watch harden themselves like beaten souldiers against all difficulties resist temptations which are the assaults of the enemie like Gideons souldiers imitate their captaine fight that good fight whereof the Apostle speaks and be constant to the death and they shall receive the crown of life 2. This should teach us to welcome death when it comes which ends our fight gives the full victory and enters us in the triumphant estate of glory 3. We see that that which is terrible to the enemies of Christ's Church spirituall or corporall is when she is like a well ordered army wherein is no mutinie or conâ—usion but unity of faith and decency of order whereas on the contrary if she be as Midians army Judg. 7. or the builders of Babel by heresie or schisme confusion and disorder this is the greatest joy advantage and ground of courage unto all her enemies Vers 5. Turn away thine eyes from me for they have overcome me thy haire is as a flock of goats that appeare from Gilead The like of these words we have chap. 4. 9. Which we have already expounded and as for any variation which we find here Christ does not meane thereby that she should turne away the eyes of her faith from him he being the constant object thereof and wherein he so delights that the doing thereof ravishes his heart to her as he showes there but this is a kind of speech whereby he expresses how much the beauty of her eyes does inamour him that it makes him in like case with her self that is to be sick of love such is the excellency and force of true faith which for that cause we should be so carefull to obtaine The rest to the eight verse we have expounded before in the fourth Chapter verses 1. 2. 3. Vers 8. There are threescore Queens and fourscore concubines and virgins without number 9. My dove my undefiled is but one she is the onely one of her Mother she is the choice one of her that bare her the daughters saw her and blessed her yea the queens and concubines and they praised her In this eight verse is set down the glorious attendance of the spouse of Christ as we have the like Psal 45. 12. and 14. And as it is likewise said that kings shal be her nursing fathers and queens her nursing mothers a definite number of which queens and concubines being here put for an indefinite and by virgins all chaste worshippers whatsoever being to be understood and therefore they are said to be without number as we find the like speech of such in the Revelation c. 7. 9. All which forenamed queens for birth beauty or busking are no wise comparable to these three in her for all hers is from heaven and spirituall but all their's from the earth and naturall yea as the Psalmist saies This King's daughter is all glorious within with the beauty of holinesse spoken of Psal 110. which by age cannot fade sicknesse cannot blast nor death can quite abolish Next vers 9. the Church is praised from her chastity and unity for which she is blessed and praised blessed by the Daughters and praised by the Queens and Concubins In respect of which her spirituall chastity she is called Vndefiled and in respect of her unity she is called One yea the onely one of her mother that bare her The title that he gives her here calling her his Dove of it we have spoken already cap. 2. 14. whereunto this onely may be added That as every thing in the dove is amiable as her eyes Cant. 1. 15. and her feathers Psal 68. 13. and what not so is the Church in the eyes of Christ who sees no iniquity in Jacob nor perversnesse in Israel not that his justice sees any thing otherwise than it is but that his mercy will not see some things as they are Likewise how he calls her his Dove we have spoken in like manner Therefore 1 She is not her own 1 Cor. 6. ult because bought with a price 2 Neither is she the world 's for so it would love her whereas on the contrary it hates her as it did her Head before her The first property then from whence she is described is her chastity implied in this that she is called Vndefiled not that she is free from all sinning so long as she is in this life but she is so perfectly by justification and reputed so in Christ by gracious acceptation and inchoatively made holy by sanctification and made perfect by the perfection of parts which is evangelicall though not of degrees as the Law requires and is not competent to her estate militant Next she is called One all perfection rising from unity and returning thither so that every thing the neerer it comes to perfection gathers it self up the more towards unity Therefore God is one there is one Heaven one Earth one Church in the earth one King of his Church one Law one Faith one Baptism c. And as there is perfection in unity so there is strength as on the contrary a City or Kingdome divided against themselves cannot stand therefore it is said That for the divisions of Reuben were great thoughts of heart The Church then is called one 1 as not being divided 2 as not being multiplied To begin then with the former Whether we consider the Church as an aggregation of the outward visible particular Churches of Christian professors in common or as the invisible and universall Church of the Elect onely it is still one professing one Lord and so being one in the Head one Faith and so being one in the heart and one Baptism and so being one in the outward face thereof No naturall body being more one than this mysticall is which one head rules one spirit quickens one blood washes one food nourishes and one roab covers c. And so it is one in it selfe and one with Christ as Christ is one with the Father Joh. 17. 22. What Church then has one onely head the Lord one onely faith in the Lord built upon one onely foundation Ephes 2. 20. and one baptism in that faith â—hat is Christ's Dove And as the Church of Christ is one not being divided so is she one not being multiplied For as the Lord gave but one Evaâ— to the first Adam so he will take but one Spouse to himselfe who is the second Adam therefore many particular Churches whether Congregationall or Nationall make up but one Universall Neither are there two Churches when we say Militant and Triumphant but we distinguish onely the divers condition of the divers members of Christ's Church which is but one as they are either in via or else already in patria Observations 1. By this glorious attendance of the Spouse of Christ of the greatest and most honourable persons on earth as Queens who are her nursing mothers beside the glorious attendance of the glorious Angells which is invisible and who are ministring Spirits sent out for her good
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
contrary the same is to worldlings who have their portion in this life which is their Non ultra and sing a requirem to their souls when their barns are full which they think to enjoy many yeares when they have not perhaps many hours to remaine therewith 2. Seeing more particularlie the gift of reconciliation and sense of Gods love to her thereby and with a neerer union is her desire above all things Let us try if we be true members of Christs Church if this be our's in like manner Else if we be not like to her in her desires and delights it is a token that we are no true members of that mysticall body 3. Seeing the spirituall benefits which we receive do come to us by his Word and ministrie thereof as the kisses of his mouth Let us highly esteem of the same as that man did Matth. 13. 44. of the Field wherein the rich treasure was and as David professeth Psalm 19 and 119. which if we do not but vilifie his mouth we will also vilifie the kisses of his mouth 4. But how comes it that she so boldly and familiarly talkes with Christ let him kisse me Should not fervour of affection have with it humility of reverence To this Bernard answers saying Ne causemimi praesumptionem ubi affectio urget reclamat pudor sed urget Amor qui nec consilio temperatur nec pudore fraenatur Whence we observe that if our souls tell us truly that we love Christ we may boldly come to the throne of grace and find loves speech graciously accepted For thy loves c. This is the reason of her so great desire of the kisses of his mouth as the evidence of his love towards her because his love is so sweet and comfortable that it is beyond all comparison and therefore is not onely like but better nor wine Which being the principall thing that is used in banquets to make the heart cheerfull is therefore put here for all the most comfortable delicate and delightfull dainties which are used at most royall banquets as we see Esth 1. the sweetness of whose love which she so commends sweetens the most bitter things that the godly can suffer for him even death it self and makes all other things which were sweet to flesh and blood before and offensive to him to be most bitter and disgustfull as we see in all true converts This love of Christ is twofold towards his Church or there are two sorts thereof the first is called amor bene placiti seu benevolentiae or the love of his good pleasure the other is called amor complacentiae or the love of his good liking the love of good pleasure is before man was and eternall and is that whereby from before all beginning in that decree of his election he chose so many as the freely loved unto eternall salvation the love of his good likeing is in time when man is and walking in the wayes of the Lord's obedience the Lord is well pleased with him This love of Christ towards his Church has these properties ensuing 1. It is a love whereby he loves us first as we have it Ezek. 16. and 1 Joh. 4. 19. 2. It is a free love without either foreseene merit against the Papist or for foreseene faith against the Arminian and as we have it Hos 14. 4. 3. It is a servent and great love as is showne us Joh. 10. 15. that he gave his life for us especially being his enemies and which is so great that the Apostle tells us it passes all knowledge Eph. 3. 19. as Augustin sayes quod tantus tantillos et tales tantum dilexerit 4. It is an eternall love as we see Joh. 15. 9. both à priori in beneplacito therefore our salvation being grounded thereon is sure à posteriori because it shal continue towards us for ever 5. It is a matchles and incomparable love so that the love of Jacob to Rachel or Jonathan's to David or a mother 's to a child cannot be compared thereto And therefore as is said of Christs sorrow Lam. 1. 12. so may it be said of his love Behold and see if ever the like love was as is my love or as the Jewes said of his love to Lazarus so may we with admiration say Ecce quam amavit 6. Lastly it is an Immutable love Joh. 13. 1. Ro. 8. 35. so that though we sin by falling but not walking therein he may correctus with the rods of men but his loving kindness he will never take from us But why speakes he of loves in the plurall number I answer 1. this is to shew not onely the plentifull and super aboundant measure of this love which I may rather call unmeasureable and as the Apostle speakes passing all knowledge but likewise 2. to shew the diversity of the manner of manifestation of the same and how from this inexhaustible and large Ocean so many lovely streames do flow as election vocation justification Sanctification and in end glorification all which proceed from Christs free love to us and are as so many loves or love tokens of his Now this love is compared and preferred to wine 1. Because as wine is pleasant and delectable as we see Pro. 23. 31. so there is nothing so pleasant and delectable to the christian soule at all times and in all estates as Christs love and the meditation and perswasion thereof 2. As wine rejoyces the heart therefore is called a cheering liquor Psal 104. 15. See Pro. 31. 6. so nothing rejoyces the heart of a true Christian so much as Christs love though one injoyed all the honours pleasures of the whole world although the whole world should hate him yet he cares not if he have the love of God and of Christ Jesus his Lord 3. Wine is medicinall as we see Luk. 10. 34. And so is the love of God both in the effects and assurance thereof to a wounded spirit or sick soule longing for cure and comfort as the spouse does Cant. 2. 5. 4 It stirres up courage in hostlie encounters so doth Christs love the meditation and perswasion thereof against all our spirituall enemies yea and death it self Rom. 8. 35. Psal 23. 4. 5 It refreshes and repaires like Jonathan's hony comb decayed strength in fainting and so does the contemplation of Christ's love when the soul beginnes to faint in trouble or temptation 6. Solomon sayes Pro. 31. 7. that wine makes a man forget his misery and so does the love of Christ and the assurance thereof whatsoever misery or hard estate he be in in this present life because he lookes over all that and as the people did in the wildernesse on the brasen serpent so he fixeth his eye upon the love of Christ and the sweet fruit thereof which he shall enjoy at last 7. Wine was used likewise in legall sacrifices as we see Num. 15. 5. And so in all our spirituall sacrifices of prayer and praise
what we aske because we have found by experience the Lords goodnesse in by-gone favours bestowed upon us 2. Out of the style of King we see first the Churches dignity whereunto by grace she is advanced her blessed bridegroome who has freely loved her as Hosea speakes Hos 14. 5. and espoused her to himselfe as Ezekiel showes Ezek. 16. Not being one of a low degree but royall dignity and as Assuerus did poore captive Esther promoting her to be his Queen as she is called by the Psalmist Ps 45. 9 Gloriously crowned and richly clothed as she is described both by Ezekiel in the old Testament and John in the new Rev. 12. 1. 3. Is Christ our King then as this showes the Churches dignity so it showes our duty as it is said Psal 45. 11. He is thy Lord and honour thou him so let us therefore reverence Him as our King obey Him as our king and love Him as our King 4. This bringing of her in into his Chambers has been shown to be by the conduct of his spirit which teaches us when ever we come to the place of his Publick Worship to heare his sacred Word and the Mysteries of the kingdome of Heaven opened unto us that sense and sanctified knowledge may be wrought thereby Let us implore the aid of his blessed Spirit and that eye-salve spoken of Rev. 3. that by his Spirit we who otherwise are unable to enter may be so brought in into these privy Chambers of his and admitted to that accesse which none are admitted to but such as are so brought in by him And let us not marvell that others that heare as well as we yet know not the power of the Gospell nor are taken with such love and admiration but remember Quis te discrevit 5. Whereas it is said We will be glad and rejoyceâ— we see that Gods people are not a sullen and Melancholious people but a joyfull company yea having more joy then the joy of worldlings and greater or better cause to be joyfull then they As also can rejoyce in that wherein they cannot to wit in the midst of mourning and of trembling as Psal 2. and of sharpest persecution as Acts. 5. 41. and in the flames of fire as the Martyrs have done and the three Children therfore are much mistaken by the blind worldlings 6. The Churches rejoycing is in her Saviour in te laetabimur then neither do the godly rejoyce in things worldly wheron she tramples Rev. 12. and suffers them not to ascend to her heart nor yet in her own merits or such like but only in the Lord. 7. That which she professes she will remember is his love wherein we learne the best and sanctified use of our memory is our sinnes as Psalm 51. and Christs love delivering us from them O then if they were so exercised 8. The comfortable fruit of this remembrance is farre greater cheerfulnesse to the soul then that of the most delicious Wine can be to the body all other things in the day of temptation chiefly death or distresse in comparison of this remembrance and assurance of this love being but like Job's comforters 9. Where the Lord's love which is remembred is first and then it is said that the upright by way of retaliation as it were love him we see that the Lords love is productive of ours and the greatest assurance we can hav that he loves us is that we love him Let us then labour to have the Lords love setled in our hearts and when we find it ascribe it to the right originall 10. If the upright only love Christ then where there is no uprightnesse in the heart nor righteousnesse in the life but hypocrisie and crooked walking pretend what they list there is no love of Christ there Verse 5. I am black but comely O ye daughters of Jerusalem as the tents of Kedar as the Curtaâ—nes of Solomon Hitherto has bin the Churches first speech to Christ testifying her faith and love to him now followes her Apologetick speech to her fellow-members the daughters of Jerusalem against the scandall which they either had taken or might take by reason of her affliction or infirmities whereunto she is subject in this life and whereby like one scorched vvith the Sun she was some-what black and therefore it might seem strange or improbable that so great and glorious a King should espouse to himselfe so black a Bride and show such an affection towards her whereof lately she had spoken To which Objection she answers that though she was blackish for so signifies the Word in the originall being a diminutive yet she was comely her blacknesse being only in the colour of her skinne and accidental by reason of her Sun-burning or her external estate under persecution but her comelyness was native in the lineaments of Gods image drawn on her Soul and proportion of the New man which she hath by her new birth in Christ and whereby like the Kings daughter she is all glorious within which inward comliness and spirituall beauty is that which they should more look upon and regard rather then her externall afflicted estate or her infirmities whereby she seems to be blackish Thereafter she uses two comparisons the one to show how she is black the other how she is comely the first is like the tents of Kedar the other is as the Curtains of Salomon of both which we shall speak hereafter The Words then containe these three things 1. To whom she speaks 2. What she speaks and 3. How she illustrates her speech First then these to whom she speaks are called daughters of Jerusalem by which is meant the Catholick Church which the Apostle Gal. 4. 26. calls the Mother of us all In respect whereof and relation whereto all particular or nationall Churches are daughters and amongst themselves Sisters as they are called Cant. 8. 8. Yea are all individuall true members though weak and like these ready to be scandalized are brethren or Sisters amongst themselves in like manner First then we may have to consider wherefore the Church both here and frequently else where is called and compared to Jerusalem Isa 62. 6. Revel 21. 2. 1. In regard of Signification for it signifies as much as to say a vision of peace and indeed this is only to be seen within the bosome of the Church to wit peace with God peace of conscience peace with the Creatures and peace amongst themselves who are the true members thereof for which every one should pray as Psal 122. 7. and make their practise conforme as we see was that of Abrahams Gen. 13. 8. and as is recommended to us Psalm 133. 1. 2. In respect of Seperation and Election for the Lord made speciall choyce of it beyond all other places there to dwell as we see Psalm 132. 13. being before a City of the Cananites idolatrous as Abraham was in Vr and prophane and accursed as the Amorit and Hittite spoken of by Ezekiel c.
16. 3. Even so the Lord of his free grace out of the corrupted and accursed masse of mankind has separate and chosen a select number to be his Church to dwell in the midst of them by a peculiar and constant presence of grace here and to advance them at last to dwell with him in eternall glory hereafter 3. In respect of Situation firmly founded upon a Mount that cannot be removed as we see Psalm 125. 1. but abideth for ever even so is the Church of God built upon a sure foundation the Rock Christ Jesus against which the gates of Hell shall no-wise prevail 4. In respect of defence and fortification with Mountains round about Walls and Watch-Tovvers as vve see Psalm 125. 2. Isai 62 6. Ezekiel 33 3. Even so as the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people sayes the Psalmist from hence forth even for ever Psalm 125. 2. 84. 11. 5. In respect of compact structure for commodious habitation as we see Psalm 122. 3. Even so is Christ's Church conpactly built Eph. 2. 21. and firmly joyned together by a three fold conjunction 1. Of unity in faith 2. Of externall profession in the truth and 3. Of love and affection 6. In respect of Gods true worship and adoration which was there established and therefore there was the Temple the Lords Priests and sacrifices even so in Christs Church there is the true worship of God in like manner established for which cause it is called 1 Tim. 3. 15. The Pillar and stable place of truth and no where but there is the voyce of the great Shepherd Christ Jesus to be heard nor doth he walk but in the midst of his Golden Candlesticks 7. In respect of her many priviledges and peculiar donations as to be called the Citty of the great King the Lords dwelling place and glory of the Earth and in respect whereof Psalm 87. 3. it is said Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God Even so great and many are the Prerogatives of the Church of Christ as to be the spouse of the King of Kings cloathed with the Sun crowned with stars trampling on the Moon attended on by Angels having heaven her inheritance and all things to be hers Rev. 12. 1. This Jerusalem here is said to have daughters therfore as we see Gal. 4. 26. She is a mother yea such a mother to her Children as the mother of her head and Husband was to Christ to wit a virgin-mother in whose womb the godly are conceived through the operation of the holy Ghost by the immortall seed of the Word 1 Pet. 1. 23. And borne againe by that new birth whereof our Saviour speaks to Nicodemus John 3. 3. And upon whose breasts they are fed and nourished by that sincere milk of the Word wherof Peter speaks 1 Pet. 2. 2. Having then spoken of those to whom she speaks follows next what it is that she speaks to wit I am black sayes she but comely which speech of hers is by way of concession granting that which they might object unto her concerning her blacknesse but withall showing them that she was comly which blacknesse or rather blackishness howsoever it may be said to befall her because of the infirmities whereunto she is subject in this life so long as flesh and spirit are in her like Rebecca's twins wrastling yet specially this blackness is said to befall her as she shows in the next verse because of persecution and much affliction whereunto she is subject and all such who will live godly in this present World which persecution in the next Verse she calls the Suns looking upon her and which our Saviour Mat. 13. 6. expounds to be such and wherewith the Lord wisely suffers his Church to be exercised for these reasons following 1. To purge her as in a furnace from her drosse and so to further her mortification therfore called a Fiery tryall which the Godly should not think strange to be amongst them 2. To Weane her affection from this World that it may be the more setled on him and that life to come and to make death and her entry into her rest the more welcome when it comes 3. For exercise of her holy gifts and graces as her patience humility love constancy and courage c. 4. For detecting of Hypocrits and Temporizers who in the hour of temptation like chaffe will not abide with the solid graine 5. For manifesting his mighty power to the disappoyntment of Satan and comfort of his own in preserving his Church in the midst of hottest persecution as the bush was where Moses saw the fire or the three Children in the fiery furnace see also Cant. 2 2. 6. Making this also a mean of propagating the Gospell which Satan and his Instruments thereby would impede as a Vine by cutting the same becomes more frâ—itfull hence Sanguis martyrum semen ecclesiae and by the dispersion of the Disciples the preaching of the Gospell was the farder spread 7. Hereby likewise the body is conformed to the Head by bearing the Crosse here that she may come to the Crown hereafter for all which former respects the godly have rejoyced in their sufferings and as Philip. 1. 29. counted it a gift or benefit and an honour given them that they were found worthie to suffer with Christ Thus we see the difference between the troubles of the godly especially for righteousnesse and these of the wicked 1. In their nature 2. In the ground wherefrom they come even the Lords great love 3. In their fruit to wit of righteousnesse And 4. In their end The next thing whereof he speaks by way of Apology is that she is comly where we have to consider 1. What this comelinesse is and wherein it consists 2. From whom she hath it And 3. Before whom or in whose sight and estimation she is so But first this would seem to be contrary to a Virgins modesty chiefly to praise her self and say that she was comely and to that humility whereof Salomon speaks saying Let anotherman praise thee and not thine own mouth a stranger and not thine own lips Prov. 27. 2. But hereunto it may be answered that without violation of that precept of Solomons this may be done in two cases Vel quando ad imitationem requirit hoc utilitas audientis vel ad justam defensionem necessitas loquentis both which we may see in Paul The first Acts. 20. 18. 35. and againe 1 Cor. 11. 1. The second in two whole Chapters 2 Cor. 11. 12 To come then to the first poynt to be handled of her comliness to wit what it is and wherein it consists It is nothing else but that spirituall and inward beauty of Holiness so called Psal 29. 2. and 110. 3. which as is said Ezek. 16. 14. is that comliness which the Lord put upon Her and whereby as the Psalmist Speakes Psal 45. 13. The kings daughter is all glorious
not known almost what way to turne them till in the end they have had here with the spouse their refuge to Christ to be taught and resolved by him The next part of his speech to her is directory directing her where to go to wit by the steps of the flock But seeing it is the church which makes this request that He would show her where He feeds what flock does he feed beside His Church Is not she His only flock What other flock is this then whose steps she must trace to find Him and where he feeds Indeed the Church is but one in respect of the unity of faith and charity and Christ feeds no other flock beside Her But in respect of the diversity of times and places she may be diversly considered and may be said to be divers flocks and therefore we must observe here that this is the prayer of the Church ever on earth militant and there be who were upon earth in former time that are now in Heaven triumphant whose steps notwithstanding in sacred History yet may be seene and what truth they profest and how they worshipped God It is this flock then that He meanes of true and faithfull worshippers and whose steps he willes Her to follow as the Apostle yet calls to all saying Follow me as I follow Christ Also it is to be noted that He bids her go forth Leaving nature the practice of sinne the society of seducers the suggestion of flesh and blood And Next he bids her feed her kids by the shepherds Tents where we have 1. What is meant by Her kids 2. What by the shepherds and their Tents First then by kids are meant young and tender Christians for the goats whose young ones kids are being indeed sometime opposed to sheep signifie the wicked yet usually also they figured in the Law the godly offered up by mortification as sacrifices to God Rom. 12. 1. And Christ Himself was signified by goats and kids by the Apostles exposition Heb. 9. 12. Kids likewise they are called or young goats to show what they are by nature when they are at first brought to Christ and to feed on the greene pasture of His word to wit goatish and petulant till the change by grace and the meanes thereof be wrought upon them from goats to be Christs sheep appointed for his right Hand kids also for tender age denoting that even from our younger years we should be a ccustomed according to Timotheus's commondation with the pasture of Gods word to be fed thereby Next by these shepherds spoken of who fed and guided these anicent flocks are meant the Holy Prophets and Apostles to whom as Christ said to Peter passce oves meas Christ committed his sheep to feed and upon whose doctrine as the only true foundation St. Paul declares the whole house of God which is his Church to be built and by their Tents is meant their writings or the displayed and firme doctrine of the truth which they fully and faithfully preached and left unto all posterity registrate in Scripture Observations 1. We see How readily he answers her petition From which we observe the Lords promptitude in answering the petitions of his own specially craving spirituall things as He showes us Luk. 11. 11. 2. Out of the style he gives her of being fairest among women we see the difference between the judgment of the blind world and Christ's who not seeing the spirituall beauty of Christs church Rev. 12. 1. but looking on Her outward base and afflicted condition vilifies her while as her members are the Lords Jewels and she is most beautifull being justified and sanctified in him to her Heavenly husband 3. We see here also a great comfort to every godly soul in temptation when Satan upbraides unto them their filthiness and pollution by sinne and therefore how can so pure and Holy a God delight in them or count them fair or beautifull To whom such may reply that though they be so by sinne yet being washed and sanctified they are beautifull in His eyes who sees no Iniquity in Jacob but whose blood has clensed them his spirit renewed them and whose love has covered the multitude of their infirmities 4. As we see the difference betweene the judgment of the blind world and Christ's concerning his Church so also between Her owne Judgment of her self and Christ's she sayed of her self before I am black and He sayes here that she is most beautifull to reach us to be vile in our own eyes and humble like the publican and then the Lord will the more highly esteeme of us and exalt us 5. Whereas in such a meek manner without rebuking her for her ignorance He tells her what to do to wit to go forth by the foot-steps of the flock and besides the Tents of the shepherds we see a true and sure directory in his words in the matter of Religion to wit to insist in the steps of the profession and practise of Gods true people who have gone before us as we find them cleerly set before our eyes in the writings of the faithfull shepherds of his Church to wit the Prophets and Holy Apostles 6. We see how the godly they not only do good in their life time but also by their good example registrate in Holy Scripture which they left behind them being dead they do good in like manner therefore Heb. 11. 4. by that oblation of Abel's and his faith manifested therein being dead he is said yet to speak and instruct others how to worship good in like faith and sincerity 7. Lastly we see 1. How will these agree to wit the flock's foot-steps with the shepherds Tents a holy practice in people with sound doctrine of pastors and 2. That hereby Christs flock may be knowne to be his true flock to wit by insisting in the profession of propheticall and apostlicall truth which is the Tents of these here spoken of Verse 9. and 10. I have compared thee O my Love to a company of Horses in Pharoah's charets thy cheeks are comely with rowes of Jewels thy neck with chaines of Gold After our Saviours direction of his Church according to her petition followes to the end of the Chapter the mutuall commendation one of another and 1. His of her wherein we have 1. How he styles her 2. Whereto he compares her First then he styles her his love in the originall My fellow friend 1. Who delights in my company 2. Eats and drinks with me and. 3. Who is ready to participate in weal and woe This love of his is she whom he loves not vvith a generall love as he does all his creatures as they are his workmanship and as he saw them good at the beginning but vvith a speciall love which is twofold benevolentiae vvhereby he elected his Church and complacentiae vvhereby he dedelights in her and in her obedience or beauty of holiness This speciall love vvhich he has to his Church has these properties
1. It is First 2. Free 3. Reall 4. Admirable cum non essemus and 5. Immutable as has been before on v. 2. and eternall Whence we see the high dignity of the church and every true member thereof she is Christs love who is King of kings and therefore 1. He will protect her from her enemies 2. as Sampson to Dalilah will reveale to her His secrets 3. as Assuerus to Esther will refuse no suit of hers 4. though absent in body is still mindful of her sending her his love Letters and tokens 5. Will at last give himselfe to her and assume her to be with himself Next we have whereto he compares her even as Zech. 10. 3. 1. To goodly horses for battell and 2. To a Troop of such 3. Belonging to a mighty king and 4. Accordingly royally furnished as the manner of the Egyptians was with precious stones on their bridles and chaines of gold about their neck and so making a goodly sight to behold 1. Then she is compared to warrelike horses in chariots as Exod. 14. 7. 9. To warne her of her estate here on earth militant and that no sooner shall any follow his former direction in adjoyning themselves to her and the profession of the truth but as soone they must expect a spirituall warrfare and to suffer persecution 2. She is compared to Horses of the best sort and not to ordinary and common servile ones but for royall service and imployment to shew the excellency of the Church and godly as Ps 16. 3. they are called who are appointed for his service who is King of kings and not for the base servitude of Sinne or Satan and therefore should not walk as the ordinary sort of the world being ad meliora renati 3. Such horses as were in Pharaoh's Chariots were strong nimble swift couragious and ready to warre even so the godly have spirituall strength agility and swiftness as Psal 119. 32. Courage for the truth and against spirituall enemies and are ready fitted for their spirituall warrfare as we see Eph. 6. 4. She is compared to Horses belonging to a mighty king even so doth the Church belong to the King of kings who ownes her by creation redemption confoederation and matrimoniall Union and therefore is her only Lord over whom no other should Lord at all 5. She is said to be like a troop of horses not loose and running at random but coupled and fitted for royall service in the Chariots of Pharaoh even so is the Church a troop or company not set at carnall liberty that because grace doth abound therefore sinne should abound but put under the easie and light yoke of Christ and taught to obey his lore in the liberty of the Spirit and holy service of his blessed Majesty 6. She is compared to a troop of Horses so danted and tamed that they are not only fitted for service but made peaceable amongst themselves and orderly placed each one keeps their own station even so is the church a company of Persons though first like wilde colts by nature yet so tamed and mortified by grace that they are not only fitted for the Lords service but keep unity amongst themselves and keep every one the station and Calling where the Lord has placed them whether in Church or Common-wealth 7. Her checks are richly decked with precious stones and chaines even so are the true members of Christs-church richly decked and adorned with the precious and saving graces of Gods holy spirit as we see Pro. 1. 9. and Ezek. 16. 11. Whereby the kings daughter is glorious within Ps 45. 14. and beautifull with the beauty of holiness in the sight of her welbeloâ—…d whereby they are a goodly sight in the eyes of all beholders of their godly life and shining light who are thereby moved to glorifie God their heavenly father Observations 1. If therefore our estate here be militant like horses prepared for battell then let no Christian sing a requiem to himself here but be armed as Eph. 6. and be still on his watch and guard that he be not surprized by Satan or the tentations of sinne but resist him valiantly and constantly that he may say with the Apostle in the end I have fought a good fight c. 2 Tim. 4. 7. 2. Although our estate here be a continual warfare with outward and in ward enemies so that we may say with Jacob Our dayes are few and evill yet here is comfort 1. That belonging to so mighty yea an almighty King who has vanquished our enemies he will have a care of us and will not suffer one of his to perish 2. He will do that which no king or captaine can do to his souldiers or horses for service He will furnish us with courage strength wisedom agility and skill as he did David to overcome Gâ—liah 3. Seeing the church is compared to a troop of Horses not wild but tamed fitted for the owners service and like horse placed in Chariots keeping their own stations Let all Christians learne that they are not nor should not be like wild beasts as Tigers or Lyons but such as are tamed as service-Horses or sheep mortifying daily their wild and savage nature and bringing it under subjection to the Lords service and keeping every one their own station therein to glorifie god and in a holy unity as under one yoke by mutuall help one of another to profit and promote the good of Christ's church and kingdome 4. Her cheeks are said to be richly decked and adorned which should make us to try our selves by the furniture of saving graces if we be the true spouse of Christ as by repentance faith humility and charity c. Whereof if we be destitute it is not a name that we live like Sardis Rev. 3. 1. or verball profession that will availe or prove us to be the true members of Christ's church 5. These graces wherewith a true Christian is adorned are called or compared to Jewels and chains of gold to show 1. That as they are so in themselves so how every true godly soul should esteem of grace and if they really have thâ—â—ame will esteem thereof as we see Matth 13. 44 45. c. And of the meanes thereof Ps 19. and 119. And therefore let us try by our estimation of grace and meanes thereof and by the care we have to attaine thereto as to Jewels or precious treasure if we have true grace or be the true members of Christ's church 2. To show that as Jewels wherewith one is decked are not of ond sort figure or forme even so neither are the giâ—ts and graces whereby Christ decketh and adorneth his Church but divers and of a divers measure all to the edification of the body in common and to the salvation of each member in particular 1 Cor. 12. 3. As in a chaine there is a concatenation of the divers lincks one with another even so is it with Christian vertues for which cause we are
repentance and expressions of her holy love and which is strange the feast that he most delights in is our hungring and thiâ—…ng after righteousness and such he mutually invites to feast with him Isai 54. 1. but alas we feast him rather with Wormwood and Gall and with such grapes as are spoken of Isai 5. 3. Thirdly we have to consider 1. What this Spikenard is 2. How called hers 3. How it sends forth the smell thereof First then spikenard is a very precious and odoriferous Oyntment as we see Mark 14. 3. Joh. 12. 3. and by which is meant the precious and savory or fragrant graces of Gods Spirit comming from our head of Christ and powred down upon his members like that Psalm 133. 1. which is that Unction whereof John speaks and whereby all true Christians are spiritually annoynted to be a Royall Priesthood unto God 2. This Spikenard is called hers 1. by donation as it is said quid habes quod non accepisti 2. by inhesion because it is gratia gratis data quae nobis inhaeret being sown and rooted in such who are ingraft truly and rooted in Christ but is not ours as if it were either from our selves or like Christs Righteousnesse which is imputed to us and is like Esau's vesture that sweet smelling garment wherewith being clothed we get our fathers blessing 3. This Spikenard is said to send forth the smell thereof when these graces manifest themselves by the fruits or effects and operation thereof in that new obedience which becommeth Christians expressing the vertue of Christs death and resurrection the truth of their conversion the livelinesse of their faith the fervencie of their zeale and the reality of their charity and the like the smell whereof like that Joh. 12. 3. fills every place where it is sent forth ascending upwards to God like that of Noah's sacrifice or Cornelius almes deeds and pleasing him reflecting inward to the conscience rejoycing the same and giving an assurance of our election by welldoing and extending to others as Psal 16. 2. who seeing our good works and getting good thereby do glorify God our heavenly Father Observations 1. We see the great love of Christ to his Church not only in bestowing gifts and graces upon her but likewise familiarly banquetting with her as he sayes Rev. 3. 20. If any man will open unto mâ—… I will sup with him and he shall sup with me therefore also c. 2. verse 4. it is said he brought me into his banquetting house and his banner over me was love which should teach us to walk worthy of such a favour and ever to have on the banquetting Garment of holynesse unspotted with the flesh 2. By her Spikenard its sending sorth the smell thereof we see that there is no better way to entertain him than with the fruits and fragrant smell of his own saving graces and therefore it is said c 4. v. 16 Let my Beloved come into his garden eat his pleasant fruits so that as it is said of the vertuous woman Prov. 31. 31. give her of the fruit of her own hands and let her own works praise her Or as David said to the Lord 1 Chron. 29. 14. of thine own have we given thee even so give the Lord of the fruit of his own graces planted in thy heart and let his own work thereof praise him But alass the smell we send forth is as that of a filthy puddle which displeases the Lord and provokes him to wrath 3. We see likewise here that what edifying gifts we get from God like so many talents we ought not to keep them close as that improfitable servant did or hiding our light as it were under a bushell but we should do as Mary Magdalen did with her Box of Spiknard precious and costly powre it out for the benefit of others even upon Christs feet Math. 26. and lovvest or meanest members of his body even as that Psalm 133. 2. costly oyntment that was povvred on Aarons head drenched down to the lowest skirts of his Garment Verse 13. A bundle of mirrh is my well be loved unto me He shall lye all night betwixt my breasts Here the Church profestes her spirituall comfort which she had in Christ and of his death and resurrection the feeling whereof is like a sweet odour to a believing soul and which she would be so carefull to conserve and apply in all estates unto her selfe by the work of faith that all the night time of his life or of affliction and tentation noted by a dark time she would make Him her continuall joy and comfort solacing her selfe in him and that he should lye between her breasts and constantly dwell in her heart by Faith and true affection She compares him then to a bundle of Mirrhe or Nosegay such as is usually made of most pleasant and sweet Flowers for delighting sight and smell and which Maidens did set in their bosomes between their breast that so they might have the sweet savour thereof alwaies in their nose In which word we have 1. how she calls him 2. Whereunto she compares him to wit to myrrh and a bundle of myrrh 3. to whom he is so to wit to her 4. where she places him between her Breasts and 5. How long shall he lye there to wit all the Night First then she calls him her beloved whereof v. 7. whom for power and authority before she called a King v. 12. and whose power should confound her if his love did not comfort her and to whom she againe as a King owes loyalty and subjection and as her blessed bridegoom she professes to him love and affection Next she compares him to Myrrh which was one of the gifts wherewith the wise men of the East honoured Christ at his birth Math. 2. with which aloes his body also was imbalmed after his death Joh. 19. 39. and which likewise was the first and speciall ingredient of the holy annointing oyle that vvas appoynted to be made for annoynting Aaron and the Tabernacle with the pertinents thereof being of a svveet and odoriferous smell as the rest of the sweet spices were of that conposition and whereby is signified the sweet comfort that the Christian soul indued with spirituall senses finds in Christ crucisied to whom sinne is first sowre Exod. 30. 23. Neither contents she her self to compare Him only to Myrrh but to a bundle of Myrrh to show unto us 1. the abundance of that spirituall comfort that comes from him to a believing soul as a greater smell is yeelded by a bundle of sweet flovvers or spices than comes from a single flovver or a graine of spice As likewise to shovv 2. that as from every flovver in a bundle there comes a svveet smell even so from every thing considerable in Christ there arises comfort whether we consider his natures or offices his birth and conception his holy life death buriall resurrection and ascention and now his intercession at his
Fathers right hand til he come againe to judgement So that as the carcase of Sampsons dead Lyon was so full of Hony that Sampson did not only eat abundantly thereof himselfe but gave thereof also to others Judge 14. 9. so is Christ Jesus so full of comfort that the believing soul may not only have enough to it self but to impart by instruction for the comfort of others 3 to shevv that the Church and every true elect soul cannot be content vvith a little of Christ but to injoy much of him and the power of his death and resurrection till they fully injoy him in glory as Psal 17. 15. Thirdly vve have to consider to whom is Christ a bundle of svveet and fragrant myrrh It is to his Church and every godly soul therefore sayes she by a speech of faith and application he shall be to me a bundle of myrrh vvherein vve see 1. the Churches holy resolution that let others as it is said by Isaiah and contemne them as they please Isa 53. 3. not knovving his vvorth being as Aesop's Cock but as for her as Joshua protested what he vvould do Josua 24. 15. she should hold him in singular estimation so that he should be to her as a bundle of Myrrh which she should place betvveen her breasts 2. We see vvhat is the proper act of faith to vvit as Thomas said my God and my Lord even so by a particular application of Christ as her Saviour to her soul she saies He shall be to me c. and herein indeed stands the very true comfort of a Christian as in the locks of Sampsons hair consisted his strength vvithout vvhich particular application like old Simeons imbracing of Christ in his armes the soul could have no comfort at all more then the divels vvho knew him and confesses that he is a Saviour but not to them and therefore the prophet sayes For unto us a Child is born c. Isai 9. 6. And the Angel in like manner said at his birth For unto you is born a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. 3. We see that although Christ be full of fragrant sweetnesse yet he is not so to every one especially vvhose souls are stuffed with grosse humours or delight vvith the filthy svvine in the stinking smell and puddle of fleshly lusts but he is so only to his ovvn church and true members thereof vvho being renevved in the inner man have their senses othervvise exercised to detest all sort of sinne and sinfull pleasures as a most noisesome and stinking hemlock and to esteem Christ only and the graces thot flow from him most fragrant ann delightfull Fourthly the part vvherein she places him it is He shall lye between her Breasts or to be laid at or to her very heart and indeed justly may and should he be laid there 1. because He is the only true cordiall to a Christian or sick soul and 2. because whereas other bundles of svveet Flovvers or nosegayes are so kept in the breast by being placed betvveen them He shall be the keeper and gardian of the heart being placed on or in the heart and so shall be ornamentum pectoris as a pleasant nosegay et munimentum cordis like a brest plate of proof Psalm 84. 11. a decking of the one and a defence of the other from evill suggestions and Satans wicked temptations or as the Psalmist speaks both a Sun and a shield She sayes likewise that she will lay him between her breasts 1. for remembrance and contemplation that she may have him still in remembrance and before her eyes to looke upon as Israel did upon the brasen Serpent or as the names of the twelve tribes were on the high Priests brest-plate 2. for delight and consolation as for that end to delight the eye by colour and comfort the braine by smell maides use to put nosegayes between their breasts and therefore also for spirituall delight as the most beautifull object the eye of faith can look upon and for the most pleasant and sweet smelling or savour to the soul Cant. 2. 1. He is compared to the Rose of the Field and to the Lillie of the Vallyes 3. for care and conservation as they put such thiâ—gs which they would keep and not lose in their breast or bosome for which end said David that he hid Gods word in his heart Psalm 119. 11. and the Virgin Mary that she laid up her Sonnes words in her heart to wit that they might not be lost or forgotten 4. for ornament and decoration for which end we are bidden to put on the Lord Jesus Christ He being the most beautifull ornament that ever was put on the soul and whereby the Kings daughter is said to be beautifull within Psalm 45. and perfect through my comelinesse sayes the Lord which I put upon thee Ezekiel 16. 14. Fifthly she showes how long He shall lye there to wit all night novv by night is understood in Scripture 1. the time of affliction and trouble as Isai 21. 12 2. the day of death as Joh. 9. 4 and 3. the time of our life here on earth as it is specially to be understood here so called or compared 1. as the night is darke and therefore they who walke in the night-time have a Lanthorne carried before them so in this life-time there is darknesse of ignorance and no light have we to direct our walking that we stumble not or fall into sinne and damnation but the Lanterne of Gods Word as the Psalmist shews us 2. The night is the most dangerous time for surprising or robbing by enemies and therefore they vvatch in the night time even so this life-time is most dangerous for surprising by our spirituall enemie and robbing us of Gods favour and graces and therefore we are exhorted ever to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation 3. The night time is melancholious and so is our life wherein we sow in teares 4. The starres shine in the night and so should our Christian vertues shine And 5. as after the night-time the Sunne arises and then followes the lightsome day even so after the night time of this life to the godly shall the Sunne of righteousness arise and be cleerly seen and then shall follow an eternall day that never shall have an end Observations 1. We see by the Church in comparing Christ to pure mirrhe as it is called Exodus 30. 23. vvhich vvas very costly and precious as may be seen Matth. 2. 11. the high esteeme that the Church and every true member has of Christ counting nothing so worthy and of such svveetnesse and excellency as Christ which made the Apostle to say as 1 Cor. 2. 2. and that in comparison of him he counted all things losse and dung 2. As the Church esteemes him highly so sutably she places him highly to wit in her heart and between her breasts the seat of affection and repose which we will never do till we learne to esteem him
joy and comfort to have the assurance thereof sealed up to her soul by the frequent witnessing of the spirit and voice of her beloved saying to her soul that she is so to Him and that he is her salvation and therefore he noâ— once but often commends her from her beauty And seeing the whole church and all the members thereof make up but one homogeneous body look what he speaketh to the whole he speaketh to every faithfull soul in whom if there be Repentance faith love zeale humility meekekness c. though there be remanent corruption and a mixture of divers infirmities yet that soul is fair in Christ's eyes Let us then find out these graces in our selves and though they be not perfect yet being in truth we may be assured of acceptation and rejoyce in his love Next as he praises her from her beauty in generall so from the comliness of her eyes in particular wherein we have to consider 1. What they are and 2. Why so compared Job 29. 15. First then some understand by the eyes of the church her Pastors and Overseers so called 1. Because of inspection counsell and right direction in which sense it is spoken Numb 10. 31. and Matth. 6. 22. And therefore the Prophets of old were called Seers and 2. In respect of vigilant watching for fore-warning of any danger or invasion a we see Ezek. 33. and Heb. 13. 20. and who most specially oâ— any should have the properties of Doves eyes as is to be after mentioned Others understand not these former who may be called the eyes over the Church but the eyes in the Church and every faithfull member thereof and this is the eye of faith which looks like the stinged Israelites on Christ crucified only for cure and comfort and without which the soul is as blind as a mole And therefore are so called and compared 1. Because the eye of the body is the light of the body and so is faith the light of the soul 2. As the eye cannot â—…f it self without the Sunne or benefit of externall light so nâ—…er can the eye of the soul without illumination from the Sunne of righteousness and of his Holy word by which faith comes 3. As the eye delights in light and pleasant objects so doth the eye of the soul in the light and promises of Gods word and in Christ crucified which is the most beautifull object that the eye of faith can fix upon and who in the word is set forth and as it were painted before our eyes Gal. 3. 1. 4. As by the eye we are guided in our walking and made to eschew stumbling falling or such like dangers so by faith and the saving knowledge of Christ in his Word we are guided in our spirituall walking and made to eschew stumbling and falling in sinne and temptations and such spirituall dangers Next her eyes are compared to Doves eyes 1. Because as a Dove's eyes are cleear and sharp-sighted so is the eye of faith piercing within the vaile of Christs flesh while He was on earth and beholding his Deity and piercing now into the Heavens where he sits at his fathers right Hand and into such divine mysteries and the truth thereof whereunto the blind eye of nature nor no other can or ever could yet reach 2. The eye of the Dove is chast and chastity is much commended in virgins even so that which our Saviour so much commends in his Church by this comparison who is a pure virgin to Him is her spirituall chastity opposit to spirituall whordome so much complained on and condemned in scripture and whereby without doting on any other she keeps her faith confidence and affection whole and entire towards him alone from whom alone she looks for life and salvation 3. The doves eyes are meek and not cruell fiery or furious representing thereby that disposition of a Christian soul which is recommended unto the same by him who said Learn of me for I am humble and meek 4. The doves eyes are humble contrary to such lofty eyes as are spoken of Pro. 30. 13. And so is the disposition of a Christian soul endowed with true faith though never so fruitfull in godliness and good works 5. The doves eyes delights in cleanness and therfore resorts to white places and to clear waters even so doth the soul that has true faith in it loathing all uncleanness of sin and worldly lusts and knowing that no uncleane thing shall enter into that heavenly Jerusalem Thirdly we see here that unto this commendation of her beauty and comliness he prefixes an Ecce or behold which word is used in Scripture 1. As an Ecce of admiration as Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a child 2. As an Ecce of demonstration as Behold the Lamb of God c. 3. As an Ecce of consideration as Lam. 1. 12. Behold and see if ever there was sorrow like to my sorrow c. Also when he would stirre up the mind to remark and observe some rare excellent and wonderfull matter and which is also sure and evident even so hereby the Lord would have it observed 1. That the beauty of his Church is a rare beauty as we see the same described Ps 45. and Rev. 12. 2. An excellent beauty also being spirituall and not subject to fading 3. A wonderfull beauty likewise considering her former deformity put upon her by her bridgroom who has made her so as Ezek. 16. 14. And 4. Which is so sure and permanent that death it self shall not deface it but rather be the meane of perfecting the same in glory Last of all he redoubles this commendation of her beauty saying Thou art fair thou art fair 1. Showing thereby the excellency of her beauty as when we say good good or excellent and very good by a usuall Hebraism the doubling of the word expressing the superlative degree 2. To show the assurance that He would give her for her comfort and against all doubting in the contrary that she was fair and beautifull in His eyes think of her self in humility or let others think of her as they list 3. That she is wholly beautifull both in soul and body or in the whole man or that her beauty is twofold inward in soul and outward in conversation as the kings daughter Ps 45. 13. is said not only to be glorious within but also in her rayment without Also she hath another double beauty the one of justification the other of sanctification both which the Lord joyns therfore let no man separate them Observations 1. Seeing our Saviour declares that his Church and her true members are fair by the beauty of Holiness spoken of Ps 110. Then let not those who would be so accounted live like filthy dogs and swine or delight in any impurity whereby their beauty may be marred 2. He sayes My love thou art fair to show unto us wherefrom our beauty proceeds not of our selves that we are so or from any
of her into his banquetting-house in heaven hereafter and mansion place of glory as we see Psal 84. 11. and 73. 24. Therefore let us strive to get this earnest and first-fruits else if we enter not in at the gate of grace on earth let us never think to enter in at the gate which may be called as Act. 3. 2. the beautifull gate of glory 5. Christ's love displayed over us here in this life is called a Banner which is used onely in warfare to shew that the state of his Church here on earth is militant and therefore she is exhorted and every true member thereof to put on the whole armour of God Ephes 6. 11. that they may be able to stand against the wiles of the devill and verse 18. praying and watching with all perseverance till they may say in the end I have fought the good fight and have finished my course 2 Tim. 4. or as the Prophet saies My warfare is accomplished Esa 40. 2. 6. Seeing a banner is set up over any place in token of the defence of that place and defiance to the enemy Christs love therefore being this banner over his own let us then above all things seek it earnestly with David Psal 4. 6. and then we may be sure of defence as he saies vers 8. and as is shown unto us Prov. 3. 24. Rom. 8. 31. 37. c. and give a defiance to all our enemies saying with the Psalmist Of whom shall I be afraid yea to death it self as Psal 23. 4. and 1 Cor. 15. 55. 7. Doth Christ display his love both to us and for so many comfortable ends and uses over us then let us be ashamed not to love him again ut totus nobis figatur in corde qui totus pro nobis fixus fuit in cruce and to display our love towards him that is to manifest the same by our obedience to his holy commandments 8. Last of all we see the happy estate of the poorest most afflicted and despised Lazarus who is a true member of Christ to wit that notwithstanding of their outward and visible estate they have the Lords love displayed over them and he banquets their souls with comforts unspeakable and glorious Vers 5. Stay me with flaggons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love Here is a wonderfull effect of these former things whereof she spake she compared Christ before to an apple-tree whose fruit was sweet to her taste and shewed that he brought her in into his banquetting-house or house of wine and his banner over her was love hereupon then she showes that her heart is so ravished with love towards him again that she is love-sick and ready to swound therewith and therefore cries out to be stayed with flaggons and comforted with apples The similitude then is drawn from a Virgin who is betrothed and through the vehemency of her love towards her future Spouse is love-sick and swoundeth In the words then we have 1 What she seeks 2 Of whom she seeks And 3 Wherefore she seeks First then she seeks to be stayed with flaggons having relation to the house of wine whereinto she was lately brought 2. To be comforted with apples having relation to the apple-tree whereto she had before compared him Therefore we must consider 1. what is meant by these flaggons and how she is stayed therewith and 2. what is meant by these apples and how she is comforted therewith First then flaggons are mentioned because at banquets wine was distributed and brought in by such as we see 1 Chron. 16. 2 3. Also by flaggons is understood by a certain figure of speech the wine contained in them as Luk. 22. 20. the Cup is taken for the wine contained in the cup and by this wine again in these flaggons is meant the cordiall comforts contained in the Gospell or Word of God and promises thereof that are onely able to cheer up a sick and dejected soul or wounded conscience as David clearly confesseth saying In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts have rejoyced my soul Psal 94. 19. And again Vnlesse thy law had been my delight I had perished in mine afflictions This is therefore that soveraigne balme of Gilead those still and cooling waters whereof David speaks Psal 23. 2. and like that wine and oyle poured in by the loving Samaritan into the wounds of the wounded Israelite or that cheering liquor and flaggons spoken of here whereby the sainting soul is stayed from falling into desperation and powerfully comforted strengthned and established Likewise she speakes of flaggons to show wherein these comforts are to be found to wit not in that gilded cup of the Popes decretals and mens traditions Rev. 17. wherein onely is the giddy wine of spirituall fornication wherewith that Whoore of mysticall Babylon made drunk the indwellers of the earth but in the flaggons of the old and new Testament or written word of God which is that Pedum et virga spoken of by David Ps 23. 4. The two witnesses the two Olives and Candlesticks spoken of in the Revelation that stand before the God of the earth Rev. 11. 4. and that foundation of the Prophets and Apostles whereon the Church is built Ephes 2. 20. beside which if any though an Angell from Heaven should preach any other Doctrine of faith and manners Let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8. Next she desires to be comforted with Apples by which apples is meant nothing else but that which we shewd already is meant v. 3. by the fruit of the apple-tree which was sweet unto my taste and here with the fragrant smell whereof she desires to be comforted and so the same being both for taste and smell cordiall and comfortable whereby is given us to understand the excellency of Gods word and that it delights not only one of the spirituall senses of the soul but likewise all of them being light to the eye thereof musick to the eare thereof delightfull to the touch thereof sweet to the taste and comfortable to the smelling 2. By these flaggons or wine therein and by these apples the staying of her by the one and comforting of her by the other is likewise represented unto us the diverse operations of the word of God upon the godly soul strengthning the weake confirming the stronger enlightning the blind quickning the dead reclaiming the strayer guiding the ignorant resolving the doubtfull making wise the simple and many other operations which we may see Ps 19. and 119. and here staying them that are ready to fall comforting the languishing and as Ps 19. 8. rejoycing the heart sweeter also then hony and the Hony-comb 2. Having spoken of that which she seeks we come next to consider from whom she seeks so to be stayed with flaggons and comforted by apples where we find that the Church in this her soul-sickness speakes to her friends in the plurall number to whom are committed the mysteries of the Gospell to manifest and the
an antipathy unto his Nature of holinesse and this is when we sin specially in such clear light and against light customably and presumptuously stubbornly and impenitently Observations 1. In respect that the Church here chargeth so her true members we see her authority that she she has from God and for God for which therefore we should reverence her and obey her which if any stubborn child of hers will not do by our Saviours commandment he is to be held as a heathen and a publican 2. Seeing her true members have their denomination from love and peace therefore they should bend all their endeavours to maintain these holy vertues among themselves eschewing the contrary seeing God their Father is the God of peace Christ their Redeemer is the Prince of peace the work of the holy Ghost is grace and peace the Church is Ierusalem a vision of peace and they daughters of that mother and therefore should be children of peace 3. Seeing this is her charge and chief care in retribution as it were of all the love and kindnesse that she has found of him not onely not to stir up her beloved her self but also to exhort and charge others not to do the same this teaches us in like manner in retribution of all his love and favours that he has bestowed on us either in re or spe what like care we should have not onely not to offend and stir him up to wrath by our own sinfull life and conversation but likewise as we are exhorted Ephes 5. 11. to reprove sin in others and to exhort them seriously to forbear the practise thereof 4. In that she charges them not to stir up her Beloved we see the pronesse of the best by nature to stir up the Lord to anger by sin and therefore we should the more warily look to our waies and watch and pray that we enter not into temptation Vers 8. The voice of my Beloved Behold he comes leaping upon the mountains skipping upon the hills As between two betrothed Lovers when the spring comes the man calls and invites his future Spouse to come forth out of the house wherein she has remained in the winter season that they may walk together abroad and take delight and solace themselves now with the flowers and those pleasant things which the spring doth afford Even so the Church in the rest of this Chapter is by her Beloved invited and called upon to arise from all carnall security and forsake the love of this world to follow him in the faith and love of the Gospell and to view and delight her self with the variety of these heavenly comforts and spirituall graces which like a pleasant spring the same doth afford First then in these words we have 1 Whereby he calls or invites her to this participation of his graces and spirituall delight thereof to wit by his voice which she discerneth to be his 2 After what manner he comes unto her to wit readily and speedily overcomming all impediments leaping over the mountains and skipping over the hills First then the Lord Jesus doth call his chosen by his Word externally which is his Voice as he sales Joh. 10. 3 and by the work of his Spirit internally and effectually whereby they not onely hear his voice but discern the same to be his and thereafter follow him as he shewes Joh. 10. 4. having gotten a spirituall ear whereof the Spirit speaks Rev. 2. 3. which hears that which the world cannot hear as it is said of Paul's conversion Act. 22. 7. 9. that he heard a voice vers 7. which they who were with him heard not as is said vers 9. and who not onely have a spirituall ear or hearing â—ut also a spirituall gift of discerning Christ's voice from the voice of a stranger truth from errour and the voice of the Lamb from that of the Beast's horned like the Lamb but speaking like the Dragon For 1 They have not onely the knowledge of the truth in their mind but the love of the truth in their heart which because some has not had therefore as 2 Thess 2. 11. they have been given over to the delusion of errour 2 They have the spirit of truth and therefore they can try the Spirits whether they be of God or noâ— Secondly prefixing an Ecce whereof cap. 1. 15. She speaks of His comming to her and manner thereof according as he saies Joh. 14. 23. that he who hears his voice and keeps his word his Father will love him and we saies he will come unto him and make our abode with him This comming then is a spirituall comming to the soul by the Word as the ordinary mean so that they who contemn the Word contemn his comming to them by the same and they who reverence and receive the Word they receive him who comes thereby for our Saviour is said to come three manner of waies to his Church 1 He came visibly and corporally in his Incarnation 2 He comes as here invisibly and spiritually by sanctification And 3 He is to come gloriously for her remuneration To whom therefore by his Word he comes spiritually to sanctifie them here he shall come to them comfortably to glorifie them hereafter Then touching the manner of his comming she showes it was both cheerfully and speedily like one leaping and skipping as also upon the mountains and hills that is openly and apparently to the eye of faith as Nahum 1. 15. their feet are said to be that bring good tidings and publish peace or else passing over all lets as our sins how great soever like Manasses's Mary Magdalen's and others which hindered not his free grace â—or the naturall opposition of a carnall heart as Esa 40. 4. Observations 1. We see how all the godly esteeme of Gods word which they heare preached unto them to wit as the voice of Christ himself which therefore they heare reverently lay it up in their hearts with David carefully meditate thereon fruitfully and obey it diligently Ps 119. 11. 2. We see that as is showne us Joh. 10. 4. Christs sheep have a discerning faculty between the voice of their own shepherd and a strangers and by the rule of holy Scripture as we have Isay 8. 20. the Bereans example and Pauls direction Gal. 1. 8. can discerne error from truth and the doctrine of Christ from the doctrines of Antichrist 3. Whereas it is said not only that it is the voice of her welbeloved but that he comes skipping over the hils c. we see 1. how Christ comes ordinarily to the soul to wit by the means of grace and preaching of the word which whosoever despises they despise the coming of Christ Jesus to their soules for their salvation here and shall never heare that joyfull sentence spoken to them hereafter Come yee blessed of my Father c. 2. That although the voice of the beloved be heard yet if he come not himself by the power of his spirit and inward efficacy
representing our estate in nature under grace we ought to try our selves thereby in which of these estates we are If we find our hearts cold in zeale or the love of God and heavenly things or hard and obstinate and that our life is barren altogether in good works c. then we are as yet in the estate of nature and it is yet winter with us but if we find that the sweet smelling and delectable flowres of grace and holy vertues bud in our soul and appeare in our life that we have hearts to praise God and mourne like the turtle for our sinnes and that we are fruitfull in holiness and a godly life then our winter is past and it is the spring with us or estate of grace wherein we stand 3. The repetition or reireration of the former exhortation that is used in the end of this 13. verse to rise and come away showes unto us these two things 1. Our Saviour his earnestness of our spirituall good and salvation as he testified to the Jewes How oft would he have gathered them as chickens under his wings but they would nor and therefore he uses here as it were line upon line and precept upon precept saying once and againe Arise my love my fair one and come away 2. This showes the laziness of the best and lothness like Lot to rise from security and come away from the affecting of this world and these earthly things that are therein Verse 14. O my dove that art in the clifts of the rock in the secret places of the staires Let me see thy countenance Let me heare thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely Here he uses yet a further perswasion unto her to come forth unto him and conferre with him wherein we have 1. How he styles her 2. Whereunto he exhorts her and 3. His incouragement of her or reason of exhortation First then he styles her a Dove whereof we have spoken somewhat on the 15. verse of the first Chapter concerning the eyes of the dove and so likewise he calles her Cant. 5. 2. Comparing her so 1. In respect of breeding 2. Of feeding 3. Of nestling and 4. Of other properties whereof we shall speak First then for breeding Among all foules the dove is most fruitfull even so is the Church in bringing forth children to God and of good works 2. For feeding The dove is not carnivorax as ravenous foules are but feeds cleanly upon pure grane even so doth the Church not on the wisdome of flesh and blood nor on carnall pleasures but on the pure word of God and wholesome grane thereof 3. The naturall place of nestling as we see here are rocks and so is Christ the rock to her in the clifts of whose wounds she places all her safety 4. These are her properties 1. The dove is simple therefore sayes our Saviour be simple as the dove and so is Christs church like Nathaniel in whom there is neither guile nor Hypocrisie 2. The dove is chaste and faithfull to her consort and so is Christs church to him both in affection and retaining the purity of his true worship 3. The dove is mournefull as we have Isay 38. 14. And so is Christs church here sowing in teares that she may reape in joy 4. The dove is Harmlesse and Meek and so is Christs church and every true member thereof 5. The dove loveth cleanness and to haunt to white places and so doth the Church cleanness and holiness of life and all such societies 6. The dove is sociall avis gregaria easily tamed and profitable and so is the Church and every true member thereof 7. The dove is timorous as we see Hos 11. 11. and therefore has no fence but flight and for feare of enemies hides her self in the clefts of the rock even so do the godly Ps 119. 120. and who for feare of their spirituall enemies hide themselves in the clefts and under the protection of the true rock Christ Jesus 8. The dove is swift in fleeing as we see Ps 55. 6. and so is Christ church by faith and devotion pearcing the very heavens and as the dove carried the Olive branch and was taken into the Ark when the raven abode without even so the godly have peace and grace here and are assumed to glory hereafter when the wicked are left out Next she is called his dove 1. By creation Gen. 8. 11. 2. By purchase or redemption 3. By the fathers donation whereof Joh. 17. 9 4. By confaederation Jer. 7. 23. and 5. By matrimoniall conjunction whereby she sayes Cant. 6. 3. I am my welbeloved's and he is mine c. Now the place where she is said to be is in the clifts of the rock and secret places of the staires by which rock is no other meant but Christ Jesus himself so called by David Ps 62. 2 81. 21. and by Daniel Dan. 2. 45. Upon whom whosoever builds he is only wise and against such the gates of Hell shall in no wise prevaile And which rock is neither a dry rock but like that in the wilderness which gushed forth abundantly with refreshing water for which cause the Apostle sayes that that rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10. 4. Neither is it a barren rock but like that whereof Job speakes Job 29. 6. which poureth forth rivers of gladning oile unto us and plenty of consolation Petra caelestis caducum enim terrenum omne quae et solidum fundamentum edificanti et securum mâ—nimentum advolanti Next by the clifts of this rock Some do understand the Lords eternall counsell and election of his owne wherein as in a most sure rock the salvation of the Church rests knowing that as our Saviour sayes it is impossible that the elect should perish Matth. 24. Others understand hereby that protection of the Lord's over his owne whereof David speakes Ps 32. 7. And our Saviour saying of his sheep I give unto them eternall life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand My father also that gave them me is greater then all neither shall any pluck them out of my Father's hand Joh. 10. 29. And I and my Father are one Others and that most rightly understand with Bernard by the clifts of this Rock the wounds of Christ and merits of his precious bloodshed which like so many clefts or hollow places were opened upon the Crosse and whereunto every christian soul in the time of an accusing conscience and Satan's pursuit by temptation who is like a greedy Kite or Hawk by the flight of faith may have her recourse In his enim saies he se columba tutatur circumvolitantem intrepidè intuetur accipitrem Thirdly By the secret place of the staires as we see Psal 91. 1. is meant the Lord himself who is the hiding and secret place of his own as we have him so called there and Psal 32. 7. and 84. 11. Unto whom the hunted and
no good fruit but either as has been said barrenness or Briers even so in the world and mans heart by nature there is no fitness of ground for the seed of Gods word nor planting of the saving graces of the Holy Ghost till we be made as the Apostle speaketh the Lords husbandry 1 Cor. 3. and such a change be wrought as we have Psal 107. 35. 37. from barrenness to be fruitfull to the Lord while as the whole world beside out of which we ascend here with the Church doth remaine as a wast barren and until'd wilderness Secondly by her coming up out of the wilderness is not meant any corporall or locall mutation for thus neither doth Christ come down to her nor doth she ascend to him but a spirituall ascension in affection and holy devotion by faith and Sanctification not conforming her self as the Apostle speakes to the world but being transformed by the renewing of her mind that she may prove what is that good acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12. 2. In respect of which going up out of the wilderness which is opposit to going down as we have Exod. 13. 18. and Gen. 42. 2. Solomon sayes that the way of life is above to the wiâ—e that he may depart from Hell beneath Pro. 15. 24. and indeed this is no small work seeing that the whole bensell of our hearts naturally bend down-wards to this world and earthly things and it is the mighty power of Christs grace when he comes that makes this ascension Thirdly she is said to come up out of the wilderness like pillars of smoak to show that her journey and mounting up to Heaven as has been said being moved by the fire of Gods spirit is with a straight foot or course of Sanctification and with a steddy and constant resolution like Davids signified here by pillars Psal 119. 57. and thus as a spirituall sacrifice the godly offer up themselves as they are exhorted Rom. 12. 1. and straightly ascend to God like the sacrifice of Abel on Christ Jesus as the alter by the fire of the spirit and resolving the earthly part of their naturall corruption piece by piece into ashes Fourthly she is said to be perfumed with Myrrh and frankincense and other pouders of the Merchant to show that thus the Church is made a sweet odour to God in Christ whose death is like Myrrh bitter in taste but sweet in smell and whose mediation is figured by frankincense whereof is mention Exod. 30. 34. as we see Rev. 8. 3. so that thorow his death and mediation the Church becomes a sweet odour to God like Jacob in Esau's vesture Also she may be said to be perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincense Myrrh being a figure of mortification of the flesh whereunto we are exhorted Col. 3. 5. It being used in the imbalming the dead And Frankincense a figure of the grace of prayer and holy devotion as we see Psal 140. 2. and Rev. 8. 3. With other pouders of the Merchant that is with all other graces that Christ has bestowed on her by the preaching of the Gospell with all these she is said to be perfumed and so made sweet and fit to ascend up before God in the heavens for otherwise in and of our selves by nature we stink like hemlock and are most loathsome abominable fitter for that pit which burneth with fire and brimstone then to ascend up into such heavenly palaces till he wash us and anoint and cloth us as we see Ezek. 16. and as Esther was purified and perfumed with sweet odours before she came to the king Esther 2. 12 till we be purified by the blood of Christ and perfumed with the merit of his sufferings and with the graces of his spirit needfull to salvation before we present our selves for acceptation to the King of kings Likewise she being in a barren wilderness where no such sweet and odoriferous spices does grow and being of her self also like the Church of Laodicea poore and wretched Rev. 3. We see that she has not these things from her self but from her blessed bridegroom whom when she found she found also as in a full storehouse all these things in him and got all these things from him so that justly he might say to her as he speaks by his Prophet I decked thee with ornaments and thou wast beautiful with my comeliness which I had put upon thee Ezek. 16. 11. 14. Observations 1. We see that God can raise up a Church to himself even in the wilderness to the admiration of observers as Rev. 12. and although we be in the wilderness of this world yet with the Church we should not be of it but with her we should come out of it as Abraham was bidden leave Vr of the Chalde's Lot go out of Sodom and Gods people come out of Babylon Separating our selves from the manner of the conversation thereof as we would be separate at the Last day like sheep from the goats from the damnation thereof 2. As we should leave the wilderness of the world so we should spiritually ascend towards heaven like pillars of smoak not only forsaking and abhorring that which is evill but as the Apostle exhorts us cleaving to that which is good Rom. 12. 9. For in these two true religion consists as the people of Israel quitting Egypt behoved to mind Canaan and those that disgust earthly vanities must be inamoured with heavenly graces and seek those things that are above where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father And as smoak is caused by fire so he who must inable and makes us do both these is the spirit of God who is compared to fire Matth. 3. 11. 3. But the Church never mounts upward like pillars of smoak in a steddy and constant course till after seeking she found her welbeloved who first came down to her before she could ascend up to him which showes us that even so before we can come out of the world and nature and â—mount up to heaven by a Heavenly disposition desires and delight we must be sensible of our spiriuall wants seek after Christ and find him and therefore this is the cause why so few spiritually thus ascend but cleave and are glewed to the world and remain in nature because they were never yet sensible of their spirituall wants or what need they had of Christ neither ever yet truly did they seek after him or comfortably find him and who spiritually ascend not here shall never in their bodies ascend comfortably hereafter 4. It is likewise said that she not only ascends like pillars of smoak having found Christ but also that she is perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincense c. Which showes unto us that till we be indued with the saving graces of God signified by these perfumes and powders of the Merchant which makes us smell sweetly in Gods sight we will never be fit to ascend up or present our selves before his heavenly Majesty to
expect acceptation but will be as a stinking or corrupt carcase and our best exercises of devotion but abomination before him and therefore most earnestly should we seek the graces and gifts of Gods holy spirit that so we may be as pillars of smoak perfumed ascending like Abels sacrifice and finding acceptation 5. The churches manner of ascending being thus persumed is like pillars of smoak which showes unto us that our spirituall ascending and heavenly disposition must not be by fitts but steddy resolute and constant without wavering notwithstanding of any wind of temptation as was Joshuas resolution to serve the Lord Jobs practice of cleaving to him and of all others that have attained to the end of their faith which is the salvation of their soules Vers 7. Behold his bed which is Solomons threescore valiant men are about it of the valiant of I srae 8. They all hold swords being export in warre every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of feare in the night From this verse to the end of the Chapter the church sets forth the glory of Christ whom after seeking at last she had found by the glory of Solomon whereof our Saviour speaketh Matth. 6. 29. By particularizing it in these three Solomons bed his Chariot and his Crown his bed strongly guarded his Chariot richly furnished and his Crown gloriously adorned First then our Saviour is compared here to Solomon and next his glory in these three forenamed unto the glory of Solomon Himself then is compared to Solomon for these respects 1. Solomon was the sonne of David and so was Christ according to the flesh and therefore so called in like manner 2. Solomon according to the signification of his name was a peaceable Prince and so is Christ that Prince of peace as Isay calles him who has made peace between God and us Isai 9. 6. And is the author of all peace externall internall and eternall 3. Solomon was greatly beloved of God 2 Sam. 12. 24. and so was Christ proclaimed to be the welbeloved of the Father in whom he was well pleased 4. Solomon excelled and exceeded all others in wisdome riches and glory and so doth Christ who is the wisdome of the Father the full treasure of grace and the king of glory 1 King 10. 23. Col. 2. 3. 5. The fame of all these in Solomon spread a farre off and allured many to come and hear his wisdom And so has the fame of Christs wisdome grace and glory which he gives to the utmost ends of the earth allured many to come to him and hear his wisdome revealed in the Ministry of his word 6. Solomon took to wife an alien the daughter of Pharaoh an Egyptian and made Her a glorious Queen unto himself as we see Psal 45. and so has Christ taken those who were aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel of a wicked proprogeny as we see Ezek. 16. even idolatrous Gentiles and make them a glorious Spouse unto himself in like manner 7. He built that glorious Temple which was called Solomon's Temple and so has Christ built his Church of lively stones gloriously adorned by Grace here which is called likewise his Church and mysticall body and which he shall make more glorious to himself in the heavens hereafter Secondly By Solomon's bed where he lies in the night-time of this life and as the Apostle saies where he dwells by faith and there rests as it were and reposes himself is meant the hearts of his Elect Ephes 3. 17. as we see Cant. 1. 13. whose hearts and souls like Solomon's bed which was so strongly guarded 1 are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation as saies the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 5. and as the Psalmist shews Psal 125. 2. 2 They are guarded by his holy Angells called the Lord's heavenly Hostes and who are ministring spirits sent out for the good of the Elect Iuk 2. 13. And 3 faithfull Pastors and able for the calling furnished with the sword of the spirit Ephes 6. 17. which is the Word of God and skilfull as the Apostle speaks in the word of righteousnesse Heb. 5. 13 14. who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evill and to divide the Word aright and convince gainsayers They also are a guard to Christ's Church Rev. 2. 16. to guard their hearts from errour and seduction having the Word for that end in readinesse Jer. 9. 3. and valiant for the truth like the sword of a valiant man girt to his thigh Psal 45. 4. As also to protect them from terrour or any invasion of Satan's temptations which may affright their render consciences and disturb their peace Or from other subtle snares and practises of their enemies which usually are accustomed to be practised and put in execution in the time of the night Observations 1. We see here the honour that Christ bestowes upon an Elect soul that seeks him to wit that of a cage of unclean spirits by nature he makes the same a bed as it were or bed-chamber for himselfe to dwell in 2. The safety of that person in whose soul Christ dwells to wit that Solomon's bed or any other King 's was never so surely guarded nor may they lye down with such assurance of safety as we see Psal 4. 8. and Prov. 3. 24 26. 3. In Pastors that are like wise a guard to Christ's Church and as it was saâ—… of Elisha who are like the horsemen and chariots of Israel we see by these words what are required to wit 1 Fidelity as in a King's Guard to whom he committeth his person and life 2 Vigilancy being like a Guard for fear in the night 3 Valour or courage as Ieremy speaks To be valiant for the truth Ier. 9. 4. 4 Expertnesse in war for convincing the adversary and repelling the darts of the devill 5 Furniture with the fit weapon of the sword of the Spirit 6 Readinesse to use and wield the same like a sword not to seek but at all occasions ready in the hand or girt to the thigh 7 Unity and order standing each one in their own station and all about the bed And 8 Not aliens themselves but of the same true Israel of God over whom they watch and therefore called so here of the valiant men of Israel Vers 9. King Solomon made himself a Chariot of the wood of Lebanon 10. He made the pillars thereof of silver the bottom thereof of gold the covering of it of purple the midst thereof being paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem Next to the Bed of repose whereof we have spoken followes the Spouse her speech how by the preaching of the Word as in a Chariot the true Solomon Christ Jesus is conveyed to the soul and carried whither he will as the Ark was carried by the Levites the excellency of which benefit is compared to all most precious mettalls and finest wood whatsoever In these words then we have 1 A Chariot
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 Sâ—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 lawâ— 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
daughters of Sion who have received the eye-salve of the spirit to discern spirituall things and are like Ezekiels wheels full of eyes Ezek. 1. 18. They are called upon only to behold this spirituall sight and to these only the promise is made for Blessed are the pure in heart sayes our saviour for they shall see God 3. The daughters of Sion are called forth to behold Christ the true Solomon as a king crowned with the Crown wherewith his mother crowned him where we have first to consider who is meant here by his Mother and 2. What is this crown and how he is crowned so by her First then we must understand that Christ has a naturall Mother to wit the Virgin Mary who was his mother according to the flesh as also he has a mysticall mother which is his Church who in a divers respect is his sister as he calles her Cant. 5. 2. His spouse and his Mother here 1. In estimation and affection because he so esteems and loves his Church and those who do the will of his Father as his very Mother as he showes and calles such Matth. 12. 50. And 2. Because by the Doctrine of faith the pastors of his Church as by an Immortall seed they conceive and bring forth Christ in a manner in the hearts of his elect Gal. 4. 19. As the Apostle testifies saying My little Children of whom I travell in birth againe untill Christ be formed in you for which cause also the Church who is described by that woman in the Revelation who was great with child is said travelling in birth to have brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a Rod of iron who was caught up to God and to his throne which is competent onely to Christ This mother then is said to set a crown on Christs head which is a signe of dominion and victory as we see Rev. 19. 11. When her true and faithfull members acknowledge his sole and only Soveragnity over them and submitts themselves to be ruled and governed by him alone and no other but their king and Lord Jesus to lord over them or have place in their hearts whereas on the contrary those who give place to Satan sinne or their own corruption their servants and subjects they are whom they obey these take the crown as it were from off Christs head and say he shall not raigne over us Psal 2. and puts it upon Satans head and puts only in Christ's hand by way of derision as it were with the Roman souldiers an empty reed for a scepter and crown him with a crown of thorns and while they say in word Let thy kingdome come they show in deed that they desire that it depart from them and therefore they shall hear a sentence of a dreadfull departure from him when they who crown him here as the true members and subjects of his kingdome of grace shal be crowned hereafter with the crown of glory And indeed great reason is it that his Church and all godly soules should thus crown Christ Jesus as their king and only Lord here for 1. In our creation as is shown Heb. 2. 6 He crowned man whom he made little inferior to Angels with glory and honour and set him over the works of his hands 2. In the work of our Redemption he crowned our nature by assumption thereof to his divine nature advancing the same highly above angells in that Hypostaticall Union on earth and now much more in glory and at the right hand of the Father in the heavens 3. As he showes by his Prophet and Psalmist Psal 103. 4. in the work of justification and remission of sinne and delivery from destruction he crownes us with loving kindness and tender mercies 4. In the work of Sanctification as he speaks by Ezekiel of his church Ezek. 16. 12. He put a beautifull crown upon her head even that beauty of holiness whereof he speaks Psal 110. 3. 5 For our use and comfort of this naturall life on earth as David sayes he crownes the yeer with his goodness and his paths drop fatness Psal 65. 11. And 6 In the work of glorification he hath laid up for all his own elect a crown of Righteousness glory and life everlasting 2 Tim. 4. 8. 1 Pet. 5. 4. Rev 2. 10. 4. The time when he is said to be crowned is the day of his espousal's and of the gladness of his heart so that when a faithfull soul acknowledges Christs sole and supreame soveraignity over the same and wholly submits it self to his ruleing and government then and thereby is it espoused as a chast Virgin unto Christ Jesus as the Apostle shewes 2 Cor. 11. 2. And so at one time as it were it crownes Christ and is espoused to him and as this is the joy of the Angels so is it the joy and gladness of his heart who is Lord both of men and Angels proceeding from that love that he has to mans salvation and whom nothing at any time did so contristate when he was on earth as the stubborness of wicked sinners who would not be reclaimed as he shewd when he wept over Jerusalem and so grievously complained Observations 1. We see that the daughters of Sion are called upon to go forth to behold king Solomon and his glory The cause then that so few see Christ the true Solomon in his spirituall glory beauty and Majesty and be inamoured with him to seek after him and delight in him is this they have never learned to go forth out of themselves renouncing their own righteousness will and corruption 2. The eye whereby Christ in his spirituall glory is only seene seeing it is faith and if we look upon him in his ordinances with a carnall eye we will as Herod did set him at nought Therefore if we would see him either here to our comfort or hereafter in glory let us seek after faith and the eye-salve of the spirit by servent prayer and frequent use of the meanes whereby it is obtained 3. Seing Christ is a king and our king ruling and protecting us let us do the duties of loyall and obedient subjects to him and seeing we should crown him here by acknowledging his soveragnity over us and submitting our selves to his rule and government let us not defraud him of his crown-right here as we would not justly be defrauded of that crown of glory which he has at the Fathers right hand Heb. â—…9 and is to give to all those who love and obey him hereafter 4. Seeing faith and obedience make such a spirituall sibness to Christ that his church and her true members are counted his Mother and Spouse therefore hereby being so highly honoured let us all strive to have faith in a good conscience as Manna was laid up in a golden pot that so we may attain to this high advancement and all these comforts that results there-from 5. As the submission of the soul and espousals by
him and to seperate her from the society of the wicked and conformity with them who are but as barren trees in a wild forrest or father cruell untamed beasts who resort in hills or dens as Lions and Leopards whereunto the wicked are compared to the Lion's for cruelty therefore saies David My soul is among Lions Psal 57. 4. And again speaking of the wicked man whom he so calleth thrice altogether he saith He lyeth in wait secretly as a Lion in his den to catch the poor Psal 10. 9. And again Like a Lion that is greedy of his prey and as it were a young Lion lurking in secret places Psal 17. 12. And therefore when he prayeth to be delivered from his wicked persecutors he saith Save me from the Lion's mouth Psal 22. 21. And again Save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me Psal 7. 2. lest he â—ear my soul like a Lion rending it in pieces while there is none to deliver In like manner the wicked are compared to Leopards that haunt the mountains 1 Because of their being full of spots and all sorts of indelible or incorrigible vices therefore saies the Prophet to the wicked Can the Aethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots Jer. 13. 23. then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evill 2 They are compared to Leopards both for craft and cruelty who use craftily to couch and hide themselves that without being seen they may observe and catch their prey see examples hereof Exod. 1. 10. Matth. 2. 7. therefore saies the Lord by his Prophet Hosea Therefore I will be unto them as a Lion and as a Leopard by the way will I observe them Hos 13. 7. And again the Prophet Jeremy speaking of the enemies that he should bring against his people for their sins and what they should do unto them saies That as a Leopard they should watch over their Cities Jeâ— 5. 6. 3 The wicked are compared to Leopards because of their swiftnesse to all wickednesse as we see Habac. 1. 8. where it is said That the Caldeans horses that should come against Jerusalem should be swifter than the Leopards And so in like manner it is said of the wicked That as they have a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations so they have feet that be swift in running to mischief Prov. 6. 18. Lebanon also whereof mention is made here sometimes is praised and taken in good part as Hos 14. 6 7. from the sweet smell of odoriferous spices flowers herbs and vines that grew there so also in this same chapter vers 11. 15. and 5. 15. c. Sometimes it is taken in a worse part as a place where wicked enemies of God's people had their habitation as Judg. 3. 3. to wit the Philistins Canaanites and Hivites c. in which sense it seemeth to be taken here when the Bridegroom calleth his Bride to come with him from Lebanon Amana otherwise called Abana is also a mountain in Syria whereof the valley and river at the foot thereof took the name as we see 2 King 5. 12. Shenir likewise which the Sidonians call Syrion as we have Deut. 3. 9. and Psal 29. 6. and Hermon were those mountains which were of old possessed by Og King of Bashan and after by the Israelites It is then from these places that were inhabited by wicked men and in respect thereof which were like mountains of Leopards and dens of Lions that the Bridegroom calls his Bride As he saith to his people concerning Babel Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Rev. 18. 4. Observations 1. We see the duty of all such who are washed from their spots and made fair and clean by Christ not to continue any longer in sin but to forsake the same and all wicked society who like spotted Leopards delight therein and to follow Christ with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 1. by the imitation of a holy life that he may be our pattern on earth who is our patron in the heavens And when any Church leaves Christ and he it as Rome we should leave it also and follow Christ chiefly when it turns to a den of Lions and Leopards 2. We see that sinne changes men to beasts as Dogs and Swine Foxes and Wolves Lyons and Leopards and makes them of no better account with God nor the Godly 3. We may perceive the happiness of the death of gods Saints that frees them from being any more amongst such and places them in the blessed society of God his Saints and Angells for ever Vers 9. Thou hast ravish't my heart my sister my spouse thou hast ravisht my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy neck From this verse to the last the bridgroom proceedeth in the larger commendation of his bride and first that her beauty is such that it hath ravished his heart see Pro. 6. 25. Which to show the truth and vehemency of his affection towards her he repeateth twice and sho weth how the eye of her faith that looks onely to him and the concatenation of his graces and spirituall ornaments like a chain bestowed on her makes her so amiable and hath such a wonderfull efficacy But if faith be one of her eyes may some say which is the other I answer that in respect the church is brought in under the person of a woman therefore there are two eyes ascribed unto her which two eyes are the eyes of faith but in respect that there are divers degrees of faith to wit a weake faith and a stronger faith therefore here he would comfort his Church showing the efficacy even of a weake faith being true and sincere that it is powerfull to ravish his heart as the trembling touch of the woman diseased of the bloody issue drew vertue out of Christ and got a blessing as well as the strong hand of Jacob who wrestled for the same and the dimmest bleared eye that looked up upon the serpent in the wilderness got cure of the fiery stingings as well as the clearest And of these two degrees of one and the same faith as of the stature and strength of one and the same person in infancy and riper age doth the Apostle speak saying that the Gospell is the power of God to salvation unto every one tâ—… beleeveth adding this reason that the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith not speaking as if there were two faiths but one and the same but a weaker increasing to a stronger Next to the solution of this doubt and the better cleering of these words we have a new style which she receives he calling her his sister c. Which is 1. In respect of his incarnation whereby God became like one of us and he took upon him our nature as the Apostle showes and was made like to us in all things sinne onely excepted Heb. 2. 16. 17.
give a smell better then all the sweetest spices whatsoever which were either used as we read for a holy use and to make a holy unction Exod. 30. 34. or for a civill and more common use as Esth 2. 12. and were counted a fit present or royall gift for Kings 2 Chron. 9. 9. and Matth. 2. 11. Observations 1. If Christ so highly prize and praise our love to him which is so due and so little profitable to him as we see Psal 16. 2. then how should we labour to abound therein and have our hearts inflamed therewith 2. Before Christ spake of his Church's faith vers 9. and now he speaks of her love so that where the one is there must the other be likewise and where love is there must be obedience according as he saies If ye love me keep my commandements which serves to shew now how rare the love of Christ is 3. With love here there is joyned a sweet smell as of precious oyntments Even so where the love of Christ is in the heart there must be as has been said the sweet smell of a sanctified life whereby we become a sweet savour to God in Christ and afford to others a sweet smell of good example as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 11. 1. whereby as our Saviour shews men seeing our good works are made to glorifie God our heavenly Father which alas few do but rather the contrary Vers 11. Thy lips O my Spouse drop as an hony-comb hony and milk are under thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon Here in this verse there are two things highly praised in the Bride of Christ 1 her speech and 2 the smell of her garments the former of which is declared to be both sweet like hony as also wholsome and nourishing like milk as is said Prov. 12. 18. The tongue of the wise is health and Joâ— 23. 12. they are said to be more esteemed than necessary food These two being the two things wherewith the land of Canaan did abound and which as they did show the goodnesse of that land so these two the dropping of her lips as hony combs and hony and milk under her tongue showes the goodnesse of her heart from whence these proceed for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and a good tree is known by the goodnesse of the fruit The heart then furnishes first to the tongue and thence from the store of grace in the heart Eccles 10. 12. there is a store of gracious words which are called hony and milk under her tongue which it again furnishes unto her lips wherein as is said of the vertuous woman the law of grace is and they again like the gainers with their talents drop this honey on others that as by Jonathan's hony-comb 1 Sam. 14. 27. they may get enlightning and edification or as the Apostle speaks her speech may be such as may minister grace to the hearers Ephes 4. 29. Whose speech in like manner is compared not to a lavish gushing out but to a dropping of a honey-comb to show as is said Prov. 31. 26. that like the vertuous woman she opens her mouth wiâ—h wisdome speaking her words in due season and with discretion and moderation and not as Solomon speaks of a fool Prov. 29. 11. saying A fool uttereth all his mind but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards Eccles 10. 14. And again A fool is full of words but the tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright whereas the mouth of fools poureth ouâ— foolishnesse Prov. 15. 2. In the next words he commends the sweet savour of her garments to be like the smell of Lebanon Hos 14. 6. whereby is not meant her bodily cloathing for many of God's dearest Saints like Lazarus and the two Witnesses spoken of in the Revelations have been but poorly cloathed yea as the Apostle speaks Heb. 11. 37. they have wandered about in sheeps skins and goats skins being destitute afflicted tormented of whom the world was not worthy But thereby is understood her spirituall cloathing whereby the King's daughter is all glorious within Psal 45. 13. And that woman in the Revelation is said to be cloathed with the Sun Rev. 12. having as the Apostle speaks put on the Lord Jesus Rom. 13. 14. This is also that garment spoken of by Ezekiel Ezek. 16. 10. of broidered work fine linnen and silk that the Lord put upon his Spouse being throughly washed and that white raiment which the Lord Jesus advises the Church of Laodicea to get from him that the shame of her nakednesse might not appear Rev. 3. 18. and as is said Rev. 19. 8. which was granted to the Lamb's Bride to wit That she should be arraied in fine linnen clean and white which is the righteousnesse of the Saints imputed unto her in justification and inherent likewise in her by sanctification the one being like Esau's vesture wherein Jacob got the blessing and the other like Joseph's party coloured coat which he got from his father and whereof it is said Rev. 3. 4. Thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white The savour of these garments is said to be as the smell of Lebanon which was a hill neer to Hermon where there did grow such sweet and aromatick trees herbs and spices that they gave such a smell as we see Hos 14. 5. that the passers-by were allured and delighted therewith This smell therefore Christians give when by a holy life and conversation they make their light so shine before others that they glorifie God their heavenly father and when like the wise Virgins by the oyle of grace their lamps are both burning and shining and thereby they delight and draw others to follow their good example Whereas on the contrary wicked professors send forth a most noysome pestiferous and infectious smell which like that of Sodom ascends into God's nostrills provoking him to wrath vexes the godly like Lot and scares many from the profession of the truth but allures none This fragrancy the godly have from Christ as we see Psal 133. 2. and from the sweet unction of his Spirit Ezek. 16. 9. who as the Apostle saies has given himself to God for an offering of a sweet smelling savour Ephes 5. 2. Observations 1. We see here a strange alteration that grace makes in the godly that whereas by nature as the Psalmist speaks the poyson of asps is under their lips and their mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse cited Rom. 3. 14. by grace their lips drop as the hony-comb and hony and milk are under their tongue Before they were of polluted lips as Isaâ— 6. 5. but when the cole of grace hath touched them they become purged 2. Seeing the lips of the godly drop forth hony to those that hear them even such speeches that as Ephes 4. 29. minister grace to the hearers O what a
His belly likewise or whole inwards and bowells of compassion specially is said to be as bright Ivory over-laid with Saphires that is pure and cleer without any spot and most comfortable to the soul as white and blew colours are pleasant to the eye Vers 15. His legs are as pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine gold his countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars His legs whereby is understood all his wayes specially of mercy and love towards his Elect are said to be as pillars of Marble set on sockets of fine gold denotating thereby that they are alwaies stable holy pure and glorious His countenance also or loving favour to them on whom he makes the same to shine is said to be as Lebanon excellent as the cedars that is to say goodly most pleasant and delectable as we see David found and therefore so much desired the same Psal 4. 6. Vers 16. His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely This is my beloved and this is my friend O daughters of Jerusalem His mouth to wit opened in holy scripture and promises of salvation therein contained is most sweet and comfortable specially to a weary and fainting soul as Jonathans honey was to him yea he is altogether lovely even all Christ and all in Christ to a soul that loves him This is her beloved she sayes and this is her friend of whom the daughters of Jerusalem asked what was he more then another beloved a beloved of matchles beauty as he has been described and a friend of matchlesse friendship kinder then Jonathan was to David whose love exceeded the love of women who died for his enemies that painefull accursed and ignominious death of the crosse that he might make friendship between God and us and befriend our wretched soules in delivering them from death and purchasing unto them life everlasting Observations 1. We see out of her description of Christ to the daughters of Jerusalem that it is the Churches part and office to publish and paint out before the eyes of the faithfull as the Apostle speaks by the preaching of the word Christ Jesus Crucified for which cause she is called the staple-place and pillar of truth which thing is a mark of the true Church and whosoever does it not but withholds from Gods people the sound doctrine of the Word and would by dumb images and idolls the teachers of lies paint out Christ crucified otherwise they are not the true Church of Christ 2. By such a description of the excellency and beauty of her Beloved we see what a rich Jewell they find who find Christ and to how rare and excellent a matchless husband they espouse their souls who by a lively faith espouse themselves to him divorcing from Satan sin and the world also how much worth the seeking so glorious a Lord is and what happinesse and great dignity his Church has by the fruition of him here but far greater by enjoying of him hereafter 3. Christ's love is so firmly rooted in her heart and it so plentifully filled therewith that even when he has withdrawn himself from her to her feeling and seemes so unkind to her as Joseph seemed rough and strange to his brethren that when she called he would not answer her yet she expresses the vehemency of her love towards him so that she ceases not to charge the daughters of Jerusalem to tell him that she is sick of love and so highly to praise and commend him as the strain of her best expressions can any way reach unto showing thereby that true saving grace and the love of Christ is so permanent and durable in the souls of the Elect that there is nothing that can befall them or whereby it pleases the Lord to exercise them that can cool their love but rather kindle the same to him and therefore even then as Ruth did to Naomi they cleave the faster to him with Jacob they wrestle and will not let him go and with Job they dare tell him that albeit he should kill them yet never will he depart from him nor shall ever his love go out of their heart or his praise out of their mouth For as the Apostle saies who shall seperate them from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Nay in all these things they are more than conquerours through him that has loved them Rom. 8. 35. 4. From the description of his head vers 11. which is as most fine gold not subject as other baser mettalls to rust and corruption Seeing a conformity should be between the head and members his mysticall body not being like Nebuchadnezar's Image therefore we should all strive to holinesse and not to be subject to corruption or wickednesse 5. Likewise from the description of his eyes vers 12. compared to Doves eyes the eyes of his Church being in like manner chap. 4. 1. so called and compared delighting in purity holinesse and innocency we see as has been said what a conformity not onely should be but is between Christ and his Church in holinesse their eyes ears tongue heart and hand all being sanctified and made holy as he is holy by his Spirit who renewes them 6. From the description of his cheeks and lips vers 13. affording such sweetnesse we see how sweet leight and easie is Christ's yoke of submission unto all the faithfull through love's facilitation which is not so to others and how sweet also his word is to such which exacts that homage and subjection not onely in the promises but precepts thereof howsoever it be like Marah even bitter to the relish of others tormenting them before their time because of their distempered palat and corruption which it launces therefore Foelix could not abide it no more than a sore eye can endure the bright light which is delightfull to others 7. In the 14 vers we see a conformity between his actions and inwards both holy and void of corruption or spot Teaching us that the like conformity should be between our inwards and outwards not to have fair outwards and foul inwards like painted tombs nor to pretend fair inwards but to have foul outwards our actions being contrary to our profession and having the voice of Jacob but the hands of Esau 8. His legs or waies which are all holy are said to be stable like pillars of marble vers 15 teaching us in like manner that so should all our waies of holinesse be without wavering or inconstancy and backsliding remembring Lot's wife and the punishment of Korah and others who would have returned to Egypt We must be then like Joshua and Caleb and not like those Galatians that began in the spirit but would end in the flesh Gal. 3. 3. For unto stable standers as David professes of himself Psal 26. 12. and constant perseverers is the promise made of eternall life Revel 2. 10. 9. She saies vers 16. This is my Beloved after
all her description of his beauty and lovelinesse altogether and this is My friend saies she to show unto us that it is no comfort to know all the excellencies of Christ and what benefits are to be had by him except by the application of a true faith we can say He is ours as Thomas said My God and my Lord. 10. We see that even in this spirituall desertion and distresse wherein she is yet she calls him her friend perswading her selfe of his love because of his promise that whom he loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. and never despairing of his favour and return One speciall evidence likewise of this her assurance of his love and friendship to her is her love and affection to him which she professes in calling him her beloved So that as long as we find a fervent and true affection in our hearts to Christ that with Peter we may say Lord thou knowest I love thee so long may we be assured that he loves us and is a friend unto us what ever be our estate and although with David we were walking through the very vally of the shaddow of death it self his rod and staffe shall comfort us Lastly is Christ our friend so good and so great a one unto us and unparallel'd by any let us then be ashamed to be enemies to him by joyning with his enemy Satan and so far as lies in us crucifying him again and trampling his blood under foot and so be enemies to our own souls Let us also be ashamed to joyne with the enemies of his cause remembring what Jehu the son of Hanani the Seer said to Iehoshaphat Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord 2 Chron. 19. 2. But rather let us be friends to his cause and to them who are his friends and then he will prove our best friend in our greatest need and not onely in life but in death and when all other friends will forsake us or like Job's friends can be but miserable comforters Finis quinti Capitis Soli deo gloria CHAP. VI. Vers 1. Whither is thy beloved gone O thou fairest amongst women whither is thy well-beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee THE 3 parts of this Chapter are these 1 Is set down the daughters of Jerusalem who were so straitly charged in the former Chapter vers 8. their question to the Spouse of Christ and her answer to the fourth verse 2 Christ's renewed praise of her whereby he shews the graces of his Church to the tenth verse And 3. The manifestation of his tender love towards her by divers expressions from the tenth verse to the end In the former Chapter the Spouse had at large commended her Beloved and that which the same now does produce is The daughters of Jerusalem their enquirie for him that joyntly with her they may likewise seek after him so powerful is the manifestation of the excellency of Christ by the preaching of the Gospell and of the benefits that the Church has by him that it kindles a desire in the hearts of all elect hearers to seek after him that they may lay hold on him by the hand of faith and as old Simeon got him in his arms they may apply him to their souls to their eternall salvation an example whereof we may see Act. 2. 37. Which showes unto us therefore what an excellent thing it is amongst all the actions of men the preaching of the Gospell◠and setting out of Christ thereby as the Apostle speaks Gal. 4. whereby soules are instructed and enamoured to seek after him to their eternall salvation But here one thing chiefly is remarkable how they say not simply Whither is thy beloved gone that we may seek him but that we may seek him with thee this being the onely right way to seek Christ and find him when we seek him with his Church and as himself directs Cant. 1. 8. saying Go forth by the steps of the flock and feed thy kids by the shepheard 's tents and when we do not as perverse hereticks and giddy schismaticks and brain-sick separatists do who pretend that they seek Christ but will after a singular and self-conceited way of their own do so but not with his Church in the Scriptures onely and in the congregation of the faithfull under an ordinary and constitute Ministry Observations 1. The inamouring of soules to seek after Christ being by the setting forth of Christ and his graces in the preaching of the Gospell should greatly incite and encourage Pastors to perform the same diligently and make it their main task or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 knowing that if they do so great is their reward that abides them hereafter as we see is promised Dan. 12. 3. and elsewhere in Scripture 2. The same being the fruit likewise of godly and religious conference such as we see was the practise by the way of the two Disciples going to Emmaus Luk. 24. 13 14. by occasion whereof Christ drew-near and manifested himself to them should in like manner stir up and encourage people most frequently to use such 3. Whereas they say that they will seek her beloved with her 1 This showes to what society or company we should adjoyne our selves to wit to those who seek after Christ and not to such who on the contrary depart away from him and seek onely either after the world wickednesse or vanity And 2 This teaches us to seek Christ in the ordinary way of his holy Ordinances wherein his Church has constantly ever sought him Vers 2. My beloved is gone down into his garden to the beds of spices to feed in the garden and to gather lillies In this verse is her answer unto their question wherein she showes 1 whither he is gone as also 2 to what end The place then whither she saies he is gone and consequently where he is to be found by all those who seek him aright is his Church which she calleth here his garden for the reasons spoken of chap. 4. 16. so that as Joseph and Mary sought him and found him in the Temple so as he must be sought with his Church as the preceding words teach so also he is to be found in his Church with which he has promised to be present to the world's end Matth. 28. 20. and therefore was seen to walk in the midst of his seven golden candlesticks Rev. 1. 13. Unto this garden he is said to go down as to a low place therefore vers 11. said to be a valley to show the humility of those who are the members of his true Church which they learn from their Master who saies to all such Learn of me for I am humble and meek As also he is said to go to the beds of spices whereby are understood the hearts of the faithfull wherein he dwells and which are compared to beds of spices because in them as in beds of a garden his heavenly graces are sown and
under the pressure of weights hanging on it and yet neither bowing it to make it grow crooked nor bearing it down And 5. We read that the branches of these tree were caried as signes of victory and rejoysing Revel 7. 9. Al 's these resembling in the godly 1. Their growing up in grace and raising their desires to things that are above 2. Their uprightness and sincerity in their walking both with God and man 3. Their perpetuall vigour and constancy in grace and weldoing 4. Their spirituall thriving under the pressure of heaviest crosses which neither makes them bow to any wicked or crooked course nor beares them down by despair in greatest extremity and 5. That their estate after crosses here shal be victorious and Triumphant in joy for ever hereafter And therefore we see the godly mans estate compared to the florishing of the Palme-tree Psal 92. 12. and that figures of Palme-tree with Cherubims were carved within and without upon the walls of Solomons temple 1 King 6. 29. To denotate that of the godly on whom the Angells do waite as Ministring spirits the spirituall or mysticall Temple of Gods Church consists Likewise her breasts here are compared to clusters of grapes as not only having nourishing milk for Babes but likewise the cheering liquor of wine for those of riper age and in a word variety of wholsome and comfortable food for every hungry or thirsty soul therefore does the Lord proclaime by Isay Ho every one that thirsts come to the waters buy wine and milk without price or money Isay 55. 1. Observations 1. Seeing the stature of Christ's Church and the godly therein is like a Palme-tree of a tall and goodly grouth this should warne all those who are true members thereof to strive to grow in godliness daily and heavenliness of affection that they prove not dwarfs in Christianity standing ever as it were at one stay and deceiving themselves as if they had true grace which they have not who are so because true grace where ever it is is still growing and the godly walk still from strength to strength till they see God in Sion Psal 84. 7. 2. Against Sectaries and separatists we observe that although the Scriptures of the two Testaments be Gods word here they are called the Churches two breasts because by the Ministry of the Church and from her hands Gods children must be fed and therefore pastors are called the Lords stewards and dispensers of this spirituall food which as Pharaoh's garners were under Joseph's is under their hand wherefore whosoever would have the benefit and comfort of the word they ought not to despise the breasts of this Mother or contemne the ordinary Ministry of a constitute Church and separate therefrom by which ordinarily faith comes as the Apostle showes and consequently salvation Rom. 10. 14. 3. Seeing her breasts are not dry breasts but full like clusters of grapes this should teach all pastors to be stored in knowledge with old store and new out of the holy Scriptures and as the men of God to be perfect unto every good work of their holy calling Matth. 13. 12. 4. The clusters of grapes draw their liquor which they containe and suck it from the vine even so should faithfull pastors draw the doctrine which they store up and dispense to people from the true vine Christ Jesus allaverly that they may say with the Apostle That which I received from the Lord that I deliver to you 1 Cor. 11. 23. as the Moon borrowes her light from the Sunne or the Pipe convayes the water which it hath from the full fountaine Vers 8. I said I will go up to the Palme-tree I will take hold of the boughes thereof now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the Vine and the smell of thy nose like Apples 9. And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved that goeth down sweetly causing the lippes of those that are asleep to speak Followes here this resolution what he will do to this his Palm-tree to wit he wâ—ll dresse the same whereunto is subjoyned a declaration of the fruitfulness that will arise there-from first then the Palm-tree being tall for dressing of it he speakes after the manner of the custome of Husbandmen used by them in dressing or snedding such trees which was they did first climb up into them and so laying hold on every branch they purged or dressed the same Even so the Lord like a painfull and diligent Husbandman he not onely plants and waters his trees and looks to their grouth but likewise as we see also Joh. 15. He has a care to purge and dresse them and every bough or branch which he doth not onely by his word by which faith is begotten that purgeth the heart but sometimes by rough and sharp afflictions like the snedding knife which curs away what is superfluous and luxuriating and which the for the present as the Apostle sayes it be grievous to flesh and blood Heb. 12. 11. nevertheless afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to such who are exercised thereby Therefore he subjoynes how fruitfull she shall become by this his carefull dressing to wit that her breasts shal be as clusters of the vine that is full of sweet and most pleasant fruits as also the smell of her nose should be like apples declaring thereby as men usually breathe at their nose so that she should breathe out nothing but sweetness as is the smell of apples Last of all he sayes that the roof of her mouth should be like the best wine that is her heavenly doctrine and all other her godly speeches which she should utter by opening her mouth should be full of wholsome instruction comfort and edification like the best wine producing these effects to wit spirituall delight the warming of the soul with heavenly love the inflameing of it with holy zeal and comforting thereof when it is dejected which goes down sayes he sweetly to wit when the same is heard with joy and delight and amongst many other effects produceth also this that it causes the lipps of these that are asleep to speake that is it wakeneth and rouseth up the spirits of those who are asleep in sinne and security and causes their lips to speak by humble confession and other holy speeches to Gods glory and the good of others to the like whereof they were not before accustomed Observations 1. We see that Christ's Church and her true members albeit well grown in grace like a Palm-tree for stature yet has need to be dressed and purged in the branches thereof because of their oft Luxuriating in peace and prosperity as we see in David Psal 30. 6. And because of daily attracting of great pollution and guiltiness and therefore when he comes with the snedding knife of affliction or rough hand of purging let us not think uncouth thereof as the Apostle exhorts concerning the fiery tryall but reverence his care and wisedome submitting
to desire to be set as a seale on his heart and arme is strong love towards him so that although our faith and other graces be feeble and faint in us yet if our hearts tell us that our love to Christ is strong and that with Peter we may say Lord thou knowest that I love thee the same may be a great comfort unto us John 21. 17. 4. It is out of this strong love of hers towards him that makes her so earnestly desire this spirituall union with him to be as a seale on his heart and arme so that we may know our love to Christ by this our desire and degree thereof for where our love is small or feeble strong or fervent so will our desire be of this spirituall union 5. The love she carries to him is compared to coales of fire which indeed like that which came down from Heaven to kindle and consume the sacrifices is of a heavenly descent and is compared to fire as the baptist speaks of our inward baptism 1. Because as fire has light with it so the love of Christ has the knowledge of him whom we love Ignoti enim nulla cupido 2. Fire has heat and warmness with it and so has the love of God whereby it heats our cold and frozen hearts and warmes them with mutuall love to God and zeal of his glory 3. Fire purges the drosse of mettalls and so does Christ's love our hearts from corruption 4. Fire melts the good mettall and makes it plyable to the hand of the Goldsmith and so does the love of Christ and makes it plyable to the operation of the spirit 5. Fire in the flame thereof bends continually upward and so does the love of Christ seeking his glory and those things that are above therefore let us trie by these works and operations if we have in us the true love of Christ 6. By these things whereunto this spirituall love is compared which are in themselves invincible and overcome all other especially such a flaming fire which no waters nor the floods thereof can any way quench and whereby as is said are understood the sharpest afflictions or most cruell persecutions we may see what is the most soveraigne preservative and fortification of the soul against the time of trouble that we may stand as the well built house against all stormy tempests whatsoever to wit the love of Christ and of his sacred truth which shall make us as the Apostle speaks and Martyrs practised to triumph saying In all these we are more then conquerours 7. This clause which sayes If a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned showes that although worldling's hearts may be wonne by Satans temptation from the love of Christ and his truth as we see in Demas 2 Tim. 4. 10. yet in them that are truly godly there is no such force in any worldly treasures who count all things but dung and losse in comparison of the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord. 8. We see the two maine temptations whereby Satan seeks to alienate or draw away our hearts from the love of Christ and his truth and make us quit the same to wit the waters and floods of trouble and persecution on the one hand and if that cannot serve the turne then the allurement of worldly riches which overcame Judas and wherewith he tempted Christs himself showing him all the kingdomes of the world and the glory thereof Vers 8. We have a little sister and she hath no breasts what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for Here this holy and heavenly Song drawes to an end In the conclusion whereof we have these points 1. A consultation or demand concerning the Church of the Gentiles which she prophesies shal be gathered to Christ together with a declaration of her great glory 2. There is a comparison made between Solomons frultfull vineyard and Christ's Church on earth 3. We have a postulation or desire that she may enjoy still the benefit of his word here with a sanctified care and heart to hearken thereto and believe the same and that he would hasten his second coming to Judgment when she might no longer walk by faith but by sight and injoy his presence for ever in the heavens hereafter Concerning the first of these we know before our Saviours suffering and ascending to the heavens that the Church was then onely within the pale of the Jewish nation who were at that time Gods onely peculiar people to whom his oracles were committed Eph. 2. 12. all others being counted sinners of the Gentiles and aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel till the partition-wall was removed and that was performed which was promised to the Sonne Psal 2. 8. And againe I have made thee a light to the Gentiles and the salvation to the ends of the earth which by a vision was declared to Peter whereby he saw that God had put no difference as he sayes himself between Jewes and Gentiles after that by faith he had purified their hearts Act. 10. 13. and 9. Of this conversion then of the Gentiles enlargement of the Church the spouse here speaks saying We have a little sister and she bath no breasts where we have to consider 1. How she calles her 2. How she sayes We in the plurall 3. How she sayes in the present we have a little sister 4. How she is said to have no breasts and. 5. The care that she has of her saying What shall we do for our sister in the day that she shal be spoken for The speech then it self we see is Metaphoricall taken from the manner of Elder sisters that are espoused their speaking of their younger that is not yet for marriage being but little in stature and having no breasts or paps formed and â—it to containe milk and nourish up children and consulting as it were with friends against that time that she is ripe for marriage what is the best way to get her espoused First then this being according to the manner of the Hebrewes as has been noted before that the whole is called the Mother and the parts of the Catholick Church are called sisters In this speech then the Jewish Church calles the Church of the Gentiles to be collected of all nations a sister 1. In relation to Christ who is our elder brother and who calleth his Church whether of Jewes or Gentiles his sister as we see Chap. 5. 2. Next in relation to her self for unity of one nature with her one faith one father one Spirit one Baptism and one in affection Next this sister is called a little sister though this question might arise why she should call her so seeing the Church of the Gentiles in greatness and number was farre to exceed the Church of the Jewes whereunto I answer that she is so called 1. Not in respect of her number which was to be but because of