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.

Who is she, &c.

They were not ignorant, or in doubt who she was, but by this manner of speech is noted her excellency. See the like demand in Psal. 24. 8. Also Psal. 77. 13. where they demand thus, Who is so great a God as our God? And so it was said of Christ, What manner of man is this? Mark 4. 41. & Mat. 8. 27. So here, Who is she? She is so beautifull and glorious that we know not what to resemble her unto. And this glory of the Spouse is set forth by fowre excellent comparisons.

• 1. As the Morning for her beauty and freshnesse.
• 2. As the Moone for fairnesse and light.
• 3. As the Sunne for her brightnesse and clearnesse.
• 4. As an Army with terrible banners, for fortitude.

1. The Spouse is resembled to the morning, Who is this looketh forth as the morning, that is, lightsom, bright, and chearfull. The morning we know is fresh and comfortable, also glorious and beautifull, as in respect of the lively and cleare colours thereof, and doth, as a man would say, more and more increase in light; so that the Spouse is not compared, neither to the night,

nor to the dawing of the day, or day breake, but even to the glory and beauty of the morning it selfe. As the morning is comfortable after the dark night, so is the divine presence of Christ to the soul, after the dark night of sin, ignorance, and affliction.

Hence Note,

That divine presence in the souls of the Saints, is very sweet and comfortable. It is like the breaking forth of the morning, after a dark stormy night. When the soul hath been in darknesse without light, in afflicti∣on, sorrow, ignorance, and blindnesse, and then to be filled with the divine presence of Christ, for the Lord to breake forth then in light and glory; how sweet, how comfortable, how glorious will such an appea∣rance of God be to the soul? thus it's said to the Church, Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee, and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightnesse of thy rising, Isa. 60. 1. 3. The Prophet doth here allude to that glory that some∣times appeared upon the Mount, Exod. 24. 15. And upon the Tabernacle, Exod. 40. 32. And the Temple, 1 Kings 8. 11. So that when darknesse shall cover the Earth, and grosse darknesse the people, the presence of God with his people shall be life, light, and glory unto them. When the Lord promiseth prosperity to his people he saith, Then shall thy light breake forth as the morning, Isa. 58. 8. So much for the first comparison: The second followeth.