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

Vers. 9. My Beloved is like a Roe, or a young Hart: Behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice.

Vers. 9. My Beloved is like a Roe, or a young Hart: Behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattesse.

These words contain a case of the Brides, different from her case in the former words; there she was in Christ's arms; here she sees him afar off; there she was endeavouring to keep him still; here she is sensible that he is away, and, vers. ult. is praying for his return. Observe then from the connection, The most satisfying and comfortable conditions of a believer, while upon earth, are not abiding; even the Bride must experience distance, as well as presence. 2. Sometimes sensible presence will not continue, even when believers are most careful to retain it, as we find she was in the words before.

These words contain a case of the Brides, different from her case in the former words; there she was in Christ's arms; here she sees him afar off; there she was endeavouring to keep him still; here she is sensible that he is away, and, vers. ult. is praying for his return. Observe then from the connexion, The most satisfying and comfortable conditions of a believer, while upon earth, are not abiding; even the Bride must experience distance, as well as presence. 2. Sometimes sensible presence will not continue, even when believers are most careful to retain it, as we find she was in the words before.

Her distance hath two steps, 1. There are some views of Christ, and some intercourse with him, though afar off, in this Chapter: Then, 2. she is deprived even of that, in the first part of the Chapter following: And readily distance once begun, doth proceed from a lesser to a greater degree, before it be removed.