Not I but Christ liveth in me 2. I have eaten my honey comb with my honey By the comb the sorrows by the honey the joyes of Christ Or The Body or humane Nature of Christ was the comb and the Divine Nature the honey in that comb of which Christ saith He hath eaten that is he is satisfied in his sufferings for the Saints with great content in beholding the effects thereof both with God and men Ephes. 2.16 3. I have drunk my Wine Mark by Wine I understand the Gospell and shews Christ had his part in the Gospell comforts from the Father as we have ours I delight to do thy will O God 4. He had his milk to eat as his honey comb to eat with his wine and honey 5. Christ having eaten and drunk his part first he distributes the rest to the Saints saying Eat ye of the Comb and honey that remains The crosse comforts of Christ 6. Drink ye of the Milk and drink ye of the Wine drink abundantly of them both he having sanctified himself and the truth for them Joh. 17.17.19 7. Drink as my friends invited and heartily entertained to be refreshed therewith as in the supper of the Lord in which as here God and man feast eat and drink together with sweet content and comfort John 15.11 Matth. 26.27 8. But it is to be observed though Christ bids the Saints to eat and drink he bids them not to gather of Myrrhe or Balsome that being to be his only the rest are ours he having by his first taking them to himself in our nature sanctified them to our use and comfort who would they should have their fill of comfort Note that these three generall parts concerne the Restoration of the Gentiles after the grand Apostacy of Antichrist as appears in these following considerations 1. It begins with the Restoration of the Nationall Rule taken away from the Jews by the Romans and foretold of God to be bestowed on the Gentiles Deut. 32.31 Matth 21.43 Rom. 10.19.20 2. Cap. 3. Ver. The Gentiles invite the Jews to go forth and see Christ and the Kingdome restored to him which occasioned that jealousie of heirs the Scriptures do foretell they in this apprehending themselves rejected and another people given in marriage to their Lord in their stead Deut. 32.21 3. Cap. 3. ver. 8. All these are to be done chiefly by sixty men in Authority and Power who subdue by the sword all such as gainsay the same or do oppose it 4. Cap. 4. ver. 8. By these men and their means the Saints are freed from the mountains or powers of the world called the Dens of Lions and mountains of Leopards which are set out by three parts or distinct members Amana Sheuir Hermon the three parts of the city Reu. 16.19 3. The time is noted and the call thereof Rev. 18.4 6. When the ministery is restored and the Covenant cap 4. ver. 9. 7. When the Church Evangelically is separated from the world ver. 12. 8. When the Saints are disposed of under the differing Ministery and administrations in the way of the Gospell ver. 13.14 All which things are first to be accomplished in us of the Gentiles before in the Jews and is by the Apostle called the fullnesse of the Gentiles the graces blessings of God being the fulness of a people untill all which be done on us blindnesse continueth on Israel or the Iew Rom. 11.25 and that Genesis 9.27 where it is said Japhet shall dwell in the Tents of Shem is a Scripture is not fulfilled to this day the Gentiles having yet been under only the dispensations of Christ or the Gospell which is but one Tabernacle the other is that of Moises which as yet we Gentiles have not submitted to but must the Rule of Government therof in the judiciall according to form or this Scripture is never to be fullfilled 9. As he began in Chap. 1. with the Gentile Church so it is orderly to begin with its restoration also 10. God having decreed first to restore the Gentiles the Spirit accordingly by Prophecy begins first with them and their restoration 11. God hath purposed to make use of the Gentiles restoration to restore the Iews thereby that they may not be perfect without us PART IV. Contains a description of the restoration of the Gentile Church beginning with CAP. V. VER. II. Ver. 2. I Sleep but my heart waketh there was nothing awake but the Heart in the time of the Churches sleep 2. Her sleep shews the neglect and carelessenesse she had of Antichrists operations as the man slept whilest the enemy sowed tares so the Church slept whilest Antichrist did delude and deceive her Matth. 13.25 3. The sleep was of the generality of men in the externall means of worship but the heart the sincere man was awake Believers being still kept to adhere to Christ for Salvation in that time of defection who were as the then Churches heart which is primum vivens and ultimum moriens viro 4. In this sleep of the Church she had shut her self with Antichrist up from the Lord Christ Antichrist had more love and entertainment then Christ from her 5. Christ would before the extremity of Apostacy have her open unto him as in the admonition to the seven Churche Rev. Cap. 2 3. The last whereof which was the time of this knocking and was the Church estate of Leodicea Rev. 3. 1. When the sleep was eminently set forth in her saying as men in a dream that she was rich full and wanted nothing when she knew not that she was naked poor and wanted all things 3. When the Churches Apostacy was foretold in that God said he would spew her out of his mouth signifying the lothsomnesse of the false church estate to God Christ would have awakned her and have come in to her and feasted with her and have reformed the corruptions come in upon her 4. He yet calls her his Sister his Spouse his Dove his undefiled one there being not yet Idolatry or confusion of world and Church admitted though that that made way for it was already laid 5. She yet knew his voice which yet had his knock or call Note The reason my head is filled with deaw 1. My head which is God is full of the deaw of the night to shew the indignity God suffered on the rejecting of Christ by her for they that despise Christ despise him that sent him 2. His locks which were those believed on him in that corrupt age were troubled with the drops of the night which the then Doctrine was but as the drops of a cold Winter night to a mans head Spouse Ver. 3. I have put off my coat how shall I put it on Note her coat 1. This coat she had put on by Christ 2. She her self puts it off without leave of Christ and without much inforcement of persecution 3. When she had put it off she knew not how to put it on again
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
honey and milk the believer apprehended more then he could utter of Christ in his own soul And the smell of thy Garments in the plurall 1. The first Garment is that of Christ by Justification Believers putting on and being cloathed with Jesus Christ in the wedding garment of baptism 2. Is of sanctification cloathed with humility their feet shod with the Gospell their heads covered with the helmet of Salvation the girdle of Truth c. Ephes. 6.13 4. These garments in their smell are said to be like Lebanon that is the Law righteousnesse but more perfect and intire and of a more divine Nature through Christ Ver. 12. The Church is described to be 1. A garden as differing from the wildernesse or desert world 2. It is inclosed from the world that those in and of the world cannot come unto her or be of her Rev. 2.12.27 3. This inclosure is of the Spouse or Church under the Gospell from them that are of the world under the Law 4. A Spring in which riseth life comfort and content which Spring also is shut up that none can come at the water thereof 5. A Fountain sealed so that no Unbelievers can come at the Fountain for that Seal nor at the Spring or garden for the Inclosure but they must destroy the Inclosure first and then it ceaseth to be the Spouse of Christ Rev. 11.2 Zach. 13.1 1. The inclosing of the garden is Gods Ordinance set up in the Church for the admitting of Members or Believers and keeping or shutting out Unbelievers by which as by a fence it was hedged in Esay 5.2 2. As a garden it had all pleasant plants planted in it and when planted pruned and dressed and dunged as in the parable of the Fig tree Luke 13.8 whereas the trees of the Forrest grew wild or of the Wildernesse were not regarded 3. It is a Spring shut up with a door John 10 1.3 I am the door to which there is a Porter even the Spirit or as a stone must first be rolled away before any tast the water Gen. 29.2 of a well that is covered 4. A sealed Fountain and must be opened Zach. 13.1 to which is not only a cover but the cover sealed 1. Internally by the Spirit John 3.5 2. Externally by Baptism John 3.5 Ver 13. Thy Emissions are Paradise Pomgranats with fruits of delight 1. It is the use of the Spirit to distinguiâ—h things by the place they grow in or are of as the Grapes of one climate are far better then another the Vine of Sodom and Zion much differed in Gods eye from one came sweet wine the other sowre and bitter juice one had life and the other death in it and was of death So here the Pomgranats are of Paradise the delightfull fruits of Paradise which was a place exceeded all other for the choicenesse of fruit and shews believers now should by far exceed any ordinary men of any other age such also was the cypresse with the spikenard 1. By Pomgranats Brightman understands the Ministery then thus that the Ministery of this restored estate of the Church shall be from heaven or have a call from God intimated in that they are of Paradise Rev. 21.2 2. But I rather understand by the Pomgranats the Apostles 3. By the fruits of delight the Prophets in their Prophecies whose fruit is of much delight to the Saints in all ages 4. By Camphir the Evangelist sending out and evaporating it self into a most sweet savour being of the pure juice of a tree both bright and clear Ver. 14.5 By Spikenard the Pastor twice set down because his Ministery was exhortatory and respected the Society of the Teacher that went before and of the Evangelist that came after to minister perswading to exceed the infants and to attain perfection 6. By Saffron that is of a red and dying nature of things dipt in it and cordiall I understand the Teacher by whose ministery men were dipped in the bloud of Christ and call'd Christians 7. By calamus is meant the Elders who had the Reed of Rule or Government 8. By Cynamon the Deacons that were imployed about the Bark of the Tree to provide for the poor the Widdow and Orphans in their bodily estate 1. With all the trees of Incense that is all those Belivers under the ministery of the Evangelists partakers eminently of the divine nature 2. Trees of Myrrhe that is those Believers under the Pastor made spirituall 3. Trees of Aloes that is those under the Teachers Ministery who as yet are as it were carnall With all the heads of Balsamum or choice balsome which is that these all had the unction of the Spirit of grace upon them every one and therefore put in the last place and without which none might be admitted therefore the Spirit was given to every one to profit withall 1 Cor. 2.7 Ver. 15. In this also was the Fountain of Gardens which is Christ as a garden cannot thrive without it have a Well to water it in drought so cannot the Church be without Christ from whence the river runs in the paradise of God Rev. 22.1 2. A pit that is the Gospell into which the living water conveies it self and out of which the Saints are to draw it for their uses and occasions Esay 12.3 3. Streames from Lebanon which is the Law Ver. 16. Awake North wind and come O South wnd and blow upon my garden 1. The Garden is the Church 2. Christ calls it his he having redeemed it with his Bloud He seeth the wants of his Garden he calls to the winds the North Wind and the South Wind some understand here by the differing operations of the Spirit others the teaching of the Word 4 The end that the Balsome that is the graces of the Saints may be exercised quickned stirred up and brought forth in them in which the use of the Word is lively by Christ set forth Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruit 1. The Church longs to have Christ in her and with her 2. To have Christ eat his pleasant fruit in her that is that Christ should see what his death had done and Resurrection in saving sanctifying and redeeming so many precious souls from sin and death and hell which was the travail of his soul God promised the Lord Jesus he should see Esay 53.10.11 and now feeds thereon as on the pleasant sweet and delightfull fruit of his desires and Passion which is that other meat he had to eat I have another and how do I long untill it be accomplished CAP. V Ver. 1. I Am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse I have gathered my Myrrhe 1. That is Christ received that glory was given by the Church to him in his Divine Nature as Son of God with his Balsom that is the content he found in the graces of his Spirit appearing in the Saints all which they acknowledged to be from Christ and Christs as Paul Galat. 2.