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

Observ. 1. Where our Lord Jesus hath a Garden, which he hath planted, and on which he takes pains, he looks for fruits; His Garden should never want fruit. 2. There are diverse growths, degrees or measures of grace amongst his people; for, some of his trees have fruits, and some but blossoms. 3. Our Lord Jesus takes special notice of his peoples fruitfulness, and that as particularly of every one of them, as if he went from one to another (as the Gardener doth from tree to tree) to discover it. 4. Our Lord Jesus is especially delighted with the kindly blossomings of ⟨p. 367⟩beginners, and he takes especial notice of the young and tender buddings of their grace, and will be so far from crushing them, because they are not ripe fruits, that he will more tenderly care for them. 5. Our Lord Jesus accurately takes notice of his Brides carriage, and expects her fruitfulness, when he seems to her sense to be absent, and is especially much delighted with it then; for, when he is gone down to his Garden, this is the errand, to see the fruits of the valley, whether, &c. when he withdraws, he hath a friendly design, yet, saith he, although that was intended, I was made (as it were) to alter my purpose, and not to stay.

Observ. 1. Where our Lord Jesus hath a Garden, which he hath planted, and on which he takes pains, he looks for fruits; His Garden should never want fruit. 2. There are diverse growths, degrees or measures of grace amongst his people; for, some of his trees have fruits, and some but blossoms. 3. Our Lord Jesus takes special notice of his peoples fruitfulnesse, and that as particularly of every one of them, as if he went from one to another (as the Gardener doth from tree to tree) to discover it. 4. Our Lord Jesus is especially delighted with the kindly blossomings of ⟨p. 367⟩beginners, and he takes especial notice of the young and tender buddings of their grace, and will be so far from crushing them, because they are not ripe fruits, that he will more tenderly care for them. 5. Our Lord Jesus accuratly takes notice of his Brides carriage, and expects her fruitfulnesse, when he seems to her sense to be absent, and is especially much delighted with it then; for, when he is gone down to his Garden, this is the errand, to see the fruits of the valley, whether, &c. when he withdraws, he hath a friendly design, yet, saith he, although that was intended, I was made (as it were) to alter my purpose, and not to stay.