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

2. By this, the Lord maketh his displeasure with Solomon's ways, known; though he had favour to his person, and gave him his soul for a prey.

2. By this, the Lord maketh his displeasure with Solomon's wayes, known; though he had favour to his person, and gave him his soul for a prey.

3. Thus the Lord would affright others from declining, and hereby teacheth his people, to be afraid to rest upon Gifts; yea, or upon Graces, seeing he hath left this matter so far in the dark, as might yield an occasion (as it were) to question the eternal condition of Solomon.

3. Thus the Lord would affright others from declining, and hereby teacheth his people, to be afraid to rest upon Gifts; yea, or upon Graces, seing he hath left this matter so far in the dark, as might yeeld an occasion (as it were) to question the eternal condition of Solomon.

4. It may be also, that Solomon after his recovery, did never recover his former lustre, nor attain to such a profitable way of appearing in God's public matters, for which formerly he had been so observable: For so it is taken notice even of David, after his fall, that his following life is stained, as different from what went before; therefore it is the commendation of Jehoshaphat, 1 Chron. 17. 3. that he walked in the first ways of his father David, which certainly, is not done to condemn David's state after that time, but to leave that mark (as a chastisement) on his failings: And seeing Solomon's were greater, therefore may this silence of his recovery, be more universal as to him.

4. It may be also, that Solomon after his recovery, did never recover his former lustre, nor attain to such a profitable way of appearing in God's publike matters, for which formerly he had been so observable: For so it is taken notice even of David, after his fall, that his following life is stained, as different from what went before; therefore it is the commendation of Iehoshaphat,