My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
I detain the Reader, in the opening of this verse, to remark to him once more, if the remark be again necessary, that this answer of the church, to those that were seeking her Lord, carries with it the fullest and most undeniable testimony that the whole subject this Song is truly spiritual, and of a divine nature. In the loves of carnal persons there is too much jealousy to direct others to the object of love; rather doth everyone forbid, than lead to an acquaintance: so that if there was no other evidence than what this part of the song contains; itself, would be enough to prove to a demonstration, that it is not the love of Solomon and Pharaoh's daughter which forms the subject of this Song, but Christ and his church. It will not be very difficult to understand what is meant by Christ's garden and his beds of spices, after what hath been already observed on these subjects, (Song of Solomon 4:16.) The expression, indeed, concerning Christ's garden, somewhat varies here; for the church describes her Lord as being gone down into his garden; by which it may he supposed is meant the garden Jesus hath in this lower world, by way of distinction to that which is above; but the whole, both above and below, is but one church; the gift of his Father, the purchase of his blood, and the conquest of his grace. And Jesus may be truly said to be gone down to the beds of spices, when he visits any particular souls of his with his grace; when he feeds them, or when he feeds (if it be allowed the expression) himself, in receiving the fruits of grace, which he himself hath planted by, his Holy Spirit in their hearts. He gathers the lilies also, whensoever he takes home precious souls he hath redeemed to himself in glory.