Fire and Ice: Puritan and Reformed Writings [Table of Contents]  [Fast Index]  [Site Map]

by James Durham

The two breasts (which is the fifth part here commended) are spoken to in this third verse: they were spoken of, chap. 4:5, with the same commendation, and we conceive the same thing hinted there, is aimed at here, namely to shew, that as she was healthful in herself, and prosperous (like that which is said, Job 21:24, 'his breasts are full of milk') so was she both fitted to communicate, and loving in communicating the graces that was in her, as nurses their milk to their children: which clears, that the scope in short is to shew, that the believer is not only a beautiful bride, but a fruitful mother for bringing forth, verse 2, and nourishing and bringing up, verse 3, which was (especially in those times) a great commendation of a wife, and a thing that engaged husbands to them, Psalm 128:3; Gen. 29:34, as on the contrary, barrenness was a reproach to themselves, and a burden to their husbands: now, Christ's Bride hath breasts, and is furnished as becomes a mother and a wife, contrary to that of the 'little sister,' chap. 8:8, whose desolate condition is set out by this, that 'she had no breasts;' and this is repeated particularly, to shew the Lord's particular taking notice thereof, and his respect thereunto.

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