John Trapp on Song of Solomon 5:9

Verſ. 9. What is thy beloved more than another beloved] This capital queſtion is here doubled for the more vehemency; as alſo for the ſtrangeneſs of the matter, wherein they deſire much to bee better informed; and the rather, becauſe ſhee ſo ſtraightly chargeth, or rather ſweareth them. Something they muſt needs think was in it more than ordinary: ſith good people do not uſe to bee hot in a cold matter. But as in the Revelation, whenſoever heaven opened, ſome ſingular thing enſued: So when the Saints bee ſo ſerious in a buſineſs, ſure it is of very great concernment: Great matters are carried with great movings: as, for the diviſions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart, Judg 5.15, 16 great impreſſions, great ſearchings. It is a common ſaying, Admiratio peperit Philoſophiam, Wonderment at the works of God, ſet men a work to enquire into the natural cauſes of them. Semblably theſe damſells of Jeruſalem, friends to the Church, little knowing the love of the Spouſe to Chriſt (which paſſed their knowledge) and yet willing to comprehend with all Saints the ſeveral dimenſions thereof;Eph. 3.18, 19 firſt, they acknowledge her, amidſt all her miſeries, to be the faireſt among women] (See chap. 1.8.) as gold is gold, though found in the dirt, or caſt into the furnace; and ſtars have their glory, though we ſee them ſometimes in a puddle, in the bottom of a well, nay, in a ſtinking ditch. Secondly, they propound to her two moſt profitable queſtions: The one concerning his perſon, Whereof wee have here a very lively and lofty deſcription, both generally, and in his parts. The other concerning the place of his abode, and where hee may be had, chap. 6.1. to the which ſhe makes anſwer, verſ. 2. and ſo her faith begins to revive, verſ. 3. which was the bleſſed effect of this their gracious communication. Conference in all arts and ſciences is a courſe of incredible profiting. Eſt aliquid quod ex magno viro vel tacente proficias, the very ſight,Prov. 31.26. Prov. 20.5. nay, thought of a good man oft doth good: how much more when hee openeth his mouth with wiſdome, and in his tongue is the Law of kindneſs? And ſurely it is a fine art to bee able to pierce a man, that is like a veſſell full of wine, and to ſet him a running. Elihu would ſpeak that hee might bee refreſht, Job 32. It would bee an eaſe to him, it would bee a great benefit to others: as the mother is in pain, till the childe hath ſuckt, and the childe not at quiet till hee hath done ſo. Fooliſh and unlearned queſtions about thoſe things whereof wee can neither have proof nor profit, wee are bound to avoid, 2 Tim. 2.23. knowing that they do gender ſtrifes, and breed crudities, fill men with winde, and make them queſtion-ſick, 1 Tim. 6.4. But profitable queſtions are frequently to bee propounded with a deſire to learn, and reſolution to practice: as the Virgin Mary demanded of the Angel, Luk. 1.34. the Diſciples of our Saviour, John 16.17, 19. &c. and hee reſolved them: which hee refuſed to do for the Jews, that asked him the ſame queſtion, John 7.35, 36. becauſe not with the ſame mind and deſire. So that frollick ſelf-ſeeker, with his fair offer of following Chriſt, was rejected: when thoſe that had more honeſt aims and ends, heard, Come and ſee, Mat. 8.19, 20. John 1.46. Theſe daughters of Jeruſalem do not therefore ask, becauſe they were utterly ignorant of Chriſt: but 1 That they might hear the Church what ſhee had to ſay of him, as they that love Chriſt, love to hear talk of him; his very name is mel[illegible: 1 letter]in ore, melos in aure, &c. 2 That by her diſcourſe they might better their knowledge: for the very Angells know not ſo much of this myſtery, but they would know more, and do therefore curiouſly pry into it, 1 Pet. 1.12. Yea, to theſe very Principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known by the Church the manifold wiſdome of God, in contriving mans ſalvation by Chriſt: they cannot but ſee an abundance of curious variety in this divine wiſdome: [non-Latin text not transcribed]. ſuch as is to be ſeen in the beſt pictures or textures, as the Apoſtles word importeth, Eph. 3.10.