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

In sum, there are none of the Characters, usually condescended on as necessary for evidencing the Authority of holy Scripture, wanting here; this Song being a Divine Subject, received into the Canon, ⟨p. 6⟩bearing a Divine stamp, having much Majesty in it's style, agreeing with it self and other Scriptures fully; impartially speaking out the blots and adversities of the Bride, as well as her beauty and prosperity, and written by a Prophet and Penman of holy Writ, to wit, Solomon.

The 2. Proposition is, That this Song is not to be taken properly, (and [Greek or Hebrew]) or literally, that is, as the words do at first sound; but it is to be taken and understood spiritually, figuratively and allegorically, as having some spiritual meaning contained under these figurative expressions, made use of throughout this Song: My meaning is, that when it speaketh of a Marriage, Spouse, Sister, Beloved, Daughters of Jerusalem, &c. these expressions are not to be understood properly of such, but as holding forth something of a spiritual nature under these.

The 2. Proposition is, That this Song is not to be taken properly, (and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉) or literally, that is, as the words do at first sound; but it is to be taken and understood spiritually, figuratively and allegorically, as having some spiritual meaning contained under these figurative expressions, made use of throughout this Song: My meaning is, that when it speaketh of a Marriage, Spouse, Sister, Beloved, Daughters of Ierusalem, &c. these expressions are not to be understood properly of such, but as holding forth something of a spiritual nature under these.

I grant it hath a literal meaning, but I say, that literal meaning is not immediate, and that which first looketh out, as in Historical Scriptures, or others which are not figurative, but that which is spiritually and especially meant by these Allegoric and Figurative speeches, is the Literal meaning of this Song: So that it's Literal sense is mediate, representing the meaning, not immediately from the Words, but mediately from the Scope, that is, the intention of the Spirit, which is couched under the Figures and Allegories, here made use of: For, a Literal sense (as it is defined by Rivet out of the School-men) is that which floweth from such a place of Scripture as intended by the Spirit in the words, whether properly or figuratively used, and is to be gathered from the whole complex expression together, applied thereunto, as in the Exposition of Parables, Allegories and Figurative Scriptures is clear; And it were as improper and absurd to deny a Figurative Sense (though Literal) to these, as it were to fix Figurative Expositions upon plain Scriptures, which are properly to be taken.