John Trapp on Song of Solomon 2:4

Verſ. 4. Hee brought mee to the banquetting-houſe] Heb. to the houſe of Wine, where hee giveth mee that which is better than Apple-drink, as verſ. 3. As the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.5. The lower that ebb, the higher this tide: as is to bee ſeen in the Martyrs, who went as merrily to die, as ever they did to dine; ſang in the flames, and felt no more pain, than if they had lain upon beds of Roſes. This their perſecutors counted ſtupidity and vain-glory: but they knew not the power of the Spirit, and the force of Faith: as Mr. Philpot told ſcoffing Morgan, who coming to confer with him, asked him, How know you that you have the Spirit of God? Mr. Philpot anſwered, By the Faith of Chriſt which is in mee. All by Faith (quoth Morgan) do yee ſo? I ween it bee the ſpirit of the buttery which your fellows have had that have been burned before you, who were drunk the night before they went to their death,Act. and Mon. fol. 1653. and I ween went drunk unto it. Whereunto Philpot replied, It appears by your communication, that you are better acquainted with the ſpirit of the buttery, than of God. Meethink you are liker a ſcoffer in a Play, than a reaſonable Doctor to inſtruct one. Thou haſt the ſpirit of illuſion and ſophiſtry, which is not able to countervail the Spirit of truth. Thou art but an Aſs in the things of God, &c. God ſhall ſurely rain fire and brimſtone upon ſuch ſcorners of his Word, and blaſphemers of his people as thou art. The like ſenſure was paſſed upon Nicholas Burton, Martyr in Spain, who becauſe hee went chearfully to the ſtake, and embraced death with all gladneſs and patience, Ibid. 1866. his tormentours and enemies ſaid, that the Devil had his ſoul, before hee came to the fire, and therefore his ſenſe of feeling was paſt. Theſe carnal creatures meddle not with the true Chriſtians joy, neither know they the privy armour of proof (the joy of Faith) that hee hath as an aes triplex about his heart, making him inſuperable, and more than a Conquerour. Rom. 8.35. True grace hath a fortifying comforting virtue, which the world knows not of: like as true gold comforts and ſtrengthens the heart, that Alchymy gold doth not. And as a man that by good fare, and plenty of the beſt Wines hath his bones filled with marrow, and his veins with good blood, and a freſh ſpring of ſpirits, can endure to go with leſs cloathes than another; becauſe hee is well li[illegible: 1 letter]ed within: So it is with a heart, that by oft feaſting with Chriſt in his Ordinances, and by much reading and ruminating upon the Scriptures (called here the Banquetting-houſe, or Wine-celler, as moſt are of opinion) hath got a great deal of joy and peace: ſuch an one will go thorow troubles, and make nothing of them, yea though outward comforts utterly fail, Hab. 3.17.

Rom. 5.15. And his banner over mee was love] As a Standard erected, as a banner diſplayed, ſo was the love of Chriſt ſhed abroad in her heart by the Holy Ghoſt: who had alſo (as a fruit of his love) ſet up a Standard in her againſt ſtrong temptations and corruptions, Iſa. 59.19. and thereby aſſured her of his ſpecial preſence: like as where the colours are, there is the Captain, where the Standard, there the King. The wicked alſo have their banners of luſt, covetouſneſs, ambition, malice, under which they fight (as the Dragon and his viperous brood, Rev. 12.7.) againſt Chriſt and his people: but they may read their deſtiny, Iſa. 8.9, 10. Aſſociate your ſelves, O yee people! ſtand to your arms, repair to your colours, &c. yet yee ſhall bee broken in peeces, gird your ſelves, and yee ſhall bee broken in peeces, &c. Take counſel together, and it ſhall come to nought, &c. for God is with us, Immanuel is our General: And how many do you reckon him for? (as Antigonus once ſaid to his ſouldiers, that feared their enemies numbers.) Surely if Chriſt bee for us (and hee is never from us, Matth. 28.20. but as Xerxes was wont to do, hee pitcheth his tent, and ſets up his Standard in the midſt of his people, as once in the wilderneſs) who can bee againſt us? Rom. 8.31. And though many bee, yet No weapon that is formed againſt the Church ſhall proſper, (how ſhould it, fith ſhee hath ſuch a Champion as Chriſt, who is in love with her, and will take her part, fight her quarrel?) and every tongue that ſhall riſe againſt thee in judgement, thou ſhalt condemn, Iſa. 54.17. As the ecclipſed Moon, by keeping her motion, wades out of the ſhadow, and recovers her ſplendour: So it ſhall bee with the Spouſe. Yea ſhee ſhall bee able to anſwer thoſe that reproach and caſt dirt upon her, for her keeping cloſe to Chriſts colours, and ſuffering hardſhip for him: as the Emperour Adrian did the Poet Florus, who ſate on an Ale-bench and ſang, Nolo ego Caeſar eſſe Ambulare per Britannos Rigidas pati pruinas, &c.

The witty Emperour replied upon him, aſſoon as hee heard of it,Melanchthon. in Chron. Carion. Nolo ego Florus eſſe Ambulare per tabernas; Latitare per popinas, Pulices pati rotundos.