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

The seventh and last part that is commended in the Bride, is her two breasts or paps. For clearing of this similitude, we are to consider, 1. That the breasts in nature are a part of the comeliness of the body, Ezek. 16. 7. 2. They are useful to give suck and food to others. 3. They signify warmness of affection, and lovingness, as Prov. 5. 19. let her breasts always satisfy thee; ⟨p. 213⟩and Chap. 1. 13. the Bride expressing her affection to Christ, saith, he shall lye all night between my breasts; and so the wise of the bosom is the chaste and beloved spouse: And thus Christ is called the Son of God's love, or of his bosom. For this cause, we conceive these things are here understood, 1. A believers fitness to edify others, and that believers are in a condition suitable to a married wife, or mother, that brings forth children, and hath breasts to nurse them: and so to have no breasts, Chap. 8. 8. is opposed to this; a believer is, as it were, a nurse with breasts, fitted to edify others. 2. That believers being in case to be useful to others for their edification, is a special ornament to their profession. And the third thing that is here understood, is believers warmlinesse and kindliness to Christ, and these that are his, taking him and them (as it were) in their bosom; the believer hath warm affections to receive them into. And two breasts are mentioned, to show there is no defect as to the extent, but both her breasts are in good case, and always ready in love to communicate their furniture, for others edification.

The seventh and last part that is commended in the Bride, is her two breasts or paps. For clearing of this similitude, we are to consider, 1. That the breasts in nature are a part of the comelinesse of the body, Ezek. 16. 7. 2. They are useful to give suck and food to others. 3. They signifie warmnesse of affection, and lovingnesse, as Prov. 5. 19. let her breasts alwayes satisfie thee; ⟨p. 213⟩and Chap. 1. 13. the Bride expressing her affection to Christ, saith, he shall lye all night between my breasts; and so the wise of the bosome is the chast and beloved spouse: And thus Christ is called the Son of God's love, or of his bosome. For this cause, we conceive these things are here understood, 1. A believers fitnesse to edifie others, and that believers are in a condition suitable to a married wife, or mother, that brings forth children, and hath breasts to nurse them: and so to have no breasts, Chap. 8. 8. is opposed to this; a believer is, as it were, a nurse with breasts, fitted to edifie others. 2. That believers being in case to be useful to others for their edification, is a special ornament to their profession. And the third thing that is here understood, is believers warmlinesse and kindlinesse to Christ, and these that are his, taking him and them (as it were) in their bosome; the believer hath warm affections to receive them into. And two breasts are mentioned, to shew there is no defect as to the extent, but both her breasts are in good case, and alwayes ready in love to communicat their furniture, for others edification.