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

2. This tower is more particularly explicat, 1. From the end and use for which it was intended, It was built for an armoury, that men […] be furnished with arms in time of need. 2. The store of arms there laid up, is here set down, whereupon hang a thousand bucklers, all Shields of mighty men, that is, It's furnished especially with defensive arms (the believers war being most defensive) as shields; but with abundance of these, for number a thousand; and for quality excellent, and such as mighty men make use of.

2. This tower is more particularly explicat, 1. From the end and use for which it was intended, It was built for an armory, that men 〈…〉 be furnished with arms in time of need. 2. The store of arms there laid up, is here set down, whereupon hang a thousand bucklers, all Shields of mighty men, that is, It's furnished especially with defensive arms (the believers war being most defensive) as shields; but with abundance of these, for number a thousand; and for quality excellent, and such as mighty men make use of.

If we consider the neck here, in respect of it's use, it holds forth the vigorous exercise of the grace of faith; for, it's that by which a believer is united to Christ the head: It's that which strengthens them, and is their armoury furnishing them with shields, because it provides them out of Christ's fullness, which is contained in the promises; which promises, or rather Christ in them, being made use of by •aith, are for a believers security, against challenges, tentations, discouragements, &c. as so many excellent shields: Therefore, Eph. 6. 16. it's called the shield of faith, and for their safety it is commended above all the rest of the spiritual armour: And this being the believers great defence, and specially tending to their commendation when it is in lively exercise, this similitude cannot be so well applied to any other thing.

If we consider the neck here, in respect of it's use, it holds forth the vigorous exercise of the grace of faith; for, it's that by which a believer is united to Christ the head: It's that which strengthens them, and is their armory furnishing them with shields, because it provides them out of Christ's fulnesse, which is contained in the promises; which promises, or rather Christ in them, being made use of by aith, are for a believers security, against challenges, tentations, discouragements, &c. as so many excellent shields: Therefore,