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.

Vers. 17.

Ʋntill the day breake, and the shadows flee away: Returne my Beloved, and be thou like a Roe or young Hart upon the Moun∣taines of Bether.

In these words we have the Churches Prayer, which is set forth by the matter, that Christ would re∣turne often and visit and comfort his Church, Turne my beloved, &c.

This is declared first by the time, Ʋntill the day breake, and the shadows flee away. Secondly, by the swiftnesse of his comming, And be thou like a Roe or young Hart upon the Mountaines of Bether.

Turne my Beloved &c.

Turne, or, turne about, to wit, to comfort and succour me. It is a request of comfort from Christ, as in Psal. 71. 21. David saith, Thou didst much increase my great∣nesse, and didest turne about, and comfort mee, in the night and shadows of darknesse and ignorance.

Hence Observe.

That the Church desireth comfort and succour from Christ in the times of darknesse and affliction.

The day is a time of knowledge, peace, and com∣fort, the dawning of the day, is the sence and feeling of this comfort, by the inward working of the Spirit, as the Apostle exhorteth us to take heed to the sure word of prophesie, as unto light that shineth into a darke place, Ʋntill the day dawne, and the day-star arise in our heart, 2 Pet. 1. 19. that is, untill a spirituall dis∣coverie of Christ be made in the soule, which is as the rising of the morning starre.

Now this desire of the Churches is declared first, in respect of the time.

Ʋntill the day breake, and the shadows flee away.

Ʋntill the day dawne, or, untill the day blow, or breath forth, to wit, light, as appeares by the fleeing of the shadows, which use to be dispelled by the morning wind; as on the contrary, when the day goeth away; the shadows of the evening are said to be strethed forth, Jer. 6. 4.

Now for the day, and departing of the shadows, we may understand it, of the time of the Law preceding

Christs incarnation, which Law was nothing else but a shadow of good things to come: Or, we may nnder∣stand it of the cloudy darke time in this world, and that after Christs appearing in the flesh. I shall speake a word to both these.

As Christ was the Sonne comming forth gloriously as a Bridegroom: So the Law was a shadow of good things to come, the bodie whereof was Christ, Heb. 10. 1. Col. 2. 17. wherein the Apostle may well allude to the shadow (accompanying a mans bodie) which sometimes is before, sometimes behind, as occasion is ministred by the Suns course: even as shadows went before Christs comming in the flesh, some other fol∣lowed after. And as the Apostle calleth all a shadow: so Solomon here useth the plurall, shadows, as compre∣hending all types and shadows.

Now for divine shadows, they may be considered as personall, or as sacramentall.

First, For personall shadows; Adam was the first, called the first man, being a shadow of Christ, called the second man, or Adam, 1 Cor. 15. 45. Adam was first in execution, but Christ first in intention: the first was but a type of the second. The Second Henochs, whose name (in English, taught or dedicated) holds forth Christ, taught of the Father, and dedicated to his fathers will; and he increased in wisedome and sta∣ture, whereby he was one with Henoch. Melchisedech was another eminent type of Messiah, who was first King of righteousnesse, and King of peace, shadowing forth him, who was the fountaine of all justice and righteousnesse, and the Prince of peace, Isa. 9. 6. Aaron, whose name signifieth a high mountaine: shadowed for Christ, who is set on the top of mountains and exalted

above the hils, Isa. 2. 2. Thus I might shew how Abra∣ham, Isaac, and Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samson, with many other Prophets, Priests, Kings, and other of the men of God, they were all but types and shadows of the Messiah.

And as for sacramentall shadows: as the sacrifices shadowed forth Christs mediation for his people. Cir∣cumcision was a type of the blood of Christ, without which blood is no remission, Heb. 9. 22. The striking of the blood of the Lamb on the Posts of the doors, where the Israelites dwelt was a token and assurance to them, that the destroying Angel should passe over them, and smite only the first borne of the Aegyptians: now what else did that blood presigure, but the blood of Christ? wherewith the Saints being sprinkled, the destroyer cannot hurt them. The Pillar of the cloud by day, and of fire by night was the type of Christ, leading and guiding his people continually. The water of the Rock, and the Manna in the Wildernesse were signes, that Christ should spiritually feed and refresh his peo∣ple. The Serpent of brasse lifted up by Moses, sig∣nified that he should be their Physitian and healer. In a word, all the sacrifices under the Law did typisie, that Christ should make attonement for believers.

Now all these were darke, sacramentall resemblan∣ces, wherein God did appeare unto his people of old, therefore they desired the neerest approach of his unto them, untill these ceremoniall shadows should vanish away.

Now concerning the new Testaments shadows, they are baptisme, and breaking of bread: and unto these two it was that the Ancients had respect, when as they said, the side of Christ was pierced, that so the

doore of life there might be set open, from whence the Churches sacraments have issued; understanding by water, baptisme; and by blood, the Lords supper. Now for these, they are but outward resemblances, which lead unto Christ; so that when Christ which is our light shall appeare in the glorious discoveries of himselfe, and as it were swallow up his people in spi∣rit and glorie, then these shadows must also vanish a∣way, because when the truth it selfe appeareth, the fi∣gure and outward resemblance must cease: even as an Emperours image hath authoritie in his absence, but being present, the Image hath no such power: Therefore wee are to make use of the shadows, so farre as Christ is absent from us: and againe, so farre as we have the substance, wee need not catch after out∣ward representations and shadows. Thus much for the comming of Christ, declared by the time: Ʋntill the daybreake, and shadows flee away, &c.

Now followeth in the second place the manner of his comming, by his swiftnes.

And be thou like a young Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountains of Bether.

Here are two things observable.

Frst, The Creature whereto he is resembled, name∣ly, a Roe, or young Hart.

Secondly, The place of his abode, that is, the mountains of Bether.

Of the Roe, and Hinde, wee have spoken of before in verse 7. 9. But concerning the mountains of Bether some∣thing is to be spoken.

Bether is here taken by some for the proper name of

a place so called: of others it is taken appellatively, and so it signifies, the mountains of division. If we take it for a place, it is called Bithron, which was on the out∣side of Jordan, 2 Sam. 2. 29. called partition, because it parted by the River Jordan, from the Land of Judea: And on those mountaines, Harts and Roes used to runn, as appeares by the Scripture. Now we must under∣stand by these mountaines, mystically to be the parti∣tion wall, which divided betweene Jew and Gentile, untill the comming of Christ, who then of two were made one. Or else wee may understand the moun∣tains of division, by that sin, or ignorance whereby wee are hindred from the full fruition of Jesus Christ, for not only the Churches sacramentall shadowes shall vanish; but also the night of sinne, the workes of darkenesse, the scale of ignorance, and blindnesse, and the shadow of death, shall flee away.

From this verse thus opened observe.

That the Saints here are overclouded with many mists and shadows, much ignorance of God, and the like.

Christs discoverie to the people of the Jewes, was but under veiles, and types, there light was an obscure and glimmering lights to our: now Christ hath flowed in upon his people in greater abundance of revelation then before his comming in the flesh; yet our light is that we see now but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 through a glasse darkely, for what wee shall doe hereafter.

Secondly Observe.

That it is the desire of the Saints to have close communion with Christ, while they are under shadows.

Hence it was, that the Church desired Christ to draw neer unto her, and to come swiftly whilst she was under the ceremoniall shadows, and that he would be

with her, untill they did vanish away: even so the Church now desireth, while she is in the wildernes, that he would come swiftly unto her, to comfort her in all her blindnesse and tribulation.

Thirdly, and lastly, Observe.

That the glorious morning of Christs comming to his peo∣ple, will expell the darknesse of the night of sinne, and igno∣rance.

This the Apostle testifieth, when he saith, But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away, 1 Cor. 13. 10. When the substance is come, there is no need of the shadow, and therefore so farre as the Lord shall discover himselfe unto us in spirit; outward resemblances shall vanish away. So endeth the second Chapter.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Circum••••it.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Flavit, spi∣ravit, suspi∣ravit.