comfort and feeling of his gratious presence was the truth and unfainedness of my Love to him 1 Thes. 1. 3. Heb. 6. 10. I sought him but I found him not Though by this means also I sought him earnestly making the best use of the conference and prayers of such as I could meet withal yet neither could I this way recover my comfort Ver. 3. The Watchmen that go about the City found me q. d. At length while I was thus seeking for my beloved the Pastors and Governours of the Church whom the Lord hath appointed to be as Watchmen to this Citty Isa. 62. 6. Ez. 3. 17. and who go about and diligently look into the Estate of all Gods people committed to their charge Act. 20. 20 31. found me came to enquire into mine Estate to whom I said saw yee him whom my Soul loveth q. d. my heart was so full that I stayed not till they questioned or demanded any thing of me but I required of them and sought help of them to recover my comfort in my Lord and Saviour and could not conceal from them the unfeigned and fervent love my my Soul bore unto him Ver. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them but I found him whom my Soul loveth q. d. Though while I was with the Watchmen and faithful Ministers of the Lord and enjoyed Gods Ordinances in their Ministry I seemed in my own feeling to receive no benefit by it yet within a while after I did I lost not my labour in seeking and using all Gods means for I recovered the comfort which I had lost I found and felt the gracious presence of my Lord and Saviour whom my Soul dearly and unfeignedly loveth I held him and would not let him go q. d. The great vexation of Spirit that I found all the while that I thought him to be absent from me made me more highly to prize him and to lay the faster hold on him by renewing my faith to make him the more sure unto my self and to resolve with my self that I would never through my carnal security or any other sin lose him again nor deprive my self of the comfort I found in him until I brought him into my Mothers house and into the Chamber of her that conceived me until in the publick assembly where I was regenerate by the immortal seed I had testifyed my Love to him and my thankfulness for this great mercy I had received in the recovering of my comfort Ver. 5. I charge yee O yee Daughters of Ierusalem See Cap. 2. 7 9. q. d. Now I have found him again and recovered his sweet peace and comfort that I have in him take heed you do by no means interrupt it for it 's long of our selves if at any time we be deprived of it Ver. 6. Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderness like Pillars of smoak perfumed with Mirrhe and Frankinsense with all powders of the Merchant q. d. Who is this and how unknown for her worth and excellency to the World 1 Iohn 3. 1. that forsaking in her affliction and leaving this world which is as barren of any vertue or piety as any Wilderness Isa. 40. aspireth and mounteth up in her desires towards Heaven which desires of hers are as sweet and acceptable unto me as the sweetest incense and perfumes that are in the World 2 Cor. 5. 1 4. Ver. 7. Behold his Bed which is Solomons q. d. Is it marvail my dear Lord though my desires and affections be thus carried up towards Heaven there is thy Bed the place where I shall ever enjoy thy company and solace my self in thy love 2 Cor. 5 6 8. Phil. 1 23. Thes. 4. 17. Who as thou art indeed the true Solomon so thy Bed doth far exceed in glory and delight the bed of Solomon though it were very glorious threescore valiant men are about it of the valiant of Israel q. d. Though Solomons bed was so guarded by threescore of the choicest for valour of all Israel yet is thy bed O my Lord and Saviour far more glorious for it is attended with 20000 of Angels whereof every one excelleth in strength the mightiest host of men Psal. 68. 17. Dan. 7. 11. Psa. 103. 20. Isa. 37. 36. Ver. 8. They all hold swords being expert in War every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night q. d. And as the valiant men that guard Solomons bed were ever ready with their Weapons to defend him from any treason that might any way be attempted against him in the night so are those glorious and mighty Angels that attend the bed and throne of my Lord and King ever ready prest to do his will and use all their strength and wisdome in his service Ver. 9. King Solomon made himself a Chariot or Bride-bed of the wood of Lebanon q. d. Solomons stately bride-bed was made of the goodly Cedars that grew in Lebanon which was a very durable wood but this bed that I speak of this bed of my Lord and King is far more durable and shall never decay Heb. 11. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 1. Ver. 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 or of the Daughters of Ierusalem Solomons bride-bed was indeed very rich having pillars of Silver the bottom of Gold the covering of Purple all embroidered as it were in the midst paved with needle-work which the daughters of Ierusalem out of their love and duty wrought for him but those heavenly mantions wherein I shall as in his bride-bed continually rest with my Lord and Saviour doth beyond all comparison excell it in riches and glory Rev. 21 11 18 24. Ver. 11. Go forth O ye daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother crowned him in the daies of his espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart q. d. O ye members of the visible Church that live in Zion go forth of your houses and behold King Solomon riding in his Princely Chariot through Ierusalem in great state and glory having on the Crown which his Mother bestowed upon him in the day of his contract which was the day of his greatest joy and consider that all the glory of Solomon was but a Type and representation of the glory and Royal Majestie of my Lord and Saviour Hebrews 2. 7. Rev. 19. 13. Chap. IV. Ver. 1. BEhold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair q. d. Surely O my Spouse whom I dearly love thou art in my eye and estimation admirably fair and beautiful both in respect of that perfect holiness and righteousness of mine which is imputed unto thee and put upon thee as also of the excellent graces of my sanctifying spirit that are inherent in thee thou hast Doves eyes thy Teachers and Ministers whom I have set to be as thine eyes to guide and direct thee are not
therefore whereas thou O Solomon received'st but five parts of the increase of thy Vineyard how fruitful soever it be and are fain to allow a sixth part thereof to them that dress and keep it the whole profit and fruit that my Vineyard my Church doth yeild redoundeth wholly to my Self and my Servants that labour in it work not for themselves but Me alone Ver. 13. Thou that dwellest in the Gardens the Companions hearken to to thy Voyce cause me to hear it q. d. O my dear Church and Spouse who hast thy chief aboad and art most seen in the Assemblies where my people meet together to worship me which both for the pleasantness and fruitfulness are like to the choicest and sweetest Gardens all the faithful which have a most near communion with me and among themselves will hearken unto thy voyce and ministry let me by their prayers and praises and holy confessions they make of my truth wherein thou hast instructed them hear and discern that they have indeed hearkened unto thee for therein shall I take great comfort and delight Ver. 14. Make hast my Beloved and be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices q. d. O my dear Lord and Saviour do thou soon finish these days of sin and misery and be thou like the Roe or young Hart in thy speed in comeing to judgment and gathering together all thine Elect to take them with thee into thy Kingdom which as it is fitly compared unto a Mountain because it is in the highest Heavens so may it be called a Mountain of Spices because there shall be fulness of joy and pleasures for ever more CANTIC I. CHAP. I. Verse 1. THe Song of Songs which is Solomons Ver. 2. O let him joyn his lips to mine And solace mine with his Thy matchless love excelleth wine No Vintage joy like this Ver. 3. The savour thy good Oyntments shed The Odours of thy name The Virgins hearts have ravished And their desires enflame Ver. 4. Draw me we will run after thee Ther 's none but thou can do 't Me hath the King where I would be Into his Chambers brought Thus made glad wee 'l rejoyce therein Thy loves so far above We will remember more than wine Thee do the upright love Ver. 5. You Daughters of Ierusalem I 'm black but comely so Thus both as Ismaels Tents I seem And Solomons Curtains too Ver. 6. Look not upon me cease to gaze Now we so black you see Because the Sun with scorching rayes Hath so discoloured me My Mothers Children me betray'd And in their anger they Me keeper of the Vineyards made But mine neglected lay Ver. 7. My Dearest unto me make known Where thou dost feed thy Flock Where thou dost make them rest at noon ' By what cool stream or rock Lest I should be as one of them That turn aside to those Their Flocks which thy Companions seem But are disguised Foes Ver. 8. O thou whose beauty doth excell All others of thy Sex If this because thou can'st not tell Thy troubled mind perplex Go forth and in those foot-steps tread Those tracts the Flock frequents And thou thy Kids securely feed Besides the Shepherds Tents Ver. 9. My Love I have compared thee Unto those stately Steeds Which in King Pharoahs Charots be So much thy praise exceeds Ver. 10. Thy Cheeks are comely and thy Neck To all that do behold Those with these rows of Jewels deckt This with that chaine of Gold Ver. 11. That thou may'st yet more splendid And more illustrious be shew Borders of gold will we bestow With silver studs on thee Ver. 12. My Spikenard while the King doth sit And entertain his guests At his full Table then of it How is the smell dispers'd Ver. 13. A bundle of refreshing Myrrh To me is my Beloved Hee'st lye betwixt my breasts and there Rest all night un-removed Ver. 14. As Camphire-clusters when they blow Is my Beloved to me As those which in those Vineyards grow Which in Engedi be Ver. 15. Behold thou' rt very fair my Love Behold thou' rt very fair Thou by thine eyes might'st be a Dove So milde and chaste they are Ver 16. All beauties my Beloved show In thee and there are seen Behold thou' rt faire and pleasant too Also our bed is green Ver. 17. The beams which o're our house are laid And every Mansion there Are all of goodly Cedar made Our Rafters are of Firr Chap. II. Ver. 1. A Rose when it doth freshly blow The Sharon-Rose am I The Lillie of the Valley too And all their praise out-vie Ver. 2. And as the Lillies to the briers When these encompass this So my fair Love when she appears Amongst the Daughters is Ver. 3. As the fair fruitful Apple-tree Amongst the Forrest ones Soe's my Beloved such is he Compared with the Sonnes Under his shaddow I sat down Where my delight surpast And his rare fruit before unknown Was sweet unto my tast Ver. 4. He brought me to his Banquet-house For entertainments made And love was over me his Spouse The Banner he displaid Ver. 5. Stay me with Flagons stay me soon With Apples O remove These fainting fits or ere I swoon For I am sick of Love Ver. 6. Under my head when I take rest He doth his left hand place And with his right hand o're my breast He doth me fast embrace Ver. 7. You Daughters of Ierusalem I by the Rose and Hind Adjure you and by all of them The fields have of their kind Now my Beloved takes his ease That you due silence keep Nor stir him up until he please Nor once disturb his sleep Ver. 8. 'T is my Beloved's voyce I hear Behold he 's coming still Leaping upon the Mountains there Skipping from hill to hill Ver. 9. Like a swift Roe is my Belov'd Like a young Hart he is Loe he behind our wall remov'd Looks through the Lattices Ver. 10. To me then my Beloved spake Rise up and do not stay 'T is time to rise my Love awake My fair one come away Ver. 11. For loe the Winter now is past Which was so sharp and sore The threatning rains which fell so fast Are gone clean blown o're Ver. 12. The flourie spring adorns the Earth Birds sing in shadie groves The Turtles 't is a time of mirth Now murmur to their loves Ver. 13. Fig-trees put forth green Figgs likewise Vines tender grapes and they Smell O how sweet my Love Arise My fair one come away Ver. 14. My Dove who in the Rock dost bide Within the clifts immur'd Who dost within the stairs reside There secretly obscur'd Thy countenance to me disclose Thy voice to me advance For sweet is thy melodious voice Comely thy countenance Ver. 15. For us the ravening Foxes take Spare neither old nor young Which of our Vines such havock make For they have Grapes begun Ver. 16. He who is my Beloved indeed Is mine and I am his The place
doe send forth is far better than can be resembled by the most fragrant Spices that be in the world Ver. 11. Thy Lips O my Spouse drop as the Honey comb Honey and Milk are under thy tongue q. d. Thy speech O my beloved in thy Teachers and Ministers is most sweet and pleasant yea thy doctrine which is under thy tongue ready to come forth is both for the wholesome nourishment it yieldeth to the little Ones like Milk and from the virtue that is in it to preserve thee from corruption like Honey And the smell of thy Garments is like the smell of Lebanon and thy very garments that which is outwardly to be seen of men in thy whole conversation is for the sweetness and the comfort it yeildeth unto others like to the smell of those fragrant Trees of spices that grow in Lebanon Ver. 12. A Garden inclosed is my Spouse my Sister a Spring shut up a Fountain sealed My Church which is most dear unto me as being united unto me by all the nearest Bonds that may be is both a Garden full of the Trees of Righteousness Isa. 61. 3. bearing all the most wholesome and pleasant fruits of holiness and righteousness and a Spring and Fountain wherein the water of life floweth and runneth continually Yea she is as a Garden enclosed and Fountain shut up and sealed being fenced and protected by my power who am as a wall of fire about her to keep her from the rage of cruel Enemies Iob 1. 10. Zac. 2. 5. which like the wild Boars and Beasts of the field might waste devour her keeping out also by her censures and discipling the filthy and prophane from defiling those holy things which I have trusted her withall the knowledg and comfort whereof is not come unto all but hid and shut up from most men and opened only unto such as my Father is pleased to reveal them unto Ver. 13. Thy plants are as an Orchard of Pomegranets with pleasant fruits Champhire and Spikenard Ver. 14. Spikenard and Saffron Calamus and Cynamon with all Trees of Frankinsence Myrrh and Aloes with all the chief Spices q. d. the plants that grow in this garden the Persons that are members of my Church specially such as are publick Persons in it are for this comely order that they keep among themselves and for the pleasant Trees and manifold vertues that are to be found in the fruits they yield like unto an Orchard of Pomgranates yea all the fruit that grows in this Garden the graces of my spirit which abound in all my people which I have planted in mine house do delight me more then all the sweet spices in the World can do the sences of any mortal men Ver. 15. A Fountain of Gardens a Well of living Waters and streams of Lebanon q. d. All this excellency O my Lord and Saviour which thou art pleased to ascribe unto and commend in me alas is none of mine but such as I have wholly received from thee alone All these my Trees and Plants which bear such pleasant fruits as they are altogether of thy planting so with thy watering them continually with thy grace and blessings they become so fruitful as thy are for thou art unto all my Gardens i. e. my particular Assemblies and Congregations through the Abundance of thy grace and gifts of thy spirit not only as a Fountain which somtimes by the extreamity of the heat in Summer is wont to be dryed up but as a well which being deep is better fenced from the Sun yea as a well of such waters as is fed with a spring continually issuing yea thou art like unto those streams which run from the spring in the great Hill Lebanon Ver. 16. Arise thou North Wind and come thou South-wind blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out let my Beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruit O let the spirit of God which is in operation like unto the North and South-wind binding and opening drying and moystening so work with his Ordinances in my Soul that I may abundantly bring forth such fruits as he may delight in and let my dear Lord and Saviour come and be in the mid'st of the Assemblies of his Saints which are his own Gardens and Vineyards planted watered and dressed by his own hand and accept of the Services of fruits and obedience which his Saints do there offer unto him which as they are wholly his own he is pleased to express great delight in Chap. V. Ver. 1. I Am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse I have gathered my Myrrh with my Spices I have eaten my Honey-comb with my Honey I have drunk my Wine with my Milk eat O Friends Drink yea drink abundantly O Beloved q. d. Doubt not thou of my presence with thee O my Beloved I am ever with my people assembled in my name and have already taken notice of and delighted my self greatly in the graces and fruits of my spirit that I have discerned in them and not only in those that come from such of thy members as are eminent and excellent in gifts like to Myrrh and Spices and Wine but even in them that proceed from the meanest and weakest of all my people like to Honey Honey-combs and Milk and as I my self am thus delighted and refreshed with the fruits of my spirit in my people so ye my Friends my Ministers that wooe for me and faithfully labour to draw my peoples affections to me as Io. 3. and ye my holy Angels whose Ministry likewise I use in furthering this work let this be your delight and joy also to see my people bring forth such fruit Ver. 2. I slept but my heart waked it is the voyce of my beloved that knocketh saying open to me my Sister my Love my Dove my Un-defiled my Head is filled with the dew and my Locks with the drops of the night q. d. I grow carnally secure yet was I not in a dead sleep for my heart even then was awake the mortal seed remained in me neither did I yeild to my security with the full sway of my Soul for in this my spiritual sencelesness and carelesness I did discern the voyce of my dear Lord and Saviour who when I was thus forgetful of him forgot not me but sought unto me and called upon me yea with great importunity by his word and spirit knocked at the door of mine heart as if in a most loving and affectionate manner he should have said thus unto my Soul O thou that in respect of the unity of nature that is in us and for that we have the same Father Io. 20. 17. Heb. 2. 16 17. art my Sister whom in respect of the sweet familiarity that is betwixt us I account as my special Friend and am ready to reveal all the secrets of my Fathers will unto thou which for thy simplicity and innocency and for that care thou hast to keep thy self
under my head and his right hand should imbrace me q. d. Then will my dear Lord and Saviour wholly rest and repose him in my bosom then shall I enjoy his comfortable and loving embracings and have more full and sweet communion with him then formerly I have had Ver. 4. I charge you O ye daughters of Ierusalem that ye stir not up nor awake my love until he please q. d. I do in most earnest manner require you all ye that profess your selves Members of the visible Church that you do no way by the least aversion disquiet or interrupt this my sweet peace and comfort I have so long as he shall please in his mercy to continue it unto me Ver. 5. Who is this that cometh up from the Wilderness leaning upon her Beloved I raised thee up under the Apple-tree there thy Mother brought thee forth there she brought thee forth that bare thee q. d. Then and in those daies it shall be said of me who or how excellent a person is this that forsaking in her affections and leaving the World which is as barren and uncomfortable to live in as any wilderness Isa. 40. 3. and renouncing the pleasures and delights of it resteth wholly on her beloved Lord and Saviour I have not now of late begun to love thee O my dear Lord and Saviour but I raised thee up and laying hold on thee by faith stirred up thy love towards me even under that Apple Tree where after I had by the subtilty of the Serpent destroyed my self the Lord restored me to life by that gratious promise Gen. 3. 15. In that place and that time wert thou first by faith formed in the womb of the Catholick Church Gal. 4. 19. and brought to light Ver. 6. Set me as a Seal upon thine heart as a Seal upon thine arm for love is strong as death jealousie is cruel as the grave the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame q. d. be thou never unmindful of me but let me be as the impression of a Seal both in thine heart and in thine eye continually for love requires love and my love to thee is so Ardent and strong that I can no more resist it then a man is able to resist and withstand Death it self against which it a were a solly for any to strive and contend and my jealousie lest any should bereave me of thy love or any thing alienate thy affection from me consumeth me like the grave in which respect also it 's like to the hottest fire the most fumous and raging flame that devours all Ver. 7. Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it if a man would give all the Substance of his house for love it would be utterly contemned q. d. yea my love to thee is is not only so ardent and strong but durable and unchangeable no floods of persecution and affliction shall ever be able to quench it nor if all the delights and pleasures of the World should be offered me to draw away my love from thee I would utterly despise them Ver. 8. We have a little Sister and she hath no breasts what shall we do for our Sister when she shall be spoken for q. d. We have the Church of the Gentiles which in the eternal Council of God is our Sister and is yet in her non-age not ripe for marriage being unable through the want of thy serving Ordinances to bring forth or nourish any Children unto thee when the time shall come that she shall grow riper in years and her friends shall set her forth and speak for her as the manner is to do for Maids to be bestowed in Marriage i. e. when the time shall come that God in his decrees hath set for her calling and conversion and when all the faithful shall labour by their prayers to further it what shall we do for her what wilt thou out of the richness of thy wisdom and grace and what shall I when thou wilt be pleased to use me as thine instrument in this work do to increase and adorn her Ver. 9. If she be a Wall we will build upon her a Palace of Silver and if she be a door we will inclose her with boards of Cedar q. d. If the Church shall enjoy the benefit and defence of a good Government we i. e. I by thy Ministry will make it a glorious Church like to a stately and sumptuous Palace meet for the King of Glory to dwell in if she shall for a time want the benefit and have only the help of the sound doctrine of Salvation through faith in me who am the door whereby mine Elect enter into the Kingdom of grace and glory Io. 10. 7 9. then will we so strongly inclose and fence this doctrine by my providence and powerful assistance of my Spirit as it shall never decay nor the gates of Hell prevail against it Ver. 10. I am a wall and my breasts like Towers then was I in his eyes as one that found favour q. d. O my dear Lord and Saviour let this thy promise be fulfilled to the new estate of thy Church for fore-seeing by Faith and being fully assured of that glorious and blessed estate I shall be in at that time when the Gentiles shall be called as if it were already come to pass I do in thankfulness and joy of heart profess and glory that I am for the strength and defence I have through the government thou hast established in me as a strong Wall and my Ministry by which as by breasts I nourish my Children is through the abundance of the sincere Milk of the Word wherewith it is furnished like unto great Towers in respect whereof I shall be most acceptable unto thee and thine affection and favour shall be increased towards me Ver. 11. Solomon had a Vineyard in a most fruitful place even at Baal-hamon a place that as far exceeds others in fruitfulness as the Lord and Master doth excel in dignity the multitude of his Servants and Followers that are under him he could not dwell in this Vineyard nor keep it and dress it himself but was fain to let it out to others that might keep and dress it yet received he much benefit by this his Vineyard for every of his Tenants and Farmers that did Husband it brought unto him for his Rent 1000 pieces of Silver which amounts unto 125. l. Ver. 12. My Beloved which is mine is before me q. d. But my Church which is my Vineyard is always in my sight I dwell in it my self watch it and dress it my self and put it not forth to others though I use the help and ministry of my Servants both in planting and watering of it in watching keeping dressing of it yet am I with them alwaies my self as the Chief and Master-Work-man and do encrease strengthen and bless their labours work with and by them if I be from them they can do nothing And
and pleasure in thee O thou that art not only beloved of me but even my Love I love nothing else but thee nor can ever be weary of loving thee as I am even in a vehement admiration thereof and can find no terms or comparisons sufficient to express it Ver. 7. This thy Stature is like to a Palme-Tree and thy Breasts to clusters of Grapes q. d. Thou art in thy whole body like to the Palme-Tree which besides the pleasant fruit it beareth cannot be kept from growing or flourishing by any waight or burden that is laid upon it no affliction or persecution can hinder thy growth but it will rather cause thee to flourish the more Psal. 92. 12 14. Thy Ministers and Teachers are for their comfort that their Doctrine worketh in the hearts of my people and for the plenty and abundance of fruit which they do yeild fitly compared unto clusters of Grapes Ver. 8. I said I will go up to the Palm-Tree I will take hold of the boughs thereof now also thy Breasts shall be as clusters of the Vine and the smell of thy nose like Apples q. d. I resolved with my self when I saw how thou dost flourish and how fruitful thou art to dress and prune thee that thou mayest be more fruitful and to gather and refresh my self with the pleasant fruits of holiness and righteousness which thou bringest forth yea I will also in joyning my self unto thee bless thee causing thy Teachers to abound yet more and more in the fruitfulness and comfort of their Doctrine and making such a sent and savour to come from thee as shall like the pleasant Apples refresh the spirits of my people that are ready to faint Ver. 9. And the roof of thy mouth like the best-Wine for my Beloved that goeth down sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak q. d. And the uttering and delivering of thy Doctrine by the Preaching of my Ministers shall be for the comfort and benefit of my beloved ones like unto the best and strongest wine not only for the sweetness and delight they shall take in it but for its force and opperation also for it shall waken and revive such as are even in a dead sleep of sin and cause them to shew and declare it by speaking the language of Canaan to the praise and glory of God Isa. 35. 6. Ver. 10. I am my Beloveds and his desire is towards me q. d. Is it so that notwithstanding all my weakness corruptions that thou esteemest of me Well then I do fully believe in my heart and profess with my mouth that I am my Beloveds dear Spouse his body flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone yea that I am not my own but wholly at his will and command to serve and obey him and his desire and his care and affection is wholly set upon me and bent for my good Ver. 11. Come my Beloved let us go forth into the field let us lodg in the Villages q. d. Let us O my dear Lord and Saviour go together with patience and diligence using our joynt-endeavours to do our spiritual Husbandry upon such of thine Elect as are abroad in the world and do not yet inhabit the City of our good nor are Members of his visible Church Ver. 12. Let us get up early to the Vineyards let us see if the Vine flourish whether the tender grape appear and the Pomegranets bud forth there will I give thee my Love q. d. Let us with speed and diligence comfort and visit all those Nations and people whom God in his Council and decree hath determined to call and make his Church in whom though they yet bear no fruit unto him he doth already by his grace work some aptness and readiness to receive and embrace the means of their Salvation and to bring forth the pleasant fruits of righteousness to God let us I say use the means with all diligence that they may be called and converted and with patience expect fruit from them There will I give thee my loves q. d. there and among the people whether this be meant of the calling of the Gentiles in the Apostles days or of the conversion of the Jews thou shalt more fully enjoy me and beget Children of me unto God then ever yet thou did'st Ver. 13. The Mandrakes give a smell at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my Beloved Let us the rather do this because the time is even come that those thine Elect which are yet without thy visible Church should be called and made fruitful unto God those among them that will not only bear fruit themselves but also provoke others to do the like do even as it were already begin to shew themselves yea the fruits of righteousness and holiness of all sorts which we take pleasure in are even at our gates ready for us to receive and refresh our selves withal which the Nations are apt to yield upon the Husbandry we shall do upon them and means we shall use for their Conversion yea the fruits of the Gospel which these Nations shall yeild are even the chiefest dainties which I have laid up and reserved for thee O my dear Lord and Saviour Chap. VIII Ver. 1. O That thou wert as my Brother that sucked the breasts of my Mother when I should find thee without I would kiss thee yet I would not be despised q. d. O that the day were come wherein thou by taking our nature upon thee shall become my Brother Heb. 2. 11 14. and make thy self under the same Law that we are subject to submitting thy self to all the Ordinances whereby my Mother the holy Catholick Church doth give suck and nourishment unto her children then would I more openly and familiarly converse with thee and testifie both my homage and love unto thee and yet and yet so clearly that thy glory shall be manifested to the world as all men shall count thee worthy of that duty I shall do unto thee and not despise me for it Ver. 2. I would lead thee and bring thee to my mothers house who would instruct me I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my Pomegranate q. d. Then would I when thou hast first revealed thy self unto me and vouchsafed me the honour that by my means thou shouldst first be made known to the Gentiles bring thee forth by publishing thy Gospel unto all Nations into the Assemblies and solemn Meetings of the universal Church whose daughter I am where I shall be more fully instructed in thy will then hitherto I have been then would I entertain thee with a royal feast of the manifold and divers graces of thy people wherein I know thou would take more delight then any man taketh in the wine that is most delicately spiced or in the most comfortable juice of the Pomgranate Ver. 3. His left hand should be