The spouse considers herself as a lily in a val ley of lilies, &c. that is, as one beauty among a multitude; but the bridegroom, in his reply, places her above competition: she is a lily among thorns, and excels the other fair-ones as a lily doth the thorns.

Observe, 1. Christ's church is in his sight, not only supremely excellent, but singularly and only so a lily among thorns. So believers are the 'salt of the earth the light of the world-a seed to serve the Lord in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation:'

2. A lily among thorns has been supposed properly to represent the church in affliction and temptations. So R. SOLOMON JARCHI, As the lily among thorns, which prick it, yet stands continually in its beauty; so is my love among the daughters, who entice her to follow after them, ' and go a whoring after other gods, but yet continues in her religion'.' I confess this sense forced and arbitrary; yet, I mention it because it agrees well with the analogy of scripture; for the inspired writers frequently speak of afflictions, &c. under the image of thorns; and it is promised, as one of the felicities of the future state, that there *shall be no more a pricking briar, or a grieving 'thorn.'

1 It should seem as if this celebrated rabbin understood the compliment from Solomon to his new spouse, as a reflection upon his other wives, who enticed away his heart to idols, and attempted to entice her, though without fuc

cess.

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competition and comparison, as he had exalted her and, upon this occasion, she relates the pleasure and delight received in his company and

conversation.

The tree to which the bride compares her beloved, is commonly understood to be the apple tree; but this has justly been called in question. The CHALDEE paraphrase renders it the citron tree, which agrees better to all that is said of it in scripture', as well as to the natural history of Judea; since the eastern apples are very indifferent, and their citrons very fine". As much then as the citron tree excels the vulgar trees of the wood', so much does the beloved all other men.

This image is pursued in the subsequent verse. Having compared her beloved to a tree, she compares the enjoyment of his company to sitting under its shadow, and eating plentifully of its fruit*.

It is represented as noble and delightful, Joel i. 12. Gold coloured, Prov. 'xxv. 11. and very fragrant and refreshing. Cant. vii. 8. ii. 3, 5.-See Harmer's Observations, vol. I. chap. iv. obs. 31.

2 Russel's Nat. Hist. of Aleppo, p. 21.

A lofty and spreading tree is a favourite image with the best poets: so in Ossian: I was a lovely tree in thy presence, Oscar, with all my branches round me.' (Battle of Lora.) Compare Ps. cxxviii. 3.

4 Entertainments under trees are common in the east. Egmont and Heyman drank coffee under the orange trees in the garden at Mount Sinai; and Dr. Pococke was entertained in a garden at Sidon, under the shade of some apricot trees, and the fruit was shaken upon him. See Harmer on

Sol. Song, p. 248.

In our application of these words to the heavenly bridegroom, we may observe,

1. That he is compared to a tree. So the God of Israel represents himself in the prophet— 'I am like a green fir-tree','-which is ever fair and flourishing.

He is compared to a large and shady treein (or under) his shade I delighted and sat 'down.' To us this image is not nearly so striking and beautiful as if we resided in the east, where the heat of the sun is more intense, and shade in travelling much less frequent. But he, who is compared to the shadow of a great rock in a weary land,' may also, no less fitly, be compared to the shadow of a great tree. Jesus Christ shades the believer from the just anger of Deity, and its consequences: and those who fatigue themselves in vain, in seeking salvation at the foot of burning Sinai, may find rest and safety under the shadow of his cross; Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and 'I will give you rest.' He shades them from the

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burning sun of persecution, or public calamity:

The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand; 'the sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night"

2 "

He is compared to a fruitful tree- From me,' says the Lord to his people Israel- From me is thy fruit found3.' • Wisdom is a tree of life'

a tree that beareth twelve manner of fruits,' and has no barren season-always blooming, ever

1 Hos. xiv. 8. 2 Ps. cxxi. 5, 6. 3 Hos. xiv. 8.

bearing and by the fruit he bears may be understood either, 1. His conversation, which is the fruit of the lips'.' 'A word spoken in due i season, how good is it!'-When Jesus Christ was upon earth his words were admired for their sweetness, and authority; Never man spake like this man!' Now he is in heaven, he can still speak well:'-he can speak peace to them that are afar off.' His words are as citrons of gold in baskets of silver.'

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2. The fruit of this tree may intend the graces of the Spirit, which are communicated from Christ-the fruits of righteousness and holiness, These are the fruits expected from those trees ' of righteousness which the Lord hath planted ;' and of such, he says, from me is thy fruit $ found.'

Ver. 4-6.

Spouse. He brought mé into the house of wine,
And his banner over me was love.

Support me with refreshments;

• Strew citrons round me ;
For I am sick of love.'

His left hand was under my head,
And his right hand embraced me.

In these verses, the imagery is dropped or changed, and the spouse relates more literally the pleasure she had recently enjoyed in the company of her beloved. He brought me into the house

of wine.' The Persian poet HAFEZ uses this expression for an eastern tavern, or house of entertainment; but Solomon, I think, for a wine

1 Isa. lvii. 19.

cave, or cool recess, in the royal gardens. Whe. ther it were customary with the Hebrews to display a banner, a flag, or pendant, (as sometimes on our tents and summer houses) on occasions of festivity, I am not confident; but it seems probable from the next words, his banner over me "was love; that is, was inscribed with this term, or embroidered with figures expressing the chaste enjoyments and affections of the nuptial state: though some commentators are of opinion the expression only intimates, that the bridegroom conquered merely by the display of his love, In this situation she confesses herself overcome, and requests to be supported with refreshments, and exhilirated with fruits, particularly citrons, remarkable, it should seem, for their exhilirating quality,

What are intended by the first term, which I have rendered refreshments, the translators have been much at a loss to guess, as may be seen by the variety of versions in the margin'. Mr.

1 wwx-In floribus.] In unguentes, (ev jugois) LXX. sic Arab. Phialis vitreis. Pagn.-lagenis istis, Jun. & Tr. Pisc.-lagenis, Merc. sic Mont. Castal. Arab. &c.-sive, vasis, Vatab. Munst. sub. vini, Vatab. Merc. Arab. sim. Muns. vini optimi; ut fieri solet Tos Todovai, Grot.Poli Syn. Crit. in loc.

The English translators agree no better. Cranmer, and the Bishops Bible, term it cups; Coverdale and Matthews, grapes; the Doway version, flowers; our common version is flaggons; and Mr. Harmer understands it of the skins of gourds, used as vessels for wine. The LXX and Vulgate use in different places different words, signifying cakes, unguents and lees of wine. The word itself, wwwx, is allowed to be derived from wx fire in a reduplicate form.

The root (75) is to spread a carpet, to strew round, as fruit from a tree.-Parkhurst,