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

The first petition is, for liveliness and fruitfulness: The second is, for the beloved's presence, which is the end of the former. And these two, life and sense, are (as it were) the air that kindly-believers love to breath into. That both these are the Brides words, may thus be collected, 1. Because they look prayer-like, and it's more suitable for her to say, come, than for him: yea, the Spirit being invited to come to the garden, it's clear the party that speaks hath need of his presence: And that it's not said, ⟨p. 243⟩go, but come, with reference to the necessity of the party that speaks, doth make it evident, that it cannot be spoken by the Bridegroom, but by the Bride; for, so the phrase every where, and in the next words, Let my beloved come, Imports, 2. That the last part of the verse is her suit, none can deny; and there is no reason to conceive two different parties, seeing both the matter of the suits, and the manner of speaking, will agree to the same party.

The first petition is, for livelinesse and fruitfulnesse: The second is, for the beloved's presence, which is the end of the former. And these two, life and sense, are (as it were) the air that kindly-believers love to breath into. That both these are the Brides words, may thus be collected, 1. Because they look prayer-like, and it's more suitable for her to say, come, than for him: yea, the Spirit being invited to come to the garden, it's clear the party that speaks hath need of his presence: And that it's not said, ⟨p. 243⟩go, but come, with reference to the necessity of the party that speaks, doth make it evident, that it cannot be spoken by the Bridegroom, but by the Bride; for, so the phrase every where, and in the next words, Let my beloved come, Imports, 2. That the last part of the verse is her suit, none can deny; and there is no reason to conceive two different parties, seing both the matter of the suits, and the manner of speaking, will agree to the same party.

In the first petition, we may consider these two, 1. The thing sought. 2. The end wherefore that which she seeks and prays for, is held forth, as it were, in three steps or degrees, in three expressions, awake, O north-wind, come thou south, blow upon my garden. For understanding whereof, we are to look, 1. What these winds signify. 2. What this garden is. And, 3. What these act, of awaking, coming and blowing are. By winds often in Scripture is understood the Spirit of God in his mighty operations, as