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

Or, we may conceive thus, though men for their satisfaction, sought out many Queens, Concubines and Virgins, because there was not to be found in any one what was satisfying, yet, saith he, my one Bride is to me many virtually, as if the worth of so many Queens, Concubines, and Virgins were combined in one: And thus as she set him out chief of all husbands, so doth he set her out as chief of all Brides, and as comprehending in her alone, all that was desirable, as the next part of the 9. vers. clear•. By the number, 60. 80. and without number, we conceive an indefinite number is to be understood, that is, they are many, only they of the inferior ranks are manyest, that is, there are moe Concubines than Queens, far advanced in Christianity, and again, moe Virgins than Concubines, because experienced believers of an high degree are most rare, and these who are not grown up, to have their senses exercised, are most numerous; In a word, there are moe weak than strong believers. Which saith, 1. that there are degrees amongst true believers, all have not the same degree of grace, though all have the same grace for kind, and though all be in the same Covenant; there are old men, or fathers, young men, and little children, or babes, 1 Joh. 2. 12, 13. 2. Among believers, there are many moe weak than strong. 3. He accounts of them all as honourable, and reckons even the Virgins as commendable, though they come not up to be Queens. Yet, 4. where grace is most lively, and faith most strong, there he dignifies believers with a most special and ample commendation, vers. 9.

Or, we may conceive thus, though men for their satisfaction, sought out many Queens, Concubines and Virgins, because there was not to be found in any one what was satisfying, yet, saith he, my one Bride is to me many virtually, as if the worth of so many Queens, Concubines, and Virgins were combined in one: And thus as she set him out chief of all husbands, so doth he set her out as chief of all Brides, and as comprehending in her alone, all that was desirable, as the next part of the 9. vers. clear•. By the number, 60. 80. and without number, we conceive an indefinit number is to be understood, that is, they are many, only they of the inferior ranks are manyest, that is, there are moe Concubines than Queens, far advanced in Christianity, and again, moe Virgins than Concubines, because experienced believers of an high degree are most rare, and these who are not grown up, to have their senses exercised, are most numerous; In a word, there are moe weak than strong believers. Which saith, 1. that there are degrees amongst true believers, all have not the same degree of grace, though all have the same grace for kind, and though all be in the same Covenant; there are old men, or fathers, young men, and little children, or babs,