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

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) ⟨p. 177⟩are ye taken with any loveliness ye see in me? I will propose to you a far more excellent object. And this short but very sweet discourse, holds •orth Christ, lovely and glorious in three most excellent steps, wherein by a notable gradation, Solomon is ever mentioned, his name (who was a special type of Christ) being borrowed to design him, while his glory is set forth. He is described, 1. From his bed, vers. 7, 8. Whereby is set forth, the excellent happiness and quietness that believers have in enjoying him. 2. From his Chariot, a most stately piece of work, by which is signified that excellent mean (to wit, the Covenant of redemption revealed and preached) whereby our Lord Jesus brings his people to his rest, vers. 9, 10. 3. She propounds his own most excellent self, and that crowned with the stately Majesty and glory of his love, beyond which there is no step to proceed, but here she ists, and willeth all others to be taken up, in beholding him, as the only desirable and heart-ravishing object, vers. 11.