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

The solid exercise of faith never wants hope waiting on it, therefore, 2. vers. 17. that follows, for completing the Brides consolation in these words, until the day break, and shadows, &c. Though there be shadows (saith she) and veils betwixt him and me, in this night of desertion; yet there is a day coming when these, by his presence, shall be made to flee away, and I shall see him as he is. There is a twofold day spoken of in Scripture, 1. A day of Christ's presence here upon earth, Luk. 1. 78. The day-spring from on high hath visited us. 2. The day of his glorious appearing, commonly called the great day; and in a singular way called here the day, because it hath no night of interruption following thereupon, and because it goes as far beyond what believers possess now, as day exceeds the night; Therefore it's called the morning, Psal. 49. 14. in which the just shall have the dominion; and the dawning of the day, and the rising of the day-star in our hearts, 2 Pet. 1. 19. which is there opposed to the clearest prophesies and ordinances, which are but as a candle in a dark place, in respect of that day. Now we conceive the last and great day is signified here, 1. Because that is her scope, to comfort her self in the hope of what is coming. 2. Because she opposeth it to the present means, as to shadows, even to faith it self, for that she enjoyed for the time; and also to sensible pre•ence, which in the next words she prays for, till that day dawn. By shadows is meant, whatever mars the immediate, full and satisfying enjoying of Christ, which as shadows, hide him from us, or darken him that we do not see him as he is, or give but small and dark representations of him, (like shadows of the body) which are very unproportioned unto his own excellent worth. They are said to flee away, because a glimpse of Christ then, when he who is the Sun of Righteousness, shall shine at the break of that day, shall dispel and dissipate them more fully and quickly, than this natural Sun when rising, doth scatter darkness and shadows that go before it. And by until, we understand the setting of a fixed term, which distinguisheth one time from another, as Gen. 32. I ⟨p. 152⟩