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

First, This Song hath ever been received into the Canon, and accounted (as they speak) for Canonic, as the rest of the Scriptures were. It was never questioned by the Jews (as Mercer. praefat. ad Cant. cleareth) but was still received by them, and transmitted to the Gentile Churches, who received the Scriptures of the Old Testament from them, who had the Oracles of God in keeping: And that the same hath been universally received by Christians, may appear by the Records of the Councils, and Writings of the Fathers, where the Catalogue of the Books of the Holy Scripture is set down.

First, This Song hath ever been received into the Canon, and accounted (as they speak) for Canonick, as the rest of the Scriptures were. It was never questioned by the Jews (as Mercer. praefat. ad Cant. cleareth) but was still received by them, and transmitted to the Gentile Churches, who received the Scriptures of the Old Testament from them, who had the Oracles of God in keeping: And that the same hath been universally received by Christians, may appear by the Records of the Councils, and Writings of the Fathers, where the Catalogue of the Books of the Holy Scripture is set down.

2. It carrieth the Authority of the Holy Ghost engraven upon it, as evidently as any piece of Scripture, not only as to its Matter, manner of Expression, Divine Style; but mostly in that Divine power and efficacy it hath on hearts and spirits (especially of the more discerning, who best know Christs voice, as his Sheep) whereby it relishes so sweetly, and elevates them to such an holy ravishment, that it obtaineth the testimony from all, that there is something Divine in it, and more then can be in Humane Writings, even though they cannot particularly tell the meaning of it; That holding true here, which one said of a Book which was something obscure, That which I understand (said he) is excellent: therefore I judge, that which I understand not to be so also, though it exceed my reach. And that its Christ who speaketh, and that it is the Language of the Holy Ghost, and can be applied to no other, is by a Divine conviction extorted from the Reader, and Hearer of it; so that confessedly and deservedly, it beareth this Title, A Song of Songs.