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

First, The scope is not so much to speak to all collectively, as Distributively to hold forth the several cases, that all of them, at all times are subject unto; for although every place do not point out the case of the Church in general, or her duty, yet we conceive it is still in every part, pertinent to some one Believer, or other: Such places must therefore be understood distributively.

2. The nature and strain of the most of those things mentioned in this Song, generally will agree best (if not only) to particular Believers; As to love Christ, to seek him, to be commended so by him, to be out of one case into another, pursuing after him from one duty to another: which indeed shows the way of the Church in general, but so as considered in the exercises of her individual Members, and in the intercourse of Communion, which useth to be betwixt Christ and them, and so agreeth to the church, only in respect of particular Believers.

2. The nature and strain of the most of those things mentioned in this Song, generally will agree best (if not only) to particular Believers; As to love Christ, to seek him, to be commended so by him, to be out of one case into another, pursuing after him from one duty to another: which indeed shews the way of the Church in general, but so as considered in the exercises of her individual Members, and in the intercourse of Communion, which useth to be betwixt Christ and them, and so agreeth to the church, only in respect of particular Believers.

3. There is a plurality of Parties speaking, differenced not only from carnal Professors, but from one another, who are commending the Bride, and so loving her and Christ also; which says that the several parts of this Song must especially be distributively considered of Believers severally.