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VERS. 1.[A song &c.]
THis excellent Song con∣containeth a descripti∣on of the state of a Christian man after he is once vnited vnto Christ, during our whole life, whilest wee walke here by faith, and not by sight. This is the summe of the Booke. The parts are two, One the state of such a Christian when his faith and holinesse of life are at
the highest, his signe in the Appogaeon or middest of Heauen, that it cannot alter any point but it must decline, when he saileth with winde and wea∣ther, and hath the Sunne-shine of Gods fauour to goe before him; that is whilest he enioyeth peace of conscience, quietnesse and tranquility of minde, and is free from those great offences that make a kinde of separation between Christ and him, in the foure first Chapters. The other part setteth forth the state of a true Christian, comming to himselfe after that earth linesse and worldly pleasures haue seized vpon him, when the cloudes and mistes of of his owne sinfulnesse, of drousinesse and carnall security, doe ouercast the face of the heauens, and darken and eclipse the brightnesse of his glorie, in the foure last Chapters. The state of a Christian liuing in peace and quietnesse of a good consci∣ence, hath three excellent steppes. First his loue of Christ, in the first Chapter. Secondly the bene∣fits here ceiu••th from him, in the Second Chapter. 3. A desire to be made perfect Chap. 3. Whereun∣to Christ giueth answere, in the fourth Chapter.
The loue of a Christian soule to Christ (which is not possible to bee in any till Christ haue first lo∣ued him, and wrought in his heart a feeling of that loue) the holy Ghost doth thus describe.
[Vers. 2]O) First the vehemency of his affection, no∣ting true z••ale. For this loue is all fierie, and kindleth and enflameth the very bowels of the heart.
Let him ••••sse, &c. Secondly a desire to bee knit
vnto him as neere as is possible to enioy his sweete and blessed coniunction.
For thy loues are excellent, better then wine.] Thirdly a preferring of the loue of Christ before all worldly things, and aboue all the pleasures and delights of this present life.
[Vers. 3]Because &c.] Fourthly, a magnifying and extolling of Christ, whose very name and the only remembrance of him is most sweet & fra∣grant, which draweth the Christian heart vnto a loue, and in loue to an admiration of him.
The virgins.] This loue if you consider the qua∣lity thereof, is chast, holy, pure, and they only loue Christ who keepe themselues vndefiled from worldly pollution and vncleanesse.
[Vers. 4]Draw mee] The efficient cause is not in our selues, it commeth from Christ alone, who speaking to our heart by the ministery of the Word, and the sweet allurements of his spirit, pul∣leth vs out of this present euill world, and draweth vs after him.
Then will wee runne.] Heereby strength is put into vs, which maketh our feete nimble, and shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace to runne after Christ, and with might and maine to performe all holie duties to him,
Let the King] Whereunto wee are enabled by the corroborating spirit of Christ, into whose hands God the Father hath committed all things, and giuen him all power in Heauen and vpon the earth, making him both Lord and Christ
the King and ruler of his Church.
Bring me into his primie chambers.] Who in his fauour and princely bounty communicateth vnto vs more and more the rich graces and treasures of his Spirit, maketh vs more inward with him, and and leadeth vs as it were by the hand into his priuy chambers, those goodly roomes and parlours, where are all the Iewells and precious things laid vp for his people,
Wee will reioyce, &c.) This draweth from vs ioy in the holy Ghost, glorious and vnspeakea∣ble.
Wee will record &c.) It maketh vs neuer to satisfie our selues in setting forth and publishing vnto other the sweete comforts wee haue in him.
They shall &c.) Whom also wee desire to bee made pertakers hereof, and to loue Christ as well as wee.
Who in all rightnesse doe loue thee.) For such men onely, the holy and righteous are the siluer trum∣pets fit to sound forth Gods praises in his sanctua∣ri••. O if we euer felt how sweet a thing it is to haue his praises in our mouth, let vs not commit by word and deed, that through our owne folly and loosenesse so great a comfort should be taken from vs.
[Vers. 5]I] Lastly wee are carefully to remooue all lets and impediments that may hinder their ap∣proach to Christ.
〈◊〉〈◊〉) Conflicts we haue great and grieuous with
our owne soules, many a pluck and wrestle; but by faith wee ouercome them all.
black) Wee confesse our owne wretchednesse of ourselues more black then any blackamore, and therefore vnworthy to be matched with so great a King: for wee are borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquity, and are by nature the children of wrath, euen wee that liue in the Church, and are borne within the outward couenaunt, aswell as other men. Eph. 2. Gal. 2.
but comlie.) But being purged and washed by the lauer of the new birth, wee are gracious and pleasing vnto Christ, more amiable and bewtifull in his eies then Solomon with all his brauery could bee to the eie of any mortall creature.
[Vers. 6]Looke not vpon mee) True it is, the world seeth not this honour which Gods children haue because it is spiritually discerned: it acknowledgeth not vs because it knoweth not him.
Yet the Christian man comfort••th himselfe him∣selfe in the testimony of his owne conscience, and and in Gods iudgement and estimation of him.
because I am blackish) Though hee carrie about many remnants of sinne, the reliques of his old A∣dam, and is manifoldly assaulted with the pricks & temptations of the fle••••▪ For sinne is in vs as the spots are in the Leopard, not by accident, but by nature, which no art can cure, no water wash off, be∣cause they are not in the skinne, but in the fleshe & bones, in the sinowes & in the most inner parts.
By this meanes it commeth to passe that euen a
regenerate man falleth many times, and falleth grieuously and fearefully, lofeth of his hold, and of the bewty that God hath giuen him.
Howbeit the seede of God abiding in him ma∣keth that he cannot sinne finally and totally: for the oyle of Gods spirit where with hee is annoin∣ted, setteth the colours, which are of his owne tem∣pering, so sure on, and maketh them cleaue so fast together, that it is impossible hee should euer re∣turne to his old hew, to be black, all black, coale∣black as he was before.
The holinesse therefore of a Christian is alwaies mingled with sinne, his siluer with much drosse, not as chaffe is mingled with corne, but as wine is mingled with water, or as when two colours, black and white are mingled together, that there is no part white but it is blackish also.
Because the Sunne hath cast his beames vpon mee) Hence it is that a Christian is subiect to much af∣fliction, anguish and distresse, as it were to the scor∣ching of the Sunne, which turne all his moisture into the drought of Somer.
Because the sonnes of my mother incensed against me) Especially his sinnes and infirmities expose him to the taunts and reproaches of the wicked, open mens mouthes against him, and against the ho∣ly trueth of God for his sake, who vpon euery slip are ready to take aduantage to scandalize the Gospell.
Hereby a christian is exceedingly humbled, and cast downe, and driuen to renounce and for sake
armes. Neyther can he euer, satisfie his own soule, but d••••reth alwaies to rest there, without any the least interruption.
[Vers. 8]It is the voice) The cause of all comfort to the Church is the voice of Christ, speaking to her heart, and mouing and perswading her by his Spi∣rit.
His dealings are by degrees, and he vseth not (or∣dinaryly) to vtter all his fauours at once.
of my well-beloued:) First is his power suppor∣ting vs, that in our spirituall sicknesse the spirit bee not quenched.
Behold him,) Then hee speaketh a farre of, whis∣pering as it were in our heart.
hee commeth) After hee commeth neeror, at the length hee is himselfe present.
Lepping, skipping) When he commeth, his com∣ming hath foure excellent properties. First it is hastely and with speede.
Vpon these hilles, vpon these hillocks,) Secondly, no sinnes of ours, no vnworthinesse, can hinder his approach: all things, high or lowe, great or small offences, are too little for to stay him.
[Vers. 9]Standeth behind &c.) Thirdly, he doth not com so to our senses as wee desire: hee communica∣teth not▪ his whole presence with vs, but standeth as it were behind the wall: so as there is a space betweene him and vs to keepe him from vs: Hee looketh but out of a casement, or as it were tho∣rough a Lattice: for now wee see but darkely, and in a riddle.
Shewing himselfe cheerefully.] Yet neuer the le••••e (which is the fourth thing) this fight of his is most cheerefull, most sweet vnto the soule that lo∣ueth him: no p••ant, no tree, no flower, so delight∣full to the outward senses, as Christ is to the true beleeuer.
[Vers. 10]My well-beloued spake] But the dull heart of a Christian man had neede of the continuall voice of Christ, that hee should call and crie vnto vs, speake, and speake againe,
arise, &c.) (And the same words againe ele∣gantly repeated in the end of the thirteenth verse) Yea v••e all art and eloquence that may be to stirre vs vp to seek him,
my fellow friend, my faire one) And speak with all kindnesse vnto vs, that we may the better be per∣swaded he doth it for our good.
And here is the honour a Christian man hath, that Christ calleth vs not any more seruants, but his friends, and fellowes.
It is Christ that speaketh in the ministery of the Word. And we must heare the messengers whom hee doth send, as if Christ by them besought vs: be reconciled vnto God. 1. Cor. 5.20.
[Vers. 11]For behold,) The cause why Christ withdraw∣eth himselfe is our owne security and negligence in seeking to him, our slacknes in prayer and other holy exercises.
The winter &c.] The time whilest wee lie in sinne is a heauy and discomfortable time; there is no pleasure to be taken in the base seruice of such a
master: for what fruit can we haue of those things whereof wee must be ashamed? the whole life of a wicked man, what is it else but a sea of misery, full of feares & terrours, and expectation of the iudge∣ment to come? which should make vs hastely and with speed to labour to winde out of it.
[Vers. 12, 13]The flowers appeare &c.) Contrariwise a Chri∣stian mans life (whatsoeuer the world deeme) is the onely sweete and comfortable life, like to the pleasant spring that refresheth all the sences: as ha∣uing all things fresh and greene, and flourishing to the eies: all dainty to be cut and pruined with the hands: all cheerefull to the eares in the melodi∣ous noise and singing of the birds: all fruitfull and sweete to the taste: all odoriferous and pleasing to the smell: For a Christian man hath peace of con∣science that passeth vnderstanding, which the world hath not, nor knoweth what it meaneth: a Christian man is full of ioy wrought in him by the holy Ghost, whom the world cannot receiue: a christian man whatsoeuer his estate bee, good or bad, strengthneth himselfe in his God, as Dauid did when his Cittie was spoyled,* 1.1 onely the bare walles left, both his wiues carried away captiues, and the people ready to stone him to death: for well he is assured that nothing falleth out but for his good, and in loue and mercy to him; a Chri∣stian man hath accesse to God in all his troubles and aduersities, familiar conference and communi∣cation with him, & goeth boldly vnto the thron of grace: a christian man is endued with spirituall glo∣rie
and wisedome, which doubleth the beautie of his countenance, and maketh his face to shine: a Christian man hath the holy Angels of God, those glorious and most renowmed creatures, to be as it were his seruants, for they serue Christ, with whom he is one: Lastly, a Christian mans honour is not in regard of this life onely, but as a crowne of fu∣ture excellencie, hee hath fastened in his heart the anchor of hope to stay and quiet his minde in all the stonnes and tempests here, till he arriue at the hauen of all his rest.
Arise)•• Now the more these things excell, the more we must enforce our selues to follow af∣ter them: to pursue them speedily, to goe out of our selues and to come to Christ: by anie meanes taking heede that the pleasures of Sodome, the fil∣thie pleasures of our former life, and of this wic∣ked world, make vs not looke backe vnto them, but to cast them off with all our might, and to flie aware from them.
My fellow-friend, my faire one &c.) There is not anie so effectuall an argument to prouoke men hereunto, and to stirre vs vp to godlinesse, as the consideration of Gods mercie, and of the dignity we haue by Christ.
[Vers. 14]My Doue that dwelleft in the cliftes, &c.) But though the state of a Christian man be such and so excellent as before hath beene described, yet to humble him that hee be not proude, God leaueth, as it were, prickes and thomes in his side, as he did to the Israelites, manifold infirmities, which make
him to blush for shame, and not to dare to shewe his face: thinking in very truth most basely of himselfe, and that hee is of all the world the mea∣nest: not worthie to come almost in the sight and presse of men: how much lesse into the glorious sight and presence of God?
Shew me thy face make me heare thy voice:) Not∣withstanding the testimonie of his conscience; walking in simplicitie and sinceritie as before the Lord, maketh him (emboldned by the word of God) to lift vp his head to come before him, and to call vpon his name.
For thy voice is sweete, and thy face comelie.) Which the Lord graciously accepteth, and is well pleased with: accounting his person holie, and his praiers, and other the fruites of his faith, sweet and accep∣table through Christ.
[Vers. 15]Foxes,) It is the perpetuall lot and condition of the Church to nourish in her bosome secret e∣nemies, that closely vndermine the good of it: for all that are in Israell are not of Israel; and manie are among vs that are not of vs: but God in his good time will discouer hypocrites; how foxe-like soeuer they carrie themselues.
Take vs, &c.) Some mens sinnes are manifest a∣for••hand, going before vnto iudgement, and some mens follow after; but those that are of this sort cannot be hidden. The sword of discipline is to be drawen by the Ministers, and other into whose hand God hath put it, for the cutting off of kno∣wen offendours, and remouing of all offenses.
The Foxes,) Great ones are not to bee spared though they be as iolly foxes, as Herod was.
The little Foxes;] The small cubbes are not to bee neglected, though they can but nibble at the Vines.
Which destroie the Vines:) All euill, and occasi∣on, and shew of euill is to bee remoued: so much the more carefully, because from little beginnings growe great proceedings: and a small offence in the Church of God, manie times, turneth men a∣waie from the loue of the truth before they be set∣led in it.
Whilest our Vines are bringing forth the first grape.) Sathan also is euer busiest to seduce and drawe vs from the faith, when Christ is first borne within vs: waiting to eate vp, and destroy the children of the Church as soone as she is deliuered.
Hereby the vse, the excellencie, the necessi∣tie of discipline is seene: it restraineth offences that they breake not forth, it staieth them where a breach is begunne.
[Vers. 16]My Welbeloued,) After manie conflicts with our owne soule, God maketh vs in the end of feele more liuely our fellowship with Christ.
Is mine, and I am his,) The roote and foun∣taine of all our happinesse, is our coniunction, and communion with him.
Who feedeth in Lillies:) The fruites comming from it, excellent: for CHRIST our Shepheard feedeth his flocke in most sweete and delicate pa∣stures.
Till that daie breath▪) The two principall things which a Christian is to wish for, and desire after, are perfection in heauen by the comming of Ie∣sus Christ, and constancie and perseuerance vnto that day.
And these mistes flie awaie.) In this life manie mistes and shadowes are cast before our eyes, much ignorance of God and of holy duties: which that bright and glorious comming of our Lord and Sauiour, (as the rising of the Sunne,) will scatter all awaie.
1. Sam. 30. 6.