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

The tenth and last particular commended in him, is in the beginning of the 16. vers. and it is his mouth, which is compared to sweetness, or sweetnesses in the plural number. By mouth sometimes is understood the words of the mouth, but it's not so used in this Song: The Brides words, and his also are set out by their lips, and it's not like, that that being spoken of, vers. 13. is repeated here. Again, the mouth, and it's sweetness especially, may be mentioned to signify friendliness and love, or rather the sensible manifestations of these, as the husband doth by kissing his wife; and in this sense is taken, Chap. 1. 2. and we take that to be aimed at here, to wit, the sweetness of Christ's more immediate manifestations of himself unto the spiritual sense of his people, by shedding the love of God abroad in their hearts, by the Holy Ghost, Rom. 5. 5. For, this sensible manifestation of his love, is a thing that much commends him to his people, and is their satisfaction, in opposition to all the creature-satisfactions that others have, Psalm▪ 4. 6, 7. therefore it agrees well with the scope. Again, it's a different commendation from any that is mentioned, 1. It differs from his lips, or the comfort that one hath from the Word, as from the Word (though it is not to be separate from that, but to carry that alongst with it) yet this is more immediate and sensible, and that is mediate, though real and sure unto •aith. 2. It differs from seeing his cheeks, in that this is more full, near and immediate also, she being, as it were, admitted to enjoy Christ's sweet embracements. 3. It differs from beholding his countenance, because that may be, and only can be taken up by faith, beholding him in his excellent qualifications and offices; but this is discernible to the believers spiritual sense, when Christ