‎GUILD, WILLIAM.‎
‎Loves entercours between the Lamb & his bride, Christ and his church, or, A clear explication and application of the Song of Solomon.‎

‎London, Wilson, 1658. 8vo. In contempoarary full sprinkled calf with double and triple ruled fillets to boards. Small paper-label pasted on to top of spine. Wear to edges of boards with minor loss of leather. Inner front hinge split and first two quires detached. (6), 277 (i.e. 287) pp. P. 65 misnumbered as 95 and pp. 287 misnumbered as 277.‎

Reference : 61666

‎The exceedingly rare first edition of William Guild’s exposition of the Song of Salomon, also known as the Song of Song – a poetic and romantic book of the Bible, seen not just as a celebration of human love but as an allegory of divine love. William Guild (1586–1657) was a Scottish theologian, born in Aberdeen to Matthew Guild, a wealthy armourer. Educated at Marischal College, he became a licensed preacher in 1605 and minister of the King Edward parish in 1608. In 1631 he moved to Aberdeen supporting episcopacy but later reluctantly signed the Covenant with reservations. He attended the 1638 Glasgow Assembly that deposed Scottish bishops and fled briefly to Holland in 1640 to avoid conflict with the Covenanting army.Guild became principal of King's College, Aberdeen, in 1640 but was removed in 1651 by Cromwell's commissioners. Known for his benevolence, he endowed a hospital at the Trinity Friars convent in 1633. He died in Aberdeen in August 1657.‎