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

2. She is the only one of her mother: This sets her out singularly and exclusively, there is not another but she: By mother here, is understood the Catholic Church, wherein children are conceived and brought forth, she is the mother of all that believe, Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem that is above, is free, which is the mother of us all: This Church considered as from the beginning of the world to the end, is one; and is the mother, in respect of the Church considered as being in this or that place for the time present, which is understood by us all, wherever we live, we belong to that mother, Gal. 4. 26. There is no Church but that one, and who are begotten to God, are brought forth by her, and belong to her.

2. She is the only one of her mother: This sets her out singularly and exclusively, there is not another but she: By mother here, is understood the Catholick Church, wherein children are conceived and brought forth, she is the mother of all that believe, Gal. 4. 26. Ierusalem that is above, is free, which is the mother of us all: This Church considered as from the beginning of the world to the end, is one; and is the mother, in respect of the Church considered as being in this or that place for the time present, which is understood by us all, wherever we live, we belong to that mother, Gal. 4. 26. There is no Church but that one, and who are begotten to God, are brought forth by her, and belong to her.

3. She is the choice one of her that bare her: This sets her out comparatively, 1. She is the choice one in respect of the world, this one Church is more excellent than the multitude of all the ⟨p. 361⟩societies that are there. 2. She is the choice one in respect of all visible professors as such, she is beyond the daughters; amongst all her mothers children, or professing members of the Church, the believer doth excel. 3. The Church considered complexly doth excel particular believers, as having all their excellencies combined together: Or, the scope of these two verses, being to prefer the Bride as singular, and eminently beyond all other beloveds, whether Queens, Concubines, such as are joined unto men, or Virgins, such as are yet suited and sought for, we may conceive it thus, my love, (saith he) my dove hath not a match, but is chief; and as she called him the chief of all beloveds, Chap. 5. 10. so here he commends her as the most lovely of all Brides, that can be wedded or wooed; although there be many of these: Yet, 1. my dove is but one, that is, in respect of her singular excellency, she comprehends all. 2. She is the only one of her mother, there are no moe of that family, that are born of that mother, beside her self, that I can set my heart on, or can match with: And thus, all the world beside the believer, is cried down. 3. Comparatively, she is the choice one of her that bare her, that is, not only by comparing her with the world, but by comparing her with all mere external professors, she is still the choice of all.