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

2. The suit is, What shall we do for our sister? This is a petition, that seems to have more affection than distinctness in it: It's proposed by way of question, the better to express her sympathy; where she disputes not, but again asserts his relation to her, and puts no question but he will be tender of her; and withal acknowledgeth that there is a duty lying on her self, in order to the case of her little sister, but would be informed and taught by him in the right discharge of it: and so this question supposeth necessity and wretchedness in this sister, affection and duty in her self, but unclearness how to discharge it. Now the way she takes to be helped in it, is the putting up this petition to Christ, What shall we do? saith she; Not as if Christ knew not what he would do, but it shows her affection to this sister, and her familiarity with him, and also that she will not separate his doing from hers but looks upon it as her duty to co-operate with him, in bringing about the conversion of their little sister.

2. The suit is, What shall we do for our sister? This is a petition, that seems to have more affection than distinctnesse in it: It's proposed by way of question, the better to expresse her sympathy; where she disputes not, but again asserts his relation to her, and puts no question but he will be tender of her; and withall acknowledgeth that there is a duty lying on her self, in order to the case of her little sister, but would be informed and taught by him in the right discharge of it: and so this question supposeth necessity and wretchednesse in this sister, affection and duty in her self, but unclearnesse how to discharge it. Now the way she takes to be helped in it, is the putting up this petition to Christ, What shall we do? saith she; Not as if Christ knew not what he would do, but it shews her affection to this sister, and her familiarity with him, and also that she will not separat his doing from hers but looks upon it as her duty to co-operat with him, in bringing about the conversion of their little sister.

The qualification of her suit is, What shall we do for her, in the day that she shall be spoken for? This phrase, to speak for her, is in allusion to the communing that is used for the attaining women in marriage: We find the same phrase in the Original,