Song 6 An inquiry after Christ, Song 6:1. The church’s answer, Song 5:2. The church confesseth her faith in Christ, Song 6:3. Christ showeth the graces of his church, Song 6:4, and the beauty of several parts, Song 6:5–10.

These are the words of the daughters of Jerusalem, last mentioned, whom this full and pathetical description of the Bridegroom’s excellency had inflamed with love to him.

The spouse had hitherto been at a loss for her Beloved, but having diligently sought him, and inflamed both her own and others’ affections with love to him by her just commendations, now at last she meets with a gracious answer from God, directing her where to find him, which also comes very…

Thou art beautiful, O my love: these are the words of Christ, who had now again manifested himself to his church; whereby he declares, that though he had for a season hid his face from her, yet still he retained a sincere and fervent affection to her, and that, notwithstanding her manifold…

Turn away thine eyes from me, for I can scarce bear the lustre of them. It is a poetical and amatorious expression, signifying how beautiful the church was in Christ’s eyes, and how passionately he loved her.

This is also repeated from Song 4:3.

Threescore queens, and fourscore concubines; a certain number for an uncertain. The sense seems to be this, There are many beautiful queens and concubines in the world, in the courts of princes, and particularly in Solomon’s court; but none of them is to be compared with my spouse, and my heart is…

Is but one; the only beloved of my soul, my only spouse, in comparison of whom I despise all others. She is the only one of her mother; of Jerusalem above, which is the mother of us all, Gal. 4:26.

These are the words, either, 1. Of the Bridegroom; or, 2. of the queens and concubines last mentioned, as praising of her. And they are either words of inquiry, or rather of admiration and commendation: Who, i.e.

I went down, to wit, when I went away from thee. So this is an account of the reason of his former departure from her. Or, I am come down to visit thee, my garden, Song 4:12. Either way these are the words of the Bridegroom. Into the garden of nuts; in which nuts and other fruits are planted.

Or ever I was aware; I was surprised with a sudden and vehement desire of enjoying my spouse; which is to be understood figuratively, and so as to agree with the majesty and omnisciency of Christ.

Return: Christ recalls his spouse, who as when Christ was gone she pursued after him, so now when Christ was coming or come to her, she was ready to wander and go astray from him, according to the common and corrupt disposition and custom of mankind; and therefore he seeks to stop or to reclaim…