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

The second motive which makes her press for Christ's company in this retired way, is in these words, there will I give thee my loves; That is (in short) as in retirements the Bridegroom and the Bride rejoice together, in the expressions of their mutual love, with more than ordinary familiarity; So (saith she) let me have thy company continued with me, that thereby my heart being warmed, I may get opportunity to let out my love in a lively manner on thee. By loves here, love simply is not meant, but love in the highest degree of it, manifesting it self in the most sensible manner, when the heart is melted, as it were, and made free to pour out it self in love to him: It's therefore called loves in the plural number, to show the many ways it will vent it self, as, in thoughts delightsomely making the heart glad, in cheerful exulting in him, and affectionate embracing him in it's arms, feeding and delighting on him, and such like ways; there is nothing kept up from him, and all doors, whereby love useth to vent, are opened. While she saith, I will give thee my loves, it is not to be understood, as if then she would begin to love him (for, the thing that made her put up this suit was her love to him) but that then she would with more freedom do it, and with ease and delight get it done, which now would not do for her (till his presence warmed her) at least in the manner she would be at. The word, there, that in the letter relates to the fields, villages, &c. is to be understood of that retirement in fellowship, which she desired with him; in the scope, it looks to his ⟨p. 412⟩secret manifesting of himself to her, in admitting of her to his bosom; O! (saith she) come, my heart longs to be near thee, and this advantage I expect from it, I would then get my heart drawn from idols, and my affections engaged to thee, which in thy absence I cannot get done so as I would; as a person cannot vent love so in company, as when he is alone in solitariness with his bosom-friend, thus, Joseph being to manifest his love to his brethren, Gen. 45. 1. commanded all to go out, that so he might with the greater freedom let forth his affections on them; and as Jonathan sent away his boy, when he was to embrace David in the fields, 1 Sam. 20. 40. &c.

The second motive which makes her presse for Christ's company in this retiered way, is in these words, there will I give thee my loves; That is (in short) as in reteirments the Bridegroom and the Bride rejoice together, in the expressions of their mutual love, with more than ordinary familiarity; So (saith she) let me have thy company continued with me, that thereby my heart being warmed, I may get opportunity to let out my love in a lively manner on thee. By loves here, love simply is not meant, but love in the highest degree of it, manifesting it self in the most sensible manner, when the heart is melted, as it were, and made free to pour out it self in love to him: It's therefore called loves in the plural number, to shew the many wayes it will vent it self, as, in thoughts delightsomely making the heart glad, in cheerful exulting in him, and affectionat imbracing him in it's arms, feeding and delighting on him, and such like wayes; there is nothing kept up from him, and all doors, whereby love useth to vent, are opened. While she saith, I will give thee my loves, it is not to be understood, as if then she would begin to love him (for, the thing that made her put up this suit was her love to him) but that then she would with more freedom do it, and with ease and delight get it done, which now would not do for her (till his presence warmed her) at least in the manner she would be at. The word, there, that in the letter relates to the fields, villages, &c. is to be understood of that reteirment in fellowship, which she desired with him; in the scope, it looks to his