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

3. The style and expressions will bear out more then any Humane ⟨p. 8⟩Love, or any Humane Object, upon which men set their love: We are sure, no such love would be proponed to Believers as a warranted pattern for their imitation, as if it would be commendable in them to be so much ravished and taken up, even with the most lovely creature.

4. Many things here are inconsistent with Humane Love, and that modesty that is required in it (as the Hebrews themselves, apud Mercer. observe) as to propone him to others, to excite them to Love him, others undertaking to follow after him, her speaking to him in her sleep, Chap. 5. 2. running in the night through the Streets, and slighting him at the Door; which by no means can admit a proper, literal, immediate sense, but must needs aim at something figurative. Beside, what reason can there be to plead a proper sense here, more then in other figurative Scriptures of the same sort, as of these that speak of the Souls union with Christ, under the similitude of a Marriage, and particularly that of Psal. 45. which is (as it were) a compend of this Song, and is looked upon by all as figurative?

4. Many things here are inconsistent with Humane Love, and that modesty that is required in it (as the Hebrews themselves, apud Mercer. observe) as to propone him to others, to excite them to Love him, others undertaking to follow after him, her speaking to him in her sleep, Chap. 5. 2. running in the night through the Streets, and slighting him at the Door; which by no means can admit a proper, literal, immediat sense, but must needs aim at something figurative. Beside, what reason can there be to plead a proper sense here, more then in other figurative Scriptures of the same sort, as of these that speak of the Souls union with Christ, under the similitude of a Marriage, and particularly that of Psal. 45. which is (as it were) a compend of this Song, and is looked upon by all as figurative?