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

so that although interest be not disputed, and the heart be kept in the exercise of duties, yet disquietness may grow above what it was: and Christ wisely times this sense of his absence now, with the presence of his grace, because she might both better endure it, and it would also be more profitable thus to chasten her now, than if he had done it in her dead condition. Hence, Observe, 1. That believers, in the lively exercise of faith and duty, may have many moe exercises, and sharper spiritual dispensations, than they had formerly in their security. 2. Christ hath a peculiar way both of presence with, and absence from his own. 3. Often believers when they are in the exercise of faith and duty, expect satisfying manifestations of Christ to their sense; for, it is supponed here, that she looked for him this way, when she opened. 4. Sometimes Christ will keep up the sense of his love, and withdraw himself from his own, even when in the exercise of faith and duty. 5. Christ's withdrawing is not always an evidence of the worst frame, even as his presence doth not speak out his satisfaction every way with his peoples condition, but these are often acts of Sovereignty, timed according to his good pleasure; for, she is now in better case than formerly, and yet he is withdrawn and gone. 6. Christ by his withdrawing may be chastening for some former sin or disrespect, done to him before the believer became lively, who yet for good ends did suspend the taking notice of that sin, till he was in a frame to bear it, and profit by it. 7. Christ's withdrawings ought to be observed by his people, as ⟨p. 280⟩well as other pieces of their own experience: It's profitable to know what he doth, as well as what they do themselves. 8. There is a great difference betwixt faith and sense; yea, betwixt clearness of interest, and sensible presence, the one may be in a great measure, where the other is not, as in this case here. 9. It's the exercise of faith in Christ, that makes his absence to be discerned: (for that is not known here, till the door be opened) And the more lively a person be in the exercise of grace, the more will Christ's absence be marked and regretted; whereas in a believer's secure frame, or in a person still unacquainted with Christ, his absence is not discerned nor laid to heart. 10.

so that although interest be not disputed, and the heart be kept in the exercise of duties, yet disquietnesse may grow above what it was: and Christ wisely times this sense of his absence now, with the presence of his grace, because she might both better endure it, and it would also be more profitable thus to chasten her now, than if he had done it in her dead condition. Hence, Observe, 1. That believers, in the lively exercise of faith and duty, may have many moe exercises, and sharper spiritual dispensations, than they had formerly in their security. 2. Christ hath a peculiar way both of presence with, and absence from his own. 3. Often believers when they are in the exercise of faith and duty, expect satisfying manifestations of Christ to their sense; for, it is supponed here, that she looked for him this way, when she opened. 4. Sometimes Christ will keep up the sense of his love, and withdraw himself from his own, even when in the exercise of faith and duty. 5. Christ's withdrawing is not alwayes an evidence of the worst frame, even as his presence doth not speak out his satisfaction every way with his peoples condition, but these are often acts of Soveraignty, timed according to his good pleasure; for, she is now in better case than formerly, and yet he is withdrawn and gone. 6. Christ by his withdrawing may be chastning for some former sin or disrespect, done to him before the believer became lively, who yet for good ends did suspend the taking notice of that sin, till he was in a frame to bear it, and profite by it. 7. Christ's withdrawings ought to be observed by his people, as