Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

Generally she is set out, vers. 4. by three comparisons, 1. She is beautiful as Tirzah: This was a City of the Tribe of Manasseh, The word in the Original comes from a root, that signifieth acceptable; whereby it seems, that this City hath been exceeding pleasant: It was the seat of one of the Kings of Canaan, Josh. 12. 24. and of the Kings of Israel, after the rent of the ten Tribes from the house of David, until Zimri burnt it; after which Omri built Samaria, as is to be seen at large, 1 King. 16. Thus the spiritual beauty of holiness in believers (Psal. 110. 3.) is set out as having in it so much loveliness as may commend it, and make it desirable and acceptable to others. 2. She is comely as Jerusalem: This was the head City of Judah, beautiful for situation, and the joy of the whole earth, Psal. 48. 2. but most beautiful for the Ordinances and worship of God, which were there; therefore glorious things are spoken of it, more than any thing that was to be seen by carnal eyes, and it was loved on that account, more than all the dwellings of Jacob, Psal. 87. 2, 3. It's ordinarily taken for a type of the Church, which is set out by it, as, Psal. 122. It seems here the Lord doth respect the believers spiritual beauty, with reference to that comeliness and orderliness, which is to be seen among them, and is maintained by them in the exercise of his Ordinances; and also in respect of his estimation, every believer is a Jerusalem to him, where he dwells, where he is worshipped, and to whom he hath given the promise of his presence: Believers are to him as Tirzah and Jerusalem, the most beautiful Cities of that Land, for the time. Or, the first similitude, taken from Tirzah, may look to outward beauty; for, Tirzah was a beautiful City: and the other similitude, taken from Jerusalem, may look to Church-beauty, as the Ordinances were there; and so the sense runs, my love thou art to me as the most excellent thing in the world; yea, as the most excellent thing in the visible Church, which is more precious to him than any thing in the world. 3. She ⟨p. 351⟩