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

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 ⟨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 Iacob, before he had done good or evil, Rom. 9. 11. must speak out Electing love, as it doth in that place.

3. He is made use of by the Spirit, to be a Penman of Holy Writ, and a Prophet of the Lord; all which, are by our Lord, Luke 13. 28. said, to sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven; and there is no reason to exclude him, seeing that universal (all the Prophets, &c.) would not be a truth, unless he were there: And though some wicked men have prophesied, as Balaam did, yet are they never accounted Prophets of the Lord, as Solomon was, but false Prophets and Enchanters; neither were they Penmen of Holy Writ; who were, as Peter calleth them,