inhabitants who quickly found the poor Jews wandring in the dark being raised from her bed in the dead of the night of the Antichristian state Note The Ministery of Antichrist are watchmen of the night and the people all under them asleep and quiet the Ministery would not suffer any to wake or trouble them at all out of that spirituall slumber they were over-taken with by the wine of fornication they drank out of Antichrists cup her false doctrine To whom I said is not in the Hebrew Saw ye him whom my soul loveth The Jew seems to enquire of the Ministery of Antichrist concerning Christ 1. She found him not 2. They in the dark knew him not 3. Or had they they would have slain him sooner than her who walked in the dark with them neither of them knowing where they went they wanting Christ the light to shew them 4. They give her no answer and shew their ignorance of Christ or were not willing to talk much of him for fear of an Inquisition and said nothing worth remembrance or were dumb dogs and could not bark Vers 4. She passed from them She saw no good to come from them nor no furtherance in the matter she desired of them and therfore leaves them for Antichristian as they were and their city also Sure the name of the city the esteem of a church drew the Jew to look for Christ in Babel but was deceived Sure where Christ is that city suffers no night as Babel doth and did do as Rev. 21.23 25. 2. It was but a little after that she had upon inquiry rejected the Antichristian worrhip and church but she found him whom her soul loved 3. She took hold of him that is in his truth by believing on and receiving of him for her Lord John 1.12 4. She would not let him go when she had him Some of her Rabbies would take him from her The Greek {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Antichrists Ministry it may be fall to disswading of her or to persecuting her or Christ to stir up her love the more seems willing to leave her as those Luke 24.28 29. 5. She brings him that is the restored Church of the Jews bring Christ into her mothers house that is into the first estate of the church set up by the Apostles called Jerusalem from above which shews the new Jerusalem to be differs not from that that the Apostles set up in their days in form or ministry or administrations 6. Into the chamber of her that conceived me by the chamber is here meant in particular the ministry of the Teacher in which the soul was baptized and made a member of the church by the first minister God shall raise up to restore her Verse 5. Is an admonition to the Iews of a general Apostacy after the thousand yeer as before to the Gentiles in their period Cap. 2. verse 7. That this second Part undeniably concerns the State of the Jews Church is very clear 1. In that the voice of the Beloved began the church or rather made way for it going before Christ being the Baptist who onely taught among the Iews 2. Christ the Turtle was only heard in Iewry 3. The Vine of the Iews was only pruned and was that into which the Gentiles were grafted in 4. Christ he calls and then sends out the Apostles and calls again and then the seventy and calls again before the church constitution which was not so done among the Gentiles 5. The Foxes were indeed the envious Iudaizing unsound Iews Gal. 2.4 6. The Iews indeed have gone about the city wandring all over the Roman Empire or Antichristian estate in the night state thereof as no Nation or People have in like kind bin dispersed as they have bin from the beginning 7. All these so are spoken of the Gospel estate and of the Iew that they cannot be spoken of the time before Christ nor of the Gentile churches or Nations 3. General part prophetically shews the restauration of the Kingdom under Christ in the Iudicial rule and Gospel Cap. 3. Verse 6. Who is this which shews the government of the Law should be a strange thing when it should appear and so should the Gospel also 2. It comes out of the wilderness the Antichristian estate 3. It arises as pillars of smoak dark like vapors as having nothing in it discerned to be substantial but only a vanishing thing 4. But perfumed having a sweet savour of Myrrhe and Frankincense Gods wisdom and goodnes manifesting it self therein after a divine way 5. With all the powders of the Merchant that is the practise of the Apostles and the people of God should appear together in it as in the churches Note She begins with the Law rule first and shews that that is first to be restored in time and order Verse 7. Behold his bed a bed in this Scripture is taken for a way of worship which is either true or false 2. This bed is that which was Solomons which is that Christ the true King should reign over men in the way of the Law government when such as were under that Rule should worship God according to Moses as under Solomon they did 3. This being brought forth threescore valiant men come to set it up and to defend it against the opposition of the many enemies it shall have and they are of Israel that is Men seeing God overcoming Esau 4. They are called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} being like Sampson or Davidâ—s Worthies in which it appears that but few will stand out in this work of the Reformation of the Law-rule especially of Magistrates and these are such as are full of vertue others fall off and faint in the way of the work Sixty are numbred to do the work 5. They all hold Swords and will not let them go must and will fight it out against the opposers of this glorious and heavenly work of God 6. They are expert in War men that are of approved Valour and tryed strength in Battel that know when and how to use their weapons being a time of war 7. Every one hath his Sword on his thigh that is girt on for the Battel 8. The reason is because of the fears of the Night 1. The Night here signifies the state of the world under Antichrist it is the state of night and darkness as the state of Christ is the state of the day and light 2. In this Night-time arise many terrors and fears through the treachery and perfidiousness of the men of the Anti-christian estate 3. In all this it appears that the Restauration of the worship and way of God National is to be by Gods appointment restored by the Sword as Israel out of Egypt was when the Church estate is to be restored in the Spirit of meekness to which this serves and makes way for 4. During the Night estate there is no safety nor security to be expected Verse 9. King Salomon
the Gospel Ver. 3. Concludes with a now full possession of Christ saying I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine that is she was now possessed of Christ and Christ possessed of her 2. He feedeth amongst the Lillies the Saints and he feed together as it is in Cap. 5. Ver. 1. in which the Spirit concludes as in the full happinesse of the Saints on earth it consisting in the fellowship of God and Christ so ends this part as he did the former in Cap. 5. Ver. 1. How eminently and evidently this sets out the invisible church estate under Antichrist appears 1. Her heart onely wakes that is the Saints had fellowship with Christ invisibly though the way of the Gospell externally in Ministery Baptism c. were destroyed she was in the night deprived of light and cast asleep with the rest of the Antichristian estate only her heart was awake that is some were stirred up to believe and love and own Christ internally by the spirit in that time of night was come upon her 2. The Gentiles they by the advice of the Ministery and councells of the Bishops of the first true church who were lead away by the actings of Antichrist and their own evill ends and hearts to fullfill the mind of God and make way for the man of sin by their Apostacy in the first putting off of her coat though inwardly were checked by their consciences for what they had done against the truth yet cry how shall I put it on when they never were troubled at the putting of it off at all 3. Some remaining knowledge there was of Christ all the 1â—60 daies desolation of the church among the believers by which he stirs and rowseth up the believers from the false and ertonious practises in the Lords worship practised among men 4. On the first opening to Christ she finds at first as it were but a withdrawing of Christ but after Christ being at a greater distance from her there is a calling for him 5. In this departure of Christ the Saints are in the city Babel called the Wildernesse baptized by Antichrist which the Jews were not they refusing to be baptized 6. There they are discerned by the Priests who by the help of the Pope deprive the church of all her ornaments and priviledges which was done long after the fall of the Jews and their church estate About Luthers time a diligent and open inquiry is made for Christ the Gentiles who retained the profession and knowledge of Christ come to set forth to the Iew the description of him untill which time Christ is hid to the Iew which occasions the Iew to turn seeker with the Gentile after him 5. Generall part concernes the Iewish Nation Begins Cap. 6. Verse 4. with the Nationall Rule as before with the Gentiles Thou art beautifull O my Love as Tirzah That this concernes the Iewish estate eminently appears in the following description made of the Nationall church estate this here being the same with Cap. 4.1.2.3.4 the one pertained to the Gentile State the other the Iewish as in many other things after will appeare 1 Tirzah was a very beautifull city built by Solomon but after proved rebellious which sets out the former state of the Iews first to have been a very delightfull people to God who after turned Rebells and now again at their restoration to their first estate of being Gods people they should be as beautifull as ever they had been in the eyes of their God 2. Comely as Ierusalem in this he alludes to the church estate and proves that herein God intends the restoration of both and both are intended in this Scripture 3. Terrible as an army with banners ready fitted to fight with their enemies which shews that the Church and state of the Jews will be restoâ—ed by a war in which they will become very terrible to their enemies V. 5. Turn away thine eys from me by eys here are meant those first that call the Jews who are as their eys and who usually called their Prophets Seersturning them to God 2. They have overcome me as Jacob prevail'd with God so will the Iews now also an eminent sign of their conquering all things else having prevail'd with God Gen. 32. ver. 26.28 3. Turn away thine eyes is no more then that of God to Moses when he was in most earnest wise seeking Gods face for the people who said to him let me alone that I may destroy them Exod. 32.10 11 12. and Exod. 14.15 Why cryest thou to me speak to the children of Israel that they go forward 4 The words after in this and the next verse are the same with Cap. 4. as above only for {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in cap. 4. ver. 2. here in v. 6. is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which is indeed a flock of sheep when the other word comprehends other cattell as well as sheep which shews that the Gospell estate among the Gentiles should be restored before the call of the Jews so those that teach them the Law shall be sheep men of the true Church as the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ought to be by the Rule of the Gospell 5. That that is contained in cap. 4. ver. 4. of the Tower of David and the Neck with the Shields is not set down here but in the former signifying that the Gentiles should he called first and that consequently the Word and Ministery should now go forth thence as from the mother Church as before it had done from the Iews that they without us might not be perfect 6. This is an Argument if that God restore the Gentile Church first that then what was set down before was of the Gentiles this of the Iew in which is fullfilled that Gospell truth the first shall be last tho last first Matthew 20.16 Ver. 8. There are sixty Queens that is Churches rightly constituted according to the pattern of the Gospell 2. Eighty Concubines which are such as Hagar was and signified the societies under the Catechist who yet have not been united to Christ by covenant nor are not made free by the Gospell 3. Virgins without number which are believers willing and ready fitted to be married to Christ in the way of the Gospell 4 In this ye may see the spirit respects not only the Church but those that are friends of the Bridegroom as John the Baptist said of himself and his society Mr. Brightman would understand by the Queens the purest Churches and the concubines dignantur thoro Injoy the bed but have not the right or splendor of the wifes nor are they possessed of Dowry nor are their children to inherit the right of the estate being Hagars or the Law Sons the Virgins are in the last place who have food in the house c. when indeed nor Virgins nor concubines since the Gospell estate have not been in nor of the house but are cast out under the
small in compare of the Gentiles 3. Hence I suppose that by the little sister is meant part of the Iewish Nation which being dispersed in the most remote parts of the earth some after the call of the body of the Nation are not called nor have no means thereunto implyed in this she hath no breasts 4. Christ here with the Iews calls them his sister with the Gentiles Churches 5. What shal we do for our sister she willingly would be doing for and not talking of her only and is the same in effect as is expressed Cap. 7.11 12. 6. She hath no breasts or true and lawfull Ministry which cannot be the Iews speaking of the Gentiles who had Ministry before them nor do I think it to be the Gentiles speaking of the Iews but the Iews speaking of some of their own Tribes It may be Dan not mentioned at the first sealing Rev. 7. but after to be called last of all 7. In the day the word shall be made to be spoken to her and doth signify the effectualness of the word at the time God hath appointed for her call though before she opposed the word and did not obey the call as the rest had done Verse 9.1 If she be a wall let us build on her a silver Tower the words are the words of Christ in answer to the Churches question before 2. If she be a door we will inclose her with boards of Cedar Ver. 10. I am a wall the holy City or new Jerusalem is set out by its walls and gates of which here the Jews church saith that she is a wall the word coms from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} â—ocer she and the Gentiles joyned by the corner stone Christ now into one frame of building 2. Her brests are as Towers being abundant in knowledge and in the wisdome of the Gospell in which she was exalted very high 3. Then saith she was I in his eyes that is Christs as one that found favour being beloved and esteemed of him Part 10. Cap. 8. Ver. 11. 1. There was a Vineyard to Solomon with the Lord of the multitudes that is the Nationall Church under the Rule of Moses was Nationall with that of the world called Satans the Lord of the multitude 2 He let forth this Vineyard to keepers that is to the Judges of the Cities 3. Every man brought with his fruit that is his own obedience of the Law a thousand silverlings that is the grace of the Gospell which is in Christ to be justified or he could not be accepted in himself Ver. 12. The Vineyard that are to me saith Christ are mine which is the Church estate under the Gospell 2. They are said to be before Christ in Christs presence he himself watcheth them he walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks Rev. 1.13 and is alway vvith them and among them and in them being another way provided for then that of Solomons and receives all the fruit of it himself 3. He shews Solomons Vineyard was divided in the fruit of it 1000. Solomon had and 200. the keepers for keeping the fruit Note This is a key to this book and shews that the Vineyard sometimes is to be understood by the Nationall sometime by the Gospell Church Ver. 13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken unto thy voice This friends is a wonder in which the fall and cestation of the false Ministers and Ministery is foretold 1. The companions are such as by their own authority set up Churches and use the authority power and word of Christ without his leave 2. These a long time oppose the truth and true way of Christ and at last are by the grace of God perswaded to obedience deny their way see their folly and evill committed against the Gospell 3. The Church which had heard it cries cause me to hear it which shews none can hear it but those are made to hear Conclusion Ver. 14. 1. Fly O my beloved or hasten O my beloved the fullfilling of these things in us the Jews and Gentiles make us one in thee and in thy faith according to thy word 2. Assimilate thy self to the Tzebi O take on thee the nature of poor man as thou hast said O thou that art the glory of the Father as God and of man as man 3. Or be thou in thy celerity as the young hart hunted on the mountains so haste in thy coming unto us in which she ingeminates her desires to Christ 4. Come unto us upon the mountains of spices 1. He came filled with the Godhead anoynted with the spirit possessed with all authority of the Father for to be King Priest and Prophet to his people 2. He had all power in heaven and earth to do what he would give what and take what he would of life for man 3. As man he was in all things tempted like unto us and therefore knew how to pity those that came to God by him Note On these and the other Mountains of God and grace did he come as the church desired him to come that coming they might not find any emptinesse in him for whom their souls longed and in vvhom all fullnesse is to dvvell Who came from the Mountains of Spices that are in God into the gardens of Spices that are in the church or Saints of Gods election The things that are predicted in this propheticall Song I verily believe vvill most certainly in their appointed time be accomplished of vvhich vvith the Prophet David and the Apostle Paul in their time I cannot but to the Generation present speak these things for I believe and therefore speak that the praise of God this glory and vvisdome of Jesus Christ may be seen and admired of us and that vve occasion not our ruine by crossing his purposes but use the means and vvalk in the vvay appointed for the hastning our happinesse not come to be broken to povvder by falling on the Stone in Zion or the stones falling on us vvhich I advise all the men on earth this day to bevvare in this great day of the visitations of the Lord God Almighty vvhose fire is novv in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem and he about to accomplish his vvork his strange vvork among the sons of men and vvho shall hinder the Almighty who vvill both root up and plant the Nations of the earth again and make Zion his 〈◊〉 the praise of all the earth for evermore Amen FINIS There are sundry errors on this Treatise the Author being not present at the printing of most of it which he desires thee to passe by and especially to supply what is wanting in p. 18. l. ult. cap. 6. by reading I have another baptism to be baptized vvith and hovv c. In the Introduction to the Exposition l. 11. for the Mosaicall Rule read the Leveticall Ministery set up by Moses THere are three books which have in them Braine for Brayne which concerne my self 1. A Treatise written against Mr. John Duryes Notes in defence 〈◊〉 the present Ministery 2. A Treatise concerning the call of the now Ministery dedicated 〈◊〉 the Honerable the Parliament of England 3. A Letter written by Dr. Chamberlaine to me in the defence of the authority of such as now baptize believers
new covenant as Hagar was which served as an Allegory to shew what was to be done with them under the Gospell and so applied at large by the Apostle Gal. 4. from ver. 22. to the end Note The only thing that seems to oppose this is in the next words ver. 9. Ver. 9. My Dove my undefiled is one then you may say how are they sixty Queens to be understood the Churches 1. To which I answer when the Churches are said to be sixty it is to be understood the Lord speaks of severall Churches under particular Evangelists Pastors Teachers set up in severall Cities as in the first setting up of the Churches in the Gospell 2. When he speaks of the Church as one 1. He speaks of the Elect as they are immediatly joyned to Christ by the Spirit he the Head they the Members they all his wife and he their husband 2. They are said to be one as having one Spirit Faith Baptism Lord Discipline and are not as the false Church some Papists Protestants Lutherians c. 3. It shews the Unity God will give in the world to all true Churches at the restoration thereof 4. Having spoke briefly of all in this verse 8. he speaks mor particularly of them and begins with the Queens or true Church estate 1. She is the only one of her Mother by her Mother is meant the first Church at Jerusalem which was the Mother Church of all as the Apostle Gal. 4.26 2. No Church constituted by any will be more perfect then the Church that is to be of this estate Hence she is said to be the only one and the choice one of her that bare her 3. The Daughters here are set before the Queens which I take to be 1. Either the Churches constituted in the Apostles time whose writings will commend her and pronounce her blessed 2. Because it is said they saw her the Virgins here may be meant who being extremely affected with her and filled with a desire of her are said to pronounce her blessed 3. The Queens and Concubines praise her that is are satisfied that that is the true grace of God in which the Church then stands Note That this is meant of the Jews estate 1. Appears in that the Law estate is set before Cap. 4.1 2 3. 2. It being set down here without difference of the former proves that though it be the same thing yet they were to be fullfilled not in the same people but one in the Gentiles the other in the Jews 3. The Gentiles appearance is set out by Galeed Laban a Heathen covenanting with Jacob there the Jews in Tirzah a City built by a King who as the Jews turned Rebels and are again to be restored 4. Here both are set down together Tirzah and Jerusalem but not in the Gencile estate to shew that the Jews had both these administrations before and should have them again 6. Generall is that of the Jews Church estate Cap. 6. Ver. 10. Who is she that looketh forth as the Morn 1. The first appearance of the truth is a strange thing to that people 2. She peeps out at first among them as the Morn out of a dark night in which is the beginning of light among them 3. Fair as the Moon truth in a more glorious way being manifested to them then before but yet not manifested as the truth is indeed but as it were a light of night this is no lesse true in the coming forth of the Gentile then the Jews Church light 4. Truth appears in its most glorious brightnesse being as the Sun which is the day light in which all things are clear and the shadows are driven away that are of the night 5. It becomes with this spirituall blessing honored with victory over the enemies of the truth and is terrible to them 6. In this is shewed that the Jews are delivered by the sword or war from the enemies of her cause and liberty and that they will be terrible to them as Zachary hath foretold Cap. 12. from ver. 1. to the 9. Ver. 11. Upon this Christ manifests his presence among them saying I went down into the garden of Nuts to see the fruits of the valley 1. The Jews are indeed in the valley of distresse and suffering in a very low and servile condition {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the sorrows of the valley 2. In this estate they now begin to seek God in Christ as Hosea foretold Cap. 2. that they should have the valley of Achor or trouble given them for a door of hope and they should sing there as in the day God brought them up out of the Land of Egypt 3. As in Egypt God came down to visit the Jews in their affliction Exod 3.7 8. so now Christ saith I went down into the garden of Nuts not of Spices to see the fruits of the valley 4. To see where the Vine flourished by the Vine in this place I understand the true knowledge of the Law and Justice which is the flourishing of the Vine 5. And the Pomgranats by the Pomgranats I understand the writings of the Apostles or men having the spirit and Church Authority as buds from the Apostles to reveal the Gospell truth to men Ver. 12. Christ being among the Jews his grace so wrought in and upon that people that before he was aware the Hebrew reads I knew not my soul in which Christ was as it were in an extasie and surprized with admiration of what was done in them 2. His soul placed him as on wheels to that honorable people by which he could not retain his love from them but must as the father to the prodigall son run to him fall on them weep over them and kisse them in which we may see Christ loveth not as man loveth he loved them as an honorable people still God having honored them with many honors above all the Nations of the earth Ver. 13. Return return O Shulamit the Shulamit was a Virgin sought out for David in his age who is said to be very fair 1 Kings 1.3.4 and that she ministred to King David or the beloved King 1. Return return signifies a call ministred to them to return to God and his truth 2. They are not yet fully informed nor called from the world and their other wayes therefore he calls again return return 3. This may allude to the call of the Jews into their own Countrey from the Nations they are mixt among when and where they will only attain their perfect glory 4. That we that is that Christ and the Gentile Churches thy sister may look on thee or contemplate thy beauty 5. What will ye see in the Shulamite as it were the company of two Armies 1. It seems to me God holds forth in this Question and Answer some noteable â—hing stirring men up thereby to an inquirie after it 2. Which I take to be applied to the two calls 3. These two calls raise two Armies 4.
37 Ezek. 1.12 when God brings the Iews out of their graves and bone and flesh and skin and breath by the ministery in the four winds come on them and restore them 6. God here understands not any particular Nations or Churches nor is it warrantable to apply them so the Scripture of the Old Testament comprehending all under the two generall tearms of the Iews and Gentiles it is true Prophecy speaks of the states of the world in particular as the four Empires and the ten Kingdomes and their periods but for the Church in Prophecy the spirits purpose is after the call of the Iews Gentiles before which they vvere two but after speaks of them as one for that that of Paul and Johns writing of particular Churches and naming them warrants not us where that particular is not spoken of but generall only ver. 8. of this chap. hath the signification of some high matter of which I shall say something when I come to speak thereof 8. Leauing on her belowed that is depending on the strength help and power of Christ to bring her thence against the povver of her opposers 8. I raised thee up under the apple tree by the apple tree is meant Christ Cant. 2.3 the apple tree among the trees Christ among other Kings is as the apple tree among the fruitlesse trees of the wood 2. Under it that is Christ coming to take a people to himself in the vvay of the old Covenant nationally the Iew grows jealóus that God hath put him avvay and taken another people to himself to vvife vvhich raiseth them up Deut. 32.21 Rom. 10.19 Luke 15.28.29 3. By I raised thee up is meant Christ raised her up who speaks here and the vvord is I made thee to be raised up 4. The vvord for leaning on may be read sticks unto or joyned unto her beloved to shevv that the people sticking to or joyned to Christ at the churches coming up from the desert vvere not knovvn to the vvorld 9. There thy mother brought thee forth in the old Covenant 10. There again thy mother brought thee forth in the New Covenant 11. She that bare thee which was the first Church owned by Jesus Christ now that this concerned the Jevvs Church is clear for as yet none but the Jews have enjoyed both Covenants Verse 6. Set me as a seal upon thy heant they are the words of Christ to the Church after he had raised her up signifying that he desired nothing of her for all he had done for her but her love 2. That he should be the seal of her heart whence she should let nothing go without his leave to any nor to worship love or fear any besides himself all being to be shut up to him and for him 3. Set me as a seal upon thy seed our translation reads on thy arm by the seal here I understand Baptisme which all the seed of the Church were to be sealed with that is set apart from others to Jesus Christ which time state and work is foretold by John Revel. 7.2 where the Man that God authorizeth in his name to constitute the church is said to be an Angel having the seal of God who sealed the Jews tribes verse 4. to the 8. Note The Reasons why Christ requires the Church thus to set him as a seal on her heart and on her children are set down in that that remains of this verse and in the seventh verse Reason 1. Love is strong as death as death overcomes all men so love overcomes all things in man crucifies and subdueth all things to Jesus Christ Reason 2. Or thus as if Christ should say my love to thee made me dye for thee and now if thou shouldst not love me and set me as a seal upon thy heart it would prove again as strong as death was to me when I dyed Reason 3. Jealousie is as the grave for cruelty God is set forth to be a jealous God over the Jews in the first Covenant Christ in the second but Christs jealousie is of the heart that the Church loves not so singly cordially spiritually the Lord her husband as she ought Which as the grave he would devour all that in heart adulterated the Covenant or Marriage-bed of Christ Reason 4. The coles thereof are the coles that the fire Jah hath kindled here some only use the word Jah as a Hebraisme to set forth the greatness or vehemency of the flame of it but I rather do thus understand them the coles of this jealousie are kindled by the fire or heat of zeal that is from Jah or Jehovah my God-head to whom all is due and with whom none is to be Corrival Verse 5. Many waters cannot quench love in which Christ would again mitigate the expression used before in which his love as jealousie was as fire or a flame coles to consume a consuming fire now shews that many or much waters cannot quench his love and whereas the Apostle saith love covereth a multitude of sins so sin like water here though it abound in the Saints yet it cannot quench the flame of Gods love nor can the floods that is some exceeding gluts of sin on some temptations they neither cannot drown it but love will exceed them and be above them 6. If a man would give all the substance of his house with a lover it would be utterly despised Christ applies most sweetly in these words to shew the effects of a faithful woman loving her husband saying if a man would intice her to adulterate her husbands bed and to offer to give her the substance of his house she would in despising despise it that is exceeding contemn him and them now saith Christ if a woman will do this for her husband that loves him how canst thou say thou lovest me and not do the like have not I deserved more of thee then any man of any woman Our ordinary Translation to me seems strange I know no right sense can be given of it which saith if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be despised 1. As if the Church could not obtaine Christs love or as if she were to buy it 2. As if Christ could not or had not purchased the Churches love But if ye take the words as I have read them before 1. Ye have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a man offering then {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with a lover in the feminine with a woman loving her husband it would be despised which shew that the contempt is said to be of the woman tempted by any to folly against her husband that she loveth Part. 9. Cap. 8. Ver. 8. We have a little sister and she hath no breasts Note By the little sister cannot be meant the Gentiles 1. They are called before the Iews and the Iews have their Call and Ministry from the Gentiles at their Restauration 2. The Iews Church will be
These Armies are raised on two grounds one for the Law and its Rule the oâ—her for the Gospell and its Rule which it is like will be done in two severall Nations in the world at two distinct times though not one long distant from the other in time 5. This is more clear if you apply what was said before more generally in ver. 4. Tirzah the one Jerusalem the other which are said to be terrible as an Army with Banners So ver. â—0 Fair as the Moon the state Rule Clear as the Sun the Church Rule terrible as an Army of Banners 6. Or if you take ver. 4. Tirzah and Jerusalem for the State the Morne Moon and Sun ver. 10. for the Church to which two there are two Armies said to be terrible to their enemies on which two and the things done by them the other Gentile Churches look and wonder at what they hear thereof reported CAP. VII MAtth. 3.11 Johns Ministery is compared to an untying of the latchet of the shoe Christs Ministery the shoe it self who as the Apostle 2 Cor. 2.16 cries out of his unworthinesse therefore Ver. 1. How beautifull are thy feet with shoes For the understanding whereof see Ephes. 6.15 having your feet shod with the preparations of the Gospell of peace where note there is the Gospell and the preparation of the Gospell the preparation of the Gospell is that Scripture and obedience that is required of men to believe and obey before admission to the Saints Society which is their repentance leaving all hearing the Crosse and following Christ which prepares for the Gospell to be taught and applyed to all such and before men are prepared thus they cannot have the Gospell to be applied to them which is called the key of knowledge 2. The church being thus prepared are said to have shooes on their feet 1. By which they obey God and walk in his way comfortably without offence when those want these shoes in stony or thorny ground cannot walk but be offended at every command and suffering or losse 2. If we take for the feet the affections it shews that those have these shoes on of the preparation of the Gospel love God indeed there is nothing will be able to hinder their love from him 3. The Preposition {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies in in shooes and shews these shooes did beautifie her feet that is her obedience to God 4. The Apostle and Prophet Esay 52.7 and Rom. 10.15 speak of the feet and the beauty of them when without shooes and the Preparation is not mentioned at all 5. Here the church is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is excellent daughter 6. The turning round of thy thighes are like the Ornaments made by the hands of a faithfull workman it being a custome in those daies that the bride like a girdle wore the work of some curious Artist Gifford But here the Spirit rather alludes to a joynt in the body to which also the Apostle speaking of the church doth the same Ephes. 4.16 from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth and thus also our translation reads it Col. 2.10 And not holding the head from which all the body by joynts and ligaments having nourishment ministred and knit together c. Note This Joynt some way sets forth the Ministery in the feet by vvhich the people were joyned together in the body 2 Cor. 8.4 Heb. 13.7.17 which is here said to be as a precious Jewell and effected or set up and restored to the church by one that is faithfull both to God and the people doing according to the will of God therein Now it is to be observed that that joyns the head or Christ and the church is the neck which is the Gospell covenant and that that joynts the minister ano people who is the servant of the church is this joynt of the thigh Note Farther the Spouse describing Christ begins at the head but the Spirit describing the church begins at the shooes then the feee and so upwards to the head upwards Ver. 2. Thy navell is as a round goblet that is not without mixture the word retunditas is taken from the full Moon and signified an Ornament among women as in Esay 3. 1. Note the navell of the church is that whence the Saints have nutriment which is not without mixture there being some that are hypocrites get in to be among the believers as Judas among the Apostles Simon Magus among believers of that Church 2. As the church is not without mixture of men so is not left without a mixture of administrations as well having a power to cast forth as to receiue into the Church all which was done in love as proceeding from the womb of affections 3. These administrations are excellently set out by a cup in which the authority of Christ is designed there being a cup of salvation a cup of death Thus Christ can you drink of the cup I shall drink of Mark 10.39 4. The word for the Navell is taken for the middle of a thing which shews that men were brought in or cast out by consent of all 1 Cor. 5.4.5 Jude 4. Gal. 2.4 the churches loosenesse in this work brought the confusion that was on the then churches Note To this Navell he adds next the belly in which the Saints as a heap of wheat lie and are ministred unto 2. They are hedged or compassed about with lillies that is some eminent men who are intrusted with the care of rule and oversight over them as Elders and Deacons who as lillies ought to be full of innocency and holinesse men for wisdome Justice and knowledge exceeding others 1 Cor. 6.5 Ver. 3. Thy two brests It is to be observed her brests are spoke of three times in this description of her which proves this only to be the condition of the restored state thereof and the three-fold Ministery and adminstration ministred to three distinct Societies in the church of Infants young men Fathers who here first speak of the Infants 1. The churches brests are as young Roes yeelding tender milk for Lambs and are the first mentioned 2. They are the twins of Zebei that is the glory signifying that the Doctrine taught was of the Gospell or Christ being the glory of God and man and that which was not to be taught without the church Ver. 4. Thy neck is as a Tower of Ivory the neck is that member that joyns the head and body together which the covenant of the Gospell doth do Christ and the church 2. For the solidity and reality that there is in Christ to the church therein and that there ought to be in the church to Christ it is compared to the tooth of the Oliphant in the substance whereof are not discernable any pores or hollownesse at all 3. It is compared to a Tower to shew that the highest of all human happinesse in the Church