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.

As the tents of Kedar: as the curtains of Solomon.

Now forasmuch as the Church doth illustrate her blacknesse by the tents of Kedar, or by those that dwelt in those tents, who though they were black in colour, yet very rich in precious things, as gold, and preci∣ous gems: Observe,

That though the Church be deformed and blacke outward∣ly, yet shee is very desireable and beautifull inwardly.

Notwithstanding, Kedars tents were not desireable, yet Kedar was full of riches and substance, for which it might be desired. So the Saints, although they are disesteem'd by the world, yet they are desireable of Christ. The Kings daughter is all glorious within, Psal. 45. 14. That is, shee hath her heart adorned with divine grace, as faith, hope, love, &c. The Apostle prayed that the Ephesians might be strengthened in the inner man, and that Christ might dwell in their hearts by faith, Ephes. 3. 16, 17. And again he saith in 2 Cor. 4. 16. For this cause we faint not; but though the outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. By the outward man is meant our bodies, our persons, and condition by nature, which is much depressed by sin and mise∣ry: and by the inner man, he meaneth the regenerate part, which is renewed by the holy Ghost, and also strengthened daily, to beare pressures and afflictions. The Temple at Jerusalem was a type both of Christ and of the Christian Church, and the greatest glory was inward, in the holy of holies; and all the glorious Vessels in the Tabernacle did prefigure the glory of the Saints.

2. Whereas she doth illustrate her beauty by Solo∣mons curtains, observe: The graces of Messiah are farre more glorious then all the glory of the world.

The curtains of Solomon, unto which the allusion is made, must needs be very glorious, answerable to the rest of his glory. Wee read in Scripture, that there was no glory in the world comparable to his glory: the Queen of Sheba was astonished when she beheld it. Also we may understand by the tapistry or curtains of Solomon, all the glory of his house, of which we read of, 1 King. 10. 1, 2. How surpassing them must the glory of those graces be, which Christ adorneth his Saints withall, whereof Solomons curtains was but an earthly shadow or type. Now if the spirituall come∣lines and beauty of the Spouse, now in the time of her blacknesse and imperfection be comparable unto, yea, far beyond Solomons curtains, and all his royalty be∣sides: what will her beauty be, when all her blackness shall be taken away, and when she shall appear in her full and everlasting beauty, being cleansed from all her spots and dimnesse, yea when shee will shine in glory, in the sight of all her beholders.