we beleeve comes upon us the other hand whereby we are troubled is taken off us the spirit of faith comes not but the spirit of the world must be cast out as Hagar and Sarah the bond-woman and free-woman could not live together and you see musick was the instrumental means in those cases Therefore I have chosen a Subject of this nature in the discoursing whereof if the Lord Jesus the wise charmer make me by his spirit to charm wisely I hope it wil be in some measure conducible to the end proposed A Song of Songs which was Solomons So that I desire you to bear me witness I do it not out of respect to the time of the yeer * It being a festivall time when this Sermon was preached which is with unreasonable superstition preferr'd by too many but to the times of the Church the occasions and necessities of the Saints which call for all the help of this nature that we can make I mean to hold up their spirits in the present carriages or miscarriages of things and the truth that this Text travells of bears no smal proporrion of conducibleness to this end and were it but cleerly understood strongly believed and effectually applyed to you by the spirit of Christ it would be like a bundle of mirrhe between your brests the virtue whereof is that is preserves from corruption and infection and a cluster of Camphire which makes men vegetiores et firmiores as Pliny observes Here therefore I shal not spend time about the division of this Text into the Title and the Authour of the Book But the Notion or Observation I shal present to you at this time and press upon you is from comparing the name of this Book with the subject matter of it The name is A Song of Songs The Subject matter what is that There are divers opinions of this chiefly three Some make the Subject to be the mutuall and reciprocall makings out of affections and fellowship between Christ and every Beleever 2ly Others between Christ and the Catholick Church or generall Assembly from the beginning to the end 3ly A third sort of Interpreters make it a brief compendious Prophesie of the mutuall carriages and aspects of Christ and his Churches the particular Churches of the Gospell as wel as the Church of the Jews from Solomons time to the end of the world And though there be as a * M. Cotton of Boston in New England reverend Divine well observes a holy and useful truth in the two former yet this latter might be convinced to be the more adaequate scope and subject of this Book by many Arguments if it were our business now which doth exceedingly commend this Book to us as being a Prophetical history and Historical Prophesie giving us a brief and delightful view of all the acts and Monuments of the Church of particular Churches in their severall and successive times and this book is called a Song This is that which is remarkable that such a Subject should make a Song You wil say wherein lies the remarkableness Herein If this be a compleat and a perfect Prophesie as it is of all times then it must record as wel the evil times of the Church as the Halcion days and the defections of the Church as wel as her perfections Gods chastening dispensations as wel as his affectionate embraces his frowns as well as his smiles his placking up of Churches as wel as his planting of them the calling off the Jews as wel as the calling of the Gentiles And that this should be fit matter for a Song seems strange I beleeve As if one should write the story of Gods dealing with England from the first Reformation to the present or to the end of the present agitations cal it a song you would think it an unfit name though we have had much mercy yet you would think that the Denomination should rather follow deteriorem partem and it should be more proper to call it the Lamentation of England that is fallen from such a height of peace and prosperity then a Song yet are there as sad times as these recorded in this book yea and worse not only these but others worse I say for here Solomon by the spirit of Prophesie touches the very tops and eminent points of all times that should succeed from his own yet this he by the holy Ghost cals a Song yea a Song of Songs 1. to shew you this in some particulars that there are very doleful notes in this Song 2. That yet it is a Song 3. What use we should make of this For the 1. to instance but in a few things in the beginning of this Prophesie First you have the blackness of the Church through the defection of Solomon who kept not his own vines his own v. 5. I am black wives from Idolatry and yet this is one particular that goes to this Song 2. You have the division of the Kingdom the revolt of the 10. Tribes from the house of David for Rehoboams stifness and folly v. 6. My mothers children were angry with me 3. You have the sad estate of the faithful dispersed through those 10. Tribes in that revolt in what distress were they to avoid Idolatry and to enjoy the pure Ordinances of God while they could not injoy their Consciences without exposing themselves to one of these great evils either the wrath and persecution of Jeroboham if they should not go up to the Calves but to Jerusalem or else they must forsake their habitations of a sudden perhaps to their undoing This was a sad strait yet this is part of the Song v. 7. Tell me oh thou whom my soul loveth where c. Then 4ly You have the sad estate of Judahs falling away from God as after 3 yeers of Rehoboam they did then God sent Pharoah Shishack King of Aegypt to yoke them 2 Chron. 12. 8. This you have v. 9. and so I might run through the next Chapter In the 16. v. of this 1 Chap. you have a commendation of the House and Worship of God that it was pure and green yet v. 1. of Chap. 2. I am the rose of Sharon whether you take it of Christ or the Church though Josiah had made the bed green by his Reformation yet Christ comes not to his spouses bed but rather cals his Church abroad Sharon was an open field under Lebanon where the beasts did feed Or take it of the Church she was the Rose of Sharon There was no fence nor culture weeds might grow up with her or the beasts of the field might crop or tread her down and so it was you know Josiah how fair a Rose but how soon cropt by Pharoah Necho and the succeeding Kings were placed and displaced by the Babylonians and the Egyptians at their pleasure and at length the Kingdom was laid waste by the Babylonians yet this is part of the Song and such is the composure of the whole book
glory in the Ornament of all manner of ellegancies then prose As Metaphors similitudes tropes and figures and most amiable resemblances taken from Jewels spices and vineyards Orchards Gardens Winesellars and the chiefest beauties and greatest varieties of al the works both of God and man the Songs in Scripture are the elegantest parts of Scripture Moses and Deborahs Songs c. Agreeably the Administration of Christs Kingdom is full of elegancies and they that have spiritual eyes and eares that can try words do admire them what elegancies in bringing Israel out of Egypt it is said he bare them upon Eagles wings Deut. 32. Especially now in these latter days this part of the Song that is now fulfilling abounds herein What high strains of providence neat contrivances Every other work is an elegancy The actions of our enemies are nothing but Ironies they speak evil against us but it is intended against themselves The wicked is insnared in the works of his own hands the Bishops made Cyphers instead of making the Parliament so Look abroad amongst the Turks and Indians where Christ hath no visible Church nor people and there is no such needle-work of providence and so it hath been from the beginning Gods name therefore hath been great in Israel only in Israel The Lord Psal 76. 1 Psa 99. 2. would not have us think only that things are administred in a just way but in the most comely excellent and heroical way That which the wise Ladies of Sisera's Mother are supposed to say of Sisera's prey in Deborah's Song may be said of the administration or providence of Christs Kingdom the whole piece of it It is a prey of divers colours of divers colours of needle work of divers colours of needle work fit for the necks of them that take the spoyl Christ is not content to provide things wholsom but through the inlargedness of his heart he makes all toothsom for his Church we have not only meat but sauce For this way he hath chosen to make known his manifold wisdom and to unfold it Ephes 3. 10. And beloved that particular believers do not observe so much in Christs private administrations to them is long of their eyes There are Christians that should another write the history of Christ and their mutual carriages which are transient and little heeded by themselves perhaps they would admire them be exceedingly delighted therewith how Christ governs their spirits answers their prayers subdues their corruptions exercises their graces the lively and lovely touches in all these could they be described by a pen would even proceed to a ravishment of the heart of whoever should understand them The elegant ways that Christ hath to fall off and come on in his love his chastning and cherishing love Therefore let us not look with Vse such dismal apprehensions upon Christs administrations publike or particular It is I says Christ be not affraid so I say it is a Song therefore be not affraid Christs heart was in love in the original invention of it and so it is in the immediate and particular acting of things it is a love-song a marriage-song for so they were wont to have Songs at their weddings in former times and when the Churches marriage with Christ is solemnized who is now espoused then shal this Song be sung with understanding and unspeakable delight Vse 2. 2. Be not weary and impatient we do not use to be weary of hearing a delighful Song Songs have that advantage above prose that they steal away the eare with a great deal of pleasure Certainly if you did but heare the melody of this Song and did discern the curiousness of the composure I mean could you perceive the sweet spirituall strains of Divine working in and Philosophers say If we could hear the musick of the sphears we might live upon it for the Church and particular believers we should not need to crave your patience Why beloved if you do not understand nor admire it your selvs through your dulness and heavines yet give the Lord leave to sing out his Song have that civility and respect to him Christ is taken with it therefore there is great worth in it The long suffering of the Lord is salvation if it were not a lovely Song Christ would never doaze himself with singing of it 3. Let us sing this Song as we find the Church singing some parts of it Rev. 5. 9. 14. 3. and 15. 3. You may see there what the Song is and who they are that sing it such only as are redeemed from the earth i. either such as are truly sanctified or more strictly such as are redeemed from the earthly Kingdom of Antichrist and indeed none but such can see a beauty and a glory in the administrations of Christ none but such can rejoyce in them Therefore I call only upon such you that are the Lambs wife sing this Song with lightsome hearts observe all the ways of Christ with your spirits how he walks towards you in outward and inward things what strict measures and proportions he observes in your temptations that they be not above your mastery and in your comforts that they be not too strong for you neither observe the variety and change that is in your hearts temptations conditions conversations in Christs discoveries and manifestations of himself to you and Oh how amiable a sight it is to see brethren live together in unity but more admirable to see contraries c. This is the glory of Christs scepter it reconciles the Wolfe and the Lamb the Lyon and the Kid. how harmoniously these work together for your good and Christs glory when he makes himself the more welcom to you by keeping from you sometimes observe what musick his hand makes by touching contrary strings q he strikes a base and a treble together many times the publike note is high and thy particular low a spiritual mercy and an outward crosse strike together or an outward mercy and an inward temptation Observe how certain and unmoveable your happyness is the whole Song would be spoyled and run lame q if one particular that God hath determined should miscarry therefore your sins and infirmities shal not be able to hurt you nay these together with your afflictions are part of the Song I am black but comely I speak not this that you should slight sin or not watch against it no he that hath tasted of the grace of Christ will not sin that grace may abound though he loves that grace well Let us sing this Song with lightsom hearts with grace in our hearts David had Songs of pure adversity of his deep waters but here is more sweet then bitter in our conditions whether publike or private 1. Remember the burthen of the Song is Love so God loved his Church and so thy soul must be brought in at the end of every staff yea at the end of chastning Whom I love I rebuke and
Solace for SAINTS in the SADDEST TIMES From the Consideration of the happy temperature and Lovely composure of all Times and Providences as to Gods glory and their good Held forth in a brief Discourse on the first Words of the CANTICLES By JOSHUA SPRIGG M. A. sometimes Lecturer in Aldermary London LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the black-spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1648. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY Honored good LADY the Lady Willougby Wife to the Right honorable the Lord Willoughby of PARRAM Madam WHen I determined to publish this Discourse Your Honour came first to my thoughts as in dedicating it to whom I could only acquiesce Not that Your Honour had any speciall title to it by hearing it or desiring it but my hope is there may be more providence in it then my own who am ambitious to seal up some testimony of the high esteem I have of Your Honour to whom I am oblieged as by so much Worthiness of Your own so by many favours received Madam I question not but you have your part in Afflictions as a Daughter of Adam and not the fewer as a Daughter of Abraham You may have need of a Cordiall and then Providence will be remarkable in sending This to you and I desire you may see your interest in this Consolation if you be strong and feel no sinking of Spirits it is through the Experience of this Truth which is here described Madam I have honorable thoughts of you and great desires on your behalf and therefore shall no longer by this intertainment keep you from swifter injoyments then while I commence this suite for you That as not a few have born away the fruitfulness of your Disposition in the sweetness of their own spirits so your Honour may be abundantly satisfied and refreshed from the gracious presence and appearance of the Lord in all his dispensations In this most humble tender of himself accept Madam Your Honors most affectionately devoted as much Obliged Servant JOSHUA SPRIGGE A VVORD TO THE READER THis Discourse being delivered some years since when the publike affairs appear'd most perplext and dangerous is now published upon the very same account and occasion it was first Delivered with some hopes it may be some way serviceable through the presence of Christ with it to demulce and asswage some to a quiet and peaceable Comportment with the present administration by discovering and setting before them a new and blessed face and Image in every even the worst state of things The ground and matter I work upon being those first words of the CANTICLES my project rises by rendring the title of the book not onely to the form of words but to the subject matter of it which viz. the matter being all variety of dispensation to the Churches may teach us a new Arithmetick to cast up Times and Things by The condition of many a Man is like a good Old Instrument that is hung up by the Wals as of no use for want of tuning onely or like a Lesson that is so musicall that onely skill is wanting to make admirable Musick of it where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Musick I have followed the Analogy or Resemblance of Divine workings and providence to a Song but in some generall Parallels only it might have been prosecuted through many more particulars The Discourse had not the successe to be Well-understood when it was delivered it may have the greater blessing to empty down upon the Reader The Order and Parts of the Ensuing Discourse 1. Introduction by shewing the occasion of this discourse viz. a project to comfort Saints in every appearance of things and the fitness of the subject for such a purpose 2. Explication 1. The ground and matter whereupon the Project stands viz. the Comparing the name of this book of Canticles with the subject matter of it 2. An inquirie into the subject matter of the book of Canticles 3. A report of the subject matter what it is viz. A Propheticall History and Historicall Prophecy of all the times of the Church 3. The Observation That this is a Song yea the Song of Songs 1. The Remarkableness of putting such a name on such a thing shewed in respect of the severall sad Notes that are in this Song 2. The proof of it yet to be a Song yea the Song of Songs 1. By the matter of it Variety it self 2. The form Vnitie 4. The Application and improvement of this truth 1. Information All Gods administrations to beleevers publique and particular are as a Song yea secondly a Song of Songs 1. A Song the Analogy opened in severall particulars 1. A Song consists of measured feet So all Gods administrations are foreseen weighed and measured though not alwayes the same measures and the reason of that difference assigned from the severall times and ages of the Children 2 It is a Song of Songs This applyed to Christs administration in three respects 1. The variety that is in it 2. The Rhyme or ending of all One thing rhyming to another and in the end all sounding alike even Love 3. The Elegancies and glorious contrivances that are therein 2. Dehortation 1. Not to look with such dismall apprehensions on Christs administration publicke or private however it appear seeing t is a Song 2. Not to be wearie and impatient 3. Exhortation 1. To sing this Song i. with lightsome hearts walk with God through all providences Motive 1. The burden of the Song is Love 2. the Contrivance is Gods for the glory of his dearest Son and his Spouse the Church 2. Exhort so to observe this Song i. the workings of Christ for us as to be turned into such a mind and such actions as please Christ 4. Direction To reconcile us to every Administration To that end let us 1. Compare the parts together 2. Cover the uncomely parts with cleanly notions 3. Consider our acceptableness to God in every change and condition CANT I. I. The Song of Songs MY design in choosing this Text is to occurr and prevent if it be not too late that weakness which the unbelieving fears of the people of God may bring them into of the like dangerous Consequence as the losing of blood and spirits The Cure of fear is Faith but for as much as to the exercise of Faith Men had need have cleer and composed spirits therefore have I pitched upon this Subject Saul was often troubled with an euil spirit a sickly hair-braind raging spirit and that which did him ease was Davids playing upon a Harp before him And Eliahs spirit being muddied as it were by passion cannot Prophesie til the mud was setled again by a minstrel 2 King 3. 15. The spirit of the world either carnal love or fear or any other passion is like the evil spirit that troubled Saul and Eliah and faith is as Prophefying Now when the hand of the Lord whereby