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Son_1:13 A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
Ver. 13. A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved, &c.] The bride proceeds to return all the glory to her bridegroom (of all that good that he had praised her for before) by a second similitude here, and by a third in the next verse; for in this argument she thinks she can never say sufficient. It is the manner of maids to wear nosegays of sweet flowers in their bosoms, and to make no small account of them. Myrrh is marvellous sweet and savoury (Psa_45:8 Pro_7:17. See Plin., lib. xii., cap. 15, 16), but nothing so sweet as the Lord Christ is to those that have spiritual senses; Whom therefore the spouse here placeth between her breasts, that there hence the sweet savour may ascend into her nostrils. Again, Myrrh hath a bitter root; {Mar_15:23} Christ seems bitter at first because of afflictions, but if "we suffer with him, we shall also reign together with him." {2Ti_2:12} Thirdly, Myrrh was very precious; hence the wise men offered it to Christ at his birth. {Mat_2:11} Christ is of that esteem with his people, "elect and precious," {1Pe_2:6} that, as wise merchants, they make a thorough sale of all to purchase him. {Mat_13:44-46} Lastly, Myrrh is of a preserving nature, and was therefore made use of at funerals. {Joh_19:39} In like sort Christ, as he doth by his Spirit’s heat, exsiccate, or dry up the superfluity of our degenerate nature, whereby body and soul is preserved to eternal life; so, after our bodies are turned to dust, he still preserves a substance, which he will raise again at the last day. Hence the saints are said to "sleep in Jesus," to be "dead in Christ," who shall "raise our vile bodies, and make them like unto his own glorious body," {Php_3:21} in beauty, brightness, grace, favour, agility, ability, and other angelical excellencies.
He shall lie all night between my breasts.] This is Christ’s proper place: "My son, give me thine heart." Christ should "dwell in the heart by faith." {Eph_3:17} But too too often he is shut out, and adultery found between the breasts; {Hos_2:2} there they carried the signs of their idolatry (as Papists now do their crucifixes), to testify that the idol had their hearts. But what saith Mr Bradford, martyr, in a certain letter? {a} As the wife will keep her bed only for her husband, although in other things she is content to have fellowship with others, as to speak, sit, eat, drink, go, &c.; so our consciences (which are Christ’s wives) must needs keep the bed - that is, God’s sweet promises - alonely for ourselves and our husband to meet together, to embrace and laugh together, and to be joyful together. If sin, the law, the devil, or anything would creep into the bed, and lie there, then complain to thy husband Christ, and forthwith thou shalt see him play Phinehas’s part, &c. And again, in another letter, Think on the sweet mercies and goodness of God in Christ. Here, here is the resting place - here is the spouse’s bed, creep into it, and in your arms of faith embrace him. Bewail your weakness, your unworthiness, your diffidence, and you shall see he will turn to you. What said I? - you shall see? Nay, I should have said, you shall feel, he will turn to you, &c. {b}
{a} Acts and Mon., 1503.
{b} Acts and Mon., 149.