An exposition on the whole booke of Solomons song,: commonly called the canticles. Wherein the text is explained and usefull observations raised thereupon. / By John Robotham, preacher of the gospel.

Let him kisse mee with the kisses of his mouth, &c.

In this Vers. observe two things.

• 1. The Churches prayer or request to Christ, in these words, Let him kisse me, &c.
• 2. The reason of her prayer, wherein shee sets forth the excellency of Christs love, in these words, For thy love is better then wine.

To kisse in the Scripture noteth 3. things.

1. It noteth worship and service, as we have is in the Prophet Hosea, Chap. 13. vers. 2. Let the m•••• that sacrifice kisse the calves; it being an act and token of worship and religious honour. See also in 1 K. 19. 18. Yet I have left me (saith God) seven thousand in Israel, which have not bowed unto Baall, and every mouth which have not kissed him. That is, that have not so much reverenced or honored Baal, as to kisse him.

2. To kisse is an expression of duty and obedi∣ence; thus Samuel kissed Saul, when he had annoin∣ted him King of Israel, 1 Sam. 10. 1. This he did, as a token of obedience: this is that duty towards Christ, expressed in Psal. 2. 9. Kisse the sonne: That is, yield all obedience to him, regard the law of his mouth, be instructed, counselled, and commanded by him.

3. To kisse is a symbole & pledg of love; therfore the Christians of the Primitive time used such ex∣pressions of love in their love-feasts: and this is in∣joyned by the Apostle as an expression of Christian

love, and as a sign of their unity and onenesse, and of that Christian tye, whereby they stood bound one to another.

The last of these serves for our purpose; for in these words, Let him kisse me, &c.

The Church desires that the sweet and comforta∣ble pledges of Christs love may be given in unto her.

By a mentonymie, shee putteth the signe for the thing signified; for a kiss is but a pledg of that love of Christ, which shee desires to be made a partaker of. Here we have an exclamation, full of spirituall passions and divine love; with which the Church is enflamed, and as it were impatient in her desires, after a nearer conjunction with Christ. Let us see it farther, what that is which the Church so ear∣nestly desire, in the following words.