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A37032
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Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon by James Durham ...
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Durham, James, 1622-1658.
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1668
(1668)
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Wing D2802; ESTC R17930
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380,359
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486
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First Some acquaintance with the whole Word of God but mainly the Book of the Psalms and other Songs recorded in the Word as also with the Gospel and such places as have most likeness to it 2. Acquaintance with the cases of others either by reading or mutual fellowship but most of all it is requisite that one have some experimental knowledge of the way of God towards his own heart He who is so wise as to observe these things even he shall understand this loving kindnesse of the Lord Such kind of experience is one of the best Commentaries upon this Text. 3. Watchfulnesse over our selves keeping our heart with all keeping and studying a tender frame of spirit that we may have a Conscience alwayes void of offence towards God Loosnesse all the Week will not be a frame for the Canticles It is not the simple being of Grace but the lively operation and exercise thereof which prompts and disposes either to speak to purpose or to hear of this with profit He would grow in Grace who would grow in Knowledge here Neither have others ground to expect that this secret of the Lord shall be with them or that they shall be of a quick understanding who fear him not One may have Grace and not a lively frame for this except Grace be acting and in exercise 4. Much conversing with the Bridegroom especially by Prayer that he who causes the dull to understand Doctrine may manifest himself and open our eyes to behold these wondrous things and that he may blesse us in the knowledge of his will in this we undertake which so especially concerns Him and us for this Scripture may be dark to these who speaks on it if this be not and a sealed Book to you who hear it if these things be wanting Whereas if these be in us and abound we shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of this piece of Sacred Scripture Now that we may have the more clear accesse to speak profitably of the matter of this Song and that our way of opening and applying of it which may possibly in some things be different from others may be the better cleared We shall 1. premit some Propositions concerning it 2. Draw some Conclusions from these both which we shall endeavour shortly to clear and confirm as useful to be taken alongst in our proceeding The first Proposition then is this This Song is a piece of Divine Scripture and a most excellent part thereof which we shall speak to more fully on the Title and so of equal authority with other Scriptures wherein holy Men spoke as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost and tendeth to the edifying of the Church and making of the man of God perfect even as they do For First This Song hath ever been received into the Canon and accounted as they speak for Canonick as the rest of the Scriptures were It was never questioned by the Jews as Mercer praefat ad Cant. cleareth but was still received by them and transmitted to the Gentile Churches who received the Scriptures of the Old Testament from them who had the Oracles of God in keeping And that the same hath been universally received by Christians may appear by the Records of the Councils and Writings of the Fathers where the Catalogue of the Books of the Holy Scripture is set down 2. It carrieth the Authority of the Holy Ghost engraven upon it as evidently as any piece of Scripture not only as to its Matter manner of Expression Divine Style but mostly in that Divine power and efficacy it hath on hearts and spirits especially of the more discerning who best know Christs voice as his Sheep whereby it relishes so sweetly and elevats them to such an holy ravishment that it obtaineth the testimony from all that there is something Divine in it and more then can be in Humane Writings even though they cannot particularly tell the meaning of it That holding true here which one said of a Book which was something obscure That which I understand said he is excellent therefore I judge that which I understand not to be so also though it exceed my reach And that its Christ who speaketh and that it is the Language of the Holy Ghost and can be applyed to no other is by a Divine conviction extorted from the Reader and Hearer of it so that confessedly and deservedly it beareth this Title A Song of Songs This Song must either be attributed to the Spirit as the chief Author of it though Solomon was the Penman or we must say it was not only Penned but Indyted meerly by some Man Solomon or whoever he be led by his own spirit or some other spirit without the Spirit of God But none of these last can be said What other spirit can so speak of Christ and the Church What other Song even of the most holy Men can be compared to this Was it ever equalled Or can it be equalled And if it cannot be the fruit of the spirit of a meer man though in the most holy frame then it must be inspired by the Spirit in wonderful wisdom and a most Divine style compacting the mysteries of Communion with God in Christ in this short Song Wherefore we say it is justly called A Song of Songs whereby it is preferred not only to all Humane Songs but even to other Scriptural Songs which were blasphemous to do were it not of a Divine rise and authority There are two Objections which sometimes have been started by some but they will not be of weight to infringe this truth The first is that there is no Passage of this Song cited in the New Testament But citation of Scriptures in the New Testament doth not give authority to them They are cited as having authority and not to get it And therefore there are many Scriptures in the Old Testament which were never cited in the New Although it may be said there are many near resemblances at least in the New Testament to diverse Passages in this Song as the often styling the Church a Vineyard Matth. 20. and comparing the Churches union with Christ to Marriage Matth. 22. c. That Christ standeth at the door and knocketh Rev. 3. 20. taken as it were from Song 5. 2. The Virgins falling on sleep Matth. 25. The efficacy of grace called drawing Iohn 6. 44. taken from Chap. 1. 4. c. Christ in the Parables called a King or the King which by way of eminency is applyed to him Psal. 45. 1 2. Neither is the second objection of greater weight to wit that no proper Name of God is to be sound in this Song For 1. It s so also in other Scriptures as in the Book of Esther The Scriptures authority doth not depend on naming the Name of God but on having his warrand and authority 2. This Song being Allegorical and Figurative it s not so meet nor consistent with its style to have God named under proper
December 12. 1667. IT is Ordered by the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council That none shall Re-print or Import this Book Entituled Clavis Cantici for the space of nintine Years without Licence of the Printers hereof P. W. Clavis Cantici OR AN EXPOSITION OF THE SONG of SOLOMON BY IAMES DVRHAM Late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow Col. 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Eph. 5. 2. And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us 1 Cor. 13. 13 And now abideth faith hope love these three but the greatest of these is love EDINBVRGH Printed by George Swintoun and Iames Glen and are to be sold at their Shops in the Parliament-Yard Anno DOM. 1668. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER GOD being the immortal souls chief good it must needs follow that what unites the soul unto God must be the souls chief Ornament and Grace And such is Love that Principium uniens or principle uniting the soul unto God Whence it is that even in good spiritual and elevated reason the Apostle prefers Love among the souls three cardinal virtues 1 Cor 13. 13. And now abideth faith hope and love and the greatest of these is Love Indeed Faith going out from the sinner to rest upon Jesus Christ the Justifier of the ungodly And there is no sinner nor unclean thing in Heaven and Hope looking unto and after a Country that we are not yet possessors of and Love yea love alone filling Heaven unto all eternity it is certain that Love is the souls most adorning Ornament its most Heavenly frame Now of all Books in Holy Scripture it hath pleas'd the Holy Ghost to entitle the Song of Solomon or His Book of Loves thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Song of Songs All Songs all Loves all outgoings of the soul being invaluable to this Souls-Song and Love uniting Christ and the soul. This Posthume work then of the precious Author Mr. Durham is commendable to the Churches if there be need of â—â—y additional commendation beyond the naming of his Name to it upon moe accounts than one First It 's done upon the highest sweetest deepest subject Love between the soul and it's chiefest good even God in Christ. Secondly It 's done spiritually yet plainly upon a most spiritual yet Mysterious portion of Holy Scripture And Thirdly the Churches of Christ are oblidged to God in this That they have had from this bright Candle amongst the Lord's Candlesticks a light shining upon and discovering those two Mysterious Books of Scripture Canticles and Revelation Fourthly If a word fitly spoken is as Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver Prov. 25. 11. Sure then it was highly commending of Gods goodnesse to the Author That he was led on this work of Preaching Lecturing and Writing on this Song of Loves Those sweet concords and begun Musick of Heaven between Christ and souls and that in time of sad discords and very Immusical Jarrings in the Church An argument of an excellent Soul-frame in a very evil time A demonstration whereof and of his healing disposition O how apparent is it in that rare piece of his upon Scandal I shall not trouble thee any further save that I cordially wish the Lord may be pleased so to blesse thy perusal of this present Treatise as it may tend not only to the present but also to the everlasting wel-being of thy soul. And so I bid thee farewell Clavis Cantici OR A KEY of the SONG Useful for opening up thereof THis is a place of Scripture the Exposition whereof many in all Ages have shâ—â—ned to adventure upon and truly I have looked upon it of a long time as not convenient to be treated upon before all Auditories nor easie by many to be understood especially because of the height of spiritual expressions and mysterious rapts of Divine Love and the sublime and excellent expressions of the Bridegroom therein contained which would require much livelinesse of frame and acquaintance in experience with the things here spoken of and nearnesse in walking with God as being necessary for finding out the mind and meaning oâ— the Spirit of God therein Yet we are now brought by help of his Grace to essay the Interpretation of it upon these following considerations First Because it is acknowledged by all not only to be authentick Scripture but an excellent Piece thereof and therefore is to be made use of by the Church and not to ly hid nor to be laid aside as if the meaning thereof were not to be searched into because it seems dark and obscure 2. Because the Subject and Matter of it is so Divine carrying alongst with it many various cases both of particular Souls as also of the Church both visible and invisible with many excellent commendations of Christ the Bridegroom which ought to be the Subject of his Friends Meditations and cannot but be profitable if he blesse them there being here Maps almost for all conditions 3. Because the style and composition is so Divine and excellent carrying affections alongst with it and captivating them in the very reading so that few can read this Song but they must fall in love with it we would therefore see what is within it if at least we may get a taste of that which doth so sweetly relish 4. It seems the Holy Ghost by putting it into such a mould intended to commend it and if it be true that all the Poetical pieces of Scripture ought especially to be learned and taken notice of so should this it being so commended to us in that frame 5. The strain and subject of it is so very spiritual that it necessitats the Students thereof to aime at some nearnesse with God and ordinarily it leaves some stamp upon their affections which is not the least cause nor the smallest encouragement to me in this undertaking We shall not stand to prove the authority of it It carries a Divine style in its bosome nor is there need to inquire who was the Pen-man of it it being clear that Solomon who was furnished with wisdom and understanding as never a King before or since was is honoured to be the Amanuensis of the Holy Ghost in putting this Song upon record Whether after or before his backsliding it is not much to us though it be most probable that it was after in the warmness of a spirit sensible of this so great a deliverance For here we may as it were see him making use of that experience of the vanity of all things he had found coming to the fear of God as the conclusion of the whole matter whereof this Song of Love is not a little evidence and which looks like his own saying Eccles. 12. 13. The means which are necessary for our more perspicuous handling and your more profitable hearing of this profound Scripture will be