt ſeems bitter at firſt, becauſe of afflictions; but if wee ſuffer with him, 2 Tim. 2.12 Matth. 2 wee ſhall alſo reign together with him. Thirdly, Myrrhe was very precious: Hence the Wiſe-men offered it to Chriſt at his birth. Chriſt is of that eſteem with his people, elect and precious, 1 Pet. 2.6. That as wiſe Merchants they make a thorow-ſale of all to purchaſe him, Matth. 13. Laſtly, Myrrhe is of a preſerving nature, and was therefore made uſe of at funerals, ſee John 19.39. In like ſort Chriſt, as hee doth by his Spirits heat exſiccate or dry up the ſuperfluity of our degenerate nature, whereby body and ſoul is preſerved to eternal life; ſo, after our bodies are turned to duſt, hee ſtill preſerves a ſubſtance, which hee will raiſe again at the laſt day. Hence the Saints are ſaid to ſleep in Jeſus, to bee dead in Chriſt, who ſhall raiſe our vile bodies, and make them like unto his own glorious body, in beauty, brightneſs, grace, favour, agility, ability,Phil. 3.21. and other Angelical excellencies.

Hee ſhall lye all night betwixt my breaſts] This is Chriſts proper place: My ſon, give mee thine heart, Chriſt ſhould dwell in the heart by Faith, Epheſ. 3.17. But too too often hee is ſhut out, and adultery found between the breaſts, as Hoſ. 2.2. there they carried the ſigns of their Idolatry (as Papiſts now do their crucifixes) to teſtifie, that the Idol had their hearts. But what ſaith Mr. Bradford Martyr in a certain letter? As the wife will keep her bed onely for her husband, although in other things ſhee is content to have fellowſhip with others, as to ſpeak, ſit, eat, drink, go, &c. So our Conſciences (which are Chriſts wives) muſt needs keep the bed, that is, Gods ſweet promiſes, a lonely for our ſelves and our husband to meet together, to embrace and laugh together, and to bee joyful together: If ſin, the Law, the Devil,Act. & Mor. 1503. or any thing would creep into the bed, and lye there, then complain to thy husband Chriſt, and forthwith thou ſhalt ſee him play Phineahs part, &c. And again, in another Letter, Think on the ſweet mercies and goodneſs of God in Chriſt. Here, here is the reſting-place, here is the Spouſes bed: creep into it, and in your arms of Faith imbrace him. Ib. 1[illegible: 1 letter]9 Bewail your weakneſs, your unworthineſs, your diffidence, and you ſhall ſee hee will turn to you. What ſaid I, you ſhall ſee? Nay, I ſhould have ſaid, you ſhall feel hee will turn to you, &c.