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

A second way that we may consider the words, is as they relate to the daughters of Jerusalem their question, vers. 9. ye ask what he is more than other beloveds? now (saith she) this is he, who is singular and matchless in all his properties; and so, it looks not only to her choice of him, to be her beloved and her friend, but saith also, that he is singularly and matchlessly such, even a non-such beloved and friend, and one who will be found, after trial, only worthy to be chosen and closed with as such. Obs. 1. Believers in their answers to others, would, as particularly as may be, bring home what they say to some edifying use (for, this best clears any question proposed) and would not insist on generals, much less evanish in empty speculations, but would level at edification, and frame what they say, so, as it may best reach that end, and therefore she applies her answer to their question. 2. When Christ in his excellency and worth is a little insisted and dwelt on, he will be found to be incomparable; and the more souls search into him, the more confidently may they assert his incomparable excellency; this, she here doth, and saith, as it were, Is ⟨p. 334⟩he not, and see ye him not now to be the chiefest among ten thousand, and more excellent than all others? as having made her assertion demonstrative, and undeniable. 3. Christ's worth can bide the trial, and there are, and may be gotten, good grounds to prove that he is well worthy of all the respect, that can be put upon him; and in reason, his worth and excellency may be made convincing unto others, and it may be demonstrate to consciences, that Christ is of more worth than all the world; and her resuming of it thus, supposeth it now to be so clear, that they could say nothing against it, as appears more fully from the words following. 4. No other beloved, nor friend that men choose beside Christ, can abide the trial; the more they are inquired into, and searched out, they will be found to be of the less worth: therefore she appeals (as it were) all men to bring their beloveds before Christ, if they durst compare with him, as being confident none durst enter the lists, purposely and professedly to compete with him.

A second way that we may consider the words, is as they relate to the daughters of Ierusalem their question, vers. 9. ye ask what he is more than other beloveds? now (saith she) this is he, who is singular and matchlesse in all his properties; and so, it looks not only to her choice of him, to be her beloved and her friend, but saith also, that he is singularly and matchlesly such, even a non-such beloved and friend, and one who will be found, after tryal, only worthy to be chosen and closed with as such. Obs. 1. Believers in their answers to others, would, as particularly as may be, bring home what they say to some edifying use (for, this best clears any question proposed) and would not insist on generals, much lesse evanish in empty speculations, but would lavel at edification, and frame what they say, so, as it may best reach that end, and therefore she applyes her answer to their question. 2. When Christ in his excellency and worth is a little insisted and dwelt on, he will be found to be incomparable; and the more souls search into him, the more confidently may they assert his incomparable excellency; this, she here doth, and saith, as it were, Is