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

This Chapter hath three parts, 1. The Brides sad exercise under the want of Christ, and in seeking after him till she find him, to vers. 6. 2. The Daughters of Jerusalem come in, commending the Bride, vers. 6. 3. The Bride ⟨p. 155⟩from vers. 7. to the end, returns to discourse of, and commend the excellency and amiableness of Christ.

THis Chapter hath three parts, 1. The Brides sad exercise under the want of Christ, and in seeking after him till she find him, to vers. 6. 2. The Daughters of Ierusalem come in, commending the Bride, vers. 6. 3. The Bride ⟨p. 155⟩from vers. 7. to the end, returns to discourse of, and commend the excellency and amiablenesse of Christ.

In her exercise consider, 1. Her case. 2. Her carriage in several steps. 3. Her success in every step. 4. Her practice when she hath obtained her desire: Or, we may take them all up in these two, 1. Her sad condition, and her carriage under it. 2. Her outgate and her carriage suitable thereto. Her case is implied in two words in the beginning of vers. 1. 1. It was night with her. 2. She was on her bed. By night, is ordinarily understood darkness, and affliction, opposite to light of day and joy; and here her exercise being spiritual, it must imply some spiritual affliction, or soul-sad spiritual exercise. So night is taken, Psal. 42. 8. He will command his loving kindness in the day, and in the night (while the day come, that his loving kindness be intimate) his song shall be with me, &c. The scope-shows, that it is a night of dese•tion she is under, through the want of Christ's presence whom she loves; His presence, who is the Sun of Righteousness with healing under his wings, makes the believers day; and his absence, is their night, and makes them droop, as being under a sad night of soul-affliction; therefore is it, that she seeks so carefully after his presence. 2. Her being on her bed, is not taken here, as implying nearness with him; for, the scope shows he is absent, but a laziness of frame on her spirit, opposite to activeness and diligence, as it's taken, Chap. 5. vers. 3. and so it's opposed to her after-rising and diligence, and therefore it's also called my bed, implying that she was here alone in a secure comfortless frame, and therefore for this, it's distinguished from our bed, Chap. 1. 16. and his bed afterward, vers. 7. Where she is allowed rest, and spiritual ease, and solace in his company; but here on her bed she hath no such allowance, whatever earnal ease and rest she take to her self: Believers have their own fits of carnal security, when they give their corruptions rest, that is, their own bed; and it's a heartless lair (to speak so) to lie alone and want the beloved: This is her case, wanting Christ, yet lying too still, as contented some-way in that condition; though it cannot continue so with believers, it will turn heavy and perplexing at last to them, as it doth here to the Bride: and sure, the easiest time under security