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

The third way he insisteth to urge this (for the call, and kindness comes still on his side, even when we are in the fault) is by most pressing arguments of three sorts. The first is, vers. 11. Rise (saith he) and come away; for there is no hazard now to travel this journey, because what might scar you is done away, the winter-cold and storm in past; and the rain that makes rivers unpassible, and journeys dangerous and wearisome (therefore, it's Matth. 24. 20. pray that your flight be not in the winter) these are over. This ⟨p. 137⟩suppons, 1. There was a sharp winter, and a bitter rain (as it were) whereby the way of fellowship with God, was unpassible, till these were removed; the sword (as it were) standing to keep sinners from Paradise, that is, the sentence and curse of the broken law, and the wrath of God pursuing therefore, which was indeed a fearful winter, and storm that made the Sun dark, and the day gloomy, therefore is God's wrath in Scripture compared to terrible blasts and tempests, and who can stand before his cold? Psal. 147. 17. 2. It says, that now these are done away by Christ; and by his call in the Gospel, he assures his people, they shall find them fully removed; so that there is no wrath nor curse, that any who yields to it, needs to fear. 3. It implies that the Gospel brings good news, and there is none better than this, that Gods justice is satisfied, and his wrath removed. 4. It imports, that Christ can bear sure testimony to this, that wrath is over, because he payed a price to remove it, and therefore sinners may take his word, and follow his call. And, 5. That believers are sometimes ready to suspect, more than they have ground, that there is some storm yet before them; but Christ hath made all fair-weather, ere he call: O great argument! He calls not to fight, but to gather the spoil; He puts not believers to the sea, till he himself hath made all calm: Believers meet with blasts and storms sometimes, but readily that is, when their back is on Christ, and not when their faces are to him-ward: The wind of wrath is not in a sinners face that seeketh Jesus, but the word •aith to such, fear not, Mark 16. 6. ye seek him.