and are so many foule spots in her faire face making her blackish though not cole black Secondly afflictions as it were the schorching of the Sun Lastly her infirmitie that thorough the peeuishnesse of some which beare the face of bretheren not able to endure wholsome doctrine and the sweete yoke of IESVS CHRISTS but making stirres and discords in the Church and teaching insteed of Christs lores their owne fantasies and pleasures shee hath in weaknesse been driuen to yeeld in many things contrary to the duty and place which God hath set her in VERS 7. Shewe mee O thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest where thou makest flock to lie downe at noone for why should I bee as one that pitcheth her tents by the flocks of thy companions Wherefore she saith she will goe to the Archbishoppe and chiefe sheppard of her soule of him to learne how to carry her selfe in the Church which is the house of the liuing God to be ordered by those Lawes onely that hee himselfe the most wise house-holder hath prescribed Heereupon she turneth her speech to Christ telling him hee onely is her delght All his ordinances she accounteth right in all things and that shee hateth euerie lying path And therefore prayeth him to teach her where hee feedeth with his Word and Sacraments where at noone day hee maketh his sheepe to rest for both feeding and resting wholy and in all things her desire is to be at his direction And euen then when others repast themselues and take their meales shee can not be in quiet vnlesse shee bee with him That so ranging her selfe among his other sheepe she may bee kept from hauing any thing to doe with strange shepheards that in name participate with CHRIST but in truth are none of his CHRIST VERS 8. If thou know not O thou fairest among women get thee out from going in the steppes of yonder flock and feed thy kiddes aboue the tabernacles of those shepheards To this Christ maketh answere first satisfying her demaund in that wherein she was not fully before enformed Bidding her by any meanes to take heed of the worldly prophane and hereticall teachers and such as are corrupted by them that shee tread not in their steps but to feâ—de her little ones the faithful flocke with the foode of heauenly doctrine in all sincerity and truth lifting them vp out and from aboue the world VERS 9. Vnto the troope of horses in the chariots of Pharaoh doe I liken thee my fellow friend By this occasion they fall to congratulate one vnto an other the good things that are in them CHRIST hee praiseth his owne gifts bestowed vpon the Church in regard of the dignity of her person by his word affirming and by the power of his spirit making her like to the horse of Pharaohs Chariot braue stately and couragious excellent for all good seruices VERS 10. Thy cheekes are comlie as with rewes of small stones thy neck as with collars And in regard of the ornaments of the spirit wherby her cheeks and neck the principall seates of beauty are set forth with rewes of precious stones gemmes collars and gorgious things as horses of those countries were wont to be VERS 11. Borders of Gold wee will make vnto thee with specks of neate siluer And not content therewith promiseth that the Father Sonne and the holy Ghost the blessed and glorious Trinity will further bewtifie and let her out with all rich graces and ornaments of the spirit with a continuall grouth of sanctification as it were pure gold bewtified with the siluer specks of a new encrease of holinesse being made more and more glorious by the reflection of his glory CHVRCH VERS 12. Whilest the King is in his circute my spicknard doth giue foorth his smell The Church resoundeth the praises of her CHRIST for the sweet and fragrant odours that from him come downe vpon her by his Word and the power of his spirit those holy things that make her so sweete her selfe and to spreade her sweetnesse farre and neere to other And that euen now whilest this Lord and King sitteth in the round globe of the highest and most glorious heauens absent in the flesh how much more when CHRIST which is her life shall appeare and reueale himselfe in glory VERS 13. My beloued is as a bundle of mirrh vnto me that lodgeth betweene my brests The cause of all is Christs dwelling in her heart by faith which maketh her both gracious and sweete as a nosegay of mirrh in a weomans bosome VERS 14. My well-bel oued is vnto mee as a cluster of Cypres in the vine-yards of Hengedie And as a cluster of Cypres full of berries within his white flower when the same is planted in fruitfull gardens such as Hengedie was CHRIST VERS 15. Behold thou art faire my fellow friend behold thou art faire thine eies are doues eies This mutuall gratulation Christ shutteth vp with exclamations setting forth her bewty the bewty she hath in him without spot and glorious also her charity and doue-like simplicity that will not cast one eie vpon any superstitions CHVRCH VERS 16. Behold thou art faire my well-beloued also delectable also our bed is greene The Church shutteth vp with commendations of the bewty and amiablenesse of her loue and the fruitfulnesse of their bed begetting many children vnto God CHRIST and CHVRCH both VERS 17. The beames of our houses are of Cedars our walkes of brute trees They both conclude with commendations of the preciousnesse of their houses and of the walkes wherein they visite one onother that is of Christs habitation in her by the communion and fellowshippe of the spirit CHAP. II. CHRIST VERS 1. I am the rose of Sharon the Lillie of the valleys THe Church and her spouse not satisfied with their former praises and the mutuâ—ll commending one of an other fall afresh vnto it Hee commendeth his owne sweete vertue which hee hath not for himselfe alone but by his spirit doth communicate to his Church VERS 2. As a Lillie among thornes so is my fellowe friend among the daughters Whereby the same as farre excelleth all other companies and assemblies through the righteousnesse and glory she receiueth from him as the Lillie doth the thornes for all are no better then thornes take them as they are but specially if they be compared with her CHVRCH VERS 3. As an aple-tree among the trees of the forrest so is my wel-beloued among the Sonnes vnder his shadow I desire that I may sit for sweet is his fruit vnto my pallat The Church againe praiseth him for his fruitfulnesse and the sweetnesse both of his shade and fruits Such and so great as she desireth no onely to rest vnder the shadowe of his grace and righteousnes thereby to be kept from the scorching heat of the wrath of God the curse of the Lawe death and condemnation being reconciled by him to his Father but to taste of the dainty fruits the fulnesse of ioyes
owne soule God maketh vs in the end of feele more liuely our fellowship with Christ Is mine and I am his The roote and fountaine of all our happinesse is our coniunction and communion with him Who feedeth in Lillies The fruites comming from it excellent for CHRIST our Shepheard feedeth his flocke in most sweete and delicate pastures Till that daie breath The two principall things which a Christian is to wish for and desire after are perfection in heauen by the comming of Iesus Christ and constancie and perseuerance vnto that day And these mistes flie awaie In this life manie mistes and shadowes are cast before our eyes much ignorance of God and of holy duties which that bright and glorious comming of our Lord and Sauiour as the rising of the Sunne will scatter all awaie CHAP. III. VERS 1. 2. In my bed anightes c. THe childe of God hath manie times great vnquietnesse of mind for lack of the feeling of Christ Being so affected as a man desolate and without comfort he seekes after him in al places at all times in the night and by day a bedde and when he is vp at home and without doores in the Citie by the streetes and the lanes and abroad in the fields by prinate prayer and meditation with his owne soule by vsing the helpe counsell and aduise of godly brethren by seeking for comfort at the hands of the Ministers of the word Such is his desire and vnwearâ—ed trauaile for the finding of Christ Here is the vse wee should make of being priuate and this is a holy spending of our time when we employ it in stirring vp our soules to be assured of the mercies of God in Christ not as the world for the most part doth in studying how to wreake our malice or to compasse other wicked desires neither yet in idle and fruitlesse pastimes himselfe to goe out of himselfe and to be no bodie in his owne eâ—es But yet hee looketh vnto Christ whose garments of righteousnesse are broade and large and wide enough to couer all imperfections and who of his free grace is pleased to accept him and to bestow vpon him the ornaments of his Spirit whereby howsoeuer in much weakenesse and in the middest of manie fraileties yet in the truth and soundnesse of his heart being sincere and vpright before him albeit the least of these things were enough to discourage him from euer comming vnto Christ or hauing any more to doe with him yet neither for other mens reproaches nor for all the conscience of his owne infirmities hee leaueth to seeke vnto him to call and crie vpon him for whither else should he goe but to things that cannot profit haue made me a keeper of other vines c. There commeth yet a further mischiefe home-enemies borne and bredde in the bosome of the Church which as vipers eat out the bowels of their mother and make naturall rents and breaches among their owne brethren For God euermore leaueth in his Church some vnquiet spirits to gall them for the tryall of the faith of his children that the approued among them may be knowne And let men pretend what they lift set what face they will vpon it it is the hatred of the truth and of the professors of the truth that maketh them so to stirre because worldly minded men cannot abide the sincerity of the Gospell that fighteth against their pompe pride and ambitious designes And howsoeuer they lay the fault from themselues and cast it vpon Gods children that stick close to the ordinances of God as wayward and conceited persons yet in truth they are the factious and those that make diffention in the Church Howbeit the best men that are the holiest Churches and most reformed assemblies are often times turned out of the right waie partly mislead and seduced through a vaine alâ—urement of humane wisdome partly carried away by the violence of the stormes and tempests that these men raise against them Yet we must not please our selues in the deformities of the Church our care must bee to haue al according to the paterne that was shewed in the mount Shew me where thou feedest c. To this purpose we are wholy and throughout to submit our selues to be ordered by the chiefe shepheard and Bishop of our soules for hee onely must direct all necessarie things in his Church by the wisedome of his Word from him wee receiue the foode of sweete and heauenly doctrine hee it is that ordeâ—eth our labour and our rest euen at noone day the whole gouernment and guidance of his house O thou whom my soule loueth The sins of Gods elect through his wonderfull wisdome that bringeth light out of darkenesse and good out of euill turne vnto their comfort make them more to call and crie vpon Christ to loue him more with all their soule to desire more earnestly to bee ioyned vnto him and to vse all holy meanes of attaining thereunto Atnoone And that with such affection that when other are resting or taking their repasts the christian man can haue no comfort nor eate his meaâ—e vnlesse he be with Christ Thou feedest thou makest thy flocke to lâ—e c. This meanes of comming vnto Christ is the ministry of the word in the Church and Congregation of Saints which are as it were one fould vnder one Shepheard feeding with the food of life For why should I be as one that pitcheth her tents by the flocke of thy companions Herein great care and circumspection is to be had that we ioine not our selues to false teachers which com vnder the name of Christs shepheards but inwardly are rauening wolues If thou know not In which behalfe the faithfull man though he be in Christ and shine in the graces of the Spirit yet laboureth of much ignorance and is many times ouertaken and therefore had neede to be instructed and set into the way Get thee out c. Which is to trie the Spirits whe 〈◊〉 they be from God for the touchstone of all doctrine is by the word if it bee heauenly and celestiall not sauoring of the world Vnto the troope c And being so as many as walke according to this rule the bâ—dge of the Israel of God peace is vpon them and mercie such a mans person is accepted to God the graces and ornaments of the Spirit in him are sweet and pleasing Borders of gold we will make Yea God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost the most blessed and glorious Trinity will dock and set him forth more and more and bestowe more good things vpon him and more enrich him with all heauenly blessings transforming him from glory vnto glorie My Spicknard giueth forth his smell These promises comfort the Christian soule and bring a sweet refreshing to the senses My Welbe loued is as a bundle of myrâ—h Acknowledging all to come from Christ and from the vertue of his power Whose excellency we must consider not simply as it resteth in himselfe but
that are at his right hand VERS 4. He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner ouer me was â—oue Here is the great desire longing expre'st which she hath for Christ enlarged narration-wise by two most sweete and notable fruits that proceed from him vnto his Church First life safety and deliuerance from all euill then pleasure comfort ioy peace of conscience and the fruition of all good The former she setteth forth first by the efficiâ—nt cause his onely loue shed in her heart by the holy Ghost wherby he kept her as fast vnto himselfe as Soldiers are kept about the colours of their Generall that nothing could pul her from him Secondly by the place wher this was done the banqueting house of the congregation of his Saints where all dainties and iunketing dishes all pleasures and delights were to be found in him VERS 5. Stay mee with these flagons hold me vp with these apples for I am sick of loue Thirdly by her fainting for the desire of Christ So sick shee was with spirituall loue Fourthly by her great desire expressed by turning her speech to his seruants that stood round about the Table the ministers of the Word to stay and hold her vp and to keep life within her by an holy vse of the Word and Sacraments which are as refreshing apples and as bottles of wine out of the which wee suck the swcete promises of the Gospell VERS 6. His left hand is vnder my head and his right hand doth embrace mee Fifthly by Christs doing a great deal more then we should require Euen himselfe as a kinde husband will doe vnto his wife taking her in both his armes and so falling with her into a sweet rest and slumber from the cares of this present world VERS 7. I adiureye yee daughters of Ierusalem tarrie without with the roes or with the hindes of the field Stirre not vp nor waken this loue vntill he please Sixthly by adiuring all Christians to abide in their place and standing that is to say in some honest and lawfull vocation as Rachell that looked to her fathers heards and not eyther thorough idlenesse or disorderly walking and following after sinfull pleasures to grieue the spirit and to giue Christ cause when they may haue and hold him to disioint himself from them And so she liues and breaths in him thorough that sweet and happy coniunction shee hath with her head VERS 8. It is the voice of my well-beloued Behold this same hee commeth lepping vpon these mountaines skipping vpon these hils But that is not all She thus resting in quiet sleep and hee going into the countrey to the pleasant fields to prepare and set things in a readines returning againe heapeth vpon her fauours and pleasures that cannot be expressed which shee with a ioyfull heart setleth her selfe to entertaine First hee speaketh vnto her shee heareth his comfortable voice Secondly he commeth shee seeth him comming a farre of Thirdly hee is present and at hand no hilles nor hillocks no offences great or small haynous sinnes or meaner imperfections are able to stay his comming VERS 9. My well-beloued is like a roe or a young Hart. Behold this same he standeth behind our wall looking forth of the windows shewing himselfe cheerefully thorough the grates Hereupon she crieth out for ioy compareth him with the hindes yong roes for his swiftnes with goodly flourishing trees for his sweetnesse and the pleasure of his countenance Onely this is her griefe that hee looketh but as it were through the grates standeth behinde the walls and doth not as she would communicate his presence with her VERS 10. My well-beloued spake and saide vnto me Arise my fellow friend my faire one and come thy way Then thus prepared to heare and to receiue him he speaketh to her heart and powring forth a golden shower of kinde and gracious words with siluer streames of eloquence manifesting his affection inuiteth her to the fruition of those good and excellent things which by his Word and spirit hee is ready to bestow vpon her VERS 11. For behold the winter is past the raine is ouer it is gone Drawing arguments from her present state and condition compared with her former misery that was in the time of her ignorance whilst she lay dead in sinne and trespasses and was a stranger from the life of God al which time was as the winter season foule and tempestuous full of stormes of horror of minde terror of conscience feare of death and desperation VERS 12. The flowers appeare in the earth the time of the chirping of birds is come and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our land VERS 13. The Figge-tree hath put forth her greene figges and the vines with the tender grape giue forth a smell Arise my fellow friend my faire one and come thy way But this now com in the place of it is as the pleasant spring all greene fresh and flourishing Such are the pleasures that the enioying of Christ doth bring That done here moueth two maine obiections that euermore trouble the Saints of God and hold them as it were amazed VERS 14. My done that dwellest in the clefts of the rocks in the fâ—eety denne shewe mee thy countenance make mee to heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet and thy countenance comly One the conscience of their own infirmity and weakenesse which maketh them like silly doues to hide themselues in corners in the clifts of the rock vnder the grices of the staires in secret places flying the fight of men and not to dare to shew their faces This hee remoueth with the consideration of Gods eternall election and of his deepe and vnsearchable counsels a rocke of strength to comfort her in her weakenesse a sure hold and vnaccessable denne whereunto no euill can approach a fort impregnable vnder the which she resteth and shall rest safe for euer And thereupon hee biddeth her to take heart of grace to come vnto him to walke before him and to be vpright to talke with him to make him heare her voice in Praiers and the praises of her God For that in Christ be accepteth her and is well pleased with her both her person and those spirituall sacrifices and fruits of her faith VERS 15. Take vs the foxes the little foxes which spoile the vineyards and that whilest our vineyards are bringing foorth the tender grape The other thing that troubleth is the opposition of wicked and vngodly men not the cruell tirants of the world onely but false teachers which nippe the Church in the head and are the instruments of Sathans malice when it first beginneth to peepe for then Sathan is euer busiest to seduce vs in the first birth of Christ in our hearts waiting to kill and to destroy vs. These also hee saith hee will take order for by sending workemen into his vineyard that shall spare none not the least euill but by drawing forth the sword of holy discipline shall cut
he doth behold vs as the bretheren of Christ brethren both by vnity of the same nature and communion with one heauenly Father Spouse Yea neerer then brethren being euen heere espoused and betrothed to him How faire c. And kept by the annointing of the spirit that wee cannot fall away but abide and continue his for euer Which giueth vs more contentment and hearts-ease then all pleasures that are earthly Thy lips drop the hony combe c The tongue of euery Christian not only of a minister in the pulpit though that especially and the dropping of his lippes euen in his priuate and familiar discourses is sweeter then the hony or the hony-combe as that which giueth grace to the hearers the sauour of thy garments is as the sauour of Lebanon Such an one is most pleasing to God of as fragrant a smell as the smell of Libanus My sister spouse is The Church of God hath two singular prerogatiues aboue all other companies and societies of men as a gardaine c. First it is the pillar and ground of truth for there onely are the plants of the Lords owne setting there is the well head and there onely flow the sweete streames of pure doctrine It is variâ—ty errour superstition and deceit whatsoeuer commeth not from hence shut sealed vp Secondly it is holy no polluted or vncleane thing can enter or haue aboade in it spring fountaine The preaching of the Word is as a spring that warereth and maketh to encrease all the beds and plants of the Church of God A Christian man knowing his fruits to he most sweete vnto God Is desirous to bring forth plenty and acknowledging al to com from God continually prayeth to be inspired and breathed vpon by his good spirit to performe it fountaine of the gardaines Christ is the onely fountain that watreth al the parts of the Church his gardaine the ministers are onely his instruments and can doe nothing but water and plant all the encrease commeth from Christ O well of liuing waters c. The graces hee bestoweth vpon his Church are abundant and infinite as liuing waters that continually spring and flow abroade O North O South c. Let those waters ouerslow the spices of it Hee neuer denyeth his spirit to those that aske it with a true faith but is ready to graunt the desire of his seruants to make them fruitfull and aboundant in euery good grace Let my wellbeloued come c. And the thing which a Christian man aboue all the world desires is the presence of Christ I am come into my gardaine c. Yet there being somewhat alwaies corrupt in our desires it is many times good for Gods faithful children to goe without the things euen the spirituall and heauenly things which they most long after â—â—te my fellow friends c. The Spirits of the righteous deceased doe now enioy in heauen euerlasting happinesse This is our comfort against death that thereby we change the miseries of this life with vnspeakable and endlesse pleasures CHAP. V. VERS 1. I being asleepe A Christian man euen the best is many times ouertaken with earn all security falleth into a traunce or slumber forgetteth himselfe and his heauenly calling and is lulled a sleepe with the pleasures and delights of this present wicked world Not keeping that watch ouer his owne soule which hee ought Mathew 25. They all slept the wise virgins as well as the foolish but my heart awake Yet his faith for all that gooth not quite out but lyeth hid and couered vnder the ashes it is smothered but not extinct as may bee seene in Peter of whom our Sauiour beareth witnesse I haue prayed for thee that in the middest of that most dangerous fal thy faith should not faile Heere is one maine difference betweene the children of God and others One sinne of infirmity the other wilfully all sleepe indeede but the godly doe but slumber or winke when the wicked sleepe soundly sleepe heart and all they sleepe that they snort againe the wicked commit sinne with all their heart from the very soule as the Prophet 〈…〉 children haue a resistance within and striue and sight against it in som sort euen then when they are most ouertaken with the 〈◊〉 of the flesh their heart is sound with God sinne dwelleth but raigneth not in them they groanâ— vnder the burden of it mislike it as touching the inner man there is a strife within them in their very bowells as beetweene Rebeccaes twinnes a type of the Church and of euery faithfull man To conclude in the godly there is a striffe betweene their heart and their heart but in the wicked onely between their heart and their conscience I being The Christian delighteth to make consession of his sinnes to acknowledge his owne wretchednesse and vnworthinesse that God may haue the greater glory Hee sticketh not himselfe to haue blushing checkes so honour praise may come to God and is not ashamed to be the trumpeâ—or of his owne reproach This is true repentance asleepe c. One marke there of is a holy anger and 〈…〉 against ourselues amplifying and enlarging all the circumstances of our 〈◊〉 to make it more odious and to bring vs vnto a greater loathing of it but my heart awakel But the Christian though before God and men hee make confession of his â—ault and it be the property of true repentance for a man to aggrauate not to lessen his offence as not satisfying his owne soule with a detestation of his wicked waies yet hee vseth also a holy excuse and defence that Sathan by his ouercharging of himselfe to vse the Apostles phrase 2. Cor. 2. 5. take not aduantage to cast him downe further then is meete and to driue him into despaire Hee therefore wrestleth with his owne soule to gather all arguments that may bee to his conscience that these his offences were done of frailety and through infirmity of the flesh that his heart is sincere vpright to God that his faith though sore shaken was not quite battered and ouercome c. This is the wisdome of a sound Christian And heere is a noble example of that other marke of repentance which the Apostle 2. Cor. 7. 11. calleth an Apologie or cleering of ones selfe the voice of my well-beloued True repentance commeth not from our selues it commeth by the preuenting grace of Christ not onely that repentance which is our first conuersion to God but the raising of vs vp when being conuerted wee fall into any sinne The principal cause of this our conuersion is the Spirit of Christ knocking at the doore of our heart The meanes is his voice speaking to our outward ears specially by the ministery of the Word and sacraments as principal but further also in a secondarie degree by chastisements and corrections Bounsing Wee haue neede that God should call vpon vs earnestly vehemently and in most effectuall manner So carnall are we of our selues and so vntoward to hearken to