14 Solomons ·2 Sam.7.12.&c.opened. Chap.1. time. Verse 5. the eftate of the Church as well in Solomons time as in Rehoboams. The verses following to the ninth, the eftate of the Church in all the time of Rehoboam. In the Church of Solomons time, foure time foure paffages are chiefly obfervable. things. First, Solomons choyce of heavenly wisdome, by which chiefly wee enjoy sweet and familiar fellowship with God, q Prov. 8.91 King. 3. 5. to 10. This is expreffed, verse 2. 34.35. Verse 3. 3 Verfc 4. Verfe 5. Verfe 2. Secondly, the fweet favour and fame of Solomons gifts and graces, to the winning of the love and admiration of the fons of men. Thirdly, the drawing and gathering of all Ifrael to the Kings chambers, the courts of Solomons Temple: or his care to bring on his people to the publick Wor fhip of God, and their refpect of him in regard thereof. Fourthly, the fall and deformity of the Church, by Idolatrous worship, and toleration thereof in many; and yet the keeping of the native beauty of the Church in many others. [Let him kiffe me with the kiffes of his mouth, 15 Chap.1. Kiffes of his mouth, what.... mouth, &c.] It is a prayer of the Church, or (which is all one) fome chiefe member of it, for a pledge of Chrifts fweet and familiar acquaintance, and love, and fellowship with her: Kiffes are pledges and incentives of love. Men (hall kiffe his lipsr Pro. 24. that answereth upright words. This is the 26. effect of upright Anfwers, men kiffe his lips; but God kiffing a mans lips, is the caufe of mans anfwering upright words, his breathing into our mouths a right anfwer, maketh us fpeake accordingly: as, on the contrary, when one anfwers perverfly, unjustly, erroneoufly, Satan then hath kiffed them with his kiffes, hee hath fittten as a lying: fpirit in their 1 King. mouths. * [The kiffes of his mouth, which is more then the kiffes of his lips; the one is a filent gefture of love, the other implyeth also amiable fpeeches, when Chrift, First, by the voyce of his Word, or Secondly, by the breath of his fpirit, doth either, Firft, put wifdome or grace into our hearts, or Secondly, fpeake peace or comfort to our foules. 22,23,24. Pfal. 119. 98.-110. 16 fifa.57. 19. Pov.17. u Ecclef. 12.13. * Pro.8. 22.35. Spirituall wifdome brings peace. Chap.1. I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace, &c. Solomons wifdome is the grace of God, as wickedneffe is folly; The beginning of this wisdome is the feare of God, the end of it is the keeping of Gods Commandements. This wifdome who fo findes,findes Christ,* the wisdome of the Father, in whom God is well pleafed with us, and Mat. 3.17. in whom he (as it were) kiffeth us: this wifdome doth not only enable us to walk 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 walk in the wayes of this wifdome, brings peace. to our foules, and to those that live under y Pro.3.17 us. All her paths are peace. *Pla. 104. 15.& 4. 6,7. Pro.3. 13. y For thy love is better then wine.] The favour of God in giving wifdome, and thereby peace to a mans felfe and others depending on him, is more worth then wine, (that is) then whatfoever makes the heart of man *glad. This prayer was powred out by Solomon, the chiefest Jud.9.13. member of the Church in this time, when King 3 he prayed for wisdome, † and preferred Chron. it before long life, riches, victory over 1.7,10,11. his enemies, &c. -15.& 31.6.7. Pro.16.10 Or Chap.1. Spirituall graces called ointments. Or else this whole verse may expresse the defire of the Church to Solomon, that he would expreffe his love to her by his divine Sentences, * and Bookes, and Songs, which are better then their civill peace, then the fitting under their own Vine and Fig-tree. and Verle 3. a Job.2.27 Because of the favour of thy good ontments. Good ointments are the gifts and graces of Gods Spirit, a But the anointing which ye have received of him, &c. fo called, because they heale a broken heart as b oyle: the oyle of Gods grace heals the b Luke 10. bruises of the foule. Secondly, as oyle doth make the face to fhine, fo doe they. 24. Ifa.61.3. c Pfa.104 Eccl. 8. 1. Thirdly, das by the holy oyles all thes veffels of the Tabernacle were confecra-dExo. 10. ted; fo by these graces all the veffels of 23.31. mercy are confecrated to God. e i Sam. 16.3.& f Exod.40 Fourthly,by the oyntment were anointed to their offices Kings, Priefts,g and 101. fome Prophets; hfo by these graces are we anointed to God our Father in Chrift, i Kings, Priefts, and Prophets. Savour is 19.16. the manifeftation of thefe graces,as oyntments are manifested by their favour. h A&.1.8. & 2.4,7° i Rev. 1.6. Thy name is as an oyntment powred forth.] Joh. 12.3. B 2 That Verfe 3. 18 Solomon honoured for his wifdome. Chap.1. That is, precious, sweet, and famously renowned; Therefore doe the Virgins love thee. The Virgins in this Song are fuch as Chrift hath not yet efpoufed to himfelfe, k Can.8.8k nor fpoken for in way of marriage; 1 Can.6.81 fuch as carnall Jewes, or the Gentiles. Love thee.] That is, Verse 3. m 1 King. 28. & 4. 31,34.& 5.7. & 10. 1,7,8,9. First, honourably esteem thee. ship. Thirdly, feeke after thee. This was fulfilled in Solomon: his owne people reverenced him,even all of them; his name was famous in all nations round about him: all the Kings fent to him, and of all people, fome came to hear his wisdome. not King. The Queen of Sheba cometh from the uttermoft parts of the earth to heare it, & 。 King Counteth his people happy under it:Hiram King of Tyre bleffed God for his wisdom. 10.1, 2. 5.7. Verse 4. Draw me.] It may well be the fpeech of Solomon to Chrift, praying that Christ would draw him to the Father, neer unto him in holy duties, and promifing to bring all the People to run with him af ter God. Or it may be the fpeech of the Church to Salomon, defiring him to draw them together, by publick edicts and pro |