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

The words contain a commendation of the Church, expressed both in the matter, and also in the manner of the expression (being by way of question) and it is given by visible Professors, some whereof may be more tender than others, yet both contradistinguished from the Bride. The commendation hath three parts or steps. 1. She cometh, or (as it's Chap. 8. 5.) ascends from the wilderness; It's like before this manifestation of Christ, the Church was dry and withered-like, in a wilderness condition, without any beauty or lustre; but now that condition is changed, when Christ is present, she ascends and comes out of it: And this wilderness (considering her ascent from it) signifies the World, wherein believers sojourn in the way to Heaven (as Israel did in the wilderness to Canaan) and wherein there is no true content, nor satisfying rest sought by them, nor to be found by any, therefore is their back on it, though formerly they seemed ⟨p. 174⟩to be settled in it with the rest of the World; Thus the heavenliness of believers in their conversation is set out. 2. She comes like pillars of smoke; This looks not in all things to ordinary smoke, but (as the after-words do clear) to the smoke of incense, &c. Now she ascends like smoke in a calm-day, and like pillars of it together, making heaven-ward, as the smoke of incense, which being commanded in God's worship, was acceptable to him: And as smoke fleeing from kindled fire cannot but ascend, and fire (especially new kindled) cannot but have smoke, and that in abundance; so now the Church being warmed, and of fresh inflamed and made lively with Christ's presence, cannot but send out a sweet savour, which discernably ascends upward from the world (which is but a wilderness) as smoke doth from the earth.

The words contain a commendation of the Church, expressed both in the matter, and also in the manner of the expression (being by way of question) and it is given by visible Professors, some whereof may be more tender than others, yet both contradistinguished from the Bride. The commendation hath three parts or steps. 1. She cometh, or (as it's Chap. 8. 5.) ascends from the wildernesse; It's like before this manifestation of Christ, the Church was dry and withered-like, in a wildernesse condition, without any beauty or lustre; but now that condition is changed, when Christ is present, she ascends and comes out of it: And this wildernesse (considering her ascent from it) signifies the World, wherein believers sojourn in the way to Heaven (as Israel did in the wildernesse to Canaan) and wherein there is no true content, nor satisfying rest sought by them, nor to be found by any, therefore is their back on it, though formerly they seemed