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

The fifth Argument follows on this, and it is, I would bring thee into my mothers house: This is a resolution, to perform what she had practiced, Chap. 3. 4. and was spoken to there: The sense is, If thou wert familiar with me (saith she) I would usher thee in to the Church, whereof I am a member, for the good of all the family; as if a Virgin, living in her mothers house, should press one whom she loved, and with whom she might be familiar as with a brother, when she had found him without, to go in and abide with her in her mothers house, as the greatest evidence of her respect, and that they of the family might have the benefit of his company, as well as she: So it is here. And it shows, 1. That she would leave no respect, that was possible to her, unexercised towards Christ; She would not only honour him her self, but she would endeavour to have him made known to others, that they might have a high esteem of him also: Believers whom Christ is familiar with, they will not be satisfied with any respect they can put upon him, but are careful to have him known, and honoured by all others that live in the Church with them. 2. That in her seeking for him, she minded the public good of the Church, as well as her own: which teacheth us, to propose to our selves the public good, as well as our own particular advantage, whenever we haunt the means, wherein we are called to seek him. 3. That she thought it a great mercy, to be any ways useful for the good of her mothers house: And so believers will look upon it, not only as their duty, but also as their mercy, to be useful to others. 4. That Christ's presence, familiarly manifested to particular believers, doth exceedingly capacitate them, for being usefully instrumental in the Church wherein they live.

The fifth Argument follows on this, and it is, I would bring thee into my mothers house: This is a resolution, to perform what she had practized, Chap. 3. 4. and was spoken to there: The sense is, If thou wert familiar with me (saith she) I would usher thee in to the Church, whereof I am a member, for the good of all the family; as if a Virgin, living in her mothers house, should presse one whom she loved, and with whom she might be familiar as with a brother, when she had found him without, to go in and abide with her in her mothers house, as the greatest evidence of her respect, and that they of the family might have the benefit of his company, as well as she: So it is here. And it shews, 1. That she would leave no respect, that was possible to her, unexercised towards Christ; She would not only honour him her self, but she would endeavour to have him made known to others, that they might have a high esteem of him also: Believers whom Christ is familiar with, they will not be satisfied with any respect they can put upon him, but are careful to have him known, and honoured by all others that live in the Church with them. 2. That in her seeking for him, she minded the publick good of the Church, as well as her own: which teacheth us, to propose to our selves the publick good, as well as our own particular advantage, whenever we haunt the means, wherein we are called to seek him. 3. That she thought it a great mercy, to be any ways useful for the good of her mothers house: And so believers will look upon it, not only as their duty, but also as their mercy, to be useful to others. 4. That Christ's presence, familiarly manifested to particular believers, doth exceedingly capacitat them, for being usefully instrumental in the Church wherein they live.