THAT This Book of Holy Scripture hath been under a high Character of Honour in the Church of God, and hath Imprinted an Awe and Veneration of it self upon the Minds of Wise and Holy Men, is out of doubt, both among Jews and Christians.

It is enough known, that the Jews prohibit any to read it, till the Sacerdotal or Thirtieth Year of Age; Now though this may savor of an over Fear, which in Religious Matters dwells at the next door to Superstition; Yet still it shews of how sublime a Majesty and Estimation this Song appear'd to them.

And with the same profound Reverence all Christians approach it, who have any serious Sense of the Dread due to Sacred Oracles; This Thing therefore is not of any doubt.

But it is a Question of much greater Intricacy and Perplexity, what the drift, scope, and design of so uncontestably a Divine and Spiritual Song is.

The generality of Interpreters look upon it, as a Catholick seat, or Universe of Allegories, representing the Mystical Communion betwixt Christ, and his Spouse the Church, and every Believing Soul in it.

Now although I defer, as much as Any of the most Devoted to such Holy, Spiritual, and Heavenly Meditations, as are deriv'd with Ad­vantages of Piety and Prudence from this stupendious Allegory, Yet I cannot, for this very great Reason, Rest in that Expository Senti­ment, that makes it the grand scope of the Holy Spirit to give Rist to such Meditations.

[Page] And this is my Reason; All parts of Scripture have some so limited, determinate, defined scope and end, that they cannot be misled from it by any Interpretation; But it cannot be imagin'd, or with any semblance suppos'd, that from this Song, there can be drawn a Frame or Platform, either of the state of the Church, or of particular Souls in Relation to their Communion with Christ, or of Religious Dis­cipline, or Rules of Life, that should traverse and cut with variety of Motions, backward and forward, that so Indefinite variety, that these so manifold, both new and repeated Emblematisms require.

If then there be not a Frame and Model to stint and confine In­terpretation, this Song must be left to the differing Phantasies of all its Interpreters, how many soever, and nothing left to controll or correct them, who do but keep to the general Analogy of pious Sense, and natural Knowledge.

For when the whole Universe serves the Images of thi [...] Sacred Poesie, and that every Sprig may some way resemble God; It may consequently be made serviceable to some spiritual Meditation, and moral Document; and so proportionably seeing the Communion be­twixt Christ and his Church, is of the same Divine, Spiritual, and Holy Nature, every Particle of Nature used in this Song, shall be subject to as many Descants upon it, as there are Ingenies to extract them, agreeably to that foresaid Analogy of Faith, and common Philosophy: And so the Song, and the several parts of it, unstable as Water, having no consistent Figure of their own, shall receive s [...]ape from every Vessel the Interpreter brings to it.

But it surpasses my Understanding or Belief, that so infinitely Wise, and divinely Prudent an Author, as the Holy Spirit, should write in such a Laxity as this, Known to whom are all his Works of Scripture from the beginning to the end; and all the various Cen­sures and Senses each Iota of them shall undergo, and hath supreme and determinate Counsels of his own, which shall Over-rule them all. And so in this Song.

And indeed, if this Liberty, and Largeness of Interpretation were allowed, It would yet be never possible to give any decent and congruous Agreement betwixt the Spouse of Christ, and a Com­pany of Horses in Pharaohs Chariot, Teeth like a Flock of Sheep bear­ing Twins, Eyes as Fish pools, Locks bushy, and black as a Raven, [Page] that should express the Communion betwixt Christ and his Church, without some other Key of Interpretation, that keeps the whole Tight to such a Frame and Model of things, as was before desir'd.

There are some Interpreters therefore (though so very few as hardly to escape the Note of singularity) and of very Venerable Name, who have understood by it a portraicture of the various States, through which the Kingdom of Christ hath pass'd in relation to his Church, and so reciprocally of his Church in relation to his Kingdom. And from these, I confess, I receiv'd the first Thoughts, that such a Table is most agreeable to this Divine Composure.

And herein I am not asham'd to acknowledgde, I have borrowed most light from that very Admirable Man, Mr. Brightman, with whom Mr. Cotton, that great Light of the Church of God in New Eng­land Symbolises.

And yet I have retired from them, in a careful Avoidance, to press these Divine Figures too hard, lest wringing them should bring forth Blood; or to make the pursuit too far, lest the Exposi­tion should be too curious and minute: For in all Prophetical Ex­positions, I think, there is most safety of Truth in resting upon the Bulk and Body of Scripture Prophecy, and of History, when only Hu­mane History leads the Application; but when Sacred History con­ducts it, One may be much more bold, or where the Instance is sin­gular and notorious, as in Antiochus Epiphanes.

And, as I have retired in these particularities of Interpretation, from those two, by me so honoured Expositors of this Song; so I have as freely dissented from them, wheresoever I see Reason.

And upon this occasion, I take liberty to make this Digression, and to observe; It is a very frivolous Undertaking, to attempt to bl [...]st the Interpretation of Prophetical Interpreters, as of Mr Mede, Mr. Brightman, and that to me above all others most Indear'd Name of the most Learned, Pious, and Honoured Dr. More, on Daniel, and the Apocalypse, and Others; Because either Events have not answer­ed their Calculations, or because they differ among themselves.

For herein is the great Mistake, Men are angry These Propheti­cal Expositors do not, as inspired Writers, give Oracles; Whereas God may wonderfully, and beyond the ordinary standard, assist his Servants in some grand Points, to bring Light into the World, and [Page] to make great Efforts into the retired parts of Scripture, viz. the Prophecies, and yet leave them in many Particulars, to the Fallibility of their own Minds, and so to Mistakes.

For this is the Distinction betwixt the immediate Assistances of God, vouchsafed to the Sacred Pen-men, and Those, whom he leads by the Mediation of their own Learning, Search and Judgment: To the one, He dictates wholly from himself, To the other, by an Ex­citation of their Faculties to make a due Inquiry, and then to adjoin themselves to greatest Evidences of Reason: Together with which, he may as he pleases extraordinarily awaken, inject, infuse into their Minds, but so that the whole Assurance they have depends upon Evidence, and all they claim to of Assent, is upon the same Evidence; where this then fails, Mistake ensues, and Assent is not due.

From hence it follows; As they may mistake, so they may differ, and One be in the right upon better Evidence, where another is in the wrong upon no Evidence, or insufficient Evidence; Or Both may be Right, or in an Errour on the same accounts, and yet Both these may be in great Things eminent Ministers of the Truth of God to his Church, and agree therein, being excited and conducted beyond the ordinary level of Men, to attain Evidences true and firm in such Points; where the generality, yea, where very few enter at all. And therefore those Mistakes and Differences, shall not in the least invalidate the great Truths, wherein they have Evidence, and where­in they Agree: For all is to be valued by Evidence; And Ignorance, Inapprehensiveness, Want of Diligence in others, in Trying and Judg­ing these Evidences, to distinguish between Mistake and Truth, and their Rejection of all for want of such Infallibility and Agreement, makes no alterations in things themselves, which neither will deceive, nor can be deceived.

And withal observe, here are no more Grains of Allowance requi­red in this Case, than in all kinds of Learning, Knowledge, Science, and Arts in the World, which do not proceed upon Infallibility, nor determine in any greater Universality of Consent. No not Theolo­gy it self, beyond the very express Assertions of Scripture: If Men have a greater Antipathy and Aversion to make out after, to try or to receive Prophetical Knowledge, and to think it Reason enough to do so, because Men mistake and differ, (which same thing they [Page] do in all things) and though their Agreements in grand Points (as in all other Cases) is so valueable, It cannot be helped, till a better State of the World cure this so general Malady.

But to return from this long, but most necessary Digression upon this Occasion. Although I do with all Thankfulness acknowledge the Helps I have received, yet I humbly avow with lowliest Thanks­givings to God; I have proceeded upon these peculiar Grounds, deriv'd from his Word alone.

I find no way of Interpretation so like to Circumscribe and De­fine the Sacred Sense of this Song, as a Prophetical Course of Time, which the Church passing through under the various Elevations and Depressions of the Kingdom of Christ, it becomes capable of these so various Pictures; And, as in the Course of Time, God requires and calls back what is past into wonderful Agreements with what is present and to come, upon which Solomon says, There is no new thing under the Sun; So in this Song, supposing it such a Table of Time, the Figures and Allegories in which those past things are pour­tray'd, may be requir'd and repeated; For the States come to be repeated in their likenesses also, and so the old Emblems are often recall'd, and no new ones chosen for them.

1. This then laid in the Foundation, I farther observe; From the very Beginning to the End of this Song, there are under the Em­blems of Spices of sweetest Smell, and richest Perfume, couch'd a preparation to a Royal Annointing, in agreement with the Great Ti­tle of Christ, Messiab, or Annointed, and also in allusion to Paradise, the Palace Royal of his Kingdom; in all these there is a Designati­on of his Kingdom, who is the Bridegroom, and the Beloved of his Church, His Spouse, and Bride, which makes this Song Panegyrical or Inaugurative.

2. Again therefore I observe, There is from the Beginning to the End of this Song a constant Design of drawing all the Preparations to a Marriage and Nuptial Solemnity, by the holiest, purest, and most ardent Affections, and all kind of Ceremonies, and Retinue, and Courtship for Espousals, and for the Glories and solemnization, that agree to the Nuptial Love and Honour Christ is pleas'd to put upon his Spouse and Bride, the Church; And that as Marriage (which is a great Mystery, as the Apostle says, speaking concerning [Page] Christ and his Church) was instituted in Paradise, and there had its Beginning; So in the Paradise of God it hath its Complement and Perfection. Now hereunto agree the so often mention of Flowers, Gardens, Virgins, a Bed, Espousals, and innumerable the like: by which this Song looks so like an Epithalamium or Marriage-Song be­tween Christ and his Church, Revel. c. 19. c. 21.

3. Further, Because as the Grandeur of a Kingdom was by the Ancients addulced and sweetned with the Emblems of the Tender­ness, Care and Propriety of a Shepherd in his Flock; and that the Entertainments of Love and Amorous Contemplations were agree­able to the Shepherd's Life: Therefore in this Song, there is so of­ten mention of Kids, Sheep, Goats, Roes, and Hinds, Lyons, Leopards, Roes and Hinds of the Field of a wilder Race; of Shepherds, and the Mountains They and their Flocks walk upon, whereby this Song hath so much of a Pastoral in it.

4. And lastly, Because Enemies are oft to be overcome, before Kingdoms can be enjoyed in Peace and Lustre; there is therefore so often mention of Valiant Men, Arms, Armory, and Armies, by which this Song becomes Heroic and Triumphal.

And all these things are drawn into Song, according to the gene­ral Usage in ancient Times to Compose into Poesy▪ both their Wars, the Glory of their Kings, and also their Amours, and Pastoral Di­vertisements.

From these Considerations then, we may have a general prospect and view upon the Frame and Model of this Song, and so as to fix it, and not leave it to the Pleasure of every Mercurial Phantasie.

5. Seeing every Course of Time, that is to be limited and circum­scribed, and pourtrayed, as in a Model and Table, must have a Point, when it begins, and when it ends, and a medium or middle Line, in which it runs along; I observe there are great Inducements, as possi­bly we can desire, to begin the Song in David, who was the first Royal Ancestor of Jesus Christ, the King of his Church, and the most Eminent Typical Messiah, or Annointed of the Lord, Annointed with holy Oyl: A King raised from a Shepherd to be so, wherein he was as it were by Education fitted to a Pastoral Government, and prepared to become the sweet Singer of Israel, in agreement so far with this Song, and a most renowned▪ Warrior, who Atchieved by [Page] Conquest his Kingdom, and was therein eminently a Prophet and a King, and not without some providential Resemblance of a Priest, in being girded with the Priestly Ephod before the Lord; Thus eve­ry way in so Eminent a Personage, this Song was to begin, who was so great a Type, and also in his Psalms so great a Prophet of Christs Kingdom, as therein to give the Kisses of Christs mouth, as he in his several Annointings, diffus'd the savour of Christs Oyntments, and drew the Virgins after him.

In Union with David, Solomon his Son is to be joyn'd, who en­joyed in Splendor, Peace, and Magnificence the Kingdom that was the Acquest of David's Wars, whose many Wives and Concubines, like the sixty Queens, the eighty Concubines, and Virgins without number, [c. 6. 8.] which make the Spouse of Christ, and especially his Mar­riage of Pharaoh's Daughter with Royal Estate, are greatly service­able to this Song, and to the Representations it gives of the Spouse of Christ, and of his Marriage to it: For that most Illustrious and Ce­lebrated Queen, Pharaohs Daughter, (undoubtedly a Convert to the God of Israel,) was not only a Type of the Gentile Church in gene­ral but particularly of its State in the Philadelphian Interval, so high­ly Honoured, Revel. 3.

And for her, as a Type of the Church in that state, that Divinely Prophetick Fourty fifth Psalm was composed in so much Agreement with this Song; a Song of Loves, set to a Musical Instrument, or Tune, called Shoshannim, or the Lillies, among which, this Song Repre­sents so often Christ and his Church Feeding; an Emblem of Purity at last set in Glory and Lustre.

Now the Principal Intention of that Psalm, is under the Type of Solomon and Pharaoh's Daughter to Represent Christ Annointed, as on the Mount of Spices, for his Appearance on his Royal Throne; and taking his Church in the Philadelphian state to Himself, as his Bride, agreeable with the close of this Song: agreeable with the Pro­mises to the Philadelphian Church, agreeable with Revel. 19. and c. 21.

And the very silence of Solomon's Israelitish Wives, seems not to be without a Mystery; but to express that long Desolate state of the whole Seed of Israel under the Gospel, and yet there is a Revival at last in the Shulamite, as Solomon had undoubtedly Israelitish Wives, and in his Repentance Return'd to them, c. 6. 12, 13.

[Page] And even in those Wives of the Idolatrous Nations, Solomon took, who Turn'd away his Heart from God, He may be thus far a Type of the Love of Christ to the Heathen Idolatrous World, and also of that great Scandal, This hath against him the True Messiah given so long to the Jews, from which yet Christ shall be vindicated at the Con­version of ALL, as Solomon is by this Song, together with the Book of Ecclesiastes, Vindicated from the Infamy of his Idolatry; It being so Royal a Monument of his Repentance: This Solomon was also He, who Built the Temple of God, and his own House of State, that serve also in this song as Types; who lastly was a great Prince in Wisdom, and the Largeness of his Mind. This so great a Type, yea so great a Prophecy of Christ in his own Person and Reign, and Marriages, is commission'd as the most Elect Person to sing this song, this Prophe­tical song of the Kingdom of Christ, as David did in so many Psalms. And such a Song was to be expected from so great a Prince, and such a Son of Wisdom, whose Wisdom had not been perfect in Honour, without such a Prophecy of the Kingdom of Christ; Seeing Prophe­cy and Prophecy of Christ was the highest point of Wisdom; And it stands with Ecclesiastes as a Monument of the Repentance of this Great King after his Fall.

Let then the Epoch of this Song be David's and Solomon's Reign in Conjunction, and the beginning of the Course of Time to Christs Kingdom in this Song, fix'd here; And immediately after Solomon's death begins not a new Course, but a new Character of this Course of Time, carried on from Time to Time in the most Known, Re­markable, and Chronicular Events, of greatest Renown in Scripture-History, or Prophecy, or Both; or Scripture Prophecy, and Humane History that cannot be denyed, nor to have been such noble Events.

Now then if in the very same order these Events keep with the Course of Time, They have also such fit Emblems and Resemblances of them in this Song, and in the same order that They have all along to this very Day in the Course of Time, I cannot account this less than great Evidence, This Song is such a Frame or Table of Time, as I assert it.

And that these may stand Fair, Visible, and Together; I have Calendar'd them in the Annexed Table, and Referr'd them to each part of this Song, together with their References to each Page of the Book; and also according to their Scituation, and Place in the [Page] Course of Time, and according to that Settlement I have endea­vour'd to vindicate to them that in Course of Time, by My Line of Time.

Now I cannot but add, as a farther Evidence of the Epoch of this Song, and that it designs a Course of Time, of which I gave Intima­tion just now, viz. That after the Reign of David and Solomon, In the Division of the Ten, and the Two Tribes, making a House of Judah, and a House of Israel, Ezekiel's Days for Years Began, as an Introduction of Prophetical Time, and, as shall be declared a Medium, or Mediation betwixt Historical and Prophetical Time: and on which the whole Course of Prophetical Time Runs; Upon this very point of Time, This Song gives those two Remarks. 1. Of that Division, by the Tents of Kedar, and the Curtains of Solomon, And then of Re­hoboam's Servitude under Shishak, King of Aegypt, where to di­stinguish, or rather to make most notorious that Time; There is a more Uncouth Resemblance, than is to be found in the whole Song beside, viz. I have compared Thee, O my Love, to a Company of Horses in Pharaoh's Chariot, c. 1. 5. 9. as is Declared in the Exposition.

A Second Thing I cannot but add in Confirmation of the Cou rse of Time, is, That forasmuch as it was Fore-seen, there would not be after the History of the Acts of the Apostles, Scripture History to bear up the Prophecy of Daniel, looking beyond that Time; nor of the Apocalypse, Given after that Time, We have therefore before the Apo­stolical Time a Precedent of depending upon the most undoubted Humane History, for one of the most Remarkable Prophecies in the Judgment of all Expositors, and in which some would fain Absolve all Daniel's Prophecy, viz. the Tyranny of Antiochus, Taking away the Daily Sacrifice; as great a Tyranny and Desolation of their Wor­ship, for the short time it lasted, or greater than any the Jewish Church suffered till their Final Desolation; And This, though so so­lemnly prophecied of by Daniel, we have only the History of the Maccabees and of Josephus to depend upon for the Exposition of it; And it is counted so enough, that no Interpreter doubts it.

Why then should we not be as well satisfied in undoubted Hu­mane History concerning the Roman Antichrist, the Antitype to An­tiochus, that he is that Man of Sin in 2 Thessal. 2. and the Beast, Rev. c. 13. c. 17. And it is very remarkable, how much in the same Em­blems This Song may be fairly suppos'd to Descant on Both, as it were the Type and the Antitype; The Type, c. 3. before the Incarnation. [Page] The Antitype, c. 6. before the preparation of All Things, and their running on to the Glory of Christs Kingdom, in c. 7. c. 8. And while there is an Agreement, the due Distances are also maintain'd.

Thus the Epoch, and so much of the Running on of the Course being Remonstrated upon, let us consider the Period and Conclusi­on, and see if the Song does not draw all things to their Consumma­tion in the Glory of Christ's Kingdom, as into the Time of the Ful­lest Confluence of all to the True Church of Christ, as one Gentile Church, viz. the Fulness of the Gentiles; The Antichristian Converts; and the Reformed Churches; Then the Jews or two Tribes Congrega­ted to it, as the Princes of the East looking out as the Morning; and at last the Ten Tribes; And then the whole Mountain of Spices flows into an Everlasting Unction of Christ into his Kingdom, who is then Annointed with the Oyl of Joy above his Fellows: A Kingdom above all Kingdoms, and beyond which, There is nothing but Eternity.

And Concurrent with this End, is the Highest Purity, the most Ardent Love betwixt Christ and his Church, the fullest Enjoyment, as in not only a Supreme, but an only Kingdom; and, as in the Pa­radise of God; as is so Remarkable, that it cannot be miss'd in the latter part, or the three last Chapters of the Song: What then can, if This does not deserve to be the Period and Point of the Course of Time, and of this Song Commensurate to it; and so Adequate to Daniel's last Words of Prophecy, and the drawing up all to an End in the Revelation.

Upon the whole then, There cannot be a greater proof of a Frame, system, or Model in any Writing, that doth not openly de­clare it self to be so, than to find out a just Order and Series, and due Connexion in the Parts; Nor in a Mystical Frame, than that the Parts do fairly Express and Expose the Things, that in such a Frame, They are supposed to Expose: And if it be accounted in Philosophy a good Discharge to give an Hypothesis or Scheme of Na­ture agreeable, and to keep All Appearances safe in Relation one to another; I hope it will be Esteemed a good Acquittal of my Under­taking, not only to Project a Frame or System of this, but to find that Frame laid in Scripture-History, and Prophecy, or in Scripture-Prophecy, and Uncontestable Humane History, as of Antiochus his Ty­ranny just now to this purpose Instanc'd, and to find the Images of Prophetick Song all along Agreeing.

[Page] And I hope, it will be no more disallowed to Expound this Song into a continued Parable without dowright Demonstration, than it is to Expound the Parts of this Song in several and particular Para­bles, with as little Demonstration as General Interpreters do: In fine, that the whole Song so laid into a Parable, may be Accepted▪ as well as any other Theological Parable, of which there are Exam­ples, seeing all the Parts and Lines on which it is grounded, are un­doubtedly Divine, and the Exposition so fairly put for, to be Justi­fied as Divine also.

For I acknowledge, That which enabled me to bring this Song into the Contexture, wherein it is now Presented, and that which gave me also the occasion, and the Engagement to do it, is, The Scripture-Line of Time, I lately Published, To which I have in the Title declared, It is Adjusted; and which I have pursued along in the Exposition of the Song, both in the Signification of the Em­blems, and in the Notes of Time.

And it is upon This Hope, that These two may give Light and Strength, one to another.

For the same Things variously Represented, make them clearer and easier to general Apprehension; Some Things being plainer to some in one Dress, to some in another, and each gives Light to the other, when They are Compar'd.

And in this Song, and its Exposition, Things lye much nearer and closer one to another; They are more suddenly seen and Ap­prehended, more easily Grasp'd, and more easily Remembred: And what requires either fuller Discourse, or Proof, may be sought in those larger Prophetical Discussions of the Line of Time.

But above All, The Compare of these Three Great Prophets, (be­sides others) viz. Solomon, Daniel, John, the Three Beloveds, does exceedingly inlighten and strengthen my Prophetical Scheme; For when the Three Frames differ in Circumstances, and yet agree in Essentials; There can be no greater Conviction of a Design'd Scheme of Prophecy, nor happier Conduct into it, than their compare one with another: And such a three-fold Cord is not easily broken. And in the Mouth of not Two but Three Witnesses, every word is Established.

I have chosen to Present this Song in Verse, in Conformity to the Divine Poesy, not pretending to Excel herein, much less to come [Page] within any distance of the Original; but to come something nearer the High Spirit, and Lofty Air of this Song, than plain Exposition in Prose could do; I am also in Hope, that the Diversion and Acceptableness of Words in number and measure, may Invite to the Consideration of the Matter so convey'd, and that while the Poetry is Censur'd and Con­demn'd, yet the Sense may slide in, and lay hold of the Judgment.

And lest any Difficulty in such a stinted Form of Words should occur, I have by brief Notes Explaining Words and sense, endea­voured to Illustrate such Difficulties.

And, as I desire, This Poem should look backward to the Line of Time I have already, or shall with this offer to any Hand, so I desire It should look forward to a second Part, now in the Press, and wherein I Beg the assistance of all who shall be induc'd to favour the Undertaking.

To conclude, That all Things may be made most plain, I have plac'd this Table, as in Entrance to the Exposition of this Song; That every one may run and Read those great Heads of Prophecy in their order, and in the Series of Time, wherein they are set; the Events themselves none can deny to be the greatest, that can be found in Scripture-History, or sup­pos'd in Scripture-prophecy, nor call in question their successive Order in Time; So that every one may compare the Images, which are undoubt­edly Divine, and then set them close to the Exposition, which is in the Line of Time endeavour'd to be prov'd Divine also, by immediate Scrip­ture Consequence; and when their place in Time cannot be conte­sted what can be doubted;

There is but one grand Event, which I can think of, which can in this Song be suppos'd to be omitted; And that is the Desolation of the Jews by the Romans: But that, asunfit for a Song of Loves is glided over, and rather suppos'd by the Gentile Church, entring into the whole play of the Song then describ'd, even as Gods Casting the Ten Tribes out of his sight, is silently made known by the Songs Reference to the House of Judah only: And observe, those Jewish Desolations are shaded over in the Red Horse of War in the Apocalypse, and given in Daniel, but in the way of Ap­pendage to the Cutting off the Messiah. But most fully given Ezek. c. 16. c. 23.

To Conclude, as I humbly Beg the Prayers of All, who have Fa­vour for Endeavours in the Clearing of Prophecy; So I most Humbly and Ardently Pray for Blessing from Above, upon what is here Pre­sented, that we may Read and Understand this Prophecy, and may wait and come to the End of the 1335 Days, For the Time is at Hand.