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

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.

2. When he is born, the Lord gives him his name, yea, sends Nathan, 2 Sam. 12. with this warrant, to name him Jedidiah, because the Lord loved him; which cannot be a love flowing from ⟨p. 46⟩any thing in him, as if he had been well pleased with his carriage, (Solomon had not yet done any thing good or evil) but it must be a love prior to his works, and so not arising from his good deeds, and therefore not cut off by his sins; which being like the love, God had to Jacob, before he had done good or evil, Rom. 9. 11. must speak out Electing love, as it doth in that place.

2. When he is born, the Lord gives him his name, yea, sends Nathan, 2 Sam. 12. with this warrand, to name him Iedidiah, because the Lord loved him; which cannot be a love flowing from