John Trapp on Song of Solomon 3:10

Verſ. 10. Hee made the pillars thereof] i. e. The faithful Miniſters, called Pillars, Gal. 2.9. and that (Atlas-like) bear up the pillars of it, Pſalm 75.3. Thoſe that offer violence to ſuch, Sampſon-like, they lay hands upon the pillars to pluck the houſe upon their own heads. Yea they attempt to pull Stars out of Chriſts hand, Revelations 1. which they will finde a work not feiſable.

Of ſilver] For the purity of matter, and clearneſs of ſound: for their beauty, ſtability, and incorruption. Let Miniſters hereby learn, how they ought to behave themſelves in the houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. 3.15.

The bottom thereof of gold] Underſtand it either of Gods Word, which is compared to the fineſt gold, or of that precious grace of Faith the root of all the reſt: whence it is laid by St. Peter, as the bottom and baſis, the foundation and fountain of all the following graces, 2 Epiſt. 1.5. Add to your Faith, virtue, and to virtue knowledge, &c. they are all in Faith radically: every grace is but Faith exerciſed: Hence wee read of the joy of Faith, the obedience of Faith, the righteouſneſs of Faith, &c. Shee is the Mother-grace, the womb wherein all the graces are conceived: Hence the bottom of Chriſts fruitful bed, the pavement of his glorious Bride-chamber the Church, is here ſaid to bee of gold, that is, of Faith, which is called gold, Rev. 3.17. compared with 1 Pet. 1.7. that the tryal of your Faith (or your well-tryed Faith, for it ſeems to bee an Hebraiſm) being much more precious than that of gold, &c. And here,Bern. Melius eſt pallens aurum quam fulgens aurichalcum, gold though paler, is better than glittering copper.Splendida peccata. The Faith of Gods Elect is far more precious than the ſhining ſins of the beautiful abominations of meer Moraliſts. Suppoſe a ſimple man ſhould get a ſtone, and ſtrike fire with it, and thence conclude it a precious ſtone. Why, every flint or ordinary ſtone will do that. So to think one hath this golden grace of Faith, becauſe hee can bee ſober, juſt, chaſt, liberal, &c. Why, ordinary Heathens can do this. True gold will comfort the fainting heart, which Alchymy gold will not. Think the ſame of Faith.

The covering of it of Purple] I am of their mind, that expound it of Chriſts blood, wherewith, as with a Canopy, or a kinde of Heaven over head, the Church is covered and cured, Rev. 5.16. & 7.14. Rom. 6.3, 4. Purple was a rich and dear commodity amongſt them; ſee Prov. 31.22. & 7.5. Mark 15.17. Luk. 16.19. The precious blood of Chriſt is worthily preferred before gold and ſilver, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19.

The midſt thereof being paved with love] For Chriſt loved us, and waſhed us with his blood, Rev. 1.5. Hee alſo fills his faithful people with the ſenſe of his love, who therefore cannot but finde a great deal of pleaſure in the waies of God, becauſe therein they let out their ſouls into God, and taſte of his unſpeakable ſweetneſs, they cannot alſo but reciprocate and love his love. So the bottom, the top, and the middle of this repoſing place are anſwerable to thoſe three Cardinal graces, faith, hope and love, 1 Cor. 13.

For the daughters of Jeruſalem] This Charret or Bridal-bed hee made for himſelf, hee made it alſo for the daughters of Jeruſalem: for all his is theirs; Union being the ground of Communion. As wee muſt do all for Chriſt (according to that, Quicquid agas propter Deum agas, and again, Propter te Domine, propter te; choice and excellent Spirits are more taken up with what they ſhall do for God, than what they ſhall receive from God) ſo Chriſt doth all for us, and ſeeks how to ſeal up his deareſt love to us in all his actions and atchievements. Chriſts death and bloodſhed (ſaith Mr. Bradford) is the great Seal of England, yea of all the world, for the confirmation of all Patents and Perpetuities of the everlaſting life, whereunto hee hath called us. —This death of Chriſt therefore look on as the very pledge of Gods love toward thee, &c. See, Gods hands are nailed, they cannot ſtrike thee;Serm. of Repent. 63 his feet alſo, hee cannot run from thee. His arms are wide open to embrace thee, his head hangs down to kiſs thee; his very heart is open, ſo that therein look, nay even ſpy, and thou ſhalt ſee nothing therein but love, love, love to thee. Hide thee therefore, lay thine head there with the Beloved Diſciple, joyn thee to Chriſts Charret, as Philip did to the noble Eunuchs. This is the cleft of the Rock wherein Elias ſtood. This is for all aking heads a pillow of Down, &c.