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

If it be asked, why she turns over this commendation to him in the second person, Thou art, &c? Ans. She doth it, 1. To testify her sincerity, that she was not flattering nor complementing, but she durst make him witness of what she said. 2. To show that there are many spiritual conferences, and sweet soliloquies between the souls of believers and Christ, wherein they are very familiar with him, which none knows, nor can know, but Christ and they; for, she is speaking to him when no body knows, and he to her. 3. Because there are many divine experiences of believers, that are scarcely communicable to any other, but Christ: and therefore she will tell them over to him.

If it be asked, why she turnes over this commendatien to him in the second person, Thou art, &c? Ans. She doth it, 1. To testifie her sincerity, that she was not flattering nor complementing, but she durst make him witnesse of what she said. 2. To shew that there are many spiritual con•erences, and sweet soliloquies between the souls of believers and Christ, wherein they are very •amiliar with him, which none knowes, nor can know, but Christ and they; for, she is speaking to him when no body knowes, and he to her. 3. Because there are many divine experiences of believers, that are scarcely communicable to any other, but Christ: and therefore she will tell them over to him.

The commendation she puts upon him, is even the same which he before gave her, Thou art fair (saith she) And that which she aims at in this, is, 1. To set forth the exceeding great beauty that is in our Lord Jesus; which beauty is spiritually to be understood, namely of the qualifications wherewith he is furnished, having grace poured into his lips, Psal. 45. 2. Joh. 1. 14. 2. The great esteem that the believer hath of Christ, and that both for what he is in himself, and for what he is to him: Thou art fair in thy self (saith she) and fair to me; and it says, a little glimpse of Christ's beauty, hath an attractive efficacy upon the heart of a believer: When Christ Jesus is seen, it puts a wonderful stamp of love upon the hearts of his people; he hath a very amiable aspect, that cannot but get love in the beholders, as they said that heard him, never man spake as he speaks; so they that have seen him, will say, never mans countenance looked like his, amongst all the sons of men he bears the standard, and hath a loveliness wherein he is beyond them all: No wonder, he being the brightness of his Fathers glory, and the express image of his person. 3. It is to show, wherefrom all her beauty was derived (as was hinted before) it was from his; If I be fair (saith she) it is because thou art fair, it's thy beauty that puts beauty upon me.