A37032:158
Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon by James Durham ...
Edinburgh: printed by George Swintoun and James Glen, 1668
Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
5. The Mother is the universal visible Church, wherein are many true Believers, who are converted to Christ by the Word and Ordinances dispensed therein, and to which also many Hypocrites belong as members.
6. The children of the promise, are true Virgins that love Christ; the children of the bond-woman, and the flesh, are unrenewed Professors in the Church, as also, false teachers, who act their part here likewise, Chap. 1. 6. and 2. 15. and 5. 7.
3. This conference, as it is betwixt Christ and the Believer, is followed as betwixt married parties. 1. In their titles, they attribute to each other. 2. In their claiming of this relation one in another, as that he is her's, and she is his. 3. In their expressions, which are such as use to be betwixt most loving parties, who live exercising conjugal love, most kindly and intimately together. The reason whereof is, 1. To show the near Union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; there is a relation, and a most near relation betwixt them, that is not betwixt him and any others. 2. To show the kindly effects of that relation in both the parties, especially the faithfulness and tenderness of the husband, in walking according to it in every thing. 3. It's to sweeten every piece of exercise, the Believer meets with; Yea, to make all dispensations digest the better, seeing they are dispensed, and ordered by such a loving husband. 4. It's for warming the Believers heart the more to Christ, and to make this Song heartsome and delightsome, that so Believers may have always a marriage-Song, and every night may be to them as a marriage-night.
3. This conference, as it is betwixt Christ and the Believer, is followed as betwixt married parties. 1. In their titles, they attribute to each other. 2. In their claiming of this relation one in another, as that he is her's, and she is his. 3. In their expressions, which are such as use to be betwixt most loving parties, who live exercising conjugal love, most kindly and intimatly together. The reason whereof is, 1. To shew the neer Union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; there is a relation, and a most neer relation betwixt them, that is not betwixt him and any others. 2. To shew the kindly effects of that relation in both the parties, especially the faithfulnesse and tendernesse of the husband, in walking according to it in every thing. 3. It's to sweeten every piece of exercise, the Believer meets with; Yea, to make all dispensations digest the better, seing they are dispensed, and ordered by such a loving husband. 4. It's for warming the Believers heart the more to Christ, and to make this Song heartsome and delightsome, that so Believers may have always a marriage-Song, and every night may be to them as a marriage-night.
4. The purpose or subject of this Song, is Christ, and divine things of all sorts; but mainly the experiences of grown Christians, held forth in most noble and lively expressions, as was before a little cleared.
5. The scope of all is, to express the desirableness of fellowship with the Bridegroom, and how the Bride thirsteth and longeth for it, and how careful she is to entertain it, and by laying out his matchless excellencies to commend him to others; which also seems to be the scope and design, for which this Scripture is given to the Church; and so her breathing after communion ⟨p. 41⟩with him, doth here begin the conference, v. 2. Let him kiss me, &c.
5. The scope of all is, to expresse the desirablenesse of fellowship with the Bridegroom, and how the Bride thirsteth and longeth for it, and how carefull she is to entertain it, and by laying out his matchlesse excellencies to commend him to others; which also seems to be the scope and design, for which this Scripture is given to the Church; and so her breathing after communion ⟨p. 41⟩with him, doth here begin the conference, v. 2. Let him kisse me, &c.
6. The manner of their expression is, 1. Sweet and loving: and therefore, this conference is carried on, under the terms of marriage, and the titles of beloved, my love, spouse, &c. (as being the most lively that can express that relation, and most apposite for entertaining of mutual love) are here made use of. 2. The manner of expression is something obscure, though sweet, that so the Lord's people may be stirred up to painfulness, and diligence in searching out his mind; and also, because the mysteries here contained, are great, and cannot, as they are in themselves, be conceived: Therefore that they may be illustrate, Parables are used, as Mat. 13. 34. compared with Mark 4. 33. where it's clear, that the intent and effect of the Lord's speaking by Parables, is to help some to take up these mysteries, and to leave some ignorant. 3. The Spirit of God doth here make use of borrowed expressions, the more lively to set out the spiritual matter contained under them; and by things most taking, and best known to our senses, to hold out divine Mysteries, unto which these expressions are to be applied. 4. Often these same expressions, are made use of in one place, in speaking to the Bridegroom, and in another speaking to the Bride, he calling her chief amongst the Daughters, and she him chief amongst the Sons, but in a different sense; for, he styles her from his acceptation of her, and from his imputation, and communication of his graces to her: But she styles him from his own excellency and worth, he having all in himself, and nothing borrowed from any other, but imparting that which is his, to her.
6. The manner of their expression is, 1. Sweet and loving: and therefore, this conference is carried on, under the terms of marriage, and the titles of beloved, my love, spouse, &c. (as being the most lively that can expresse that relation, and most apposite for entertaining of mutual love) are here made use of. 2. The manner of expression is something obscure, though sweet, that so the Lord's people may be stirred up to painfulnesse, and diligence in searching out his mind; and also, because the mysteries here contained, are great, and cannot, as they are in themselvs, be conceived: Therefore that they may be illustrate, Parables are used, as Mat. 13. 34. compared with
2. The Rules we would take alongst with us in our proceeding, are these:
First, We would find out, who speaks in every passage of this Song; for this serves much to clear what is spoken.
2. We would carefully ponder, what is the purpose of the Spirit in every part thereof.
3. We must apply, and conform expressions to the scope, and expound them by it, and not stick too much in following of every thing, which these Allegories seem to bear; but draw ⟨p. 42⟩the Doctrines from them, being compared with the scope, and other places of Scripture, not insisting too far upon the similitudes.
4. We are to take special notice of the Brides frame, in her manner of speaking; For we may observe, that often in the vehemency of her passionate love, she breaks out without any seen connection, or order, as Chap. 1. 2. and by cutted, broken, and vehement expressions, in her diverse f•ames and tender fits, as her case is up or down, (abruptly, as it were) she useth to express her self.
4. We are to take special notice of the Brides frame, in her manner of speaking; For we may observe, that often in the vehemency of her passionate love, she breaks out without any seen connexion, or order, as Chap. 1. 2. and by cutted, broken, and vehement expressions, in her diverse f•ames and tender fits, as her case is up or down, (abruptly, as it were) she useth to expresse her self.
5. We must not apply all so to the Church, as to shut out Believers, nor contrarily; but take in both, where both may come in; and more especially apply to the one, where the purpose makes most for it, as hath been said.
Vers. 1. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.
Before we enter upon the purpose of this Chapter, or give the division of it, we would first speak to the Title contained, ver. 1.
BEfore we enter upon the purpose of this Chapter, or give the division of it, we would first speak to the Title contained, ver. 1.
We account this Title Scripture, it being in the Original, even as other Titles, prefixed to diverse Psalms, as to Psal. 51. 102, &c. In it three things are set down. 1. The nature of this Scripture. 2. It's Excellency. 3. It's instrumental Author, who was made use of, by the Spirit in Penning of it.
