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
Iuory couered ouer with Saphires for of a weake and corruptible bodie he hath made his owne and will make ours in him glorious and incorruptible VERS 14. His legges are pillars of Marble set vpon sockets of fined gold his countenance as of Lebanon choice as the Cedars His legs are pillars of marble leaning vpon sockets of the choicest gold to shew his power and maiesty being able to tread all his enemies and whatsoeuer setteth it selfe against him in peeces vnder his feete and to make the rage of men to turne vnto his glorie The looke and shew of his person goodly as Lebanon choice as the Cedars VERS 15 His pallate most sweete and all of him most to be desired This is my well-beloued and this my friend O dauhgters of Ierusalem His pallat that is his speech and the words that come from him for there there lyeth his sweetnesse from thence is all our comfort and therefore this that so delighteth and refresheth all our senses it doth her good once againe to speake of it is most sweet and pleasant What should I say more he is wholy bewtifull and all to be desired The maydens the Churches friends VERS 16 Whether is thy well-beloued gone O fairest amongst weomen whether hath thy well-beloued turned his face that we may seeke him with thee This discription doth so affect them that they long to know of her where her loue is become burning with a desire to seeke Christ as well as shee That is the fruit of the conference of Gods children CHVRCH VERS 17. My well-beloued is gone downe into his gardaine to the beddes of spice that hee may feede in the gardaines and gather Lillies VERS 18. I am my well-beloueds and my well-beloued is mine who feedeth among the Lillies To whom she answereth that hee is gone to Ierusalem which is aboue there to repast with his friends as himselfe had said and concludeth with an exclamation that whatsoeuer calamity her own sinne had brought vpon her yet the affection to her Ioue is firme and constant and so shee assureth her selfe his is to her though absent in Heauen And by this meanes shee nourisheth that holy desire of seeking Christ both in her selfe and others and together with her temptation findeth by the goodnesse of GOD an issue and way to come out of it CHAP. VI. CHRIST VERS 1. Thou art faire my fellow friend as Thirtza comely as Ierusalem terrible as an armie with banners CHRIST here comforteth his Church against all the feares and terrours which the conscience of her own sinne might iustly pull vpon her telling her that hauing by faith and the teares of true repentance washed away her former spots she was now as faire in his eyes and as amiable as euer she was before all bewtifull and faire being iustified sanctified thorough Christ as Thirtza Ieroboams stately Cittie seemely as Ierusalem the glory of all the Cities of the East built as a Citie compact and knit together wherein are all those worthies of the Lord of hoastes Pastors Teachers c. in a most comelie order and gouernment of the Church terrible in the Church-ministery and discipline which is a rod to keepe in subiection euery thought and to reuenge all disobedience yea terrible against Sathan and all the powers of hell And howsoeuer she had caught asore below which might seeme to bee an argument of her cowardlinesse yet in truth she was of an inuincible faith and courage and fearfull to her foes VERS 2. O turne thine eies ouer against mee that they may left mee vp Thine haire is as of a flock of Goates that sheareth on Gilead VERS 3. Thy teeth like to a flock of sheepe which come vp from washing which all of them doe bring forth twinnes and there is not a miscarying one amongst them VERS 4. As a peece of pomegranet are thy temples from betweene thy locks And therefore saith hee be of good comfort looke vpon mee haue faith in the promises of the Gospell That shall be my ioy and the crowne of my glory who haue alwaies a sense and a fellow-feeling of thy miserys and am like affected to thee mourne when thou mournest and am glad when thou reioycest If thou doubt whether thy bewty still continue whether it remaine fresh and constant I assure thee it doth and no fault or infirmitie of thine can make it for to fade for it wholy resteth in my grace and goodnesse Thy haire thy teeth thy temples all thy parts and members are euery one as comlie as faire as well featured as before Thy bewty doth excell VERS 5. Let there be threescore Queenes and fourescore Concubines and maidens without number Thinke not because there bee so many that glitter and flourish in the world liuing in all wealth and â—ollity and at their hearts ease when it is ill with thee when thou art humbled and fightest with many difficulties hast warres without and terrours within that their condition is better then thine owne as if they onely were happy and to be admired thou base and contemptible No if they were euery one a Queene or Concubines and Ladies neuer so many that attend vpon them yet thou onely dost excell VERS 6 That one my doue mine vndefiled one that one with her mother that pure one with her that bare her assoone as the maidens see they shall account her blessed the Queenes and Concubines shall praise her saying VERS 7 Who is shee goodly as the morning faire as the Moone cleere as the Sunne terrible as an armie with banners For thou art mine owne most deare vnto mee with whose iudgement it is fit thou content thy selfe more then with all the glittering shew and pompe of the world elect and chosen out of all kinred nations and tongues to bee my peculiar inheritance Innocent simple chaste sincere and vpright before me Who though now thou haue thin aboad on earth in this sinfull and wretched world yet doest cleaue so close to thy mother the heauenly Ierusalem that the whole world hath thee in admiration Such a starre of glorie and excellency shineth in thy forehead for inward sanctity and outward maiesty in the ministery and gouernment of the Church Insomuch as there is none of all these braue and gallant Ladies but though they thinke not as thou thinkest nor walke as thou walkest yet in their consciences they are all conuinced that the trueth is with thee alone Thee they will admire as soone as they doe behold thee to thee they will giue the prize and count thee onely blessed attribute as much vnto thee and say as much of thee as I haue said and attributed for bewty pruity vertue continually encreasing VERS 8 To the pruined gardaines I went downe to see the geene plants of the valley to see whether the vine flourished the pomegranets budded And albeit I left thee for a while yet with euerlasting mercies will I resort vnto thee I did indeed withdraw my selfe but it was not for
Lattice for now wee see but darkely and in a riddle Shewing himselfe cheerefully Yet neuer the leâ—â—e which is the fourth thing this fight of his is most cheerefull most sweet vnto the soule that loueth him no pâ—ant no tree no flower so delightfull to the outward senses as Christ is to the true beleeuer My well-beloued spake But the dull heart of a Christian man had neede of the continuall voice of Christ that hee should call and crie vnto vs speake and speake againe arise c. And the same words againe elegantly repeated in the end of the thirteenth verse Yea vâ—e all art and eloquence that may be to stirre vs vp to seek him my fellow friend my faire one And speak with all kindnesse vnto vs that we may the better be perswaded he doth it for our good And here is the honour a Christian man hath that Christ calleth vs not any more seruants but his friends and fellowes It is Christ that speaketh in the ministery of the Word And we must heare the messengers whom hee doth send as if Christ by them besought vs be reconciled vnto God 1. Cor. 5.20 For behold The cause why Christ withdraweth himselfe is our owne security and negligence in seeking to him our slacknes in prayer and other holy exercises The winter c. The time whilest wee lie in sinne is a heauy and discomfortable time there is no pleasure to be taken in the base seruice of such a master for what fruit can we haue of those things whereof wee must be ashamed the whole life of a wicked man what is it else but a sea of misery full of feares terrours and expectation of the iudgement to come which should make vs hastely and with speed to labour to winde out of it The flowers appeare c. Contrariwise a Christian mans life whatsoeuer the world deeme is the onely sweete and comfortable life like to the pleasant spring that refresheth all the sences as hauing all things fresh and greene and flourishing to the eies all dainty to be cut and pruined with the hands all cheerefull to the eares in the melodious noise and singing of the birds all fruitfull and sweete to the taste all odoriferous and pleasing to the smell For a Christian man hath peace of conscience that passeth vnderstanding which the world hath not nor knoweth what it meaneth a Christian man is full of ioy wrought in him by the holy Ghost whom the world cannot receiue a christian man whatsoeuer his estate bee good or bad strengthneth himselfe in his God as Dauid did when his Cittie was spoyled onely the bare walles left both his wiues carried away captiues and the people ready to stone him to death for well he is assured that nothing falleth out but for his good and in loue and mercy to him a Christian man hath accesse to God in all his troubles and aduersities familiar conference and communication with him goeth boldly vnto the thron of grace a christian man is endued with spirituall glorie and wisedome which doubleth the beautie of his countenance and maketh his face to shine a Christian man hath the holy Angels of God those glorious and most renowmed creatures to be as it were his seruants for they serue Christ with whom he is one Lastly a Christian mans honour is not in regard of this life onely but as a crowne of future excellencie hee hath fastened in his heart the anchor of hope to stay and quiet his minde in all the stonnes and tempests here till he arriue at the hauen of all his rest Arise â— Now the more these things excell the more we must enforce our selues to follow after them to pursue them speedily to goe out of our selues and to come to Christ by anie meanes taking heede that the pleasures of Sodome the filthie pleasures of our former life and of this wicked world make vs not looke backe vnto them but to cast them off with all our might and to flie aware from them My fellow-friend my faire one c. There is not anie so effectuall an argument to prouoke men hereunto and to stirre vs vp to godlinesse as the consideration of Gods mercie and of the dignity we haue by Christ My Doue that dwelleft in the cliftes c. But though the state of a Christian man be such and so excellent as before hath beene described yet to humble him that hee be not proude God leaueth as it were prickes and thomes in his side as he did to the Israelites manifold infirmities which make him to blush for shame and not to dare to shewe his face thinking in very truth most basely of himselfe and that hee is of all the world the meanest not worthie to come almost in the sight and presse of men how much lesse into the glorious sight and presence of God Shew me thy face make me heare thy voice Notwithstanding the testimonie of his conscience walking in simplicitie and sinceritie as before the Lord maketh him emboldned by the word of God to lift vp his head to come before him and to call vpon his name For thy voice is sweete and thy face comelie Which the Lord graciously accepteth and is well pleased with accounting his person holie and his praiers and other the fruites of his faith sweet and acceptable through Christ Foxes It is the perpetuall lot and condition of the Church to nourish in her bosome secret enemies that closely vndermine the good of it for all that are in Israell are not of Israel and manie are among vs that are not of vs but God in his good time will discouer hypocrites how foxe-like soeuer they carrie themselues Take vs c. Some mens sinnes are manifest aforâ—hand going before vnto iudgement and some mens follow after but those that are of this sort cannot be hidden The sword of discipline is to be drawen by the Ministers and other into whose hand God hath put it for the cutting off of knowen offendours and remouing of all offenses The Foxes Great ones are not to bee spared though they be as iolly foxes as Herod was The little Foxes The small cubbes are not to bee neglected though they can but nibble at the Vines Which destroie the Vines All euill and occasion and shew of euill is to bee remoued so much the more carefully because from little beginnings growe great proceedings and a small offence in the Church of God manie times turneth men awaie from the loue of the truth before they be setled in it Whilest our Vines are bringing forth the first grape Sathan also is euer busiest to seduce and drawe vs from the faith when Christ is first borne within vs waiting to eate vp and destroy the children of the Church as soone as she is deliuered Hereby the vse the excellencie the necessitie of discipline is seene it restraineth offences that they breake not forth it staieth them where a breach is begunne My Welbeloued After manie conflicts with our
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
constant in euery part because it wholly resteth in the power and grace of God Let there be 60. Queenes c. All the glory excellency in the world the courts of Princes and their pompous traine are not to bee compared to the happinesse of a Christian That one c. There is but one company society in the world wher saluation is to be had that is the Church of God which is one because there is no more but she one because she is only entirely beloued of God my done One because she is elect out of all the world mine vndefiled one One because shee keepeth her selfe one and the same vnto her spouse pure chast and vndefiled that one with her mother To this Church euery Christian man ioyneth himselfe and professeth to be a member thereof neuer making rent schisme nor diuision from it those that goe out from it it is a token they were in truth neuer of it assoone as they see c. God in his Church vtereth all his glorie Psal 29. That is hee graceth his people with such blessings of his spirit as makes them an admiration to the world This is the priuiledge of those that dwell in the Church of God the maydens shall account her blessed the Queenes and Concubines shall praise her The profane worldlings are forced to preferre the state of Gods children before their owne and to wish they vvere like vnto them As Saul Pharaoh Balaam and other did Goodly as the morning faire as the moone pure as the Sunne The way of a righteous man is like the Sunne shining that shineth still more and more vnto the steddie day Prou. 4. 18. Or as Paul saith Rom. 1. 17. we goe from faith to faith our faith continually growing as the morning doth and from one degree of perfection to an other from the beauty of the moone to the cleerenesse of the Sunne To the pruined gardaines The kingdome of God the glorie of the heauenly Ierusalem is that which we ought alwaies to meditate of and to haue the eyes of our soules fixed and bent vpon beeing like the gardaines that are kept dressed most pleasant and goodly to the eye and that yeeld all sweet and delectable fruit I went downe Christ himselfe by his example inuiteth vs to take pains to watch and obserue the time of his comming whereunto he doth exhort Math. 24. 42. To see the greene plants of the valley to see if the Vine flourished if the Pomegranets budded By earthly things wee must learne to meditate on heauenly and if wee be able to discerne of the times and seasons of the yeere that when wee see the trees to put forth leaues wee know Summer is neere is it not a shame to haue a lesse insight into those things that are the signes and forerunners of the comming of the Sonne of God to iudgement This wisedome our Sauiour teacheth vs. Matth. 24. 32. 33. There be manie signes of this glorious comming of Iesus Christ for which see that whole chapter Mathew 24. When I discerned it not my minde set me Christ loueth not to be longer absent from vs then needs he must vpon my free hearted Christian men are free-hearted people and of a willing minde seruing Christ cheerfully ioifully readily Psalm 110. not of necessity or constraint peoples chariots In such doth Christ delight to dwell to be borne vp by them to haue them for his chariots 2. Corinth 9. 7. God loueth a cheerefull giuer Returne The voice and calling of Christ is the meanes of our conuersion Returne ô Shull c. returne returne Who calleth vs earnestly continually to come vnto him and not to delay nor put it off for that doth the doubling and trebling and fowre times repeating of the word returne import O Shulamite Yea he vseth all manner of kind and louing speeches to perswade as O my Shullamite or my perfect one for all which see before Chapter 5. 1. A Christian man is perfect by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse perfect also with an Euangelicall not a legall perfection that is to say of a sound and vpright heart longing for perfection euen in regard of their renued holinesse or sanctification that we may behold thee Sinne obscureth Gods graces in vs and maketh that Christ hath no delight to looke vpon vs but faith and repentance restoreth vs to his fauour What behold you in that Shulamite as the daunse of the Machanaijmites Christ comforteth his soule by the beholding of our holinesse and righteousnesse How bewtifull c. Yea he boasteth and reioyceth of it so is there ioy in heauen for sinners that repent Luke 15. 7. O daughter of a Prince The excellencie of a christian standeth in this that hee is born again and by faith become the sonne of the great king that life of the spirit incompatably more excelling the life of a naturall man take the godliest and the gallantest then that excelleth the life of a bruite beast Let not c. There is not anie thing more pleasing to him then the spread of the Church of God and a continuall encrease of the fruites of it which are as glorious in his sight as a heape of wheate hedged about with Iâ—illies Let not the liquor faile But let thy belly be c. The duties required of him are First Faith continually fructifying Thy two breasts c. Secondly A teachablenes to sucke the milke of the word of God Thy necke c Thirdly Constancie to hold vp the truth of God Thine eyes c. thy nose c. Fourthly Iudgement to weigh and discerne of doctrines That on thy head is like skarlet c. Fiftly Grauitie and a wise cariage in all our actions A King might be tyed c. Which good graces being in vs and abounding not onely knit mens hearts vnto vs How faire c. But make God himselfe to loue and to admire vs. I say c The word of Christ ought to be an assurance to vs that wee shall be sanctified more and more howsoeuer when we looke on the one side to the resistances that are against vs and on the other side to our owne weaknes and corruptions wee haue iust cause to despaire But hee that sayd the Word is able for to doe it as casie it is for him to make vs all whole as it was to say take vp thy bedde and walke Ioh. 5. 8. I will get vp vpon the Palme-tree take hold of her branches c. The best man that is hath need of much hand to be continually pruined and lopped and to haue his superfluous branches shred from him to make him fruitfull I will c. This must be the worke of Christ himselfe Who as else where he is compared to a Vine so heere compareth himselfe to the Husbandman that taketh vs in hand to trimme and looke vnto vs Without him wee can doe nothing Ioh. 15. 5. Thy teates shall now be like the clusters of the Vine and the sauour
the wicked notwithstanding all their wealth This among other is one note of him that here shall soiourne in Gods tabernacle and hereafter dwell in his holy hill Psal 15. CHAP. VIII VERS 1 We haue a sister c. and what shall wee doe to our sister c. THe loue of God towards vs his mercy in hiding and couering our offences should make vs to loue not only him againe but our bretheren for his sake and by all meanes to seeke their good The Church of the Iewes so carefull for the calling of the Gentiles teacheth how earnest wee should bee to commend their conuersion vnto God whereof wee haue heere a promise and all the Prophets Apostles so gloriously doe speak Esay Chap. 4. 26. c. Dan. 12. Ezech. 37. c. Hosh 3. 13. Zach. 12. c. Paul Rom. 11. and 2. Cor. 3. Iohn in the Reuelation Chap. 20 c. and our Sauiour Mathew 24. a little one and she hath no brests The Church of God before the comming of Christ was shut vp within narrowe bounds the Gentiles beeing then aliens and strangers from the couenant in the day when God hath the moments of time seasons numbred before him a certaine day prefixed when he wil accomplish his counsels she shall be talked of Faith onely maketh men famous The Gentiles before their calling were neuer talked of amongst Gods people though for learning arts valour they were the men of name in the world and accounted the worthies of the earth but it is indeed more honourable to be famous in Gods Church then to haue al the fame and estimation in the world beside True fame is in piety and the feare of God only Men must beate their heads and cast about how to performe the worke of God in the best manner Gods children must bend their speeches to extoll and set forth those that truely feare God and to make them famous to honour and prefer them before worldlings howsoeuer they glitter and shine in the eies of men So did Elisha set light by the King of Israell notwithstanding all his greatnesse in comparison of the good and godly King Iehoshaphat 2. King 3. What haue I to doe with thee Get thee to the Prophets of thy Father c. Againe As Iehoush of hoasts liueth in whose sight I stand if it were not that I regard the presence of the King of Iuda I would not haue looked towards thee nor haue seen thee When a wall is to be built when a gate is to be fenced Wisdome is required in the builders of Gods house to frame euery thing for the greatest bewty and ornament vnto it of siluer boord of Cedre But all for any substance of religion or necessarie part of Gods seruice must be according to the rule of the Word that it may be as siluer and as the choice Cedre precious in his sight See thou make all things according to the paterne was shewed thee in the Mount A pallace The Church of God is the Pallace of the great King There he doth dwell and hath his residence and aboade for euer Psal 132. 13 14 a wall a gate The discipline of the Church is as a wall and a gate to keepe that no vncleane person or execrable enter in to hold in those that are entred the free burgesses and Citiseâ—s of that Citiâ— I being as a wall and my brests as towers There is in the Church a communion of Saints whereby the graces of God bestowed vpon one member turne to the generall good of the whole body then shall I be Thereof it is that a true Christian is so farre from enuying the blessings of God in other that he reioyceth in them as in his owne happinesse and perfection as one that findeth peace When the heart of the Iewes shall turne vnto the Lord in the generall call of that whole nation then come the daies of peace ioy happinesse and comfort as much as can be vpon earth through the bright beames of the glorious Gospell shining most cleere Solomon had a vine-yard Christianity and prouidence in worldly matters stand well together in a fruitfull place It is a good duty of a Christian to forecast to haue things most beneficiall and coÌ„modious for him His vines in fruitful places c. he hired out his viney ards to keepers And when hee is so sitted well to occupie and manure them to his most aduantage That which hee cannot keepe in his owne hands yet to prouide it be so let out as may be for his profit euery one bringeth for the fruit of it a thousand peeces of siluer It is not onely the rule of charity but true christianity to consider in reasonable sort of those that trauaile for vs that they labour not nor sweate for nothing but taking part of that gaine which commeth by their seruice it may giue them cause to blesse vs. We may with good conscience obserue a due proportion and are not to be blâ—med though the best morsels fall into our owne mouth Solomon may well purse a thousand shekels and leaue two hundred only to come to his lessees share The Anabaptistical communion hereby falleth to the ground My vineyard is still before my face God is iealous of his Church and letteth it not forth to others but himselfe taketh the care of it for though it be said in the parable that a man planted a vineyard and let it forth to husband men c. that is an other kinde of letting then that which Solomon heere speaketh of For by it is meant the ministers whom God raiseth vp from time to time for the good of his people commendeth them to their care Among whom hee himselfe is not idle but walking in the middest of those golden candlesticks and euermore present by the assistance of his Spirit so as all commeth from his vertue and power and he doth not rule his Church by deputies or farmours I receiue both these 1000 of thine O Solomon and also the 200 pieces of those that keepe the fruite of it Nothing for substance of religion must bee done in the house of God but by his owne expresse pleasure all is his not the least farthing or dodkin in this kinde is to goe an other way O thou shee Christ giueth to his Church Pastours and Teachers as it were Husband-men to dresse his Vine That settest Himselfe being the Arch-shepheard that taketh care of all the Vines euery such Minister hath a chair which ought to be the chaire of truth for so our Sauiour reasoneth In the chaire of Moses sit the Scribes and Pharisees therefore whatsoeuer they teach according to the law and doctrine of Moses which onely is to sound in that chaire do c. To these God himselfe reacheth a cushion and placeth them in the chaire of authoritie in his Church as the Scribes and Pharises are sayd to sit in Moses chaire and Paul that he sate at Corinth a yeere and sixe