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

Vers. 8. They all hold Swords, being expert in war: every man hath his Sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night.

The Bride, being commended in the former verse by the daughters of Jerusalem, as being jealous that they gazed upon her, to the prejudice of the Bridegroom, and being ever restless till every commendable thing that is in her, redound to his praise, to whom she owes, and from whom she derives all her beauty; She steps in hastily with a Behold, as having a far more wonderful and excellent object to propone to them, to wit, Christ Jesus, the true Solomon himself, whose loveliness and glory should take them all up, rather than any poor perfections they saw in her.

The Bride, being commended in the former verse by the daughters of Ierusalem, as being jealous that they gazed upon her, to the prejudice of the Bridegroom, and being ever restlesse till every commendable thing that is in her, redound to his praise, to whom she owes, and from whom she derives all her beauty; She steps in hastily with a Behold, as having a far more wonderful and excellent object to propone to them, to wit, Christ Jesus, the true Solomon himself, whose lovelinesse and glory should take them all up, rather than any poor perfections they saw in her.

That this is the scope, the matter will clear, especially vers. 11. where, what she would be at, is propounded in plain terms; and her sudden coming in with a Behold, as in Chap. 1. 6. doth confirm it. That they are the Brides words also, the scope and connection bears it out; this being her disposition, that she can suffer no commendation from Christ, nor from any other to stay or rest upon her, but is restless till it be turned over to his praise, as, Chap. 1. 16. 2. 3. &c. There is none so tender of him, or jealous of his honour, as Christ's Bride is: Again, the daughters being spoken unto, and Christ spoken of as a third person, it can be no other that speaks here, but the Bride: What? (saith she)