Section 658
IV. Here is also that which gave occasion to them to put this question to her
And that was her strict and solemn charge in the former verse, "that thou dost so charge us;" that is, so awfully and solemnly, so seriously and strictly, with so much warmth and vehemence: they were eye and ear-witnesses to her sufferings at the hands of the watchmen, and to her courage, constancy and undauntedness therein; they saw that she was no ways discouraged by what she met with from seeking her beloved; but seemed rather by her solemn charge to them to be more warm and zealous, serious, diligent, and resolved to go on in search of him; and seeing all this, it put them upon inquiring what he was, what peculiar excellencies were in him, and what distinguished characters he might be known by. Thus the warmth, zeal, and liveliness of some Christians have been the means of stirring up and quickening, others to their duty; nay, the sufferings of the saints, and their courage and boldness therein,, have not only filled beholders with wonder, but have put their very enemies upon making inquiry into the religion they had suffered for; and to ask, who and what that Christ was, for whom they had underwent such severe tortures and punishments; and this has been the means of the conversion of thousands; which gave rise to that saying, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church:" and this is the gloss of R. Solomon Jarchi on this text, namely: "Thus the nations asked the Israelites, What is your God more than all gods, that ye are burnt and hanged for him after this manner?" Next follows a glorious description of Christ, the church's beloved, in answer to this question of the daughters of Jerusalem.