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

by James Durham

This verse contains the second expression, whereby the Bride's commendation is heightened, in three things, 1. By the title he gives her, 'O love, for delights;' he calls her in the abstract, love itself, there can be no more said, she is not only lovely, but love itself; 'for delights' is added as the reason of it, because of the various and abounding delights that are to be found in her; she is (to say so) a person so excellently beautiful, and hath so many lovely things in her. The second thing is the commendation he joins with this title, and it is in two words, 1. She is 'fair:' this looks to the external loveliness of her person. 2. She is 'pleasant:' this respects the sweetness, and amiableness of her inward disposition: these two may be separate in others, but they meet in the believer, as they do in Christ; therefore she had given him these two epithets, chap. 1:16. The third thing is the manner of expression, which heightens all this: it is expressed with an 'how!' 'how fair!' &c? (as chap. 4:10) shewing an incomparableness, and an inexpressibleness to be in her beauty: whereby in sum, the love of this blessed Bridegroom shews his satisfaction in his Bride, by multiplying such wonderful expressions, as holds forth the high esteem that he hath of her. Observe. 1. There is nothing so lovely in all the world, as grace in a believer; the most delightsome pleasant thing in the world is nothing to this. 2. The love that Christ hath to his people, is inexpressible; although he useth many significant ways to express it, yet must it close with an indefinite expression and question, to which an answer cannot be made, 'how fair!' it cannot be told how fair, and men cannot take it up otherwise than by wondering at it. 3. This loveliness of the Bride, and the king's being kept in the galleries, or the sense of the enjoyment of his presence go together; and therefore it is subjoined here, as the cause of the former, like one that is ravished with the admiration of some excellent sight, he stays and beholds it, and O (saith he) how pleasant it is! The believer is the uptaking object of the love of Christ, wherein he delights. 4. There is no lovely nor delightsome thing in all the world, that Christ cares for, or esteems of, as he doth of the believer: grace makes a person Christ's 'love for delights:' riches, honour, favour, parts, will be of no value without this: whereas one without these, may with this, have Christ's affection engaged to them.

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