charge before it was in regard of the Roes and Hindes of the field fearefull Christians comming on towards Religion willing to flocke and feed and converse with the sheepe yet ready to start and flee away upon any feare of danger of persecution but now no regard is had of these fearfull ones for they that shall then remaine fearefull when the Church shall enjoy so great light and safety they shall bee quite excluded from conversing with the Church For use we may here learne Vse 1 First since the Church of the Jewes shall attaine to so great beauty it ought to kindle our desire to pray earnestly for their conversion that wee may behold the admirable fairnesse thereof and bee delighted with her consolations Vse 2 Secondly this doth teach us how to approve our selves pleasant and faire in Christs eyes even by keeping his Ordinances in integrity and simplicity and by a willing readinesse to frequent the same Christ may see all the world as hee did when Sathan shewed it to him and yet not admire it yea condemne it for vanity as it is but a well ordered Church and ready he admireth Vse 3 Thirdly here learn the more straight and sincere the more patient and meek the more faithfull the more fruitfull in all holy obedience c. the more doe wee attaine to a Palme tree like full stature of Christianity Vse 4 Fourthly it may learne and direct Ministers to apply themselves to the estate of their people If they bee bebes in Christ to be as breasts of Milke to suckle them If they be grown to ripe yeares to bee as clusters of grapes to refresh them with stronger liquor be ready to poure out sweet and comfortable liquor but see some good calling to pressing you to it let all your Doctrine direct to Christ and dispense it with such powerfull efficacy of the Spirit that the drowsie sluggard may bee raised up to some fruitfulnesse and more holy walking towards God Vse 5 Fifthly this may teach townes well provided for to lend their best care and help for the edifying and calling home of Countrey Villages Grudge not then at their ready resort to the gate of your Assemblies but rather encourage them that they may be partakers with them Vse 6 Sixthly this lets us see that time shall come when forward profession shall be no disgrace yea men shall kisse Christ openly and shall not bee despised Vse 7 Seventhly the malignity of our Ancestors against Christ and his Gospel must provoke us to more embracing of him and more subjection to him Vse 8 Eightly we may here see that a faithfull Ministry and godly Magistracy is a pledge of Christs tender love and kinde embracing of the Church Vse 9 Ninthly we are hence to take notice that when a Church enjoyeth many gracious and sweet blessings from Christ it is good for her to see it and acknowledge it and to be careful that all her Members may so walk as their happinesse be not interrupted In the fourth verse the charge runneth thus That ye stir not up c. But in the Hebr. Why should you stir up c. As who should say when all things are throughly and fully reformed and setled Why should you goe about any Innovation This manner of charge was never uttered before Cant. 2. ver 7. to the end Who is this that commeth up from the Wildernesse leaning upon her beloved I raised thee up under the apple tree there thy mother brought thee forth there shee brought thee forth that bare thee Who is this that commeth up from the Wildernesse In these words the holy Ghost setteth out the calling and estate of two other Churches after the calling of the Jewes First the one arising out of the Wildernesse ver 5. 7. Secondly the other a little sister ver 8. 10. together with the estate of the whole Church as it shall then stand from that time to the end of the world ver 11. 14. This Church comming up from the Wildernesse is described First by the unexpectednesse of her arising together with the admiration of the Jewish Churches there ver 5. Who is this that commeth up out of the wildernesse Secondly by the place of her arising the Wildernesse Thirdly by her familliar fellowship with Christ joyned with her confidence on him leaning upon her beloved Fourthly by the means of the gathering and raising of this Church I raised thee up under an apple-tree c. ver 5. Fifthly by her earnest desire of his deepe affection to her and continuall remembrance of her Set me as a seale upon thine heart as a seale upon thine arme ver 6. which petition of hers is urged by a motive taken from the strength and depth of her affection to him which she proveth First by comparing her affection as equall to three things most strong First Death Secondly to the Grave Thirdly to vehement flames of fire ver 6. Secondly by comparing it to two things as lesse than her affection though they be also of great force First to many waters which cannot quench her affection of love Secondly to the whole substance of any mans house which would bee contemned if it were offered to withdraw her from Christ ver 7. The calling and estate of the other Church the little sister is described by three passages First by the consultation of the elder Sisters to wit of the Jewish Churches and of that Church comming up out of the Wildernesse what they shall doe for her when she shall be spoken of ver 8. Secondly by a resolution what they shall doe for her sutable to what her condition as they shall finde her shall require ver 9. Thirdly a satisfaction given by this little Sister to the elder how her estate standeth together with the cause thereof Gods favour that they may the better know what courses to take for her ver 10. The estate of the whole Church as it shall stand after the conversion of the Jewes and of those other Churches is set forth First from Christs care for them expressed First in his watchfulnesse over them in his owne person which he amplifies by the lesse care which Solomon had of his vineyard committing the keeping of it to others ver 11 12. Secondly in his charge to the Church that he may heare her companions hearkening unto her ver 13. Secondly by the Churches prayer unto Christ that he may hasten the translating of them into heaven in the end of the world ver 14. Who is this that commeth c. Who these Churches should be that remaine to be called after the conversion of the Jewes and Gentiles we cannot conceive any more fitly than the Churches of Assyria secondly of Egypt of which we read Isa 19. 23. 25. When a Church shall bee elected among the Jewes signified by Ezekiels goodly Temple the water of Gods Spirit shall flow from thence Eastward goe downe into the Desert and from thence spread
latter doth not stand with the soveraignty and headship of Christ over his Church Unlesse thus far to intimate Christs tender regard of the will and desire of his Church as he would be as unwilling to deny them as loving husbands be to deny their wives any thing Come my beloved let us goe forth into the field let us lodge in the villages In these words the Church ininviteth Christ to visite the Countrey villages about her implying First her prayers to Christ that with her he might lodge there plant and set Churches there Secondly her care to take and observe all opportunities to advance such a work Let us get up early to the vineyards let us see if the vine flourish whether the tender grape appeare and the pomegranats bud forth there will I giv thee my loves Let us get up early to the vineyards let us see if the vine flourish Meaning if any opportunity should offer it selfe to plant Religion amongst them then Christ and she might be forward to further the same Thirdly her promise to Christ to employ her best endeavours to such a service There will I give thee my loves The love of the Church to Christ is especially seen in feeding his Lambes and Sheep She therefore offereth to Christ free use of her dearest and best affections to set forward such a work Fourthly her discerning of some good beginning of such a work The Mandrakes give a smell and at our gates are all manner of pleaseant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved The Mandrakes give a smell Which is a Countrey field hearb yet amiable which argueth some fruits to be gathered in the Countrey And at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old And therefore out of the abundance of her own store she can supply the Countrey with all fit helps to her further gathering and establishment Which I have laid up for thee O my beloved She professeth her desire to employ all her store to Christs advantage and therefore abounding with Ministers and other fit Officers for gathering and establishing the Countrey Churches about her she expresseth her readinesse to bring them out to his service and use as if they were some good houshold provision laid up by her for such a use The accesse of the whole Land of Israel to the City is profitable The Land shall be called Belulah as well as the City Hephzibah ver 10. A Causey is cast up for a mutuall recourse of Countrey to City THE CANTICLES OR SONG OF SONGS opened and explained THE TEXT CHAP. 8. O That thou wert as my brother that sucked the brests of my mother when I shold finde thee out I would kisse thee yet I should not be despised verse 2 I would lead thee and bring thee into my mothers house who would instruct me I would cause thee to drinke of spiced wine of the juyce of my pomegranat verse 3 His left hand should be under my head and his right hand should embrace me verse 4 I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem that ye stir not up nor awake my love untill hee please 5 Who is this that commeth up from the Wildernesse leaning upon her beloved I raised thee up under the apple tree there thy mother brought thee forth there she brought thee forth that bare thee verse 6 Set me as a seale upon thy heart as a seale upon thine arme for love is as strong as death iealousie is cruell as the grave the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame verse 7 Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned verse 8 We have a little sister and shee hath no breasts what shall we doe for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for verse 9 If she be a wall we will build upon her a palace of silver and if she be a doore we will inclose her with boards of Cedar verse 10 I am a wall and my breasts like towers then was I in his eyes as one that found favour verse 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon he let out the vineyard unto Keepers every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver verse 12 My vineyard which is mine is before me thou O Solomon must have a thousand and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred verse 13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken to thy voice cause me to heare it 14 Make haste my beloved and be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the mountaine of spices THE Church of the Jewes both in City and Country thus gathered doe here expresse her ardent affection to Christ and due respect of him which the old Synagogue shewed towards her whilst he was conversant amongst them in the flesh Since saith she O that thou wert as my brother c. Christ was made our Brother by taking our Nature upon him at his Incarnation and then hee sucked the breasts of the Church attending to the Ministry of Iohn and other Jewish Teachers she therefore to shew her affection desireth that he were now amongst them conversant in their streets againe in bodily presence shee would not doe then as the old Synagogue did be ashamed of him or come to him by night but she would kisse him and embrace him in the open streets and yet no man should then despise her for her so doing as they did but every one should encourage her in her obsequiousnesse to him She would not reject him and thrust him out of the Synagogue as her old Ancestors had done but if she found him without she would lead him and invite him into their Synagogue or Temple there to instruct her and teach her the will of her father shee would not give him gall to eat and Vinegar to drink as her forefathers had done but she would cause him to drink of the best delicate spiced wine and the juice of her Pomegranat His left hand should bee under my head and his right hand should embrace mee The left hand of Christ is the Christian Magistrate which shall in those daies support and advance the Church and hold up her head His right hand is the faithfull Ministers which shall speake comfortable things to her heart and so embrace her Isa 62. for this also see I charge you O daughters of Ierusalem that you stir not up nor awake my love untill he please The Church enjoying these great mercies and blessings from Christ chargeth all her daughters members to walk so thankfully and fruitfully towards God and lovingly and helpfully one towards another and so circumspectly and inoffensively to them which are without that no occasion be given of their alteration of their happy estate When the Church gave this
we looke for whose beginning for sudden conversion of multitudes shall be admirable to themselves and others As the morning Her arising is resembled by the morning First because this Church shall arise from the Easterne Countries Secondly her arising shall be like a new Resurrection from the dead Thirdly her arising shall be speedily as the same phrase intimates Faire as the Moon bright as the Sun The Moone is faire by beauty communicated to her from the Sun In the Suns brightnesse is light heat refreshing and all in a glorious manner The Citizens of that Church shall all at that time or at least the body of them have their sins forgiven them by the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to them They shal enjoy abundant light of heavenly knowledge They shall excell in purity of holinesse They shall abound in consolations to the refreshing of themselves and others Terrible as an Army with Banners Read Revel 19. 14. 21. The Armies of the Jewes shall bee terrible to the Turkes and Tartars and to the false Prophet then driven from Rome by ten Christian Princes and associating himselfe to the Turke for succour I went down into the Garden of Nuts The Jewish Synagogues so called because of that voice of hardnesse and blindnesse drawne over their hearts as it were a hard Nut-shell over the Kernell To see the fruits of the valleys Valleyes lying in the shade between two mountaines bring forth fruit late so the Jewes are long before they bring forth fruit unto Christ To see whether the Vine flourished and the Pomgranates budded The Jewes that for hardnesse of heart are like a Garden of Nuts yet when their conversion shall bee wrought will bee as Vines and Pomgranates bring sorth sweet and wholesome fruits to the refreshing of GOD and Man Or ever I was aware my soule made me like the Charets of Amminadib Or set me upon the Charets of a willing people not that any thing commeth at unawares to Christ in his owne person but because to his Ministers that in his Name shall goe into this Garden of Nuts The Jewes shall appeare unexpectedly prepared to embrace Christs calling they shall finde the Jewes as Charets of willing people ready to march with them whethersoever in Christs Name they shall call their soule should no sooner desire it but they should bee set in all readinesse where also is intimated the willing readinesse of a willing people among the Gentiles to convey the Jewes into their owne Countrie with Charets and horses and Dromedaries Returne returne O Shulamite returne returne that we may looke upon thee what will ye see in the Shulamite as it were the company of two armies Returne returne O Shulamite returne This call so often repeated doth imply First the earnestnesse of the Ministers that shall call them Secondly the haste that they would have them to make in going through with their conversion That we may looke upon thee or behold thee It is the desire of the Ministers and of all the Faithfull to behold this glorious Church when shee shall be called What will yee see in the Shulamite But as it were the company of two Armies or the hoste of Mahanaim This is spoken either because the Jewes shall presently upon their conversion marshall or ranke themselves into Armies against Gog and Magog ver 10. where she is said to arise terrible as an Army with Banners Or else taking the word properly the holy Ghost compareth the Jewes to an hoste of Angels which Iacob saw at Mahanaim as indeed the feeble in that day shall be valiant as the Angels of God This Interpretation seemeth to me to be the more likely because her warlike provision was before mentioned ver 10. Or otherwise the holy Ghost may allude to the hoste of Israel and Judah which went to bring up David from Mahanaim to Ierusalem after the Israelites were brought to see their errors in casting him off for Absalom So shall the Jewes at their conversion assemble for the establishment of the Kingdome and Throne of Christ among them after they shal be brought to see their foule errours in casting off Christ so unworthily so long a time Vse 1 The first Use of this is for discerning a different estate of all Christian Churches and Congregations and triall of our owne parishes In one of these rankes every Congregation is found either a Queene a Concubine a Damosell or a Dove If we have freely consented to the entertainment of a faithfull Ministery comming to us in the Name of Christ if we bring with us to him a sufficient dowry for his maintenance If the word of God shall be powerfully dispensed amongst us and the opening and shutting of the Kingdome of Heaven and withall the key of Discipline bee not neglected If our Congregations bring forth many children to God partakers of the Heavenly Inheritance then are our Congregations as chiefe wives as Queenes to Jesus Christ But if our Ministers finde not conjugall and free acceptance from us if we be not willing to provide for them comfortable and honourable maintenance If the word be not so dispensed that the people may finde themselves either in good or evill estates If our Congregations bring not forth regenerate Christians to partake of the heavenly Inheritance then are they but as Concubines in the sight of God If we have yet no Ministers that wooe us and beseech us to be reconciled to Christ or if they doe yet we coily put them off with delayes or refuses then are we Damosels but neither Queenes nor Concubines But if we finde all the properties of Queenes belonging to us and withall finde a love and care to keepe our selves chaste to Christ and innocent to man and undefiled and unspotted both of the World and of Rome then are we Doves to Christ Jesus choycest children of the true Catholique Church A second Use is for a discerning of a different estate of all Christian souls and triall of our owne estates before God if our hearts have never yet beene called and knocked at by the lively word of Gods Ordinances or if we have coily put off our Repentance to this day or refuse to hearken to Christ then are we Damosels If we bring forth seed of Righteousnesse to Christ by reason we are under the government of such who will require it and well may command it of us we are but as Concubines But if we freely condescend to receive and embrace Christ into our hearts with entire conjugall affection and give up our selves to him to bring forth the fruits of his Spirit and are enabled to governe our selves and families after his will then are we Royall Spouses unto Christ Jesus And if beyond this we grow up to a holy jealousie against our selves and keepe our selves to Christ chaste innocent and undefiled and endeavour to cleanse our selves from all filthines of flesh and
spirit then are we as Doves unto Jesus Christ Vse 3 A third Use to direct and instruct Ministers and people how to approve themselves and their Congregations in best sort unto Christ Let not Ministers thrust themselves upon their people against their consents but let their people freely accept them and comfortably maintaine them Let the Ministers bee faithfull in dispensing Gods Ordinances and the people obedient to give up themselves to Christ and his truth till both grow up to heavenly and holy purity of worship and life so shall our Congregations bee as Queenes and Doves to Jesus Christ Vse 4 A fourth Use may be to encourage men to wayes of spotlesse Innocency they are not disgracefull but blessed of the Faithfull and praised even of them that are without Vse 5 Fifthly to reprove the children of the separation who reproach the Church in stead of blessing or praising them Vse 6 Sixthly this may teach us to expect a powerfull and glorious calling of the Jewes in all the particulars before described say they bee now as Gideons Fleece dry when the Gentiles are moystned with heavenly dew they shall againe be moystened when we shall seeme dry in comparison of them Though Leah step first into Iacobs Bed and so the lesse comely Church of the Gentiles into the fellowship with Christ yet the Church of the Iewes as beautifull as Rachel shall in the end finde fellowship with Christ The glory of their calling appeares in the Text because the holy Ghost describes her by comparisons not fetched from earthly flowers or metals or jewels but from heavenly lights the Morning Moone Sunne It appeareth further in their unexpected and free readinesse to embrace Christ The power of their calling appears in their earnestnesse and zeale of their Ministry in breaking the hard shell of their hearts wherewith they were formerly inclosed ver 11. In stirring them up to fight manfully and terribly Gods battels against the enimies of the Church ver 13. The Lord speedily hasten the comming of this Shulamite that we may behold her Amen THE CANTICLES OR SONG OF SONGS opened and explained THE TEXT CHAP. 7. HOw beautifull are thy feet with shooes O Princes daughter the joynts of thy thighes are like Jewels the work of the hands of a cunning workman verse 2 Thy navell is like a round goblet which wanteth not liquor thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lillies verse 3 Thy two brests are like two young Roes that are twins verse 4 Thy necke is as a tower of Ivory thine eyes like the fish pooles in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus verse 5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmel and the haire of thine head like purple the King is held in the galleries verse 6 How fair and how pleasant art thou O love for delights verse 7 This thy stature is like to a palm tree and thy brests to clusters of grapes verse 8 I said I will goe up to the palme tree I will take hold of the boughes thereof now also thy brests shall be as clusters of the vine and the smell of thy nose like apples verse 9 And the roofe of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved that goeth downe sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speake verse 10 I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me verse 11 Come my beloved let us goeforth into the field let us lodge in the villages verse 12 Let us get up early to the vineyards let us see if the vine flourish whether the tender grape appear and the pomegranats bud forth there will I give thee my loves verse 13 The mandrakes give a smell and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved THis Chapter to the end of the fourth ver of the eighth Chapter describeth a fourfold estate of the Iewish Church When they shall come to be converted unto the Lord to wit First as it shall be in gathering and growing up v. 1. 5. Secondly as it shall be growne up to her Stature and Maturity v. 6 7. Thirdly as it shall be further enlarged by the accesse of the Gentiles ver 8. 10. Fourthly as it shall multiply and stretch it selfe into the Country villages and throughout the Land of Israel v. 11. v. 4. of Chap. 8. That in ver 11. the Church inviteth Christ and with him her selfe to have recourse into the Country Villages is plaine in the words of the former verses which set forth a threefold estate of the Shulamite converted is evident by the Repetition of the verses ver 3. 7. 8. and all with some difference and the brests are so described ver 3. and set forth an unsetled Ministry quickly stirring up and downe to gather this Church and the scattered Members of it This Church then in gathering is described by ten parts Feet Ioynts of Thighes Navell Belly Brests Necke Eyes Nose Head Haire How beautifull are thy feet with shooes O Princes daughter the joynts of thy thighes are like Iewels the work of the hands of a cunning workman How beautifull are thy feet with shooes O Princes daughter In her feet shod with shooes there is a threefold beauty for it implyeth First her returne out of captivity as on the contrary bare feet is a signe of going into Captivity Secondly her challenging and recovery of her last Inheritance in Israel Ruth 4. 7 8. Thirdly her walking in that peace of conscience which the Gospel prepareth whereas he that walketh barefoot either gathereth a thick brawny skin upon the soles of his feet or if his feet bee more tender hee pricketh them ever and anon with thornes or little sharpe stones as scruples a conscience not furnished with true peace either waxeth senselesse and brawny or else scrupulous anxious all the three things are beautifull and glorious as on the contrary it is a great disturbance and deformity to goe into captivity to sell and foregoe a mans Inheritance to walke unquietly and uncomfortably and if it bee beautifull and glorious to returne out of bodily captivity and to recover the earthly Inheritance how much more is it together with these outward things to joyne a returne out of spirituall captivity and recovery of an everlasting Inheritance as the Iewes shall doe at their conversion O Princes daughter So called First because they are born of God the Prince of Princes Secondly the Iewes converted shall be of much glory and authority even as the Kings of the Earth The joynts of thy thighes c. The word signifies whole bones of the thighes they for their apt and ready turning in their conversion to God are like well wrought pretious Iewels the work of the hand of God the Spirituall workman of all the works of the Church Thy navell c. thy belly is like the
and taking hold of the boughes of it ver 8. Secondly by the rich supply of nourishment from her brests ver 8. Thirdly by the smell of her nose resembled to Apples ver 8. Fourthly by the power of her Doctrine ver 9. Fifthly by her familiar fellowship with Christ ver 10. The fourth estate of this Church as it shall multiply and stretch it selfe into the Country villages is described ver 11. to the 4. of the next Chapter and that First by the occasion of this encrease the Churches invitement of Christ to visit the Country villages ver 11. 12. Secondly by the affectionate service of this Church to Christ cha 8. ver 1. 2. Thirdly by Christs affectionate embracing of her ver 3. Fourthly by the Churches desire for the continuance of this estate without interruption ver 4. How faire and how pleasant art thou O love for delights How faire The fairenesse and beauty to the Church implyeth sutably to what is found in the naturall beauty of the body First a compleat integrity of all the Members of this Church where any Member is wanting there is deformity beauty is blemished This Church shall want then no Ordinances of God nor any such Members to whom the dispensation of each Ordinance belongeth Secondly a fit proportion of all the Members of the Church one to another no swellings no convulsions Thirdly a good colour in the outward face of things all carried decently and in order How faire It implyeth admirable beauty in all these respects How pleasant for delights This word implyeth a ready willingnesse of this Church to the publique worship of God which is here called delights as being the marriage bed wherein Christ most familiarly solaceth himselfe with his Church This ready willingnesse of this Church was foretold and the willingnesse of this people to any service of of his is pleasant to him O love As if the Church were so lovely that it were even love it selfe The five former verses described the Church in her severall Members a part This verse considereth the whole body met together in publique duties This thy stature is like to a palme-tree and thy brests to clusters of grapes This thy stature is like a palme-tree This tree is eminent First for her straightnesse Secondly for her tallnesse Thirdly for her perpetuall greennesse and fruitfulnesse as that Fourthly for her thriving under weight pressing it downe Fifthly for her easinesse to be climbed having many boughes whereon to stay hands and feet So shall the Church bee eminent for uprightnesse thererein for growing up even against all oppositions of Gog and Magog for ready entertaining of all the faithfull that shall come to her Thy brests are like the clusters of the vine-grapes Their Ministers such like in soure respects First not few as afore two young Roes but many as clusters Secondly not stirring up and down as Roes from place to place but hanging in their places Thirdly full of strong liquor of sound Doctrine Fourthly requiring some pressure in urging though little before they empty themselves but upon easie pressure doing it plentifully I said I will goe up to the Palme-tree I will take hold of the boughes thereof now also thy brests shall be as clusters of the vine and the smell of thy nose like apples I said I will goe up to the Palme-tree I will take hold of the boughes thereof Christ speakes of himselfe to imply the readiness of his Members to resort and flock to this Church of the Jewes for what Christs Members doe by the guidance of his Spirit he accounteth it his owne action This forwardnesse of the Gentiles to ascend and resort to Ierusalem is elsewhere foretold more plainly Now also thy brests as the clusters of the vine And that is notwithstanding the plenteous accesse of the Gentiles to the Church Here shall be no defect of Ministers to teach and feed them all but there shall be still a large supply of store sweet and plentifull Teachers as clusters of grapes to refresh them all And the smell of thy nose like apples Notwithstanding this plenteous accesse of the Gentiles the life of common Christians intainted with Heathenish Popish unsavory pollutions yet the Church her selfe and they that live in it shal smel a fragrant savour of the good conversation of the people The smell of thy nose Not which the nose yeeldeth but which is yeelded to the nose to thy savoury discerning shal be sweet and comfortable as that of Apples Before when this Church consisted of her owne people her smell was as that of Lebanon v. 4. now by the accesse of the Gentiles it shal not be corrupt Indeed when the Israelites came out of Egypt the mingled of the Gentiles with them drew them away to murmuring and lusting for this compare Exod. 12. 38. with Numb 11. 4. But no such contagion shall accrue to this Church by the mingling of the Gentiles with them And the roofe of thy mouth like the best wines for my beloved that goeth downe sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak And the roofe of thy mouth like the best wines Hebr. Like good wine going to my beloved most straightly and rightly That is the Doctrine of the Church shall bee as ever any most sweet and powerfull and comfortable and generous wine it shall ever goe or tend directly to Christ alwaies aiming at the preaching of him To goe rightly or straightly implyeth the strength and generousnesse of wine when it sparkleth upward in the cup as Prov. 23. 31. which here expresseth the lively vigour of the Churches Doctrine in her preaching of Christ causing the lips of those that are asleepe to speak Such shall be the sweet and powerfull efficacy of the Doctrine of the Church then as shall cause the sleepy and drowsie professors whether amongst us Gentiles or amongst the Jewes to open their mouthes and speake plentifully to Gods praise When the Apostles spake the wonderfull workes of God in strange tongues some of the people thought them to be full of new wine but they were deceived and were willing so to account of them in mockery But these people shall be full of new wine of the Spirit and Word of God to open their mouthes to speak as the Apostles did the wonderfull workes of God I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me This profession of the Church that she is her beloveds Argueth First her familiar fellowship with Christ Secondly her faith or confidence of her Interest in him or his in her Thirdly her open profession of the same That his desire is towards her argueth the strength of his affection towards her and it is the same word used * which there implieth two things First the strength of their affection to their husband and their elder brother Secondly the subordination and dependance thereof upon their will the former is here also meant the