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

Afterward, she proceeds more particularly, to describe first her sufferings, then her infirmities. She describes her sufferings, 1. In the instruments of them. 2. The cause of them. 3. The nature of them. The actors are not heathens, but mothers children; the visible Church is the common mother, who hath children born after the flesh, as well as after the Spirit; These children are professors of the same truth, but really not only strangers, but heart-enemies to Godliness and true tenderness; Such was Ishmael, and such are all unrenewed persons, who are children of the flesh, and such there will be (Gal. 4. 29.) so long as there is a Church visible: Such instruments the Apostle complains of, 2 Cor. 11. 26. that he had perils from false brethren within, as well as from strangers without. This is not only mentioned to show there are such enemies, but to set out more fully the Churches strait; she is often more bitterly, and more subtly persecuted by these who are called Christians, or Professors of the Gospel, than by Heathens themselves.

Afterward, she proceeds more particularly, to describe first her sufferings, then her infirmities. She describes her sufferings, 1. In the instruments of them. 2. The cause of them. 3. The nature of them. The actors are not heathens, but mothers children; the visible Church is the common mother, who hath children born after the flesh, as well as after the Spirit; These children are professors of the same truth, but really not only strangers, but heart-enemies to Godlinesse and true tendernesse; Such was Ishmael, and such are all unrenewed persons, who are children of the flesh, and such there will be (Gal. 4. 29.) so long as there is a Church visible: Such instruments the Apostle complains of, 2 Cor. 11. 26. that he had perils from false brethren within, as well as from strangers without. This is not only mentioned to shew there are such enemies, but to set out more fully the Churches strait; she is often more bitterly, and more subtilly persecuted by these who are called Christians, or Professors of the Gospel, than by Heathens themselves.