compare her to the union of two companies-but whether of dancers, musicians, or warriors, is á question not easily determined. Mahanaim may even be a proper name, as well as Amminadib, and still the general idea may be the same-that in her were united every captivating charm, and every agreeable qualification.

On the allegory I would offer a few hints, which the reader may reject or improve, as he thinks proper.

1. There is a variety of plants in the Lord's garden-the nut-the vine-the pomegranate. So the prophets speak of cedars and box-trees, firs, and myrtles. And the New Testament writers have taught us to admire a variety in the gifts and graces of the Spirit, as well as in the attain. ments and experience of believers.

ticularly Bp. Percy. The name Solima is equally equivocal, being used by Pope for Salem or Jerusalem ( Ye nymphs of Solima begin the song'), and as a proper name of females in the east. (See Sir W. Jones's Ode, entitled, Solima). Mr. Harmer prefers the former sense, in order to support his hypothesis of two wives, as he thinks the term not applicable to Pharaoh's daughter; but might it not, even in his sense of it, be used to compliment her as now become a citizen of Jerusalem?

1 This term (n) has led many commentators, both Jewish and Christian, to suppose here an allusion to the history of Jacob, who, when he had a vision of angels, called the place by this name, Mahanaim, saying, This ' is God's host,' or rather camp. But the word is used for other than military, or even encamped bodies. (See 1 Chron. ix. 18, 19.) Accordingly the LXX read ws xpo

Tapucha, and the Vulgate, Nisi choros castrorum.' The word (nn) chorus, applies properly to a company of dancers or singers; and the allusion is here probably to the two choruses, or semi-choruses, which accompanied the bride and bridegroom.

2. Christ's plants flourish in an humble situa、 tion-in the valley-by the brook side'. It is in the moist soil of repentance, watered by the influences of the Spirit, that the Christian graces flourish best-that believers grow most rapidly in divine knowledge and experience.

3. The Lord condescends to visit these humble spots Thus saith the high and lofty one, he that inhabiteth eternity, to that man will I look, that is poor, and contrite, and trembleth at my word.'

4. The Lord so tenderly loves his church and people, that he is ever ready to fly to their assistance. The Beloved is represented in the beginning of the section as absent-and long did the church seek him in vain, because she sought him in improper ways. But no sooner does she recollect that he was gone down into his garden, and attempts to seek him there, than like the father of the prodigal, who saw his son at a great distance, and ran to receive him) he flew to meet the object of his affections with the utmost ardor.

5. Those who truly seek the Lord are sometimes afraid to meet him: their hearts misgive them, and notwithstanding all his promises, they conclude the Lord will not receive such unworthy

- creatures.

1 So the LXX render it, yevnμaoi te xeiroppo, 'the shoots of the brook;' and the same word in the Heb. () is both a valley and a stream, because, in the rainy seasons, streams are formed by torrents in the valleys.

6. The bride, the Lamb's wife, bears his name and character upon her. her. She is a Shulamite, an inhabitant of Jerusalem-the city of peace, because the Lord, when he writeth up the people, will record that this and that man, the members of his church, were born there. She is Solima, the bride of the true Solomon-the Prince of peace, and therefore (at least in our translation) she bears the name Jehovah our righteousness' upon her1.

7. The church is an object of admiration to all around her. 'What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the chorus of two bands.' Some writers have explained these two bands of the Jews and Gentiles as united in one chorusOne song of praise to God and to the Lamb. Others explain the image of an union and co-operation in their exertions; and one ingenious writer, of a variety of perfections and excellencies, which, though seemingly opposite and inconsis tent, unite, harmonize, blend, like two corresponding choirs. Either of these ideas may usefully occupy our meditations, or they may be join. ed without confusion or absurdity.

Jer. xxxiii. 16.

Ss

SECTION XI.
SECTIO

Ch. VII. Ver. 1-9.

1st Virgin. How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince's daughter!

2d Virgin.

The cincture of thy loins is like jewellery,
The work of an artist's hands.

Thy clasp a round goblet, which wanteth not
mixed wine :

Thy body a heap of wheat, encompassed with

lilies.

Thy breasts are like twin fawns of the roe:
Thy neck is like a tower of ivory.

Thine eyes are as the pools in Heshbon,

By the gate of Bath-rabbim :

Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon,

Looking towards Damascus.

Thy head upon thee is like Carmel,

And the tresses of thy head like the Porpura.

The king is detained in the galleries.

Bridegroom. How beautiful and how pleasing art thou, O

Spouse.

love, for delights!

This thy stature is like the palm-tree,
And thy breasts are like [its] clusters.
I said, I will ascend the palm-tree;

I will clasp its branches :

And thy breasts shall be to me as clusters of

the vine,

And the odour of thy breath like citrons.

Also thy mouth is as the best wine,

Which is sent to those whom I love for their

integrity;

And causeth the lips of them who are asleep

to murmur.

I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

THE scene here is commonly supposed to be that of the virgins dressing the bride in the morning, in order to receive the bridegroom, who, in

the following verses, is admitted, and compliments the bride anew.. But I confess I have my doubts whether the section should not have begun sooner; namely, with the invitation of the chorus, Return, O Solima,' &c. Such at least is the division of some critics; doubtful and unimportant, I have followed the majority.

but in a matter so

We have already considered the description as referring chiefly to the bride's dress, and in the general I am confident we are right, though I have doubts upon some particulars. How important an article of female ornament the sandals were considered, we learn from the instance of Judith, whose sandals ravished the eyes of Holofernes'. The 'cincture of thy loins" was the girdle, fastened with a ruby clasp, which might properly

1 Judith, ch. xvi. 9. So Lady W. Montague, describing her eastern dress, says her shoes were of white kid leather, embroidered with gold. See Harmer's Sol. Song. p. 107.

2 • The cincture of thy loins.' This, beside its decency, is more accurate and literal than the vulgar rendering. Mr, Parkhurst (after Harmer) supposes the radical idea of this word (ppm) to withdraw, retire,' &c. but I conceive the old lexicographers were right in rendering the verb circuivit,' to go round about. So Jer. xxxi. 22. How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter?" (Usque quo circuibis filia adversatrix ?)—The Lord shall create a new thing in the earth, a woman shall compass ' a man :' (femina circundabit virum. Pagninus:) where there seems an allusion between the members of the verse, which renders it highly probable, according to the laws of Hebrew parallelism, that they are synonimous. So in this Song, chap. v. 6. My beloved had withdrawn ;' literally was gone round, i. e. to the other side of the house. Now, if we are right in the radical idea, the word must here men, as Cocceius and others have explained it, (pala, que ambiunt femora tua) what is girded