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

When this mean fails her, she gives not over, but betakes her self to the use of mutual fellowship with the Saints (which is the third step of her carriage) v. 8. that she may have their help for recovering of Christ's presence: She propounds her case to them, and presseth for their bearing burden with her; Her case is in the last words, I am sick of love: a strange disease, yet kindly to a believer: This sickness implies pain as of a woman in travel, whose showers are sharp, and pangs vehement till she bring forth: The same word is used to this purpose, Isa. 26. 17. Like as a woman that draweth near her delivery, is in pain, &c. And it imports in this place, these two, 1. Vehement desire after Christ, from ardent. ⟨p. 290⟩love to him, so that she could not endure to want him. 2. Much heart-affectedness following upon that ardent desire, which (under her former disappointments) did beget such pain and fainting, that it was as a sore sickness, though not dangerous; This sickness differs from that spoken of, Chap. 2. 5. as the scope shows: That is like the pain procured by an overset of the stomach, so the sense of his love being let out in a very great measure, was like to master her; not that sense of his love is simply or in it self burdensome, but she is weak like an old bottle, or a queasy and weak stomach that cannot bear much: But this is like the pain that proceeds from hunger, and a strong appetite, when that which is longed-for is not obtained, which augments the desire, and at last breeds fainting and sickness. This shows, 1. That love to Christ where it is sincere, is a most sensible thing. 2. That the moe disappointments it meets with, in seeking after sensible manifestations of Christ, it grows the more vehement. 3. That continued absence to a tender soul, will be exceeding heavy and painful; hope deferred makes the heart sick, especially when the sweetness of Christ's presence hath been felt, and his absence distinctly discerned. 4. That Christ's presence is the souls health, and his absence it's sickness, have else what it will. 5. That love to Christ will sometimes, especially after challenges and disappointments, so over-power the soul, that it cannot to it's own sense (at least) act under it, or sustain it (it seems so heavy a burden) as sickness will do to the body, if it get not an out-gate.