Vol 04 - SONG OF SOLOMON.
SONG OF SOLOMON.
645 AINSWORTH. (See under -Pentateuch, No. 72).
646 AVRILLON (JOHN BAPTIST ELIAS. 1652 — 1729). The Year of Affections; or, Sentiments on the love of God, drawn from the Canticles, for every day of the year. Fcap. 8vo. 6/6.
Lond. and Oxf, Parker & Co. x847. S. 4/-
One of the series of Romish authors, issued by Dr. Pusey. It is a deeply spiritual work, after the manner of the mystics. It might have been written by Madame Guyon. Despite its occasional Popery and sacramentarianism, it contains much choice devotional matter.
647 BEZA (THEODORE). Sermons upon the three first chapters of Canticles, translated out of the French, by’ John Harmar. 4to. Oxf.., I587.
These thirty-one sermons are a well of instruction, very precious and refreshing. The unabbreviated title indicates a controversial use of the Song, and we were therefore prepared to lament the invasion of the dore’s nest of the Canticles by the eagle of debate; but we were agreeably disappointed, for we found much less of argument, and much more of the Well-Beloved, than w,: looked for.
648 BEVERLEY (T.) An Exposition of the Divinely prophetick Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s; beginning with the reign of David, and ending in the glorious Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4to. x687. 5/’ This maundering author finds in Canticles the history of the church from David to our Lord, and rhymes no end of rubbish thereon. Truly there is no end to the foolishness of expositors. We suppose there must be a public for which they cater, and a very foolish public it must be.
649 BRIGHTMAN (THOMAS). A Commentary on the Canticles, wherein the Text is Analised, the Native Signification of the Words Declared, the Allegories Explained, and the Order of Times whereunto they relate Observed. 4to. Lond., x644. [See under Daniel and Revelation.]
Brightman was a writer of high renown among the prophetic students of the seventeenth century. With singular strength of the visionary faculties he sees in the Canticles “the whole condition of the church from the time of David, till time shall be no more.” Expounding on this theory needs an acrobatic imagination.
650 BURROWES (GEORGE. Pro/. Lafayette Coll. U.S.) Commentary. Cr. 8va. Philadelphia, x853. 3/6.
Mr. Moody Stuart says ‘ — ” The excellent work of Dr. Burrowes is specially fitted to remove the prejudices of men of taste against the Song of Solomon, as the medium of spiritual communion between the soul and Christ. We welcome it as a valuable contribution to us from our transatlantic brethren.”
651 BUSH (JOSEPH, M.A.) The Canticles of .the Song of Solomon. A Metrical Paraphrase, with Explanatory Notes and Practical Comments. Post 8va. Land., Hatchards. x867. S. 1/6. A good compilation, with a helpful translation. For popular use.
652 CLAPHAM (ENOCH). Salomon; his Songs expounded. 4to. Land.,
,6o3.
Clapham was a voluminous author of very remarkable attainments. He wrote also on the first fourteen chapters of Genesis. This work is rare as angels’ visits.
653 COLLINGES (JOHN, D.D. 1623 — 1690). The Intercourses of Divine Love betwixt Christ and his Church, metaphorically expressed by Solomon in Canticles I. and II. 2 vols., 4to. Land., x676. 10/- to 14/-
Nine hundred and nine quarto pages upon one chapter is more than enough. The materials are gathered from many sources and make up a mass of wealth. On the second chapter there are five hundred and thirty, pages. It would try the constitutions of many modern divines to read what these Puritans found it a pleasure to write. When shall we see their like ?
654 COTTON’ (JOHN, B.D. I585 — 1652). A Brief Exposition, describing the estate of the Church in all ages thereof, both Jewish and Christian, and modestly pointing at the gloriousness of the restored estate thereof. 8va.
Land., 164a. [Reprinted in Nichol’s Series. See Muffet, No. 596.]
Cotton explains the sacred love-song historically, and misses much of its sweetness by so doing. We should never care to read his exposition while Durham, and Gill, and Moody Stuart are to be had.
655 DAVIDSON (WILLIAM, ESQ.) A Brief outline of an Examina- tion of the Song of Solomon 8:1-14 va. Land., 1817. :2/- to 3/6. A precious work by one whose heart is warm with the good matter. He sees in the Song the history of the Church of Christ.
655 DOVE (JOHN, D.D.) The Conversion of Solomon, a Direction to holiness of Life; handled by way of Commentarie upon the whole Booke of Canticles.
Profitable for young men which are not yet mortified, for old men which are decrepit and have one foote in the grave, and for all sorts of men which have an intent to renounce the vanities of this world, and to follow Jesus Christ.
4to. Lond., 1613. 6/- to 8/- A quaint old work. The student will do better with the modems. Moreover, this Dove is rare, and seldom lights on poor men’s shelves.
657 DURHAM (JAMES. 1622 — 1658). Clavis Cantici; or, an Exposition of the Song of Solomon 4:1-16 to. Lond., I668 and I723. Also 12mo., Aberdeen. I84O. 2/6 to 6/-Durham is always good, and he is at his best upon the Canticles.
He gives us the essence of the good matter. For practical use this work is perhaps more valuable than any other Key to the Song.
658 FENNER (DUDLEY). The Song of Solomon, in Verse, with an Exposition. Middleburgh. 8vo. 1587. 4to.
Moody Stuart says : — ”This is a faithful and excellent translation, accompanied by an admirable exposition. There is no poetry in it, but the renderings are often good, arid the comment valuable.” We have not met with it.
659 FLEMING (ROBERT. Died 1716). The Mirror of Divine Love unvail’d, in a Poetical Paraphrase of the Song of Solomon. Sm. 8vo. 1691. 3/6. The poetry is after the same manner as that of Quarles, and though not without merit, it is too antiquated to be admired in the present day. This is the Fleming who interpreted the Apocalyptic vials, and was fortunate enough to hit upon the date of the French revolution and other events connected with the decline of the Papal power. His prophetic work has been reprinted, but not this limping poetry.
660 FRANCIS (ANN. Died I8OO). A Poetical Translation; with Note% Historical, Critical, and Explanatory. 4to. Land., I78I. I/5 to 2/6.
Framed on a fanciful theory. Verses flowing and feeble. Insignificant.
661 FRY (John, A.B.) New Translation, with Notes, and an attempt to interpret the sacred allegories. 8vo. Lond., 1811. 2/- to 3/-Fry’s work may be called the supplement and complement of Dr. Goods. He divides the Songs into idyls, and gives notes in the same manner as Goad; but he also plunges into the spiritual meaning of the blessed Song, and so far is to be preferred, 662 GIFFORD (MR.) A Dissertation on the Song of Solomon 8:1-14 vo.
Zonal., 1751.
Worthless rhymes. This man dares to say that the Song is a pastoral, composed by Solomon for the amusement of his lighter hours, before God had given him the divine wisdom for which he was afterwards so eminent.
663 GILL (JOHN, D.D.) An Exposition of the Book of Solomon’s Song.
Folio. Lond., 1728. 5/- Not contained in the author’s Exposition of the Old and New Testament. An 8vo. edition was published by Coilingridge, Land., x854. S. 3/6. The best thin6 Gill ever did. He could not exhaust his theme, but he went as far as he could towards so doing. He is occasionally fanciful, but his work is precious. Those who despise it have never read it, or are incapable of elevated spiritual feelings.
664 GINSBURG (CHRISTIAN D.) A Translation, with a Commentary, Historical and Critical. 8vo. 10/- /-.and., Longmans. x857. 5/’ to 6/-
Written upon an untenable theory, viz., that the Song is intended “to record an example of virtue in a young woman, who encountered and conquered the greatest temptations, and was eventually rewarded.” This grovelling interpretation needed the aid of great liberties with the text, and a few interpolations, and the author has not hesitated to use them.
However learned the book may be, this vicious theory neutralizes all 665 GOOD (JOHN MASON, M.D., F.R.S.) Song of Songs; or, Sacred Idyls translated; with Notes, Critical and Explanatory. 8vo. Land., 18o3.
4/- By a man of great learning. It is not at all spiritual, or even expository, in the theological sense, but treats the Canticles as an Oriental drama, explaining its scenery and metaphors from a literary point of view.
656 GREEN (WILLIAM, M.A.) Song of Solomon. In “The Poetical Parts of the Old Testament translated, with Notes.” 4to. I781.
Critical only. Orme says, “ the translations are in general very accurate and elegant specimens of biblical interpretation.”
667 GUILD (WILLIAM, D.D. I586t — 1657). Love’s Intercourse between the Lamb and his Bride. 8vo. Lond., x658. 5/- to 7/- A rare old work: but we prefer Durham. The author was one of the better sort of the Scotch Episcopalians.
668 GYFFARD (GEORGE.). Fifteen Sermons upon the Song of Solomon 8:1-14 vo. 1598 to 1612.
We have several times met with this writer’s name coupled with that of Brightman as in his day regarded as a very learned writer, but we cannot procure his work. Possibly some reader of this Catalogue may yet present us with it. We beg to assure him of the gratitude which we already feel, in the form of “a lively sense of favors to come.”
669 HARMER (THOMAS. I715 — 1785). Outlines of a New Com- mentary on Solomon’s Song, drawn by the help of instructions from the East. 8vo. Lond., 1768. 2/6 to 2/6.
“This book is not well arranged, but is otherwise one of the most ingenious, modest, and interesting of all the treatises on the outward sense of the Song.” — Moody Stuart.
670 HENGSTENBERG. (See under Ecclesiastes, No. 620.) 67x HODGSON (BERNARD, LL.D.) 8olomon’s Song translated from the Hebrew. 4to. Oxf., 1786. 2/6.
Moody Stuart says that this is “a good translation,” and therefore we suppose it is so, but we do not admire it. It does not even refer to the mystical sense, and it mars the poetry of the Song. Dr. Hodgson renders ch. vi. ver. 9 : — ” My pigeon, my undefiled is but one.” This is an alteration, but certainly not an emendation. The name of the bride’s mother he discovers to have been Talmadni. Wonderful!
672 HOMES (NATHANIEL. Died i678). A Commentary on the Canticles. Works. Folio. x652. 6/- to 10/- This goes to the very marrow of spiritual teaching, and uses every word and syllable in a deeply experimental manner with great unction and power.
]font es, however, spiritualizes too much, and is both too luscious in expression and too prolix for these degenerate days.
673 HOUGHTON (WM.) Translation. 8vo. 2/6. Lond., Trubner. I865.
Useless. The Song is viewed as a secular poem on chaste love.
674 IBN EZRA (ABRAHAM). Commentary on the Canticles, after the first recension. Edited from two MSS., with a Translation, by 1-I. J. Matthews, B.A. I2mo. Lond., Trubner & Co. 1874. The original Hebrew of the Song, with a Jewish comment, which conveys but little instruction. In this small book the student will have a specimen of Jewish exposition.
675 IRONS (JOSEPH, of Camberwell. 1786 — 1852). Nymphas. A Paraphrastic Exposition. 16mo. Lond., 1844. S. x/6. Outside of his own circle we fear that this work by the late Joseph Irons is little known. It is a paraphrase in blank verse, rendered in a very spiritual manner. We confess that we look upon the little book with admiring eyes, though we know that the critics will sneer both at us and it.
676 KEIL & DELITZSCH. (See Books of Solomon, No. 577.) 677 KRUMMACHER (F. W., D.D.) Solomon and the Shulamite.
Sermons on the Book of Canticles. 16mo. Lond.,1838. S. x/-Touches only upon a few portions. Short and sweet.
678 LANGE. (See Books of Solomon, No. 578.) 679 LITTLEDALE (R. F.) A Commentary. From Ancient and Mediaeval Sources. 12mo. 7/- Lond., J. Masters. x869. S. 4/6.
Littledale is a close follower of John Mason Neale, and here reproduces the beauties and the deformities of mediaeval spiritualizing. Great judgment will be needed to extract the good and true from the mass of semi-popish comment here heaped together. If discretion be used, jewels of silver and jewels of gold may be extracted.
580 MACPHERSON (PETER, A.M.) The Song of Songs shown to be constructed on Architectural Principles. Post 8vo. Edinb., I856. 4/-
“His supposition that this song consists of verses written round an archway, is so entirely gratuitous, that it is only misguiding and deceptive.”
— A. MOody Stuart.
68x METRICAL MEDITATIONS on the Canticles. [Anon.] 16mo. Lond.,Wertheim. x856. S. I/-
Exceedingly well rendered: noteworthy both from a literary and religious point of view. The author seizes the meaning” of the Song, and repeats it in well-chosen words.
682 MILLER (ANDREW). Meditations. 12mo. 1/6. Lond.,Morrish.
First published in the Plymouthite magazine, “Things New and Old.”
Devotional, and glowing with the light of fellowship with Jesus.
683 MOORE (DANIEL, M.A.) Christ and his Church. A Course of Lent Lectures on the Song of Solomon. Sm. cr. 8vo. 3/6. Lond., H. S. King &
Co. I875.
These lectures treat upon the first chapter only, but they do so in an admirable manner. Moore has evangelized Littledale.
684 [NEALE (JOHN MASON, D.D.)] Sermons on-the Canticles, preached in a Religious House. By a Priest of the Church of England.
12mo. Lond., Masters. x857. S. 2/6. By that highest of high churchmen, Dr. Neale. These sermons smell of Popery, yet the savor of our Lord’s good ointment cannot be hid. Our Protestantism is not of so questionable a character that we are afraid to do justice to Papists and Anglicans, and therefore we do not hesitate to say that many a devout thought has come to us while reading these “sermons by a Priest of the Church of England.”
685 NEWTON (ADELAIDE L.) The Song of Solomon compared with other parts of Scripture. Cr. 8vo. 3/6. Zonal., Nisbet. 187x.
[The earlier editions were published anonymously.’]
Miss Newton’s book is very dear to spiritual minds; it is full of that quiet power which comes from the Spirit of God through deep experience and precious fellowship with the Well-Beloved.
686 NOYES. (See No. 579.) This author sees in the Canticles nothing but a collection of amatory songs, written without express moral or religious design. Blind !
687 PERCY (THOMAS, D.D. Bishop of Dromore. 1729 — I811). New Transla- tion: with a Commentary and Annotations. [Anon.] 8vo. Lond, 1764. 6/- His theory of the sacred Song is dead, and not worthy of a monument in our pages. We trust that not a relic will remain. Percy did very well with his ballads, but he had better have let the Song of Songs alone.
688 POWER (PHILIP BENNET, M.A.) Failure and Discipline:
Thoughts on Canticles V. 16mo. 1/6 £and., Wertheim.
Upon the fifth chapter only. Mr. Power always writes attractively. His book is “linked sweetness,” but not “long drawn out.”
689 REFLECTIONS ON CANTICLES; or, the Song of Solomon, with Illustrations from Modern Travellers and Naturalists.
[Anon.] 12mo. Lond., S. W. Partridge & Co. x87o. S. 1/3. Has much sweetness, and a fair measure of freshness.
690 ROBOTHAM (JOHN). Exposition. 4to. Land., 1652. 6/- to 8/- Very solid; but not to be compared with Durham, No. 657. It is just a little dull and commonplace.
69x ROMAINE (WILLIAM, M.A.) Discourses upon Solomon’s Song.
8vo. Lond., 1789. 2/6.
Twelve excellent sermons from verses taken out of the Song. They do not summarize the book, nor form a commentary, but are simply a selection of spiritual discourses by one of the most eminent Calvinistic divines of the last century.
692 SlBBES (RICHARD, D.D. 1577 — I635). Bowels Opened; or, a Discovery of the Neere and Deere Love, Union and Communion betwixt Christ and the Church. Sermons on Canticles IV., V., and VI. 4to. I639, etc. 6/- to 9/-[ Works If. Nichol’s edition.] Sibbes never writes ill. His repute is such that we need ottO, mention him. His title is most unfortunate, but in all else his “discovery” is worthy of our commendation.
693 SKINNER (JOHN. Bishop of Aberdeen. 1721 — 1806). Essay towards a literal or true radical Exposition. Works II. 2 vols., 8vo.
Aberdeen, I809. 4/’ Not very important. The Bishop doses his exposition with the following prayer for those who do not believe in the mystical sense : — ” God forgive the fools and open, their eyes.” Pretty strong for a Bishop !
694 STUART (A. MOODY, M.A.) Exposition, with Critical Notes. 8vo. I2/- Lond., Nisbet 186o. S. 6/-
Although this admirable author expounds the Song upon a theory which we do not quite endorse, we do not know where to find a book of equal value in all respects. He has poetry in his soul, and, beyond that, a heart like that of Rutherford, fired with love to the .4 ,!together Lovely One. We thank him for this noble volume.
69!; THE BRIDE OF CHRIST; or, Explanatory Notes on the Song of Solomon. [Anon.] 18mo. Lond., Seeleys. 1861. S. 6d. A little book for general use; not for students.
696 THE THREEFOLD MYSTERY: Hints on the Song of Songs, viewed as a Prophecy of the Double United Church of Jew and Gentile. By the author of”The Gathered Lily.” 12mo. 3/6. Zonal., Partridge & Co. I869.
It seems to us to be a wild fancy that all ecclesiastical history is condensed into the Canticles; hence we do not value this book.
697 THRUPP (JOHN FRANCIS). New Translation, with Commentary. Cr. 8vo. 7/6. Lond., Macmillan. I862. We are highly pleased with this work. It defends the usual Christian interpretation by the conclusions of sober criticism, and shows that the spiritual sense is confirmed by the investigations of modern scholarship. In the introduction the author deals heavy blows at the sceptical school, and at those who, like Ginsburg, content themselves with imputing a merely moral meaning to the blessed Canticle of love.
698; WEISS (BENJAMIN). The Song of Songs unveiled: a New Translation and Exposition. Cr. 8vo. W. Oliphant & Co. x859. S. 1/6 to 2/6. This author believes that the Song sets forth the history of Israel and her relation to the Covenant Angel from Horeb to Calvary. Beyond a few Eastern illustrations, nothing of value is contributed to existing materials. The work is thoroughly evangelical.
699 WILCOCKS (THOMAS). Exposition. Works. Folio. 1624, 12/-
Short, and somewhat in the manner of a paraphrase. This venerable author gives a doctrinal summary of each verse, and from this we have frequently been directed to a subject of discourse.
70o WILLIAMS (THOMAS). A New Translation, with a Commentary and Notes. 8vo. Lond., 18o1. Second edition, 1828. S. 2/-This volume is little known, but its value is above the average of Canticles literature. We have read many of the remarks with pleasure, but most of them are to be found in the standard commentaries.
7OI WOODFORD (SAMUEL, D.D.) Paraphrase in Verse. 8vo. I679. I/6 to 3/’ Better than many poetical paraphrases, but still below the mark of true poetry.
7o’.’ WRIGHT (M.) The Beauty of the Word in the Song of Solomon. Cr.
8vo. 6/- Lond., Nisbet & Co. 1872. A purely spiritual commentary, casting no light, upon the text, but drawing much from it. More devotional than expository. The figures of the allegory are pressed as far as they should be, perhaps further.