The intercourses of divine love betwixt Christ and his Church, or, The particular believing soul metaphorically expressed by Solomon in the first chapter of the Canticles, or song of songs : opened and applied in several sermons, upon that whole chapter : in which the excellencies of Christ, the yernings of his gospels towards believers, under various circumstances, the workings of their hearts towards, and in, communion with him, with many other gospel propositions of great import to souls, are handles / by John Collinges ...

The First Chapter of the Song of Solomon paraphra∣sed, and turned into English Meeter, so as it may be Sung in the Ordinary Tunes, in which the Eng∣lish Psalms are sung.

I.

THE Kisses of thy Mouth (Dear Lord) Let my Soul only have, No Earthly thing I do desire, No worlds fine things I crave. Let me thy Gospel Doctrines have, By them O speak to me So by thy Grace, that I in them Thy special Love may see.

II.

A Kiss Lord! is but a small thing, But a Love-token 'tis, The Least of that is Sweet to me, Lord grant me but a kiss. One Kiss is sweet, but not enough: Let me more kisses have; My wants are more than one, therefore More Kisses I do crave.

III.

Thou hast varieties of Grace My Soul of wants as much:

As are my wants, my dearest Lord, O Let thy Loves be such. Drunkards are pleas'd with wine, but I In it no tast can find. O Let me only know, that thou To my poor soul art kind.

IV.

The knowledge thou hast given my soul How much thy Loves are worth, Above created things is that Alone which draws it forth In breathings after Thee. Thy Name Is Ointment poured out, Which with its fragrant smell perfumes The places it about.

V.

Therefore the Virgins do thee love. The undefiled mind Can satisfaction no where else, But in thee only find. Every such Virgin will thee love And thee alone desire. Thy sweetest Ointments fuel are To feed that sacred fire:

VI.

Lord I should come to thee: thou art The term to which I move; I should (O Lord!) run after thee In the scent of thy love. But I can neither run nor come Unless thou first me draw. Either my lusts do me seduce, Or Satan doth me aw.

VII.

O put forth thine Almighty hand, Let power, and love constrain

My feeble Soul to follow thee, And with thee to remain. Lay hand O Lord! upon my will, Then I shall willing be: Put strength into my legs and I Shall then run after thee.

VIII.

Lord move me first, then I shall move And stand no longer still, Yea I shall move with strength to do What is thy sacred will: I shall not only move, but run, Make hast, and not delay, To keep thy precepts, if that thou Wilt help me in my way.

IX.

It shall be then my meat and drink To do what thou requirest. Thou Lord shall then of me receive Whatever thou desirest. I shall nor faint, nor weary be, But persevering run, Until the race be finished, Which my soul hath begun.

X.

My Lord! not I alone, but mine Shall also follow thee: I shall make known thy ways to all That shall converse with me. Sinners by my example shall Be turned to thy Grace, When they shall hear, how thou to me Hast shewn thy pleasant face.

XI.

My Soul melts, I did speak but now The King hath answered.

And me into his Chambers brought, Unto his Royal Bed. How doth my heart, now leap for joy? How is my countenance glad? My soul can now despond no more, It can no more be sad.

XII.

In thee, O Lord! I will be glad, Thou art my only joy; Thy Loves I will remember, when New troubles me annoy. The savour of the worlds sweet wines. Is a poor transient thing. But I shall ne're (I trust) forget The Love of Christ my King.

XIII.

In him all things excelling dwell, They've chosen him their throne; The Saints will him sincerely love, And will love him alone: The more upright the greater love They to the Lord shall bring. Who loves them with the greatest love, And is the Lord, their King.

XIV.

You Daughters of Hierusalem. The City of my God, You who in the same Church with me Have taken your abode, Upbrard me not, that I am like The Coverings upon Black Kedars Tents. I'm also like. Curtains of Solomon.

XV.

I black am from my self, but am By Imputation white.

By th' first birth I am black and dark, But; by a new birth Light. I black am in your curious Eye. And in my own much more; But white in my Beloveds sight Since he hath paid my score.

XVI.

Look not on me because I'm black. With a too curious Eye. Nor with disdain, nor let my black Visage you satisfy: Much less dis-colour you. Behold (Sisters!) and pity me. My Blackness is not my delight. Ah! 'tis my misery.

XVII.

The Sun hath scorch'd me with its heat. It is by that I am tann'd. My Mothers Children also have Touch'd me with unkind hand. Their Vineyard they would have me at∣tend; Mine own I did not keep. The envious one hath collied me While I thus lay asleep.

XVIII.

What Souls will not Afflictions tann, If they be sharp and long? Or who is not discolour'd by Temptations, if too strong? Worldly distractions spoil the look Of a Religious mind, But ah! through negligence I have Been to my self unkind.

XIX.

But O thou whom my soul loves best, Tell me where thou doest use.

At noon to feed thy flock. At noon Do not my Soul refuse. When as Afflictions scorch me most Be thou at hand to me, And teach my Soul at such a time How it may come to thee.

XX.

O thou Shepheard of Israel, Let me but know the hour, When most of thee I may enjoy, Tast most thy Grace and Power. By th' flocks of thy Companions, I would not turn aside. With thee alone I would converse; Be thou (O Lord!) my guide.

XXI.

Thou fairest she! dost thou not know Where me at noon to see? The footsteps of the flock will teach Thee the right way to me. Feed by the Shepheards Tents, for there I shall most surely abide; The Shepheards that derive from me Shall be to thee a guide.

XXII.

I have compar'd my love unto The goodly company Of Horses which King Pharaoh draw, Made strong by Unity: Of Horses which march on to meet The armed men, and ne're Do from the glittering Sword turn head, But mock at Cowards fear.

XXIII.

Thy Cheeks (my Love!) are comely made With rowes of Jewels given

Thee, by my self: Thy lovely neck Adorn'd with Chains from Heaven. I will yet give thee further grace Borders of Gold I'le make, And spots of Silver thou shalt have And for thine own them take.

XXIV.

O may my dearest Royal Lord From's Table never stir. How sweetly doth my spikenard smell While's that he sitteth there. Even his own Graces will not smell When he is gone from me; His Grace in me doth daily need His Royal company.

XXV.

My well-beloved is to me Myrrh, in a bundle tyed. More precious, medicinal, and sweet Than all the world beside. Betwixt my Breasts he shall have place, There he shall alwaies lye; It is the place for posies. There I will this bundle tye.

XXVI.

Engaddi's Vineyards have their plants Of Camphire [Cypress.] All Are names too short for me whereby My Dearest Lord to call. My sweet companion! thou art fair, Thou lookest with Doves Eyes, Eyes which both meek, and harmless are, Not sparkling Cruelties.

XXVII.

Thou hast a satisfyed Soul, A rich, contented mind,

A plain and clean, and lowly heart Which is to others kind, A tender heart, a mournful Eye, Exceeding quick. These are The things which make me say again, Thou art exceeding fair.

XXVIII.

Nay (my Beloved!) thou art fair My beauty is to thee As nothing, worse than nothing, 'tis But meer deformity. Thou fair art, and pleasant too, Thy conversation's sweet. Thrice happy souls to walk with thee Whom thou dost please t' admit.

XXIX.

When thou within my bed dost lodge, How soon it waxeth green? When thou art gone, no fruitfulness In it at all is seen. Not a good work at such a time, Can my poor soul produce. Not an heart chang'd in Churches, when Thou art not in the Pewes.

XXX.

The Beams and rafters of thy house Of Cedar are, and Fir. Sweet, beautiful, and strong they are, Such as shall never stir. Thy word, and Ordinances Lord, Support thy Church for ever. O let my Sins within thy house Me sever from it never.

CHAP. II.

MY dearest Lord! I'm like the Rose Which Sharons fields doth grace: Like th' Lilly of the Vallies, which Doth beautify its place: A flower, and the noblest flower Which in the Fields doth grow; My structure, smell, and fruitfulness, Thy Workmanship all show.

II.

But Lord! I dwell i'th' common field, And in the Vallies there. To winds, and weather I'm exposed: I live in daily fear, Lest Sharons herds would me devour, Or tread me under-foot: And leave me nought to speak me thine, But only a true root.

III.

As Lillies are amongst the Thorns, So I my Love do see. The Daughters of the peevish world Are grievous Thorns to thee. Yet thou art lovely there, and thrivest, The ugly Thorns commend My fairest Love and do improve Her while they do her rend.

IV.

My dearest Lord it is enough, Amongst Thorns let me be; If while I stand there thou wilt be A shadow unto me. Amongst the barren Trees in Woods Let me converse, if I Thee as an Apple Tree may have, That there I do not die.

V.

Thy shade, thy pleasant fruit shall be To me enough for food: And for protection too, while I Traverse th' untrodden wood. I like an Hermite sit, and sing; Thy Apples to my tast Do much excel what other Trees Afford the world for mast.

VI.

God manifested in the flesh; O how exceeding sweet? When infinite, and finite did In one Redeemer meet. Thy suffering being tempted is, When tempted, my relief. Saran would rob me of my all, Thou hast disarm'd the Thief.

VII.

Lord thy compleat obedience Unto thy Fathers will, Is all relieves me, when I think How often I do ill, While I do good. But O thy death! Who can describe that fruit? Which all my soul necessities Exceeds while it doth suit.

VIII.

Thy Resurrection, thine ascending Unto thy Fathers Th rone▪ Thy sitting there, at his Right Hand Thine intercession: How sweet they are? And then to think That thou again wilt come To Judgment, not me to condemn, But only fetch me home.

IX.

Thine Ordinances Lord, in which Thy loves thou dost display, The Hony, and the Hony-Comb, Are not so sweet as they. The Spirits sacred fruit, those sweet Influxes of thy Grace, Are what alone me patient make Of sublunary place.

X.

These things my house of mourning turn drop, Into an house of Wine; Wine not which from Earths Grapes doth But from thee, the true Vine. Thy Love O Lord thy Banner is O're me, and makes men see; Men who thee hate, I do'nt belong Unto their company.

XI.

Thy Loves thy Banner, teaching me Where to resort, when move; When I fight for a Victory, Then I display thy Love: 'Tis that unites me unto thee, And every one that's thine, Where e're those colours I but see, I run to them as mine.

XII.

Protection I from them expect. Mine Enemies are afraid, As soon as they see over me Thy Banners are displaid. You Daughters of Hierusalem, My heart is sick for love, I cannot live without your help, O to my poor soul move.

XIII.

My dearest Lord hath left with you, Flaggons, and Apples too. O reach me something left I dye; Unto the Scriptures go, Out of those Fats draw out some Wine, And quickly bring it me: Bring me his Apples, why should you. Your Lords Spouse dying see?

XIV.

I shall not dye, but live, for he Hath put under my head His left hand, or his right hand shall Imbrace me in my bed: 'Tis he alone my aking head Can hold, and give relief: They'r his imbraces only can, Assuage my poor souls grief.

XV.

How ready is he me to help! I did but cry, he heard: His left hand hath secured me, As to the thing I fear'd: His right Hand soon shall follow it, And wholly me release: His right, and left hand both shall join My love sick soul to ease.

XVI.

O Daughters of Hierusalem, I charge you by the Roes, And by the Hinds, the friendly Hinds, Which so much love disclose One to another▪ Do'nt provoke My Love, till he withdraw; By my example wisdom learn, Sin not, but stand in awe.

XVII.

You live amongst the Roes and Hinds, Learn not their wantonness. You'l want the hand of my dear Lord, When you are in distress. Judgment for Sin will come as fast, As if the Roes it brought. Do not stir up your Lord at rest, By one rebellious thought.

XVIII.

Hark! it is my Beloved's voice: He comes, he comes to me, Leaping upon the Mountains, him Skipping upon th' Hills I see. He's my Beloved, though not here, I know his pleasant voice, And though I see him not, his found Makes my heart to rejoice.

XIX.

He comes; The Mountain of my Sins I see lies in his way: He leapeth o're that mountain, and It causeth no delay. He skippeth o're the little hills Of Creatures opposition: That he may come to my relief, In my distrest condition.

XX.

I see him coming; O let me The glorious sight behold, With th' Eye of hope behold him, and With th' Eye of Faith more bold. He comes like a young Hart or Roe, Nimbly, and pleasantly: Behind the wall he standeth, when In my distress I cry.

XXI.

In at the Windows see he looks, And through the Lattess sees Both my behaviour, and withal My sad Calamities. The Lattess (Lord!) doth give to me But an imperfect sight: O break it down, appear to me In a more glorious light.

XXII.

I hear him say, Rise up my Love, My fairest one arise, And come away, for I have now Put off my dark disguise: The Winter, and the Rain are gone, The pleasant Flowers appear Upon the Earth, the singing Birds Do greet the springing year.

XXIII.

The harmless Turtles pleasing voice Is heard on every Tree. The Fig-trees puts forth her green figs, The Vines smell pleasantly. Arise, my Love! Thou fairest one Make hast, make no delay, 'Tis a fit season of the year: Arise! and come away.

XXIV.

Black storms of perfecution Have kept thee much at home: The storms are over, nothing now Hinders, but thou mayst come. The Gospel Turtles which lay hid In Corners, now come forth: All have a Gospel liberty To sing their Saviours worth.

XXV.

See how the Saints bud out in grace, How gracious fruits abound Upon this liberty, for all To hear the joyful sound. Arise you who yet sleep in Sin, Make hast to come, and live: O go not on presumptuously, My Spirit yet to grieve.

XXVI.

The Summer will not always last, Your day of Grace will end; Come to me while I call, and am Ready to be your Friend. Discourag'd Souls arise, and thick To my assemblies come; The weather's good, doors ope you have No plea to stay at home.

XXVII.

My Love! who to the rocks dark clefts Of late didst trembling fly, And under stairs secret place, Chose for thy Covert lye. Pursu'd by Vultures, now come forth, Thy Countenance let me see, For it is comely, and thy Voice Is pleasant unto me.

XXVIII.

The Foxes which have spoil'd the Vines, The Vines with tender Grape, Come forth, and take them now for me; Let not a young Cubb scape. They shall no longer spoil my Vines, Chase them into their Den: I'le be revenged on thy lusts, And on malitious men.

XXIX.

I know that my Beloved's mine; I know that I am his: This is my Triumph, this my Joy, My chiefest happiness. Had not he made himself first mine, His I had never been: He first remov'd my guilt, and then Purged my Soul from sin.

XXX.

'Midst white, and fruitful Lillies he Loves to converse and feed; O let my Soul a Lilly be, No more a barren Weed. Until the glorious morn shall break, And shadows flee away, O let my glorious Lord be mine, And I ne're from him stray.

XXXI.

Turn (my Beloved!) to my Soul, Be like a pleasant Roe: Or like the nimble Harts, which do On Bethers Mountains go. In my distressed State O Lord, Let me not be forgot, Make hast, and turn, and let me feel Thee, while I see thee not.

Notes

• V. 2. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.
• Of thy mouth.
• Kisses pl.
• For thy loves are better then Wine.
• V. 3. Because of the savour of thy good Ointments: thy name is as an oint∣ment poured forth.
• Therefore do the Virgins love thee.
• V. 4. Draw me, we will run after thee.
• Draw me.
• Run.—
• We will run.
• The King hath brought me into his Chambers: we will be glad, and ejoice in thee.—
• —We will remember thy loves more then Wine.
• Upright things, or Up∣rightnesses love thee.
• V. 5. I am black but comely, O you Daughters of Hierusalem! as the Tents of Kedar; as the Cartains of Solomon.
• I am black but comely.
• V. 6. Look not upon me be∣cause I am black.
• Because the Sun hath looked upon me: my Mothers Children were angry with me. They made me the Keeper of their Vineyards, but my own I have not kept.
• V. 7. Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon.
• At noon, [the time when Shepheards are most at leisure.]
• For why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy Companions.
• V. 8. If thou know not O thou fairest amongst Women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy Kids besides the Shep∣heards Tents.
• V. 9. I have compared thee O my Love, to a company of Horses in Pharaoh's Chariots.
• V. 10. Thy Cheeks are comely, with rowes of Jewels, thy neck with Chains of Gold.
• V. 11. We will make thee bor∣ders of Gold with studs of Silver.
• V. 12. While the King sitteth at his Table: my spike∣nard sends forth the smell thereof.
• V. 13. A bundle of Myrrh is my beloved unto me, he shall lye all night be∣twixt my breasts.
• V. 14. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of cam∣phire [or Cypress] in the Vineyards of En∣gaddi.
• V. 15. Behold thou art fair my Love, behold thou art fair, thou hast Doves Eyes.
• V. 16. Behold thou art fair my Beloved, yea pleasant—
• Our Bed is green.
• V. 17. The Beams of our house are Cedar, and our raf∣ters are Fir.
• V. 1. I am the Rose of Sha∣ron, the Lilly of the Vallies.
• V. 2. As the Lilly among Thorns, so is my Love amongst the Daughters.
• V. 3. As the Apple Tree a∣mongst the Trees of the Wood: so is my belo∣ved among the Sons: I sat down under his shadow, with great de∣light, and his fruit was sweet to my tast.
• His fruit, &c.
• His fruit, &c.
• Thy fruit, &c.
• V. 4. He brought me to the banquetting house, and his banner over me was Love.
• His banner, &c.
• V. 5. Stay me with Flag-gons, comfort me with Apples, for I am sick of Love.
• V. 6. His left hand is under my head: and his right hand doth imbrace me.
• V. 7. I charge you O you Daughters of Hierusa∣lem, by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, that you stir not up, nor awake my Love until he please.
• V. 8. The voice of my belo∣ved: Behold he cometh leaping upon the Moun∣tains, and skipping upon the Hills.
• V. 9. My Beloved is like a young Roe, or a young Hart: Behold he stan∣deth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing him∣self through the L attess.
• V. 10. My beloved said unto me. Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.
• V. 11. For loe the Winter is past, the Rain is over and gone.
• V. 12. The Flowers appear on the Earth, the time of the singing of the Birds is come, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land.
• V. 13. The Fig-tree putteth forth her green Figs, and the Vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Arise my love, myfair one, and come away.
• V. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret place of the Stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy coun∣tenance is comely.
• V. 15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes that spoil the Vines, for our Vines have Tender Grapes.
• V. 16. My Beloved is mine, and I am his, he feed∣eth among the Lillies.
• V. 17. Until the day break, and the shadows flie a∣way, turn my beloved, and be thou like a Roe, or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Be∣ther.