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

Vers. 8. We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

Vers. 8. We have a little sister, and she hath no brests: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

The Brides third petition, for these that are not yet brought in to Christ, followeth in this eighth verse: Her love is strong in pressing for the enjoyment of Christ, and seeing it hath two arms, as it reacheth out the one to embrace Christ, so it reacheth out the other to bring others in to him: Love is very desirous to have others enjoying him with it self: And by this arm of love, the Bride is pulling in these that are yet strangers, that they may be engaged to love Christ; and she forgets them not, even when she is most serious for her self; this being an undoubted truth, that when ever our love is most fervent after Christ for our selves, it will also be most sensible and sympathizing, in respect ⟨p. 447⟩of the condition of others; when love is hot and fervent the one way, so will it be the other way also, and when it cools to the one, it also decays in respect of the other. We may take up this verse in these three, 1. She remembers and propounds her little sisters case to Christ. 2. There is her suit, in reference thereunto. 3. This suit is qualified, in the last part of the verse. First, her little sisters case is proposed in these words, We have a little sister, that hath no breasts: Here much love and sympathy appears in these three things, 1. That she is called a sister, 2. our sister, 3. • little sister, and without breasts, which do express much tenderness of affection and sympathy. By sister, is sometimes understood, more strictly, such as are renewed converts to the saith, whether in profession only, or really, 1 Cor. 7. 15. but that is not the meaning here; for, the sister here mentioned hath no breasts, and is not yet spoken for. Again, sister may be more largely taken, for one, or all of these three, 1. For all men, as partaking of one common nature. 2. For men of one stock and nation, so Samaria was sister to Jerusalem, &c.