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

In this 11• vers. there are three particulars commended: under which we conceive much of the series of a believers walk is understood. The 1. Is her lips: which are commended from this, that they drop as the honey comb: By lips, as vers. 3. and frequently in the Song (and so in the Proverbs, a man of lips is taken for a man of talk) is understood her speech, words or discourse, especially to others. These her words, (or her speech) are compared for the matter, to honey or the honey comb, that is ⟨p. 233⟩sweet, nourishing, healthful and pleasant; as Prov. 16. 24. Pleasant words are as the honey-comb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones: And by honey in Scripture, is often understood that which is excellent, and useful for the life of man: And therefore it was a property of Canaan, that it flowed with milk and honey, which are put together in the following piece of her commendation. 2. Her speech or words, are commended from the manner or qualification of them, They drop as the honey-comb, &c. Dropping words signify, 1. Seasonable words, which are like dew, dropping for the edification of others, as dew by it's dropping makes the fields fruitful. 2. Prudence and moderation in discourse, and so dropping is opposed to floods, that with violence overflow. 3. •his phrase •ignifieth a continuance in seasonable, prudent and edifying discourse, as Job, 27. 22. My words dropped on them, and Deut. 31. 2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain: Thus the lips of the wise feed many, Prov. 10. 21. Obs. 1. A believers words tend to edification, and are for the true benefit and advantage of others. 2. Every subject is not the matter of their discourse; but, as the honey, it's excellent and choice, and that which ministereth grace to the hearers. 3. Mens words give a great proof of what is in them; and when rightly ordered, they are a good evidence of their love and respect to Christ. 4. A well ordered tongue is a most commendable thing before Christ, and every word that proceeds from the mouth, is observed by him. 5. Christ's spouse should be observably different, as to her words and discourse, from all others. Thy lips, O my spouse (saith he) drop as the honey-comb: Implying, that whatever be the way of others, it becomes the spouse of Christ, to have her words seasonable, savoury and edifying.