An exposition of the Song of Solomon: called Canticles Together with profitable obseruations, collected out of the same. Perused and published by William Gouge, preacher of Gods Word in Black-Friers, London.

CHAP. VII.

CHVRCH.

VERS. 1.

I am my well-beloueds, since his desire is to∣wards me.

THis comfortable speech of Christ vn∣to his Church doth so refresh her, that first she breketh forth into thank∣fulnesse for his mercy: In regard whereof shee professeth shee is wholy his, whose affection she findeth to be so wonderfull towards her, that he loued her, when she cared not for him: followed her, when she refused him: cal∣led her back, when she ranne away from him: par∣doned her, when she offended him: gaue himselfe anew vnto her, when she had forsaken him: seated her in Heauen, when shee was in the lowest hell.

VERS. 2

Goe to, my well-beloued, let vs goe forth into the Countrey, let vs lodge by the Cypres.

Then she rouseth vp her dul & h••auy spirits pray∣ing him, not alone, and by himselfe apart to spend his howers in obseruing of the time of their spiri∣tuall marriage, as hee said before he did: since shee

also had a care and longing to haue the same con∣summate as well as he.

VERS. 3

Let vs get vp early to the vine-yards: let vs see if the vine budde, the first grape open, the pomgranets sprout, there will I giue my Loues to thee.

Promising withall not to be found henceforth vn∣ready, not to be any more so drousie, so sluggish, so wretchlesse as shee was: but hereafter night and day to watch and attend that hower: and to en∣quire and learne after all the signes & tokens, when shee may come to be perfectly knit to Christ.

VERS. 4

These louely flowers that giue a smel, & about our gates all precious things, new, and also old, my well-beloued I keepe in store for thee.

In the third place shee consecrateth all shee hath vnto him, and vndertaketh in the meane time a∣gainst the solemnization of that marriage, to pro∣uide all manner of presents, flowers, garlands, and the like, which men at such times are wont to straw at the thresholds, and in the entries. That is, to furnish her selfe with spirituall graces, and to lay vp in store plenty and variety of heauenly treasure, things both new and old.

VERS. 5.

O that thou wert as a brother vnto me, suc∣king the brests of my mother: finding thee without I would kisse thee, also I should not be despised.

But because there rest two great workes to bee accomplished before that time can come, the ma∣nifesting of God in the flesh, and the calling of the Gentiles, in them both shee sheweth her ardent af∣fection, and therein the aboundance of her loue and zeale to Christ.

Fourthly therefore you haue her desire, which was the desire of all the prophets and holy men, to see the day of Christ, the day of his comming in the flesh: that hee might be her brother and suck the brests of her mother; naturally of the virgin, spi∣ritually of the Church vniuersall, where Christ is borne in the hearts of the faithfull by his Word and Spirit: for so comming among his owne, she, his owne and his onely owne, would kisse him and receiue him, both by faith and sense when shee should see with her eies that Word of life, and be∣hold him, and her hands should feele and handle him. So shold she be free from the scorns of wicked men, their contumelies and despites that reproach the steppes of Gods Messias, and vexe and molest the Church, whilest shee is in the expectation of that happie day.

VERS. 6.

I would leade thee, I would bring thee into the house of my mother which teacheth me: I

would giue thee to drinke of spiced wine, of the iuice of the pomegranets.

Then (saith shee) there should be no delay: this, this should be the marriage day. I would euen now without more adoe bring you into my mothers house, which teacheth & instructeth me in all piety and good offices to you-wards, into the Catholick Church of God: that all growing vp into one bo∣die, whereof my spouse is the head, I might at the last be presented as a chaste and pure virgin, glori∣ous to the Lord. Then would I giue him pleasures and delights for a King, and entertaine him with a most royall banquet of the graces of Gods spirit.

VERS. 7.

His left hand vnder my head, and his right hand embracing me,

VERS. 8.

I adiure you, yee daughters of Ierusalem, why should you stirre vp, or why should you waken this loue vntill he please?

I haue sweete fellowshippe and rest with him: neyther whilest thus I were in his armes, and vnder his embracings, should any the least offence be giuen to him, I would be carefull to shunne all occasions of any more displeasing my loue, or of causing him to retire from me.

VERS. 9.

Who is she that commeth vp out of the wil∣dernesse, ready to ioyne her selfe to her wel∣belo••ed? vnder the very Appletree I wa∣ken

thee, where thy mother was in labour of thee, where she was in labour that bare thee.

Hauing thus set forth her desire of Christs incar∣nation, now shee bestoweth many sweete and gra∣cious words to expresse and amplifie the vehemen∣cie of this loue. First, by the duties shee will per∣forme vnto him: great in themselues, but greater if you compare these duties of hers, with those that are to be looked for from other women. Was there euer (saith shee) any woman in the world, that would endure those labours, and take vpon her such perills as I doe to ioyne herselfe to her be∣loued? But I by faith ouercome all difficulties to come to thee. It is a small thing in myne eies, which to others seemes so hard, to put off the old man, to renounce this present wicked world, wher∣in is no pleasure nor sound delight, but a very wil∣dernesse and a desert, that I may finde thee out, and present my duties to thee: euen in that sweete and blessed place where thy mother (after the man∣ner of other women, sinne excepted) fell in trauaile of thee. Let me for the certeinety and secret of this wonderful hidden mystery once againe speake it, where shee fell in trauaile that did beare thee. This labour, this toyle may bee an argument what and how great my loue is vnto thee.

VERS. 10.

O set me as a seale on thy heart, as a seale on thine arme: for loue is strong as death;

zeale, hard as the graue. The Coales there∣of are Coales, nay a fire of the flame of Iah.

O doe thou loue me again, for this loue should be mutuall. Haue me in thy minde, with an ear∣nest and continuall remembrance of me, set me be∣fore thine eies, imprint me vpon thine hand, as an inseperable ornament of thy glory, so as the wife is to her husband.

The second amplification of her loue, is by the properties adioyned to it, set forth by many ele∣gant and apt similitudes. It is most vehement, most ardent, most constant, like to death which deuou∣reth all, or as the dominion of death which ouer∣commeth all. God himselfe (the mighty IAH) hath kindled it in our hearts by the powerfull light of his holy spirit neuer to goe out.

VERS. 11▪

Much waters cannot quench this loue, nor the flouds drown it. If a man would giue all the substance of his house for this loue, it should vtterly be contemned.

It is firme & inuincible, that neither force, ••raud, nor promises, troubles and persecutions, pleasures or commodities, no height or depth, things pre∣sent or things to come are able to preuaile against it.