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

More particularly, in the words of, vers. 1. Consider, 1. the title which the daughters give the Bride, O thou fairest among women: It's the same which was, Chap. 5. 9. but here it shows their continuing in respect to her, which they vent by suitable grave expressions; It's not much at the beginning to carry respectively to the lovers of Christ, but it's much after some familiar acquaintance to continue so doing, which is the lesson that may be learned here. 2. Consider the question, whether is thy Beloved gone? and it's repeated, to show how serious they were in it, and how desirous of an answer. 3. There is the end, or motive, that draws this question from them, and that is, that we may seek him with thee.

More particularly, in the words of, vers. 1. Consider, 1. the title which the daughters give the Bride, O thou fairest among women: It's the same which was, Chap. 5. 9. but here it shews their continuing in respect to her, which they vent by suitable grave expressions; It's not much at the beginning to carry respectively to the lovers of Christ, but it's much after some familiar acquaintance to continue so doing, which is the lesson that may be learned here. 2. Consider the question, whether is thy Beloved gone? and it's repeated, to shew how serious they were in it, and how desirous of an answer. 3. There is the end, or motive, that draws this question from them, and that is, that we may seek him with thee.

She had told them that her Beloved was withdrawn; Now they (when convinced of his worth) ask, whether? &c. which is a further step of their desire of being acquaint with Christ and his way, than what was holden out in their question, Chap. 5. 9. yet having infirmity also: And it shows, 1. that where there is any conviction of what Christ is, then the great design and main enquiry should be to know where he is, and how he may be attained. 2. There may be some acknowledgement of Christ's worth, and affection to him, where yet there is much ignorance of the way how to come by him. 3. It's no less necessary for a person, to know rightly where and how to seek Christ, than to know what he is. 4. There may be some honesty of desire after, and love to Christ, where faith dare not claim him as the believers own; for, say they, where is thy Beloved? they say not, where is our Beloved? beginners are often very anxious and afraid to make this application, although it may be, before their conviction and conversion, they did never question it.