the whole of man, becauſe all men muſt give an account to God of all ? their works,and this alone will enable them to do chat with joy,and not with grief.” Or 2. As another Argument to preſs the'foregoing Exhortation, Fear God, and keep bis commandments, for you mult be. called to judgment abont it, &c. p Not only outward and viſible
+ Not ofſecularly or polirickly wiſe men,but of the ſpiritually a&ions, but even inward and ſecret thoughts.
CT TIrr—_—_
CANTICETS
Pfr I come to the Explication of this Book, ſome things muft be premiſed concerning it. 1. That it was of Divin®:
_—
Inſpiration is ſo clear and certain, that as the Fewiſh Writers note, none ever queſtioned it, although ſome. doubted of
26z . \ 928 | &. 14: 108 0 Thisis added either. Asa reaſon of what ke laſt faid, this SIE
ſome other of Solomon's Writings. And the ſame Arguments which prove the Divinity of other Books, are found bere, ©
| ality of the Pen-man, who was confeſiedly a man inſpired by God ; the Excellency and Uſefulneſs of the Ro - the rol fry ſublizze Majeſty of the flile ; and the ſingular efficacy of it upon the Hearts of ſober and ſerious Perſon p p who read it with due preparation ; and thoſe other Charatters which are commonly known, and therefore it is needleſs here to enumerate. 2. The form of this Book is dramatical wherein ſeveral parts or parcels of it are uttered by,
or in the Name of ſeveral Perſons, which are chiefly Four, the Bridegroom and the Bride, and the Friends or Com- Panions of the one, and of the other. Nor s it declared what or when each of them ſpeak, but that is ſecretly couched,
and is left to the eb{ervation of the prudent Reader, . as is uſual in Writings of this Natare. 3« The defign of the Book in; geheral is to deſcribe the paſſionate Lowes and happy Marriage of two Perſons, and their mutual Satisfattion therein,and
tbe bleſſed Fruits and Effefts thereof, But» then it is not to be underfioed carnally concerning Solomon and Pharaoh*'s
Daughter, as ſome have fancied, although the occaſion of this Love and Marriage may be taken from that, or rather he maigs an alluſion to that, but ſpiritually concerning God, or Chriſt, and his Church aud People. This is ſufficiently
evident from the deſcriptions of this Bridegroom and Bride, which are ſuch as could not with any decency be uſed or meant
concerning Solomon and Pharaoh's Daughter, as when he is brought in like « Country Shepherd,Chap I. 7, and is
called bis Brides Brother, Chap. 5. 2. Fs che be yr jo” high and exceſſrue Commenaati ns to bimſelf, as we ſhall. hen (he 4+ made the keeper of Vineyards ans of Sheep, | | Ra Sr a Chap..5. 7. —_ to beterrible as an Army, Chap. 6. 4+ and to be like Pharaohs Horſes, and to. have an Head like Carmel,a Noſe like a Tower, Eyes like Fiſhpools, Teeth like a flock of ſheep, &c. Chap.
7.4, 5. Avd thereare many ſuch like Expreſſions and Deſcriptions, which veing applied ro them, are abſurd and mon-
flrous, Hence it follows, that this Book is to be underitood Myſtically or Alegorically concerning that ſpiritual Love. and Marriage which is between God or Chriſt, and his Church, or every bulieving Souls And this will be more than ? { ble to any man who ſhall confider,the following particulars, 1, That the kd both of the Old and New Te amen: are full of Myſtical and &llegerical paſſages ; which being known and confe «dit is needleſs to prove. 2. That the Dettrine of Chriſt, or the Mefflas, andof bi: being the Head, and Husband, and SAVieur of Gods Church or People, Was well ! known #1 leaſt to the Prophets,and the wiſe and pious Iſraelites," in the time of the Old Teftament ; whereof we bave- many manifeſt and unqueſtionable evidences; ot only in the New T:fament. but in the Writings of Moles,in the Books of Plaims and Proverbs, and in theProphets, @s hath been nored in party and will, God aſſfting be further RO i the proper plat 3: hit God comer bimſelf to Bridagroom, and bis Church 10 # Bride a, 62, 5-and call => : b =
an
Chap, 1. 6, 8. and is ſaid ts be (mitten and abuſed
hap I. EE IN EF .1
> his People,
29. 2 Cor. rr. 2. Ep. 5.23
age between Chriſt and his Church ;
their various diſpoſitions and conditions.
ſome that arewell acquainted with him, &C, Book.
| CHAP. I. a : [: tion of the earneſt longing of the Church after Chriſt, 1 —4. 4 a dfeuiek - Abo 74 Prayeth for dire#ion, 5 7. Ghriſts direFion and command, 8. He ſbeweth his love to Her both for her firength and © comoline/s, 9, 10, and giveth her graciow promiſes, ir. The Churches commendation of Chriſt borh for the ſweetneſs of Fellowſhip with him, and - theexcellency of Oratnances, 12 _. He ſong ofſongs a, which is Solomons 5. - s The moſt excellent of all Songs, whether com- - poſed by prophane or Sacred Authors, by Selomen, or by any other. 'So. this Hebrew Phraſe is underſtood En. in other caſ*s, as the holy of polies ſignifies the moſt * - holy; ard the higheſt King is called King of Kings ; and there are 7. multitudes of ſuch inſtances,as harh been oft obſerved. And ſo this | might well be called, whether you conſider the Author of 1t, who bf was 2 great Prince, and the wiſeſt of all mortal Men,the two Adams Wh. only excepted 3 or the Subj<& of it,which is not Solomon, bur 4 great- - er than Solomon,even Chriſt, and his Marriage with the C! urch, as hath been noted; or the Matter of it, which is moſt lofry and-my- ſterious, containing in It the greateſt and nobleſt of all the myſte- ries contained either inthe Old or the New Teftament ; moſt pious and parherical, breathing forch the hotteſt flames of Love berween Chrift and his People, moſt ſweer and comfortable,and uſeful to all thar read it with :erious and Chriſtian Eyes. Nor is itthe worſe be. cauſe prophane and wanton Wits abuſe it, and endavour to faſten their abſurd and filthy fenſes npon ſome paſſages init. The truth is, this Book requires a ſober and pious,not a laſcivious and fooliſh Rea- | der : for which reaſor; ſome of theancient He brews adviſed young f men to forbear the reading of it, till they were Thirry years old. ; þ Which was compoſed by Solomon : but whether before his Fall, or | after his Repentance, is not eafje-to derermine, -nor neceſſary to be
== known. ' | K . . *Ch.4.70. 2 Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth e : *