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

There is an excellent day coming to believers, wherein Christ shall be immediately enjoyed and seen, and wherein the soul shall be comforted with no mediate object, or created excellency, but shall see his face, and be filled with the fullness of God. 2. While here, there are many shadows even betwixt Christ and the strongest believers; we see but darkly as in a glass, 1 Cor. 13. 12. There is, 1. a shadow of desertion, and his hiding of himself. 2. A shadow of Ordinances, where he is seen, yet but darkly, like a face in a Looking-glass. 3. A shadow of sinful infirmities, drawing veils betwixt Christ and us, and hiding his face from us, Isa. 59. 2. 4. A shadow of natural infirmity; for, not only are we ready through unbelief to slander him, but by reason of weakness (like narrow or old bottles) we are not capable of him, and unable to contain him. 3. At that day of his appearing, all these shadows will instantly be done away: there will not one tear be left on any believers cheeks, there will be no affliction or desertion to hide him from them, but they shall be for ever with him: there will then be no Ordinances, nor Temple, Rev. 21. 22. but the Lord God and the Lamb himself, shall be the Temple and light of his people: Nor will there be any sinful infirmities then to interpose betwixt him and them, death, the curse and corruption will be cast into the lake; no unclean thing accompanies the believer into the new Jerusalem; nay, no imperfect thing is there, for whatever is imperfect, and whatever was in part, is then done away, 1 Cor. 13. 10. and what is perfect will then come; the soul in it's faculties will then be perfected, capacitated and dilated to conceive, take up and delight in God; and the body perfected, made glorious and spiritual, like the glorious body of our Lord Jesus, Philip. 3. ult. 4. The hope of that day, and of the fleeing away of all shadows then, is (and no marvel it be) very refreshful to the Lord's people: and believers in all their darknesses should comfort themselves and others from the hope of it, 1 Thes. 4. ult. 5. All that are Christ's, or whoever have faith in Christ, and fellowship with him by virtue of his Covenant, may