John Trapp on Song of Solomon 7:12

Verſ. 12. Let us get up early to the Vineyards] Heb. Let us morning it: A. Gel. l. 3. c. 29 Manicemus (that's Gellius his word) Let's up betime, and at it. Here ſhee promiſeth not to bee found henceforth, unready, drowſie, ſluggiſh: but night and day to watch and attend that hour, and to enquire and learn out all the ſigns and tokens when ſhee may come to bee perfectly knit to Chriſt. But it is worthy our obſervation, that ſhee would neither go any way, or do any thing without Chriſts company: for ſhee had lately felt the grief of being without him, though but for a ſmall moment, as the Prophet hath it. Shee had felt her ſelf that while in the ſuburbs of hell, as it were. Shee therefore holds him as faſt as the reſtored cripple did Peter and John, Acts 3.11. ſhee cleaves as cloſe to him, as Ruth did to Naomi, or Eliſha did to his maſter Elijah, when now hee knew hee ſhould bee taken from his head, 2 Kin. 2.2. Shee ſeems here to ſpeak to Chriſt, as once Barach did to Deborah, If thou wilt go with mee, Judg. 4.8. then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with mee, I will not go. And whereas ſhee ſeemeth (as the forwarder of the two) to excite and exhort Chriſt to get up early, to viſit the Vines, &c. wee may not imagine any unwillingneſs in him to the performance of his Office, as Shepheard and Biſhop of our ſouls;1 Pet. 2.25. or any need on his part to bee quickned and counſelled by her, (as Manoah was by his wife, or Aquila by Priſcilla, whence ſhee is ſet before him, Rom. 16.3.) for who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counſellor, hath taught him? Iſa. 40.13. But the Church requeſteth theſe things of Chriſt for her own incouragement, and further benefit; that having his continual preſence and fellowſhip, ſhee may the more chearfully and ſucceſſefully go on with her duty. So when wee preſs God with arguments in prayer, it is not ſo much to perſwade him to help us, (for the Father himſelf loveth you,John 16.27. Homer. ſaith Chriſt, and needs no arguments [non-Latin text not transcribed] to incite or intice him, to ſhew us mercy) as to perſwade our own hearts to more faith, love, humility, &c. that wee may be in a capacity to receive that mercy, that of his own accord hee hath for us; and even waits to confer upon us. Iſa. 30.18. Look how a man that would make a bladder capacious to hold ſweet ſpices, hee blows it, and rubs it, and blows it, and rubs it many times over, to make it hold the more: ſo it is here. And as when a man that is in a ſhip plucks a rock, it ſeems as if hee pluckt the rock nearer the ſhip, when as in very deed, the ſhip is plucked nearer the rock: So when Gods people think they draw God to them with their arguments, in truth they draw themſelves nearer to God; who ſometimes aſcribeth that to us which is his own work,Aug. that we may abound more and more. Certum eſt nos facere quod facimus, ſed ille facit ut faciamus: True it is, that wee do what wee do, but it is hee that giveth us to do what wee do in his ſervice. The bowls of the Candle-ſtick had no oyl, but that which dropped from the Olive-branches.

Whether the tender grape appear] Heb. open, and ſo prove it ſelf to bee a grape; which in the bud can hardly bee diſcerned. True grace may bee doubted of ſo long as it is ſmall and feeble. Weak things are oft ſo obſcured with their contraries, that it remaineth uncertain, whether they bee or no.Mark 9.24. Hee that cryed out, and that with tears, I beleeve, Lord help mine unbeleef, (that is, my weak faith,) could not well tell whether hee had any faith at all or not. Adde growth to grace, and it will be out of queſtion. Mean while that's a ſweet promiſe, Iſa. 44.3. I will pour my Spirit upon thy ſeed, and my bleſſing upon thy buds. And again, Iſa. 65.8. Thus ſaith the Lord; As the new wine is found in the Cluſter, and one ſaith, Deſtroy it not, for a bleſſing is in it: ſo will I do for my ſervants ſake, that I may not deſtroy them all.

And the Pomegranates bud forth] See the note on chap. 4.13.

There will I give thee my loves] i. e. The fruition of my graces, and fruits of thy faith, thanks, good works, &c. And this is that which Chriſt requireth of us all: viz. that wee beſtow all our loves upon him, even the livelieſt and warmeſt of our affections. Love him wee muſt truly, that there bee no halting, and totally, that there bee no halving: Hold him wee muſt, better, dearer to us than ten ſons, &c. and communicate all our loves to him as beſt worthy: What hee gives us back again, wee may beſtow upon others; wee may love other things, but no otherwiſe than as they convey love to us from Chriſt, and may bee means of drawing our affections unto Chriſt. We muſt love all things elſe as they have a beam of Chriſt in them, and may lead us to him: accounting that wee rightly love our ſelves no further, than wee love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt with a love of complacency.