A brief exposition of the whole book of Canticles, or Song of Solomon lively describing the estate of the church in all the ages thereof, both Jewish and Christian, to this day ... / written by that learned and godly divine, John Cotton ...

THE CANTICLES, OR SONG OF SONGS opened and explained. (Book 3)

THE TEXT. CHAP. 3. (Book 3)

BY night on my bed I sought him whom my soule loveth, I sought him, but I found him not.

[verse 2] I will rise now, and goe about the city in the streetes, and in the broad wayes, I will seeke him whom my soule loveth: I sought him but I found him not.

[verse 3] The watch-men that go about the city found me, to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soule loveth?

[verse 4] It was but a little that I passed from them but I found him whom my soule loveth: I held him and would not let him goe, untill I had brought him into my mothers house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

[verse 5] I charge you, O yee daughters of Jerusalem, by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, that yee stirre not up, nor awake my love till he please.

[verse 6] Who is this that commeth out of the wilder∣nesse like pillars of smoake▪ perfumed with mirrhe and frankincense, with all powders of the mer∣chant?

[verse 7] Behold his bed, which is Solomons: three-score valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

[verse 8] They all hold swords, being expert in warre: Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of feare in the night.

[verse 9] King Solomon made himselfe a charet of the wood of Lebanon.

[verse 10] He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottome thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the middest thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

[verse 11] Goe forth, O ye daughters of Sion, and behold King Solomon with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals: and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart.

(Book 3)

THE EXPLANATION. (Book 3)

Cant. 3. ver. 1.

By night on my bed I sought him whom my soule loveth, I sought him, but I found him not, &c.

THis Chapter setteth forth the estate of the Church from after the dayes of Nehemiah, to the time of Christs so∣journing here on earth, in a two-fold period:

First, under the Maccabees, ver. 1.—6.

Secondly, in John Baptist's time, verse 6.—11.

The state of the Church in the Mac∣cabees time was,* 1.1 partly, full of calami∣ties, as a time of darkenesse, By night I sought him; and partly sweetned with some more comfortable issue.

This calamity is set forth,

First, By resemblance to night, By night I sought him.

Secondly, By the absence of Christ, whom she sought in vaine:* 1.2

First, In her bed, verse 1.

Secondly, In the streets of the City, verse 2.

Thirdly, Amongst the watchmen, ver. 3.

The comfortable issue of her seeking Christ is set forth,

First, By her finding of him, verse 4.

Secondly, By her holding of him, ver. 4.

Thirdly, By her bringing of him into her mothers house, verse 4.

Fourthly, By her charge to the daughters of Jerusalem, to walk circumspectly, that this estate be not interrupted, verse 5.

By night:]* 1.3 that is, in time of darknesse, and publicke calamity; when Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horne waxed excee∣ding great, wasted the pleasant land, cast some of the host and starres of heaven to the ground; when hee tooke away the daily sacrifice, and trode downe the Sanctuary,* 1.4 and cast downe the truth to the ground; when he robbed the Tem∣ple, murthered the people, spoiled the City, made lawes for profaning the Sab∣bath, for offering Swines flesh, for neg∣lecting Circumcision, when he set up the Statues of Jupiter Olympias, the abomi∣nation of desolation in the holy place, when he burnt the bookes of the Law, and made it death to have a Testament; when he brake downe the Altar and set up another, when hee put women to

death who had caused children to be cir∣cumcised, and hanged children upon the neckes of their mothers, 1 Mac. 1. 23. to the end.

In my bed:] Not in my bed of ease and sloth, (as some take it) for what ease could the Church take in the night time of calamity?* 1.5 but in my bed, that is, in the place and duties of Gods worship, the Temple and the ordinances.

I sought him whom my soule loveth.] I desired and endeavoured to have fel∣lowship with Christ, but I found him not, the Sanctuary being polluted and the daily sacrifice taken away, and profane Idols set up in the place.

In the streets of the City:]* 1.6 that is, in the open assemblies of the faithfull, in the Synagogues, in the cities of Judea and Jerusalem; but behold there Altars e∣rected to Idols, and incense burned, and the books of the Law cast into the fire* 1.7: Yea, behold the citizens of Jerusalem all fled and gone* 1.8: and the rest went in procession to Bacchus† 1.9.

The watch-men that goe about the citie:]* 1.10 To wit the Levites, who answered her with silence; but a little after she found

succour at Modin, for the Priests, Mat∣tathias and his sonnes, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon, and the rest that went about to repaire the ruines of the Church and Common-wealth; to these the faithfull Church repairing,* 1.11 and finding delive∣rance and comfort, by Judas especially, or rather by Christ in him† 1.12, Shee left him not till shee had brought him into the Temple, where she soone after clean∣sed the Sanctuary, and restored the puri∣ty of Gods worship, and offered sacrifice according to the Law, so that she found great comfort and joy in the duties of Gods worship* 1.13. Thus againe found they Christ in a typicall Saviour, held him by faith, and, with courage and zeale, brought him into the Temple and Sanctuary, the house and chamber of her mother; that is, of the former Church of Israel, or of the Catholike Church, for the Church of the former ages is the mother of the latter; or the whole Church is the mother of each part in usuall phrase of Hebrew speech: The Temple is the house of both, the San∣ctuary is the chamber of her that bare her.

I charge you,* 1.14 O yee daughters of Jerusa∣lem, by the Roes and by the Hinds of the field, that ye stirre not up, nor awake my love till he please.

I charge you, &c.] See the same words opened, Chap. 2. 7. The Church char∣geth all her daughters, all her members, to take heed, lest by their undiscreet dea∣ling, or any wicked practise, they stirre up the neighbour Princes of Syria and Egypt; not to disturbe the peace of the Church, and to provoke Christ againe to leave them desolate; which though Jason and Menelaus and Alcimus broke† 1.15, yet they prevailed not so farre, but Christ was still found in the Temple of the faithfull till his comming in the flesh.

Who is this that commeth out of the wil∣dernesse lake pillars of smoake,* 1.16 perfumed with mirrhe and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

Who is this that commeth out of the wil∣dernesse.] This is a description of John Baptist, and of the Church gathered by his Ministery in the wildernesse: which is set forth,

First, by the admiration and inquisi∣tivenesse of the old Synagogue after him

and his baptisme: Who is this that com∣meth, or ariseth, &c. which was fulfil∣led * 1.17: To whom the Jewes sent Priests and Levites to aske him,* 1.18 Who art thou? and all men mused whether he were not the Christ.

Secondly, by the place of his arising, and the Church with him in the wilder∣nesse † 1.19.

Thirdly,* 1.20 by the manner of arising, like pillars of smoake, which

First, ariseth from fire, as the Church arose from zeale and fervencie of Johns ministery.

Secondly, ascendeth on high, as the propagation of this Church did, even to Jerusalem† 1.21.

Thirdly, fils the countrey, as the Church did with rumour and increase of it* 1.22.

Fourthly, by the excellent fragrancie and sweetnesse of the graces thereof per∣fumed † 1.23, preserving from putrefaction: such was the powerfull zeale of John and his ministery, strongly fragrant as Myrrhe, and preserving his hearers from pharisaicall hypocricy;* 1.24 Frankincense is of like strong fragrancy, and of chiefe use

in making of the holy incense† 1.25; by which prayer was signified* 1.26, to intimate the fragrancy and fervency of his pray∣ers, who taught all his disciples to prayb 1.27.

With all powders of the merchant.] to wit, perfumed with the sweet graces of God,c 1.28 filled with the holy Ghost a∣bove all Prophets, yea above all that were borne of womend 1.29; whence also he seasoned all sorts of his hearers with graces and directions fit for their severall callingse 1.30.

Fifthly, by the doctrine of John, who expresly preached the Lord Jesus mani∣fested in the flesh.

Behold his bed which is Solomons,* 1.31 three-score valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

Behold his bed which is Solomons.] this doctrine the Church of that time recei∣ved and beleeved: In which doctrine, that first Church first discerned and be∣leeved,

First, the Temple of Christs body; for the bedf 1.32 was taken, as also it is here, for the Temple, which was the type of Christs bodyg 1.33.

Now, this as John pointedh 1.34, Behold the

lambe of God; as here it is said, Behold his bed. This Temple it is the Temple of Solomon, of Christ; in him the God-head dwelleth bodily.* 1.35

Secondly, the guard of Angels atten∣ding it,* 1.36 to prevent the feare of Herods en∣mity and others.* 1.37

Thirdly, the maker of his humanity, verse 9. King Solomon made himselfe a Couch, the word may be translated Coach or Couch: this latter I rather take, partly for the Etymologe of Apirion, fol. 38. to be fruitfull as the brides bed is, and partly for agreement with the former word Bed, ver. 7.

No earthly father, but Christ by his owne Spirit made his owne body, and his owne bed in his mothers wombei 1.38.

Fourthly, the matter of it, the wood of Lebanon, for the Virgin Mary dwelt in Na∣zareth of Galile at the foot of Lebanon.

As Solomons Temple, the type of Christs body, was made of the wood of Lebanon,* 1.39 the Cedar which is free from corruption; so was the body of Christ sound from seeing corruptionk 1.40.

Fifthly, the ornaments of it, which were

First, partly his offices:

1. Priestly, as pillars of silver abiding the fire of Gods wrath, and pure as sil∣ver tried in the fire.* 1.41

2. Propheticall, delivering us a word precious as gold, even as fine goldl 1.42.

3. Kingly, whence it is said, ver. 10. The covering of it of purple, the royall or∣nament of Kings.

Secondly, partly, the affection where∣in he undertooke and executed these of∣fices,* 1.43 love of the daughters of Jerusa∣lem, ver. 10. All these John declarethm 1.44.

Secondly, hee exhorteth and stirreth up the faithfull to behold,

First, Christn 1.45.

Secondly,o 1.46 The ornaments wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espou∣sals. The day of his espousals was the day when God the Father contracted him with the Church* 1.47; whence after hee is called the Bridegroomep 1.48, and John the Bridegroomes friend, his Disciples the children of the Bride-chamber: And the Church henceforward in this booke is called the Spouse, not before. The crowne wherewith his mother crowned him, is the testimony of Christs sove∣raignty,

which John and the faithfull gave himq 1.49.

First of the estate of the Church under the Maccabees.

[Use 1] First, this doth teach us with what in∣tent wee are to come before God in the publicke assemblies, namely, to seeke Christ the love of our soules; not to shew our fine garments, wantonly to gaze at beauties; not to satisfie the Law or friends, for fashions sake; but to seeke Christ instructing us in temptations: Some come to catch something from Christ to entrap him, &c. but it is our duty to come unto him, as a Spouse to her husband, for seed; so we must come to Christ, that hee may cast the seeds of grace into our soules, that we may bring forth fruit unto him.

[Use 2] Secondly, this lets us see the change∣able estate of the Church; shee that re∣joyced in the presence and fellowship of Christ, and could say,* 1.50 My beloved is mine, and I am his, now seekes him every where, and with much difficulty and an∣guish * 1.51. And so it is oft with every true member of the Church, as wee may see it was with David† 1.52: so it is now with

our brethren beyond the seas, whom you might have commended a yeare or two agoe, and have found Christ there; but now he is gone, she seekes him but findes him not: See the Church of God sometime enjoyes all the ordinances of God, sometimes none; so a Christian soule sometimes hath Christs left hand under her head,* 1.53 and his right hand to embrace her, soone after she findes him not so: Wee must not condemne the Church for this; for they that are tender∣ly beloved of Christ may sometimes seeke him and not finde him.

[Use 3] Thirdly, this may comfort such as seeke Christ in all his ordinances: they shall either finde him in them; or, after the use of them, in some unexpected or extraordinary helpe. The Church here that found not Christ in the Temple, nor in the assemblies and recourse of Christi∣an people, nor in conference with the Priests, found him soone after in an un∣expected and extraordinary helpe, even Judas Maccabeus, verse 4. for indeed it was extraordinary for the tribe of Levi to take up the sword and scepter, which indeed belonged to Judah: so you see

when ordinary meanes faile, God will be found in extraordinary: Whosoever then would finde Christ, and seeke him every where, they shall surely finde him either in his ordinances, or out of them.

[Use 4] Fourthly, this lets us see the affectio∣nate cleaving of such to Christ, as have long sought him and not found him till at last: such lay hold on him, and will not let him goe, verse 4. which is one Reason why Christ sometimes hides himselfe from us, that wee might seeke him the more diligently, and, having found him, cleave to him more stedfast∣ly; and this God lookes for at the hands of his.

[Use 5] Fifthly, this doth exhort Christians that live among bad neighbours to walk the more circumspectly, as the daughters of Jerusalem are here charged upon oath to doe, ver. 5. being between the Syrians and Egyptians. It is a charge given by the Church to her daughters, to take heed they stirre not up her love, nor a∣wake Christ till he please.

Two Reasons are given for it▪

First, It may provoke Christ of bring another estate upon the Church

which will not bee good for it.

Secondly, in regard of fearefull Chri∣stians, for they will start away; many are willing to come into the Church, but if the profession of Christ be trouble∣some and hot, they will not abide it: therefore this charge is needfull that we may walke holily, that Christ be not stirred up, nor these fearefull Christians discouraged. See this handled, Chap. 2. verse 7.

Thus farre the first part, in the time of the Maccabees: Now Secondly of the estate of the Church in John Baptist's time.

[Use 1] This is first to shew us, that God can raise up a Church even in the wilder∣nesse,* 1.54 to the admiration of observers: and so hee can raise up our neighbour Chur∣ches, now brought to a wildernesse. This may comfort us in regard of them; for though they be now desolate, yet we may hope a time will come when they shall rise againe.

[Use 2] Secondly, see here is a part of the duty of ancient Christians, not to maligne the graces of God in those that come after them, but to admire them* 1.55, Who is it

that commeth out of the wildernesse like pil∣lars of smoake, perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankincense, &c.

[Use 3] Thirdly, this shewes what gifts and graces are most requisite in a Minister, and doe most adorne him, even zeale in his Ministery, and fervency in prayer, and all sorts of sweet graces to season and direct all sorts of his people in their severall callings,* 1.56 as John did* 1.57, when the people came and said, What shall we doe? He answered and said, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, &c. So John was perfumed with graces for all men: for men must not come into the Ministery with judgement and learning alone, for these may come from nature; but they must come perfumed with gra∣ces, to keepe themselves and others from putrefaction; yea, they must labour for those graces which will give a strong sent to save themselves and others.

[Use 4] Fourthly, this shewes us the manhood and Godhead of Christ; Christs hu∣mane nature is the Temple, or bed wherein the Godhead resteth bodily, and the Godhead made this Temple or bed for himselfe,* 1.58 no earthly father for him.

[Use 5] Fifthly, see here the protection and gardiance the Angels give to Christ,* 1.59 and in him to the Church and all his mem∣bers,* 1.60 verse 7, 8.

[Use 6] Sixthly,* 1.61 wee may here see in Christ whatsoever is behoovefull for all our salvations.* 1.62 In regard of his Priestly of∣fice hee is pure as silver,* 1.63 to cleanse our impurity, and to abide the fire: In regard of his Propheticall office hee is precious as gold, to enrich our poverty: In regard of his Royall and Kingly of∣fice he is glorious as purple,* 1.64 and cloathed with it, to advance our basenesse: His heart, or middest, is even paved with love of us: His heart is an hearth (for so the word signifieth) whereon the fire of his love towards us burneth continually; let us then love the Lord Jesus againe, and receive the seeds and fruits of his grace, and then shall we see his heart flaming with love to us: and then whatsoever befals, bloudshed, warre, captivity, &c. all comes from love; his whole heart is paved with love.

[Use 7] Seventhly, let us take up our thoughts and meditations about Christ; let us goe forth and behold him; let his

abundant graces fill our empty soules.

[Use 8] Eighthly, if thou beest a daughter of Sion, thou art contracted to Christ; and know it by this, Dost thou read his let∣ters? art thou delighted with them? and dost thou rejoyce to speake to him again by prayer? If thou dost, it may be the joy of thy heart, for thy estate is good.

[Use 9] Lastly, this doth exhort us all to give up our selves as spouses to Christ, and that with all gladnesse of heart, since he is affected to us, who yet hath nothing from us but debts and beggery: and they that doe give themselves up to Christ, need not feare wanting comfort; for no spouses shall finde such comfort as they. Shall he be glad to have us, a company of beggars; yea, as I may say, a company of deaths? and was it the gladnesse of his heart to be espoused to us, which was when his Father contracted him to us, and shall we think it a day of deading to set our feet into Christs bed? Al the mer∣chants cannot set forth our excellency, when he shall pay all our debts, and adorn us with all his graces; therefore let us go forth, and bring him home to us, we shall then finde him comfortable to us in the day of espousals.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse 1.
• * 1.2

  Verse 2.
• * 1.3

  Verse 1.
• * 1.4

  Dan. 8. 9.—12.
• * 1.5

  Chap 1. 16. & 3. 7.
• * 1.6

  Verse 2.
• * 1.7

  1 Mac. 1. 57.—59.
• * 1.8

  1 Mac. 1. 40.
• † 1.9

  2 Mac. 6. 7.
• * 1.10

  Verse 3.
• * 1.11

  1 Mac. 2. 42, 43.
• † 1.12

  1 Mac. 3. 6,—8.
• * 1.13

  1 Mac. 4. 42, 46.
• * 1.14

  Verse 5.
• † 1.15

  2 Mac. 14. 14.
• * 1.16

  Verse 6.
• * 1.17

  Ioh. 1. 19
• * 1.18

  Luk. 3. 15.
• † 1.19

  Luke 3. 2.—4.
• * 1.20

  Mar. 1. 3, 4
• † 1.21

  Mat. 3. 5, 6.
• * 1.22

  Mat. 3. 5, 6.
• † 1.23

  Chap. 1. 13.
• * 1.24

  Mat. 3. 7.—10.
• † 1.25

  Exod. 30 34.
• * 1.26

  Psa. 141 2.
• b 1.27

  Luk▪ 11. 1.
• c 1.28

  Luk. 1. 15.
• d 1.29

  Mat. 11. 9, 11.
• e 1.30

  Luk. 3. 10.—14.
• * 1.31

  Verse 7.
• f 1.32

  Chap. 1. 16. & 3. 1.
• g 1.33

  Ioh. 2. 19, 20.
• h 1.34

  Iohn 1. 29, 30.
• * 1.35

  Col. 2. 9.
• * 1.36

  Ioh. 1. 51.
• * 1.37

  Mat. 2. 13. 19.
• i 1.38

  Luk. 1. 35.
• * 1.39

  Hos. 1.
• k 1.40

  Psal. 16. 10.
• * 1.41

  Heb. 7. 26.
• l 1.42

  Psal. 19. 10.
• * 1.43

  Verse 10.
• m 1.44

  Ioh. 3. 29. to the end
• n 1.45

  Ioh. 1. 29.—end.
• o 1.46

  Ver. 11.
• * 1.47

  Mat. 3. 17.
• p 1.48

  Ioh. 3. 29.
• q 1.49

  Ioh. 1. 33, 34, 35, 49. & 3. 29.—36.
• * 1.50

  Cant. 2. 16.
• * 1.51

  Verse 1, 2, 3.
• † 1.52

  Psal. 119 24, 25. & 30. 6, 7, 8.
• * 1.53

  Cant. 2. 6.
• * 1.54

  Verse 6.
• * 1.55

  Verse 6.
• * 1.56

  Verse 6.
• * 1.57

  Luke 3. 10.—14.
• * 1.58

  Verse 7, 9.
• * 1.59

  Psal. 91. 11, 12.
• * 1.60

  Psal. 34. 7.
• * 1.61

  2 Kin. 6. 16, 17.
• * 1.62

  Heb. 1. 14.
• * 1.63

  Rev. 5. 11. & 7. 11.
• * 1.64

  Verse 10.