Ver. 1. Whither is thy beloved gone? &c.] All Christ’s disciples are ζητητικοι, inquisitive after the “truth that is in Jesus,” (Ephesians 4:21) and are fellow helpers to it. (3 John 8) There is also nescio quid divinum in auscultatione, as one well noteth; that is, a strange and strong energy or forcibleness in hearing, whether publicly or in private conference, Christ and his excellencies displayed and discoursed of. Let but his name, as an ointment, be poured out, and the virgins can do no less than love him. (Song of Solomon 1:3) These daughters of Jerusalem are, by hearing the Church describing her spouse, and painting him out in lively colours, fired up to a holy contention in godliness, and, might they but know where to have him, they would be at any pains to “partake of the benefit.” (1 Timothy 6:2) They wondered at first why she should make such ado about Christ; but when they conversed a while with her, and had heard her speak with such affection and admiration, they are turned, and will now go seek him with her. God is pleased many times to water the holy meetings and conferences of his people with blessing, beyond expectation or belief. We should frame ourselves to an easy discourse of the “glory of Christ’s kingdom, and talk of his power.” (Psalms 145:8,9) Our tongues in this argument should be “as the pen of a ready writer,” (Psalms 45:1) that we may be able to speak oft to one another, with profit and power in the best thing. (Malachi 3:16) Little do we know what a deal of good may be done hereby. Mr Foxe, speaking of God’s little flock in the days of Henry VIII, saith: In such rarity of good books and want of teachers, this one thing I cannot but marvel and muse at, to note in the registers, and consider how the Word of God did multiply so exceedingly among them; for I find that one neighbour, resorting and conferring with another, eftsoons, with a few words of their first or second talk, did win and turn their minds to that wherein they desired to persuade them touching the truth of God’s Word and sacraments, &c. In all ages such as were ordained to eternal life “believed”; (Acts 13:48) after that they had “heard the word of truth they believed, and were sealed.” (Ephesians 1:13) Contrariwise, reprobates either refuse to hear the Church preaching Christ, (John 8:47) or else they hear and jeer—as Pilate, with his What is truth?—in mere mockery (John 18:38) hear and blaspheme, (Acts 13:45) or, at best, hear and admire, and that is all. They leave the Word where they found it, for anything they will practise. They think they do a great char to sit out a sermon, and then commend it. But wisdom’s children will not only “justify” her, (Matthew 11:19) but also “glorify” her. (Acts 13:48) They will “seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face evermore”; (Psalms 105:4) seek him in his holy temple; seek him in and with the Church, as here. They know that extra Ecclesiam nulla salus. The Church is “the pillar and ground of truth,” (1 Timothy 3:15) inasmuch as, by her ministry, the authority, dignity, knowledge, virtue, and use of the truth of the gospel, is preserved in the world, and “held out,” (Philippians 2:16) as the hand holds forth the torch, or the watchtower the light, and so the haven to the weather beaten mariners. That we may seek him with thee.] For he is not like to seek long that seeks alone, there being a notable tie to constancy in the communion of saints. Surely, as sincerity is the life of religion, so society is the life of sincerity. The Philippians had no sooner received the gospel, but they were in fellowship, to a day. (Philippians 1:5) Acts and Mon., fol. 750. Irridentis vox, non interrogantis.
Ver. 2. My beloved is gone down into his garden.] Now she can tell where Christ is, and inform others who before was to seek of him, and sought infor mation from others. Post tenebras lux is the Church’s motto. “Though I sit in darkness, the Lord shall give me light”; he will, with the temptation, give the issue—a way to get out of it, as the moon wades out of a cloud, as the seed gets up from under a clod. And see how forward she is to share; her friends shall know all that she can tell them. There is no envy in spiritual things, because they may be divided in solidum. in the whole. One may have as much as another, and all alike. Yea, God’s people know that the “manifestation of the Spirit is given them to profit withal,” (1 Corinthians 12:7) and that it is not pouring out, but want of pouring out, that dries up the streams of grace, as that of off. (2 Kings 4:6) What is meant by Christ’s garden? [See Trapp on “So 4:16”] He is said to go down to it, in allusion to the situation of Jerusalem, which was on a hill, their gardens being below in the fruitful valleys. Christ came down to his Church; he “descended into the lower parts of the earth”; that is, into his mother’s womb; (Ephesians 4:9 Psalms 139:15) yea, he “emptied himself” of all his excellencies, and took upon him the form of a servant, yea, of an evil servant that was to be beaten. Yea, more, he “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:9) Oh, humble Saviour, whither wilt thou descend? Facinus vincire civem Romanum. It was much for the Son of God to be bound, more to be beaten, most of all to be slain. Quid dicam in crucem tolli, &c. Well might the apostle say, “He humbled himself” To the beds of spices,] i.e., To the particular churches, or to the companies of believers. These beds or rows of renewed souls, Christ, as a good gardener, treadeth out, soweth, planteth, watereth, fenceth, filleth with sundry gifts and graces. To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.] Like as men go to their gardens, either to make merry, as we say, or to gather fruits. So Christ here, either to “eat his pleasant fruits,” (Song of Solomon 4:16) his people’s holy performances, better to him than any Ambrosia, and then to “gather his lilies,” to transplant them into heaven. Pascitnr Christus, quando suorum virtutes videt, saith one. Lilia decerpit, quando optimum quemque ex hac vita traducit: Christ “feedeth in the gardens,” when he beholdeth the virtues of his people. He “gathereth lilies” when he translateth good souls into his kingdom above. εκενωσεν εαυτον, ex omni ad nihilum seipsum redegit. -Beza. Cicero.