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

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.