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

So here, the secret manifestations of Christ, by his Spirit to his people, being that which gives them liberty to let forth their hearts on him, especially in their unknown access to him, to which no man is witness, are by this word there, signified. Obs. 1. There are many moe good things than one which accompanies Christ's presence; and where love is in a believers heart, there will be no scarcity of arguments to hold forth the advantage thereof. 2. As there are some moe than ordinary manifestations of love from Christ to his people, which are not constant; so, there are some moe than ordinary flowings of the love of believers towards him: There are some times and cases, wherein especially the heart will melt in affection to him, and wherein it will be made to pour out it self with ease and delight upon him. 3. It's no less the desire of believers to love Christ, and to have their affections flowing on him, than to have the manifestations of his love to them; therefore speaks she of this, as of a benefit she exceedingly desired, to get leave to pour her heart out in love upon him. 4. Believers that love Christ, will not be satisfied with the degree of their own love, but will be desirous to have it more withdrawn from other things, and more fully venting on him. 5. Although sometimes, yea, oftentimes, the believers heart comes not up that length in love to Christ that he would have it, yet he designs to set it on Christ alone, and there is none that willingly he gives it unto with consent but Christ, it's on him only he allows it. 6. There is no greater gift can be given to Christ, than his peoples love; This is therefore the motive that is proposed by the Bride in her ⟨p. 413⟩dealing with him, as holding forth the propine or entertainment which he should receive. 7. Christ's presence, and the manifestations of his love conduceth notably unto, and hath great influence upon, the gaining of our affections to him; It doth not only (as it were) give us the opportunity of his company, but it gains the heart, softens it, ravisheth it, and heightens the esteem of Christ in it (which no report of him can do so effectually as his own presence) and also it oileth all the affections, that they have a freedom to flow out (like the Ice before the Sun) which otherwise are key-cold. 8. Love to Christ loves solitariness and retirements with him;

So here, the secret manifestations of Christ, by his Spirit to his people, being that which gives them liberty to let forth their hearts on him, especially in their unknown accesse to him, to which no man is witnesse, are by this word there, signified. Obs. 1. There are many moe good things than one which accompanies Christ's presence; and where love is in a believers heart, there will be no scarcety of arguments to hold forth the advantage thereof. 2. As there are some moe than ordinary manifestations of love from Christ to his people, which are not constant; so, there are some moe than ordinary flowings of the love of believers towards him: There are some times and cases, wherein especially the heart will melt in affection to him, and wherein it will be made to pour out it self with ease and delight upon him. 3. It's no lesse the desire of believers to love Christ, and to have their affections flowing on him, than to have the manifestations of his love to them; therefore speaks she of this, as of a benefit she exceedingly desired, to get leave to pour her heart out in love upon him. 4. Believers that love Christ, will not be satisfied with the degree of their own love, but will be desirous to have it more withdrawn from other things, and more fully venting on him. 5. Although sometimes, yea, oftentimes, the believers heart comes not up that length in love to Christ that he would have it, yet he designs to set it on Christ alone, and there is none that willingly he gives it unto with consent but Christ, it's on him only he allows it. 6. There is no greater gift can be given to Christ, than his peoples love; This is therefore the motive that is proposed by the Bride in her