John Trapp on Song of Solomon 2:12

Verſ. 12. The flowers appear on the Earth] Here wee have a moſt dainty deſcription of the Spring or prime time (as the French call it) far ſurpaſſing that of Horace, and the reſt of the Poets, Prim-tempe▪ who yet have ſhewed themſelves very witty that way. For the ſenſe; by flowers (made rather to ſmell to, than to feed upon) are underſtood (ſaith an Interpreter) the firſt-fruits of the Spirit, whereby the Elect give a pleaſant ſmell: and therein lyeth ſweetneſs of ſpeech, and words going before works, even as flowers before fruits. For the which cauſe, as the Apoſtle exhorteth that our ſpeech bee gracious alwaies, miniſtring Edification to the hearer, Col. 4.6. ſo the Prophet calls it a pure language, which the Lord will give to as many as love him, as are called according to his purpoſe. Zeph. 3.9.

The time of the ſinging of birds is come] Hic autem garritus avium plurimum facit ad veris commendationem, this chirping of birds makes much to the Springs commendation, ſaith [illegible: 2 letters]nebrard. How melodiouſly ſing the Miniſters of the Goſpel, whiles they a[illegible: 1 letter] unto Gods people, as a very lovely ſong of one that hath a pleaſant voice [illegible: 1 letter] Ezek. 33.32. It is mel in ore, melos in aure, to the Elect, as it was to Auſtin, who coming to hear Ambroſe, had his ears tickled, his heart touched; ſo had that unlearned Corinthian, 1 Cor. 14.25. and the whole City of Samaria, wherein there was great joy at the receiving of the Goſpel,Luk. 2.10. Act. 8.8. Behold wee bring you good tidings of great joy to all people, ſaid thoſe Angels to the Shepherds that ſang Chriſt into the world: and from whom the preaching of the Goſpel was afterwards taken and given to the Miniſters, whoſe proper office it is to publiſh peace, to bring good tidings of good, Thy Watchmen ſhall lift up the voice, with the voice together ſhall they ſing, &c. Iſa. 52.7, 8. If they do otherwiſe to any, if they ſing doleful accents to guilty perſons, if the voice of theſe Goſpel birds, bee to ſuch, like that of Abijah to Jeroboams wife, I am ſent to thee with heavy tidings, 1 King. 24.6. they may thank themſelves. To fall out with the Miniſter is as great folly, as if ſome fond people ſhould accuſe the Herald or the Trumpet as the cauſe of their war; Or as if ſome ignorant peaſant when hee ſees his fowls bathing in his pond, ſhould cry out of them as the cauſes of ſoul weather. What do faithful Miniſters do more? (what can they do leſs, if they will be true to their ſouls?) than tax mens ſins, fore-tell their judgements? This when they do, it is diverſly taken: Ravenous and unclean birds, like the Ravens of Arabia, See Ezek. 7.16 Iſidor. ſcriech [illegible: 1 letter]orribly, ſcratch terribly: Turtles and Doves (whoſe voice is here ſaid to be heard in the Land when other birds are ſweetly ſinging) come in with a mournful tone mixt with a groaning ſadneſs (whence alſo the Turtle hath its name, ſcil. a ſomo quem edit per onomatopoeiam) and may well ſerve to ſet forth the unutterable groans of gracious ſpirits, grieving for their ſins, mourning bitterly over Chriſt crucified before their eyes,Zach. 12.10 Gal. 3.1 and evidently ſet forth by their faithful Miniſters (ſo that they need no other crucifix to draw tears from them) tabring upon their breasts with the voice of Doves, Nah. 2.7. Yea ſmiting upon their breaſts with the penitent Publican, and ſaying, or rather ſighing out each for himſelf, Lord bee merciful to mee a ſinner. And here aſſert ſolatium lugentibus ſuſpiriorum ſocietas. Baſi[illegible: 1 letter]. It is an heavenly hearing when a Church-full of good people, wrought upon by their godly Preachers, ſend up a volly of ſighs to God: and as Hindes by calving, ſo they by weeping caſt out their ſorrows, Job 39.3. ſuch as ſhew their hearts to bee as ſo many Hadadrimmons. Aug. in Pſa. 10 Auſtin perſwades a Preacher ſo long to inſiſt upon ſome needful point, until by the groans and looks of his hearers, hee perceive that they underſtand it, and are affected with it. Such hearers Paul had at Athens, that wept as hee did, Act. 20.37. but this is but few mens happineſs. Turtles are rare birds in our Land.