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

2. We say, that this Song is not Typical, as being made up of two Histories, to wit, Solomon's Marriage, and Christ's, nor doth it any way intend the comparing of these two together in the events, as to their facts or deeds: But it is Allegoric, not respecting Solomon, or his Marriage, but aiming to set out spiritual Mysteries in figurative expressions, in such a manner as may most effectuate that end, for enlightening the judgement, and moving of the affections, without any respect to that Story, or Fact of Solomon's: For,

2. We say, that this Song is not Typical, as being made up of two Histories, to wit, Solomon's Marriage, and Christ's, nor doth it any way intend the comparing of these two together in the events, as to their facts or deeds: But it is Allegorick, not respecting Solomon, or his Marriage, but aiming to set out spiritual Mysteries in figurative expressions, in such a manner as may most effectuat that end, for inlightning the judgement, and moving of the affections, without any respect to that Story, or Fact of Solomon's: For,

First, The strain and series of it, is clearly Allegoric, as the reading and considering of it will clear. 2. There can be no History to which it can relate, unto which the things spoken in this Song can be properly applied, as is said. 3. Solomon's Marriage was at least twenty years before this Song was written; See on Song 7. concerning the Tower of Lebanon, and compare it with 1 King. 7. 1, 2. and Chap. 6. ult. Therefore it cannot be thought so much as to be Penned on that occasion, as an Epithalamium which was to be sung that night on which he was Married, (and although occasion of penning of it, were taken from that, yet would it not prove it Typical, and to respect that as it's Type.) And 4. What more is this Allegory of a Marriage, to be accounted Typical, then other places of Scripture, where this same manner of expression is used? 5. If it be partly Typical, how is this Type to be made up? for Christs love unto, and Marriage with, his Church, is not only set out here as peculiar to the New Testament, but is applicable to Believers under the Old: There can therefore be here no comparing of Facts of the Old Testament, with any thing answering to them in the New. If it be said, Solomon's Marriage Typified Christ's Marrying of the Gentiles. I answer, beside that there is no Scripture for this conjecture (and it's hard to coin Types without Scripture authority, otherwise we might make Solomon a Type in his many Wives, possibly, and in