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

2. The question propounded by them is, what is thy Beloved? as scarce knowing him, or acquainted with him themselves: It is not spoken out of disdain, but out of desire to know, being convinced that there behoved to be some excellency in him, beyond others, as the following effects clear. The question is proposed by way of comparison, and doubled, What is thy Beloved more than another beloved? or the beloved of another? By beloved, all alongst is understood that which the soul loves and cleaves unto; Therefore Christ is sometimes designed by the one name, the souls love; and sometimes by the other, the Beloved; as we may see by comparing Chap. 3. 1, 2, 3. with Chap. 2. 16, 17. because he eminently and above competition had the Brides heart. By other beloveds are understood these things that men of the world set their love and affections upon, and which bears most sway with them, as that which in a singular manner their soul loveth; the same that ordinarily are called Idols, because they are put in Gods room; There is the same reason here, why they are called other beloveds, and strange lovers else-where: Such are the belly, Phil. 3. 19. the world, 1 Joh. 2. 15, 16. Love not the world, nor the things of it, &c. the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life: So it's as if they had said, There are many things which the men of the world seek after, it's none of all these that this Bride is enquiring for, she rests not satisfied with these, nor valueth them; He must then be some excellent person, a singular and non-such Beloved that she is so serious in the enquiry after, and therefore they desire to know from her self what he is. The question is doubled as being the result of a serious desire to know, and of high admiration, what he might be who was thus enquired for.

3. The words added, show what is the rise of her question and wondering, to wit, these, That thou dost so charge us: Every word hath weight, it's thou, the fairest among Women, who certainly can make the best choice. 2. Thou art not only in earnest thy self, but chargest us also. And, 3. Not only thou chargest us, but so vehemently, pressingly and weightily; This, sure, must be some excellent Beloved. This question carrieth in it not so much an enquiry who is the believers choice, as their desire to know what Christ was indeed, in respect of his real worth, whose Name only