class: 24
i boule A BRIEF
EXPOSITION

Of the whole Book of.
CANTICLES,

OR,

SONG OF SOLOMON

Lively describing the Estate of the Church
in all the Ages thereof, both Jewish

and Christian , to this day :
And Modestly pointing at the Gloriouf-
neffe of the reitored Eftate of the Church of the
lewes, and theh ppy acc ffc of the Gentiles, in the
approaching daies of Reformation, whes che

Wall of Partition shall bee taken away
A Work very usefull and seasonable to every Chri.
ftian; but especially such as endeavour andibirst
after cac felling of Church an i Srate, according to

che Rule and Pattern of ih: Word of God.

Written by that Learned and Godly Divine John
Cotton, Batch for of Divinity; and now Pastor of the

Congregation at Boston, in New England,

LONDON,
Printed for Philip Nevil, at the signe of
the Gun in ļvie-Lane, 1642.

331SEBBIE:381335
101. i 506

THE
CANTICLES,

OR
SONG OF SONGS

opened and explained.

mm. He Song of Songs, which is Solo

mons.

2 Let him kisse mee with the kisses of his mouch: for thy love

is better then wine. 3 Because of the favour of thy good ointments, thy Name is as ointment powred forth, therefore doe the Virgins love thee.

4 Draw me,we will rnnne afrer thee: the King hath brought me into his chambers: we

2

The Song of Songs. Chap. I will bee glad and rejoyce in thee, wee will remember thy love more then wine, the upright love thee.

5I am blacke, but comely, (O ye daughters of Jerusalem) as the Tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon..

6 Looke not upon me because I am black, because the Sunne hath looked upon mee : my Mothers children were angry with mee, they made me the keeper ofthe Vineyards, but my owne Vineyard have I not kept.

7. Tell me, (ó thou whom my soule loveth) where thou feedest, where thou makelt thy flock to rest at noone : for why should í be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions ?

8 Ifthou know not(O thou fairelt among women) goe thy way forth by the footsteps of thy focke, and feed thy kiddés besides the shepheards tents.

9 I have compared thee, Omy love, to a company of horses in Pharaohs chariots.

10 Thy cheeks are comely with rowes of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

II Wee will make thee borders of gold, with studsoffilver.

12 While the King fittech at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

13 A bundle of myrrhe is my welbeloved unto mee, hee shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

3

:

Chap Love-fongs ancient

14 My beloved is unto mee, as a cluster of Camphire in the Vineyards of En-gedi.

15 Behold, thou art faire,my love: behold, thou art faire, and hait doves eyes.

16 Behold, thou art faire,my beloved, yea, pleasant : also our bed is

green. 17 The beames of our house are Cedar, and our rafters of firre

THE EXPLANATION.
Cant. 1.verse 1. The song of songs,which

is Solomons.
Verse 2. Let him kiffe me with the kisses of

his mouth, for thy love is better then
wine.

11. 12.

IT T was the manner of ancient times, at

Efpoufalls and Nuptialls to indite and sing * (Epithalamia) love-fongs: a The * Ruth 4. title of the

45.
. Psalme

may
feeme to bee

a Plal.45. penned by one of the chiefe fingers of the Temple, (who now were all of them Prophets ; * Asaph, Heman, jeduthun,) / *1.Chron. upon occafion of Solomons marriage , 25.1.10 So with Pharaohs Daughter ; for though shee was a stranger by birth from the common wealth of Ifrael, yet his marB2

riage