John Trapp on Song of Solomon 3:9

Verſ. 9. King Solomon made himſelf a Charriot] Hic locus lubricus est & difficilis. This is an hard Text, ſaith one. It had been eaſier (perhaps) if Commentatours had not made it ſo hard. The word rendred Charriot, is by others rendred a Bride-chamber, a Bed, a Throne, a Palace. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. The Hebew word is found in this place onely: it hath the name of fairneſs and fruitfulneſs. Rabbi Solomon ſaith it is, Thalamus honorificus, a bed-chamber of honour, whereby wee are to underſtand again the Church, as wee did by bed in the former verſe. Shee is oft compared to an houſe, here to a Bride-chamber, and Solomons Bride-chamber, which muſt needs bee ſuppoſed very trimme, and ſet forth to the beſt. It is further ſet forth here by the cauſes; efficient, Solomon himſelf; Material, Cedar, Silver, Gold, &c. Formal, payed with love; Final, for himſelf firſt, and then, for the daughters of Jeruſalem. Firſt, Solomon himſelf made it, though a King. Stupenda ſane dignatio, a wonderful condeſcenſion. The Church is Chriſts own workmanſhip, his artificial facture, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. or creature (as the Greek word ſignifieth, Epheſ. 2.10.) that Maſter-peece of his architecture, wherein hee hath ſhewed ſingular skill, by erecting that glorious fabrick of the New Man, that New Heaven, and New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 3.13. For hee planteth the Heavens, and layeth the foundations of the Earth, that hee may ſay to Zion, Thou art my people, that hee may rejoyce in the habitable part of Gods Earth, Prov. 8.31. that hee may ſay, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will bee their God, and they ſhall bee my people, 1 Cor. 6.16. Chriſt wrought the Centurions faith, as God, hee wondred at it, as man. God wrought, and man marvelled, hee did both, to teach us where to beſtow our wonder. Paul praies for his Epheſians, that their eyes might bee enlightened to ſee the power that wrought in them, Chap. 1.18.

Of the Wood of Lebanon] See the Note on chap. 1.17. The Saints are the Churches materials, Rom. 1.7. 1 Cor. 1.2. The precious ſons of Zion, are comparable to fine gold, Lam. 4.2. Her Nazarites are purer than Snow, whiter than Milk, more ruddy than Rubies, their poliſhing is of Saphire, verſ. 7. And yet Bellarmine is not aſhamed to ſay,Lib. 3. cap. 2. de Eccleſ. militante. Nos etiamſi credimus in Eccleſia inveniri omnes virtutes, &c. Although wee doubt not but that all virtues are found in the Church: yet that a man may bee abſolutely called a Member of that true Church ſpoken of in Scripture; we hold not that any inward virtue is required, but onely an external profeſſion of the Faith, and participation of the Sacraments.Cameron de Eccleſ. pag. 167. Belle hoc convenit Eccleſiae Romanae, ſaith a learned man. This deſcription ſutes very well with the Church of Rome. For certainly if there bee any virtuous perſons in that Church, id eis convenit per accidens, it is by meer accident, and not as they are in that Church, but as they diſſent from it: like as Cicero ſaith wittily of the Epicureans, that if any were good amongſt them, it was meerly from the goodneſs of their nature, for they taught and thought otherwiſe. And as Peter Moulin ſaid of many of the Prieſts of France, that they were for their loyalty not beholding to the Maxims of Italy, and yet Bellarmine hath the face to ſay,De notis Eccleſ. l. 4. c. 13 Sunt quidem in Eccleſia Catholica plurimi mali, ſed ex haeriticis nullus eſt bonus. Among Papiſts there are many bad men, but among Proteſtants, not one good man is to bee found.