My beloved put in his hand by the hole [of the
door]
To remove the bolt or bar which kept him from entering in. By the
"door" is meant the door of her heart, which was in a great
measure shut against Christ, through the prevalence of
corruption; and the "hole" in it shows that it was not entirely
shut up, there was a little love broke out from her to him; a
little light broke in from him upon her; but her heart was much
narrowed and straitened, her grace low in exercise, yet there
were some faith, some love wherefore Christ takes the advantage
of the little hole or crevice there was, and "put in his hand";
which is to be understood of powerful and efficacious grace, and
the exertion of it on her; which is as necessary to awake a
drowsy saint, and reclaim a backsliding professor, and to quicken
to the exercise of grace, and performance of duty, as to the
conversion of a sinner, ( Acts 11:22 ) ; and this
is a proof of the greatness of Christ's love to his church; that
notwithstanding her rude carriage to him, he does not utterly
forsake her, but left something behind that wrought upon her; as
well as of his mighty power, in that what calls, knocks, raps,
good words, and melting language, could not do, his hand did at
once;
and my bowels were moved for him;
the passions of her soul; her grief and sorrow for sin, in using
him in so ill a manner; her shame for being guilty of such
ingratitude; her fear lest he should utterly depart from her; her
love, which had been chill and cold, now began to kindle and
appear in flames; her heart, and the desires of it, were in
motion towards him; and a hearty concern appeared that he should
be used so unfriendly by her; that his company and communion with
him should be slighted, who had so greatly loved her, and endured
so much for her; other effects follow.