John Trapp on Song of Solomon 2:16

Verſ. 16. My Beloved is mine, and I am his] Hitherto the Church hath related Chriſts words to her ſelf, and others. Now ſhee ſhuts up the whole diſcourſe with praiſe of Chriſt, here, and prayer to him, verſ. 17. In praiſing him, ſhee preacheth her own bleſſedneſs in that ſpiritual Union, that myſtical marriage that is betwixt them, My Beloved is mine, &c. q. d. I am ſure hee is mine, and I can boldly ſpeak it. Many lay claim to him, which have no ſhare in him: they deeply affirm of him, but have no manner of right to him, their faith is but fancy, their confidence preſumption; they are like that mad-man of Athens, that claimed every rich ſhip that came to ſhore, when as hee had no part in any; or Haman, who hearing that the King would honour a man, concluded (but falſely) that himſelf was the man. Like Idolatrous Micah, they conceit that God will bleſs them for the Levites ſake, Judg. 17.13. which was no ſuch matter. And like Siſera, they dream of a Kingdome, when as Jaels nail is nearer their Temples than a Crown. The condition of ſuch ſelf-ſoothers, and ſelf-ſeekers is nothing different from his, that dreaming, upon a ſteep place, of ſome great happineſs befallen him, ſtarts ſuddenly for joy, and falling down with the ſtart, breaks his neck at the bottom. The true beleever is upon a far better ground, his faith is unfeigned, his hope is unfailable. Hee knows whom hee hath truſted, hee knows and beleeves the love that God hath to him, 1 John 4.16. hee hath gotten a full gripe of Chriſt, and is ſure that neither death nor life, &c. ſhall ſeparate him from Chriſt. Hee hath comprehended him, or rather is comprehended of him, Phil. 3.12. Chriſt hath laid hold on him by his Spirit, and hee hath laid hold on Chriſt by Faith, the property whereof is to put on cloſe to Chriſt, and Chriſt to him: yea to unite us to Chriſt, ſo that hee that is joyned to the Lord, is one ſpirit, 1 Cor. 6.17. as truly one, as thoſe members are one body which have the ſame ſoul; or as man and wife are one fleſh: as they two are one matrimonial fleſh, ſo Chriſt and his people are one myſtical Chriſt, 1 Cor. 12.12. Well therefore may the Church here glorifie Chriſt, and glory in her own happineſs by him, ſaying, My Beloved is mine, and I am ſure of it, and cannot bee deceived; for I am his: all that I am is his, I have made a total reſignation of my whole ſelf unto him, and have put him in full poſſeſſion of all. I am crucified with Chriſt: Nevertheleſs I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in mee, Gal. 2.20. Chriſt is All-ſufficient to mee, and I am altogether his. His is as a Covenant of mercy, mine of obedience. Wherein I do as it were by Indenture, with higheſt eſtimations, moſt vigorous affections, and utmoſt indeavours, beſtow my ſelf upon him: and I accept of whole Chriſt in all his offices and efficacies.

Hee feedeth among the Lillies] Before ſhee was to ſeek, and goes to Chriſt to bee reſolved where hee fed, Chap. 1.7. Now, after more intimate communion with him, ſhee is able to reſolve herſelf and others where hee feeds his flock, viz. among the Lillies, that is, in ſweet and ſoft paſtures, Pſal. 23.2. in thoſe Mountains of ſpices, Cant. 8.14. thoſe bounties of holineſs, the glorious Ordinances, wherein Chriſt feeds his people, and feaſts them daily and daintily, pleaſantly and plentifully with the beſt of the beſt, fat things full of marrow, Wine on the Lees well refined, Iſa. 25.6. to the gladding of their hearts, and greatning of their Faith, ſo that they grow up as the Lillies, Hoſ. 14.5. as the Calves of the ſtall, as the willows by the water-courſes, Iſa. 44.4. And as Lillies are not more beautiful than fertile, Una radice quinquagenos ſaepe emittente bulbos, Plin. yea the dropping of the Lilly will cauſe and beget more Lillies: ſo the Lilly-white Saints will bee working upon others, and bringing them to Chriſt, as Andrew did Peter, and Philip Nathaniel, John 1.41, 45. True goodneſs is generative, Charity is no churl, &c.