Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

For the First, There is a great difference betwixt an Allegoric Exposition of Scripture, and an Exposition of Allegoric Scripture: The first is that, which many Fathers, and School-men fail in, that is, when they Allegorize plain Scriptures and Histories, seeking to draw out some secret meaning, other than appeareth in the words; and so will fasten many sense upon one Scripture. This is indeed unsafe, and is justly reprovable; for, this maketh clear Scripture dark, and obtrudeth meanings on the words, never intended by the Spirit; As, suppose one speaking of Goliath's combat and David's, should pass by the letter, ⟨p. 23⟩and expound Goliath to be the Flesh, or the Devil, and David to be the Spirit, or Christ: Such Expositions, may have some pleasantness, but often little solidity; and such, who most commonly thus interpret Scripture, often fall in errors. As guilty of this fault, Origen is generally complained of, though moe also be guilty, as might be cleared by many instances.

For the First, There is a great difference betwixt an Allegorick Exposition of Scripture, and an Exposition of Allegorick Scripture: The first is that, which many Fathers, and School-men fail in, that is, when they Allegorize plain Scriptures and Histories, seeking to draw out some secret meaning, other than appeareth in the words; and so will fasten many sense upon one Scripture. This is indeed unsafe, and is justly reprovable; for, this maketh clear Scripture dark, and obtrudeth meanings on the words, never intended by the Spirit; As, suppose one speaking of Goliah's combat and David's, should passe by the letter, ⟨p. 23⟩and expound Goliah to be the Flesh, or the Devil, and David to be the Spirit, or Christ: Such Expositions, may have some pleasantnesse, but often little solidity; and such, who most commonly thus interpret Scripture, often fall in errors. As guilty of this fault, Origen is generally complained of, though moe also be guilty, as might be cleared by many instances.

2. An Exposition of an Allegoric Scripture, is, the opening and expounding of some dark Scripture (wherein the mind of the Spirit is couched and hid under Figures and Allegories) making it plain and edifying, by bringing out the sense according to the meaning of the Spirit in the place, though at first, it seemed to bear out no such thing: So,