Song of Solomon 1

Use 4. Admire the love of Christ our mediator; that he should humble himself, and take our flesh, that he might redeem us. Believers should put Christ in their bosom, as the spouse did (Song of Solomon 1:13): "lie between my breasts." What was said of Ignatius, that the name of…

This joy is hidden manna, hid from the eye of the world; he has still music which others hear not; the marrow lies within — the best joy is within in the heart. 3. Spiritual joys are sweeter than others, better than wine (Song of Solomon 1:2). They are a Christian's festival; th…

The Spirit where it is, stamps the impress of its own holiness upon the heart: It embroiders and bespangles the soul, and makes it all glorious within. 2. Have we had the attraction of the Spirit? (Song of Solomon 1:4). Draw me, we will run after you. Has the Spirit, by its magn…

1. An unfeigned desire is ingenuous; we desire God propter se, for himself, for his intrinsic excellencies, and the beauty which shines from him. The savor of Christ's ointments — that is, his graces — draw the virgins' desires after him (Song of Solomon 1:3). A true saint desir…

Use 1. See what is the main thing a Christian should look after, namely sanctification; this is the Unum necessarium. Sanctification is our purest complexion, it makes us as the heaven bespangled with stars: it is our nobility, by it we are born of God, and partake of the divine…

If we quench the Spirit by our neglecting and resisting its motions, we cut ourselves off from salvation. The Spirit of God has a drawing-power (Song of Solomon 1:4); the blessed Spirit draws by attraction, as the lodestone the iron. In the preaching of the Word the Spirit draws…

Verse 17 The beames of our house are Cedar, and our rafters of firre. Cant. 1. verse 1. The Song of Songs, which is Solomons. Verse 2 Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better then wine.

Now, (as we go along) because that many a gracious soul may be at a loss, and unable to find their love to Christ, and thereupon be discouraged; we shall mention some things, in which, it usually discovers itself, and may sometimes be found, when persons cannot look directly on…

He that is graceless is worthless (Proverbs 10:20). The heart of the wicked is little worth: but righteousness makes the heart like the heaven bespangled with stars: the graces are compared to chains of gold, for their value (Song of Solomon 1:10), and to myrrh and cassia for th…

8. Consider in how many notions Mercy is represented to us: God's Mercy has many names; a distinct consideration of them yields an advantage in believing: for though they express the same thing, yet every notion begets a fresh thought, by which Mercy is more taken abroad in the…

O Christians, I fear your zeal and strength have run in the wrong channel. I fear most of us may take up the church's complaint — Song of Solomon 1:6: 'They made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard have I not kept.' Two things have eaten up the time and strength…

Jer. 14. 9. Thou O Lord, art in the midst of us. The Church of God hath not only enemies without her, to conflict with, but within her, such as are Hypocrites and Apostates; she complains that her own sons vexed her Cant 1. 6. That is, those who had been bred up in her bosom, an…

If God's will had suited with his, he would have done what he would have had him to do: your trial is when you must offer up your Isaac, when you must part with those things that are most sweetest to you. Thirdly, dead men are senseless, like idols that the Psalmist speaks of: t…

To open the words a little, we shall first consider the matter of this reason, and then the consequence of it; or what influence it has on men's offending at Christ, and continuing in their unbelief; only we shall premise two or three words to both. That which we premise first i…

There is no prejudice at all in this way, but many advantages; doubtless salvation will not fail them that believe: indeed, we may add from the words of the Text, for encouraging to this, that the man or woman that is sensible of sin, and afraid of wrath, has the covenant to loo…

2. We should take on us to steward and husband the kisses and embracements of Christ, better than he can do himself; and should quarrel, because the Lord has not thought fit to make heirs and minors, that are yet under nonage, masters and lords of their own young heaven; this we…

Assertion 1. Dispositions going before conversion come under a fourfold consideration: 1. As [reconstructed: efficient] causes, so some imagine them to be. 2. As materially and subjectively they dispose the soul to receive grace. 3. Formally or morally, either as parts of conver…

Answer. Position 1. Drawing is relative to running and walking (Song of Solomon 1:4). Now this is rather in acts of Sanctification, and in running in the ways of God's commandments (Psalm 119:32), than in Justification, though coming goes for an act of believing and approaching…

Now it can be no gospel truth that Christ draws by the lifting of himself on the cross, and by his death, all and every man to himself, even thousands and millions of the sons of Adam, that never heard one letter or the least sound of the gospel, or of his lifting up on the cros…

To show you that sometimes when Christ cannot be had but we must forgo the very ordinances of God, because we cannot have the ordinances without impure mixtures of human invention — then let them go, rather than defile our own hearts and hands with sin against God. And so, (Song…

Alas your interest and influence reaches but a little way to mend a wicked world, (though you must seek to perform as far as your place and calling extends;) but go your way to your God in your closet, bewail your sins, and the sins of others plead with God for your own soul. Bu…

For a man cannot recover himself when he will. We do not the good we can, unless God makes us do it (Ezekiel 36:27) (Song of Solomon 1:4) (Jeremiah 31:29). Therefore it is an error to think that we may repent and turn to God when we will, as many suppose.

The last, is Excitation, whereby the spirit stirs and still moves the will and mind; after they are regenerate: because for the time of this life, the grace of God is hindered and oppressed by the flesh. Therefore after regeneration, there must still be new inclining (Psalm 119:…

Having spoken of the Kingdom of Israel; he comes now to speak of the Tribe of Judah, and shows, that in the midst of this so fearful a judgment of God, he will always cause his mercy to be felt. So that however the ten Tribes were gone and lost; yet the Lord would reserve a remn…

So speaks the Bridegroom to his spouse in the Song of Solomon, chapter 4: Your two breasts are like two twins of young roes. Between these ought there to hang a bundle of myrrh, as the spouse there says (Song of Solomon 1): A bundle of myrrh is your lover to me, which lies betwe…

As new born Babes, desire the sincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Canticles 1:3. Because of the Savour of thy good Ointments, thy Name is as Ointment poured forth; therefore do the Virgins love thee; compared wit…

Hence is that Direction, Be harmless as Doves. So also the sharpness of its sight or eyes, as Cant. 1. 16. Chap. 4. 1. is fixed on, to represent a quick and discerning Understanding, such as was in Christ from the resting of the Spirit upon him, Isa. 11. 3.

Hence it is said of the Lord Christ, That he is fairer or more beautifull than the Children of Men, and that because Grace was poured into his lips, Psal. 45. 2. And when the Church is furnished or adorned with his Graces, he affirms her to be Fair and Comely, Cant. 1. 5. chap.…

And for the same cause, in the parable of the field, Mat. 13. 24. is the same ministry of the Gospel called expressely the kingdome of God. And therefore when the Church demaunds of Christ, where shee shall finde him; he bids her follow the steps of the flockes to the tents of t…

Indeed, we should sing, for cheering our disposition, and mitigating and sweetening our crosses. So does the Bride here sing her sufferings (Song of Solomon 1:6; Song of Solomon 5:7) when she was smitten. Indeed, her desertions, she puts these also in a song.

The scope shows, that it is a night of [reconstructed: desolation] she is under, through the want of Christ's presence whom she loves; His presence, who is the Sun of Righteousness with healing under his wings, makes the believer's day; and his absence, is their night, and makes…

The bride's words, and his also are set out by their lips, and it's not likely, that that being spoken of, verse 13, is repeated here. Again, the mouth, and its sweetness especially, may be mentioned to signify friendliness and love, or rather the sensible manifestations of thes…

By gardens, in the plural number, are understood the subdivisions, and particular plots of that one garden, formerly mentioned; the Jews had their synagogues, where the people did meet, and the law was read (as we have our distinct congregations) as, (Psalms 74:8) and (Acts 15:2…

But alas, what comfort can you find in the name of God in your greatest necessities, since it is the same name you have used and worn out before in the meanest and most trivial concerns: you have already talked away the strength and virtue of it, and will hardly find more suppor…

The servants of God are like to the Tabernacle under the law, whose outside was rams skins, goats hair, and badgers skins, coarse stuff, but the inside was gold, silver, precious stones, and curious workmanship. Just so are the saints, compared therefore to the Tents of Kedar, t…

Some can frame to some easier duties, not to more difficult, but the treasured soul can frame to anything which God in the word has made his duty, and hence it is that he is complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12). The law of God in his heart carries an aspect to every…

New-covenant mercies, are the sure mercies of David (Isaiah 55:3), and they are always fresh and green. Hence says the Church in (Song of Solomon 1:16) — Also our bed is green, that is, our mutual delights in each other are lively, sweet and satisfying, never glutting, as earthl…

The Spirit of God has a magnetical virtue. Corruption draws the heart from God; the Spirit draws it to him (Song of Solomon 1:4): Draw me, we will run after you. The Spirit, by his omnipotent grace, draws the heart to God suavitèr, but fortitèr — sweetly, but powerfully.

Saul governs, and leads the armies of the Lord by a gift; and David governs, feeds, and leads the armies of the Lord by the grace of God, and the same word of command lays an obligation upon both; false Apostles preach Christ from a gift, and labor by a gift, but Paul labors not…

Psalm 119:32. I will run the way of your commandments, and press my self to willing and hot obedience if you shall, or when you shall, enlarge my heart. 2. To this purpose we are to meet his actings of love (Canticles 1:4). The King brought me into his chambers, with extolling a…

9. What is your beloved more than another beloved, O you fairest among women? what is your beloved more than another beloved, that you do so charge us? The charge by an oath is given to the daughters of Jerusalem, of whom the Holy Ghost, (Cant. 2:7; Cant. 1:5). If you find my be…

6. Especially in bowing the free will, and determining all the actions of evil angels (1 Kings 22:21, 22, 23; Job 1:6, 7, 8; Job 2:1, 2, 3; Genesis 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Matthew 8:29, 30, 31) and good (Luke 2:9, 13; Matthew 28:1, 2, 3; Acts 1:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:7) leading and dete…

Luke 24:32. Did not (say the Disciples) our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while the opened to us the Scriptures? Cant. 1:4. When the King brought me into his chambers: we will be glad & rejoyce in you, and remember your love more then wine. Sure w…

Quest. How is it then that the soul is under sweet dispositions and plenty of means, and yet wants influences? Answ. This is to shew the absolute freedom of grace, as Cant. 1. the Spouse is in a sweet condition, Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth, for his love is bett…

And it is an obliging and an endearing of the heart to God, to come daily under new debt, and multiplied free gifts, and it renews acts of love in us, as fresh actings of salvation flow: whether it be new deliverances (Psalm 18:1, 2, 6, 7; Psalm 116:1, 2, 3, 4), or new acts of k…

We see what works and actings of the Spirit is in the Spouse sick of love for Christ, which are in that song of songs to be seen, comparing (Canticles 2:5; Canticles 5:8) with other places of the song: these works of the Spirit are seen, 1. A desire to be kissed with the kisses…

2. True it is, to have or to want the influence of God, falls under no command of God laid upon man, as a man is by the law of nature forbidden to cast away his coat in a cold season; but in virtual yielding to have influences of God, conjoined with doing evil, and in virtual yi…

Now certain it is the Spouse is not ever sick of love for Christ, as Cant. 2. Nor is there such a flaming of love dispositions, as when the Spouse says (Cant. 1:5), "A bundle of myrrhe is my beloved to me, he shall lodge all the night between my breasts." When a sleepy drowsines…

As 1. No husbandman can help the clouds; no art of navigators can create fair winds, nor can our seeking create influences of sensible and feeling finding of him whom the soul loves (Canticles 1). 2. No excellency of means, were it an Angel, and the man Christ preaching, so as a…

Canticles 5:6: I opened to my beloved, and my beloved had withdrawn himself. 2. She tells his saving actings upon the soul be like to the virgins (Canticles 1:4): The King has brought me to his chambers. Canticles 2:4: He brought me into his banqueting house, and love was his ba…