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. 11.

Come my beloved, let us goe forth into the field, let us lodge in the Villages.

THe Lord had promised in the former Verses, that he would goe up into the Palm-tree, and take hold of her boughs, he would dresse and prune his Church, and she thereupon should become most flourishing, fruitfull, and delectable; unto this here the Spouse offereth her service. The Spouse doth not name the Palm-tree, but Cypres trees, and Vines, but the matter is all one, seing the Church is resembled by the one as well as by the other. Then thus it is, the Lord promiseth to draw neer his Spouse, and to dresse and trim her, and she offereth her selfe most cheerfully thereunto. He will bestow his rich grace and pre∣sence upon her, and she is brought to be on a flame of thirsting and desiring after the same.

Come my beloved.

These are words of exhortation, and provoking, as it were, taken also from the love of the Spouse to∣wards Christ, more effectually to perswade the thing she desireth, because men willingly commit them∣selves to the company, and easily yeild to the requests of such as they take to be their best friends; hence she useth this kind of exhortation or invitation, Come my Beloved.

Let us goe forth into the fields.

Into the fields, or into the Countrey, a place of corne,

Vines, fig-trees, Pomegranate trees, &c. as Joel 11. 12. The Spouse speaketh this after the manner of men, inhabiting Cities, and having their farme-houses a∣broad in the Country, whither they may walke for recreation, and to see how forward the Spring is, and whither the time of Summer or Harvest doe draw nigh: but all this must be understood spiritually and mystically, as if the Spouse should say, I beseech thee, doe not alone, and by thy selfe walk out into the field, and retire thy selfe: but let us both walke together, and be retired from the trouble and distraction of this world and flesh: and walke into the field of sweet meditation and heavenly delight.

She addeth.

Let us lodge in the Villages.

This part of the verse is diversly read, by reason of the diverse significations of the words used therein: as the word turned lodge, signifies also to remaine or continue: also the word Cepharim, doth not only sig∣nifie villages, but Cypresse-trees. So that the word is used in Scripture to signifie villages, and also the Cy∣pres. The Greek turneth it by villages: such com∣mon villages are distinguished from such Townes or Cities, as are fenced in, 1 Sam. 618. Now in this that the Spouse doth desire, to goe with Christ and to lodg with him the fields in and villages, doth note unto us that the Spouse is drawne off from all fleshly delight, and from sheltering her selfe in any outward glorie or strength.

Hence note.

That the soule brought up to live in the light of God, and in neere fellowship of Christ, is taken off from the continu∣ance

or trusting in any outward glorie.

The Spouse desires not to goe with Christ into the fenced Cities, and places of worldly delight and pleasure: but into the Villages and fields, and to lodge among the Cypres-trees, that she may rise up early to goe to the Vines: She is now wrapt and o∣vercome with the desire and love of heavenly things, that her minde and affections are carryed out of the world, she will now lodge in a continuall meditation and delight of divine things, yea, she will dayly raise up her selfe to behold the fruit, that doth spring from them. The case is altered with the Spouse now, from what it was, when she was asleep in fleshly security, and was loath to be raised up: even when the flesh had so much prevailed upon her, then these things of Christ, these holy breathings out after him see∣med to lie buried: but now when the Spirit quick∣neth, and raiseth her, herheart is drawn off from fleshly glorie and prosperity, and she desireth to lodge con∣tinurlly with Christ in the large field of heavenly de∣lights. Now the Spouse is sweetly imbracing of spi∣rituall and heavenly things, now she can stay among those heavenly joyes and comforts of her beloved. And now behold how the Spouse doth proceed in this matter.