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

The 3. thing in the title, is the Penman made use of by the Spirit, in the writing and recording this Song: It's Solomon, a great man, rich, wise, yea an elect Saint; Yet one, who had also fallen into many foul faults, whom the Lord hath suffered to die, without recording expressly any thing of his recovery, though we make no doubt of it; which (because Bellarmine, lib. 3. de Justif. Chap. 14. pag. 368. Tannovius and others, are at pains in contradicting this, yea, Augustine doubts of it, because nothing is directly recorded of his recovery) we shall endeavour to make clear from these considerations,

The 3. thing in the title, is the Penman made use of by the Spirit, in the writing and recording this Song: It's Solomon, a great man, rich, wise, yea an elect Saint; Yet one, who had also fallen into many foul faults, whom the Lord hath suffered to die, without recording expresly any thing of his recovery, though we make no doubt of it; which (because Bellarmine, lib. 3. de Iustif. Chap. 14. pag. 368. Tannovius and others, are at pains in contradicting this, yea, Augustine doubts of it, because nothing is directly recorded of his recovery) we shall endeavour to make clear from these considerations,

First, From the Lords promises to him, 2 Sam. 7. 14, 15. where these three things are observable, which the Lord undertakes concerning him. 1. That he will be to him a father. 2. That he will correct him with the rods of men, if he shall sin; which saith, he would not eternally punish him. 3. That he would not do with him, as he did with Saul, whom he rejected; he would not take away his mercy from Solomon, as he had done from him: And if no more were in these Promises, but what is temporal, there would be no great consolation in them to David (whose consolation is one chief part of the scope of that place.) Beside, these promises, Psal. 89. 31, 32, 33. (which are the same with these, 2 Sam. 7.) are looked upon as special evidences of God's love, and peculiar Promises of his Saving-Covenant.