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

She comes, in the next place, to make out this assertion: which is done, 1. By the matter of her words, while she instanceth the fruits, that belonged both to the owner and to the keepers. 2. By the manner of he• words, while she turneth her speech over to Christ himself, Thou, O Solomon, shall have a thousand (for so it will read as well as must have, &c. seeing either of the words, shall, or must, may be supplied) and this shows both what he should have, and with what cheerfulness she bestowed it on him. And, 1. she instanceth the fruits that Christ should have, and these are a thousand: By the thousand that Christ is to get, is understood that which was appointed and conditioned in his lea•e of the Vineyard, find is mentioned, vers. 11. It's, in a word, thou shalt have what thou hast appointed, the terms shall not be altered by me. Hence it appears, that the thousand which the Minister was to bring in as the revenue of the Vineyard, is the engaging of souls to Christ, and the making of them fruitful; for, then gets Christ his rent from his people, when this is effectuated by the Ordinances. Obs. 1. That fruits are the best evidence of sincerity. 2▪ That there can be nothing offered to Christ as fruit, or which can be an evidence or proof of sincerity, but that same, for the matter and manner, which is prescribed by him in his Covenant; our fruits must be suitable to what is called for, and accepted by him, or they will be no ground of peace. 3. True sincerity will never alter the terms that Christ hath set down in his Covenant, no• lessen his rent, which he hath prescribed as his due, but will think that most suitable which he hath prescribed, and will think it's mercy to have that to render to him.

She comes, in the next place, to make out this assertion: which is done, 1. By the matter of her words, while she instanceth the fruits, that belonged both to the owner and to the keepers. 2. By the manner of he• words, while she turneth her speech over to Christ himself, Thou, O Solomon, shall have a thousand (for so it will read as well as must have, &c. seing either of the words, shall, or must, may be supplied) and this shews both what he should have, and with what cheerfulnesse she bestowed it on him. And, 1. she instanceth the fruits that Christ should have, and these are a thousand: By the thousand that Christ is to get, is understood that which was appointed and conditioned in his leae of the Vineyard, find is mentioned, vers. 11. It's, in a word, thou shalt have what thou hast appointed, the terms shall not be altered by me. Hence it appears, that the thousand which the Minister was to bring in as the revenue of the Vineyard, is the engaging of souls to Christ, and the making of them fruitfull; for, then gets Christ his rent from his people, when this is effectuated by the Ordinances. Obs. 1. That fruits are the best evidence of sincerity. 2 That thene can be nothing offered to Christ as fruit, or which can be an evidence or proof of sincerity, but that same, for the matter and manner, which is prescribed by him in his Covenant; our fruits must be suitable to what is called for, and accepted by him, or they will be no ground of peace. 3. True sincerity will never alter the terms that Christ hath set down in his Covenant, no lessen his rent, which he hath prescribed as his due, but will think that most suitable which he hath prescribed, and will think it's mercy to have that to render to him.