John Trapp on Song of Solomon 3:8

Verſ. 8. They all hold ſwords, being expert in war] They not onely bear arms,Judg. 8.20 [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Plutarch. but can handle them. Young Jether wore a ſword, but hee durſt not draw it, or ſtrike with it, when hee ſhould have killed Zeba, and Zalmunna. Themiſtocles ſaid of the Eretrians, a cowardly people, that they were like the Sword-fiſh, which hath a ſword indeed, but wants an heart. Such white-livered ſouldiers, ſuch faint-hearted ſword-men our Solomon hath no need of: Our Gideon will not employ them ſo far as to break a pitcher, or to bear a torch.Judg. 7. The fearful and unbeleeving ſhall never ſet foot in his Kingdome, much leſs bee Eſquires of his body; thoſe in that Office muſt hold faſt the faithful word (that ſword of the Spirit, that two-edged ſword) far beyond that of Goliah (and yet David ſaid, there was none to that) that they may bee able and apt by ſound doctrines, both to exhort the tractable, and to convince the gainſayer, Tit. 1.9. Thoſe that either cannot, or will not do thus, are no way fit to bee of Chriſts guard, becauſe they are more likely to betray him into the hands of his enemies, than to defend him from them; to act a Judas his part, than a Peters, who manfully cut off Malchus his ear, and choſe rather to be held temerarious, than timorous. Jeremy complains of the Paſtours of his time,Jer. 9.3. that they were not valiant for the truth, they had no ſpiritual metal in them: but as Harts and Stags have great horns and ſtrength, but want courage: ſo it was with theſe. St. Auſtin profeſſeth this was it that heartened him, and made him to triumph in his former Manichiſm, that hee met with feeble Opponents, and ſuch as his nimble wit was eaſily able to overturn. If gainſayers bee not powerfully convinced, how will they ſet up their creſts,Haeretici argumentis lapidandi. Hilar. and cry, victoria? If they bee not ſtoned with Arguments, how will they ſtart up, and outſtare the truth? There muſt bee therefore skill and will in all her Champions. They muſt alſo every man have his ſword upon his thigh, and bee ready for an aſſault. Seneca reports of Caeſar, that hee had quickly ſheathed his ſword, but never laid it off. And Suetonius tells us,Scilicet ut paratum & intentum momentis omnibus, &c. that hee would never fore-acquaint his ſouldiers of any ſet time of removal or onſet, that hee might never finde them unready. Chriſt expects the like care and courage in his Miniſters, leſt the Proverb bee verified on them, Ungirt, unbleſt.

And becauſe of fears in the night] Leſt evil ſhould befall Solomon, as it did Iſhboſheth, who was ſlain upon his bed by the ſons of Rimmon: leſt deeds of darkneſs bee done in a Land of light, and whilſt the watch-men ſlack their duty, the Rulers of the darkneſs of this world break in and play their pranks. Whilſt men ſlept, tares were ſown by the evil man, Mat. 13.