the Word and Sacraments but because of Men's corruptions neither is the ground of their uniting into another Church fellowship because of the word of God but the works of Men. Now because they make another ground of Church fellowship which is not the Gospel preferring the abominable works of Men before and beyond the Word and Righteousness of God having nothing to glory in but only in the Act of Separation therefore by the very Act of Separation the Fruits of the Vineyard are lost And this is that which the Bride here toucheth upon and confesseth she did yield too much this way and about this point most that are godly first or last are tottering yet she recovered her self and confesseth that she had rather forsake her Mother's Sons although they be angry with her than by following their Doctrine and way to lose the Fruits of her own Vineyard and purchase the displeasure of her Beloved Therefore let every Man in the Church of God keep to his own Vineyard and do the Lord's work first in looking to himself then in planting the young Vines Also in nourishing those that are planted there is work for every Man to do and God will give a liberal Reward in the end every Man at the last shall have his Penny VERSE VII Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy Flocks to rest at Noon for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the Flocks of thy Companions IN this temptation the Bride sheweth what she did she made her request to her Beloved and to win him to hear and grant her request she calleth him not by such Titles as are usually given to him in Scripture as the Messias or the Anointed of the Lord or the wonderful Councellour but by that Title she felt to be due to him in her own Affections Oh thou whom my Soul loveth Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest I know that where thou feedest there is thy Presence and where thy Presence is there is thy Flock and therefore I pray thee tell me For I am a poor silly Woman thy Spouse and have some Troubles upon me by reason of my Mother's Sons and am many times troubled in Conscience because I do things contrary to my Conscience and cannot tell where to have Peace but in thee therefore I pray thee tell me where thou usest to feed and also makest thy Flocks to rest at Noon What that Doctrine is that is thy People's rest and in what Company of People the Principles of that Doctrine are taught that so even as Shepherds in Countries near the Sun do not only feed their Sheep in fit Pastures but also drive them to shade at Noon So also in the time of Persecution from my Mother's Sons I may know in the heat of the day whither to run to be safe under thy Couch For if thou dost it not I may very much hurt my self by degenerating into a strange Vine for others feed Flocks and make shews to be thy Companions which are but Seducers and Deceivers and why should I be as one that turneth aside following after those Flocks for want of understanding the place where thou art always resident But what is the cause the Church so loveth Christ whom she never saw Quest The cause is Answ because she perceiveth in him the nature and properties of Love for he giveth unto her freely that which she lost in Adam which is deliverance from the Curse and everlasting Condemnation Therefore it is that she loveth him with her Soul and this knowledge she hath by Faith alone and not from her Works for although by Works she manifesteth her Faith before Men yet nothing can evidence Faith to her own Conscience but only Faith it self The last Resolution of Faith is when the Evidence of Works is lost and nothing is left to assure us but the Word alone For nothing can evidence Faith in the last Resolution of it to be Faith but the infusing of Grace into the Soul without precedent preparation but in all Works there must be some precedent Preparative to make them good Now what ever that precedent Preparative is that makes them good Works the same is the Light and Evidence of Faith it self and nothing can evidence Works to us to be good but Faith therefore Faith alone must evidence it self in the last Resolution of Faith it alone being infused into the Soul without any precedent preparation Now Faith is an Evidence because it being a rational Faculty knows what is given us of God and also knows what is by us received And one thing more amongst many is chiefly to be noted The Bride here loveth Christ with her Soul and yet she is ignorant in many things which are also of concernment she knoweth not where he feedeth but scruples she hath about the place nor where to rest her self in the heat of the day nor how to answer something objected against her by Seducers yet she is not dismayed and driven out of her Faith notwithstanding all this but loveth Christ with her Soul Which must comfort those poor wretches that are ignorant in many points that cannot tell how to discourse of high Matters nor to answer many Objections that are made against them by Seducers yet if they know but this one thing that Christ hath given them freely that which they have lost in Adam in this may they rejoyce and by this they may certainly know that they are of the number of Christ's Flock that do pertain to the Bride-bed VERSE VIII If thou know not O thou fairest among Women go thy way forth by the Footsteps of the Flock and feed thy Kids besides the Shepherds Tents THese words are the Answer of Christ to the Churches request wherein he sheweth his Compassion to her although she was ignorant in some things and therefore he answereth her thus If thou knowest not aright the place where I feed yet I account of thee therefore be not dismayed thy Person is in favour for thou art to me the fairest amongst Women therefore hearken to me and follow my direction Go thy way forth by the Foot-steps of the Flock Mark the track of all the Flock that went before thee Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles and other holy Men of God that both knew my voice and followed me and see where they did feed and what they rested on in the heat of the day and when thou hast found the track there feed thy Kids by the Shepherds Tents Christ here termeth his Bride The fairest amongst Women although she hath many imperfections in her and the reason is because he covereth all her deformities with his own Righteousness and Merits therefore he taketh pleasure in her hideth all her stains and blemishes and mentioneth nothing but her fairness and beauty This is contrary to the practice of the World who walk after another Rule who if they see a Man that professeth Religion to
this Virginity of Faith is the Conscience resteth hopeth and rejoyceth in Christ his Saviour and the outward Man joyfully doth good works unto his Neighhour Love thee The holy Ghost here sheweth the reason why the Virgins fall in Love with Christ which is as was said before drawn from the savour of his Ointments The first Commandment is Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart But now the Question is how this Love of God shall be wrought in the Soul that what is commanded in the Law may be attained to That which is here set down resolves this Question Therefore the Virgins love thee Not because of the Law but because of the Gospel So that the Gospel teacheth thee how to attain to all those things which are required in the Law namely To love God and thy Neighbour otherwise thy Obedience is nothing worth This had need be well understood by those in the Ministry lest instead of teaching Men to love God they drive them from God and cause them to hate and abhorr him more than they did before Lest instead of teaching the Passive Obedience which breedeth Love to God they press nothing but the Active Obedience which driveth all Men from God for it breedeth in Men an opinion of Righteousness by the Law which is a Sin directly against the first Commandment Therefore Christ calleth this manner of Teaching a teaching Men to break the Law He that breaketh the least Commandment Mat. 5.19 and teacheth Men so shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven This teacheth Men to break the Law because it establisheth in Men a false opinion of the Law which bindeth all Men under the Curse of God Now to teach Men to break the Law is when no other Righteousness is required to make Men Holy and Righteous in the sight of God and Conscience but only the Righteousness of the Law These are the least least of all accounted in the sight of God and least of all accounted on in the Church of God because they forsake the true and lay another Foundation of Faith and Holiness which is contrary to the testimony of the holy Ghost here and also contrary to the Doctrine of the first Commandment as hath been shewed before VERSE IV. Draw me IT is not here said Command me or Compel me and we will run but draw me This sheweth what Doctrine it is by which the Soul is united to Christ it is not done by pressing or requiring the works of the Law but by giving or infusing into the Soul the Righteousness of the Gospel For the Church is here in heaviness and weariness being not able of her self to go nor stand by reason of her Sin and the greatness of her Affliction by which she is filled with so many fears and perplexities that the Heart is even ready to sink into despair and to conclude that God hath cast it off for ever Now what shall be said to this miserable Woman in this condition that may be sutable in order to her Peace and Comfort Shall it be said go thy way amend thy Life keep the Commandments of God and then thou shalt have full deliverance This is even as for a Malefactor that is condemned by the Law and nothing can help him but Mercy to be sent to his Accuser for help and deliverance This is not to draw the Soul to Christ but to wrap it up in Guilt and Bondage Therefore when thy Conscience is in distress thou must then hear no Law but harken only to the voice of the blessed Son of God which draweth thee to himself not by the Law but by the Gospel which delivereth thee from all thy fears and distresses and settleth thee in a Kingdom of Peace and Joy Christ doth not put the Conscience in fear as the Law doth but speaketh comfortable words to the trembling afflicted Conscience John 8. The poor Woman that was taken in Adultery no doubt was in a trembling and very sad condition when she was so vehemently accused by the Pharisees when they brought her before Christ Master say they this Woman was taken in the very act must she not be stoned For so Moses wrote what sayest thou But Christ maketh no answer to them only writeth with his Finger on the ground and biddeth them He that is without Sin cast the first Stone at her and they being all convicted went out one by one But the Woman stayed and heard Christ No doubt the poor Woman could not chuse but fall in Love with Christ greatly which appeared by her staying until the Pharisees were all gone and none left but only Christ and her self For Christ did not put her in fear neither was she afraid of him but he asked her this Question Woman where are thine Accusers Hath no Man condemned thee She said No Man Lord. And Jesus said Neither do I Condemn thee This was comfortable to the poor Woman that had broken the Seventh Commandment for it is thus much in effect in as much as thou hidest not thy Sin nor flyest away but abidest with me and expect mercy and forgiveness from me therefore behold I will not Condemn thee but forgive thy Sin Go and Sin no more And by this means was this poor distressed Woman drawn to Christ even by the loving and gentle carriage of Christ her Lord For she regardeth not the Accusation of the Pharisees nor yet the Accusations of her own Conscience but listeneth and harkeneth very diligently to the comfortable News that the Gospel bringeth And this is the request of the Bride in this place when she says Draw me and this must we all do when we are in misery and distress even desire to hear and rest upon the blessed voice of the Son of God And we will run after thee That is to say in all times of Misery and Affliction we will make hast after thee Having once found how and after what manner Christ doth draw which is by presenting himself and his merits unto the Conscience in distress against the Accusations of the Law and the fear of God's wrath she finding him to be a Person so gentle and amiable one that will not upbraid her and discomfort her adding Affliction to the Afflicted but that speaketh kindly and friendly to her saith here We will run after thee This running is nothing but with readiness of Affection and speediness of Action to make application of the Promises in time of distress and therefore it is said After thee that is after thee for Succour and Comfort in the time of great Affliction and Misery The KING hath brought me into his Chambers The Church desireth to be drawn before after Christ began to pull her once she ran speedily after him Now here she sheweth whither she was pulled or drawn it was into his Chambers and also by whom she was drawn even by the King the Lord Jesus Christ her Beloved He that might disdain her as a Begger
shall be as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed VERSE II. As the Lilly among thorns so is my love among the Daughters THese are the words of Christ who first sheweth the Church the danger she is like to fall into by reason of her Doctrine she is like the Lilly among the thorns in danger to be scrat and torn in pieces this acceptance she findeth amongst the daughters meaning the Preachers of the Law that draw on works into the Doctrine of justification these in all ages have been the only enemies to the Bride of Christ which did not fear to set upon Christ himself but crucified the Lord of life let any man but stick fast to the righteousness of Faith and hold it forth against them in this one point concerning righteousness by the Law and they will shew themselves First or last to be as thorns in his side And thus the Gospel sendeth fire on the earth but without the Gospel all things are at quiet Also Christ in these words preferreth the Children of the free-woman which he calleth his love far above the Children of the bond-woman which he calleth the Daughters For thus he saith in effect that as the Lilly far surpasseth the thorns both in Nobility and Beauty So doth my love far surpass the Daughters that is is higher in my esteem then those that earnestly require the works of the Law Next as it were an answer to this follow the words of the Bride VERSE III. As the Apple-tree among the trees of the Forrest So is my beloved among the Sons IN which words even as the Bridegroom before did set forth the Bride beyond the Daughters of the bondwoman under the similitude of the Lilly So here the bride doth set forth the excellency of her beloved beyond the Sons of Agar under the similitude of an Apple-tree Now the Apple-tree far surpasseth the trees of the wood which are by nature wild in regard of the goodness of the fruit and also the variety thereof So doth the fruit she says of my beloved far surpass the Sons that is the fruit of all those that first require the works of the Law to be done before a man can be interested in the Gospel this the spouse of Christ cannot relish because it is not the voice of her beloved and therefore she hath the Sons in small account and betaketh her self to her own Apple-tree and feedeth on his fruit the fruit of which tree doth heal the Nations I sate under his shadow with great delight By the shadow of the Apple-tree understand the shadows and figures of Christ in all ages of the Church which being rightly understood are full of heavenly delight A shadow in Divinity representeth something to faith which is absent to sense and reason confirming that to the eye which the word doth to the ear For God hath always made a double Declaration of his bounty for the comfort of sinful man the one is by his word wherein he instructeth us by hearing the other by figures and shadows wherein he instructeth us by seeing And this comes to pass by reason of our wonderful necessity and weakness being not able to comprehend so excellent a mystery as the Gospel without the use of visible helps Therefore Christ instructing Nicodemus in the Doctrine of regeneration Joh. 3. teacheth him by figures to understand the Mystery If I have told you of earthly things and ye beleive not how can ye beleive if I tell you of Heavenly things As much as to say unless you learn to believe by the knowledg of earthly things ye cannot beleive if I tell you of Heavenly things Now by earthly things he meaneth the figures and shadows of Christ in all ages of the Church and begins with Baptism the thing in question then between Christ and Nicodemus So also Circumcision the Passover the Sacrifices the Temple the Tabernacle the Ark and the mercy Seat were all earthly things by which the Jew was to be instructed in his faith These were the patterns of things in the Heavens to lead the Jew to the knowledg of Heavenly things themselves Now therefore as shadows were necessary to instruct the Jew in his Faith in a Christ that was to come So also were some shadows necessary to instruct the gentile in his faith in the Christ that is come Esa 4. And therefore it was promised that in the days of Christs Kingdom there should be a Tabernacle for a shadow which promise was fulfil'd in the coming of John the Baptist For all the Law and the Prophets prophesied until John the Baptist that is till Baptism Now all the Law and Prophets prophesied of a Christ to come Joh. 1.31 But Baptism manifesteth unto us the Christ that is come Now seeing Baptism endeth that faith and Religion which resteth in a Christ to come therefore it beginneth that Faith and Religion which resteth in the Christ that is come And therefore it is said by the Evangelist Mar. 1. that Baptism is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God Because it endeth the former Prophesie of a Christ to come and beginneth that Faith and Religion which resteth in Christ that is come And even as no man could visibly profess the true Religion amongst the Jews unless he were first united to the Jew by Circumcision So no man can so much as profess the true Religion now unless he be first united to the Church through Baptism And as it is the beginning of our entrance into the way of Christianity So it is the beginning of our comfort in the day of distress for even as Christ was present with the Fathers of old as soon as by faith they rightly understood the shadows so Baptism as oft as we fly unto it by faith hath Christ present with all that he is and all that he hath prepared for poor sinners Which spiritual coming of Christ into the Soul causeth the absence of all discomforts whatsoever The right understanding of this Mistery causeth the bride to sing here I sate down under his shadow with great delight Also this Doctrine openeth a light for the conviction of all false Prophets whatsoever all Sects and Heresies that now be or ever will be having their first rise from the contempt of Baptism or some false opinion concerning the same And with this proposition they all begin that Baptism is nothing unless the person first believe By which proposition they wholy deny the true Christ and rest upon a false Christ For Baptism not only manifesteth the true Christ to become as hath been proved but also sheweth us that until Baptism all people are under the Prophecy of a Christ to come Now that Doctrine which requireth faith before Baptism requireth faith not in the true Christ that is come but in a false Christ which is yet to come which Christ in Scripture is no where to be found And if there be no such Christ to be
them and by spoiling the grapes doth much hurt to the vines By the foxes are principally meant false Prophets Here O Israel thy Prophets are like the foxes in the deserts Exod. 34. And the injunction here is to take them And the reason why they must be taken is because they spoil the vines meaning the fruit of the vines the righteousness of both Tables And also because the vines have tender grapes meaning the young vines whose fruit is tender and the fox being famous for subtilty will endeavour to spoil those first chiefly if he grow to be a Reynald an old Fox therefore the injunction here is to take the little foxes the young cubs for they also spoil the vines This charge is given by Christ the persons to whom is to the Magistrate and Minister The Minister is to discover the foxes and the Magistrate to punish them with the sword Now that the foxes may be taken their holes must be known for the foxes have holes and in their holes they hide themselves and the first work the fox doth when he comes into the vineyard is to make his hole now the foxes hole is the righteousness of the Law he extolleth the righteousness of works far beyond the righteousness of faith this he makes a great shew of presseth very earnestly and seems to walk in very strictly that so if any fault be found with his Doctrine he may cover it and hide it under the character of an honest man So that his first and principal work in spoiling the vines is to destroy the righteousness of both Tables under a pretence of requiring strictness and holiness of life Therefore mark it By the first principle in Doctrine understand the first ground that is layed to encourage thee to be lieve in Christ that when ever the fox cometh whether it be an old Reynald or a young Cub by the first principles of his Doctrine he magnifieth and extolleth a supposed righteousness in man far beyond the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed and by so doing he strengtheneth in man a more honourable opinion of himself then of the works and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ and so he taketh away and spoileth the righteousness of the first Table which is faith in Christ Next he also spoils the righteousness of the second Table which is true love towards men for the root and foundation of love towards men is Gods love towards us apprehended by faith for no man can exercise himself in shewing true love towards men until his own heart be first warmed with the apprehension of Gods love towards himself which the fox by his subtilty wholly destroyeth for where the root and foundation of charity is plucked up there charity which is the fruit must needs be blasted and wither away And thus the foxes spoil the vines And this is the meaning of Christ when he says Mat 7. by their fruits ye shall know them meaning such fruits as spring from the principles of their Doctrine Now when the foxes hole is known the fox is taken for then he is discovered to all to be the fox Therefore if thou wilt hunt the fox so as to take him be sure to drive him into his hole for there he lurketh and there thou shalt be sure of him All people that pertain to the vineyard ought to be careful in this thing especially those that watch for Souls for the fox cometh not in jest but to spoil vines to eat and consume the tender grapes to destroy the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ that no man may have Salvation by him And is it not time then for every man to look about him It is not for nothing that so strict a charge as punishment by death is given in Deut. 18. and Deut. 13. against those that speak in the name of other Gods Therefore when the wild boar comes with his tusk and snout as if he did think to pull down God out of his Throne or the fox by subtilty let every man put to his shoulder that they may be taken and destroyed The lamentable misery that is fallen upon us for want of care herein is found by woful experience VERSE XVI My beloved is mine and I am his he feedeth among the Lillies THe Church perceiving the care of her beloved in taking the foxes that her righteousness might be preserved and that she might have Salvation makes this conclusion to her self my beloved is mine By which she makes a right use of the Gospel which is to assure and make us bold of our faith This bond or conjunction being so near as the head and members or the vine and branches causeth her to rejoice my beloved is mine and I am his This right and propriety in Christ as Mediator wicked men have not Angels need not therefore she claimeth the Title wholly to her self And this she maketh more account of then of all the world She esteemeth more of him then of all things besides in Heaven and Earth In him she findeth a sufficient reconciliation made with the mighty God for all her sins in him she is made the heir of Eternal glory And she is also comforted in this in that her beloved doth not only preserve her from unwholsome pastures but also feedeth her in good pastures He feedeth among the Lillies My beloved she saith is a Shepherd and hath a flock and feedeth his flock like a Shepherd in sweet pasture which is good feeding being among Lillies for the Lillies shew not that the Sheep eat Lillies but the goodness of the ground where the Lillies grow So that where Christ feedeth nothing can be wanting The Lord is my Shepherd saith David therefore I shall want nothing Psal 23. He provideth fatlings wine and all delicate things So that all that love his pasture shall be well fed and prove well The reason why men prove so little is because they distast the pasture where Christ feedeth When sheep feed in good pasture settle in it and like it well they feed and come forwards apace but when the pasture is bad or they distast it they hunger bane and starve Some feed upon their own imaginations and mans inventions and such as their food is So they be themselves they never come amongst the Lillies therefore never tast of the sweetness of the pasture Therefore let all those that desire to be proveable frequent the place where Christ feedeth and then shall their life favour of his wisdom Seeing Christ hath provided such excellent pastures for us as to feed among Lillies let us feed there and so feed that we may be fit for himself and to receive Eternal glory VERSE XVII Until the day break and the shadows flee away turn my beloved and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of Bether THe words are a prayer of the Church wherein she desireth Christ to turn to her all night even till the break of day 2 Pet. 1.19
were always to pray towards Jerusalem So that who ever he were that sought after God either to hear any thing from him or to receive any thing of him he must seek him in Jerusalem But now the corporal Jerusalem is destroyed the Ark is to be sought for in the new Jerusalem Which Ark is Baptism For as the promise of Gods presence then was where ever the Ark by Gods appointment was plac'd So the promise of Christs presence now is where Baptism is preserved aright Mat. 28. Baptism then is the Ark in the new Jerusalem Not a resting in the work done and corrupting the nature of it but where the true reason of its institution is taught and preserved Rev. 21.3 Therefore the Tabernacle of God is said to be with men and our bodies to be the visible Temples of the Holy Ghost Cor. 2.6 in regard of Baptism our Spiritual Ark. Wherefore the Chariot being made for the Daughters of Jerusalem it meaneth for those that are brought up under the Ark. For Jerusalem is the Mother because she abideth by the Ark she sticketh fast to the promises of God and instructeth all her Childeren in the same To those and to all those that are visible members of the Church is the word of God sent for although the blessing in the word be received but by a few yet the tender on Gods part is universal and must not be denied that those for whom it is prepared may receive it and they that refuse may be left without excuse Some will allow that all shall hear the word but deny their free admission to the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper But the Ark being the ground of Church-communion as aforesaid so long as the Ark remains right to the Lords Supper doth remain For nothing can cause the loss of any Church priviledg but the want of that which is Essential to its being now Baptism being Essential to all Church priveledges till Baptism be renounced right to all Church priviledges must remain Besides Heb. 11.4 Deut. 14.23 Rom. 15.8 all the Sacraments that ever were were incitements to faith and piety instituted on purpose to teach men to believe as is easy enough to be seen being all preparatives to faith and holiness and not effects therefore none must be debarr'd but all admitted Exod. 12.23 Else how shall the faith of the Church become Sacramental which faith was never wanting to the Church in any age And as the word belongs to the Children of the Ark and to all of them Joh. 1.31 Luk. 22.20 so it belongs to none but only them None can demonstrate that ever any people had a visible interest in the Scriptures Psal 147. Rom. 3. Acts 10.17.13 24. and to the interpretation thereof but only those people whom God first plac'd and also preserved under the external signs of his Covenant Jerusalem is the Mother because she bringeth forth Children under the Ark not in bringing forth Children before she cometh to the Ark So likewise they are not daughters of Jerusalem that count themselves holy and Saints before they come to the Ark all that teach that Doctrine pertain to another Mother and not to Jerusalem which is above the Mother of us all All those pertain to Sinai which is in bondage with her Children and not to the new Jerusalem the celestial and Heavenly City Therefore let us not despise the Riches of our beloved and lose so great a Treasure but seeing he is so bountiful unto us as to let us hear his word to make us his Chariot that we might have communion with himself be saved from an evil Conscience and from his everlasting wrath and be brought to live in glory with him for ever hereafter let us thank and bless his holy name and joyfully embrace his favour And let us also learn so to understand his word that we may receive the Heavenly gift of God that is sent unto us and so to understand the Sacraments that thereby we may be drawn to faith and true repentance Which that we may learn we must diligently mark what here next follows VERSE XI Go forth ye Daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart IN which words the Holy Ghost directeth the Daughter of Zion to a right behaviour of Soul in receiving that Doctrine wherewith the Chariot is made which is to go forth and behold By which words he rightly teacheth what the righteousness of the Gospel is not to rest in our selves but by faith to behold King Solomon with his Crown And also how the righteousness of Christ shall be received and kept even by going forth from depending upon our own inherent righteousness These are the two most Excellent and most useful points above all others and ought above all things to be preferred Which Doctrine we rightly learn when we submit our selves to the comdemnation of the Law and suffer our selves by faith to be divorced from the Law Else what doth it avail us to hear that the righteousness of Christ is ever so excellent a thing if we be not instructed by the Gospel how to be divorced from our own Now in this thing Christ differeth from all Teachers for the wisdom of man Teacheth after this sort if thou wilt attain to faith in Christ and be assured thereof do the Law keep the Commandments of God but the wisdom of the Holy Ghost saith the clean contrary go forth and behold King Solomon with his Crown For this Act of faith in going forth to behold is not to do the Law but wholly to depart from the Law So that rightly to behold King Solomon with his Crown is wholly to forget and lose the Law This place therefore teacheth us how the righteousness of the Ten Commandments may be attained not by our doing the works of the Law but by faith in Christ without the Law Even by beholding the Kingdom and victory of our Lord Jesus Christ to be given to us freely This matter concerneth the conscience and therefore it had need be well learned Therefore when thou feelest thy sin and fearest the wrath to come confess it to God and ask forgiveness for Christs sake with a believing heart then hast thou spiritually fulfill'd the Law forasmuch as the righteousness of Christ is given to thee as soon as thou feelest and confessest thy condemnation by the Law which thing thou oughtest to beleive it being the chief Corner-Stone in building the Kingdom of Christ in thy distressed Conscience Therefore who ever thou art that wouldest attain to righteousness before God and also to true peace and comfort in thy Conscience learn thou the way how to attain the same even by faith in Christ without the works of the Law to go forth and behold King Solomon with his Crown Now the Crown betokeneth the victory that Christ hath gotten over the
Law Gal. 4.5 Rom. 8.3 Heb. 2.14 Hos 13.14 Joh. 3.16 Satan sin and death which victory is given to thee as soon as thou believest And it is further added here the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him by which is meant the Church And by Crowning him the right preaching of the Gospel and also receiving of the same Gal. 4.26 For even as Batsheba the Mother of Solomon became instrumental for the setting of King Solomon on his Regal Throne 1 Kings So doth the Church which is the Mother of us all become instrumental in the Crowning of Christ by the Preaching of the Gospel Now Christ is Crowned by his Mother when she so interpreteth the Law that she taketh away all glory from man and attributeth the praise of her Salvation to Christ alone In the Crowning of Christ she afflicteth her Children with the feeling of sin by the Law and comforteth them again with the Crown and victory of the Lord Jesus Christ without the Law The Mother of Harlots Rev. 18. Crowneth Christ in words calling him her Lord King and Law-giver but by her practice she denyeth him For she so interpreteth all those Scriptures that are branches of the Law that she draweth the Law into the Doctrine of justification Thus she taketh off the Crown from Christs head Heb. 2. who is Crowned with Glory and Honour and putteth upon his head a Crown of Thornes There is a two fold Crowning of Christ in Scripture by his Father and by his Mother The first was at his Resurrection 2 Acts 36. when he was declared to be Lord and Christ that was by his Father the second when the benefits of his death and Resurrection are infused into the Consciences of men by the Preaching of the Gospel this is done by his Mother Therefore we are not only to behold him Crowned by the Father although that we must do first but also to learn the true way of Crowning him as the Mother that he alone may reign in the heart and Conscience This is the day of the gladness of Christs heart it being the day of his espousals when he marrieth us unto himself in an everlasting Covenant and rejoyceth in us and over us as the Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride Now when we have learn'd by faith to be separated from the Law and to go forth and behold King Solomon with his Crown then must we come into the practice of the Law which is to go forth and behold him in his afflicted members to help those that are in misery Tit. 3.8 to comfort all that are in distress Thus all that have believed in God must be careful to maintain good works which are good and profitable unto men So that although the Gospel divorceth us from the Law in the matter of justification yet it joyneth us to the matter of Sanctification and causeth us to do that freely for others according to our power which our Lord Jesus Christ out of his abundant kindness hath freely done for us For who can choose but shew kindness joyfully to his brother that hath apprehended by faith the love of Christ towards himself All works before the Gospel is received are naught because they are not directed towards men but drawn into the judgment seat to make us righteous but faith separateth works from the judgment seat and directeth them towards our neighbour and so it makes our works good works This wisdom the world understandeth not therefore it is Condemned for despising the Gospel which it will not be subject to Let us learn therefore to lay aside our works when we come before God that we may be justified by faith and live in the practice of all good works before men that we may want no qualification which the Gospel requires CHAP. IV. VERSE I. Behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair thou hast doves eyes within thy locks thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Mount Gilead CHRIST having in the former verse directed the Church how to receive his righteousness by faith alone here he commendeth her for her fairness and calleth her to behold it and doubles it again that she may believe it In which commendation he setteth her forth by the parts and features of the body by which are meant the Spiritual beauty of the Church First he commendeth her eyes which are the instruments of sight whereby she beholdeth her beloved and compareth them to the eyes of doves in regard she continually respecteth her mate as the dove Which sheweth that when she is disowned and forsaken of the Law yet then she looketh up by faith unto her Redeemer In regard therefore that she spieth out by faith the comforts of her beloved in a sad condition she is pronounced to be fair and called to behold it And after the same manner it is also with us as soon as we humble our selves for our wretchedness and do behold his righteousness to be given unto us it is pronounced in Heaven thou art fair my love thou art fair Therefore this being the decree that is pronounc'd in Heaven we must learn by faith to behold and receive it into the Conscience The next thing commended is her hair which seemeth to mean the whole company of believers as may be gathered from the similitude of the Prophets hair Ezek. 5.1 12. which signified the dividing of the people of Israel and also in regard of the Original from whence the hair proceedeth which is the head having its nourishment from the moisture and strength of the head And also it being likened to a flock it doubtless meaneth the flock of Christ These hairs are likened to the Goats that appear from Mount Gilead which was a Mountain beyond Jordan Num. 32 39. where the tribe of Manasseh dwelt Which Mountain being excellent for feeding those that dwelt there had many Goats and also there were Trees of price and estimation for the Goats to breuse on and to rub themselves against therefore the Goats were of good liking and also smooth Now the hairs being likened to a flock of these Goats it sheweth that they have rich seeding in green pastures because they all hang upon their head the Lord Jesus Christ VERSE II. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn which came up from the washing whereof every one bear twins and none is barren among them THe teeth are the instruments of the stomach whereby the meat is fitted for disgesture by which are signified the Ministers of the word and breakers of the bread of life whose office is so to chew the Spiritual meat that it may be digested and become nourishment to the Soul These are said to be like a flock of sheep Esa 40.9 because they receive their nourishment from Christ of whom it is said he shall feed his flock like a shepherd And to go up from the washing being made white in the blood of the
must all learn for the helping and comforting of our little Sister that she being so setled in the love of her Redeemer she may burst forth into love and all good works amongst men To teach this point aright hath hath some difficulty in it as appears by the moan she makes what shall we do for her in that day which sheweth it requireth some skill yet this was her practice and endeavour as appeareth in the next words VERSE IX 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 WHich is as much as to say this if she be a wall that setleth aright upon the foundation laid in Sion in the day that she is spoken for and doth not turn aside to another foundation we will then build upon her that is upon her principles a Palace for the King to delight himself in Which Palace or Spiritual house cannot perfectly be finished until the full number of the Elect be call'd Heb. 11. until which time the true Church and every particular member thereof according to his capacity laboureth in building And it being said to be builded of Silver it sheweth the matter that buildeth the Palace which is the Doctrine of the Gospel which elsewhere is compar'd to Gold 1 Cor. 3. Silver and precious Stones being pure and lasting and things of inestimable worth And further if she be a dore which is that openeth to hear and receive the promise of Everlasting life which is made to all those that are spoken for which feel and confess their death by the Law we will enclose her with boards of Cedar she shall be safe in the Kings Place where the King is always present VERSE X. I am a wall and my breasts like Towers then was I in his eyes as one that found Favour THe little Sister having heard that Christ by the Law bespeaketh her for himself that she is not spoken to to be left under wrath and condemnation but spoken for that she might be delivered from an opinion of righteousness by the Law and might be married to Christ this being the intent of the Spokesman she concludeth I am a Wall As soon as ever she understandeth the Office of the Law truly it worketh in her a sence of Faith and so it in with all people for it is as much as to say then am I settled in mind for as much as the Office of the Law is not to justifie but to bring me to Christ that I might be justified by Faith And she further saith my Breasts are like Towers the one of my Breasts destroyeth my opinion of righteousness by the Law the other of my Breasts giveth me Life everlasting without the Law These she saith are as Towers or Castles of Defence which are built to preserve the City from the Enemy He that liveth in both these Towers is safe from the malice of Satan and wrath of God This knowledge of Christ breaketh the head of Satan and utterly aboblisheth his Kingdom therefore she addeth then was I in his Eyes as one that found favour then and not till then The knowledge of the Gospel giveth us a certain evidence that we are in God's favour Mark this then well that thou attainest not his favour by the Works of the Law but only by Faith in Christ without the Law which Faith condemneth thee by the Law and so destroyeth thine opinion of the Law and giveth thee an assurance that Christ is given most freely where that opinion is destroyed Learn thou then to believe that Christ is given to thee because Ezek. 13.10 because thou feelest and confessest thy just condemnation by the Law Then shalt thou also become a Wall Ezek. 13.14 15. and thy Breasts like Towers They that require nothing but Works in building the Wall do daub but with untempered morter which shall be broken down and they that daubed it Learn thou then with Paul even through the Law to become dead to the Law that thou maist live unto God without the Law then shalt thou be in his Eyes as one that findeth favour VERSE XI Solomon had a Vineyard at Baal-hammon he let out the Vineyard unto keepers every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of Silver CHrist in these words compares his own Vineyard the Church with the Vineyard of Solomon at Baalhamon which formerly was his Father David's who appointed Officers to look to his Vineyard and to manure it and to pay him an yearly Tribute for the same 1 Chro. 24. and to retain part of the profit themselves Now the Vineyard of our King Solomon is the House of Israel Isa 5. the universal Church of Jews and Gentiles and Baalhamon which signifies the Owner of a multitude sheweth the place where this Vineyard is planted even amongst the multitudes of this World He lets out his Vineyard also to Keepers Mat. 21.34 that is according to the Parable to Husbandmen to manure it and dress it and the reason rendered in the Parable is that they meaning the Husbandmen as well as himself might receive the Fruits of the Vineyard which is Life everlasting and also to yield unto himself a continual Tribute which is to render everlasting thanks and praises unto God for his infinite mercies and loving kindness to us and to serve him with joyfulness all the days of our Lives which is said here to be a thousand pieces of silver And this is all that is expected from us by our Lord King Solomon Now he sheweth in the next Words there is great reason we should return him thanks and praise for he says VERSE XII My Vineyard which is mine is before me I Set mine Eyes upon it continually and my care is always for it and although I sometimes hide mine Eyes from it seemingly for a time yet I keep it night and day lest any hurt it In answer to this follows next the words of the Spouse Thou O Solomon must have a Thousand Which is an indefinite Speech meaning To thee O Solomon be all praise and thanks for evermore for it is thy due for thou art worthy to receive all glory honour and praise for ever and ever Where she attributeth to Christ all that he requireth of her which is to sing everlasting praises to the honour of his name Next follows the last words of the Bridegroom in this Song And they that keep the fruit thereof two Hundred By which he meaneth also praises which sheweth he is so far from begrudging any one the Fruits of his Death and Resurrection that whosoever is but willing to receive the same shall have honour and praise for so doing for they that keep the Fruit thereof must have two hundred that is they shall be crowned with everlasting praise and honour at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ This is a most wonderful comfort to all poor wretches that almost all their Lives long are are oppressed with sins sorrows cares crosses and calamities which through manifold temptation are continually in heaviness of heart who if they are but willing to receive the fruits of the Vineyard they shall have two hundred They shall have honour and praise and glory at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ Next follow the words of the spouse which close up the whole Song VERSE XIII XIIII Thou that dwellest in the Gardens the companions hearken to thy voice cause me to hear it Make haste my beloved and be thou like to a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices VVHich words are a Prayer wherein the Church calleth upon her beloved not as the high and lofty one that doth inhabit Eternity but she looketh upon him as one whose dwelling is in Sion and whose delight is with the Sons of Men. O thou that dwellest in the Gardens that are constant and resident with thy poor afflicted people Thy companions hearken to thy voice meaning those that are in Church fellowship they hearken but they do not understand cause me to hear it meaning the whole company of the Elect who must all be united through faith into one body and spiritual communion Make haste my beloved my earnest desire is that this thing be speedily accomplished that even as the Roe or young hart doth speedily skip over the Mountains where spices grow So do thou speedily destroy all those Mountains in man that produce fruitlesness and barrenness that the spices of the Gospel may enter into the hearts of all thine Elect that the guilt of sin may be removed the reign of sin subdued that all afflictions may be sanctified and the whole universal Church may be armed and fortified against all the assaults of Satan in this life and may receive Eternal glory in the life to come FINIS
obedience their countenance comes to be cast down and they are altogether heartless and heedless But Christ our Lord here giveth us another pattern who skippeth over the worst things that are worthy of blame in his Church covering them all by giving himself unto her Christ here speaketh after this manner Behold thou art my sister I am thy loving brother that do bear natural and hearty affection to thee Thou art my spouse and I am thy loving Husband I love thee with real and hearty affection I take upon me all thy sins and miseries that I might free thee from all distress and do supply all thy wants that thou mightest live in peace and joy And this I do on purpose to draw thy hearty love and affection to me that thou mightest accept of my love and confess my kindness and serve me with a willing and cheerful service After this sort must we learn also to cover the faults of those that are under our Authority to hide their weaknesses to cover their faults to bury their frailties in love and kindness Then shall we set our selves not in the place of Moses who always chideth us for transgressions but in the place of God who mercifully forgiveth us our sins hideth and healeth all things that may discomfort and dismay us By this means shall we unite their hearts to us to love and obey us to love and worship the same God to be of the same faith and the same Religion But why is the Church a spring shut up Quest and a Fountain sealed Not that she is unwilling to bestow or impart the water of life Ans for out of her belly is said to flow rivers of living water Joh. 7. But because the mistery of her Doctrine Faith and Religion is shut up and sealed from the blind world For it is the wisdom of God in a mistery which none of the Princes of the world know 1 Cro. 2.8 So that the shutting up or hiding is in respect of those that are lost that are enemies to the faith that are strangers and will be strangers from the life of God Not because of any unwillingness in the Church to communicate her Doctrine nor by reason of any hardness in the Doctrine it self but by reason of that mighty opposition that is in man which hindreth the understanding of the same This must comfort us to whom God hath given so great a treasure which is hid from others And also learn us to use all care and diligence in opening of the spring and unsealing of the Fountain that if it be possible the eyes of the blind may be enlightned and the ears of the deaf may be opened which cannot be done without the key of the house of David which is rightly to understand and open the Article of justification the cardinal and critical point upon which all true understanding doth depend Now there is a double use of a key to lock and to unlock if the dore be lock'd no man can see what is in the house but when the dore is unlock'd then all things may be seen If the Article of Justification be unlock'd and mans opinion of righteousness by the Law destroyed then the spring is opened and the fountain is unsealed then the waters of life do run freely to poor sinners but if man be strengthened in his own opinion of works by a false understanding of the Law then the Fountain is sealed the spring is shut up the water of life is not to be had Therefore Christ not Moses Esa 22. is said to have the key of the house of David which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth Rev. 3.7 and no man openeth The meaning is that when the meaning of the Law is opened by the Gospel no disputer can shut and darken it by any other interpretation but on the contrary when the Gospel is opened by the Law and the New Testament is taught only according to the Letter then the spring is shut up then the Fountain is sealed Therefore we must learn the right use of the key that we may open the Law by the Gospel that we may give the right sense and meaning of all those Scriptures that seem to stand in direct opposition to the Doctrine of Justification by faith alone Then shall the blessed Fountain of life be opened and unsealed that those for whom it is provided may drink thereof and live for ever VERSE XIII XIV Thy plants are an Orchard of Pomegranates with pleasant fruits Camphire with spikenard And Saffron Calamus and Cynamon with all Trees of Frankincense Myrrhe and Aloes with all the chief spices THe plants here spoken of are the spiritual people throughout the world Compar'd to an Orchardâ— not that they are cull'd out from others and none suffered to have communion with them in Church fellowship but such as are truly regenerate but in regard they bring forth much fruit and also variety of fruit And to Pomegranates because they are full of kernels as the Pomegranates be which are pleasant to the taste and delightful to behold In this Orchard there grows also Camphire which beareth fruit in clusters and Spikenard which some think to be the herb call'd Lavender and Saffron all which are most excellent for sweetness Then here is Calamus and Cynamon which were used in the composition of the holy annointing oyl which made persons holy Exod. 30. The Frankincense was likewise used in making the holy incence which was to be put into the Tabernacle of the Lord to make the Children of Israel a sweet perfume And so likewise Myrrhe and Aloes Psal 45. as all things before-named did set forth the sweetness of the fruits of Christs death and Resurrection being given to the miserable distressed Conscience These are the fruits that grow in the Lords Orchard which are shewen unto us under the similitude of all those sweet and pleasant things Now an Orchard doth not come to be fruitful by any thing done by the trees or plants that are set in it but by reason of the ground wherein they are planted which causeth them to grow and blosom by infusing sap and moisture into the root The plant is meerly Passive it only standeth still and maketh no opposition and receiveth the nourishment that cometh to it from the ground The holy Ghost by this similitude sheweth us not only the fruitfulness of the Lords people Esa 61.11 but also the manner of their growth For even as the earth bringeth forth her bud and as the garden causeth the things that are sowen in it to spring forth So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before the Nations So the Lord will do it that is not by requiring the Active righteousness of the Law first for that is contrary to the similitude but by infusing the Passive righteousness in the first place which is not to labour not to take pains in doing the works of the Law
but to hear and believe the voice of the Son of God The sum of all is this That the spiritual plants in the Lords Church do bring forth variety of excellent fruits in regard they grow and blosom after the similitude of an Orchard And the cause why they grow after this manner is because the workmen in Gods Orchard do plant and graft after the same form They do not plant and graft according to their own natural way of grafting to make men holy by works but in a way which is contrary to nature to make them righteous by faith Their business lies in compounding of ointments to make persons Holy In sprinkling perfuming spices made after the Art of the Apothecary that poor distressed consciences may become fruitful in faith and all good works Another cause is because the plants themselves are willing to become Passive after the manner of an Orchard They are willing when Gods time is come to be cut out of that Olive tree which is wild by nature and to be grafted contrary to nature into a right Olive tree They are willing to be planted in Gods Orchard where they must stand against every storm without fear of being shaken to pieces So that although the winds blow and the flouds come and the trees are shaken at the very roots yet they are willing to stand against every storm and after the similitude of an Orchard even then to receive the moisture and nourishment that floweth from the Gospel which is the ground wherein they stand Now because the planters plant after this form and also the plants themselves are willing to yield and conform to the same way of planting and grafting therefore it is that they are fill'd with sweet and most excellent fruit otherwise it could never be This sheweth us the reason why there are so many plants in Gods Orchard that grow not so as to bring forth any manner of choice fruit suitable to such an Orchard the reason is because they grow not after the same similitude They complain that they cannot master their sins nor perform their duties that they have not that understanding in the Scriptures that others have the reason is because they are not planted nor grafted according to the right form They work and toil they labour and take pains both the planters and the plants themselves to grow and increase in the opinion of works but bring forth none of these sweet and pleasant fruits because they are not willing to be cut and hewen down digg'd and prun'd and dressed after the similitude of an Orchard Therefore it is that when storms come they are not able to stand when calamities arise they are not able to endure but one runs one way another runs another way to look for help and succour because they have not learn'd to stand and receive the sap and moisture of the Gospel which is the ground from whence they grow after the similitude of an Orchard And hence it comes to pass that in stead of bringing forth Camphire Spiknard and Saffron which is sweet and pleasant fruit they sprout forth roots of bitterness gall and wormwood In stead of bearing the sweet Calamus and Cynamon to make the holy annointing oyl to make the spiritual Tabernacle and all the vessels thereof holy before the Lord and the sweet Frankincense Myrrhe and Aloes to make a most holy and sweet perfume they send forth a noisom fume of their own compounding which causeth them most horribly to stink in the presence of God So that the end of their labour and pains is but this the fruit which they think to be the only fruit that healeth the Nations when it is rightly tasted and the scent of it truly smelt and compar'd with the fruits that grow in the Orchard of the Lord it is found to be but of an evil savour fruit that withereth and comes to nothing So long as it is look'd upon by it self the scent pleaseth but when it is compar'd with the sweet Frankincense and other sweet and principal spices which are prepar'd to perfume the spiritual Tabernacle of the Lord and every vessel pertaining thereunto it is found to be nothing else but meat that perisheth fruit that withereth and the trees themselves that bear the fruit to be such that are marked out to be hewn down and cast into everlasting fire According to our Saviours saying Joh. 15. if a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men cast them into the fire and burn them And every plant that my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up Therefore seeing it is the commendation of the Church in this place in that she is like unto an Orchard of such sweet and pleasant fruits in that she receiveth her self and bringeth forth and as an instrument conveyeth the sweet and pleasant fruits of Christs death and Resurrection into the hearts and Consciences of others that they may be fill'd with all the chief spices and be so becensed and perfumed therewith as to become a sweet favour unto God in every place let us also endeavour to be fill'd with all these chief and principal spices that we may know what to do in the time of tribulation and great distress when we feel the terrors of the Almighty and begin to be sore afraid when we can see no way nor means of deliverance but the tree seems to be blasted and all hope of fruit to be lost yet then let us consider that we are plants in Gods Orchard where we must stand against every storm so that although the winds blow and storms come and we are even shaken at the very roots yet there must we stand and receive the sap and nourishment of the Gospel which speaketh comfortable words to the miserable Soul And not only so but also that we may be able to anoint and perfume distressed minds that a poor distressed Conscience may be comforted by us in a sad condition that the cluster of Camphire may appear in the Conscience that the scent of the Calamus and Cynamon may be smelt and the Spikenard Myrrhe and Frankincense may become as a Posey to refresh the spiritual senses under the apprehension of Sin and the wrath of God Then shall it become apparent that we are the trees of Frankincense here spoken of filled with the kernels of the Pomegranates and rightly planted in the Orchard of God VERSE XV. A Fountain of Gardens a well of living waters and streams from Lebanon IN the twelfth Verse of this Chapter the Church is said to be a fountain Sealed in this Verse she is said to be a Fountain of Gardens that is a fountain opened to water gardens When the Church is compar'd to a garden in the singular Number understand the universal Church but when she is compar'd to gardens as here it meaneth every particular Church and every particular member in each Church A fountain sealed Quest and a fountain