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

A believer, when tender, will be particular in his search, he will search even to the least, he will not disapprove any thing of Gods grace th•• •s real, although it be weak and tender, therefore she looks to buds, as well as more mature fruit, and acknowledgeth them, because Christ doth so, Chap. 6. 11. 10. Believers promise not much in themselves, or, they expect not great things anent their own fruitfulness; therefore, it is to see what is budding or appearing, rather than what is ripe, which she proposeth here to her self, as her design. 11. A tender believer will esteem much of little grace where it is real, a bud is much to him, if it look fruit-like, as it's the evidence of Christ's Spirit in him, and the work of his grace: he that is humble will have a high esteem of it, though he expect no great thing, nor yet thinks much of it, as it is inherent in him, yet he will not cast what is least, if solid. 12. The more tender one is, he will be the more desirous to search his own condition, as being unsatisfied with what he hath attained. Again, if we compare this with Chap. 6. 11. where it's said, he went down to his ⟨p. 411⟩Garden for this very end, for which she desires his presence; We may see, 1. A co-incidence betwixt Christ's work and the believers (to say so) they have one task. 2. A going alongst both of their ends and ways to attain them, he takes pains on his people by the means of grace to make them fruitful, and they diligently haunt and improve the means for that same end. And, 3. Christ's words are near the same with hers, the more to strengthen her faith in obtaining what she sought, when it so concurred with his design: A believer that aims at fruitfulness and tenderness by Christ's company in the means and Ordinances, may expect to obtain his desire; for, that same is his work, which he drives by the means of grace amongst his people.

A believer, when tender, will be particular in his search, he will search even to the least, he will not disapprove any thing of Gods grace th•• •s real, although it be weak and tender, therefore she looks to buds, as well as more mature fruit, and acknowledgeth them, because Christ doth so, Chap. 6. 11. 10. Believers promise not much in themselves, or, they expect not great things anent their own fruitfulnesse; therefore, it is to see what is budding or appearing, rather than what is ripe, which she proposeth here to her self, as her design. 11. A tender believer will esteem much of little grace where it is real, a bud is much to him, if it look fruit-like, as it's the evidence of Christ's Spirit in him, and the work of his grace: he that is humble will have a high esteem of it, though he expect no great thing, nor yet thinks much of it, as it is inherent in him, yet he will not cast what is least, if solid. 12. The more tender one is, he will be the more desirous to search his own condition, as being unsatisfied with what he hath attained. Again, if we compare this with Chap. 6. 11. where it's said, he went down to his