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

The Bride begins this sweet Conference, vers. 2. and continues to vers. 8. 1. She speaks to Christ, vers. 2, 3, 4. Then 2. to the Daughters of Jerusalem, vers. 5, 6. Lastly, she turns her self again to the Bridegroom, vers. 7.

The Bride begins this sweet Conference, vers. 2. and continues to vers. 8. 1. She speaks to Christ, vers. 2, 3, 4. Then 2. to the Daughters of Ierusalem, vers. 5, 6. Lastly, she turns her self again to the Bridegroom, vers. 7.

In the first of these, there is, 1. Her aim and desire, by way ⟨p. 56⟩of an earnest wish laid down, vers. 1. 2. The motives that stir up this desire in her, and whereby she presseth it on him, vers. 2, 3. 3. There is a formal Prayer set down, vers. 4. which is amplified in these three: 1. In the motive proposed. 2. In the answer obtained, and felt. 3. In the effects that followed on it.

In the first of these, there is, 1. Her aime and desire, by way ⟨p. 56⟩of an earnest wish laid down, vers. 1. 2. The motives that stir up this desire in her, and whereby she presseth it on him, vers. 2, 3. 3. There is a formal Prayer set down, vers. 4. which is amplified in these three: 1. In the motive proposed. 2. In the answer obtained, and felt. 3. In the effects that followed on it.

Her great wish is, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. That it's the Bride that speaks, is clear; She begins, not because love ariseth first on her side (for here she begins, as having already closed with him, and therefore she speaks to him, as one who knows his worth, and longs for the out-lettings of his love) but because such expressions of Christs love, as are to be found in this Song, whereby his complacency is vented and manifested towards us, doth first presuppose the working of love in us, and our exercising of it on him, and then his delighting (that is, his expressing his delight) in us: For although the man first suit the wife (and so Christ first sueth for his Bride) yet when persons are married, it's most suitable, that the wife should very pressingly long for, and express desire after the husband, even as the Bride doth here after Christ's kisses, and the expressions of his love. Of this order of Christ's love, see Chap. 8. Vers. 10.