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.

I sleep, but my heart waketh.

The words containe,

• 1. A Confession, I sleep.
• 2. An acknowledgement, But my heart waketh.

These words declare a two-fold condition of the Spouse. The one is a sleepy, drowsie estate, which proceedeth from the flesh and unregenerate part: the other, a waking or watchfull condition, which pro∣ceedeth from the spirit of Christ within her.

I sleep, or I sleeping, as it is in the Originall: these are the words of the Spouse, declaring what befell her in the night season while she slept. The sleep of the body is a deading and benuming of the outward sen∣ces, insomuch that it is the very image of death, and it is dangerous, because when man sleepeth, his ene∣my watcheth, as in the parable of the seed, When the husbandman slept, the envious man sowed Tares, Matth. 13. 25.

Now we must consider here three things especially.

• 1. What this sleep is.
• 2. Whence it proceedeth.
• 3. What the effects thereof be.

1. We cannot understand this of a bodily or natu∣rall sleep; for the Spouse is considered according to her heavenly and spirituall birth, and therefore must needs be meant of a spirituall slumber, even a drousi∣nesse in the heart and minde, touching Heavenly things.

2. As naturall sleep proceedeth from wearinesse, and want of spirits, or from sloathfullnesse and want of exercise: so spirituall sleep ariseth from want of exercise in spirituall things, and from a spirituall

wearinesse that comes from the too much expence of the strength of the soule upon matters of the world. So that spirituall slumber is from the fleshly part, and the remnants of the old man remaining in the godly. The flesh (saith the Apostle) lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit is against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, so that yee cannot doe the things that yee would, Gal. 5. 17. When the flesh doth much prevaile, then there is a damping of the spirituall graces, even as it were a slumber that falleth upon the mind.

3. The effects of sleep is deadnesse and darknesse; men when they sleep love to be in the darke: there is also a cessation of joy and delight, of all activity and the like: so in a Christians spirituall sleep, faith hath not its full and lively operation, love sheweth not her zeale and heate, the joy and activity of the soule is much decayed, &c.

Now though sleep be often meant in Scripture in a good sence, for the repose and rest that the Saints have in God, Psal. 3. 5. & Psal. 4. 8. yet here, and in many other places, it signifieth neglect of holinesse, and spirituall security and drowsinesse; as in Isa. 56. 10. & Rom. 13. 11. 1 Thess. 5. 6, 7. This sleep pro∣ceedeth from affliction, or wearinesse, as in Luke 22. 45. Isa. 5. 27. The Spouse having eaten, and dranke largely of Christs dainties, begins to be negligent, be∣ing pressed thereunto by the remnants of the flesh, she gave place to this carnall ease and drousinesse.

Hence Observe,

First, That the Spouse of Christ is ingenuous to lay open her owne defects. We have large examples of this in David, and Paul with many other eminent persons in Scripture. Herein the Saints yield unto God his

chiefe prerogatives, as the honour of his power and authority over us; his wisedome in knowing our se∣crets, and his mercy in sparing of us, and the like.

Secondly Observe,

That the Spouse of Christ may sometimes fall into a spi∣rituall languor. Sometimes weaknesse and drowsinesse may overtake the most eminent Saints; as Solomon, David, Peter, and the rest. The flesh that is alwayes opposed to the spirit, may somtimes for a season pre∣vaile, as to sleepinesse and distemper. And this the Apostle testifieth in Rom. 7. 14. when he saith, The Law is spirituall, but I am carnall, sold under sin. That is, the Law requires a heavenly life and disposition: But I am carnall, in part, or in regard of the remainders of flesh that are in me: so that the godly themselves in respect of some weaknesse that is yet remaining in them, may be called carnall: sold under sin, not wil∣lingly, but as one that is yet detained, though his ran∣some be paid.

But we must note here, that the Spouse was not in such a dead sleep, as that she was without any life or stirring at all; though there be flesh opposing the spi∣rit, yet there is spirit opposing the flesh; and therefore she doth not onely confesse her defect, but also ac∣knowledge her life and excellency, by adding,