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

Vers. 9. What is thy Beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among Women? what is thy Beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

In this 9. vers. is the third part of the Chapter, where the daughters of Jerusalem are brought in speaking: where we may see what effect the Brides serious charge had upon them: It someway surpriseth and astonisheth them, to see a person convincingly approvable in her carriage, so taken up with that which the most part of the world slights; This makes them think that he whom she asketh for, must be a person beyond ordinary, and in this they conclude right: There is much infirmity in this question (as often many professors are upon the matter really ignorant of Christ's worth) yet some honest-like things (at least) are in it. There is, 1. respect to her as a beautiful and goodly person, even when she was thought little of by the watchmen. 2. Docilenesse, and a desire to know. 3. Some suspicion of their own knowledge of Christ: And, 4. Ingenuity in seeking help. All which, are good symptoms in beginners, and we will see that the question ended well with them, Chap. 6. 1. and it's like was awakened in them by her serious carriage. The return they make to her charge hath in it, 1. The title they give her. 2. The question they propose to her. 3. The rise of it, or that which gives them occasion to ask, and which puts them to it. The title is excellent, O thou fairest among women: It was given to the Bride by Christ himself, Chap. 1. 8. It implies, 1. A spiritual beauty in her who now was thought little of by the watchmen, and had her own crosses in the world, yet even in this case lovely in her self, and lovely to these daughters. Observe, 1. That believers should be eminently convincing, and commendable in their carriage even before others; ⟨p. 294⟩They should be fairest among them, and for spiritual beauty conspicuous, as lights shining in a dark place. 2. Grace when seriously in exercise, is that which makes any person (though outwardly mean and contemptible) truly beautiful and lovely; It makes them so really, and also in the eyes of all spiritual beholders. 3. Sometimes God will make honest seekers of him the more lovely to others, when corrupt Ministers seek most to defame them; The watchmen's wounding her, mars not the daughters estimation of her; and this shows that they did smite her without reason. Again, 2. It implies respectiveness on their part, and also honesty; for, there is now no external thing to commend her to them: Which saith, 1.