14

2. Sam. 7. 12. &c. opened. Chap.1

he tooke from Saul, for even from Solomons pofteritie the kingdome was cut 2.Sam-7. off in Jechoniah: The promise therefore 12,13,14 of mercy to Solomon above Saul reacheth to the bestowing of an heavenly kingdome upon him. Befides, in that place two bleffings are promifed, First, Adoption, I will be his father,

I

Use 2.

Solomons

&c.

Secondly, Establishment in Gods house and kingdome: fo that if the latter promife fhould not evince his perfeverance, yet the former doth.

Secondly, this is to stirre us up to the reading and meditation of this booke, the more for thePenmans fake.

The 2.3.& 4.verfes fing and fhew forth the eftate of the Church in Solomons time.Verfe 5. the eftate of the Church as well in Solomons time as inRehoboams: The verfes following to the ninth, the eftate of the Church in all the time of Rehoboam.

In the Church of Solomons time time four foure paffages are chiefly obfervable.

things.

I

Firft, Solomons choyce of heavenly wifedome, by which chiefly wee enjoy fweet and familiar fellowship with God,

Chap. What meant by kiffes of his mouth. 15

God, 1 King 3.5. to 10. This is expref- 9 Pro. 8. fed, verfe 2.

34.35.

2

Secondly, the fweet favour and fame of Solomons gifts and graces, to the verfe 3. winning of the love and admiration of the fonnes of men.

Thirdly, the drawing and gathering

3

of all Ifrael to the Kings chambers, the verfe 4.
Courts of Solomons Temple: or his
care to bring on his people to the publick
worship of God, and their respect of
him in regard thereof.

4

Fourthly, the fall and deformity of the Church, by Idolatrous worship, and toleration thereof in many; and yet the verfe s keeping of the native beautie of the Church in many others.

*

[* Let him kiffe me with the kiffes of his verse 2. mouth,&c.] It is a prayer of the Church, or (which is all one)fome chiefe member of it, for a pledge of Chrifts sweet and familiar acquaintance, and love, and fellowfhip with her: Kiffes are pledges and incentives of love. Men fhall kiffe his Pro. 24. lips that answereth upright words. This is the effect of upright Anfwers, men kiffe his lips, but God kiffing a mans lips, is the cause of mans anfwering upright

words;

26.

16

Kiffes of bis mouth, what. Chap.1.

[words; his breathing into our mouths a right answer, maketh us fpeake accordingly: as,on the contrary, when one anfwers perverfly, unjustly, erroneoufly, Satan then hath kiffed them with his *1. Kings kiffes, hee hath fitten as a *lying spirit 22.23, 24. in their mouths.

12

I

Pfal. 119.

[The kiffes of his mouth,] which is more then the kiffes of his lips; the one is a filent gefture of love, the other implieth alfo amiable speeches, when Chrift First, by the voice of his word, or Secondly, by the breath of his fpirit, doth either

First, put wifedome or grace into our

98.-100. hearts, or

2

f Ifa. 57.

19.

t Pro. 17.

u Ecclef.

Secondly, fpeake peace or comfort to our foules.

I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace, &c. Solomons wifedome is the grace of God, as wickedneffe is folly, The beginning of this wifedome is the feare of God, u the end of it is the keeping of Gods Com mandements: This wifedome whofo findes, findes Christ, * the wisedome of the Father, in whom God is well pleafed *Math.3. with us, and in whom hee (as it were) kiffeth us; This wifedome doth not onely

12.13.

* Pro.8.

22.35.

17.

enable

Chap.1. Spirituall wifedome brings peace. 17 enable us to walke godlily to our falvation, but likewife fits us to goe in and out before our families, before our people, and fo enlarges us to all duties of our callings: And to walke in the wayes of this wifedome, brings peace to our foules,

y

and to thofe that live under us: All her y Pro.3.17 paths are peace.

For thy love is better then wine.] The favour of God in giving wifedome, and thereby peace to a mans felfe and others depending on him, is more worth then wine, (that is) then whatsoever makes the heart of man glad. This prayer Pfal. 104 was powred out by Solomon,the chiefeft 15.& 4. member of the Church in this time, Pro. 3.13. when he prayed for wifedome, tand pre-s.and ferred it before long life, riches, victory Jud. 9.13. over his enemies, &c.

Orelle this whole verfe may expreffe the defire of the Church to Solomon, that he would expreffe his love to her by his divine fentences, * and bookes, and fongs, which are better then their civill peace, then the fitting under their own Vine and Fig-tree.

6,7.

31.6,7.

ti King.3.
5,9,11.
2. Chron.

1.7,10,11

Pro.16.10

* Ecclef.

12.9.

*1King4.

25.

Because of the favour of thy good oynt- Verfe 3. ments.] Good oyntments are the gifts C

and

18 Spirituall graces called oyntments. Chap.1

a Ioh. 2.27 and graces of Gods fpirit,a But the

anoyn.

ting which ye have received of him, &c. fo called, because they heale a broken heart b Luk. 10. as boyle: the oyle of Gods grace heales the bruises of the foule.

34.

Ifay 61.3.

Secondly, as oyle doth make the face

*Pfa. 104. to fhine, *fo do they.

15. Eccle.8.1.

†.Ex.10.

Thirdly, tas by the holy oyles all the veffels of the Tabernacle were confecra23-31 ted; fo by thefe graces all the veffels of mercy are confecrated to God.

† 1 Sam.

10. I.

c Exod.

Fourthly, by the oyntment were a16. 3. & noynted to their offices † Kings, Priests, d and fome Prophets; e fo by thefe graces 40.13,15. are wee annointed to God our Father in d Kings Chrift, f Kings, Priefts and Prophets. A&.1.8. Savour is the manifestation of these & 2.4.7. graces, as oyntments are manifested by their favour.

19.16.

e

fRev. 1.6.

Ioh. 12.3.

Verse 3.

Thy name is as an oyntment powred forth that is, precious, fweet, and famoufly renowned; therefore doe the Virgins love thee. The Virgins in this fong are fuch as Chrift hath not yet efpoufed to *Can.8.8 himfelfe, * nor fpoken for in way of *Can.6.8 marriage; *fuch as carnall Jewes, or the Gentiles.

Verse 3.

Love thee:]

That