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

The seventh part instanced, is her eyes, which were several times mentioned before; they point at her spiritual discerning, and understanding of spiritual things, and the believing-uptaking of them; in which respect, all natural men are blind, because of their ⟨p. 385⟩ignorance and unbelief; she only hath eyes. They are compared to fish-pools in Heshbon, at the gate of Beth-rabbim: This city Heshbon is mentioned, Numb. 21. 25, 26. It was a royal city, where Si•on King of the Amorites dwelt; and it's like, there hath been some place there called Beth-rabbim, for the great resort that was made thereunto: And the fish-pools that were there, it seems, were excellent and clear, and fit to give a shadow to these who looked into them. Now it would seem, that believers eyes are compared to these pools, because of the clear, distinct and believing knowledge they have of themselves, of Christ, and of other spiritual objects. And from this we may observe, 1. That solid and distinct knowledge in spiritual things, is very commendable. 2. That a believer hath another kind of insight in spiritual things, than the most understanding natural man, he hath eyes in respect of him; The natural man (who hath no experimental, nor believing knowledge of spiritual things) is but blind. 3. He is sharpest sighted that discerns himself, and can rightly take up his own condition; the wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: So believers eyes, or knowledge is compared to a fish-pond, that gives representations of a mans face to him.

The seventh part instanced, is her eyes, which were several times mentioned before; they point at her spiritual discerning, and understanding of spiritual things, and the believing-uptaking of them; in which respect, all natural men are blind, because of their ⟨p. 385⟩ignorance and unbelief; she only hath eyes. They are compared to fish-pools in Heshbon, at the gate of Beth-rabbim: This city Heshbon is mentioned, Numb. 21. 25, 26. It was a royal city, where Si•on King of the Amorits dwelt; and it's like, there hath been some place there called Beth-rabbim, for the great resort that was made thereunto: And the fish-pools that were there, it seems, were excellent and clear, and fit to give a shaddow to these who looked into them. Now it would seem, that believers eyes are compared to these pools, because of the clear, distinct and believing knowledge they have of themselves, of Christ, and of other spiritual objects. And from this we may observe, 1. That solid and distinct knowledge in spiritual things, is very commendable. 2. That a believer hath another kind of insight in spiritual things, than the most understanding natural man, he hath eyes in respect of him; The natural man (who hath no exprimental, nor believing knowledge of spiritual things) is but blind. 3. He is sharpest sighted that discerns himself, and can rightly take up his own condition; the wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: So believers eyes, or knowledge is compared to a fish-pond, that gives representations of a mans face to him.