Sabbatism without Rent Notes explaining the Senſe. d The thousand Years are an entire Sabbatism without Rent Notes explaining the Senſe. a Undoubtedly Evenings and Mornings making Days are taken by the Spirit of God in Daniel from it self in Moses Leading the six Evenings and Mornings to the Seventh Day or Sabbath So these 2300 Ev. Morn lead to the great Sabbatism of the thousand Years Notes explaining Words. 1 The Beginning Notes explaining Words. 2 The End Notes explaining Words. 3 The World hath been generally supposed to consist of six Millenaries or Thousands answerable to the six Days of Creation and the Seventh thousand to be a Sabbath Notes explaining the Senſe. b According to general Computation an Objection may arise The sixth thousandth or Millenary wants two hundred forty one of the thousand To this may be Answered 1. Christ tells us the last time of the Tribulation of the Vials shall be shortned for the Elects sake when Philadelphia or the true Church shall be preserved from the Temptation that shall come on all the Earth 2. We know not what time may be after the thousand Years as in Recompence of that shortned Time Matth. 24. 22. Notes explaining Words. 4 The last end of Time Christ foretold shall be shortned Revel 20. 3. 8 9. Notes explaining the Senſe. c The Jews were too much naturaliz'd to those Heathen Countries that they needed many Call home to their own Notes explaining Words. 5 Dan. 9. 25. The Commandment going forth 6 Things given with great Life and in short as by the Art of Perspective Notes explaining the Senſe. d All those Calls were the Commandment going forth till all was finish'd by the Commandment of the God of Israel of Cyrus Darius Artaxerxes King of Persia Ezra 6. 24. Notes explaining the Senſe. e At the Word perfectly gone forth the seventy Weeks began viz. Artaxerxes his seventh Year Notes explaining Words. 7 Antiochus Epiphanes that Famous Tyrant over the People of God whose Tyranny is Related 1 Maccab c. 1 c. to his Death and by Josephus Notes explaining the Senſe. f The most eminent and renewed Trouble of those seventy Weeks was the Cruel Tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes to which this Song now goes on Notes explaining the Senſe. a Although the Jews after their Captivity met with many Troubles and were a low Tributary Government as before declared by the Apple-tree Yet there was no Calamity from the days of Cyrus till Christ so renowned by Daniel's Prophecy and Explained by the Maccabean History and the History of Josephus provided by God on purpose as for that Tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes and it s so Renowned that it might be a Type of Antichrist Notes explaining Words. 1 The Night of Adversity and Troubles Notes explaining Words. 2 Solomon's Temple was the Bed Notes explaining Words. 3 The Enjoyment of Christ By Night on my Bed I sought Him whom my Soul loveth I sought Him but I found Him not Notes explaining Words. 4 Who according to Daniel's Prophecy cast down the Sanctuary by his prophane Tyranny 1 Mal. c. 1. c. I will rise and go about the City in the Streets and the broad Ways Notes explaining Words. 5 The Temple so defil'd could not be used for Sacrifice But as Dan. foretold the Daily was taken away Dan. 8. 13. I will seek Him whom my Soul loveth Notes explaining Words. 6 The Multitude were corrupted by Fear and Flatteries according to Dan. 11. 31 32. Compared with the Maccabean History I sought Him but I found Him not Notes explaining Words. 7 The Priests whose Lips preserve Knowledge of which Judas Maccabeus was a Principal The Watch-men that go about the City found me I said saw ye Him whom my Soul loveth It was but a little I passed from them Notes explaining Words. 1 The Violence of the Tyranny of Antiochus was so great there was no publick Ministry But I saw him whom my Soul loveth Notes explaining Words. 2 Yet the Action and the Example was such and the Zeal for Truth and Resistance to that Corruption so bold that Christ soon appeared 1 Mac. c. 1. I held him and would not let him go Notes explaining Words. 3 Jacob wrestled with the Angel and would not let him go Gen. 2. 32. 28. c. Notes explaining the Senſe. a There is nothing so Remarkable in prophecy as the Re-settling Jerusalem after the Tyranny of Antiochus so that on that Account the Church is said to hold Christ and not to let him go till the Incarnation for notwithstanding the after Troubles of the Jews the Publick Worship of God was not disturbed till the very coming of Christ Vntil I brought him into my Mothers House Notes explaining Words. 4 The Body of Christ representing his Humane Nature He Calls a Temple John 2. 19. And into the Chambers of her that conceived me Notes explaining the Senſe. b There cannot be a more significant Representation of the Incarnation than of Christ brought into the House of the Churches Mother and into the Chambers of Her that Conceived the Church that is Eve the Mother of all Living from whom the Blessed Virgin descended and out of whose Chambers Christ came so peculiarly Notes explaining Words. 5 The Promise was especially vested in the Seed of the Woman of which Eve was the Mother Notes explaining Words. 6 The humane Nature of Christ was as private Chambers Notes explaining Words. 7 Christ began his Spiritual Reign in the Form of a Servant in the Preaching the Gospel Notes explaining Words. 8 In that Nature he Ascended on High I charge you O ye Daughters of Jerusalem by the Roes and by the Hinds of the Field That ye stir not up nor awake my Love till he please Notes explaining the Senſe. c There was no Offence of Christ so great at that time as not to wait the Messenger of the Covenant coming into his Temple and aright to prepare for Him who was as a Refiners Fire to Purifie the Sons of Levi to which the fore-nam'd Sects were such Enemies Notes explaining Words. 9 The Great Offence that at this time might provoke Christ was not waiting for the true Messiah and disacknowledging the true Signs of Him by those prejudic'd Sects among them viz. the chief Priests Scribes Pharises Sadducees and Sanhedrim of the Jews Notes explaining Words. 1 Seventy or seven Tens of Weeks making 490 Years Notes explaining the Senſe. a About the end of the sixty fifth of the seventy Weeks Christ was born Notes explaining Words. 2 Time is as it were Ambitious of the most noble Productions Notes explaining the Senſe. b The greatest Production Time can hitherto boast of is the Coming of Christ in the Flesh Notes explaining Words. 3 The Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come into his Temple But who may abide c. The Desire of all Nations so was the Reception of Christs Birth by the Angels the Shepherds and other holy Persons in the Gospel History Notes explaining the Senſe. c One of the greatest Mysteries of Religion is God Manifest in the Flesh Notes explaining Words. 4 Refine and exalt Nature unto a higher pitch Notes explaining Words. 5 Who can declare this Generation The Word was made Flesh John 14. 5. Notes explaining Words. 6 Schelom speaks in the name of the Saints Notes explaining Words. 7 Sing With Triumph Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderness Notes explaining the Senſe. a As nothing followed more fitly according to Daniel's Prophecy than the Incarnation of Christ Messiah on the troublous Times of Antiochus so all humane Wit and Phancy may be appeal'd to whether any thing can be more fitly express'd Notes explaining Words. 1 A Question of Holy Admiration Notes explaining Words. 2 In regard of the Solitude and
the melting Airs of thy sweet Voice Flow in my Ears no other hath my Choice Address me with thy Taking Physnomy None else Reports those Graces from my Eye But now our Vines begin to germinate The Fox-like envy does our Fruit regrate And fain would Ravage it But let us set And wrap that subtile Kindred in our Net Chorus How the All-seeing Spirit that Divines Things Future as the Past draws here the lines As they 're drawn after by the ready Scribe And the Tirshatha of the Royal Tribe Thus once and twice and once again the Voice The Captives Call'd e'er the Ha'vre de Poiz Of Just Obedience gain'd They lay entwin'd I' th' closer Fetters of a servile Mind Till this unweary'd Love thus sets them free From double Chains of their Captivity Then did the Temple Walls and City Rise But Fox-like Foes as Builders in Disguise So here the Royal Prophet Sings durst Enterlope Till by great Schelom's Care their envious hope Was vain That pair of Worthies then Restor'd The Temples Order and the Pillars shor'd Of Salem's Policy During their daies The Gladded Spouse thus Issues into Praise The Spouse The settled state of the Church under Ezra and Nehemiah The Circle is now Perfect my Love mine By Faith I claim and strait return the Line Into it self that I am His and While My State though low no Falseness does defile As in a Field of Lillies white and pure He takes Repast and does himself ensure To me Till all Dark Veiles and Shades shall fly And vanish off from the Inlightn'd Sky And himself visible shall lead the Day Though I Fore-see my Love sometimes away Provok'd by new Offence yet turn my Love Let not Thy absence a Desertion prove Be Thou like to the youthful Hart and Roe That cuts its hasty Motions to and fro So Traverse thou the Mountains that define Each side of Time as th' Equinoctial-Line Cuts into equal parts the Globe so steer Thy hasty steps around Times lower Sphere Those latter Gentile Times that just commence When Cyrus bears Messiah's Reference On this same mount of Time like Bethers Hill Lets passing and repassing see thee still Till Thou bright Morning Star without a Cloud Shall spread the Beams so bright no shade can shroud The Chorus Here part the Hemispheres of Times whole Globe Encompass'd with the Endless flowing Robe Of vast Eternity From Times first Spring Out of that Womb till Cyrus greatest King Of all the Gentile Race whom sacred Fame Records alone Crown'd with Messiah's Name Flow Years in thousands three hundreds twice two And unites fifty nine in plainest View Of numbred Numbers if we will allow As doth the Sacred Calendar a-vow Ezekiel's Fourty to draw out the length Of his three hundred ninety from the strength Of twelve Tribes parted into Two and Ten. Thus Reason doth inforce the Time to Ken Till Salem's Temple in new Measures seen Drawn by * Ezechiel's Man of Brass had been And further forty Years themselves had worn When Judah's Sin was now no longer born For Cyrus Type of Great Messiah's Grace Did now just introduce Times last half space From Cyrus draw Times second half 't will flow In thousands two and hundreds three a-row Measur'd by Daniel's Eves and Morns that shoot Days into Years as Prophets may compute And so the thousand Years of Sabbatism They reach when one bless'd State shall know no Schism Thus Eves and Morns at first made Days tâ—â—ice three Of the All-potent Work and then left free The Seventh for a Sabbaths sacred Rest Thus ran times East and thus shall run its West For the six thousandth almost spent in Toyl To th' Sevenths Rest the whole is but a Foyl If we half-witted then create a Doubt How the Sixth Millenary turns about When Merge yet hundreds two and forty one If us no other Answer can attone Doth not our Lord in Prophecy cut short The curtaill'd Fag of Time lest the Effort Of Evils then so strong should reach t' Affect With over-flowing Vials his Elect Then what 's the space of Time how ever short We must beyond the thousand Years Transport Lyes secret from created Minds but still May what was wanting to Times measure fill Now of these Eves and Morns th' first sev'nty five By these repeated Calls the Spouse retrive From foreign Lands become too much her own Which Daniel calls in brief this Word forth gone From hence the sev'nty Weeks Tyde strait along So lively's the perspective of this Song Wherein the Spouses troublous Times most swell In Black Epiphanes as now She 'll tell CHAP. III. The Spouse Antiochus Epiphanes Defiling the Temple and taking away the Daily Sacrifice is now set out in this following Canticle HOw quick the Night o'ertakes me yet in Bed I thought to find that Princely Loved Head Whom my Soul clasps in dearest Tyes but He Was thence withdrawn the Temple could not be Our Bed in this Black Time when violate By th' Bestial Fury of Antioch's Hate Our ravish'd Bed could then no longer ease My Thoughts so full of Anguish nor appease My boyling Heart one minute I start out From its now-loathed Shroud and search about The Streets and open'st Ways if in the Throng I meeting Him Remonstrate might my Wrong But Oh I found the Publick had betray'd Their Faith to th' Tyrant I no longer stay'd In such a Fruitless search the Watchmen I apply Who are in Trust such Questions to unty The sacred Guard my Love fix'd to their Bounds My quick Enquiries visit all their Rounds With this one Question Have ye seen the Him The Him whom my Soul Love's that only Him They durst not loudly Speak but silent Guides Of Truth they gave me unto him who slides Into my Chast Embrace Just as I mov'd From that so happy Watch Him my Soul lov'd I soon espy'd By Faith and Love I hold Arm'd with my Prayers strongest when most bold And Jacob-like my Love I 'de not let go Once from me more till he had Bless'd me so That humane Nature should the Temple be Where I might Worship His Divinitie Thus dwelt the Word in Flesh as in the House My Mother bred Poor Me Here me t'Espouse In Promise first he graciously did deign As private Chambers here His Mystic Reign In Servants humble Form began In this He climb'd A Glory yet not seen but duely tim'd For its Appearance While thus my Love rests Contented not to stir my Care contests A-new You Salem's Daughters by the Hinds And Roes o' th' Field Gentiles whom nothing binds But my Love's Power Which
make a due Inquiry and then to adjoin themselves to greatest Evidences of Reason Together with which he may as he pleases extraordinarily awaken inject infuse into their Minds but so that the whole Assurance they have depends upon Evidence and all they claim to of Assent is upon the same Evidence where this then fails Mistake ensues and Assent is not due From hence it follows As they may mistake so they may differ and One be in the right upon better Evidence where another is in the wrong upon no Evidence or insufficient Evidence Or Both may be Right or in an Errour on the same accounts and yet Both these may be in great Things eminent Ministers of the Truth of God to his Church and agree therein being excited and conducted beyond the ordinary level of Men to attain Evidences true and firm in such Points where the generality yea where very few enter at all And therefore those Mistakes and Differences shall not in the least invalidate the great Truths wherein they have Evidence and wherein they Agree For all is to be valued by Evidence And Ignorance Inapprehensiveness Want of Diligence in others in Trying and Judging these Evidences to distinguish between Mistake and Truth and their Rejection of all for want of such Infallibility and Agreement makes no alterations in things themselves which neither will deceive nor can be deceived And withal observe here are no more Grains of Allowance required in this Case than in all kinds of Learning Knowledge Science and Arts in the World which do not proceed upon Infallibility nor determine in any greater Universality of Consent No not Theology it self beyond the very express Assertions of Scripture If Men have a greater Antipathy and Aversion to make out after to try or to receive Prophetical Knowledge and to think it Reason enough to do so because Men mistake and differ which same thing they do in all things and though their Agreements in grand Points as in all other Cases is so valueable It cannot be helped till a better State of the World cure this so general Malady But to return from this long but most necessary Digression upon this Occasion Although I do with all Thankfulness acknowledge the Helps I have received yet I humbly avow with lowliest Thanksgivings to God I have proceeded upon these peculiar Grounds deriv'd from his Word alone I find no way of Interpretation so like to Circumscribe and Define the Sacred Sense of this Song as a Prophetical Course of Time which the Church passing through under the various Elevations and Depressions of the Kingdom of Christ it becomes capable of these so various Pictures And as in the Course of Time God requires and calls back what is past into wonderful Agreements with what is present and to come upon which Solomon says There is no new thing under the Sun So in this Song supposing it such a Table of Time the Figures and Allegories in which those past things are pourtray'd may be requir'd and repeated For the States come to be repeated in their likenesses also and so the old Emblems are often recall'd and no new ones chosen for them 1. This then laid in the Foundation I farther observe From the very Beginning to the End of this Song there are under the Emblems of Spices of sweetest Smell and richest Perfume couch'd a preparation to a Royal Annointing in agreement with the Great Title of Christ Messiab or Annointed and also in allusion to Paradise the Palace Royal of his Kingdom in all these there is a Designation of his Kingdom who is the Bridegroom and the Beloved of his Church His Spouse and Bride which makes this Song Panegyrical or Inaugurative 2. Again therefore I observe There is from the Beginning to the End of this Song a constant Design of drawing all the Preparations to a Marriage and Nuptial Solemnity by the holiest purest and most ardent Affections and all kind of Ceremonies and Retinue and Courtship for Espousals and for the Glories and solemnization that agree to the Nuptial Love and Honour Christ is pleas'd to put upon his Spouse and Bride the Church And that as Marriage which is a great Mystery as the Apostle says speaking concerning Christ and his Church was instituted in Paradise and there had its Beginning So in the Paradise of God it hath its Complement and Perfection Now hereunto agree the so often mention of Flowers Gardens Virgins a Bed Espousals and innumerable the like by which this Song looks so like an Epithalamium or Marriage-Song between Christ and his Church Revel c. 19. c. 21. 3. Further Because as the Grandeur of a Kingdom was by the Ancients addulced and sweetned with the Emblems of the Tenderness Care and Propriety of a Shepherd in his Flock and that the Entertainments of Love and Amorous Contemplations were agreeable to the Shepherd's Life Therefore in this Song there is so often mention of Kids Sheep Goats Roes and Hinds Lyons Leopards Roes and Hinds of the Field of a wilder Race of Shepherds and the Mountains They and their Flocks walk upon whereby this Song hath so much of a Pastoral in it 4. And lastly Because Enemies are oft to be overcome before Kingdoms can be enjoyed in Peace and Lustre there is therefore so often mention of Valiant Men Arms Armory and Armies by which this Song becomes Heroic and Triumphal And all these things are drawn into Song according to the general Usage in ancient Times to Compose into Poesy both their Wars the Glory of their Kings and also their Amours and Pastoral Divertisements From these Considerations then we may have a general prospect and view upon the Frame and Model of this Song and so as to fix it and not leave it to the Pleasure of every Mercurial Phantasie 5. Seeing every Course of Time that is to be limited and circumscribed and pourtrayed as in a Model and Table must have a Point when it begins and when it ends and a medium or middle Line in which it runs along I observe there are great Inducements as possibly we can desire to begin the Song in David who was the first Royal Ancestor of Jesus Christ the King of his Church and the most Eminent Typical Messiah or Annointed of the Lord Annointed with holy Oyl A King raised from a Shepherd to be so wherein he was as it were by Education fitted to a Pastoral Government and prepared to become the sweet Singer of Israel in agreement so far with this Song and a most renowned Warrior who Atchieved by Conquest his Kingdom and was therein eminently a Prophet and a King and not without some providential Resemblance of a Priest in being girded with the Priestly Ephod before the Lord Thus every way in so Eminent a Personage this Song was to begin who was so great a Type and also in his Psalms so great a Prophet of Christs Kingdom as therein to give the Kisses of Christs mouth as he in his several Annointings
and Hinds of the Field The Awes therefore of their Salvageness was to keep them from Murmuring and Repining at Gods Hand in their Captivity and to wait his appointed time And this is thus Poetically Express'd I Charge you c. Notes explaining Words. 1 The Captivity yet allow'd Peace and Quiet The Voice of my Beloved Notes explaining Words. 2 The Cell and the Mountains are oppos'd one signifying Captivity the other Liberty Behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountains skipping upon the Hills Notes explaining Words. 3 The Earth it self seems to fly in the Airy leaps of those Creatures Notes explaining Words. 4 The Churches moves upon the Mountains in return from Babel are set out by the Motions of her Beloved even as Christ is Resembled with the Churches Condition My Beloved is like a Roe or a young Hart Behold he standeth behind our Wall He looketh forth at the Windows shewing himself through the Lattise Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. a There Cannot be a more exact Description of the state of the Church when Cyrus Proclaimed its Liberty Ezr. 1. And the Adversaries of Judah hinder'd the Progress of Things till Darius Ezr. 1. And Darius Retriv'd all Ezr. 5. and Artaxerxes fully settled them in their former state Ezr. 7. and throughout his and Nehemiah's History Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. b It seems on all accounts of Scripture and History most probable Artaxerxes called Longimanus was by Esther the Son of Xerxes Ahasuerus spoken of Esth 1. c. Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. c The Word here fully went forth according to Ezr. 6. 14. compared with Dan. 9. 23. 25. Notes explaining Words. 1 Artaxerxes last Decree Ezr. 7. My Beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my Love and Fair one come away Notes explaining Words. 2 All the Tokens of the Spring are made use of to set out this Liberty For lo the Winter is past the Rain is over and gone The Flowers appear on the Earth The time of the Singing of Birds is come and the Voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land Notes explaining Words. 3 The Summer is like the setting out of a Royal Navy The Fig-tree putteth forth her green Figs and the Vine with the tender Grapes give a good smell Arise my Love my fair One and come away O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock in the secret place of the Stairs Notes explaining Words. 4 The delay of the Jews returns is most Elegantly set out by Clefts of Rocks and secret Stairs and by Haggai and Zechariah were given out and by Ezra and Nehemiah the continued Calls of Christ to come away Let me hear thy Voice Notes explaining Words. 5 By the Churches Voice and Countenance we may understand the Order of the Temple Worship so taken care of by Artaxerxes and Ezra commissioned by him Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. l There cannot be a clearer Explanation of this part of the Song than the compare of it with the History of Ezra and Nehemiah Let me see thy Countenance for sweet is thy Voice and thy Countenance is comely Notes explaining Words. 1 Sanballat Tobiah c. Nehem. 6. Take us the Foxes the little Foxes for our Vines have tender Grapes Notes explaining Words. 2 Ezra the ready Scribe in the Law of God Ezr. 7. 6. Notes explaining Words. 3 Nehemiah the Tirshatha Nehem. 7. 65. Who were Rais'd up by God under the fore-nam'd King â—rtaxerxes called Longimanus to restore the Temple and the whole Order of the Jewish Law Notes explaining Words. 4 While the fore-said Sanballat and Tobiah by a Fox-like Cunning pretended to Build with them as is to be seen in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah Notes explaining Words. 5 This is the Circle He is mine I am His. My Beloved is mine and I am His He feeds among the Lillies Notes explaining Words. 1 Feeding among the Lillies represents the Churches pure state in Faith Worship and Life wherein Christ delights Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. a When Nehemiah had settled the Jewish State according the Law of God then was this mutual Affiance betwixt Christ and the Church Vntill the Day break and the shadows fly away Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. b The Church prays for the speedy returns of Christ foreseeing times of his Absence as Daniel calls them Troublous Times which as Christ and his Apostles especially the Revelation assure us are to continue till his Coming Turn my Beloved And be thou like a Roe or a young Hart on the Mountains of Bether or Division Notes explaining Words. 2 As the Equinoctial-Line divides the Year into its two halves of Summer and Winter before each of which the Sun comes upon that Line so the two halves of the Worlds time are in Cyrus divided into the times of old and the latter times Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. c There could not be a more Elegant Description of the last half of time then by the Mountains of Bether and of the state of that Time as a time with Troubles then by such a desire of Christs sudden Visits after some short Absences nor of the end of it then by Christs Glorious Appearance then by Shades flying away and the bright Morning Star appearing and shaded no longer by such wav'd Dicisions of Absence and Presence or of Eves and Morns Notes explaining Words. 3 The last half is fitly signified by the Mountains of Bether or of Division and Dissection viz. of time parted and cut asunder from its self and also divided betwixt Christs Absence and Presence as Eves and Morns Notes explaining Words. 4 The end of this last half of time is that all shades fly away and the Day of the Glorious Kingdom of Christ appears Notes explaining Words. 5 Whole Time being compar'd to a Globe the two halves may be compared to two Hemispheres or half Globes while Eternity as before and after Time flows round the whole Globe of Time Esay 45. 1. Notes explaining Words. 1 Among all the Heathen Kings named in Scripture Cyrus alone is called Gods Annointed Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. a The Years from the Creation when the Womb of Eternity brought forth Time computed first by the Patriarchs Lives to the Flood thence to Abraham's Sojourning at Terah's Death thence to the going out of Aegypt thence to Solomon beginning the Temple thence to Solomon's Death thence to Cyrus by Ezekiel's 390 and 40 Prophetick Years arise just to 3459 years as will appear on Tryal Notes explaining Words. 2 Numbred Numbers are Numbers plainly set down in the Scripture Calendar or Account of Time Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. b Ezekiel's 390 Years accounted by the Reigns of the Kings of Israel till their Captivity as they ought to be because this Sin of Israel was born in them then by the Kings of Judah till the City Smitten then by the 14 years after the City Smitten rise exactly so many at the Vision of the New Jerusalem which Vision accomplished they shall be Restored and their Sin no longer borne The 40 Years of Judah being the remainder of the 70 Years Captivity from that Vision run to their Redemption by Cyrus when their Sin no longer borne and so ought to be joyn'd to the 390 as is said in the Verses Ezek. 4 5 6. Ezek. 41. 1. c. Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. c Daniel's 2300 Even Morn and the thousand Years make the other half of Time together with the little Time after Satan loosed at the end of the thousand Years Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. d The thousand Years are an entire