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

By head, we must understand either Christ himself, who stands in that relation to the believer, and in respect of dignity is called a head to all men, 1 Cor. 11. 3. Or, 2. (which is not inconsistent ⟨p. 388⟩with the former) some grace in the believer, acting on Christ, and quickening the new life; and seeing the scope is to commend the believer from inherent grace, and the new nature being compared to an inner-man, which is described from it's several parts, and so must have an head, we think that it is some particular grace that is here especially aimed at. By head then, we conceive the grace of hope may be understood, it being the grace whereby the soul still sticks to Christ, expecting the enjoyment of him; for, not only is hope a grace necessary and commendable (and so it cannot be unsuitable to the scope, to take it in upon one branch or other) but it may be called the head, 1. Because it is above, having Christ himself for it's object; and though the word may be said to be the object of hope, yet it's not so much the word, as Christ held forth in the word; and therefore, hope is said to be within the veil, Heb. 6. 19. for, properly we hope for him, because of his word, and so he is our hope, 1 Tim. 1. 1. 2. Hope is a grace, which hath it's rise from faith, and is supported by it, as the head is by the neck; though hope be some way above faith, yet doth faith sustain it, and give it a being; the believer hopes, because he believes. 3. It hath much influence on all spiritual duties, and especially on our consolation, and is useful in the spiritual war, as being an essential piece of the believer's spiritual armour, and is therefore called the helmet or head-piece of salvation, 1 Thess. 5. 8. and the head-piece may be some way called the head; So hope, which keepeth (to say so) graces head, may not unfitly be called the head, seeing without it the head will be at least without it's helmet: And taking it so, for this special piece of the believers armour, it follows well on watchfulness: however, it is certain, that hope bears up the believer under difficulties,