Song of Solomon 1

Song of Solomon 1:2

Blessed Jesus, upon whom I have been meditating, by thy word and Spirit give me intimate fellowship with thee in thy ordinances, and full assurances of thy friendship; for the manifestations of thy redeeming love are more pleasant, reviving, and strengthening, to my soul, than any created enjoyments

Song of Solomon 1:3

Such is the pleasant and powerful influence of thy mediatorial excellencies, offices, relations, and fulness of spirit and grace, that sincere and holy souls cannot but love thee with their whole heart

Song of Solomon 1:4

By thy almighty influence direct and bring me into the dearest enjoyment of thyself, that I, and others excited by me, may pleasantly comply with thy alluring power, and follow hard after thee in the paths of duty.—Jesus, the King of his church, has already brought me into the most ravishing nearness to, and spiritual intimacy with, himself: therefore will we rejoice in him as our ALL and IN ALL; we will think of, believe, and extol, his love above all created delights: for every candid and sincere professor heartily esteems, loves, and delights in, thee

Song of Solomon 1:5

In myself, and in respect of manifold infirmities, scandals, reproaches, and persecutions, I am deformed; but in my Head Christ, and as clothed with his righteousness, and endued by his Spirit, gifts, and graces, I am truly comely, O ye nominal professors and weak believers: I am outwardly mean, but inwardly rich and glorious

Song of Solomon 1:6

Look not therefore upon me with disdain, disaffection, or delight in my distresses, nor stumble at religion on account of them; for sore persecutions, tribulations, and temptations, have befallen me: hypocritical professors, false teachers, and 3 my own inward corruptions, enraged at my connection with Christ, and my cleaving to him, have oppressed me with the basest drudgery, and entangled me in carnal cares and secular affairs, which have hindered me from, or retarded me in, the due improvement of my own office, opportunities, gifts, and graces

Song of Solomon 1:7

But, O all-compassionate Redeemer, whom I love with my whole heart, and above every thing else, discover to me, by thy word and Spirit, which is thy true church, and which are those assemblies wherein thou art remarkably present, and to whom thou affordest spiritual support and consolation amidst all their scorching persecutions and troubles: for why should I, whom thou hast redeemed, and who have sincerely devoted my whole self to thee, be left to associate myself with empty professors, false teachers, and inward idols, who, notwithstanding their pretences of friendship, are thy enemies and rivals on earth! CHRIST

Song of Solomon 1:8

O ye excellent ones of the earth, beautified with my salvation, righteousness, and grace, and whose church state is adorned with my ordinances, if your knowledge of duty be still indistinct, inquire after, observe, and follow, the example of the saints in former and present ages; and let weak believers and young converts, with their weak or languishing graces, carefully attend my public ordinances dispensed by my faithful pastors

Song of Solomon 1:9

And be encouraged in my love, for notwithstanding the weakness which you feel, and the self-deforinity which you discover, I, your Redeemer and Husband, have and will render you comely and active, and will give you sufficient strength and courage to withstand and conquer your spiritual enemies, and to glorify me by your holy conversation

Song of Solomon 1:10

Whilst your church state is beautifully adorned, by divine oracles, ordinances, gifts, and graces, professors, and ministers, your particular conversation before the world appears beautifully marked with a variety of precious and holy qualities; and your faith, by which you are united to my person as your Head, is precious and glorious in itself, and is productive of every good word and work

Song of Solomon 1:11

And I, my Father, and the blessed Spirit, will for ever continue and increase, and at last perfect these your spiritual ornaments. BELIEVERS

Song of Solomon 1:12

O that we may enjoy these effectual and ornamenting operations of thy grace! For, whilst thou, Jesus, dost converse familiarly with us in thine ordinances, how pleasant are thy promises and truths to our heart, and how vigorous and active, and acceptable to thee, are our implanted graces!

Song of Solomon 1:13

And, even during the night of trouble or time, how delightfully art thou, our beloved husband, found in the public and private ordinances of thy grace, and art entertained by the most cordial embraces of our faith and love!

Song of Solomon 1:14

O what an inexpressibly delightful, and precious system of excellencies, fountain of graces, source of blessings, repository of promises, treasure of pardoning, healing, comforting, nourishing, quickening, and refreshing influence, art thou to our heart! CHRIST

Song of Solomon 1:15

How comely and glorious is my church, as endowed with ordinances, and reformed, by my word, and Spirit; and how adorned with intelligent, sincere, peaceful, peace-proclaiming, and faithful pastors, who search into gospel truths, and watch over, direct, and go before, every individual member of it. And how certainly, and eminently comely, is every believing soul clothed with my righteousness and endowed with my grace! How quick and discerning their spiritual understanding! How chaste, sincere, and single, their affections, without the least glance of spiritual whoredom! BELIEVERS

Song of Solomon 1:16

But, blessed and divine Husband, what is all my derived comeliness in respect of thine, in thy person, offices, relations, and grace; How delightful are all these to my heart! How pleasantly effectual is thy covenant, and the ordinances of thy gospel, for the conversion and consolation of souls, and for rendering them fruitful in good works!

Song of Solomon 1:17

And, strong, durable, and lasting, is thy church, in which I am honoured to dwell, and consists of such parts and members as shall never decay; and permanent are all her oracles, ordinances, and offices

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—How precious and pleasant Christ is to believing souls! Ardently do they pant after further communications of his grace; sensible that they can do nothing of themselves, but Jesus must do all in them and for them. He takes the sweetest delight in speedily answering their prayers and satisfying their souls with his loving-kindness; though often, amidst his kind visits, their outward state is such as lookers-on are apt to stumble at. With what pain and grief do lively saints lament the want of frequent and intimate fellowship with him and his people in the ordinances! But he is ready to direct and comfort them in this condition. He has done, and will do, for them the most amazing things, in furnishing them with his righteousness, his grace, and his glory. All their life, their strength, their grace, their comfort, their happiness, comes from him. His heart is full of high esteem and unbounded affection for them. And, through familiar fellowship with him, they receive and enjoy his comforting, sanctifying, and preserving influence