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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	dear_a	keep_v	page_n	2,249	5	9.9704	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37483	Tropologia, or, A key to open Scripture metaphors the first book containing sacred philology, or the tropes in Scripture, reduc'd under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each / partly translated and partly compil'd from the works of the learned by T.D. The second and third books containing a practical improvement (parallel-wise) of several of the most frequent and useful metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes of the Old and New Testament / by B.K.	De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685.; Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1681 (1681)	Wing D895; ESTC R24884	855,682	1,006

Eye upon such as either help on or rejoyce at their Afflictions XX. Christ is the Believer's faithful Friend He hath been abundantly tried but never failed any that trusted in him He never left his but was full of Kindness to them in all their Troubles not unmindful of those great Concerns committed to the charge of this their choicest Friend Having loved his own that were in the World he loved them unto the end Yet nevertheless the Lord stood by me c. A Friend I. FRiendship amongst Men is usually occasioned from the Suitableness of the Object Man with Man is suitable for Association and this is the great moving Cause of their Friendship not Man with another Creature or rarely a King with a Beggar or a Courtier or Statesman with an illiterate Country-Man as the Subject of his Blessing or Object of his Delight II. Usually they apprehend something of Desert in the Person on whom they bestow their Friendship Either it is deserved by the Good they see in him or may be requited by the Help they may receive from him for 't is possible and usual for a poor Man to be useful to a rich Man and the weakest to him that is strong III. No such Friend hath done so much but it is known and may be declared Christ saith Greater Love hath no Man than this that he lays down his Life for his Friend wherein their Love is plainly seen and may be comprehended IV. The best natural Man may sometimes forget his Friend either through a multitude of Business Incumbrance or weakness of Memory during which time he may suffer much V. Such a Friend knows no more of his Friend's Condition than is revealed to him neither is he able to pass right Judgment respecting him as in Job's case therefore cannot reach the Heart with Comfort VI. Such may be thy Condition that thy best Friend may not know how to help thee tho willing such may be the Affairs thou art to manage VII Tho a natural Friend may know what will help thee yet it may not be in his Power to help thee The tender Mothers in Judah and Jerusalem their Bowels moved for the starved and languishing Babes of their own Bodies and they knew that Food would have succoured them but 't was not in their power to procure it VIII These natural Friends may be removed from thee or thou from them and so thou mayest be left destitute and this Friendship come to an end Many have been clapp'd up in a Dungeon and sequestrated from their dearest worldly Friends therefore they are uncertain at best however if no Dungeon yet Death will separate them IX Natural Friends may be made unable to perform their Promises A real Friend through an over-heated Zeal doth sometimes out-bid himself and is not able to make good his Word which lays a Man under great Disappointments I relied on my Friend's Promise but he hath failed me Nay a Friend when he promises may at that time be able to make good his Promise but some strange Providence may suddenly disable him Disparity I. BUt Christ grounds not his Friendship here there being in fallen Man no Suitableness of Association Man being polluted Angels might be thought much more suitable But 't is Love and free Grace that notwithstanding there was nothing desirable in fallen Man he being altogether sinful and so not suitable for Association yet Jesus Christ hath made choice of Man and is become his true and faithful Friend II. But Jesus Christ grounds not his Friendship on this Bottom for fallen Man is altogether undeserving nothing that was in them could be the Cause of his Friendship but meerly his own good Will and Pleasure Man being utterly unable to requite his Love and Kindness or to give any thing to him in requital so that it is undeserved Friendship III. But Christ hath done so much for his People as is not known nor can be conceived and all this when they were Enemies If it be considered what he did for them before Time what he hath done in Time and what he hath prepared for them in after-Times it will appear that there is no such Friend as Christ who entertains all his with eternal Mansions Glory IV. But this Friend will never forget thee wherever thou art tho never so remote let thy Condition be what it will he is ever mindful of thee and of his Covenant What God said concerning the Temple that Solomon built Christ saith the same to his People Mine Eye and my Heart shall be on them perpetually Lo I am with you always to the end of the World V. But Christ knows our Conditions and can pass right Judgment concerning us and can reach our Hearts to comfort and support them He knows the Ways I take saith Job He is a Soul-Friend he it is that teacheth the way to true Happiness and adorns the Soul with Grace that 's the Friend to be desired VI. But Christ can take right measures of thy Condition and knows always how to help thee He is never at a loss how to help his People He knows how to deliver thee There are none of thy Affairs too hard for Jesus Christ to manage VII As Christ hath Wisdom so he hath Power All Power in Heaven and in Earth is given unto me What was sinfully said of Simon This Man has the great Power of God may be righteously and truly said of Christ. O here 's a Friend indeed that knows in every state how to relieve thee We may weep and mourn over our dear Friends that are in Sorrow and Misery as they did over Lazarus in the Grave and as the Women did over Dorcas when they were not able to help So thy Condition may be such that thy dearest Friend may say of thy Help as the Depth and Sea said concerning Wisdom 'T is not in me O b●●t 't is to be found in this Friend Jesus Christ He hath given sufficient Proof of his Bowels of Pity to his People and of his Wisdom and Power in their greatest Straits VIII But this Friend of Believers nothing can separate from them no not Death it self for he is immortal Was not Christ with Paul and Silas in Prison O how sweet is the presence of a dear Friend in Trouble Alas Walls and Guards may keep off other Friends but nothing can keep or hinder Jesus Christ from coming unto his People IX But Christ is able to make good his Word to the utmost he never out-bids himself Who was ever laid under any Discouragement or Disappointment that trusted in Him In all Changes in all Providences Christ is the same Thou mayest commit great Concerns into the hands of thy supposed Friend and he may fail thee nay into the hand of thy real Friend and yet be uncertain of Security Fire may destroy or Thieves may rob him so that being empoverished he cannot make good what he received

attain this great Happiness and Honour to be embraced in the Arms of the Lord Jesus 1. Wouldest thou have the Kisses of his Mouth Thou must with Mary Magdalen fall down and first kiss his Feet and bedew them with the Tears of a broken Heart be humbled for thy Sin 2. If thou wouldest have him give thee a Kiss of Reconciliation and Affection do thou kiss him with a Kiss of Subjection Kiss the Son lest he be angry If thou wantest Motives take these following 1. The Father presents his Son the Lord Jesus Christ before your Eyes in the Gospel as he doth the like himself as a Person every way deserving your Love and Affection to see whether you will respect him or not 2. The Father highly honoureth the Son he hath given all things into his hand he is his Heir 3. The Father hath sent him into the World to seek himself a Spouse 4. He became Flesh that he might be a fit Object for Sinners 5. Christ hath a great desire to give himself unto you and so become yours for ever 6. He hath abundance of Love great and strong Affection 7. Christ left his Glory and came into the World in a low and contemptible condition and denied himself for thy sake and wilt not thou accept of him 8. Shall he die and come through a Sea of Blood to engage thy Affection and wilt not thou yield him a Kiss of Subjection 9. Shall he send his Ministers as Spokes-men to entreat you and will you say Nay 10. Shall he move you by the Motions of his Spirit and Checks of Conscience and will you still refuse to close in with him 11. Shall he knock loud and long and cry continually to you and can you still stand it out against him 12. VVill not your Gain and Preferment be great what Honour and Dignity excelling Union with Christ can you think to meet withal 13. Are not you like to be miserable at last if you die before you have an Interest in him If any love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha IV. But some may say How comes it to pass the Spouse is so bold and thus familiarly speaks to Christ Let him kiss me Should not Fervor of Affection have with it Humility of Reverenee To this says Bernard Nè causamini presumptionem ubi affectio urget reclamat pudor s●●d urget am●●r qui nec consilio temperatur nec pudore fraenatur Be not presumptuous where Affection presses forward be neither kept back by Advice nor restrained by B●●shfulness in your Approaches to Christ. Besides Saints who truly love Christ may boldly come to Christ. Tokens of Love and Evidences of Divine Favour are the proper Rights and Privileges of Believers they may be bold with their dearest Friend The Word of God compared to a Net Mat. 13.47 Again the Kingdom of God is like a Net cast into the Sea SOme understand by the Net and Kingdom of Heaven that our Saviour intends the Church others the Gospel It may have respect to both but in my Understanding it is more clearly applicable to the Gospel Parable A Net is made or prepared as a convenient thing to catch Fish II. A Net is made use of by skilful Fishers it requires Wisdom rightly to use it to the End it is appointed A Fisher uses oft-times much Policy and Craft in putting in and drawing of his Net III. A Net is cast into a Multitude of Waters at an Adventure the Fisherman not knowing whether it may catch many or few or any at all IV. A Fisherman works hard with his Net sometimes a great while together and catcheth nothing V. A Net takes Fish of every sort some great Ones and some little Ones some good and some bad as 't is express'd in this Parable VI. A Net takes Fishes out of their own natural Element and as soon as they are taken out of the Water they dy VII A Net takes or compasses sometimes a Multitude of Fishes at once When Simon Peter put in his Net at the special Command of Jesus Christ he enclosed a great Multitude of Fishes VIII A Net tho it be cast into the Sea and has taken many Fishes yet 't is not known of what kind or sort they be until the Net is drawn up IX After the Fisherman hath drawn his Net about so long that he concludes it hath taken all it is like to enclose and compass in he then draws it to the Shore and severs the Good from the Bad the Good he puts into Vessels and the Bad he throws away Parallel THe Gospel or Word of God is appointed to catch or convert the Souls of Men Fear not from henceforth thou shalt catch Men. II. The Word of God is made use of by skilful and able Ministers and it requires much spiritual Wisdom rightly to use it for the Conversion of Sinners Paul being crafty tells the Corinthians He took or catched them with Guile III. The Gospel is preached by a faithful Minister to a Multitude of People who are compared to Waters in many Places of Scripture and yet he knows not when he preaches or casteth his Net in whether he shall take many or few Souls nay whether one Sinner shall be reached or converted thereby or not IV. So a Minister sometimes labours a long while together and takes much Pains in preaching the Gospel and yet converts not one Soul Who hath believed our Report c. They may sometimes say with Peter We have laboured all Night and have taken nothing V. So the Gospel-Net takes hold of some of every sort and degree of Men Some great and honourable rich and mighty in the World tho not many such some little Ones such as are mean and poor in the World Again some great and notorious Sinners are taken such as Mary Magdalen and Paul were before converted and some that are not such great and capital Offenders For tho every Man is a great Sinner in a proper sence yet comparatively some are greater or more guilty and prophane than others And there was a Woman in the City that was a Sinner Not but that all the Women in the City were Sinners but this Woman was a notorious one or one noted and eminent for Wickedness Also the Gospel and Church of God takes some bad Professors and counterfeit Christians as well as such as are sincere VI. The Gospel or Word of God the spiritual Net takes Sinners out of their natural Element and as soon as they are savingly taken thereby they die to Sin and to all sensual Objects and carnal Delights of the Flesh and this World and to their own Righteousness Rom. 6.2 6 11. VII The Gospel-Net also sometimes takes hold of or encloseth many Sinners at one Cast. At one Sermon three thousand Souls were converted by that glorious Preacher and famous Fisher of Men the Apostle Peter VIII So the Gospel and Church of God tho

judicious Ministers to their Christian Friends in order to its being encouraged The Matter of it is Divine but the Manner of handling possibly will not please all I must confess my own Defects and Disabilities for the undertaking of so great a Subject and am assured the Christian and candid Peruser will overlook Frailties and take that in good part which was design'd for the Publick Good As for Carpers and Censurers that like nothing but what they do themselves they are below regard I have met with an Objection against my Method viz. That no Parallels are to be drawn beyond the Scope of the Text answering the Intention of the Spirit there To which I say First That I have endeavoured with all diligence to conform all my Parallels to plain Scripture and the Analogy of the Orthodox Faith and if I go beyond what the Scope of a particular Text is yet I agree with the general Tenor of God's Word Secondly Metaphors being Terms borrowed from Things that have divers Properties as far as they yield Parities or Disparities with the Object represented agreeable to the Word of God if they tend to Edification may be safely used As for example God in a Metaphorical Notion is called a Father how can a Parallel be limited till you apply all the good Properties of a natural Father to Him So of Christ a Shepherd c. See our Sacred Philology pag. 67 171. The like may be said of many other general Terms c. Thirdly If our Method is not useful to critical Objectors yet 't is hoped it will be so to the plain serious Reader and the other may furnish himself with what he likes or let alone what he wants not Fourthly If Example be any Warrant I have the Precedents of the learned Glassius Illyricus Dr. Franzius and our own Caryl Burroughs Blackwood and divers others who have parallel'd divers Metaphors in the same nature as I have done All which I presume will satisfy such as can be satisfied with respect to this Objection I can truly say that we have spared no Cost or Pains to consult the best Authors extant whether Divines Naturalists Philosophers Philologists or Criticks c. in order to make this Essay useful for the end intended and have carefully labour'd to avoid any Notion of Things that may offend such as are sound in the Faith but have kept all along within the Bounds of that Gravity and Orthodoxy of Matter which the Christian Religion requires and the Reformed Protestants profess The Helps I have had from others whether dead or alive I readily acknowledg for I would not own that for mine which is not and to accommodate the Work the better I have I confess expressed some Things in the very Words of divers worthy and learned Divines As to the Work in general and the Use of it read the Epistle to the First Book Only this let me add here Such who would see what Improvement may be fairly made of a Metaphor may read Light Book 3. p. 1 to 40. which contains the Substance of several Sermons preached upon 2 Cor. 4.4 with good Acceptance Reader This I must say what Profit it may yield thee I know not yet when the Second Volume is finished thou wilt have the Fruit of near twenty Years Study in which time divers that know me can say I have not been idle And thou mayest perceive that what I have received I am willing to communicate to others Talents must not be hid in Napkins And that it may bring Glory to God Advantage to Thee and to the Church of Christ in general is and shall be the constant Prayer of him who is willing to serve thee in the Work of the Gospel for Christ's sake B. KEACH A TABLE OF THE Metaphors Similes c. Contained in the Second and Third Books of this VOLUME BOOK II. The First Head of Metaphors respecting GOD the Father GOD a Father Page 1 God a Portion Page 6 God a Habitation Page 10 God an Husbandman Page 14 God a Builder Page 17 God a Man of War Page 21 God a Strong-Tower Page 29 God compared to a Giant Page 35 God compared to a Lion Page 40 God as a Leopard Page 40 God compared to a Bear Page 45 God compared to a Moth Page 46 God a Refuge Page 50 God an Housholder Page 54 God compared to a Potter Page 62 God to the Wicked is a Consuming Fire Page 65 The Arm of God Page 70 God compared to a Travailing Woman Page 73 God a Shield Page 74 God a Wall of Fire Page 76 God a Iudg Page 78 God an Hiding-Place Page 83 The Second Head of Metaphors Allegories Similes Types and other borrowed Terms respecting the LORD JESUS CHRIST the Second Person in the Glorious Trinity CHrist a Mediator Page 86 Christ a Surety Page 91 Christ a Bridegroom Page 97 Christ the express Image of the Father Page 108 Christ a Physician Page 112 Christ a Testator Page 119 Christ compared to an Hart Page 124 Christ a Door Page 128 Christ the Servant of God Page 131 Christ a Lion Page 135 Christ the true Manna Page 139 Christ a King Page 143 Christ a Priest Page 149 Christ a Prophet Page 157 Christ a Shepherd Page 162 Christ the Branch Page 165 Christ the Way Page 167 Christ a Rock Page 170 Christ a Fountain Page 173 Christ the Head Page 177 Christ a Garment of Sanctification Page 182 Christ a Lamb Page 185 Christ the Pearl of great price Page 187 The Name of Christ like to precious Ointment Page 190 Christ a Believer's Friend Page 193 Christ the Rose of Sharon Page 199 Christ an Advocate Page 203 Christ an Apostle Page 208 Christ the Bread of Life Page 210 Christ the the Sun of Righteousness Page 214 Christ the Root of David Page 221 Christ the true Vine Page 223 Christ the Lilly of the Vallies Page 226 Christ under the Similitude of an Apple-Tree Page 227 Christ an Embassador Page 230 Christ a Witness Page 235 Christ an Altar Page 237 Christ Heir of all things Page 239 Christ the only Foundation Page 242 Christ the Corner-Stone Page 246 Christ Wonderful ●● Counsellor Page 251 Christ's Compassion to Sinners under the similitude of a Hen Page 255 Christ the Captain of our Salvation Page 257 Christ a Refiner Page 262 Christ compared to an Eagle Page 265 Christ compared to a Bundle of Myrrh Page 268 Christ the Saints Wedding-Garment Page 270 Christ the Bright and Morning-Star Page 274 Christ's coming compared to a Thief in the Night Page 279 Christ the Iudg of All Page 280 Christ compared to the Brazen Serpent Page 285 Christ is All in All Page 287 The Third Head of Metaphors Allegories and Similes with other borrowed Terms respecting the HOLY SPIRIT the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity THe Holy-Spirit a Comforter Page 291 The Holy-Spirit compared to the Wind Page 297 The Holy-Shirit comp to Fire Page 301 The Oil of Gladness Page 302 The

a Signet The Son in himself is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the likeness of God II. Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Image of God representing him unto Men he manifesteth God unto us He is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Image of the Invisible God because partaking of the Nature of the Father the Goodness Power Holiness Grace and all other glorious Properties of God do shine forth or are represented declared and expressed to us III. Christ represents God the Father to Believers in his true Form Character or Likeness whom we see not as he is in himself nor can see he dwelling in inaccessible Light at an infinite distance of Divine Nature and manner of Being from our Apprehensions and Conceptions No Man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him IV. Christ respecting his Essence is the same God with the Father but the Subsistences or Persons of the Father and Son are different and so not the same V. Christ being the express Image of the Father brings into our Minds what kind or manner of God the Almighty is his Excellencies and glorious Perfections are hereby presented as it were to our view By which means we are taken up into holy Meditations and Contemplations of him whom by reason of Sin we had forgotten and lost the true knowledg of VI. Christ being the express Image of God the Father who is the blessed and only Potentate and the glorious King of Heaven and Earth who hath dear and tender Love to us his poor Creatures who is our Friend Husband Father gracious and chief Benefactor causes all true Believers greatly to prize love and esteem the Lord Jesus not only for his own sake but for the sake of him whom he doth resemble and represent VII Christ God-Man in one Person or God manifested in the Flesh the glorious Representation of the Father to Sinners is the Admiration of Saints and Angels 't is a great Mystery and comprehends the Depths of God That the Glory of God should shine forth in the Nature of Man is and will be the Wonder of both Worlds t is judg'd by all the Godly to be the Master-piece of Divine Wisdom Metaphor I. AMong Men the Substance of a Thing hath the precedency or is before the Sign or Image of it the Person and then the Picture or Emblem of it II. An Image Figure or Character among Men cannot fully and perfectly in every thing express or represent the Person 't is made for it differs in Matter Life and Motion c. III. 'T is gross Idolatry to worship Images or the Likeness of any Thing in Heaven above or the Earth beneath IV. Other Images are soon marr'd and pass away Disparity I. THat which is said of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being or existing and subsisting in the Form of God that is being so essentially for there is no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Form in the Deity but what is essential unto it This Christ was absolutely antecedently to his Incarnation the whole Nature of God being in him and consequently he being in the Son of God II. Christ is a lively perfect and compleat Image Character and Representation of all the glorious Attributes Excellencies and Perfections of the Father the Fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him Were it not so he could not gloriously represent unto us the Person of the Father nor could we by contemplation of him be led to an Acquaintance with the Person of the Father 1. The Father is from Everlasting so is the Son 2. The Father is a perfect Divine Person or Subsistence so is the Son 3. The Father hath Life in himself so hath the Son Life in himself 4. The Father created the World so did the Son 5. The Father upholds all things by the Word of his Power so doth the Son 6. All things were made for the Father so all things were made for the Son 7. The Father is to be worshipped so is the Son 8. The Father knows all things and searches the Heart so doth the Son 9. The Father is in the Son so is the Son in the Father The Father is in me and I in him The Father being thus in the Son and the Son in the Father all the glorious Properties of the one shine forth in the other The Order and Oeconomy of the Blessed Trinity in Subsistence and Operation requires that the Manifestation and Communication of the Father to us be through the Son 10. All other Perfections of the Father shine forth in Christ 't is he that makes them manifest to us according to that of the Apostle For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledg of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. The Wisdom of the Father is great and infinite many ways but wherein doth it shine more gloriously than in the Son 's working about our Redemption in reconciling Justice and Mercy in punishing Sin and pardoning the Sinner To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly Places might be made known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God 11. The Father is still of Goodness and Love to Man this appears in his making of him Supreme over all Creatures on Earth But what is this Favour and Goodness to that which is manifested in and by Christ in raising him up when a Rebel and vile Traitor to the Honour and Dignity of a Son and to accomplish this to give his only begotten Son to die in his stead He made him to be Sin for us who knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us There was much Favour and Love in the Blessings and Privileges of Creation but in Redemption Mercy is magnified likewise to admiration and shines in equal Glory 12. God the Father is infinitely holy just and righteous His Holiness and Justice appeared in casting off the fallen Angels and by executing his Severity upon our first Parents and by destroying Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them and in several other respects Yet how much more abundantly doth his Holiness and Justice shine forth in the Son the Image of the Father when he came forth to redeem Mankind in that he made his Soul an Offering for Sin God letting out his Wrath upon him sparing him not when he stood in the place of the Sinner For the Transgressions of my People was he stricken As Mr. Burroughs observes there is nothing sets out God's Justice Holiness and infinite Hatred of Sin like this c. Our Nature is united to the Divine Nature of God that so by that mystical Union Grace and Holiness might be communicated in a

so to be and cry mightily that he would be pleased never to take it away from this poor Nation nor suffer its Glory and Brightness to be Eclipsed by letting in Popish darkness again amongst us If we once lose the Gospel we may all cry Ichabod the glory is departed from England and with the Church of Old say the Crown is fallen from our heads wo to us that we have sinned But some may say why doth Satan endeavour to hide the Gospel 1. It is because he is such an implacable Enemy to Mankind he cannot endure the light himself and he would not such is his hatred to us have the light of the Gospel shine upon us 2. Because of that Malice he bears to the Lord Jesus he would fain keep men ignorant of a Saviour Not only out of hatred to man but also out of implacable enmity to the Lord Christ that so he may as much as ly's in him hinder our Saviours chief design and intention in coming into the VVorld which was to bring men out of Darkness into the Light 3. Because he knows whilst he can keep men ignorant of the Gospel he hath them fast enough what Profession soever they make of Religion tho' they hear read pray give Almes nay and in many things reform their lives yet if they see not the way of Salvation as it is revealed in the Gospel he matters it not they still remain his Captives 4. Because it is hereby his Kingdom is like to fa●● 't is the light of the Gospel that tends to the utter overthrow and ruine of the Kingdom of darkness What wonderful things hath the Gospel done in the World and what Power is there in it by the help of the Holy Spirit to dis-Throne Satan and break all his Chains to pieces therefore he bestirs himself to hinder the breaking out of Light and Knowledg in every Nation and causes fierce opposition to be made against those who endeavour to sup-plant him and lay open his grand designs This informs us how it comes about there is so much Ignorance and gross Darkness in the World not only in Popish Countreys but also where the Gospel is Preached Though Men hear it Preached every day yet O how Blind and Ignorant are many Sinners Men rest satisfied with the bare notion of Things and Name of Christians never minding Religion in good earnest but in a most fearful manner are grown so fool-hardy and venturous as to hazard and expose their Souls unto eternal ruine The Devil hath blinded their minds this also shews us from whence it is there are and formerly have been so many false and detestable Opinions Errors and cursed Heresies in the world Alas the Devil this way endeavours to obstruct and hinder the Gospel from being received he has indeed strove a long time wholly to overthrow the very foundation of the Christian Religion and to bring in another Gospel he strives to cheat Men of the true Saviour and in his stead to Preach another of whom the Scripture is wholly ignorant how have many Impudently asserted the Light in all men to be the true Christ and Saviour of the Word He doth not only strive to take away his glorious Soveraignity and set up another Universal Head who hath power to make Laws and repeat them in matters of Religion at his pleasure as the Followers of the Beast affirm But now of late endeavours to take away the very Person of the Holy Jesus Also to change the Ordinances or wholly to deny them hath been and is another of his Stratagems which witness to the true Christ his Death Burial and Resurrection And lastly Satan hath alwaies endeavoured also to bring into contempt the Ministers of the Gospel or else raise up Persecution upon them and all these things he doth to hinder the Gospel from shining or obstruct the promulgation thereof The Kisses of Christ's Mouth Cant. 1.2 Let him kiss me with the Kisses of his Mouth for thy Love is better than Wine LEt him that is Christ kiss me By these Expressions saith Ainsworth and others the Church desireth to have Christ manifested in the Flesh. Others by Kisses understand most friendly familiar and sensible Manifestations of Love for they are so amongst Friends as 't was betwixt Jonathan and David and so 't is between Husband and Wife It is evident that Kisses are mentioned on sundry Occasions used for divers Ends and signifying several Things 1. We read of a Kiss of Salutation 1 Sam. 20.41 1 Thess. 5.26 2. A Kiss of Valediction Ruth 2.9 3. A Kiss of Reconciliation 2 Sam. 14.33 4. A Kiss of Subjection Psal. 2.12 5. A Kiss of Approbation Prov. 2.4 6. A Kiss of Adoration 1 Kings 19.18 7. A trayterous Kiss Mat. 26.49 8. A Kiss of Affection Gen. 45.15 And since the Church desires in the Plural Number Kisses of Christ's Mouth it may refer 1. To a Kiss of Reconciliation or Manifestation of Peace Unity and Friendship 2. A Kiss of Affection which is very sweet to have Christ express or manifest his gracious Love to her 3. A Kiss of Approbation which is saith Mr. Guild sweetest of all The Text is purely Allegorical as the whole Song is acknowledged to be by all Divines METAPHOR KIsses betoken Love and Good-Will to the Party they are given to II. They betoken a hearty Conjunction and cordial Union of two Parties III. They betoken such a Friendship as allows a Liberty of Access and Communication at all times IV. They leave such Impressions as engage the Affections to a future Remembrance of the Object V. They oblige the Giver to shew further Favours and Acts of Love and Kindness to the Party he bestows them on VI. They are a Confirmation of the endeared Love and Reality we profess VII They are the Privilege and Right in a more peculiar manner of Covenant-Relations as Husband and Wife c. VIII In Reconciliation after a seeming Breach between dear Relations they are highly prized and longed for by the Party offending IX A Kiss is look'd upon as a very high Honour when received by an inferior Person from a great King or Prince and begets in others a longing after the like Manifestation of Sovereign Grace and Favour X. They are very sweet and comfortable to very dear Friends after long absence XI They are the first Ceremony or Initiation of kind and comfortable Entertainment as in the case of the profuse and extravagant Prodigal XII To be admitted to kiss the hand of a Prince is a great Honour because of his Royalty and Grandure but to kiss his Mouth is extraordinary and only allowed to great Favourites Parallel THe Spouse in the Text desires of the Lord Jesus Tokens or further Manifestations of his Love and Good-Will to her II. The Church desires further Tokens and Assurances of that blessed Conjunction and Union that is between her self and the Lord Jesus Christ. III. Gracious Souls desire a more near Access