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The ufe of marriage-fongs. Chap.1. riage was lawfull with her: And therefore, notwithstanding this marriage, his love to God is ftill commended, b solomon made affinity with Pharaoh King of c verfe 3. Egypt, and Solomon loved the Lord, &c. For, indeed herein Solomon was

b 1.King. 3. I.

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Firft, a type of Chrift, admitting the Gentiles into the fellowship of his marriage-bed.

Secondly, this Pharaohs daughter bed Pfal 45 came a Profelite to the Jewish Religion, 10.-14. d Hearken (oh Daughter) and confider, and incline thine eare, forget alfo thine owne people, and thy fathers houfe.&c.

:

Now though that marriage fong was penned upon that occafion; yet it afcendeth farre above all earthly refpects of worldly marriage, and by a divine and heavenly workmanship fets forth a heavenly marriage-fong betweene Christ and his Church of like Argument was this fong penned by Solomon himselfe; not to expreffe his affections to Pharaohs daughter, or hers to him, or the good parts of either of them: no, nor the like refpects to any Shunamite amongst the reft of his wives, as fome have vainly conceived for then how abfurd and

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Chap.1. Who perfonated in this fong.

monstrous were fome of his comparifons, likening his fpoufe to A company of Horfes in Pharaohs Chariot, her Head to Carmel, her Eyes to Fish pooles, her Nofe to a Tower, her Teeth to a flocke of sheep, her whole Selfe to a terrible Army with Ban. ners? But his fcope is to defcribe the eftate of the Church towards Chrift,and his refpect towards her, from his own time to the laft judgement, as afterward it fhall appeare.

Now, through this whole marriagefong this Decorum it keepeth, that though the Calamities of the Church be as well defcribed throughout this fong, as the comfortable condition of the fame in all ages; yet fuch difmall paffages are vailed and fhadowed under fome tweet and amiable resemblances, left the joy of a marriage feast should be darkned by unseasonable mention of fo fad occurences; Neither are all the paffages of the estate of the Church in every age here defcribed, (for how can that be in fo fhort a fong: but the chiefe heads of things in every age are fweetly, and fhortly, and lively, not onely pointed at, but decyphered. These verses containe

B 3

First,

5

6

The title.

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2

I

3

Title.

I

2

3

Col.3.6.

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2

3

Pfalmes.

Pfalms, Hymns, Songs. Chap.1 First, the title of the whole booke, verse 1.

Secondly, the defcription of the eftate of the Church in the dayes, First, of Solomon verfe 2.4.

Secondly, of Solomon and Rehoboam, verfe 5.

Thirdly, of Rehoboam, verfe 6.
In the title we have

L

9.

First, the form of the book,It is A Song. Secondly, the excellency of it, A Song of Songs.

Thirdly, the Author of it, Which is So

lomons.

The Song of Songs, &c. In Colof. 3. 16. there is mention made,

First, of Pfalmes.

Secondly, Hymnes.

Thirdly, fpirituall Songs.

Amongst the Hebrewes there were Pfalmes made to be fung with Inftruments, as well as with voyce, and contained Arguments of all forts, for petition, thanksgiving,and instruction. Songs were chiefly made for the voice. Hymnes are properly praises of God; though any of thefe are fomtimes

Songs!

Hymnes.

for all.

put

Chap. Songs not unfeasonable, &c.

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First, this doth let us fee, that it were Ufe 1. to be wifhed, that this booke were turned into verfe or meeter in each language, that wee might fing the Canticles as the Hebrews did.

Secondly, this teaches us to strive for ufe 2. fuch a gracious frame of fpirit, that we might alwayes bee fitted to fing to God.

e

2.

e Phil.4.4

This Song containes the estate of the Church, as well in the worst as beft times; yet Solomon can as well fing in the mifery of the Church, as in her profperity:And David hath as wellPfalmes * Pfal.69. of his deepe waters and calamities, as of his greatest deliverances : And the holy ghost faith, Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes; And though finging be chiefly fit and requifite in fmirth, yet wee fhould f Jam.5. be fit alfo for a Pfalme in our affliction. 13. But we commonly in our ill howers are too fullen to fing, and in our merry moods our fpirits vanifh away in carnall mirth and jolity, but whatfoever the eftate of the Church be, we fhould have our fpirits as ready to fing as to

pray.

Thirdly, is reproved that ancient ufe 3. BA

law

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verse 1.

* Exodus 26.33.

1. Kings 4

32.

age,

Why this fong called Chap.i.

law and cuftome of the Synagogue, which prohibited young men (under thirtie yeares of age) the reading and ufe of this booke; but what age fitter for fongs then cheerfull youth? And further, the amoroufneffe of the dittie will not ftirre, up wantoneffe in any if the words be well understood: but rather, by inflaming with heavenly love, will draw out, and burne up all earthly and carnall luft; and, even as fire in the hand is drawne out by holding it to a stronger fire, or as the light and heat of the Sunne extinguisheth a kitchin fire; fo doth heavenly love to Chrift extinguish base kitchin lufts.

A Song of Songs: That is,a moft excellent Song, the chiefeft of Songs: as when they would expreffe the holy place, they fay, The holy of holieft, * The Lord of lords, the King of kings, the Servant of fervants, an Hebrew fuperlative; fo this is the chiefeft Song, first of all Solomons other Songs, even of his thousand and five.

Secondly, of all Songs without exception; for though David was in his time

g 2. Sam. & the sweet finger of Ifrael, yet as Solo

23.1.

mons

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