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

5. Thus both the wisdom and care of God and his Spirit appeareth, who taketh diverse ways to commend his truth unto men, and to gain them to the love of it, that they who will not be affected with plain truth, he may be more taking expressions, commend unto them the same thing; which is the reason why he hath given diverse Gifts and ways of holding forth his truth unto Ministers; some have one way, like sons of Thunder; some another, like sons of Consolation; and yet all to carry on the same end, that the one may be helpful unto the other. Indeed if God had delivered his truth only in obscure terms, the objection might seem to have some weight; but when he doth it both in plain and obscure ways, this is his condescendency and wisdom, by all means seeking to gain some.

5. Thus both the wisdom and care of God and his Spirit appeareth, who taketh diverse wayes to commend his truth unto men, and to gain them to the love of it, that they who will not be affected with plain truth, he may be more taking expressions, commend unto them the same thing; which is the reason why he hath given diverse Gifts and wayes of holding forth his truth unto Ministers; some have one way, like sons of Thunder; some another, like sons of Consolation; and yet all to carry on the same end, that the one may be helpfull unto the other. Indeed if God had delivered his truth only in obscure terms, the objection might seem to have some weight; but when he doth it both in plain and obscure wayes, this is his condescendency and wisdom, by all means seeking to gain some.

6. Thus also the Lord removeth occasion of loathing from his Word, by putting it in some lovely Artifice, in the manner of it's delivery; and also, he doth hereby provoke his people to more diligence, in searching after the meaning of it; It being often our way to esteem least of what is most obvious, and most of that which is by some pains attained.