wooe her loue and crying out in a passion desireth his embracings That he would be present with her ioine himselfe vnto her and remaine hers for euer This vehement desire this ardency of affection she sheweth to be most iust reasonable and fortifieth the equity the honesty the necessity the fruite and commodity thereof diuersly and many waies First the excellency of this loue is wonderfull aboue all the pleasures and delights of the world especially if it come not single but accompanied with a large nesse and a bounty from him that it may be called Loues in the plurall What wine so pleasant to the taste VERR 3. Because of the smell of thy good ointmens thy name is as an ointment powred foorth Therefore the Virgins loue thee What ointment so fragrant to the smell Was that which shead vpon Aarons head trickled downe his beard and wet the hemmes of his garment or the costly ointment that Alablaster boxe of pure Nard the Spickenard which shee powred vpon our Sauiour Christ that filled all the house with the sweetnesse of the smell Take which you will and the best ointments els they are not worthy to be named when thine ointments the ioy of gladnesse wherewith God hath annointed thee aboue thy fellowes and which thou powrest forth to the comfort of the world the refreshing of thy Saints that haue any sence and spirituall smell are talked of I speake not of my loue as present with me when I enioy his sweet selfe and haue him in mine armes No. Eye hath neuer seen eare hath neuer heard heart cannot conceiue the sweetnes of those delights But I speake of the verie remembrance of him absent and away Thwit me not here with any carnall loue or loue to steale my heart from God farre be that from my thoughts I meane nothing but that which is holy chast pure maidenly and virgin-like free as well from bodily pollution and vncleannesse as from spirituall fornication against my spouse VERS 4. Draw me after thee will we runne Let the King bring mee into his priuâ—e chambers We will reioice and be glad in thee We will record thy loues better then wine They shall record them who in all rightnes do loue thee They that will follow vaine vanities and forsake their owne mercy let them doe it But I will eleaue to thee This comming and eleauing vnto Christ is I confesse a diuine worke the worke of God himself steps beyond the reach of man which no humane foote can tread no wit can climbe vnto or comprehend vnlesse it be framed and fashioned from aboue A worke which of all others vvee are most vntoward to of such difficulty that wee must be drawen and haled and violently pulled out of our selues before wee can once settle about it hauing neither power nor so much as will vnto it for what finde I in my selfe to egge and prouoke me thereunto Whatsoeuer I haue within me or without me from the top vnto the toe from the head vnto the heeles is an vtter enemy and doth oppose and set it selfe against it yet I desire thorough the working of his holy spirit for euen the desire and first thought doth come from him not onely to walke in the pathes which notwithstanding O happy men that so doe and how few there bee that find the same but to runne in them with all my might and maine with faith hope patience and obedience to folloâ— thee O let my feete be shod and made nimble for to doe it But who thinke you is the person whom thus I loue and am so enamoured with Verely the King himselfe our Soueraigne Lord CHRIST the God of glory worthy to be loued of all able to draw aâ—l vnto his loue and to make all the gates and doores of our heart to be set open to him What may be the place whether we runne so fast and would so faine hie our selues vnto It is his owne priuie chambers his Church and house heere and after this his heauenly tabernacles where better it is to be one hower then in the Palaces of all other Kings a thousand yeeres beside The fruites and effects that come from it are admirable and diuine ioy in the holy Ghost spirituall mirth and gladnesse For the hauing whereof where or who is he shew me the man if he be a man and not a very beast that would not bid al the Iolity of the world adew It is a ioy cannot well bee hidden it will shew it selfe and fill our mouthes with the praises of his name with Psalmes hymnes and spirituall songs all too little too too litttle for him Neither will I my selfe alone take pleasure in this duty I and mine all my friends and followers whosoeuer they be that loue thee will vncessantly performe the same you prophane get you farie away The praises of God beseeme not your mouthes These pretious Iewels such pearles are not for swines sâ—outes So holy a worke belongeth to holy men It is for them whose hearts are cleane pure sanctified which waike in all integrity and in the righteousnesse of their waies These our God doth call their tongues he fines and fiâ—es to be the trumpetters of his glory Thus and by those arguments twelue in number the Church setteth forh amplifieth and enlargeth the summe of her most holy desires VERSE 5 I am black but comly O daughters of Ierusalem Like to the Kedarenes that dwell in tents but I am also like to those that dwell in the curtaines of Solomon Now because it is the property of true loue to be desirous that others also may haue a liking of the thing beloued shee remoueth the lets and hindrances that may keepe her friend and fellows in Gods election members of the Church from comming vnto CHRIST confessing there is nothing outwardly in her to bee seene that can giue concontent or make her bee liked but inwardly in the hidden man shee is amiable and full of beauty for this daughter of the King is all glorious within foule in her selfe and black euen cole black as black as any black-more or if any thing bee more black then it through sinne both originall and actuall that maketh her to com short of the glory of God and to be subiect to death and condemnation but through CHRIST and the righteousnesse shee hath in him she is goodly and glorious as Solomons courtly traine VERS 6. Looke not vpon mee because I am blackish because the Sunne hath cast his beames vpon me because the sonnes of my mother incensed against me haue made mee a keeper of other vine-yards mine owne vine-yard I haue not kept Three things indeed there bee which lay her open though washed though iustified though sanctified through CHRIST to ignomie and reproach All which notwithstanding shee is not to be despised since none of them nor they all are able to obscure the brightnes of Gods glory in her first the remnants of sinne that still cleaue vnto her
loue is all fierie and kindleth and enflameth the very bowels of the heart Let him â—â—sse c. Secondly a desire to bee knit vnto him as neere as is possible to enioy his sweete and blessed coniunction For thy loues are excellent better then wine Thirdly a preferring of the loue of Christ before all worldly things and aboue all the pleasures and delights of this present life Because c. Fourthly a magnifying and extolling of Christ whose very name and the only remembrance of him is most sweet fragrant which draweth the Christian heart vnto a loue and in loue to an admiration of him The virgins This loue if you consider the quality thereof is chast holy pure and they only loue Christ who keepe themselues vndefiled from worldly pollution and vncleanesse Draw mee The efficient cause is not in our selues it commeth from Christ alone who speaking to our heart by the ministery of the Word and the sweet allurements of his spirit pulleth vs out of this present euill world and draweth vs after him Then will wee runne Heereby strength is put into vs which maketh our feete nimble and shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace to runne after Christ and with might and maine to performe all holie duties to him Let the King Whereunto wee are enabled by the corroborating spirit of Christ into whose hands God the Father hath committed all things and giuen him all power in Heauen and vpon the earth making him both Lord and Christ the King and ruler of his Church Bring me into his primie chambers Who in his fauour and princely bounty communicateth vnto vs more and more the rich graces and treasures of his Spirit maketh vs more inward with him and and leadeth vs as it were by the hand into his priuy chambers those goodly roomes and parlours where are all the Iewells and precious things laid vp for his people Wee will reioyce c. This draweth from vs ioy in the holy Ghost glorious and vnspeakeable Wee will record c. It maketh vs neuer to satisfie our selues in setting forth and publishing vnto other the sweete comforts wee haue in him They shall c. Whom also wee desire to bee made pertakers hereof and to loue Christ as well as wee Who in all rightnesse doe loue thee For such men onely the holy and righteous are the siluer trumpets fit to sound forth Gods praises in his sanctuariâ— O if we euer felt how sweet a thing it is to haue his praises in our mouth let vs not commit by word and deed that through our owne folly and loosenesse so great a comfort should be taken from vs. I Lastly wee are carefully to remooue all lets and impediments that may hinder their approach to Christ 〈◊〉 Conflicts we haue great and grieuous with our owne soules many a pluck and wrestle but by faith wee ouercome them all black Wee confesse our owne wretchednesse of ourselues more black then any blackamore and therefore vnworthy to be matched with so great a King for wee are borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquity and are by nature the children of wrath euen wee that liue in the Church and are borne within the outward couenaunt aswell as other men Eph. 2. Gal. 2. but comlie But being purged and washed by the lauer of the new birth wee are gracious and pleasing vnto Christ more amiable and bewtifull in his eies then Solomon with all his brauery could bee to the eie of any mortall creature Looke not vpon mee True it is the world seeth not this honour which Gods children haue because it is spiritually discerned it acknowledgeth not vs because it knoweth not him Yet the Christian man comfortâ—th himselfe himselfe in the testimony of his owne conscience and and in Gods iudgement and estimation of him because I am blackish Though hee carrie about many remnants of sinne the reliques of his old Adam and is manifoldly assaulted with the pricks temptations of the fleâ—â— For sinne is in vs as the spots are in the Leopard not by accident but by nature which no art can cure no water wash off because they are not in the skinne but in the fleshe bones in the sinowes in the most inner parts By this meanes it commeth to passe that euen a regenerate man falleth many times and falleth grieuously and fearefully lofeth of his hold and of the bewty that God hath giuen him Howbeit the seede of God abiding in him maketh that he cannot sinne finally and totally for the oyle of Gods spirit where with hee is annointed setteth the colours which are of his owne tempering so sure on and maketh them cleaue so fast together that it is impossible hee should euer returne to his old hew to be black all black coale-black as he was before The holinesse therefore of a Christian is alwaies mingled with sinne his siluer with much drosse not as chaffe is mingled with corne but as wine is mingled with water or as when two colours black and white are mingled together that there is no part white but it is blackish also Because the Sunne hath cast his beames vpon mee Hence it is that a Christian is subiect to much affliction anguish and distresse as it were to the scorching of the Sunne which turne all his moisture into the drought of Somer Because the sonnes of my mother incensed against me Especially his sinnes and infirmities expose him to the taunts and reproaches of the wicked open mens mouthes against him and against the holy trueth of God for his sake who vpon euery slip are ready to take aduantage to scandalize the Gospell Hereby a christian is exceedingly humbled and cast downe and driuen to renounce and for sake armes Neyther can he euer satisfie his own soule but dâ—â—reth alwaies to rest there without any the least interruption It is the voice The cause of all comfort to the Church is the voice of Christ speaking to her heart and mouing and perswading her by his Spirit His dealings are by degrees and he vseth not ordinaryly to vtter all his fauours at once of my well-beloued First is his power supporting vs that in our spirituall sicknesse the spirit bee not quenched Behold him Then hee speaketh a farre of whispering as it were in our heart hee commeth After hee commeth neeror at the length hee is himselfe present Lepping skipping When he commeth his comming hath foure excellent properties First it is hastely and with speede Vpon these hilles vpon these hillocks Secondly no sinnes of ours no vnworthinesse can hinder his approach all things high or lowe great or small offences are too little for to stay him Standeth behind c. Thirdly he doth not com so to our senses as wee desire hee communicateth not his whole presence with vs but standeth as it were behind the wall so as there is a space betweene him and vs to keepe him from vs Hee looketh but out of a casement or as it were thorough a
of this booke hee hath not set downe the whole entire Text but only so much as serued to shew whence the obseruations were gathered because they were at large set downe in the former part If in reading the Obseruations thou be desirous to see the whole Text turne to the same place in the Exposition Reade the seuerall sections both of the Exposition and of the Obseruations so as if they were ioined together without any interruption of the Text for sometimes the beginning of one Section dependeth vpon the latter end of another There is one generall point omitted thoroughout the whole booke viz. the setting downe of such words as were needfull to be added in the Text for sense sake and propriety of our tongue in a differing letter it cannot now be amended I pray thee therefore more diligently marke them blame not the Author who I am sure would haue seene this and other faults redressed if he had reuised the sheetes before they had past the presse Such faults as may seeme to hinder the sense are in the next following page set downe Errata PAge 5 line 2â— read larges p. 7 l. 21 these paths p. 9. l. 9. 10 friends p. 17 l. 18. thee could p. 20 l. 1â— he remoneth p. 29 l. 2◠〈…〉 p. 23. l. 15 is my p. 39 l. 〈◊〉 owne hurt p 4 l. 5 what should you â—ell him p. 55 l. 14 lonely Chap. 18. verse 2. l. 1. buâ—â—â— in it p. 80 l. 29 is rapt AN EXPOSITION of the Song of Solomon called CANTICLES CHAP. I. VERS 1 A Song of songs which is Solomons THe Bookes of Solomon the Iewes compare not vnfitly to the Temple which he built Whereof this song of songs or most excellent song resembleth the holy of holies oâ— the most holy place Being a declaration of the blessed and sweet coniunction betweene Christ and his Church and of the contract and espousels made betweene them whilest the Church is now militant vpon earth All which time is as it were a bidding of the banes vntill by his second comming from heauen our spirituall marriage with him shall be solemnized and made vp The Author Solomon peaceable for so his name doth signifie a figure of Christ the Prince of peace and the builder both of the earthly Sanctâ—arie and of this heauenly frame was no doubt whatsoeuer otherwise his fals might be an elect vessell of God 1. Because all the Prophets of which number he was one are in the kingdome of heauen Luke 13. 28. for howsoeuer it pleased God sometimes to speake by the wicked as hee did by Balaam and to wring out of their mouthe contrary to their heart that which might serue for the glory of his name yet he neuer vsed the seruice of any but vessels of election to be the penmen of his Spirit So the Apostle 2. Pet. 1. 19. 20. teileth vs that those which by diuine inspiration wrote the propheticall Scriptures were all of them holy men of God 2. The holy Ghost doth alwaies speake well of Solomon after his death and maketh in all places an honourable mention of his name which it neuer doth of the reprobate 3. His waies are commended and Rehoboam hath his worthy praise for walking in them 2. Chron. 11. 17. 4. God whose counsels are constant loued him and cleped his name Iedidah beloued of the Lord. 2. Sam. 12. 24. 25. 5. He himselfe is said againe to haue loued God 1. Kings 3. 3. Which being true and vnfeined otherwise the Holy Ghost would neuer haue spoken of it was impossible to be lost And this very booke if it were written before his fall is an vndoubted argument how sincere earnest and vehement his loue was and what a feeling hee had of the loue of Christ If after his fall it argueth then most certainly a sincere and true repentance 6. And lastly the booke of Ecclesiastes doth manifestly euince it written when hee was olde after hee had seene so much and had so long experience of his owne vanities and corruptions The title whereof A soule an humble and grieued soule reconciled to the Church from whence hee was before cast out for his offences or A soule speaking and making confession in the Church sheweth his repentance The manner of writing is that which we call actiue or representatiue that is wherein Persons onely are brought in speaking the Author himselfe saying nothing and the persons here are Christ the Church and sometimes but very rarely the friends of them both In all which the Church burning with a desire of Christ longeth and is impatient till shee be ioined vnto him For hether tend all her passions exclamations testifications of her loue commendations of her spouse Christ againe by kinde gentle and louing speeches comforteth and cheereth vp the Church with certaine hope of that happie and blessed time for hether tend all his commendations of her present and promise of future graces the accepting of her vnfeined repentance and the assurance of purging pruining and making her more holy and fit for him Till shee be taken vp vnto him without spot or wrinckle The Booke hath two parts Whereof the first comprehendeth all that time that Christ and shee are friends before any falling out in the foure first Chapters The Churrh longing to bee ioined to Christ Chapt. 1. Acknowledging the benefits and comforts of life pleasure and all good things which he bestoweth vpon her Chapt. 2. And lastly desiring to see Christ in his heauenly glory Chapt. 3. Whom Christ most sweetly comforteth Chapt. 4. The second part in the foure last chapters is a falling out of these two louers thorough the Churches fault and vnkindnesse to him But this falling out is a renuing of their loue In her by repentance Chapt. 5. in him by a gratious accepting of her into his fauour againe as deere as euer shee was before Chapt. 6. Whence ariseth all thankefulnesse from the Church and promise to amend Chapt. 7. vers 1. 2. 3. 4. with a noble demonstration of her zeale vnto him testified by her longing first for his owne comming in the flesh Chapt. 7. vers 5. to the end of the Chapter Secondly for the drawing of others that as yet were strangers and aliens from the common wealth of Israell to the fellowship and participation of Christ and for the whole Israell of God Iewes and Gentiles to be knit and ioined together in one holy society Chapt. 8. And so this second part containeth three most excellent prophesies One of the words incarnation an other of the calling of the Gentiles the third of the conuersion of the Iewes and their accesse in the last daies vnto the Church of Christ But let vs now heare themselues speake and with their owne words to vtter their owne affections CHVRCH VERS 2. O let him kisse mee with the kisses of his mouth for thy Loues are excellent better then wine The Church whose heart the Spirit of Christ had before knit vnto him beginneth to
him forth but Christ hath many Crownes and diadems vpon his head Solomon in his excellency and the crowne of his glory was a spectacle worthy to bee looked vpon and admired but Christ to be worshipped honoured and adored not of the maidens of Ierusalem onely but of the whole hoast of heauen Solomons heart leapt for ioy the day thht he was contracted but Christ is anointed with the oyle of gladnesse aboue his fellows with a heape and variety of gifts and graces more then all men or Angels So farre is he to be preferred CHAP. IIII. CHRIST VERS 1. Behold thou art faire my fellow friend behold thou art faire thine eies are doues eies from betweene thy locks thy haire is like a flocke of Goates which sheare vpon mount Gilead CHRIST here comforteth the Church against that anxiety of minde which appeared in the former Chapt. shewing how gracious she is vnto him how beautifull in his eies not for any bodily but for her spirituall bewty Whether you consider her wholy and entirely being all faire or her members and lineaments one by one eies haire and locks teeth lippes temples her neck and both her breasts all in that comlinesse and proportion as is fit both for the discharge of the great duty of the ministery and the common duty of christianity Her eies first how chast they are how simple how douclike if you consider eyther the faithfull Minister the eies and lights of the Church whose care is to present vs chast and pure virgins vnto Christ or the eie of iudgement in euery Christian which maketh the whole body lightsome and keepeth them single and sincere in all things Againe how comely they are within her locks seemelily turned vp for such is both the Churches decency reiecting all toyish ceremonies and the graue and sober cariage of euery Christian And this haire so goodly shining smooth as of fat Goates that feede in fruitfull pastures these ceremonies this carriage orderly sober decent bring that reuerence to a Christian that comlinesse to a Church as make them both gracious VERS 2. Thy teeth are like a flock of euen shorn sheep that come vp from the washing which all of them doe bring forth twinnes and there is not a miscarrying one among them VERS 3. The lips are like a threed of skarlet and thy talke is comely thy temples within thy locks are as a peece of pomegranet VERS 4. Thy neck is as the towre of Dauid built for armories a thousand targets hang therein all shields of mighty men VERS 5 Thy two brests are as two young hindes the twins of a roe which feede among lillies Goe vnto her teeth they are equall shining dowblerewed whereby she cheweth the meate of heauenly doctrine both for her selfe and others The Law of grace is in her skarlet lippes speaking things comely and for edification Temples like a rose to see to of the hew of a Pomegranet bending beyond the haire So naturall is her bewty and her face her owne for what needeth shee the dyings or colourings of worldly glory to set forth her spirituall bewty or of humane wisdome to adorne the simplicity of the Gospell Is her face onely and the parts thereof worthy to bee commended doe not the rest as well excell her neck of holy discipline and gouerment to assist the ministery of the Word and that compleat armour of proofe which euery christian fighteth with holdeth her vp and keepeth her steddy more strong then all the weapons of any tower or armourrie can doe Lastly her pappes plumpe round faire are â—full of all good nourishment of the sincere milke of the word of God that flowes as from a streame out of both her brests of that olde and the new Testament VERS 6. Till that day breath and these shadows flie away I will get mee vnto the Mountaine of Mirrh and to the hill of frankinsense This description done and made an end of now to satisfie her request he promiseth that notwithstanding till the mariage daie doe come when the mistes of sinne ignorance and afliction that are cast in this world before the eies of the Church shall fleete away he must keepe his residence and aboade in Ierusalem that is aboue where are his friends who performe vnto him duties sweeter then mirrh and frankinsence VERSE 7 Thou all faire my fellow friend and not a spot in thee VERS 8. With me from Lebanon my spouse with mee from Lebanon shalt thou come thou shalt looke down from the top of Amana from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the dennes of Lyons from the mountaines of Leopards Yet he will euer be present with his Church by his Word and the power of his spirit sanctifying and cleansing the same vntill being all faire without any spot or wrinckle in her and so fitted and made ready for the wedding day he do receiue her as his spouse that is to say a wife ioyned and married to her husband for so he is bould now to call her in regard of that prefixed time into euerlasting life and crowne her with glory and immortality At what time he saith he will redeeme her wholy and euery part so as not one whom the Father hath giuen vnto Christ shall perish from the most remote places and borders of the Land and out of the clawes of Lyons and Leopards her most cruell fierce barbarous and sauage enemies VERS 9. Thou hast rauished my heart my Sister Spouse Thou hast rauished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy necke The remembrance of this day and of the perfection she now hath in his iudgement estimation of her and then shal actually haue by his benefit bestowed vpon her maketh him to cry out in the passion and vehemency of his loue calling her Sister as being of one nature also his married spouse professing shee hath rauished his heart with the bewty of her lookes with the ornaments of her graces that are as chaines about her neck yea with one looke of faith with that one grace of his sanctifying spirit in her VERS 10. How faire are thy loues my sister spouse how good are thy loues better then wine and the smell of thine ointements better then all spices Amplifying with exclamations the excellency of her loue better then wine and the sweete sauour of her ointements the annointing of his spirit sealing her vp to the day of redemption better in sense and feeling then all spices VERS 11. Thy lips my spouse drop the hony-combe Hony and milke are vnder thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is as the smell of Lebanon Thus hauing declared the feruency of his loue vnto her hee doth by many figures and formes of speech expresse the sweetenesse and the ornaments of her faith and of the fruits that proceed from it Thy lippes saith hee both of them that is in the publique ministery in priuate speech droppe the hony and the hony-combe sweete and heauenly lessons and
washt lest she should beray them that is to say she was loath to giue eare to euery call of Christ for feare of disquieting her selfe of drawing vpon her dangers troubles feares and losses if shee should follow him in all things as if these or ten thousand greater discommodities then these could any way counterpeize or lie in the ballance with the infinite blessings we haue by Christ O flesh and blood how wise art thou to finde out a reason vnto thine owne heart and to haue some blinde excuse or other for that thou wouldest faine doe VERS 3 My wellbeloued let downe his hand from the key-hole when as my bowels earning within mee VERS 4 I rose to open to my well-beloued and my hands dropped Mirrh and my fingers soft Mirrh in the handles of the lock But the end and effect heereof was fearefull Christ so repulsed went his waâ—e so shee lost her loue and could no more finde him and then all too late her heart began to earne shee fell then to haue a compunction of soule remorse of her offence and then foole as shee was when hee was gone shee rose to open vnto him Yet so at the last disposing and framing herselfe vnto his call the very touch of the handle of the lock where Christ departing had left behinde him such fragrant steppes and impressions of his fauour by the blessing and sweet smelling sauour of his Gospell brought her to a consideration of her most vnworthy fact VERS 5. I opened to my well beloued but my well-beloued withdrewe himselfe he passed away I fell into a sound because of his speaking I sought him but I could not finde him I cryed on him but he answered me not And was enough now to make her to arise and open vnto him departed and gone away whom present before and requesting it shee had reiected O then what would haue been the comfort if when he was at the doore hee had beene let in and entertained Well shee openeth now but her loue is gone Then strook with a conscience of her sinne shee falleth into a swowne to thinke of his kinde and louing words which shee so scornefully set at naught shee seckes him by meditation of the Word by calling to minde the promises of the Gospell and his former mercies but shee cannot finde him she cryeth vpon him with praiers teares weepings and lamentations but hee will not answere VERS 6. The watchmen that goe about the Citie found me they smote mee they wounded mee the keepers of the walles tooke my vaile from mee Yet shee supported by his Spirit not casting off her faith continueth to seeke him still and passeth petills past beleefe The Minâ—sters themselues and watchmen of the Church of God â— hose part it was to gard her were the first that did her wrong smote and wounded her tender conscience and in steed of speaking a word in due time to the wearied and distressed soule did euen take her vaile from her and beate her from holding fast her reuerend obedience and subiection vnto Christ VERSE 7 I adiure you ye daughters of Ierusalem if ye finde my wellbeloued what you should tell him that I am sick of loue Wherefore finding no comfort where in reason it was most to be expected she getteth her to the maydens her friends and fellows though not so well acquainted with Christ as shee To them she is more bold to impart the ardency of her affection asketh them after Christ adiureth them both themselues to take knowledge of it and to let her loue vnderstand how she doth affect him The Maydens the CHVRCHES friends VERS 8. What is thy well-beloued aboue an other well-beloued O thou fairest among weomen what is thy well-beloued aboue an other well-beloued that thus thou doest adiure vs CHVRCH VERS 9. My well-beloued is white aud ruddie fitted for a standard-bearer aboue ten thousand They wondring at her passion as vnacquainted with such moods enquire what is in her loue aboue other loues that shee doth so long and thirst after him Whereupon she taketh occasion to describe her loue First by the bewty and excellency of his colour signifying his holinesse and perfect happinesse white and red mixed together with that temper that is in the best and strongest complexions enabling him to doe any feate of actiuity aboue ten thousand other For who but hee can sustaine the furie of the battailes of God and yet goe away with the honor and glory of the field or of whom but of him alone can it bee said that hee hath a crowne giuen vnto him and goeth forth ouercomming and must ouercome VERS 10. His head excellent gold fined his locks curled black as a rauen Secondly by the members and lineaments of his body head haire cies cheeks lips hands breasts legges looke pallate and to conclude his whole selfe His head wherein the grace of his humane nature standeth precious as the most excellent gold pure bright shining as gold fined seauen times for euen in his humanity hee is the engrauen forme of the person of his Father and the resplendence of his glory His haire first black as a rauen then coloured and crisped so faire hee is in the very least ornaments of nature more then the sonnes of men VERS 11. His eies as doues eies by the streames of waters washed with milke it selfe set in cunningly His eies haue a threefold quality to commend them by First amiable as the doues as the neate and the dainty doues by the water side in the gracious and comfortable looke which hee casteth on his Church Secondly white as milke and shining with white because hee is more pure of eies then that hee can behold iniquity Thirdly set in the hollow places as fit and with as great art and cunning as a stone by the artificers hand is set into a ring so guiding and directing his sight to looke perfectly into all things yea into the depth of the secret of mens hearts VERS 12. His cheekes like a bedde of Spice growne plants of perfume his lips to Lillies dropping soft mirrh His cheekes goodly and flourishing with a freshe and sweet beard like a bedde of spices like growne plants that serue for perfume Such a grace and grauity doth hee carrie His lips in themselues as lillies redolent for the smell comely in proportion to vs full of heauenly grace sweetnesse of most comfortable doctrine which droppeth from him as liquid or softmirrh VERS 13. Vpon his hands are rings of gold set with Chrysolite in his bowels is a shining as of Iuory ouerlaide with Saphires His hands are set forth with al ornaments precious shining rings of gold set with the Crysolite to note that not his person onelie but al his actions done by the instrument of the hand the whole gouernement and administration of his kingdom is full of maiesty and glorie His brest and all his bodie for that is to be vnderstood by the bowels that are within hath a shyning like
the Countrey let vs lodge by the Cypres Then she rouseth vp her dul hâ—auy spirits praying him not alone and by himselfe apart to spend his howers in obseruing of the time of their spirituall marriage as hee said before he did since shee also had a care and longing to haue the same consummate as well as he VERS 3 Let vs get vp early to the vine-yards let vs see if the vine budde the first grape open the pomgranets sprout there will I giue my Loues to thee Promising withall not to be found henceforth vnready not to be any more so drousie so sluggish so wretchlesse as shee was but hereafter night and day to watch and attend that hower and to enquire and learne after all the signes tokens when shee may come to be perfectly knit to Christ VERS 4 These louely flowers that giue a smel about our gates all precious things new and also old my well-beloued I keepe in store for thee In the third place shee consecrateth all shee hath vnto him and vndertaketh in the meane time against the solemnization of that marriage to prouide all manner of presents flowers garlands and the like which men at such times are wont to straw at the thresholds and in the entries That is to furnish her selfe with spirituall graces and to lay vp in store plenty and variety of heauenly treasure things both new and old VERS 5. O that thou wert as a brother vnto me sucking the brests of my mother finding thee without I would kisse thee also I should not be despised But because there rest two great workes to bee accomplished before that time can come the manifesting of God in the flesh and the calling of the Gentiles in them both shee sheweth her ardent affection and therein the aboundance of her loue and zeale to Christ Fourthly therefore you haue her desire which was the desire of all the prophets and holy men to see the day of Christ the day of his comming in the flesh that hee might be her brother and suck the brests of her mother naturally of the virgin spiritually of the Church vniuersall where Christ is borne in the hearts of the faithfull by his Word and Spirit for so comming among his owne she his owne and his onely owne would kisse him and receiue him both by faith and sense when shee should see with her eies that Word of life and behold him and her hands should feele and handle him So shold she be free from the scorns of wicked men their contumelies and despites that reproach the steppes of Gods Messias and vexe and molest the Church whilest shee is in the expectation of that happie day VERS 6. I would leade thee I would bring thee into the house of my mother which teacheth me I would giue thee to drinke of spiced wine of the iuice of the pomegranets Then saith shee there should be no delay this this should be the marriage day I would euen now without more adoe bring you into my mothers house which teacheth instructeth me in all piety and good offices to you-wards into the Catholick Church of God that all growing vp into one bodie whereof my spouse is the head I might at the last be presented as a chaste and pure virgin glorious to the Lord. Then would I giue him pleasures and delights for a King and entertaine him with a most royall banquet of the graces of Gods spirit VERS 7. His left hand vnder my head and his right hand embracing me VERS 8. I adiure you yee daughters of Ierusalem why should you stirre vp or why should you waken this loue vntill he please I haue sweete fellowshippe and rest with him neyther whilest thus I were in his armes and vnder his embracings should any the least offence be giuen to him I would be carefull to shunne all occasions of any more displeasing my loue or of causing him to retire from me VERS 9. Who is she that commeth vp out of the wildernesse ready to ioyne her selfe to her welbeloâ—ed vnder the very Appletree I waken thee where thy mother was in labour of thee where she was in labour that bare thee Hauing thus set forth her desire of Christs incarnation now shee bestoweth many sweete and gracious words to expresse and amplifie the vehemencie of this loue First by the duties shee will performe vnto him great in themselues but greater if you compare these duties of hers with those that are to be looked for from other women Was there euer saith shee any woman in the world that would endure those labours and take vpon her such perills as I doe to ioyne herselfe to her beloued But I by faith ouercome all difficulties to come to thee It is a small thing in myne eies which to others seemes so hard to put off the old man to renounce this present wicked world wherin is no pleasure nor sound delight but a very wildernesse and a desert that I may finde thee out and present my duties to thee euen in that sweete and blessed place where thy mother after the manner of other women sinne excepted fell in trauaile of thee Let me for the certeinety and secret of this wonderful hidden mystery once againe speake it where shee fell in trauaile that did beare thee This labour this toyle may bee an argument what and how great my loue is vnto thee VERS 10. O set me as a seale on thy heart as a seale on thine arme for loue is strong as death zeale hard as the graue The Coales thereof are Coales nay a fire of the flame of Iah O doe thou loue me again for this loue should be mutuall Haue me in thy minde with an earnest and continuall remembrance of me set me before thine eies imprint me vpon thine hand as an inseperable ornament of thy glory so as the wife is to her husband The second amplification of her loue is by the properties adioyned to it set forth by many elegant and apt similitudes It is most vehement most ardent most constant like to death which deuoureth all or as the dominion of death which ouercommeth all God himselfe the mighty IAH hath kindled it in our hearts by the powerfull light of his holy spirit neuer to goe out VERS 11 Much waters cannot quench this loue nor the flouds drown it If a man would giue all the substance of his house for this loue it should vtterly be contemned It is firme inuincible that neither force â—raud nor promises troubles and persecutions pleasures or commodities no height or depth things present or things to come are able to preuaile against it CHAP. VIII CHVRCH VERSE 1 We haue a sister a little one and she hath no brests what shall we doe for our sister in the day that she shall be talked of FIfthly the Church of Solomons time as maimed and imperfect till the fulnesse of the Gentiles should com in which then were a fewe and rarely called and without any ministery