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

The seventh verse then speaks to two things, Her stature and her breasts; Her stature respects all the bygone parts being now put together, for so they represent the whole stature: And by stature is understood the proportionableness and comeliness that ⟨p. 394⟩is in the whole, being considered as jointly united in one body, as well as severally (as was said of him, Chap. 5. 16.) and the relative this, clears it, this, that is, this which is made up of all the several parts I have been enumerating, they being put together, make thy stature, and thy stature thus made up of these members and parts, is like the Palm-tree: And so from this similitude, her stature is commended: The Palm-tree is recorded in Scripture to have diverse commendable properties, 1. It's straight; therefore it's said of the idols that they are upright like the Palm-tree, Jer. 5. 10. straightness is comely in a stature, He was like to a Cedar, Chap. 5. 15. she is like to a Palm-tree here. 2. A Palm-tree hath good fruits, the Dates are the fruit thereof. 3. It's a tree of long continuance, and keeps long green; Hence, Psal. 92. 12, 14. It's said of the righteous, they shall flourish like the Palm-tree; therefore, Joel 1. 12. it's an evidence of great drought, when the Palm-tree withereth. 4. They were looked on as most fit to be used in times when men were about to express their joy in the most solemn manner, and so when Christ is coming triumphantly to Jerusalem, Joh. 12. they cut down branches of Palm-trees, to carry before him, and, Rev. 7. 4. these Victors have Palms in their hands, and in Levit. •. 40. we find branches of these trees commanded to be made use of in the joyful feast of Tabernacles, and the seventy Palm-trees that were found by the Israelites at Elim, are mentioned, Numb. 33. 9. as refreshful, so is the City of Palm-trees also mentioned as a most pleasant place,