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

Her way is to give some reasons for her refusal, as if she could do no otherwayes, and were not to be blamed so much for her shifting of Christ, as the words how can I, &c. import. Observe, 1. The flesh will be bruidy and quick in inventing shifts for maintaining of it self, even against the clearest convictions and duties. 2. It's ill to debate or reason a clear duty, often Satan and the flesh gets advantage by it. 3. Folks are oft-times very partial in examining their own reasons, and are hardly put from their own grounds once laid, although they be not solid; and the most foolish reasons will be convincing to a spiritual sluggard, who in fostering his ease, seems wiser to himself, than one who can render the most concludent arguments, and strongest reasons to the contrary, Prov. 26. 16. The opening of the particular reasons will clear this; The first is, I have put off my coat, and the conclusion is, how can I put it on? Putting off the clothes is an evidence […] betaking themselves to rest, as keeping them on, is a sign of watching, as in Nehemiah 4. 23. None of us put off clothes, […] to washing; Hence keeping on of the clothes is borrowed, to set out spiritual watchfulness, and hiding of spiritual nakedness, as Rev. 16. 15. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked: And on the contrary putting off of clothes, signifieth not only a spiritual drowsiness, but a high degree of it; as having put off, and fallen from that tenderness and watchfulness in her walk, wherewith she was clothed, Chap. 4. 11. and is now somewhat settled in her carnal ease and security. From this she argueth, how shall I put it on? The force of the reason may be three ways considered, 1. As it imports a difficulty in the thing, how shall I do it? O it's difficult! 2. As it imports an averseness to it, in her self: It stands against her heart, as a seeming unreasonable thing, as Gen. 39. How shall I do this great wickedness, &c.? 3. A sort of shame may be in it, I am now out of a posture, and I think shame to rise, and to be seen: Which shows, 1. That it's hard to raise one that hath fallen into security. 2. To lazy souls every thing looks like an insuperable ⟨p. 264⟩