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

By Daughters of Jerusalem in common, are certainly understood professors, members of the Church; and so born in, and belonging unto Jerusalem; but because there are members of several sorts, some strong, some weak, some sound, some unsound, some tender, some profane; we must inquire a little further who are meant by these Daughters of Jerusalem, they being often mentioned in this Song.

By Daughters of Ierusalem in common, are certainly understood professors, members of the Church; and so born in, and belonging unto Jerusalem; but because there are members of several sorts, some strong, some weak, some sound, some unsound, some tender, some prophane; we must inquire a little further who are meant by these Daughters of Jerusalem, they being often mentioned in this Song.

First, We look on them as distinct from mothers children, mentioned in the following verse, as a party different from the Daughters ⟨p. 76⟩here spoken to; and so they are not to be accounted amongst the profane embittered heart-enemies of Godliness, who yet live in the Church: They are not the worst then of them that are in the visible Church. 2. We take them also as distinguished from the Virgins and upright, who loved and delighted in Christ in the former vers. For, chap. 5. 8, 9. and 6. 1. we will find them very ignorant of Christ, although they have some affection. In a word, we take them to include two sorts of Professors: 1. Such as are weak and scarcely formed, yet are docile, and respective to outward Ordinances, and Godliness in the practice of it: So their respect to the Bride, and the question propounded by them, chap. 5. 9. doth clear. 2. They comprehend such as are formed Believers, really honest, and who have some sound beginnings, yet mixed with much weakness, ignorance and infirmity, and so not come up the length of grown Christians; such who need milk, and cannot endure strong meat; so their question and undertaking, chap. 6. 1. doth evidence; they were Daughters, while yet they were really very ignorant of Christ, and were ready to provoke him before he pleased, (as the often repeated charge the Bride gives them throughout this Song imports) and they were Daughters still, even after they were something better taught and engaged. We find,