Salomons diuine arts, of 1. Ethickes, 2. Politickes, 3. Oeconomicks that is; the gouernment of 1. Behauiour, 2. Common-vvealth, 3. Familie. Drawne into method, out of his Prouerbs & Ecclesiastes. With an open and plaine paraphrase, vpon the Song of songs. By Ioseph Hall.

CHAP. VII.

HOw beautiful are thy feet O daughter of the hyest;* 1.1 being shod with the prepara∣tion of the Gospell of peace,

and readily addressed to run the way of the commaunde∣ments of thy God: thou art compassed about thy loynes with the girdle of verity; which is both precious for the mat∣ter of it, and cunningly fra∣med by the skill of the spirit of truth.

* 1.2The nauell, whereby all thy spirituall conceptions receiue their nourishment, is full of all fruitfull supplie, and neuer wants meanes of sustenance, to feed them in thy wombe: which also is so plentious in thy blessed increase, that it is as an heape of wheat, consi∣sisting of infinite pure grayns which consort together with

much sweetnesse, and plea∣sure.

Thy two testaments (which are thy two full and comely breasts;* 1.3 by whose wholesome milke thou nourishest all thy faithfull children, once borne into the light) are for their ex∣cellēt & perfect agreement, & their amiable proportion, like two twins of Kids.

Those,* 1.4 who by their holy authority support thy gouern∣mēt (which are as som straight and strong necke to beare vp thy head) are for their height and defence like a tower; for their order, purenesse, and dignitie, like a tower of Iuo∣ry: thy teachers and ministers

(which are thine eyes) are like vnto some cleare and artifici∣all ponds of water, in a place of greatest resort: wherein all commers may see the faces of their consciences; & whence they may plentifully draw the waters of life. Thy nose, by which all spirituall sents are conuaied to thee, is perfectly composed, and featured like some curious turret of that goodly house in Lebanon; so as thy iudgement, and power of discerning the spirits, is ad∣mirable for the order and ex∣cellency thereof.

* 1.5The whole tyre of thine head (which are the ceremo∣nies vsed by thee) are very

gracefull, and of hie estimati∣on and price to all the behol∣ders: and as for me, I am so enamoured of thee, that I am euen tyed by my owne desire, to a perpetuall presence in thine holy assemblies.

Oh how beautifull & loue∣ly art thou therefore (O my Church) in all thy parts and ornaments?* 1.6 how sweete and pleasant art thou (O my loue) in whatsoeuer might giue me true contentment?

Thy whole frame is,* 1.7 for goodliness & streight growth, like vnto some tall palme-tree; which the more it is de∣pressed by the violence of per∣secutions, riseth the more; and

the two breasts of thy Testa∣ments are like two full iuicie clusters, which yeeld cōforta∣ble and abundant refreshing.

* 1.8Seeing then thou art my Palme-tree, I haue resolued in my selfe to adioyne my selfe to thee; to inioy thee, to gather those sweet fruits of thy gra∣ces, which thou yeeldest; and by my presence also will cause thee to bee more plentifull in all good works, and doctrine; so as thou shalt afford abun∣dance of heauenly liquor vnto all the thirstie soules of thy children; and an acceptable verdure of holinesse and obe∣dience vnto me.

* 1.9And the deliuerie of my

word, by the mouthes of thy ministers, shall bee as some ex∣cellent wine, which sparkleth right vpward: being wel accep¦ted of that God, in whose name it is taught, and looketh most pleasantly in the glasse, being no less highly esteemed of the receiuers: which is of such wō∣derfull power, that it is able to put words both of repentance, and praise into the lips of him, that lies asleepe in his sinnes.

The Church.

BEhold, such as I am,* 1.10 I am not my owne; much lesse am I any others: I am whole∣ly my Sauiours; and now I see, and feele, whatsoeuer I had

deserued, that he is mine also, in all intire affection; who hath both chosen me, and gi∣uen himselfe for me.

* 1.11Come therefore, O my deare Sauiour, let vs ioyne to∣gether in our naturall care: let thy spirit and my seruice be in∣tent vpon thy congregations here below on earth; and let vs stay in the place where our spirituall husbandry lieth.

* 1.12Let vs with all hast & cheer∣fulnesse visit the fruitfull vines of our beleeuing children; & to our mutuall comfort, bee witnesses and partakers of all the signes and fruits of grace, of all those good workes, and thankesgiuings, of those holy

indeauours and worthy pra∣ctises, which they yeeld forth vnto vs: let vs iudge of their forwardnesse, and commend it: whereupon it will easily ap∣peare, that the consummati∣on of our happie marriage draweth neere, in which there shall bee a perfect vnion be∣twixt vs.

Behold: thy godly seruants,* 1.13 which not onely beare fruit themselues, but are power∣full in the prouocation of o∣thers, present their best ser∣uices vnto thee; and euen at our doores (not farre to seeke, not hard to procure) is of∣fer made vnto thee, of all varietie of fruite; whether

from thy yong conuerts▪ or thy more settled professors: & all these I spend not lauishlie; but, in my louing care, duely reserue them for thee, and for the solemne day of our full marriage.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. How beautifull are thy goings with shooes, O princes daughter? the compasse of thy hyps like iewels: the worke of the hand of a cunning workeman.
• * 1.2

  2. Thy nauell is as a round cup, that wanteth not liquor: thy bellie is as an heap of wheat compassed about with Lillies.
• * 1.3

  3. Thy two breasts are as two yong Kids that are twins.
• * 1.4

  4. Thy necke is like a tower of Iuo∣ry: thine eies are like arti∣ficiall pooles in a frequen∣ted gate: thy nose is as the tower of Le∣banon, that looketh to∣ward Da∣mascus.
• * 1.5

  5. Thine head vpō thee is as scar∣let, and the bush of thine head like pur∣ple: the king is tied in thy beames.
• * 1.6

  6. How faire art thou & how plea∣sant art thou, O my loue, in pleasures?
• * 1.7

  7. This thy stature is like a palme-tree, and thy breasts like clusters.
• * 1.8

  8. I said, I will goe vp into the Palme-tree. I will take hold of her boughes: thy breasts shall now be like the clusters of the vines, and the sauour of thy nose like apples.
• * 1.9

  4. And the roofe of thy mouth like good wine, which goeth straight vp to my welbelo∣ued; & cau∣seth the lips of him that is asleepe, to speake.
• * 1.10

  11. I am my welbeloueds, and his de∣sire is to∣ward mee.
• * 1.11

  11. Come my wel-belo∣ued, let vs goe into the fields let vs lodge in the villages.
• * 1.12

  12. Let vs goe vp earely in the mor∣ning to the vines, and see if the vine florish, whe∣ther it hath disclosed the first grapes, or whether the pomegra∣nats blossom: therewill I giue thee my loue.
• * 1.13

  13. The mandrakes haue giuen a smell, and in our gates are all sweete things, new and old; my welbeloued, I haue kept thē for thee.