Ver. My prefent views of thee fo far Exceed the former fort, Exceeds a bare report. Hence, confcious-ftings, like arrows fmart, And felf-difpleafure ftrikes my heart, 6 For now myself I lothe and hate; I grew impatient of the rod, I clear'd myself, and cenfur'd God, In which thou gav'st me birth; Lo! then, my brutih ignorance, I through thy grace repent; How bafe and blinded have I been, But having now thy glory feen, At mercy's feet I'll hopeful stay: 'That one was loft, who proftrate lay Mm3 PART. III. A NEW VERSION OF THE SONG of SOLOMON. PREFACE. After I had written a Paraphrafe on the Song of Solomon, which has been published fourteen years ago, I had no defign of printing any thing else upon this book; but when the motion was made of turning all the Scripture Songs into common metre, for the fame ufe with the Pfalms of David, I was alfo urged to make a short Verfion likewife of this Song, as near as poffible to the text †. This task I undertook, not without fome reluctance, knowing how much the spiritual matter of this Book is reprefented by fuch homely metaphors as would be very hard to exprefs barely, in fuch a manner as to be fenced against the abuse of carnal minds: on this account, though I have now ftudied as little of a paraphrafe, or explication, as I could; yet, in feveral places, where I thought the meaning might be most ready to be misinterpreted, or not fo obvious, 1 have formed the Verfion with fuch fhort interwoven gloffes upon fome of the texts, as may tend to enlighten the metaphor a little, and make the main intent thereof appear, in a way that I apprehended to be least liable to abuse. I have seen fome Verfions of this Book in common metre, that could very little contribute to my affistance in this, unless it was to make me fee what might be avoided or amended, according to my view. Only Mr. MASON'S Verfion was more acceptable to me, than any other I have seen, and therefore I have, in feveral verfes here and there taken what help it, together with his and my own paraphrase, could afford me, in a fuitableness to my tafte, or the form into which I chose to put it. So that after confulting the labours, in verfifying this Book of the Song, you have here the plainest version I could conceive within fo norrow and contracted bounds. As to what may be further neceffary, in a prefatory way, I refer the reader to the Preface which is prefixed to the Paraphrafe on this Book: the main difference between the prefent and the for The first edition of the paraphrafe was published, Anno 1739. The SONG of SOLOMON, being an intire book of Scripture, this Short Verfion of it was at first published by itfelf, (as formerly obferved, p. 424.) as was also that upon the book of LAMENTATIONS, before the reft of the Scripture Songs, which were afterwards published together. Along with the first edition of this Verfion, the Author allowed his Paraphrafe on this book of the Song to be re-printed, that whofoever inclined for a more full explication thereof, than this Short Verfion could give, might, if they pleased, turn over to the Paraphrafe. See it printed above, p. 317,- 422. See this Preface printed above, p. 310,-316. mer Editions*, is in the fourth and seventh chapters, which were before in long metre, but now are turned to the fame common metre with the reft, because I have been told, that this latter kind was more acceptable to fome than the other. That the church and people of God may be edified by these works, is the earnest prayer of their fervant, and yours in Christ, Dunfermline,} CHAP. RALPH ERSKINE I. The Church's Love unto CHRIST, and bis Efteem for her; with their mutual Congratulations of each other. Ver. I THIS [The TITLE.] HIS Song of Solomon the wife 2 With kiffes of thy mouth divine, For better than the richest wine 3 Thy name like ointment fweet pour'd out Hence virgin-fouls, the facred rout 4 O draw me with thy loving cord; Lo! to his chambers deck'd, my Lord, In thee we'll joy; this love of thine 5 O Salem's race, Im black o'ergrown, But comely too by grace I own, As Soi'mon's curtains fair. * Viz. of the large paraphrafe. 552 Ver. View not my scorch'd and fun-burnt face; 6 No beauty there you'll fee: My mother churches angry race Have roughly dealt with me. Their hate and envy made me trudge, Their vineyards to infpect; 7 But thou, my foul's beloved One, Where feedeft thou, and where at noon For why fhould I with forrow ftain'd, Mong Hocks of thy companions feign'd [Chrift's Words.] 8 Know't thou not, faireft of fair brides? The flocks fair fteps, and feed thy kids 9 My love, I have, to hold thee out 20 Great comelinefs thy drefs bespeaks; 1 My Father working ftill with me, More golden borders make for thee, [The Church's Words.] 2 Lo! while the King of Zion crown'd, My fpikenard, flowing, doth around Ver. Like as of myrrh a bundle, lo! 13 Shall, all the night of fin and wo, 14 In vineyards fair of Engedi Are camphire clusters fweet; 15 Lo! thou art fair; lo! thou, my love, The beauties of the modeft dove [The Church's Words.] 16 Nay, my Belov'd, who, me to fcreen, Thrice fair art thou; yea, what a green 17 The royal houfe of our repair CHA P. II. The mutual Love of CHRIST and the Church, with I 〃 ber Hope and Calling; and CHRIST's Care of her, with the Profeffion of ber Faith and Hope. [Chrift's Words.] AM the rofe of Sharon fair, To deck the field around; The lily of the valley, there To grace the loweft ground. 3 Among the daughters in the throng 3 As th' apple-tree does far excel Trees of the common wood; So my Belov'd furpaffeth all The fons of nobleft blood. |