AMong the Protestants, Mercerus, Durham, and Ainsworth, have written upon the Canticles; but these last are more critical than moral.
John Mercier’s Comment is printed with that which he wrote upon the Proverbs: See above.
James Durham, an Englishman of Yorkshire, and a Calvinist about the end of the 17th Century, wrote an Exposition in English, which was printed at Edinburgh, in 1668, in 4to. at London, 1695, the third Edition; in Flemish at Utrecht, 1681, in 4to.
Henry Ainsworth, an Englishman likewise, wrote Annotations; printed with those which he published on the Psalms, and separately in German, at Frankfort, 1693, in 8vo.
Thomas James put out an Exposition extracted from the Fathers, at Oxford, 1607, in 4to. We shall speak of him in an- Christ’s Body and Blood, of the Vision of God, &c. See Flodoard. l. 3. c. 15. & Hincmar. Oper. tom. 2. p. 844.
Bochart has written something on Copher or Cyprus, Cant. 1. 14. & 2. 1. and upon the Dudaims, or Mandrakes, Cant. 7. 13. See the new Edition of his Works, tom. 3. p. 866, & 916.
F. Alexander, in his fourth Dissertation of the 5th Century, Article 4. p. 177. shews it to be an Epithalamium on Jesus Christ and his Church, composed by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit; and contends against those who pretend that it is only an amorous Piece of Poetry made by Solomon for the King of Egypt’s Daughter, whom he passionately loved.
Theodore Janson Almeloveen made a Dissertation in the form of a Letter upon the 5th Verse of the 8th Chapter. It is in the Bibliotheca Philologica, tom. 5. p. 995, 1004.