John Trapp on Song of Solomon 7:13

Verſ. 13. The Mandrakes give a ſmell] Loves and Mandrakes grow both upon one Hebrew root: and Tremellius renders it not Mandrakes, out lovely flowers, yeelding a ſavour, pleaſant to the eye, and ſweet to the ſmell. The Chaldee Paraphraſt calleth it Balſam. Legeſis Auguſt. lib. 22. contra Fauſt. Manichaeum cap. 56. Jun: in Geneſ. 30.14. Druſ. in fine comment in Ruth. Aben-ezra ſaith, that Mandrakes are fragrant, and yield a pleaſant favour, that they have head and hands like unto a man. But how they ſhould be good to cauſe conception, hee wondreth, ſith by nature they are cold. Auſtin ſaith, that hee made trial, and could not finde any ſuch operation to bee in them, and that Rachel coveted them meerly for their rarity, beauty, and ſweetneſs. There is enough of theſe in the Church to draw all hearts unto her; but that many men have brawny breaſts, and horny heart-ſtrings.

And at our gates are all manner of pleaſants] Or, delicacies, precious and pleaſant commodities, whether fruits, metals, gems, jewels, quicquid in deliciis habetur, whatſoever is excellent and exquiſite in any kinde. This is the import of the Hebrew word. There is nothing of any worth but it is to bee found in the Church. Her wiſe Merchants, not content with the pearl of price, ſeek out other goodly pearls, common gifts, which alſo have their uſe and excellency, Mat. 13.45, 46. they learn to maintain good works, or honeſt profeſſions for neceſſary uſes; theſe things are good and profitable to men, Tit. 3.8, 14. Some think that the Holy Ghoſt here alludeth to the order of old (and ſtill in uſe) of ſtrawing the wedding-houſe doors with ſweet-ſmelling flowers. Others to the cuſtomes of thoſe that have Orchards, to lay up their fruits over the gate-houſe.

New and old] As a good ſtorer that hath plenty and variety wherewith to pleaſe all palates, new for delights, and old for wholeſomeneſs. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Mat. 13.52. Extrudit copioſ[illegible: 1 letter] & alacriter. The good Scribe, well inſtructed to the Kingdome of heaven, throweth out of his treaſury things new and old, new for the nice, and old for the ſtronger ſtomach. Some delight in the ſweetneſs of things, (as in new wine). David tells them, the Word is ſweeter than live-hony dropping from the hony-comb. Others ſay, the old is better, are all for profit, as elder people, he tells them there, 'tis better than gold, Pſal. 19. In the Churches ſtore-houſe, men ſhall bee ſure to meet with all that heart can wiſh, or need require.

Which I have laid up for thee, Oh my Beloved] Propter te, Domine, propter te, [non-Latin text not transcribed], dixit ille Graculus Auguſto. is the Churches Motto. As all his ſprings are in her, and all his offices and efficacies for her, ſo all that ſhee has and is, is onely for him, and a great deal more ſhee could beteem him. Let Ephraim (that empty vine) bear fruit to himſelf. Hoſ. 10.1. and thoſe hypocrites, Zech. 7.5. faſt to themſelves; Chriſts hidden ones hide all for him, ſet up and ſeek him in all they do or ſuffer, are wholly devoted to his ſole ſervice.