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

he may be found by them even without, that is, in cases that have in them some obstructions unto intimate fellowship, as without is a place that is not convenient for familiar communion. 4. It's a great benefit to a believer, to have Christ's presence easily recoverable, or recovered; It's no small mercy to find him when he is sought. Other things rising from this expression may be gathered from Chap. 3. 2, 3. and 5. 6, 7. 5. In general, from all these arguments we may observe, that they all include advantages to the believer, yet she makes use of them as motives to press her suit; which says, That whatever may be any re•• advantage to a believer, doth sway much with Christ.

he may be found by them even without, that is, in cases that have in them some obstructions unto intimat fellowship, as without is a place that is not convenient for familiar communion. 4. It's a great benefit to a believer, to have Christ's presence easily recoverable, or recovered; It's no small mercy to find him when he is sought. Other things rising from this expression may be gathered from Chap. 3. 2, 3. and 5. 6, 7. 5. In general, from all these arguments we may observe, that they all include advantages to the believer, yet she makes use of them as motives to presse her suit; which sayes, That whatever may be any re•• advantage to a believer, doth sway much with Christ.

The second reason why she desires this, is, that she may embrace and kiss him, and it follows on the former (as each of them depends upon another) I would find thee without (saith she) and I would kiss thee, having found him, she would with delight let out her affections on him. Kisses amongst men, are the most kindly evidences of their love, as was cleared, Chap. 1. vers. 1. upon these words, Let him kiss me: His kisses are kindly intimations of his love to her; and therefore her kissing of him must be a most sensible flowing and abounding out-letting of her affections on him, as affectionate relations do when they kiss one another; It's much to the same purpose, with what she said, Chap. 7.—12. There will I give thee my loves: In sum, if thou wert familiar with me (saith she) when I find thee, I would sensible, confidently, and with freedom solace my self in thee, which now I dare scarce do when I find thee, being possessed with fear of thy removal. The difference between this expression, and that in Chap. 7.—12. seems to be this; There, she desired communion with him, that her heart might be by his presence disposed (to say so) for letting out her love on him, and that she might have the opportunity to do it: Here, she desires that he would manifest himself more familiarly, that with the greater holy boldness and confidence, she might satisfy her self in pouring forth her love, by spiritual soul-embracings, and kissings of him whom she loved. This imports, 1. That there are degrees in the way of believers letting out their love on Christ, as there is in his manifesting of himself to them; There are sometimes they give him their love, when they have no access to kiss him; and other times they are admitted to kissing of him, as at sometimes he doth them. 2. The more familiarly his love lets out it self on them, the more doth their love flow out on him. 3. It's a mercy to the believer, and highly prized by him, to have access to kiss Christ, and to let out his heart and love on him. 4. It says, that at all times believers will not get themselves solaced in Christ; This is an exercise to which their heart doth not frame, till he familiarly manifest himself; they cannot kiss and embrace him, until his embracements come first. More particularly, if we consider the scope of these words, I would kiss thee, and that, without: they