their examples to do the like The 8. and last Chapter and the summe thereof The olde Church or Church of the Iewes consulteth with Christe her heade and spouse concerning the calling of the Gentiles declaring that it is one part euen of her spirituall ioy to see that they shall be chosen into Christes flocke verses 1. 2. 3. Christe againe on the other side setteth out his affection to the church and wished still to be commended and praysed of her verses 4. 5. 6. Which the Church taking euen as it were out of his mouth shee desireth his continual presence and fauourable aide for euer 1 WE haue a little Sister and shee hath no breastes what shall we do for our sister in the daye wherin speech shal be had concerning her 2 If a wall is to be builded we will build in it a pallace of siluer if the gate is to bee defended wee will fence it about with boordes of Cedar 3 When I my selfe shall be as a wall my brestes like Towres then shall I bee in his eyes as one that findeth peace 4 Shelomoh hath a vine in Baulhamon he gaue the vine it selfe vnto the keepers a man bringeth for the fruite thereof a thousand peeces of siluer 5 My vineyard which is mine is before my face to thee O Shelomoh a thousand and two hundred to them that keepe the fruit thereof 6 O thou that dwellest in these gardens the companions harkening vnto thy voyce cause mee to heare 7 Flye thou O my welbeloued and be like vnto the roe or to the young hart vpon the mountains of spices THe Church especiallye of the Iewes hauing before made mention of her unfayned loue towardes Christe as we maye perceiue by the latter end of the other chapter doth now manifest the sound affection that she carrieth towards him euen by an other circumstance to wit that she taketh wonderfull care for the inlargement of the glory of her spouse not onely by deliberating but also after a sort wishing the calling of the church of the Gentiles yea making as you would say large and great offers for the accomplishment of the same Which though indeed it did at that time most properlye belong vnto the people of the Iewes who in those dayes were in outwarde profession the onelye people of God it doth now concerne the whole church who are the same now because the partition wall is taken away that the Iewes were ought to carry the same sound mind towards them y t are not yet called that the Iewes did to the Gentiles that were then without the Lorde vnder the church of the Iewes resembling no doubt the congregations that should be gathered of all the nations of the worlde and by the Gentiles setting out such as hauing not hearde the worde were yet notwithstanding in good time by the ministerye of the worde and working of the spirite to be effectually called to the Lorde whereof of also this me thinketh maye seeme to be a good reason because y t as the Lord will alwayes haue his church vpoÌ„ the earth so he wil haue y t means continually vsed not only that therby they that bee conuerted maye be strengthened but also that others may by the same meane be mightely reclaymed otherwise as Gods worke should appeare for a time and his glory manyfested in strengthening them so his power should bee hazarded and glory also yea the Church it selfe might quicklye come to an ende in this lyfe if there were not as a dayly remoouing of some of them to eternall lyfe by the meanes of death naturall to triumph with the rest that are gone before so a continual drawing of othersome theron by the exercises of the worde to partake with the reste in that spirituall warfare that they are to vnder-goe in this life And this I woulde haue to bee marked as good profitable and necessary both for the sense and doctrines of this chapter speciallye for the three first verses of it that we maye not be constrayned hereafter to repeat the same againe This chapter consisteth of three partes or doth especiallye propounde vnto vs three thinges The first point is as it were a consultation of the old Church with her head and husbande Christ concerning the chosing and calling of the Gentiles into the selfe same state and condition of eternall grace fauor with her this is contained in the three first ver of this chapter 2 The second thing is a notable manifestatioÌ„ declaration of the sound affection of our sauiour Christ towardes the whole church consisting both of Iewes Gentiles or of all nations as you would saye this beeing set out vnto vs not onely by commending the church but by commending it by comparing it with Solomons vineyard yea by preferring it before the same by stirring vp the sayde church to the holye duetye of praising him from whoÌ„ if he did not highly affect her he would not desire that commendation ver 4. 5 6. 3 The third thing is an earnest request or praier that the church beeing moued with the loue of hir husbande care to obey his coÌ„mandements maketh vnto him for his continual presence comfort and assistance to lead her to guid her into all truth wel-doing and this is contained in the 7. and last ver of this chapter Ver. 1. We haue a little sister She beginneth to propound the matter touching the vocation and calling of the church of the Gentiles WheÌ„ she saith we she meaneth it of Christ her self q. d. O husband spouse thou I haue by y e worde sister she vnderstandeth y e church of the Gentiles which she calleth her sister the sister of Christ Iesus also because they haue both one coÌ„mon father vz the Lorde of whom is named the whole family in heauen in earth Ephes 3. 15. yet so y t we alwaies obserue this true holy distinctioÌ„ that Christ especially as in regard of his Godhead is the verye naturall sonne of God indeed wheras we are his sons daughters whether we be Iewes or Gentiles thorow adoption grace Rom. 8. 16. 2. Cor. 6. 18. in what respect further either y e whol church or the particular churches of Iewes Gentiles maye be called Christes sister or sister one of them to another see before chap. 7. 6. She addeth that shee is little y t is not ripe or growen to any greatnes or as a man would say not come to the yeeres of mariage or mariageable vnderstand it alwaies spiritually because y e fulnesse of y e time for their mariageê as you wold say or calling was not come Gal. 4. 4. euen til Christ him self was ascended had sent forth his Apostles giuing theÌ„ coÌ„mission for that purpose Mat. 28 19. Mark 16. 15. the misterye wherof thogh it were prophecied of long before and euen y e very angels did after a sort desire to beholde y e accomplishment of it yet
hath her excuses and reasons of refusal So we see y e same in Moses the man of God when he was to be sent for the deliuerance of Gods people out of Egypt Exo. 3. 11. 13. also Exo. 4. 1. 10. c. and in Ieremy refusing the execution of the Prophets office chap. 1. 6. Verse 3. Teacheth vs in tyme to accept of the Lordes mercifull visitation least otherwyse hee offering vs his fauour and we eyther contemning it or neglecting or not reuerentlye esteeming of it according to the worthinesse therof we do not onely prouoke him to depart and pull sorrowes vpon our selues thereby but cause him to bestow it vpon them that will thankfullye receiue it and bring foorth the fruites thereof as our sauiour sayth Math. 21. 43. It is a doctrine much vsed in the old and new Testament both to stirre vp men to imbrace and that with speed and earnestnesse Gods fauour offered them least refusing it they be barred of it then when they would be glad of it See to this ende Prouerb 1. 24. 25. c. Isaiah 55. 6. Amos. 8. 12. Galat. 6 10. Ephes 5. 6. Heb. 3. 13. and in sundrye other places of that Epistle Ver. 4. Doth not onelye teach vs what excellency and fulnesse there is of good thinges in Christ but withal sheweth his great vnspeakable loue towards the Church who though shee haue offered him by meanes of her vncurteous dealing iust occasion not onelye to departe from her but to take with him also all his fauours doth yet notwithstanding not deale so the Lord comfortably as in respect of the church wisely as in regarde of him selfe supplying his absence with the sweete graces that hee hath left behinde him which graces also the Church shal do well not onely thankfully to receiue but profitably to vse to the strengthning of her fayth and hope euen vntill she may come vnto the ful fruition of her head and spouse for euer To this end tendeth Paules doctrine of the ministeries of the Church mentioned Eph. 4. 8. 9. 10. 11. c Ver. 10 Teacheth vs not only to be greatly greeued for our former iniquities yea so greeued that we seeme to bee and are in deede euen almost as it were swallowed vp of death with y e same or as y e prophet speaketh psal 88. 3. There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thine anger neither is ther rest in mi bones because of my sin c But also y t howsoeuer the Lorde loue his he doth notwithstanding for their sins chastice them and yet not take his louing kindnes from thē for euer Psa 89. 32. 33. Yea these afflictions are both tokens of his fatherly loue towards them as Heb. 12. 7. 8. and pledges also of our saluation 1. Corinth 11. 32. Vers 6. Teacheth vs what is the nature of the wicked against the godly vz. hardlye to intreat them and to deale most cruelly with them which the Churche of God and the particuler members thereof haue found true in all ages times which thing also the holy ghost propoundeth not onely here but in many other places of scripture not as to discourage vs from entringe into the race and course of godlinesse but to fore tell vs before hand what we must looke for and to forewarne vs also to bee furnished with the graces of constancy and patience in the trueth And as we see the persecutions of the church put downe in the worde and foretold there as acts 14. 22. 2. Timoth. 3. 12. and other places so we haue notable places containing the terrors of y e wicked and the ioyes of the faythfull as Philip. 1. 28. In nothing feare your aduersaries which is to them a sure token of destruction but to you of saluation and that of God And 2. Thes 1 6. 7. c. It is a righteous thinge with God to recompence trybulation to them that trouble you which what it is he declareth vers 8. 9. and to you which are troubled rest with vs by which we see that the sufferinges of the Saintes shall not be in vayne and that the vngodly shall not alwayes triumph whatsoeuer they imagine or suppose Vers 7. Teacheth vs in the daies of our distresse and heauinesse not to conceale the same or keep it close for then it wilbe as a fire to consume vs but to laie it out to the Godly that so from them we may receiue according to Gods good pleasure instruction and comfort and by doctrine and praier according to Saint Iames his rule Acknowledge your faultes one to another and pray one for an other Iames 5. 16. Taking alwaies heed that in this behalfe wee chuse such as wil faithfully keepe thinges committed vnto them be able also to giue vs comfort by the knowledge and experiēce which they them selues haue had 2. Cor. 1. 4. Least otherwise laying our afflictiōs before them that are vnskillfull wee loose our labour aud trifle out the time or committing them to such as wil blase them abroade we adde yet more affliction and griefe vnto our owne soules for want of circumspection and warines both in that and other great cases also Verse 8. Teacheth vs by questioning and demaundes specially propounded vnto them that be able to instruct vs to labour to attain to the knowledge of such thinges as we haue small or no skil at all in finally aboue al the knowledg of Christ for this is life euerlasting to knowe God to bee the onely true God and him whom hee hath sent Iesus Christ Iohn 17. 3. And by this meanes haue alwaies Gods Children laboured to profite as Iohn 1. 38. 48. also Iohn 14. 22. See also Exod. 13. 14. c. Also Deut. 6. 20. and sundry other places By which the Lord would seeme amongest other wayes allowed in his word to make this whereby men might attayne to sound knowledge and ripe iudgement in his truth and though we in the corruption of our nature cast in our own waies the stumbling blockes of feare of shamefastnes and sundry such like to hinder vs in this case and course of godlinesse yet we muste labor agayne to remooue them and in holye boldnes to propound questions yet none that are curious but such as are good to edifie withall Rom. 14. 1. 19. Verse 9. Teacheth vs first if we know anye thing the manifesting whereof maye tende to Gods glorye and the good of his children we should simply propound it for God hath not gyuen men talents to the end that they should lapp it vp in napkins and digg hide the same in the ground as the vnprofitable seruaunt in the parable Math. 25. 25. Luke 19. 20. Neither yet that in a proud conceit of their own estimation because they alone would be counted wise learned c. they should keepe it to them selues but laye it out for aduauntage to them selues by increase of the same and to Gods glory who shall haue praise in their weldoing and
church And there is in this word I say a vehemeÌ„cy coÌ„taining as it were in ita graue senteÌ„ce q. d. I giue thee my promise looke what I promise thee I wil perform I wil go vp into the palmetree He meaneth by this speech that he will bee present with his church whom before verse 17. he had resembled to a palme tree I will take holde of her bowes hee meaneth by this speech that hee will purge it and so not onelye perceiue but receaue notable fruites of her euen as in Palme trees the teader braunches are specially pruned and trimmed because that they yeelde flowres and Buds for fruite By which it should seeme they were not such trees as ours are He that list to read more then this ouer and beside all that which is spoken before let him see Plinie lib. 13. cap. 4 Othersome also affirming that they beare a certayne fruite both pleasaunt and profitable which we call Dates and of this mind are manye wryting of the nature of Plantes and trees both olde and new and particularlye Dodineus And by the worde which is turned heere bowes which properlye signifieth the highest bowes in the tree and is not vsed in any other place of the old Testament but heere this may yet appeare because the palme tree that the Philosophers wryte of doth at the toppe send foorth such long â—â—wes and there it is also whereas they report the fruite it selfe groweth In summe this is Christes meaning that ioyning him selfe vnto the church and beeing present with her he will doe it to this ende that hee maye see how they thriue in the fruites that is in the graces and blessings he hath bestowed vpon them and that he may gather the same and so enioy them and be as it were partaker of them Thy breasts shall nowe be q. d. whatsoeuer they haue beene heretofore to me and yet we may not thinke but y t the Lorde hath alwaies graciously regarded his church now at this time and for euer hereafter they shall be delightfull and pleasant vnto me and that he meaneth by the wordes following Like the clusters of the vine See for this ver 17 And the sauour of thy nostrells that is the breath that commeth from thee Like apples that is like sweete and pleasaunt smelles that come from apples see before chap. 2. 5. By all which wee must note that Christ doth not onely mean to deliuer vnto his church the comfort of his continuall presence but withall to note the effectes of the same because where Christ is indeede he is not in vaine q d. I will not onely be present with thee satisfying my selfe as it were in thy breastes and beauty and delighting in thy loue continually Prou. 5. 19. But also I will make thee strong fresh liuely yea sweet and pleasant to all such as shall come vnto thee by meanes of such graces as I shall indue thee withall and to the same end tend to words of the verse following Verse 19. And the roofe of thy mouth vz shall nowe both vnto mee and others bee like the best Wine vz both for colour strength taste sweetnes for all these concur together in wine meaning that it shall smel well and be most sweete and mighty in operation to which end namelye the commending of the Wine for the goodnesse thereof tend al the words following which goeth straight to my welbeloued q. d. It is such excelleÌ„t wine as I woulde wish it or send it euen to the dearest and best freend I haue euen to her that I loue as my self if not before my self And causeth the lips of the ancient to speake Another commendation of the wine Old folks many times be dull and heauy of speeche but this wine hath suche force in it that it will euen open theire mouths and cause them vtter a voice as a man would say whether they will or no. The worde that is here turned Ancients may also in the hebrue tong be deriued froÌ„ a worde that signifieth to sleepe q. d. the wine is so strong that it stirreth vp the heauy senses and doth after a sort as it were refresh the mind in so much that it maketh them that sleepe to speak Which manner of speeche though as we respect the similitude it may seeme hiperbolicall or verye excessiue yea more then true yet if wee respect the spirituall meaning we shall finde it is the trueth it selfe For what is Christes purpose heere but amongest other Graces giuen to the Churche to shewe that this is one excellent that hee will indue her with suche power and delightfulnesse of speeche which hee vnderstandeth by Roofe of the mouthe because without it nothing canne bee vttered it beeing one of the principall instrumentes of nature giuen vs to frame our voyce by see Chap. 5. 15 y t it shal euen as it were raise vp men not only froÌ„ natural sleep but from y â— sleep death of sin see Ioh. 5. 21. 25. This being perfourmed specially by the preaching of the gospel which is the power of God to saluation to all that beleeue Romans 1. 16. and is not mortall but immortall seede 1. Peter 1. 23. By which wee are quickened and raysed vppe together and made to sit togeather in the Heauenlye places in Christe Iesus Ephe. 2. 1. 6. c. Verse 1. Dothe teache vs that there are many thinges in the Churche that may make vs in an vnfeigned affection to loue and to like the same as the spiritual inward glory beauty and comelines thereof Yea it sheweth vs y t the Lord hath furnished the same with maiestye and might not only for y e comfort and defence of the sound members thereof but also both for the correcting of such as wold be straying and stragling from that same holy fellowship as also for the withstanding and ouercomming of such as wold without assault anoy thesame O the deepnes of the riches both of the wisdome mercy of God of his mercy towards his own sonnes and seruaunts and of his wisdom in intrapping the vngodly in his own subtilties and force If the Churche hadde beene beautifull and amiable onely howesoeuer many of her owne children might in a reuerent regard of her haue dutifully behaued them selues towardes her yet some Nimrodes of the earth woulde haue supposed with their giantlike force to haue defloured and defaced her but the Lorde hath gratiouslye prouided meanes againste both extreames that as there is in her many thinges to mooue her vnfained friendes to loue and like her so there is also many things in her againe to terrifie either her counterfeited friendes or her open and knowne enemies Verse 2. Teacheth vs in Christes example speaking comfortablie to the church distressed not onely his great loue towards the same who as a man woulde saye can not endure the heauinesse and griefe thereof which ought to bee no small consolation to the church and the particular members therof sith he that is