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

The second reason (which is also a confirmation and enlargement of the former) is vers. 3. and it runs upon these supposed and implied grounds. 1. That there are many precious excellencies in Christ. So that, 2. the speaking of his Name, is as if a man would open a sweet favouring Box of Ointment, as that woman did, Joh. 12. 3. There is no title, or office, or qualification in Christ, but all are savoury; his very Garments smell of Myrrh, and Aloes, and Cassia, &c. Psal. 45 8. 3. It suppons that this worth and loveliness of Christ, ravishes all that ever knew him (here called Virgins) with love to him: and therefore (which is the strength of the reason) it's no marvel, would she say, I love him so fervently, and desire so earnestly the manifestations of his love, which I have sound so sweet.

The second reason (which is also a confirmation and inlargement of the former) is vers. 3. and it runs upon these supposed and implyed grounds. 1. That there are many precious excellencies in Christ. So that, 2. the speaking of his Name, is as if a man would open a sweet favou•ing Box of Ointment, as that woman did, Ioh. 12. 3. There is no title, or office, or qualification in Christ, but all are savoury; his very Garments smell of Myrrhe, and Aloes, and Cassia, &c. Psal. 45 8. 3. It suppons that this worth and lovelinesse of Christ, ravishes all that ever knew him (here called Virgins) with love to him: and therefore (which is the strength of the reason) it's no marvell, would she say, I love him so servently, and desire so earnestly the manifestations of his love, which I have sound so sweet.

So the vers. may be taken up in these four things. 1. Christs furniture, he hath many savoury Ointments, and good. 2. The further explication, and amplification of this his commendation, expressing both what she meant by Ointments, and also the abundance and freshness of these Ointments, which were in Christ; in these words, thy name is as Ointment poured forth. 3. The effect that ollowed on these, or the attractive virtue of them, which is such, that the most chaste, who kept their affections from other objects, are yet without prejudice to their chaste nature, taken up and ravished with that loveliness of Christ: Therefore (saith she) do the Virgins love thee. 4. There is the scope, which is partly to show the reality of Christ's worth, which not only she, but all Believers were in love with; partly to show, that it was no strange thing, to see her so taken up with him, it would be rather