the inward excellency that appears to the creature to be in him Ver. 3 Because of the savour of thy good Oyntments Here by Oyntments is meant the gifts of God the human nature of Christ was indowed withall who was anoynted with the Oyl of Gladnesse above his fellows 2. These did breath forth a sweet savour from Christ as from a Rose with which the Church is greatly delighted to smell unto for refreshment 3. The Excellency of Christ preached and revealed like precious balm powred out perfumed the persons hearts that heard it as with divine odors 4. Therefore because of the smell and savour of his Name and Gifts the Virgins that is such as are not yet united to Christ in the Gospell way of marriage both love and desire him as a husband to be injoyed by them The Catechumenâ— Ver. 4. Draw me we will run after thee 1. In the words she finds in her self a backwardnesse a slownesse toward Christ as the Lord reproved the Disciples for being slow of heart to believe so the Spirit manifests hers to her self within her and reproves her 2. That it is the work of Christ to draw her violently to himself from all and against all difficulties and allurements of the world by his heavenly call 3. This was not in some but the whole Church 4. Christ easily frees from delaies the delaying souls and makes them find their feet to run after him who by their delaies seem to fail them The King brought me into his Chambers 1. Christs word is now of command with her who is now made subject to him and admitted by him ino the house of God 2. He brings her into his Chambers which are the distinct administrations of the Gospell under which before she never was distinct from that Cap. 8. ver. 2. 3. On this say the Infants we wil be glad in thee not in our selves or any thing else besides thee 4. We say the young men will rejoyce having an addition of joy in this second administration added unto us of what we had when in the first 5. We Fathers will remember thy love to us before and after calling when Infants and when in their youth which thought on and remembred is better then wine as naturall men solace their souls with wine so do we with the thoughts of that love that is in thee to us and hath been shewed us The righteous that is all Believers love thee from the Child to the Man grown up in thee Ver. 5. I am black but comely O Daughters of Jerusalem 1. By Jerusalem is meant the Gospell Church and not the state of the Jews before Christ as Brightman 2. Nor is it meant the Jews Church under that state but the Gentiles who thus speaks of her self to the Jews 3. She not only speaks to Jerusalem the Mother but the Daughter Churches of the Jews which the first state of the Jews Church did not produce the Church of that Nation then being one Church only at Jerusalem untill others after were constituted 4. She was black in her self that is in her own corruptions but pure in Jesus Christ 5. In her self as the Tents of Kedar or darknesse in Christ as the Curtains of Solomon in which Solomons glory was described or set forth as Christs is in the Justification of sinners with which as with a Vail he hid the sins of the Elect from the sight of God Ver. 6. Look not on me because I am black for the Sun hath shined on me 1. The Jews at the conversion of the Gentiles questioned Peter for baptizing them others forbid the Apostles to teach to the Gentiles Acts 11.3 1 Thes. 2.16 2. She warns the Jews not to judge her because long in sin and darknesse to be uncapable of grace and favour from Christ now under the Gospell state The Sun that is Christ had now looked in mercy on her and had passed by the blacknesse in her therefore they much more ought so to do others understand the Sun here set down as the cause of her blacknesse 1. The children of my mother Paul and Barnabas the Apostles and the children of the Church of Jerusalem made the Gentile Church-keeper of the Vineyards the Jews Church being broken off 2. They were angry with Galatian Churches with burning zeal and moved against the Corinthians for Apostacy and corruption Gal. 3.1 1 Cor. 4.21 3. They made her keeper of the Vineyards when they left the Jews and turned to the Gentiles committing Law Estate and Gospell to the Gentiles 4. She kept not her own Vineyard but became Apostate after the way of Antichrist in which was the fall of the Church about four hundred years the new Covenant which was that of the Church was her now Vineyard Ver. 7. Make me know O thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest 1. Now it was not known where Christ was taught or had call'd men to teach if any had known it had been the Church who knows not but is to seek 2. She desires to know of Christ and be directed by him where the truth was indeed taught there was to be so much and so much glosing error taught and cryed up for truth among men in this time 3. Where thou makest them lie down giving rest to the Church in the scorching time of Antichristian persecution Tyranny and delusion she being in want of satisfactory knowledge of her Lord and his mind 4. The reasons 1. There are at this time many Flocks besides Christs 2. Who are the flocks of Christs companions such as use Christs Name Authority and truth as their own 3. And make the flocks theirs and not Christ Lutherans and Calvinists Brownists Socinians Papists Pelagians Arians Independents Anabaptists Presbyters 4. Without Christ shews her yea makes her know where he now feeds she is in danger to turn from Christ to any of these of which Christ Matthew 24.24.26 hath admonished us that we be not turned to lies Ver. 8. Contains Christ Resp. or directions to this dubious case and Question 1. If thou know not O thou fairest among women notes to us that the souls that do not know where Christ feeds and desire to know are the true Believers of this time and shews a mighty darknesse and losse of truth among them 2. Go forth by the footsteps of the Flock Mark not of the Flocks of Christs companions but the true Church Primitive as of one 3. The Flock was past away but left it 's steps in the way that is it's practise for us to walk by in the Word 4. Feed thy Kids by the tents of the Shepheard or Apostles under Evangelists Pastors Teachers the Tents set up by the Apostles which untill the Church restoration the Saints were to be fed by not in these Tents Ver. 9. To the Troops in the Chariots of Pharoah have I likened thee my Beloved 1. The Saints as yet are in captivity under Antichristian power and authority 2. They are in his Chariots by which he
out by ours as some on this Text indeavour Note Some on this description made of Christ indeavour to set forth his beauty by ours or that is in us when the Prophet apprehended in Christ his Divine Nature as well as human in which his lovelynesse and beauty mainly did consist and of which no human figure can be any representative at all Saith Giffard hereon I do not hold it necessary to interpret every part as signifying somewhat but only this The Spouse describing Christ maketh her description according to the parts of the naturall Body of man but observe you the names of the parts indeed are expressed in which is his humanity but the Representatives differ as gold from the head of man Doves from the eyes rings from the hands c. Brightman speaking of the person of Christ and two Natures sayes Unum idem corpus ambâ— constituum unde non minus illius quà m hujus veuustas ad totius pulchritudinem pertinet Ac peritissimus artifex hac varietate satietati occurrit nec Sponsam indecore monstrosam proteam effingit Bernard ends his Exposition with the beginning of the Churches description of Christ saying Obuixè adjurat paratè respondet figurat ornatè distinctè partitur 〈◊〉 perâ—ranfit sum â—uim stringit noscio an sufficienter exprimit scio quidem quod affectuosè concludit and after O gratiosus Sponsus amabilis valde in quo Generatio Divina candet rubet humana Ver. 13. His cheeks are as a bed of Spices or Balsom 1. The Cheek is that part of man by which he is usually known from others so Christs discovery was in the spirituall residence of the divine grace and glory appeared to be in him â— If we read the word Spices then in him and from him issued all calling and authority of the Ministeriall Officers and Offices he being King Priest Prophet Apostle Evangelist Pastor and Teacher of the Church in which these Offices as plants in a garden bed had their rise residence and being 3. Sweet Flowers these sweet flowers were the tops of the Balsom or Spices as the tops of the Towers thereof which were the Apostles who were the flowers and the other Ministery the stalks they stood upon in whom the Lord was especially made known and in their Doctrine and Gifts of the Spirit conferred on them with their calling in which the Kingly Priestly and Propheticall Offices of Christ and Power in an eminent way are set forth 4. His lips like Lillies there being no guile found in them nor from them in which they exceeded Lillies Myrrhe dropped from them that is divine wisdome and knowledge he only bringing Life and Immortality to Light Ver. 14. His hands are as gold rings set with Berill others read the words thus His hands are as rings of gold set with Chrysolit Brightman manus ejus orbes auri repleti Berillo Thalasio I read them thus his hands are globes of gold made full or full set with Tarsis for so the 70. render the word retaining the Hebrew {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a word sometime rendred the Hyacinth the Onix Berill Chrysolite Carbuncle so that either the word should be retained or said to be set with every precious stone 1. Christs hands are as gold because what he did was done by a Divine Power and Authority 2. They are round which shews the perfections of them for forma rotunda est capacissima 3. The Works of Christ had all kind of Excellency in them and were as precious stones adorning his hands of all sorts and kinds 4. If we read them Rings of Gold 1. It shews the Authority Christ had from his Father to execute all his Offices and do all his Works for so the Ring in Scripture set down signifies Authority 2. It had not only power in the hand and Authority in the Ring but a pretiousnesse of use for all men that it did concern in the precious Stone in which was no Tyranny and oppression but Life and Salvation His belly is as bright Yvory overlaid with Saphyrs Ver. 14. His legs are as Pillars of Marble set on sockets of fine gold 1. In the Pillars of Marble is set out the strength Christ stood by and the sure standing of all such as stood on his strength 2. They are set in sockets of Gold the Divine Nature ministring thereto help and strength 3. By {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I understand Leg and Foot and shews that the affections of Christ were of a Divine Nature set out by the sockets of fine gold 4. His countenance or appearance was as Lebanon as the choise Cedars overlooking all earthly and carnall things and set on the top of the mountains or Powers of the world Ver. 15. His Pallat or Mouth is of most sweet things that is Christ reveals and discovers most sweet things for Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christs discovery in which are the sweets of God and man 2. All in him are desireable as these are excellent before so all else in him are so and nothing in him but is so where as God or Man occasioning the joy of all 3. This is my beloved Christ ye see is known of his Saints which is the cause they love him for love cannot be sincere that is not grounded on knowledge 4. She knows him as her friend supplying and supporting her in all her extremities by a long and daily experimentall knowledge she had of his being to her so Hosea 2. I will return to my first husband then was it better with me then now 5. The application of this description is made to the daughters of Jerusalem who hereupon are greatly drawn to inquire after and to know him CAP. VI Ver. 1. WHere is thy beloved gone Christ is dearly mist when mist and he is hardly found when gone from men 2. See she asks of them they ask of her for Christ they are as well troubled for him as she when they knew him and what needs there were of him 3. They inquire where he is turned aside alluding to Cap. 5. Ver. 6. 4. They inquire that they might seek Christ with her in which it seems that the Lord will cause the Jews as well as the Gentiles to lay out for Christ together one provokes the other 5. The Jew hath the first discovery of Christ from the Gentile Ver. 2. A church is gathered called the Garden and his Garden the first church 2. He is found among the Gentiles first who discover him to be gone down into his garden his church not into Antichrists 3. To the beds of Balsom viz. the Administrators of the church in them Christ appears as the means by which he restores the Church 4. Feeding in the gardens not garden signifying the severall distinct churches rising from that first Vid. Cap. 1. Ver. 5. 5. And to gather Lillies that is call the Saints and unite them into fellowship with himself in the way of
warres and in which he is carried to war upheld and defended 3. By Troops they are fixed to him and as horses fiercely and fearlesly they carry on and serve that power against the enemies thereof Ver. 10. On the checks of these horses are rows of stones as it were set in their bridles to shew the esteem that the Pharaonicall power should set on these horses above others having a gold chain or a sweet obedience in them to the then Magistracy for conscience as the horses of Zeba and Zalmuna Judges 8.26 Whom the Magistrate then found to be of most excellent and necessary use for their then preservation God miraculously by them and for them sending salvation to those they serve as that other thundering Legion that sometimes served the Roman Emperor in his wars who gained by prayer rain in their necessity and saved their whole Army from perishing Ver. 11. We will make thee that is I Christ and the Magistracy set out by the then Pharaoh we will make thee Borders of Gold some externall dignity is here promised to the Church to be conferred on her in which Christ as well as Pharoah will have a hand in the accomplishment thereof But I rather read the words Tryers of Gold with Pastors of Silver that is I Christ will inable some with judgement to try the truth as Goldsmiths gold and silver and the Magistrate shall accordingly appoint them thereunto after which the true Ministery in the Pastors of Silver shall be restored Amos 1.1 The word for Studs is read Shepheards or Pastors of Tekoah alluding to that Malach. Cap. 3. Ver. 3. which work is again to be done in this Age of ours Rev. 20.4 Ver. 12. While the King was in his Crown vid. cap. 3. ult. By the King is meant Jesus Christ in his Crown signifies that 〈◊〉 the Saints like troops were in Pharoah's Chariots until Christ upon the discovery of the truth comes to be made King and the Kingdome 〈◊〉 be the Lords Rev. 6.2 Spiknard gave a good smell that is the Church became preciously to be esteemed among the sons of men and her estate to be accompted of as honorable and her actions before condemned to be now praised and had in honour of such as were round about her Ver. 13. My beloved is to me as a little box of Myrrhe Vid. Brightman or bag to put Myrrhe shewing that all sweetnesse and perfumes were placed and laid up of God in Christ as in their place I will place it between my brests it being the place whence the savour of Christ most sweetly riseth to the Saint that being a place where women place such things as they affect and the place of her husband that so the savour of Christ may be ministered to all that suck of her breasts thereby Myrrhe was that which was part of the perfume offered up to God and signified that in hoc loculo in this little repository the divine nature of God came to dwell and to inhabit in and in it with us when found in our nature Verse 14. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Orbatus fui redemptoris I was deprived of the Reedmer that is whilst I was under Anti-christs bondage I was denyed the knowledge of Christ But My Beloved came unto me in the vinyards of Engedâ— that is in the dispensations of the Law and Gospel being the Vineyards of the chief Princes So in Scripture somtime the Law estate is set out by a Vineyard and somtime the Gospel but here both when both again are restored to the Church as at first among the Saints and sons of men Verse 15. Christ Behold thou art fair my Beloved behold thou art fair thine eyes are Doves Now that the Church â—ad both Vineyards not one onely Christ is delighted in her beauty and shewes she is approved in his sight very highly And above all commends the simplicity of her eyes who were onely delighted with and carryed after the truth in all things worshipping the true God in Spirit and truth She was fair in Christ by Justification and in her self Sanctified Verse 16. Church Behold thou art fair my Beloved our bed is green As Christ beheld the Churches Beauty so the Church beholds Christs and seeks to find full content in him and shews she was contented in him 2. She found sweetness and pleasure in contemplating the Beauty and comliness of her Lord who was all in all to her eyes and desires 3 She saith Our bed is green or rather according to the Metaphorical interpretation of the word it is new that is of the new estate of the Gospel or new shee having not yet brought forth any other Churches or Daughters to Christ A Bed signifying the way of worship the Church had by Christ to worship God in Verse 17 The Beams of our house that is the visible Church are Cedars men of great account such need the Beams to be and ful of strength and their Rafters are of Fir Men streight and upright of green and flourishing life Cap. 2.1 I am the Rose of the Sharon and Lilly of the Valleyes The Church was as a Rose growing in a desolate field Sharon was a field near Lebanon and desolate And the Lilly of the Valleyes Mans estate is as a Valley among whom here is none desireable but this Lilly in whom the world savoured sweetness and Saints saw a beauty and loveliness Verse 2. Christ As the Lilly among the thorns so is my love among the daughters 1. By daughters I understand false Churches the Daughters of Babel 2. The true shall be among the false 3. The false Churches are Thorns the effects of the fall of man Naturally and the Church Mystically Gal. 4.29 4. The true Church grows as a Lilly among them far exceeding and no way to be compared with them which will appear after the Churches Restoratio most glorious Verse 3. Church As the Apple-tree among the Trees of the Forrest so is my Beloved among the sonnes 1 Christ in taking our nature is among the sons 2. But more Excellent then they they were fruitless he fruitful to man 3. The sons here were false Christs or Teachers joyned to the Daughters or false Churches also by the Trees may be meant other Kings of Nations which are the sons of a people and brought out by them 1. I desired greatly to be in his shaddow The shaddow of Kings was their protection from violence of men Christs is from the violence of sinne Satan Death Hell and the Wrath of God and curse of Law 2. I sate down as desiring no other but this and found Rest and Peace and safety therein which I could not find no where but here Mat. 11. v. 28 3. His fruit was sweet to my tast she would not be defended by but fed of Christ also in which the Lord communicates himself in sweetness to her with as much delight as she received it from him 4. The fruits of Christs Death Suffering and
proaching and preached Evangelically in our land which is applyed in especial to the land of Judea in which the Lord onely taught himself and was first taught by such others as he sent forth The time of singing of birds is come the seventy read it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and indeed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I rather read according to the mysterie the time amputationis arboris of the cutting tree or vine then singing of Birds because then unbelievers were cut off from believers then Ismael was cast out of the house and not suffered to inherit with Isaac Gal. 4. from verse 21 to 31. before which the Gospel was not cleerly and fully to be applyed until believers were by themselves seperated from the world into Societies or Churches Verse 13. The Fig-tree that is the Iewish first Church appeared in the world and began with the beginning of the summer Matth. 24.32 whose fruit quickly falls The Vine which is the Gentile Church had sent forth their Grapes and therewith a favor as the Church of Rome whose praise was spread far abroad and that of Macedonia Again he calls his Spouse to come away shewing that the Iews did retain many ceremonies after they were a Church which Christ would not have them do and shews Christ would not allow of any Verse 14. My Dove that is the Church now the Spouse of Christ Thou art in the Castles of the Rock that is the Saints were in their several Societies under their threefold Ministry as in their Castles or strengths of safety which is significantly called the holes of the Rock Christ they being instituted by him They are called the hid places because none but the saints come there And then hid places of her measure every one being measured by his state in Christ that cometh into any of those holes Eph. 4.16 Antichrists Church is the strong hold of the false Religion as this is of the true Rev. 18.2 Let me see thy countenance or make me behold thy appearance make me hear thy voice in which he stirs up the Church to prayer and to an apprehension of the happy estate she was in though afflicted and miserable in appearance to the world though dark shaddowy and corrupt in her own eyes yet in this there papears a desireableness in the one and a sweetness {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the other through the variety of gifts she had bestowed upon her and vertues that were in her Verse 15. Take us the Foxes which are false Teachers who crept in wilily into the Churches society to spy out their liberty among which some are more wily then others but all are to be taken and the words are 1. As it were spoken of Christ and the Church to the Ministry to whom the rule of the Church and its oversight was committed Acts 20.28 2. The Vines are Gospel Churches only the National Church Rule of Moses being fallen 3. These Foxes did destroy them as in Galatia Coloss Corinth 4. Our Vines that is Churches have tender grapes that is Believers weak in faith Infants in knowledge and easily deceived by seducers Gal 16. Eph. 4.14 Gal. 2.4 Acts 15.1 if things were thus in the times of the Apostles how were they after Verse 16. My Beloved is mine and I am his that is as a man bestows himself in marriage on the wife he marries and the woman her self on the man by covenant tying themselves each to other So the Church had done to the Lord Iesus and he to her so that none else could say so but her self of Christ nor would Christ say so of any but her 2. It shews the Church was not yet whorish but kept her faith to her Lord with much loyalty and love 3. As a strange woman hath nothing to do with another womans husband so hath no false Church to do with Christ the true church's spouse nor Christ with them 4. He feedeth among the Lillies the Lillies are the Saints or Believers or rather he feedeth in them Rev. 3.20 I will come into him and sup with him Verse 17. Shews the Apostacy of the Iews Church and State they came unto in their first defection 1. A night comes on her she is again troubled with Iewish ceremonies which yet she expect should be driven away by the glorious light should arise again unto her in the now restoration is to be 2. Until when she desires her love to appear himself as divine glory in his glorious nature and as the young of Rams being the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world 3. This she would have him be on the mountains of Bether that is of division which the Antichristian estate that destroyed the way of the Gospel is eminently to be called being Babel and to be understood Rev. 6.14 and 16.20 whose mountains are removed and removing 4. Though here the young of Rams be set down to note the Humane nature yet you know Rev. 6. ult. that the wrath of God that sate on the Throne and the Lamb was that tormented the Popish world which {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} sets out the one and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the other Cap. 3. Verse 1. By night on my bed I sought him 1. This as before sets out the grand defection the Iews made and darkness on her while she was shut up in that estate 2. Her state then was that she was asleep insensible of this desolation and rested in her erroneous way as on a bed called her bed but none of Christ's 3. In it she sought the Lord Iesus whom her soul loved {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies her diligent seeking Christ in her erroneous way or time of night 4. He was not in her bed to be found yea she sought him again and again in her corrupt Iudaizing way of worship but found him not Verse 2. I will arise now from my quondam bed I will go about the City that is she will examine Antichrist's way having the visible shew of a Church left but seeing the Idolatry and profaness of her in general she will go into the streets that is the meeting places of the Romish church where things were bought and sold and in the broad waies of that city which is the service of people that lead to or from Rome though separated from her she seeks the Lord in these but finds him not she loseth her labour and fails of her expectation Note A Prophesie shewing that the Romish church would never be the means of the conversion of the Jews because they saw not Christ in her 2. They sought after the Lord above all things else a time of their desiring Christ is coming Verse 3. The city here is Babel the Antichristian state the watchmen the Ministers who walk about that city to preserve it in safety and find out such as would perturb the peace of it and wrong the
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.
for shame 4. The putting off and on of this coat made her delay to entertain Christ 5. She had washed her feet and now she could not let Christ in but she must defile her feet again as she thought she apprehending Christ would have condemned her practise newly taken up which she thought to be a pure and clean way in this like the whore she wiped her mouth and said she had not sinned and thus Prov. 16.2 Ver. 4. He put in his hand by the hole of the door as it were to remove the bolts that made it fast or thus my beloved sent his hand from the white that is by his Spirit came to convince her conscience of her own unworthinesse by the knowledge remaining in her upon which her bowells were moved for him apprehending how unworthy she was any way to injoy him Ver. 5. She arose for when once Christ had touched her heart she had no rest but she must arise to open to Christ and so was taken from delaies 1. The white or open place Christ might look in at and put his hand in being at the key hole when the Spouse put her hand on the lock her hands and fingers dropped Myrrhe some divine favour she found upon opening the door 2. This dropped on the handles of the lock Ver. 6. I opened to my beloved she opened and expected Christ but my beloved had withdrawn himself now she misseth Christ who at first she saith had but withdrawn himself and so expected him to be with her shortly but after she saith he was gone and here began the false church estate and saith she my soul failed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} went forth In this she found the misse of Christ I sought him but found him not and that when use of the word did her no good I called him but he gave me no answer Note here she calls him when he was gone to come again or to know when he would come or why he was gone but saith the Text he answered me not She being thus crying after Christ the Watchmen the Priests of Antichrists estate here called the city or false Church they found her that is discern'd her opposition of their errors and love to the truth Indeed so diligent and watchfull were these watchmen of the night estate though it were dark they would quickly espie and find them out as a light is easie discerned in a dark place 1. Having found her that is those Societies that desired to retain the true knowledge and way of God The watchmen smote me or the Peripatericks made me be smitten that is accused me to the Magistrate for a disturber of the peace à Schismatike and therefore must be punished 2. They also wounded her destroying her authority true Ministery and administration forcing her into the Antichristian form corrupted her with fals Doctrine 3. The Keepers of the Walls these were another kind of watchmen who had a greater charge then the rest and these I take to be the Arch-bishops Bishops c. in the time of the Apostacy they took away her Vail {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a word which signified a garment in use in those times the form whereof is not I suppose scarce known of us in these daies {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} But I take it to signifie 〈◊〉 by which the Church priviledges only had among the Saints and not known to the world now came to be unvailed and made common among all the Saints now being not permitted to have any thing distinct from the world when and on which act the Church was driven into the Wildernesse as in Rev. 12. all which time the Spirit of God passeth over in silence in this place unto the time of Luther as being a time of night in which was nothing done but sleept away Ver. 8. I charge you O ye Daughters of Jerusalem these words seem to prove that this was the Gentile Estate thus calling to the Jews who both had lost Jesus Christ and were become seekers 2. It is implyed that the Iews should find Christ and again become the daughters of Ierusalem according to that which was below which was the Law Estate and that above which was the Gospell Estate 3. Here the invisible Church thus stript of its Ornaments calls Christ still her beloved and would acknowledge none but Christ 4. That she would have the Iews Church if restored before her to tell the Lord in prayer that she was sick of Love Resp. Ver. 9. What is thy beloved more then another beloved the word another is added and is not in the Text 1. In this ye have the Iews ignorance of Christ 2. Their contempt of Christ which alwaies accompanies ignorance 3. Their desire to hear of Christ from her 4. That the people seek Christ want him and leave Antichrist are the best and the fairest among women or rather those which God calls his beloved 5. When the Gentile is diligently inquiring for Christ the Iew will then come to do the like and come to be stirred up by it 6. That that moved her was the charge laid on her which was not usually done for a small matter The description of Christ Ver. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy in these words is a generall description of Christ he is white which hath in it a signification of his Divine nature and ruddy in it is a signification of his human nature again he is the chief among ten thousand the Hebrew is that he is conspicuous among many multitudes that is that he is easily known from any other being above all Ver. 11. His head is as the most fine gold of gold now the Apostle tells us that the head of Christ is God and Christ the head of the Church His locks are bushy and black as a Raven In this place Christs hair which springs from his head are not the members of the Church as some would the hair of the Churches Head being compar'd to purple signifies the Kingly authority of Christ but here the hid and unknownnesse of the Divine Nature and glory which was in the gold of the head covered over or shadowed with this thick and dark cover of black hair so the mercy seat was shadowed and the womans hair was given her for a covering and it is Gods glory to hide himself from the world so that he makes the light to hide him Ver. 12. His eyes are as Doves not as Doves eyes but as Doves by the rivers of water so Christs eys were on the teaching of the Word 2. They are as washed with milk and so have no evill remaining in them 3. They are as set on fullnesse in the beholding of God and the invisible things of him who is blessed for ever and this is the glory of Christs eye being set on that we cannot attain nor see and live 4. Christ seeth not as man seeth and therefore his eyes are not to be set
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
palati sua vitatem quam uberum foecunditatem praedicat nisi forsan discrimen sit infantiae virilis aetatis quarum illa pascitur uberibus haec institutis monitis parentum informatur in which ye may see the man hinted something at the mind of God but I rather take it thus O Church thy tasting the sweetnesse of thy Saviour in his love as Priest King and Prophet to thee becomes to Christ himself an unspeakable joy and delight and is to himself as the good wine is to thee 2. Hence the pallat which is the churches is placed in the head among the Royall Offices of Christ that it may dwell and be fed daily with the delights and sweetnesse thereof and that immediately it may be hers from God before it be mix'd with a carnall matter and called the joy of the Holy Ghost and the Kingdome of God 3. The palat is for the beloved that is the church should savor relish or delight in no other but Christ tast and see hovv good the Lord is it should be kept for him 1 Pet. 2.3 if ye have tasted hovv good the Lord is 4. It is said to go down to the heart and rejoyce it as well as please the pallat 5. Causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak which I rather read thus rectifying the lips of those that are asleep to speak 1. Brightman and others would have those here said to be asleep to be meant the Jews but without doubt this description is made of the Church after the call of the Jews and of the Jews Church who though she be called after the Gentiles to restore the Church yet the pattern here spoke of will be eminently seen to be among them 2. By those asleep I rather understand some of the membeâ—s of the Church which like David after some sinne are fallen asleep and against which the Apostle speaks 1 Thes. 5.6 3. That the Offices of Christ preached to these makes their lips to speak the praise of it 4. Of this vvord here comes {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} infamia or detractatio which then shews this that men asleep and know not Christ who therefore detract from him do no sooner come to tast the sweetnesse of it but it rectifieth their tongues and brings them to commend and honour the excellency of the Lord as Paul c. Ver. 10. The Church concludes in these words I am my beloveds by Covenant and by Redemption and none but his alone And his desire is towards me it is to be observed that in the fall God said to the woman That her desire should be to her husband and he should rule over her Gen. 3.16 the word for desire there and here are expressed by the same word and shews that as the womans desire after the fal was to be to the man so after the restoration Christs desire is to the Church The Church being heightned to this perfection it 's thoughts are to propagate and to constitute Churches either at home or among other Nations abroad which is the seventh part The seventh generall part Cap. 7. Ver. 11. 1. Come my beloved in which there is a call or invitation to Christ and shews that there is no company like Christs nor no good to be done without him in the work of God For Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God that gives the increase 1 Cor. 3.7 2. Let us we of the Ministery they going three together alwaies to set up Churches as in my letters written to the Assembly and printed I have set forth at large 3. We and thee let us go forth 2 Cor. 6.1 we as workers together with God we that is Paul Silvanus Timothy 2 Cor 1.19 as workers together in one Church not dividedly in many work with the beloved and cannot work at all without him 4. Let us goe forth of the Church into the field the world and shews the care of the Jews to distribute and convay knowledge among men that never heard of it which their dispersion now will notably help then after their call through their knowledge of the languages and those countrey customes of the world that never heard of Christ Brightman understands here by the field the desire the Iews had to have the unconverted Iews to be converted which I think to be too narrow and further that the Iews conversion will be admirable even in one year as it were brought to passe in most part of the world and those are not then perswaded perish among the Nations for their unbelief Esay 66.8 5. They go forth into the fields but lodge not there but in the villages that is with such as embrace the doctrine of repentance and the preparation of the Gospell Ver. 12. Let us be as the morning on the Vineyards to shew that men under the Law had not that clear manifestation of grace to them as the Church had but had a morning light in which their own nature and darknesse of estate was set forth and the love of the Lord Iesus in his call of them thence to his marvellous light for the call of men is from darknesse in the state of nature to light in the state of grace and is the first work of grace and Gospel effect of the Ministery on man and not baptism 1 Pet. 2.9 thus 2 Acts 38. repent be baptized so that repentance must go before baptism and the call before repentance as in Mark 2.17 I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance which is the key of the Kingdome now taken from the people that they enter not therein and the preparation of the Gospell both which light and darknesse is in that of John and Christ saying Repent there is the darknesse for the Kingdome of heaven is at hand 2. Let us see if the Vine flourish where it seems that the church shall have under Christ the oversight of the world and the government thereof as under Moses the flourishing whereof is the true and right administration of Iustice 3. Where the tender grapes appear the word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies a tender grape that is a grape that hath lost his flower that is a poor soul that hath lost his own glory by the Law whose flower is fallen from him on whom Christ cast his eyes Esay 4. If the Pomgranats have sent out their buds that is the Apostles or men raised up of God to teach as the Apostles did the truth of Christ called the buds of them 5. There will I give saith Christ my loves unto thee so that ver. 11. was the churches call of Christ ver. 12. Christs call of the church who saith that where the Domgranats bud there Christ will give his loves in the plurall and no where else or not before Ver. 13. The Mandrakes give a smell I do not conceive that the Mandrakes here are those soporiferous herbs said to be like
male and female but some other pleasant herbs of which Gen. 30.15 being of some choice nature as seems by the word by reason whereof it is not easie to apply the sense of the spirit in this place Mr. Brightman applies them to men newly ingrafted into the church it may be the catechists are meant here who are men not awake and soporiferous field plants At our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits the church hath three gates set out in the square form of the new Ierusalem which had twelve gates three at each side which shewed that in all quarters of the world the church should be of the same constitution the three gates were belonging to the three-fold ministery at each of which the Angell thereof stood either to let in or keep out 1. The first whereof was the Teacher and his gate at which were old fruits that is repentance required with self deniall c. 2. Faith and obedience of the Gospell which were the new fruits 3. All these must be at the gates before entrance which are said to be before Christ that is for his glory and praise who called them his redeem'd ones and delivered them by his power and vertue from Satan to God and from darknesse to light with his Saints 4. They are said to be laid up for him the church receiving upon the effectuall call of any a profession made by them to leave the world and himself and to love Christ and obey the Gospell and to walk in all the commands thereof as appears 1 Timoth. 6.12 which was rightly said to be laid up for Christ also CAP. VIII Ver. 1. O That thou wert as my brother that sucked the breasts of my mother Christ is said not to be ashamed to call us brethren Heb. 2.11 wherefore it should seem the Church wisheth that Christ were conversant with her in the flesh as before and as those suck the breasts of her mother though the Apostle saith that Christ is no more to he known after the flesh 2 Cor. 6.18 Malachy 3.1 2. When I should find thee without that is not admitted to the church which shews none is of the church untill admitted all are found without the church at first 3. This is altogether against Christs personall raign on earth for if ever he should raign personally on earth it were at this time of the churches restoration 4. I would kisse thee a ceremony performed in the church by the brethren only and not as now among us men kissing women 2 Cor. 13.12 Salute {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and so 1 Cor. 16.20 1 Thes. 5.26 it is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} not {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} thus Judas saluted Christ Absalon all the people Abner kissed Hazael nor do we read of any mans kissing woman but Isaac his wife Rebecca But because som have of late been about to revive the holy kisse in their churches note that the manner in the Primitive church was this that when the churches met together in one place on the receiving of the Sacraments or the like the brethren of the Evangelists Society kissed all the brethren of the Pastors and Teachers to witnesse their inward love and affection to them upon their departure each from other Object This is not the custome of our countrey Resp. The word saith that Believers must not be conformed to this evill world but be changed in therenewing of their mind so that no custom but that of the word is to be practised by men in and of the Church 5. Yet I should not be despised 1. Doing that women use not to do 2. Doing that the Saints use not to do that is kisse those that are without men that are not members of the church a thing which ought not to be done 1. In thy eyes 2. In the Saints eyes 3. The world did they know Christ would not despise the church for kissing Christ 4. It shews how Christ though he be not of the world yet were he what esteem she would give him 5. And thence what esteem the Saints that are in the world shall have of the church if that Christ appear to be in them 2. Ver. 2. I would lead thee and bring thee into my mothers house which is the church being indeed the house of her mother that is the first church constituted by the Apostles so that those which think of a new church way not known in the word are but in a dream 2. Thou shouldest teach me in which it shews the desire it had above all of Christ teaching who taught as one having authority 3. I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine the church would indeavour to acquaint Christ with that comfort they themselves came to find and know to be in that salvation they found within themselves to have received from him 4. And the juice of the Pomgranat that is the sweetnesse and comfort of the works writings and sufferings of the Apostles Ver. 3. His left hand should be under my head and his right hand should imbrace me Ver. 4. I charge you c. in which two verses as in the former periods the church shuts up this part also The eighth generall part Cap. 8. Ver. 5. Ver. 5. Who is this cometh up from the wildernesse As I was slow writing these words I find Mr. Brightman to hint hereon that on this coming up out of the wildernesse and in the other places of this book is meant the restoration of the church whose words I thought good to insert to take away the reproach that some may cast upon the ground and way I have here laid down and used in the expounding this book as of novelty fancy c. as silly men are wont to do Haec enim sciscitandi forma semel atque iterum novam originem Ecclesiae alicujus indictam vidimus And by who is this cujus nominis est haec gens quae ascend it è deserto 1. When rather I understand it thus that the church having been in the wildernesse and the state of the Law government lost above 1200. years the form vvhereof being unknown to the world on Gods discovery of it men stand amazed and cry out who is this 2. This is clearly proved in that the body of the Song contains á discovery of these estates and of Christ their King as of things hidden and unknown 3· By the wildernesse is meant the state of the world opposed to the garden or church of God which God in the Revelation calls the Antichristian estate Rev. 12.6 where the woman the church is driven into the wildernesse or world estate Antichrist baptism and church being no better then the rest of the unbaptized world 4. Out of this world of the Antichristian estate shall the Gentile church first ascend the Jews church estate ascends out of the Mahometan world estate being Gog Magog 5. The word signifies to ascend as alluding to the
37 Ezek. 1.12 when God brings the Iews out of their graves and bone and flesh and skin and breath by the ministery in the four winds come on them and restore them 6. God here understands not any particular Nations or Churches nor is it warrantable to apply them so the Scripture of the Old Testament comprehending all under the two generall tearms of the Iews and Gentiles it is true Prophecy speaks of the states of the world in particular as the four Empires and the ten Kingdomes and their periods but for the Church in Prophecy the spirits purpose is after the call of the Iews Gentiles before which they vvere two but after speaks of them as one for that that of Paul and Johns writing of particular Churches and naming them warrants not us where that particular is not spoken of but generall only ver. 8. of this chap. hath the signification of some high matter of which I shall say something when I come to speak thereof 8. Leauing on her belowed that is depending on the strength help and power of Christ to bring her thence against the povver of her opposers 8. I raised thee up under the apple tree by the apple tree is meant Christ Cant. 2.3 the apple tree among the trees Christ among other Kings is as the apple tree among the fruitlesse trees of the wood 2. Under it that is Christ coming to take a people to himself in the vvay of the old Covenant nationally the Iew grows jealóus that God hath put him avvay and taken another people to himself to vvife vvhich raiseth them up Deut. 32.21 Rom. 10.19 Luke 15.28.29 3. By I raised thee up is meant Christ raised her up who speaks here and the vvord is I made thee to be raised up 4. The vvord for leaning on may be read sticks unto or joyned unto her beloved to shevv that the people sticking to or joyned to Christ at the churches coming up from the desert vvere not knovvn to the vvorld 9. There thy mother brought thee forth in the old Covenant 10. There again thy mother brought thee forth in the New Covenant 11. She that bare thee which was the first Church owned by Jesus Christ now that this concerned the Jevvs Church is clear for as yet none but the Jews have enjoyed both Covenants Verse 6. Set me as a seal upon thy heant they are the words of Christ to the Church after he had raised her up signifying that he desired nothing of her for all he had done for her but her love 2. That he should be the seal of her heart whence she should let nothing go without his leave to any nor to worship love or fear any besides himself all being to be shut up to him and for him 3. Set me as a seal upon thy seed our translation reads on thy arm by the seal here I understand Baptisme which all the seed of the Church were to be sealed with that is set apart from others to Jesus Christ which time state and work is foretold by John Revel. 7.2 where the Man that God authorizeth in his name to constitute the church is said to be an Angel having the seal of God who sealed the Jews tribes verse 4. to the 8. Note The Reasons why Christ requires the Church thus to set him as a seal on her heart and on her children are set down in that that remains of this verse and in the seventh verse Reason 1. Love is strong as death as death overcomes all men so love overcomes all things in man crucifies and subdueth all things to Jesus Christ Reason 2. Or thus as if Christ should say my love to thee made me dye for thee and now if thou shouldst not love me and set me as a seal upon thy heart it would prove again as strong as death was to me when I dyed Reason 3. Jealousie is as the grave for cruelty God is set forth to be a jealous God over the Jews in the first Covenant Christ in the second but Christs jealousie is of the heart that the Church loves not so singly cordially spiritually the Lord her husband as she ought Which as the grave he would devour all that in heart adulterated the Covenant or Marriage-bed of Christ Reason 4. The coles thereof are the coles that the fire Jah hath kindled here some only use the word Jah as a Hebraisme to set forth the greatness or vehemency of the flame of it but I rather do thus understand them the coles of this jealousie are kindled by the fire or heat of zeal that is from Jah or Jehovah my God-head to whom all is due and with whom none is to be Corrival Verse 5. Many waters cannot quench love in which Christ would again mitigate the expression used before in which his love as jealousie was as fire or a flame coles to consume a consuming fire now shews that many or much waters cannot quench his love and whereas the Apostle saith love covereth a multitude of sins so sin like water here though it abound in the Saints yet it cannot quench the flame of Gods love nor can the floods that is some exceeding gluts of sin on some temptations they neither cannot drown it but love will exceed them and be above them 6. If a man would give all the substance of his house with a lover it would be utterly despised Christ applies most sweetly in these words to shew the effects of a faithful woman loving her husband saying if a man would intice her to adulterate her husbands bed and to offer to give her the substance of his house she would in despising despise it that is exceeding contemn him and them now saith Christ if a woman will do this for her husband that loves him how canst thou say thou lovest me and not do the like have not I deserved more of thee then any man of any woman Our ordinary Translation to me seems strange I know no right sense can be given of it which saith if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be despised 1. As if the Church could not obtaine Christs love or as if she were to buy it 2. As if Christ could not or had not purchased the Churches love But if ye take the words as I have read them before 1. Ye have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a man offering then {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with a lover in the feminine with a woman loving her husband it would be despised which shew that the contempt is said to be of the woman tempted by any to folly against her husband that she loveth Part. 9. Cap. 8. Ver. 8. We have a little sister and she hath no breasts Note By the little sister cannot be meant the Gentiles 1. They are called before the Iews and the Iews have their Call and Ministry from the Gentiles at their Restauration 2. The Iews Church will be
small in compare of the Gentiles 3. Hence I suppose that by the little sister is meant part of the Iewish Nation which being dispersed in the most remote parts of the earth some after the call of the body of the Nation are not called nor have no means thereunto implyed in this she hath no breasts 4. Christ here with the Iews calls them his sister with the Gentiles Churches 5. What shal we do for our sister she willingly would be doing for and not talking of her only and is the same in effect as is expressed Cap. 7.11 12. 6. She hath no breasts or true and lawfull Ministry which cannot be the Iews speaking of the Gentiles who had Ministry before them nor do I think it to be the Gentiles speaking of the Iews but the Iews speaking of some of their own Tribes It may be Dan not mentioned at the first sealing Rev. 7. but after to be called last of all 7. In the day the word shall be made to be spoken to her and doth signify the effectualness of the word at the time God hath appointed for her call though before she opposed the word and did not obey the call as the rest had done Verse 9.1 If she be a wall let us build on her a silver Tower the words are the words of Christ in answer to the Churches question before 2. If she be a door we will inclose her with boards of Cedar Ver. 10. I am a wall the holy City or new Jerusalem is set out by its walls and gates of which here the Jews church saith that she is a wall the word coms from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} â—ocer she and the Gentiles joyned by the corner stone Christ now into one frame of building 2. Her brests are as Towers being abundant in knowledge and in the wisdome of the Gospell in which she was exalted very high 3. Then saith she was I in his eyes that is Christs as one that found favour being beloved and esteemed of him Part 10. Cap. 8. Ver. 11. 1. There was a Vineyard to Solomon with the Lord of the multitudes that is the Nationall Church under the Rule of Moses was Nationall with that of the world called Satans the Lord of the multitude 2 He let forth this Vineyard to keepers that is to the Judges of the Cities 3. Every man brought with his fruit that is his own obedience of the Law a thousand silverlings that is the grace of the Gospell which is in Christ to be justified or he could not be accepted in himself Ver. 12. The Vineyard that are to me saith Christ are mine which is the Church estate under the Gospell 2. They are said to be before Christ in Christs presence he himself watcheth them he walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks Rev. 1.13 and is alway vvith them and among them and in them being another way provided for then that of Solomons and receives all the fruit of it himself 3. He shews Solomons Vineyard was divided in the fruit of it 1000. Solomon had and 200. the keepers for keeping the fruit Note This is a key to this book and shews that the Vineyard sometimes is to be understood by the Nationall sometime by the Gospell Church Ver. 13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken unto thy voice This friends is a wonder in which the fall and cestation of the false Ministers and Ministery is foretold 1. The companions are such as by their own authority set up Churches and use the authority power and word of Christ without his leave 2. These a long time oppose the truth and true way of Christ and at last are by the grace of God perswaded to obedience deny their way see their folly and evill committed against the Gospell 3. The Church which had heard it cries cause me to hear it which shews none can hear it but those are made to hear Conclusion Ver. 14. 1. Fly O my beloved or hasten O my beloved the fullfilling of these things in us the Jews and Gentiles make us one in thee and in thy faith according to thy word 2. Assimilate thy self to the Tzebi O take on thee the nature of poor man as thou hast said O thou that art the glory of the Father as God and of man as man 3. Or be thou in thy celerity as the young hart hunted on the mountains so haste in thy coming unto us in which she ingeminates her desires to Christ 4. Come unto us upon the mountains of spices 1. He came filled with the Godhead anoynted with the spirit possessed with all authority of the Father for to be King Priest and Prophet to his people 2. He had all power in heaven and earth to do what he would give what and take what he would of life for man 3. As man he was in all things tempted like unto us and therefore knew how to pity those that came to God by him Note On these and the other Mountains of God and grace did he come as the church desired him to come that coming they might not find any emptinesse in him for whom their souls longed and in vvhom all fullnesse is to dvvell Who came from the Mountains of Spices that are in God into the gardens of Spices that are in the church or Saints of Gods election The things that are predicted in this propheticall Song I verily believe vvill most certainly in their appointed time be accomplished of vvhich vvith the Prophet David and the Apostle Paul in their time I cannot but to the Generation present speak these things for I believe and therefore speak that the praise of God this glory and vvisdome of Jesus Christ may be seen and admired of us and that vve occasion not our ruine by crossing his purposes but use the means and vvalk in the vvay appointed for the hastning our happinesse not come to be broken to povvder by falling on the Stone in Zion or the stones falling on us vvhich I advise all the men on earth this day to bevvare in this great day of the visitations of the Lord God Almighty vvhose fire is novv in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem and he about to accomplish his vvork his strange vvork among the sons of men and vvho shall hinder the Almighty who vvill both root up and plant the Nations of the earth again and make Zion his 〈◊〉 the praise of all the earth for evermore Amen FINIS There are sundry errors on this Treatise the Author being not present at the printing of most of it which he desires thee to passe by and especially to supply what is wanting in p. 18. l. ult. cap. 6. by reading I have another baptism to be baptized vvith and hovv c. In the Introduction to the Exposition l. 11. for the Mosaicall Rule read the Leveticall Ministery set up by Moses THere are three books which have in them Braine for Brayne which concerne my self 1. A Treatise written against Mr. John Duryes Notes in defence 〈◊〉 the present Ministery 2. A Treatise concerning the call of the now Ministery dedicated 〈◊〉 the Honerable the Parliament of England 3. A Letter written by Dr. Chamberlaine to me in the defence of the authority of such as now baptize believers