Song of Solomon 2

3. It is intense and ardent; true saints are seraphims burning in holy love to God. The spouse was Amore perculsa, in [reconstructed: fainting] fits sick of love (Song of Solomon 2:5). Thus to love God is to glorify him; he who is the chief of our happiness, has the chief of our…

They are of the blood-royal of heaven (1 John 3:9). The Scripture has set forth their spiritual heraldry; they have their escutcheon or coat-armor: Sometimes they bear the lion for their courage (Proverbs 28:1), sometimes the dove for their meekness (Song of Solomon 2:14), somet…

This is the blessed dove which brings an olive branch of assurance in its mouth. 4. Let us lie at the pool of the ordinances, frequent the Word and Sacrament (Song of Solomon 2): He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. The blessed ordinances are t…

No better sign of our having an interest in God, than by our standing up for his interest. 5. We may know God is ours, and we have an interest in him, by his having an interest in us (Song of Solomon 2:16). My beloved is mine, and I am his.

The holiness of the saints will not excuse them from sufferings: Christ was the Holy One of God, yet he was in the iron furnace. Christ's spouse is a lily among thorns (Song of Solomon 2:2). His sheep, though they have the ear-mark of election upon them, yet may have their wool…

3. Love to God must be flaming; to love coldly, is all one as not to love. The spouse is said to be amore perculsa, sick of love (Song of Solomon 2:5). The seraphims are so called from their burning.

When we think God's church is as it were in the grave, and there is a tombstone laid upon her, God's wisdom can roll away the stone from the sepulchre. Christ comes leaping over mountains (Song of Solomon 2:8). Either his power can remove the mountain, or his wisdom knows how to…

By Anointed, is meant the children of the High God, who have the unction of the Spirit, and are set apart for God. 4. God delights in their company, he loves to see their countenance and hear their voice (Song of Solomon 2:14). He cannot refrain long from their company: Let but…

On this day a believer's heart is melted, that is, quickened, enlarged in holy duties; and how can all this be, and not a secret delight go along with it? On a Sabbath a gracious soul can say as (Song of Solomon 2:3): I sat under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was…

This cordial desire and real endeavor God esteems as perfect obedience (2 Corinthians 8:12): If there be a willing mind, it is accepted. Let me hear your voice, for sweet is your voice (Song of Solomon 2:14). Though the prayers of the righteous are mixed with sin, yet God sees t…

verse 17 Untill the day breake, and the shadowes flee away: turne my beloved, and be you like a Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountaines of Bether. Cant. 2. verse 1. I am the rose of Sharon, and the lilly of the vallies. The estate of the Church from Josiah's repaire of the Temp…

As who should say, when all things are thoroughly and fully reformed and settled: Why should you go about any innovation? This manner of charge was never uttered before, Canticles 2:7 to the end. (Who is this that comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?) I raised…

Neither did the prophets themselves see into the depth of their own predictions (1 Peter 1:11, 12). Hence the believing Church waited with earnest expectation, until the day should break, and the shadows should flee away (Canticles 2:17; Chap. 4:6). They longed for the breaking…

(1.) In a diligent enquiry into the mediation and ministry of Christ with the glory which it was to be accompanied withal (1 Peter 1:10, 11). (2.) In earnest desires after the enjoyment of what they saw afar off, and which was obscurely represented to them (Canticles 2:18, chap.…

This gives a continual sweet savor to God from his oblation, and renders acceptable all the worship of the Church in their approaches to him (Revelation 8:3). These things did God instruct the Church in by types and figures, to prepare their faith for the receiving of him at his…

He will not be wholly a stranger to you, he will sometimes let you see something of his face, and sometimes more than at other times. Sometimes you shall sit down under his shadow, if not with great, yet with some delight at least, as (Canticles 2:3), and his fruit shall be swee…

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. A sinner's praying is howling (Hosea 7:14), but the prayer of a righteous man is music in God's ears (Song of Solomon 2:14). Let me hear your voice for sweet is your voice.

The first relentings of the creature work upon the bowels of mercy: love's pace is very swift, it runneth to meet a returning sinner. Christ cometh skipping over the mountains (Canticles 2:8). He thinketh that he can never be soon enough with us: he would fain have the company o…

Most men need patience to die — but a saint who understands what death admits him to should rather need patience to live. Methinks he should often look out and listen on a deathbed for his Lord's coming, and when he receives news of his approaching change should say: 'The voice…

1. Because God has a mighty delight in the prayers of his people. The prayer of the upright is his delight, and he loves to hear the Church's voice (Song of Solomon 2:14): "O my dove, let me hear your voice, for sweet is your voice;" [Chaldee] "your voice is sweet in prayer." In…

Exod. 20. 24. In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. This is that presence the Saints desire in the Ordinances, Gods quickning, sanctifying, comforting presence; the smiles of his face, the kisses of his lips; nothing is so delightful…

Have you the Word as wheat with chaff, it tries not; but the Word coming with authority, and not as the Scribes; when Christ's voice sounds in the Word, see how you are affected: if you hear not you are dead. Christ's coming is compared to a spring time, wherein the flowers appe…

And in (Leviticus 2:14) there you read, that the Lord is so eager to have the first things? (as a longing woman) that he will not stay till they be ripe, he will have the green ears of Corn dried in the fire; as many women that long they will not stay until the thing be ripe, bu…

Christ desires to hear the voice of his Spouse, that is in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs; in a low and obscure [illegible], driven into secret corners: He only waits for this, in order to put an end to her state of affliction, and cause the day to br…

For, first, a clearer and fuller explanation of the ancient promise was given to him, and that promise was repeated on various occasions (Genesis 12:3, 7; 12:15, 16; 15:1, 5, 6; 17:1, 2, 9; 22:17, 18). XIII. Christ now began to look forth through the windows, and to show Himself…

A Christian recreation, is an exercise of some thing indifferent, both for the nature & use of it, only for the necessary refreshing of the body or mind, or both. So are allowed in the Scriptures the use of the Bow (2 Samuel 1:18), of Music (Nehemiah 7:67), of hunting (Canticles…

A second evidence of love is, the heart's longing and panting after the enjoyment of Him, and after the enjoyment of Him, as the most excellent object, quite surpassing all other objects. And when the thirst and longing of the soul is so carried out after Him, as it cannot be sa…

And the same sad fruits follow from the sins of the saints under the New Testament, as may be cleared from (Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; Revelation 3:3, 17, 18; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 2 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Corinthians 7:5-7; Revelation 3:20; John 14:1). Nor can we think, that the stric…

The father's running says, that the love of Christ has need of haste to prevent a sinner, and that he is eager and hot in his love; when Christ runs to save, he would gladly save; he draws with good will, when he runs and sweats to come in the nick of due time to save. So (Song…

1. We come to him as to our home, the man that comes to Christ is in a friend's house; Christ will not cast him out (John 6:39). The man may throw down his loads and burdens, and cast himself and his burden on him, and find rest for his soul; he does not stand, nor run any more,…

10. Would you not be suitable to God's dispensations? When the Lord our God puts us to silence, and into solitary places, he expects that we should visit him there (Song of Solomon 2:14). Oh my Dove that is in the clefts of the rock, in the secret place of the stairs, that is, i…

The same that is said of Christ, Chapter 6:12. 'His Eyes are as the Eyes of Doves.' And the Church is frequently compared to a Dove in Scripture, Song of Solomon 2:14. 'O my Dove, that art in the Clefts of the Rock—.' Chapter 5:2. 'Open to me my Love, my Dove.'

And there went out a fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Song of Solomon 2:12, 13. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land;

In some places he is called a Man of War and the Captain of our Salvation; in other places he is represented as a bridegroom. In Song of Solomon 2:1 he is compared to a rose and lily, sweet and beautiful flowers; in the very next verse he is compared to a tree bearing sweet frui…

(2.) Doth Communion with God in Ordinances, melt the heart into love to God? Cant. 2. 3, 4, 5. Why, so does the observation of his Providences also. Never did any man convers with Gods works of Providenc aright, but fnd his heart at some times melted into love to the God of his…

It is just with a soul as it is with the plants and trees; how would it be with them if the Lord did not command quickening life to them after the winter? The believer has his frosty and winter days, and woe be to them that think they have always a summer; the believer at times…

Upon the giving of that Promise, with the Call and Separation of Abraham, wherein the Church became in a special manner visible, there wanted nothing to confirm the faith, and fix the expectation of those that desired his coming; but only the determination of the time wherein he…

But the words themselves, with the denotation of the time for the accomplishment of this prophecy in the end of the verse, will allow of no application to any other; and plainly discovers his mistake who would wrest this text also to Zerubbabel. Hosea 14:8: Targum, They shall si…

So when there was no wine, the solemnity and glory of the feast was thought to be blemished, They have no wine, says the mother of Christ to him at the marriage feast in Cana (John 2:4). And when the Spouse would set forth the wonderful fullness of spiritual delights, which she…

If you would come to stability, and a comforting perswasion of an Interest in forgiveness by the Blood of Christ, improve the least Appearances of him unto your souls, and the least Intimations of his love in pardon, that are made unto you in the way of God. The Spouse takes not…

The second part of the commendation is, they feed among the Lilies: as Roes would not maintain their pleasantness long, if they did not feed; indeed, if the pasture were not good: so, these must needs be pleasant and useful, because they feed, and that not in a wilderness, but a…

The third lovely effect of Christ's presence, is in the ninth verse; and 1. the effect itself is set down: then its commendation is amplified. The effect, or advantage of Christ's presence, is in these words, The roof of your mouth (or your palate) shall be as the best wine: the…

That it's for a speedy return, the scope, her love that expresses it, and the manner which she uses through the Song, does make clear; and there being two comings of Christ spoken of in Scripture, 1. His coming in grace, which already she had prayed for, and it's promised (John…

The rest of the world is a waste wilderness; all other places, however pleasant, in respect of their natural amenity and delights, are truly enough called, the dark places of the earth; dismal, solitary cells, where Ziim and Iim, bitterns, cormorants, and every doleful creature…

Christ casts in a praying disposition on Saul, Behold he prays (Acts 8), and casts in a mourning disposition on the woman that washed his feet with tears; and a disposition of love, she loved much, so she wept over Christ's feet, and kissed them, and wiped them with the hair of…

Keep communion with God in praying, hearing, reading, conferring. He who is much and daily among the ointments of the apothecaries, smells shall cleave to him whether he will or not (Luke 24:34; John 7:45, 46; Canticles 2:4, 5, 6, 7). Mind much, seek much the things that are abo…

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…

4. Some are frequently taken into the house of wine, and to the King's chamber. And what changes there be, Cant. 2. cap. 3. c. 4, 5, 9. 1. v. 6. may be seen it is clear, and he that runs may read; felt love is not heritage to any. There is a huge difference between Cant. 2:6. Hi…

9. It would be observed that influences of the Spirit are contempered with the actings of grace, with which they concur; the spirit of adoption acts in the grammar of prayer, to cry Abba Father; and he comes down to the language of children learning to speak, and to say Abba; an…

Here is a soul in love, longing to be embraced and kissed, smelling Christs precious oyntments, taken in to the Kings chamber; yet the prayer to be drawn, and to be instructed where to find him, teacheth, that some are at the well-head, and yet thirsty, and in Christs banqueting…