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.

Where thou feedest, where thou makest thy Flocks to rest at Noone.

Here we have the substance or matter of the Church∣es Petition: shee desires to know the place,

• 1. Of feeding.
• 2. Of lying downe.

Feedest) In the Originall it is, Where or how thou wilt feed: That is, where thou art wont continually to feed thy flocke. The word Flock being omitted in the Origi∣nall, is supplied, as is usuall in Scripture; as in Gen. 29. 7. Water ye the Sheep, and goe and feed: that is, feed the slock.

The word (Feed) comprehendeth all the duties of Pa∣stor or Shepheard; as feeding, guiding, governing, and de∣fending the flock. Hence it is Kings are said to feed their people, in which respect they have the title of She∣pheards, as in Psal. 78. 71, 72. David was taken by the Lord from the Sheep folds, from following the Ews great with young, and he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel

his inheritance. Hence it is, Christ is called the Shepheard of our souls, 1 Pet. 2. 25.

Therefore it is that the Church desireth to be so gui∣ded and directed by Christ to the place of his feeding, that shee might be fed of his heavenly food, and be re∣freshed by drinking the water of life: shee desireth to know where, or how Christ feeds alone by himselfe; yea, where he feeds his; flock (opposed to the flocks of his companions) shee desires not onely Christs feeding and guiding her, but also to feed with his Lambs, with his Sheep, that so shee and they may be mutually re∣freshed one of another.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Pascere pas∣cere se, pasci, depascere. St Metaphori∣ce, pavit ho∣mines, rexit, gubernavit docuit,
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lingua sancta pro∣••rié pastoiū est, aut ovi∣um, ponitur enim transi∣tivé, & in∣transitivépro subjectorum ratione, in transitive, cum ovibus attribuitur, aut homini∣bus seipsos pascentibus. Rivertus in Psa. 23. 1.