Cruel as the grave.—If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha, 1 Cor. xvi. 22.

Coals of fire.-The Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God, Deut. iv. 24. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, Matt. iii. 11.

Waters.-Deep trials; when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, Isa. xliii. 2.

PART II.—CHAP. viii. 8-14.

LITTLE SISTER.-The Gentile Church; thy younger sister is Sodom and her daughters, I will give them unto thee for daughters, Ezek. xvi. 46, 61. Souls born of God, but not yet invested with all the privileges of the Church.

A Wall.—The emblem of union to God in his Temple; our God hath not forsaken us to give us a wall in Jerusalem, Ezra ix. 9; and of stability, the rich man's wealth is an

high wall in his own conceit, Prov. xviii. 11.

Palace of silver.-Privilege and gracious ornament; something excellent and beautifying, though less essential, added to the foundation wall; if any man build on this foundation silver, 1 Cor. iii. 12.

A Door. The emblem of openness to receive Christ, a great door and effectual, 1 Cor. xvi. 9.

Boards of Cedar.-The door denotes a mere opening in the stone wall; the cedar panels both adorn, and enclose it against too great openness toward all. Lord, keep the door of my lips, Ps. cxli. 3; enter into thy chambers, and shut thy doors, Isa. xxvi. 20.

Favour.-Heb. peace, she becomes one with the Bride, the

Shulamite, the Peaceful.

Solomon. The Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Vineyard. The house of Israel, for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, Isa. v. 7; the kingdom of God, Matt. xxi. 33, 43.

Baal-bamon.-Place of multitude, probably Jerusalem.

Keepers.

The rulers of Israel; the husbandmen of Matt. xxi. 33.

A thousand pieces of silver.-The just value to the owner of the produce of the fruit, each keeper being supposed to have a thousand vines; a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, Isa. vii. 23. It is the due revenue of righteousness and glory to God. He looked that it should bring forth grapes; he looked for judgment, and for righteousness, Isa. v. 2, 7. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me.-In the individual soul it is the blessed contrast to ch. i. 6, mine own vineyard have I not kept; in the Church it is the Christian succeeding to the Jewish, Rom. xi. 20.

Solomon, a thousand.—The full revenue to the Lord; the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof, Matt. xxi. 43.

Those that keep the fruit two hundred.—A suitable provision for

the keepers of the vineyard, the ministers of the gospel. Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? 1 Cor. ix. 7.

I

GARDENS. The kingdom of God on earth, which Christ expressly declares the vineyard to denote, Matt. xxi. 33, 43. Garden, according to the letter, represents in the Song a royal eastern enclosure, including orchards, vineyards, parks,

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Key to the Emblems of the Song of Solomon. Ch. 8. and even villages, all emblematic of Christ's kingdom on earth. The gardens are partly different portions of this great enclosure, and partly the same portions at different seasons; the Bride takes up her residence as a Tenant or Steward, not a proprietor, in this vast vineyard including the whole habitable world. There are four gardens specially noticed-(1.) The garden in Spring, with flowers and early fruits, ch. ii. 12. (2.) The garden in Autumn, with ripe fruits and spices, ch. iv. 12. (3.) The garden of nuts in Winter, with the promise of another spring, ch. vi. 11. (4.) The garden in the Fields, with the fruits of all the seasons, ch. vii. 13.

Companions. See ch. i. 7; ministers, elders, believers. MOUNTAINS of spices.-The hill of Zion above, where Christ standeth with much incense, and whence his second coming is longed for, Rev. viii. 3.

There are four mountains in the Song. (1.) The mountains of Bether or division, separating Christ and his people, ch. ii. 17. (2.) The mountain of myrrh, or hill of Calvary, ch. iv. 6. (3) The mountains of leopards and lions' dens, Satan's dominions, whence Christ with his people invites them to come along with him, ch. iv. 8. (4.) The mountains of spices; the hill of frankincense being the same either with the mount of myrrh, or more probably with the mountains of spices. Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus, Rev. xxii. 20.

IN THE AUTHORIZED VERSION.

The Emblematical Terms in the preceding Key being taken from the common English Bible, that excellent version of the Song is added for the convenience of readers in following the references.

The Contents are also given according to the Spiritual Interpretation, as is done in the Standard Bible, but at considerably greater length.