Exposition of the Whole Bible

= Targum, Shirhashirim Rabba R. Sol. Jarchi, and K. Aben Ezra, and Yalkut in loc. Sheinoth not be quenchel nor drowned by many waters, nor all the floods, I. Of wicked and ungodly men; the people and nations of the world, who are frequently compared to many waters; see Isa. xvii. 12, 13, Rev. xvii. 1, 15, and so most of the Jewish'^ writers understand them here: for the nations of the world and the great men thereof, have not been able, either by force or flattery, by cruel edicts or fair promises, to alienate the church's love from Christ, nor tempt her to desert his cause and interest. 2. It cannot be quenched nor drowned by all the waters and floods of persecutions,"* which wicked men, by the instigation of Satan, have brought upon the people of God; thus we read, in Rev. xii. 15, that the serpent, which is the devil, " cast out of his mouth water as a flood, after the woman," which is the church, " tliat he might cause her to be carried away of it:" by which flood cast out of the serpent's mouth, must be meant, either a flood of heresies brought into the church to disturb her, and draw her off from Christ, her Head, through the cunning craft of Satan; or else, a flood of persecutions, introduced by wricked and ungodly men, through his instigation, in order to affright, scare, and turn her aside from the pure ways of Christ, but all in vain; for, Rom. viii. 35, 37, " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us;" nay, death itself attended with the most exquisite torments and barbarous cruelties that hell can devise, cannot do it; for saints count not their lives dear to themselves, so that they may but " finish their course with joy," and bear a noble testimony to " the Gospel of the grace of God."

3. The love of believers to Christ is not quenched nor drowned by all the waters and floods of affliction, which God is pleased to bring upon them: they generally have a large share of them; " waters of a full cup are wrung out unto them:" yet these, though they are not " joyous, but grievous," do not alienate their affections from Christ, but rather fix them more strongly on him; whilst they view all their afflictions as covenant-mercies, the effects of wisdom, love, and faithfulness, and designed for their good, profit, and advantage.

4. Neither can their love be quenched nor drowned by the many waters and floods of their own sins and corruptions: it is true, these are most likely to extinguish this fire and flame above all things else, and often do strike a damp upon it; for through the " aboundings of iniquity," love oftentimes waxed cold; but yet it is not drenched and drowned; there may be a leaving the first love; some degrees of heat in it may be remitted, but there is no such thing as losing the grace of love entirely; for it is an immortal seed, of a lasting, yea, of an everlasting nature. 5. Nor can it be quenched nor drowned by all the waters and floods of Satan's temptations; this enemy of believers oftentimes " comes in like a flood" upon them, by filling their souls with blasphemous thoughts, vile suggestions, and wicked insinuations; in all endeavouring to draw off their love, and alienate their affections from Christ; which he sometimes attempts by fair words, showing them " all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them," as he did Christ, and promising to give them to them, which is more than he can perform, if they will but turn their backs on Christ, and his ways; at other times he sets before them all the hardships, difficulties, reproaches, and persecutions, which they will be exposed unto, if they persist therein; and yet all these floods cannot quench nor drown their love to Christ. Nor, 6. Can this be effected by divine desertions, which are compared to " waves, billows, and water-spouts," Psalm xlii. 5 — 7, for though these much weaken the faith, and disturb the peace of God's children, yet they do not destroy their love: Christ's absence gives ranch uneasiness to believers, brings much darkness upon them, and raises many doubts, fears, and misgivings of heart in them; they cannot, it may be, say at such times with the church, " My beloved is mine, and I am his " yet they can say with her, when in the same condition with them, " Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?" 7. The terrors of the law, and the apprehensions of God's wrath, which believers are sometimes filled with, are set forth by waves and floods of water, in Psalm Ixxsviii. 6,7,15 — 17, under which, though there maybe but little faith, and less joy; yet there may be much love to Christ, great longings and earnest desires after the enjoyment of his presence; as appears from the case of the Psalmist, now referred to. 8. and lastly, all the hardships, difficulties, pressures, and reproaches, which may attend believers in their Christian race, are so far from destroying their love to, and alienating their affections from Christ, (hat they do but rather endear him the more unto them; and make heaven, and the enjoyment of Christ there, the more desirable to them now, and the more welcome to them hereafter.

Secondly. This love of believers to Christ is exceeding valuable; for " if a man would give all the substance of his house for it, it would utterly be contemned:" for, 1. This is not to be bought with money, no more than the love of Christ is; no gift nor grace of the Spirit can be procured any such way, it is true, grace is compared to " gold tried in the fire," which we are advised to buy of Christ; but then it is to be bought " without money and without price." 2. As this grace cannot be bought with money, so neither will it be parted with for it: a Judas indeed, for thirty pieces of silver, forsook his Master, and betrayed him into his enemies hands; as Demas also deserted the

• So Theodoret. in loc. b So Sanctius in loo.

apostles, and cause of Christ, " having loved this present world; but these things cannot prevail upon true believers to do the like. For, 3. The oifers of a man's whole estate, nay, of the riches of the Indies, or vast treasures of the whole globe, if made on terms, and conditions of parting with Christ, or deserting his cause and interest; would be treated with the utmost disdain and contempt; they would " utterly be contemned;" or, " in despising they would despise " it, as the words may be rendered from the Hebrew text. For, 4. The things of this world appear but mean in the believer's eye; who " counts all things but loss and dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus:" nay, he is willing to part vvith all for Christ, and does, when I called to it, " take joyfully the spoiling ot his (goods, knowing that he has in heaven abetter I and a more enduring substance." 5. The sense of this clause is thus given by some:' that those who spend their substance, their time, their strength, nay, their very lives, for the love they bear to God, Christ, his ways, cause, and interest, are but laughed at, despised, and set at nought by those who are destitute of it; which sense is favoured by the Septuagint version, which renders the words thus; " If a man would give all his living away in love, or charity, in despising they would despise him." Now the constancy aud insuperablencss of this precious and valuable grace of love in her soul to Christ, is improved by the church to obtain the former request; "set me as a seal upon thine heart," &c., for my soul is all in flames of love for thee, which cannot be extinguished by all I suffer on thy account, nor will be parted with for all that the world can give me; which love of hers discovers itself, not only in a regard to Christ, but also in a concern for others, as appears from the following words:

Verse 8. IFe have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: What shall vie do for our sister, in the day when she shall be spoken for?

These are either the words of the daughters of Jerusalem^, who were concerned for the welfare of the chnrch; or else of Christ,'' being solicitous for the conversion of the elect uncalled; or rather of the church,' who, having in the preceding verse discovered a very strong affection to Christ, here signifies her hearty concern for the good of others, which go under the appellation of a little sister: an own sister, near and dear to her,'' a loving expression; by whom may be meant, either the unconverted elect in general; or else, some new church that was to be set up in some certain age or period of time; or rather, the whole Gentile church, who is called po by the Jewish church, so that they seem to be the words of the Jewish church, signifying her affection to and concera alii in loc. "^ Gennana mea sororcula, Plauti for the Gentile church, which was then uncalled. In which may be observed,

1st. Tliat tlie Jewish church asserts aud owns the relation that the Gentile church stood in, both to her aud Christ, at that present time; " we have a little sister."

II. She describes her, 1st. B}' her being little. 2ndly. By her having " no breasts."

III. She manifests her concern for her; " what shall we do for onr sister, in the day when she shall be spoken for?"

I. The old Jewish church asserts and owns the relation, in which the Geutile church, though uncalled, stood iu both to her and Christ; " vve have a little sister." In which may be considered, 1st. In what sense the Gentile church is sister to the Jewish church. 2ndly. How she appears to stand in the same relation to Christ. 3rdly. How she could be so at that present time.

1st. The Gentile church may be said to be a sister to the Jewish church, for these following reasons: 1. In a more general sense; because Jews and Gentiles are both of one and the same blood; for God " hath made of one blood all na. tions of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth," Acts xvii. 26. 2. On the account of their being neighbours: Thus Samaria and Sodom are said to be sisters to Jerusalem: the one the elder, the other the younger, Ezek. xvi. 46. 3. Because, in a spiritual sense, those who are Christ's, whether they be Jcas or Gentiles, or Abraham's seed. Gal. iii. 28, 29. 4. The elect of God, whether among the Jews or Gentiles, belong unto, and are interested in one and the same covenant of grace, Isa. slii. 6, and xlix. 6. 5. Believers in Christ, of either race, are bora of one and the same Father, brought up in one and the same family, and are heirs together of the grace oflife, Eph. ii. 19, and iv. 4. 6. Christ stands iu the relation of an elder brother to the Gentile, as vi-ell as to the Jewish church; and therefore these two must be sisters, Rom. viii. 29. 7- The church catholic or universal, with respect to its several parts, is called a mother, aud that frequently in this song: see chap. i. 6, aud iii. 4, and viii. 2, and so agreeably the parts of it, with respect to themselves, may be called sisters, being mother's children. 8. They are of the same faith and religion, as to the substance of it: it is true there is some difference as to the circumstantials of worship, which are now laid aside; but the true spiritual nature and object of it are the same; the Old-Testament saiuts " ate the same spiritual meat, and drank the same spiritual drink " as saints do under the New; the articles of their faith are the same; for converted Gentiles believe " none other things than those which Closes and the prophets did say should come," relating to Christ's person, grace, work, and oflQce.

2ndly. The Gentile church is not only a sister to the Jewish church, but also to Christ; therefore she does not s.iy, I have a little sister, but we have one; which way of speaking perhaps she purposely makes use of, that she might stir up his affection and concern for her the more, she being as much related to him as she was herself, aud it may be observed, that Christ is not ashamed to own his church, whether of the Jewish or Gentile race, as standing in this relation to him; nay, rather seems to take pleasure in viewing her under this consideration, as appears from his frequent use of it, iu chap. iv. 9, 10, and v. 1, 2; where this character is more largely opened.

3idly. There remains a difficulty in this clause to be removed; and that is, how the Gentile church could be said before calling to stand in the relation of a sister, either to Christ or to the Jewish church; for she expresses herself in the present tense, we have a little sister: which difficulty will be removed, if vve consider these following things; 1. She was so in divine predesliuation; just as the elect uncalled are said to be Christ's sheep before conversion; John. x. 16, " Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring in;" by which are particulariy meant the Gentiles; who were sheep, though wandering, though not yet brought in by grace, nor folded in a church-state; the same are called, " the children of God" before conversion, John xi. 52, though scattered abroad, and not openly aud visibly appearing to be fellow-citizeus of the saints, and of the household of God;" for though they are not in the possession of adopting grace, yet they are " predestinated unto the adoption of children;" on the account of which they may truly be said to be related to the saints, who are' called by grace. 2. The Gentile church was brought into this relation in the everiasting covenant; in which Christ not only stood as an elder Brother aud glorious Representative to both churches, but also espoused them both to himself; so that they stood in the relations of sister aud spouse to him, and of sisters oue to another; thus Christ is said to be the husband of the Gentile church, before her calling and conversion; Isa. Hv. 5, " Thy maker is thine husband, the Lord of hosts is his name." 3. The calling of the Gentiles being sure and certain in God's promises, all whose " promises are yea and amen in Christ," it is represented as if it was already done: as things only promised and prophesied ol, though uot yet fulfilled, freaueutly are in scripture; see Isa. is. 6, and liii. 3—5. 4. The Gentile church was a sister in the faith of the Jewish church, who viewed her future calling as present; which agrees with the nature of faith, defined by the apostle, Heb. xi. 1, to be " the substance of things hoped for, aud the evidence of things not seen."

II. She describes this sister of hers: 1st. By her littleness. 2>idly. By her having no breasts.

1st. She calls her " a little sister;" so the Gentile church was to the Jewish choi-ch, 1. Iu respect of age, being a younger sister: the Jewish church was tirst called, and then the Geutile; which is very fuUy aud aptly expressed in the parable of the two sons, the elder and the younger, as is thought by some, Luke xv. 12—25, the elder signifying the Jewish church at that time, which murmured at the grace of God bestowed upon the Gentiles; the younger, the Gentiles, who had lived in all manner of sin and wickedness, and was disregarded of God, but was now embraced with all demonstrations of joy, affection, and tenderness. 2. She is called so as being in some respects less honourable thau the Jewish church; " Who are Israelites," as the apostle says, Rom. ix. 4, 5, and iii. 1, 2, " to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, aud the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came:" therefore, as he says, the Jew has the advantage of the Gentile, and that much every way; but. chiefly, because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3. The Jewish church calling the Gentile church " a little sister," may express her pity and compassion towards her, being like a young and tender infant, that is in a forlorn and helpless condition; see Ezek. xvi. 4, 5. 4, She may be called so with regard to her number of converts, either at that time, which were very few, few proselytes being then made among the Gentiles to the Jewish religion; or else, at the time when the gospel first came among them; " for this sect was evervwhere spoken against;" and indeed the whole number of Christ's sheep, either among Jews or Gentiles, are but a " little flock," when compared with the world. 5. She was then more especially, as also at her first calling, but little in spiritual stature; her light, knowledge, and faith, being but small, not having as yet arrived " to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," she was to grow up unto.

2udly. She says, that "she has no breasts;" that is, 1. She was not arrived to years of ripeness; she was not marriageable; her " breasts were not fashioned," as in Ezek. xvi. 7; the time of her open espousal to Christ, by the preaching of the gospel, was not yet come. I call it the time of her open espousal to him; for she, as well as the Jewish church, her elder sister, was secretly espoused to Christ in the everlasting covenant; see Isa. liv. 5; but she was not yet espoused to him in that sense in which the apostle Paul says, 2 Cor. xi. 2, of the Corinthian, which was a Gentile church, " I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you a chaste virgin to Christ;" the time fixed upon for it in ancient council not being yet come. 2. She had "no breasts;" that is, at this time she had no ministers nor ordinances, from whence she might suck aud be satisfied, with the sincere milk of the word: }uoreover, it was some time after the gospel came among the Gentiles, that they had a settled ministry; which was fixed by the apostles, who " ordained elders in every cily."

III. The Jewish church signifies her very great concern for the Gentile church, being thus little, and without breasts, saying, "What shall we do," or " shall be done for our sister?" Which shows, 1. Tliat this little sister was in a state of nature, uncalled, unconverted, poor, miserable, forlorn, and helpless. 2. That the Jewish church was concerned for her, was moved with pity and compassion towards her; and would gladly contribute all she could towards her everlasting salvation; as the apostle Paul was for his unconverted kinsmen and relations, Rom. is. 1 — 3. 3. That she not only wished her well, but was willing to do anything for her that lay in her power; though she seems, in some measure, to be at a loss what to do; and indeed the converted Jews were very much assisting to the spreading of the Gospel among the Gentiles: they were Jews who first carried the Gospel into the Gentile world; for it was proper that " out of Zion should go forth the la.w or doctrine, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem;" and when tidings of the Gentile's reception of the Gospel " came to the ears of the church at Jerusalem," they sent forth others also on the same errand; nay, supplied them with money, that so they might uot be burdensome to the Gentiles, nor give them any occasion to reproach the Gospel; for the fund or stock, which was raised at Jerusalem by the believing Jews, who knew that their land would be laid waste, and their city destroyed in a little time, and therefore sold their land and possessions, and put the money into the apostle's hands; this, I say, seems to be designed, not only for their own use, but for the service of God in spreading the gospel among the Gentiles; who, when they had churches settled among them, upoa that consideration were called upon to make collections for these poor saints at Jerusalem. 4. She is not forgetful of the main and principal agent in this work, who is Christ; therefore she says, what shall we do? she was willing to do what she could; but she knew that all her endeavours would be of little significance, without his agency and blessing: she could send her ministers; but if Christ did not go along with them, aud bless them, they would meet but with little success: as it is said, " Who then is Paul, and who is ApoUos, but misisters by whom ye believed, eveu as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted," says Paul; " ApoUos watered, but God gave the increase," 1 Cor. iii. 5, 6.

Thetime that the Jewish church had in view, aud is concerned what should be done for her then, is, " the day when she shall be spoken for, or with."' By which may be meant, either, I. The time of the first preaching of the Gospel among them, which, to them, was the " accepted time and day of salvation;" when Christ, by his ministers, spoke to and for them, wooed and beseeched them; treated and communed with them, as David with Abigail; about openly espousing them before the world: it seems to be an allusion to persons treating either with virgins themselves, or with their parents,"' about their marriage. Or, 2. It may refer to the fame that was spread abroad of the conversion of the Gentiles: whcTi it was first effected, it made a great noise in the world; the faith of a single church, the church at Rome, was " spoken of throughout the whole world:" thus the clause may be rendered, " In the day when she shaU be spoken of;"° that is, when her fame shall be spread far and near: and some will say one thing of her, and some another: now the Jewish church seems to be concerned how she would behave herself under all this noise and talk about her. Or else, 3. The words may be rendered, " When she shall be spoken against:"" this has been the common lot of God's children; this sect, as it is called, has been in all ages and in all places spoken against; and no wonder, for Christ himself is " set for a sign, which shall be spoken against:" now the old church might be concerned for this new church of the Gentiles; that she might be able to stand firm and constant to her profession, notwithstanding all the revilings, reproaches, and persecutions of men. Or, 4. They may be read thus, " When she shall be spoken to j""" that is, when the great men of the world, as Nero, and other heathen or.iperors, shall call her before them, and tempt her, either by fair words oi severe menaces, to desert the faith of Christ. O! that she might stand fast then, as if the church should say, and not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel; neither be frightened by their tbreatenings, nor deluded by their promises: she was jealous of her, as the apostle Paul was of the Coriutliiau church, lest she " should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." Now this should teach us in general, from the example of the Jewish church here, to be concerned for all the elect of God uncalled, and particularly for those among the Jews; we should earnestly pray for them, and use all proper means and methods to bring them to the knowledge of Christ; the time is coming when they shall be spoken for, shall be called by grace, and openly espoused to Christ'; and seeing they were so much concerned for ns, when we were little, and had no breasts, we should be as much concerned for them, they being now in the same case and circumstances.