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

Vers. 14. Make haste, my Beloved, and be thou like to a Roe, or to a young Hart upon the mountains of Spices.

The last verse hath in it the Brides last and great suit to her Bridegroom, that he would haste his return: As in the former verse the Bridegroom compended all his will, as it were, in one suit to the Bride; Let me often hear from thee that I may know how it is with thee, said he: So here, she sums up all her desire in one suit, which to her is both first and last, I beseech thee ⟨p. 478⟩(saith she) my Beloved, make haste and do not tarry. In the words there are, 1. her suit. 2. The title she gives him. 3. Her repeating and qualifying of her suit. Her request is, make haste: The word, in the Original, signifieth flee away, importing the greatest haste and speed that may be, so would she have Christ hasting his coming in the most swift manner; whereby the holy impatience of her affection, that cannot endure delays, doth appear; therefore abruptly she breaks out with this as her last suit, and that which especially her heart desires of him. That it's for a speedy return, the scope, her love that expresseth it, and the manner which she useth through the Song, doth clear; and there being two comings of Christ spoken of in Scripture, 1. His coming in grace, which already she had prayed for, and it's promised, John 14. 21, 23. 2. His coming in glory at the last day to judge the world; we conceive that it will agree with her scope here, to take in both, but principally the last, that is, her desire, that Christ Jesus would hasten his second coming: Not that she would have him to precipitate, or leave any thing undone that is to go before the end; but her desire is, that in due time and manner it may be brought about, and that what is to go before it, may be hastened, for making way for it: For, the phrase, haste, my Beloved, is indefinite, and therefore it may look both to his second coming, and to all that must necessarily proceed it; and therefore so long as there is yet any thing to be performed, as previous to his coming, she bids him hasten it. •. We take this desire to look mainly to his second coming, because that only can perfect believers consolation, and put an end to their prayers: Till he come, their consolation cannot be full, and all shadows are not away, Chap. 2. 17. There is ever something to be done, and therefore they have ever something to pray for (to wit, that his Kingdom may come) till that time. 3.