we may read How beautifull are thy goings c. Sometimes by the feet are meant sound affections as in Eccles 4. but here we may take it for her obedience and faith and walking in the truth being now set free by the Sonne as in John 8. 32. walking in the liberty of Christ Gal. 5. 1. And it 's added How beautifull are thy feet with Shooes To goe bare-footed was a signe of Captivity and affliction Isa 20. 4. 2. Sam. 15. 30. And when the Lord mentions his favours to the Church he saith I shod thee with Badgers skin Ezek. 16. 10. The feet of those that preach the Gospell are said to be beautifull Rom. 10. 15. So here the Spouse in her returne to Christ is said to be also beautifull being as it were shod with the preparation of the Gospell Ephes 6. 15. By the knowledge and obedience of which she is set in the way of Christ whereby her feet and goings are beautifull and glorious Hence Observe That the Saints in their returning to and walking in Christ are very beautifull and glorious in their goings It is a glorious thing to walke in Christ to walke in the Spirit those that thus walke are said To make straight paths for their feet Heb. 12. 13. Sin is called our owne wayes and crooked wayes that are not good but to walke in Christ and in the spirit is to walke in beautifull paths When we walke in darknesse and bondage we walke as it were without shooes bare-footed but when we walke in the knowledge and counsell of God then we walke as it were with shooes being shod with the preparation of the Gospell Thus much for the glory of her walkings her honour is yet further set forth in that it 's said O Princes Daughter The Hebrew Bath-nadeb signifieth Daughter of the beautifull or Of the Prince or noble then we may read O bounteous Princes Daughter Princes are named bountifull as being free liberall and willing to doe good to others To be a Sonne of Belial is to be of a wicked disposition Deut. 13. 13. And to be the Sonne of a Noble is to be of an ingenuous and noble disposition Eccles 10. 17. Hereby is noted that the Spouse is of a Noble race of a free disposition ready to communicate to others of the grace she hath received Hence Observe That the Saints are of a noble parentage and disposition These are they which are not borne of blood nor of the will of man nor of the flesh but of God John 1. 13. The Spouse is called the Kings Daughter Psal 45. The word which dwelleth in us is called the word of the Kingdome because it brings a Kingdome with it and the Saints are called Children of the Kingdome The Kings Daughter is to be borne not according to the flesh but according to the promise like Isaac which was Heire to Abraham in his house whereas Ishmael and his Mother were cast out of doors The Apostle affirmeth that the Saints are not Children of the Servant but of the free woman And John saith We are born of God and his seed remaineth in us 1 John 3. 9. As by seed man is borne of carnall conception so by the Spirit he is born of spirituall regeneration And as the Saints are of an honourable birth so they are of a noble ingenuous disposition they are free and ready to communicate When the restauration of glory is promised to the Church it is said that Nabal the foole or vile person should no more be called Nadib liberall or bountifull Isa 32. 5. That is the fool or vile person shall no more be called a Prince or one that is bountifull but he shall be called such as he appears to be in his Villany Thus much for the commendations of the feet of the Spouse with the Epithite given her O Princes Daughter now followeth the praise of her Thighs in the next words The joynts of thy Thighs are like Jewells the worke of the hands of a cunning work-man The Originall word here Translated joynts is not found elsewhere in Scripture it signifieth turnings or things that doe compasse about Some understand it of the Girdle wherewith the Spouse was girded which they did use to weare in old time lower by much then we doe even upon their Thighs as appears by Psal 45. 3. Or about the loynes as Mat. 3. 4. And the Apostle useth the same phrase when he saith Gird up the loynes of your mind and be sober 1 Pet. 1. 13. And Paul exhorteth to have Our loins girded about with truth Ephes 6. 14. But we may rather take the Thighs to be the bones that turne and move in the hollow of the Thighs these may be taken for the whole Spouse and all her parts every part having in it comelinesse beauty glory and strength noting the upright goodly and glorious stature and gesture of the Spouse who walketh in a due and comely posture These her Thighs Are like Jewells Jewells are very fine and costly if we refer it to the Girdle it shews the finenesse and sumptuousnesse of it but if to the Thighs then it notes they were neat and comely It 's added The worke of the hands of a cunning work-man The Hebrew Aman signifies fidelity and skillfullnesse in his workmanship So we may read it The worke of the hands of a cunning Artificer or faithfull Craftsman this is added to note the excellency of the work or frame of the Spouse even like unto Jewells that have most cunning and curious workmanship bestowed upon them such is the glory comelinesse and beauty of the Spouse and of her particular members Hence Observe That the frame and proportion of the Spouse with all her particular members is very beautifull and glorious It 's like the curious workmanship of some cunning Artificer in Jewells and precious stones curiously cut and wrought out The Churches proportion gesture stature walkings and conversations is the divine and gracious workmanship of God The worke of his hands Isa 60. 21. So that God himselfe is the chiefe Artificer to frame this heavenly work upon the soul As Bezaliel and Aholiab were filled with the Spirit of God in wisdome understanding knowledge and Workmanship to find out curious works to worke in gold and silver and the art to set stones for the making of the Tabernacle and the Mercy-seat and Aarons Garments So the Lord by his glorious Spirit doth make his Spouse a more beautifull frame then Aaron was by that divine work of Spirit life and glory that he frames and sets up in the soules of his It followeth VERS 2. Thy Navell is like a round Goblet which wanteth not liquor Thy Belly is like an heap of Wheat set about with Lillies THe Spouse being before commended for her walking in the Gospell and in the truth of Jesus she is now further praised for her propagating the glorious truth to others and therefore she is here compared to a woman conceiving and nourishing her
there is a secret dislike of it so saith the Apostle For that which I doe I allow not for what I would doe that I doe not but what I hate that I doe Rom. 7. 15. 3. The will suspends it's actings in dubious things when it knows not whither a thing be good or evill it suspendeth and when it knows not whether such a thing be truth or errour it will suspend it 's either choosing or refusing of it it will not venture in the dark like unto the unregenerate will but suspendeth it's actings because whatsoever is not of faith is sin Quest Whether the regenerate will may not choose that which is evill and be unwilling to that which is good Answ 1. The regenerate will cannot will any evill fully and compleatly So saith the Apostle what I doe I would not But there may be a kind of veleity or willingnesse to evill but not a compleat will even as corrupt nature may have a kind of veleity to that which is good as a corrupt regenerate man may have some kind of willingnesse to do a good action but hee never wills the good of the action his will to good is therefore incompleat and so it is with the regenerate will in respect of evill it never wils evill as it is evill it goes not out with full purpose and consent 2. The holy will cannot properly refuse anything that is good because it is it 's proper object but the will that 's good may be so much depressed and kept under by temptation or by desertion and such like distempers that it cannot draw it selfe up to the height of it's actings so that there is not that agility strength and vigour as there is when it acts more strongly but however it wil 's good truly and it goes forward still though not with that vigour and eagernesse as if otherwise it would Put though the will of the regenerate be set free unto good yet wee must so understand it that the regenerate will cannot doe good of himselfe Hence it is the Church desireth that Christ would draw her continually without whose help shee is not able to runne after him Where grace over-swayes the heart there is a readiness to obey and constantly to follow Christ but so as it always proceedeth from Gods spirit leading and drawing forth of the will even as a Mother by leading her child causeth it to goe which otherwise could not so the Lord draws forth leads and directs our affections according to the actings and good pleasure of his owne spirit our wills are but instruments for the holy Ghost and can doe nothing without the breathings in of his spirit upon them This the Apostle testifies of himselfe I am able to do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. And again he saith He that hath begun his good worke in you he will also finish it untill the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 6. We cannot work that which is good with grace received unlesse there be the continuall flowings in of Christ's Spirit to carry forth the soul in it's workings So that free grace is in the beginning middest and end of all our workings Herein we are made happy without any merit that wee should be unto the praise and glory of the riches of his free grace 3. Observe The life of a Christian is as the running of a race 1. The whole life of a Christian is here termed a running and by the Apostle called a race 1 Cor. 9. 24. And again saith hee I have finished my course 2 Tim. 4. 7. 2. In respect of the readinesse of the minds and affections of the Saints they are said to delight in the law of the Lord Psalm 1. 2. The word Chephets is voluptas prompta voluntas a delightfull and ready will as one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Voluit optavit desideravit delectatus bene affectus fuit placuit complacuit that taketh abundance of joy delight in that which he doth it is to embrace with love and good will yea with a pleasurable love and an affectionate will and desire unto a thing Hence the Lord promiseth to call the Church Chephtsabah that is my pleasure in her Isa 42. 4. And so David saith of the Saints Cheptsiham that is my pleasure in them Psal 16. 3. And so Eis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. in Psal 111. 2. The workes of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein This denotes to us the election of the will the readinesse of the affections and the complacency and delight of the heart of a Christian in walking with Christ the wayes of Christ yeeld nothing but pleasure and delight to a gracious heart 3. In respect of speedy performance of actions Satans industrious compassing the earth caused Job to send speedily for his children to sacrifice unto the Lord Job 1. 5. And it is said Abraham rose up early in the morning and sadled his asse c. when he was to offer up his son a Sacrifice And David saith I will runne the way of thy commandements Psal 119. 32. And in vers 60. I made hast and delayed not to keepe thy commandements or I distracted not my selfe to wit with the cares profits pleasures of this life Agreeable hereunto is that of Paul when he was called by God to preach the Gospel among the Heathen he saith I conferred or I consulted not with flesh and bloâ—d Gal. 1. 16. That is I did not consult with carnall reason or with fleshly arguments but was obedient to the heavenly revelation or vision 4. The Saints run in respect of perseverance hence saitht the Apostle So runne that yee may obtain 1 Cor. 9. 24. Which implyeth there be some that run which do not obtain but the Saints do renew or change their strength Isa 40. 31. That is when they are weak and feeble they shal have a new supply of spiritual strength from Christ the fountain of strength whereby they shall runne or persevere to the end and not be weary The Apostles hearty perswasion and confidence is That he who hath begun a good worke in the Philipians will perfect it untill the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 6. And to this purpose saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 23. You are renewed not of mortall seed but of immortall by the word of God which abideth for ever And 1 Joh. 3 9. He that is born of God sinneth not because the seed of God remaineth in him nor can be sinne because he is born of God That is he that hath the immortall seed of God's word and spirit within him cannot notwithstanding his infirmities finally faile or give over his hope but shall persist and persevere in faith and holinesse 5. The Saints run in respect of their strength having received a new principle of life from Christ by which they are enabled for all things They that want upon the Lord renew change or double their
tâ—es but the traditions of men as appeareth by ver 22 23. opinions and with the traditions of men you do but mancipate and enslave your consciences in subjecting of them to humane ordinances This oppression of the Saints is a spirituall-bondage typified by the Aegyptian bondage Pharaoh's Task-masters were cruell oppressors of the Jewes so are all spirituall Task-masters which would compell the Saints to worke in their Vinyards and to bear the heat of their indignation and wrarh which is more then the heate and burthen of the day 2. In that the Church is called the Lords vineyard and the false Church and false members are in opposition to the Church of Christ called the vinyards Observe hence The Church is the Lords husbandry Thus Christ comparing his Church to a vineyard calleth himselfe the vine his members the branches and his Father the Husbandman John 15. 1 2. I am the vine and my Father is the husbandman every branch in me c. By this kind of phrase we are taught that the Saints are by the Father spiritually ingraffed into Christ as the branch in the Vine and by vertue of their implantation in him they become the trees of righteousnesse bearing fruit of holinesse by the working of his Spirit in their hearts So the Lord speaks in Jer. 2. 21. I planted thee a noble vine The Lord had taken in the Nation of the Jewes from the world to make it his Vinyard on whom he had bestowed many vinyard-mercies as we may see in Isa 5. 1 2. My beloved Church of the Jewes hath a vineyard in a very fruitfull hill or in the horn of the sonne of oyle that is in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sepivit maceria munivit a rich and fat soile and he fenced it or made a wall about it He by his power defended them against their enemies round about and he gathered out the stones thereof As if the Lord had said I removed those enemies of yours out of the Land or I gave you meanes to cast out them that offend out of the congregation And planted it with the choisest vine or Sorek which is a kind of the best and most laudable vine of all And I built a tower and also made a wine presse in it A tower for watch-men to look to the Vineyard to wit the Prophets and good Kings and a Wine-press to presse the grapes of the Vineyard by which is signified to us the Temple where they offered up their Sacrifices the blood of the Sacrifice being powred out was like the pressing out of the juice of the grape Thus the Lord fitly resembles his Church to a vineyard God hath like an excellent Husbandman enclosed a vineyard and set Christ as the vine in whom all the Saints are implanted and by the shining sun of love and the Howing forth of his Spirit as water he makes his pleasant vinyard a fruitfull garden where he delights to see his own pleasant fruits But my owne Vineyard I have not kept That vineyard which was given me in trust and committed to my charge Hence observe That G O D doth intrust his Church with heavenly treasures The Church calls it her vineyard because the Lord did intrust her with those heavenly mysteries which shee was made to partake of Christ saith to his Disciples to you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdome of heaven but not unto others Matth. 13. 11. And saith God Shall I hide from Abraham my counsell The Lord doth intrust his people with precious jewels and with rich treasures of knowledge and revelation of his grace and spirit hee puts a large stock into their hands he lends them talents he makes them his Stewards of all his Laws and Ordinances Hee hath given his law unto Iacob he hath not dealt so with every nation Ps 147. 20. God had not intrusted any other Nation with his Laws and Ordinances as he did them 2. Note That it is a great evill to be negligent in those things wherewith God hath betrusted us This is that of which the Church complains of here and one of the reasons which shee giveth of her blacknesse my owne vinyard I have not kept This is verified in him that received a talent and hid it in the earth Mat. 25. 18. 28. To be negligent in the Lords trust is to be like the unjust Steward spoken of in Luke 16. 1. which wasted his Masters goods but his Lord called him to an account Now when we shall leave Christ to follow Antichrist when we leave God for man when we leave Divine Ordinances for humane Traditions when we leave the substance of Christ's will and follow the empty huske of mans fancie we greatly dishonour God and Christ we give away Christs honour to man we set man in Christs Throne now there is no greater evill then to lift up the Creature and depresse the Creator Thirdly in that the Church brings her neglect as a cause of her blacknesse Observe That the evill of sin is seen in the evill effects that it brings forth Here we see the evill of neglecting of Gods trust in the Churches blacknesse We may see the evill of unfruitfullnesse in Isa 5. 2. 5. 6. I looked for Grapes saith God and it brought forth wild Grapes But what is the effect I will tell you saith God what I will doe with my Vineyard I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up and I will breake downe the wall thereof and it shall be troden downe and I will lay it wast and it shall not be pruned nor digged but there shall come up Briars and Thornes and I will also command the clouds that they raine no raine upon it Here is nothing but blacknesse and deformity and we have a complaint of the Church to this purpose in Lam. 1. 18. The Lord is righteous but I have sinned against his Commandement but what is the effect Behold is there any sorrow like to my sorrow my Virgins and my young men are gone into captivity And in Vers 17. Zion spreadeth her hands and there is none to comfort her We might read their sin in their punishment and so God may justly let his people be oppressed by their oppressours when they first yeild unto them in matters of worship and service Lastly in that the false Church and false members are called a Vineyard as well as the true Church and members Observe That those Enemies and false Brethren that afflict the Church they will come as near the Saints in outward forme and worship as possible they can And in this respect the false Church is called a Vineyard as well as the true And so they that serve Baal will offer Sacrifice as well as they that serve the Lord. Balaam went to meet the Lord as well as the trne Prophets Antichrist sits in the Temple of the Lord as well as Christ sits upon his Throne Hence it is the Lord reprehended the people of Israel
Christ far excelleth all the great ones of the world for beauty sweetnesse and comfort So is my beloved among the sonnes c. Christ was the first-borne of God and therefore he was set above all the Kings of the Earth Psal 89. 28. The first borne among the Jewes was the principall and had three prerogatives first a double portion of goods Deut. 21. 17. Secondly the rule or government 2 Chron. 21. 3. Thirdly the Priest-hood Numb 8. 14. 15. Now Christ is called the first-borne of God to shew that he is to be worshipped and honoured above all things he is said to be the first-borne of every creature and the first-borne of the dead that in all things he might have the pre-eminence Col. 2. 15. 18. And therefore was to be worshipped of all the Angells of God Heb. 1. 6. And is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Revel 1. 5. Thus much for the comparison it selfe now followeth the fruits or effects thereof I sat downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was pleasant unto my tast Here the Church declareth the fruit of Christs shaddow and fruitfulnesse and withall expresseth her earnest affection that she hath to be kept under Christs power and under his protection from persecution and affliction Vnder his shadow c. This comfortable shadow is the shield of protection and defence The tree shaddoweth from the heat of the Sun so Christ shadoweth from the wrath of God and from the persecutions of men The shaddow of Aegypt that we read of in Isa 30. 2. and the shadow of Heshbon Jer. 48. 45. signifie the defence wherein men trusted now such a shadow of defence is Christ unto his people I sat downe with great delight We may read the words thus I much desired that I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Desidera vit optavit cupivit concupivit might sit c. The forme of the Hebrew word doth increase the signification so that it noteth a continuall and fervent desire of that which is pleasing delightfull or profitable so that the sence is as much as this I did much please and delight my selfe to sit under his shadow c. By siting is meant abiding or resting as in Psal 91. 1. He shall lodge or abide under the shadow of the most high The shaddow of a tree is comfortable and doth refresh those that are parched with the boyling heat of the Sun The Church is under hot persecutions being in the world as a lilie among thornes she is also under wrath reveiled by the Law therefore she taketh so much delight under Christs shaddow in him she findeth rest and peace and therefore she siteth downe and remaineth under his shaddow because he hath delivered her from the wrath to come 1 Thess 1. 10. In whom she hath peace though in the world she hath tribulation John 16. 33. now she proceedeth to an other fruit of his goodnesse And his fruit was sweet to my tast The Church acknowledgeth that she is not delivered only from evill but made partaker of his goodnesse Fruits signifie graces and good workes Mat. 3. 8. and Gal. 5. 22. and they also signifie a comfortable reward Psal 58. Prov. 27. 18. but here wee may take them for the words and workes of Christ First Christ's words are sweet for David cries out most pathetically saying How sweet are thy speeches to my palate beyond hony unto my mouth Psal 119. 103. The Jewes confesse That never man spake like him and Peter saith Lord thou hast the words of eternall life Joh. 6. 68. Secondly Christ's workes are sweet his worke of incarnation taking our nature upon him his worke in our nature killing of sinne by his death and resurrection and all the fruits of them which are communicated unto us by the Gospel his glorious ascension in our nature leading captivity captive and giving spirituall gifts unto men his sitting at the right hand of Majesty in our nature making continuall intercession for his people his protection in times of trouble his presence in the middest of persecution in a word all the workes of his mediatourshipp are sweet yea pleasant and pleasure it selfe unto us From the first of these effects Observe That Christ is a shadow of protection unto his people As Trees are a shadow from the hot scorching sun so is Christ a shadow unto his people from the heat of the wrath of God and from the persecutions of the world Thus the Lord promseth in Isa 4. 6. There shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storme and from raine The Lord doth promise by this Tabernacle to be a defence unto them against all dangers and annoyances set forth by allusions as to the cover of the Tabernacle Exod. 36. 19. and the use of the cloud Psal 105. 39. And thus wee have the Prophet saying Thou Lord hast been a strength to the poore a strength to the needy in his distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storme against the wall Isaiah 25. 4. Secondly Observe That the Saints are much delighted and refreshed by this shaddow of Christ's protection I fate downe under his shadow with great delight c. Hence it is that the Psalmist cryeth Hide me from the conspiracie of the wicked and from the rage of the workes of iniquitie Psal 64. 2. This comfortable shadow this sheild of protection the Saints most of all desire in the suns heat of persecution hither they flie as Doves unto their culture house as the Child in the mother lapp Christ was a shadow unto his Church in respect of the weight of her sinnes she being terrifyed with the curse of the Law which herselfe could not beare now under this distresse of mind she flyeth unto Christ for succour to be shrowded and protected by his grace and to be covered by his righteousnesse from that terrible curse When the soule is full of restlesse vexations fluctuating and tumbled up and downe in a whole Ocean of perplexities and fears and can see no shoare no land no creek or haven of comfort then it must into the Arke then it uses the Soliloquie of the Psalmist returne unto thy rest O my soule then it cries out with the blessed Martyr O! none but Christ none but Christ there 's my Arke there 's my rest there 's my refuge there I shall fiinde reliefe and releasement or else no where Christ will be a calme to me after a storme he will dispell and drive away all these clouds he will hold my head above the water and keepe me from sinking he will be light and joy and unspeakable solace after al these distempers thus the poore afflicted soule as a Prisoner of hope as the Prophet speakes Zach. 9. 12. returnes unto Christ as to it 's strong hold Christ is called the propitiat orie Rom. 3.
towards another But to come to the word it selfe sometimes it is used for the name of a man as Genes 10. 4. sometimes for the name of a City or place as in Cilicia Jonah 1. 3. sometimes it is used for the name of a precious stone as here However we take it thus much it signifies that all the works of Christs hands are most rare precious and glorious for we must understand by his Hands not onely his strength and power but also all his works because Christs power is in the performance of them Thus his hands are set forth with all Ornaments and precious stones and shining Rings of gold Hence Observe That all Christs actions are exceeding glorious Hands are instruments of actions all Christs actions are precious It was said in the dayes of his flesh he did all things well for by laying hands upon them that were diseased he healed them He laid his hand upon the Leeper and healed him saying I will be thou cleane Mark 1. 41. So here his works are as glorious still yea and more glorious now though we cannot see the excellency of them in the new Creature and in raigning in our hearts he works gloriously he hath a hand there a golden and a pretious hand The works of God are pure and beautifull yea most precious and that beyond Gold and precious stones yea more glorious then numbers of Rings filled with all manner of precious stones Hence it is that when David would expresse the wonderfull works of God he saith If I would declare and speake of them they are more in number then I can expresse Psal 40. 5. And the Psalmist speaketh by way of admiration saying When I consider the Heavens the works of thy hands the Moone and the Stars which thou hast ordained what is man c. Psal 8. And then concludeth O Lord how excellent is thy name in all the Earth These words are meant of the new creation of the soule as we may see in Heb. 2. though the forme of words are borrowed from the first creation And truely the works of Christ are admirable and full of majesty if we doe but consider them in the course of the Creatures in the Sunne Moone Starres in the growth of Herbs and Plants so in all the Creation in Gubernation and Governement in ordering the event of all things and the like Now as all the Governement of Aegypt went through the hands of Joseph so all the works of God goe through the hands of Christ The Father hath committed all judgement to the hands of his Sonne glorious therefore are the works which he doth performe in Heaven and Earth It followeth His Belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires His belly or Breast she putteth a part for the whole body and by this she meaneth his bowells or his inward parts In Hebrew it is used for inward affections so the heart is said to be among the Bowells in Psal 22. 15. The Liver is joyned with the bowells in Lam. 2. 11. by these are meant the inward affections of the soul To explaine this more she saith that his belly is overlaid with bright Ivory or with the brightnesse of Ivory she meaneth that he was as comely and cleare as the Ivory which is a thing very white and bright made as some say of an Elephants tuske which kind of Beasts are onely in Africa naturally as some hold neither doth she simply compare it to Ivory but addeth overlaid or covered with Saphires that is that which hath most rich and sumptuous cost bestowed upon it Ivory of it selfe because it is a thing rare and far brought must needs be very costly how much more then when it is beset with precious stones yea with most costly and precious stones such as Saphires are Some of the Jewish writers take these Saphires to be such precious stones as are of the colour of the aire some take it to be a white stone some a red stone some take it to be an Adamant some thinke it to be of a blewish colour intermixed with purple having certaine sparks as it were like Gold The best sort of these stones are among the Medes in Media whatever the stone be the meaning of the Spouse is to shew that Christ her head was not onely most comely adorned but also most sumptuously and costly even as Ivory beset with Pearls and most precious stones The bowells of Christ like burnisht Ivory decked with Saphires signifie his inward bowells of affection that tender mercy and pitifull commiseration of his toward his Saints and Children Hence Observe That Christ is full of tender sweet inward and heavenly affections towards his people Christs affections towards his Saints are pure affections like Saphires or precious stones they are pure like the pure water in a Crystall glasse that may be stirred but without any filth appearing in the bottome it is pure without any dregs at all mixt with it Such are Christs affections such are his bowells The Apostles great longing after the Saints is said to be in the bowells of Jesus Christ Phillip 1. 8. Christ is the most mercifull the most pittifull and the most compassionate High-Priest that ever was and therefore it was that he was made like unto us bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh subject to hunger thirst cold wearinesse tentation and the like as we The Apostle saith in Heb. 2. 17. that this was behovefull That he ought in all things to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull High-Priest in things pertaining God c. And againe saith the Apostle Wee have not a High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Heb. 4. 15. So that there was never any Priest so mild so gentle so gracious so loviug so tenderly affectionate and so regardfull of our condition as Christ was Christ is one that can beare with our weaknesse overcome our corruption and give sentence of victory over sin and Satan as we may see in Isa 63. 9. 40. 11. In the Law we read that the High-Priest was to beare the names of the Children of Israel in his Pectorall or Brest-plate upon his heart â—now this did figure and shaddow out unto us the tender love and pitty Christ beares to his people guiding the blind feeding the hungry comforting the comfortlesse restoring such as are out of joynt all is mercy and love and sweetnesse and more then motherly affection that comes from him Hence Christ hath this title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one of many commiserations Jam. 5. 11. It followeth VERS 14. His legs are as Pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold his countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars IN this verse two parts are commended in Christ First his legs Secondly his countenance His legs are as Pillars of marble c. Legs and Thighs may both be here comprehended