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

In the first part, the Bride first propounds, and amplifies, or qualifies her suit, vers. 1.—2. It's pressed with motives, vers.—1, 2. 3. Her attainment and success in her suit is mentioned, vers. 3, 4. And 4. her care of entertaining Christ, is recorded, vers. 4.

In the first part, the Bride first propounds, and amplifies, or qualifies her suit, vers. 1.—2. It's pressed with motives, vers.—1, 2. 3. Her attainment and successe in her suit is mentioned, vers. 3, 4. And 4. her care of entertaining Christ, is recorded, vers. 4.

The suit is in the first words, O that thou wert as my brother: This I conceive looks not mainly to Christ's incarnation, but to something that might have been by believers obtained even then before his incarnation, and may yet be desired by these who now love him: but, that which is chiefly intended in these words, is the following forth of the love-strain of a heart-longing for Christ's company, in the terms and expressions that are in use amongst men: It hath been ever thought unseemly for Virgins, too familiarly to converse with men that are strangers, even though they were suited for by them, this hath been cause of reproach to many; but, for brethren and sisters to be familiar, hath not been subject to mistakes: They who are in that relation may use more freedom, than without offence can be used by others; Therefore, Abraham fearing to call Sarah his wife, gave her out to be his sister, that their conversing together might be the less suspected; thus, the scope here is to press, that Christ would condescend to be so homely with her, as she with boldness and without fear might converse with him: O! (saith she) that thou wert so familiar with me, that I might confidently converse with thee, as a woman may do with her brother: and because, there is great ⟨p. 420⟩odds betwixt brethren that are of the same father, yet born of diverse mothers (as Joseph, Simeon and Judah were) and brethren that are also of the same mother (as Joseph and Benjamin were, who therefore more dearly loved one another) she doth therefore add that qualification, that sucked the breasts of my mother, that is, such a brother as hath been conceived in the same womb, and nourished by the same breasts (mothers being then both mothers and nurses to their own children) whereby, a brother in the most near and warm relation is signified: In sum, The sense is this, O! if thou wert to me so condescending, as a brother is to one born of that same womb with him, that I might with the more freedom, boldness and confidence, and sensible out-letting of my affections, converse with thee: Such sensible breaking forth of affections, we find to have been betwixt Joseph and Benjamin,