Since in reliance on Divine Grace we have presumed to undertake the exposition of this Book, let us first of all examine the Title and elucidate it: The Song of Songs, which is Solomon‘s. Let us consider why the wise Solomon designated it not a Song, but " the Song of Songs," for that nothing superfluous or in vain is spoken under the energy of the Divine Spirit is acknowledged by every right-thinking and godly man. Which being so, we will investigate the reason why this Book is called "the Song of Songs," and not a Song. We find, indeed, many songs, psalms, hymns, and odes spoken and written by the blessed David, and by the Prophets who came after him; and the great Moses sang the first song of victory, when the sea, being divided, became a way to the Israelites and a grave to the Egyptians. The second song he sang was one of thanksgiving over the well. The third was that in which he described the Divine goodness, and rebuked the willful disposition of the people. And the blessed David gave forth psalms of victory, and of the vintage, and for morning and evening; but the wise Solomon wrote neither a song of victory, nor for the morning, but an Epithalamiumy or nuptial song. For Epiniciay or songs of victory, set forth the destruction of enemies, and the deliverance of captives, as that: "He maketh wars to cease in all the world. He breaketh the bow and knappeth the spear in sunder, and bum-eth the chariot in the fire. Be still then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth.(Ps 46:9-10)" For He signifies, that having crushed the whole armour of the enemies, and delivered the long-oppressed captives, He had subjected them into Himself, and acquired a kingdom over all willing people. Therefore He says, "I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth'" Of the same kind is that: " O clap your hands together, all ye people; O sing unto God with the voice of melody. For the Lord is high and to be feared. He is the great King upon all the earth .(Ps 45:4)" And again: "Gird Thee with Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Thou Most Mighty, according to Thy worship and renown'." And elsewhere: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? it is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle.(Ps 24:7-8)" In these songs, then, the Prophets treat of the victory of the King, and celebrate Him for the deliverance of captives. But the Song of Songs describes His marriage and His love to the Bride. Them He designates the Bride in these songs, who have been delivered from captivity, and have obtained freedom, and conciliated the favor of the King, and have an unfailing memory of His benefits, and who manifest a great affection and love towards Him, and continually follow Him; yea, and also the Powers above, who inquire "Who is the King of Glory?" desiring to be joined with Him, and not enduring to be separated for a moment of the day from Him Who preserves them. For this cause is this Book called " the Song of Songs," that phrase signifying that those songs were made for this song, and that they lead unto it. For this is the chief of benefits, the completion of the Divine philanthropy, the ineffable goodness, immeasurable mercy, incomprehensible compassion, inexpressible love, that the Maker, and Framer, and Author, and Lord, and God, and Ruler, Who is always the same, should undertake not only to deliver from death and the tyranny of the devil this creature of clay, and subject to suffering, and corruptible, and senseless, and worthless, but to bestow upon it liberty; and not only to pronounce us free, but to constitute us sons; and not only to give us the gift of adoption, but to designate and make us His Bride, and that she should be closely united to the Bridegroom, and to offer innumerable bridal gifts, and to prepare the marriage-chamber and bed, and to clothe her being naked, and to become to her apparel, and meat, and drink, and the way, and a shield, and life, and light, and the resurrection. But I strive with the sand and the drops of rain, and to measure the sea in a basin, while venturing to recount the acts of Divine goodness towards man. For this cause is this Book styled "the Song of Songs," as teaching us the highest forms of the goodness of God, and the most inward and secret things, and revealing to US the most holy mysteries of the Divine philanthropy.