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.

Honey and milke are under thy Tongue.

Honey and milke are for nourishment; it is said of Christ in his Child-hood, Butter and Honey shall he eate, untill he have knowledge to refuse evill and doe good, Isa. 7. 15. The Land of Canaan is called in sundry places of the Scripture, a Land that floweth with Milke and Honey meaning that it had abundance of all things, profitable and pleasant for this life; understanding by Milke things of necessary and profitable use, and by Honey things of pleasure and delight, and so the holy Spirit here doth meane, the sweet, comfortable, and nourishing words of faith, love, and the like. Also we may understand fit food for all sorts of Christians, both for strong ones and weake ones. Milke most properly belongeth to children, as appears, 1 Cor. 3. 2. & Heb. 5. 12, 13. And Honey to them of more strength, as examples of the Scripture, and reason it selfe teacheth in Jonathan, Sauls Sonne, 1 Sam. 14. 27. And in John Baptist, Mat. 3. 4. Thus it pleaseth God in the Scripture to compare the doctrine of the Gos∣pell, which proceeds out of the mouth of the Spouse to Milke, to Honey, to Wine, to Water, and many such like things. See Isa. 55. 1. & Psal. 19. 10.

By under the tongue, seemeth to be meant the secret and inward parts, as the mind and heart. Thus Da∣vid is said to exalt God under his tongue, Psal. 66. 17. declaring his uprightnesse and sincerity thereby. It is said in Prov. 5. 3. The lips of a strange woman drop as an Honey-Comb, and her mouth is more smooth then Oyle. Now

by this shee is said to intice men to folly, and as it fol∣loweth in the next verse, The end of her is bitter as worme wood, sharp as a two-edged Sword her feet goe downe to death, &c. And the Apostle saith, that some by good words and faire speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple, Rom. 16. 18. And the Psalmist speaketh thus, The words of his mouth were sweeter then Butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer then Oyle, yet were they drawne Swords, Psal. 55. 21. And Adders poyson is un∣der their lips, Psal. 140. 3. Of the wicked it is said, Their throat is an open Sepulcher, they have used their tongues to deceit, the poison of Aspes is under their lips, their mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse. By these speeches are meant the deceitfullnesse of the wicked. So on the contrary, when it is said, Honey and milke are under her lips, it is meant of the sincerity of her graces. So that the words of faith and holinesse, which proceed from sincerity and uprightnesse of heart, are very comfortable and nourishing words.

Hence Observe,

That the words of the Spouse, which proceed from faith and sincerity, are not onely gracious, but nourishing words. The Apostle Peter desireth the Saints to drinke of the sincere milke of the word, that they might grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2. 2. That is, the word of the Spirit, given out by the Saints. The plenty of grace in the times of the Gospell is promised under the simily of abundanee of milke, and that every one should eat butter and honey, Isa. 7. 22. Gracious and heavenly words proceeding from the Spirit of God in the Saints, such administer grace to the hearers, Ephes. 4. 29. So much for the sweet, wholesome; and nourishing Speech of the Spouse: now followeth the praise of her sweet sa∣vour.