John Trapp on Song of Solomon 5:12

Ver. 12. His eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the rivers of water, &c.] i. e. they are full of all innocency, ſingleneſs, and chaſtity: See the Notes on chap. 1.15. & 4.1. where Chriſt had attributed the very ſame to the Church, who is his image and glory, as the woman is of the man, 1 Cor. 11.7. the very looking-glaſs of his dignity, and reflex of his comelineſs. His eyes are elſewhere ſaid to bee as a flame of fire, ſharp and terrible, ſuch as pierce into the inward parts,Rev. 1.14. Dan. 10.6. and need no outward light. Here they are as the eyes of Doves, caſting an amiable, gracious, joyfull, and comfortable look upon his Church. As, his eyes behold, his eye-lids try the children of men (the one points out his knowledge, the other his critical deſcant) Pſal. 11.4. So hee caſteth an eye of ſingular providence and tender affection upon his afflicted people, I have ſeen, I have ſeen, ſaith hee, the ſufferings of my people. I know their ſorrows, and am come down to deliver them; His eye affects his heart, Exod. 3.7, 8. and his heart ſets his hand awork for their ſuccour and ſafety. Ezek. 1.8. wee read of faces, eyes, wings, hands, &c. all to expreſs the ſufficiency of Gods providence for all means of help. See Pſal. 33.18, 19. & 34.16. The Church is like the land of Canaan, which is ſaid to be a land which the Lord careth for: the eyes of the Lord are alwaies upon it, &c. Deut. 11.11. Hee ſeeth that lovelineſs in her, that hee overlooks all, as it were, to look upon her: hee beholds that worth in her, that the buzzards of the world cannot ken. Therefore the world knows us not, reſpects us not, becauſe it knew not him, 1 John 3.1. ſaw no ſuch beauty, that they ſhould deſire him, Iſa. 53.2. Nicoſtratus in Elian, himſelf being a cunning Artiſan, finding a curious piece of work, and being wondred at by one, and asked by one what pleaſure hee could take to ſtand gazing as hee did on the picture? anſwered, Hadſt thou mine eyes, thou wouldſt not wonder, but rather bee raviſhed as I am at the inimitable art of this piece. Semblably, had men thoſe dove-like ſingle eyes that Chriſt and his people have, waſhed in milk, that is, in milk-white waters, cleanſed from the duſt of ſinful prejudice, and fitly ſet, as a precious ſtone in the foyl of a ring, or as the precious filling-ſtones in the holy Ephod, Exod. 25.7. they would kiſs the Sonne, and admire his Spouſe. Whereas for want of Spiritual eyes, the Northern proverb is verified, unkent, unkiſt, unknown, unreſpected.