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

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.