Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	apostle_n	holy_a	zion_n	121	3	9.1719	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85763	Loves entercours between the Lamb & his bride, Christ and his Church. Or, A clear explication and application of the Song of Solomon. By William Guild, D.D. and preacher of God's Word.	Guild, William, 1586-1657.	1657 (1657)	Wing G2206; Thomason E1583_3	233,317	296

recourse in storm or when she is pursued by her cruell enemy The midst of which golden foundation wherewith the same is paved and overlaid is Love even the Love of the Elect to him who has so loved them manifested in the doctrine of his Word whereon they rely and build their faith and confidence Last of all it is said That as this Chariot is made to him self or for his glory so likewise it is for the daughters of Jerusalem or the good of his Church and salvation of his Elect his glory being first as it ought to be the first and main end at which we should aime and his Church's good being next and the salvation of soules which we ought all to work out with fear and with trembling Observations 1. Seeing Christ comes to any person or place ordinarily by the preaching of his Word as in his triumphall Chariot then happy is that people where his Gospell is purely and plentifully preached as on the contrary unhappy is their condition when as he threatneth Ephesus Rev. 2. he removes his golden candlestick from them and as in Hosea he saies Woe be to them when he departs from them Hos 9. 2. The end why the Lord hath instituted or doth in any place settle the Ministry of his Word is His own glory and his Church's good therefore these two should be the onely ends at which all faithfull Pastors in the discharge of their charge should mainly aime at and have before their eyes 3. This Chariot here spoken of is made of the finest wood and most precious mettalls which should therefore teach Pastors to be ashamed to be as common or ordinary men in their conversations and much more to be like the basest and worst sort earthly minded unstable scandalous and corrupt and not like pillars of silver but rather of whom it may be said as Isai 1. 22. is said to Jerusalem Thy silver is become drosse and thy wine is mixt with water Vers 11. Go forth O ye daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousalls and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart This is the speech of the Church to all her daughters wherein she invites them to come forth and behold Christ the true Solomon in his glory In which speech we have 1 Whom she invites And 2 Whereunto she invites them 1 to go forth 2 to behold King Solomon with his Crown 3 is set down who crowned him to wit his Mother and 4 when in the day of his espousalls and of the gladnesse of his heart And so in these words we have the end wherefore the Gospell was preached and Christ carried in his Chariot to the ends of the earth to wit that all the faithfull every where who are effectually called may behold him as a crowned and victorious King ruling in his Church by the Scepter of his Word and submission of his people wherein he most rejoyces First then Those whom the Church invites to this contemplation are called the daughters of Sion who are the same who before were called the daughters of Jerusalem and by whom are meant all faithfull believers and true Christians either persons or particular Churches for this Sion was a mount in Jerusalem and as that was called the holy City Isai 52 1. so Sion was called the Lord 's holy Mountain because of his Temple there Joel 3. 17. and did prefigure the Christian Church under the Gospell as we see Heb. 12. 22. or as the Apostle there speaketh The generall assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in heaven These I say are the persons who are called forth by the preaching of the Gospell to behold Christ thus seated in the soul as vers 7 8. and carried as in a Chariot by the ministry of his Word to the outermost parts of the earth as Psal 2. 8. as a Conquerour and a King crowned with glory and honour in his Church 2. That whereunto she invites these is 1 To go forth implying that as long as they remained within dores they could not behold the glory of this King till they came forth which going forth is out of themselves and their former estate not seeking Christ in their own reason and carnall imaginations or having their affections and desires set on the world and earthly things but renouncing and denying themselves and quitting whatsoever thing may be an impediment they must strive with the Apostle for a greater progresse and degree of perfection in the true and saving knowledge of Christ unto their own salvation by doing whereof and with the eye of faith in daily meditation beholding the glory of Christ especially wherein he is now seated and wherein his Church shall raigne with him they shall easily despise all the glory and pleasures of this world as very drosse and dung As Abraham therefore left his father's house Israel Egypt Moses the treasures of Egypt and the Disciples their Boats and Nets to follow Christ so must all those who would be saved or see Christ savingly leave their former conversation and whatsoever is dear unto them if it be an impediment to come to Christ though it were father or mother wife or children and as Lot came out of S●dom Moses put off his shoes going to see the burning bush Exod. 3. 5. And as the Lord sayes to his people concerning Babel Rev. 18. 4. Go out of her my people so they must go out of nature and deny themselves the wantons abandoning and forsaking their carnall pleasures with Mary Magdalen the covetous his worldly profit as Matthew did his receipt of custome the extortioner his unjust gaine with godly Zaccheus the drunkard his excesse and the proud his ambition c. And each one must go forth out of that which may hinder him from a saving and sanctified sight and sense of Christ and his gracious government in his Church and in their owne hearts here or of the comfortable sight of him crowned in glory hereafter 2. That whereunto they are invited and is the end of their going forth is to behold Christ the true Solomon and greater then he as a king crowned in glory power and Majesty ruling in his Church and in the hearts of all his elect A sight indeed needing a sharp-sighted eye to behold and which is onely the eye of faith whereby the wise men that came from the east saw him a king though a new born infant swadled in clouts and lying in a crib and the theef on the crosse in like manner though crowned with thorns and hanging on a tree by this eye likewise the patriarks saw him in the Promises before the law● the faithfull in the sacrifices figures and Prophecies under the law and all true beleeving Christians in his word Sacraments and gracious presence in his Church and their own hearts under the Gosspell And therefore because the blind naturalist or worldling sees not these things the

exhorted 2. Pet. 1. 5 6. and with true Christian obedience as we see Ps 119 6. and Luke 1. 6. And therefore we should labour to have all saving graces and to obey all God commandements 6. These Jewels and chaines wherewith her cheeks are decked she has not from her self but from Her beloved to teach us Humility when we are never so richly adorned with the variety of edifying gifts for others or saving graces for our selves these talents are not ours and what have we but that which we have received and as all this decking of Pharaoh's Horses was for the magnificence of their Master so is all the decking of Christ's church with such gifts and graces for the magnificence and glory of his blessed Majesty which should be the ultimate aime of all our actions or endeavours 7. But we must remarke When are these Jewels and chaines put upon her cheeks and neck never till her cheeks be bedewed with teares for her sinnes and that her neck shake off the yoke of Satans slavery as the Prodigals beggerly rags were first laid aside before he was clothed with that garment which his father put upon him And the Church in Ezekiel 16. was first washed from her filthiness before she was richly clothed and adorned with Jewels Therefore the Church is thus exhorted in Isay 52. 1 2. Put on thy beautyfull garments O Jerusalem the holy City but withall first Shake thy self from the dust arise and loose thy self from the bands of thy neck O captive daughter of Sion therefore if we in like manner would be decked and adorned as mortality cannot be clothed upon by Immor●ality so neither can a soul continuing in sinne and impenitency be adorned with the rich graces of Gods spirit or such precious liquor be put in such old nasty and rotten vessels 8. He speaks of the adorning the most conspicuous parts of the body to wit the cheeks and neck to teach us that although the graces of Sanctification be seated chiefly inwardly to and invisibly in the heart and hidden man thereof which makes it be said as Ps 45. 13. yet in their exercise they must be visible as in the face or neck and therefore sayes our Saviour So let your light shine that men seeing your good works may gloryfie God your heavenly father Verse 11. We will make thee borders of Gold with studs of Silver According to his Promise Habenti dabitur So here is a promise to the Church of the increase of his graces and that useing these well which He had bestowed she should receive more as vve see in the parable of the Talents of him vvho vvas faithfull in little set over much wherein vve have 1. vvho is the promiser and vvhat is meant by we and 2. vvhat is promised First then by we is understood the Trinity as we have the like Gen. 1. 26. for it is only the vvork of God grace in the soul and these eminent vvorks according to the thelogicall Rule are indivisible hovvever in respect of order in a speciall manner they are particularly attribute to the severall persons as creation to the Father redemption to the Son and sanctification to the holy Ghost 2. The thing promised is borders of Gold vvhereby is meant a nevv supply of grace compared to Gold 1. to shevv the preciousnesse and excellency of grace as Gold is the most precious and excellent mettall above all others 2. as Gold inriches as Rev. 3. 18. so does grace only enrich the soul or truly make rich 3. as Gold is durable so is grace only and 4. as Gold is delectable so is grace both to God the truly godly and 5. as borders or lace of Gold decks and decores most so doth grace the soul Next unto borders of Gold he adds studs of Silver whereby is meant the variety of Gods graces vvhich like Gold and Silver vvrought together set forth each other for the mutuall help comfort and delight of the Saints as we see like speeches Prov. 25. 11. Psalm 119. 72. Observations 1. We see that the thing which he promises to his Church in testimony of his love to her is not worldly trash like Esau's portion and the wicked's Psalm 73. but saving grace and the growth thereof and therefore let us take this only like Jacobs blessing to be a sure work of Gods favour and with David to seek after the same Psal 119. 2. He promises more grace to his Church and to her members using those well which he had already bestowed for this is to be understood and therefore if we would have more grace Joh. 1. 16. or the grouth thereof we must labour to use that well which we have already gotten and stirre up the same in us by prayer all ordinary meanes and exercise of the same 3. Seeing he sayes we will make thee Borders of Gold c. thereby shewing that all grace comes from him and is his work in our souls therefore from him only we should seek the same and when we find it wrought in us to reverence the meanes and the externall instruments but to give the glory of the worke unto him who is the onely worker 4. Here is a great incouragement to seek Christ and to come un●o him for they who do so shall find a treasure of grace in him like that Hony that was in Sampsons Lyon and he shall never be weary in bestowing more and more rich Jewels of grace upon them and costly ornaments still till at last he perfect grace in the estate of glory as Psalm 84. 11. Verse 12. While the King sitteth at his Table my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof Here the Church speaks of the fruits of Christs former graces under a new comparison and how in her and from her so indowed by her Beloved the sweet fragrant smell of these graces as of a precious Oyntment flowed forth and spread abroad to the delight of her selfe and others which smell her spikenard sends forth as she sayes while the King did sit at his table whereby is understood that sweet fellowship spirituall communion between Christ his Church by mutuall banquetting as it were as we see Rev. 3. 20. and at which times annoynting was used as we see Psalm 23. 5. and Math. 26. 7. and bringing also of things that gave or sent forth sweet smels to perfume the place and please or delight the banquetters 1. First then we see the style that she gives her Beloved which is that same whereof we have spoken v. 12. 2. Secondly by his banquetting or his sitting at table we have shewn what is understood which banquetting is either spirituall as here or caelestiall in heaven whereof Psalm 36. 8. and Luke 22. 30. And againe this which is spirituall is either whereby he feasts and feeds us in the ministry of his Word and Sacraments or whereby we feast him with his own graces and delightfull fruits thereof as Mary Magdalen did with her teares of true

to another for their mutuall help strength or establishment most willingly and readily they ought to performe 5. Whereas she sayes What shall we do we see that it is not enough onely to wish good to the faithfull or as James sayes to show our charity onely by words Jam. 2. 16. but as the Psalmist sayes to the Lord Do good unto Sion Psal 51. 18. even so we should do good to the faithfull and both our faith and charity should be seene by works for as the body sayes the Apostle without the spirit is dead even so is faith which is without works 6. She sayes What shall we do for her in the day that she shal be wooed or spoken for whereby we see what the preaching of the Gospell is to wit even like Abrahams message by the steward of his house concerning a wife to his sonne Isaac even a wooing of a spouse and preparing her for Christ And therefore 1. When ever we heare Gods word we should consider what is intended therein and accordingly attend thereto and count it our greatest happiness if it produce this effect upon us as to woe and winne us to Christ And. 2. This should be the scope of all faithfull pastors not to woe people or wed them to themselves by gaining their applause or seeking their own estimation but to woe and wed them to Christ as was the Apostles practice and of all true pastors 2 Cor. 11. 2. Qui non quae sua sed quae Christi quaerebant aliis que planctum non sibi plausum movebant 7. It is said in like manner In the day that she shal be spoken for to show us thereby that there is a day that the Lord has appointed for the conversion of such as belong to him as we see in the parable of those who were called to the vineyard at severall houres Matth. 20. And in the conversion of the thief upon the crosse and of Paul when he was a persecutor wherefore we should neither despair of the conversion of any though a most wicked Manasseth or an Idolatrous heathen see Ezek. 16. as all the Gentiles were yea Abraham himself before his calling out of Vr of the Chaldeans for we know not the day when they may be woed and wonne unto Christ Neither should we our selves let such a precious and happy day passe when it comes unmade use of the same lest if we do so as we see Pro. 1. 28. and in the example of the foolish virgins a day of distresse and destruction come upon us wherein though we call and knock he heare us not nor make us no answer 8. Last of all seeing the Church of the Jewes had this care and love to her little sister the Church of the Gentiles and that by the Ministry of the holy Apostles who were Jewes by nation the Gospell of grace was convoyed to her It is our part now to be as loving and carefull for our elder sister and as earnest with the Lord in her behalf for her conversion and inbringing who was the naturall olive and cut off by her unbelief onely for our behoof as she was for us when vve vvere vvithout and aliens to the Common-wealth of Israel Vers 9. If she be a wall we will build upon her a palace of silver and if she be a dore we will inclose her with boords of Cedar Followes here Christs answer and resolution to the former question saying If she be a wall that is vvell grounded on that foundation mentioned Ephes 2. 20. of the prophets and Apostles and described also Rev. 21. 14. And be built up or edified in the truth of salvation as we see Eph. 4. 12. we that is Christ inwardly and effectually by his grace and her sister Church of the Jewes outwardly and Ministerially by the vvord will build upon her a palace of silver that is we vvill further and promove in knowledge and grace and in the grouth thereof that so she may be a fit and glorious habitation to God through the spirit as we find mentioned Ephes 2. 22. Silver noting here the excellency purlty and durableness of this palace not being of combustible matter and richly decked and adorned with the graces of Gods spirit And if she be a dore or gate that as is said Psal 24. 7. the king of Glory may come in thereat or cast open for calling and admitting others as is said Isay 60. 11. Therefore thy gates shal be open continually they shall not be shut day nor night that men may bring to thee the forces of the nations and that their kings may be brought And againe Isay 26. 2. Open yee the gates that the righteous nation that keeps the truth may enter in then sayes he vve vvill inclose her about vvith boords of Cedar vvhich vvas a sort of wood that vvas used in the fabrick both of the ark as the most precious and durable wood as also in the building of the Temple of Solomon and therefore fitly here applyed to the Christian Church she being the habitation of the Lord by his spirit and the Temple of the true Solomon and of the Holy Ghost to denotate thereby the precious and durable endowments of the gifts of Gods spirit vvhereby he was to adorne and fortifie her and vvhich by the Ministry of his servants he was to bestow upon her Observations 1. We see that the Church of Christ and every true member thereof should be like a wall not wavering but stable in the truth and therefore should not be carried about with every wind of doctrine but be rooted in the faith as they are exhorted Coloss 2. 7. that so like the house by the wiseman built upon the rock Matth. 7. 25. they may stand against all assaults and as is said Colos 1. 11. they may be strengthned with all might and for that cause they should labour for the love of the truth vvhich because some received not sayes the Apostle that they might be saved for this cause God sent them strong delusion to believe a lie 2 Thess 2. 10. 2. We see the straightness of the communion of the Saints amongst themselves that as the Psalmist calleth Jerusalem a City that is compact together Psal 122. 3. so here they are compared to lively stones compacted or as the Apostle sayes fitly framed Eph. 2. 21. And firmly builded into one wall by the unity of one faith and the cementing of the bond of love and of one spirit vvhich they should keep fast vvithout schism or rupture that peace may be within the Church her vvalls and prosperity within her palaces Psal 122. 7. Which how good and pleasant a thing it is the Psalmist declares Psal 133. 1. 3. We see as in the parable of the gainers by their talents that to them who have solid and true grace more shall be given and therefore sayes our Saviour here If she be a wall already vve will build a silver palace upon her Wherefore this should teach