were always to pray towards Jerusalem So that who ever he were that sought after God either to hear any thing from him or to receive any thing of him he must seek him in Jerusalem But now the corporal Jerusalem is destroyed the Ark is to be sought for in the new Jerusalem Which Ark is Baptism For as the promise of Gods presence then was where ever the Ark by Gods appointment was plac'd So the promise of Christs presence now is where Baptism is preserved aright Mat. 28. Baptism then is the Ark in the new Jerusalem Not a resting in the work done and corrupting the nature of it but where the true reason of its institution is taught and preserved Rev. 21.3 Therefore the Tabernacle of God is said to be with men and our bodies to be the visible Temples of the Holy Ghost Cor. 2.6 in regard of Baptism our Spiritual Ark. Wherefore the Chariot being made for the Daughters of Jerusalem it meaneth for those that are brought up under the Ark. For Jerusalem is the Mother because she abideth by the Ark she sticketh fast to the promises of God and instructeth all her Childeren in the same To those and to all those that are visible members of the Church is the word of God sent for although the blessing in the word be received but by a few yet the tender on Gods part is universal and must not be denied that those for whom it is prepared may receive it and they that refuse may be left without excuse Some will allow that all shall hear the word but deny their free admission to the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper But the Ark being the ground of Church-communion as aforesaid so long as the Ark remains right to the Lords Supper doth remain For nothing can cause the loss of any Church priviledg but the want of that which is Essential to its being now Baptism being Essential to all Church priveledges till Baptism be renounced right to all Church priviledges must remain Besides Heb. 11.4 Deut. 14.23 Rom. 15.8 all the Sacraments that ever were were incitements to faith and piety instituted on purpose to teach men to believe as is easy enough to be seen being all preparatives to faith and holiness and not effects therefore none must be debarr'd but all admitted Exod. 12.23 Else how shall the faith of the Church become Sacramental which faith was never wanting to the Church in any age And as the word belongs to the Children of the Ark and to all of them Joh. 1.31 Luk. 22.20 so it belongs to none but only them None can demonstrate that ever any people had a visible interest in the Scriptures Psal 147. Rom. 3. Acts 10.17.13 24. and to the interpretation thereof but only those people whom God first plac'd and also preserved under the external signs of his Covenant Jerusalem is the Mother because she bringeth forth Children under the Ark not in bringing forth Children before she cometh to the Ark So likewise they are not daughters of Jerusalem that count themselves holy and Saints before they come to the Ark all that teach that Doctrine pertain to another Mother and not to Jerusalem which is above the Mother of us all All those pertain to Sinai which is in bondage with her Children and not to the new Jerusalem the celestial and Heavenly City Therefore let us not despise the Riches of our beloved and lose so great a Treasure but seeing he is so bountiful unto us as to let us hear his word to make us his Chariot that we might have communion with himself be saved from an evil Conscience and from his everlasting wrath and be brought to live in glory with him for ever hereafter let us thank and bless his holy name and joyfully embrace his favour And let us also learn so to understand his word that we may receive the Heavenly gift of God that is sent unto us and so to understand the Sacraments that thereby we may be drawn to faith and true repentance Which that we may learn we must diligently mark what here next follows VERSE XI Go forth ye Daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart IN which words the Holy Ghost directeth the Daughter of Zion to a right behaviour of Soul in receiving that Doctrine wherewith the Chariot is made which is to go forth and behold By which words he rightly teacheth what the righteousness of the Gospel is not to rest in our selves but by faith to behold King Solomon with his Crown And also how the righteousness of Christ shall be received and kept even by going forth from depending upon our own inherent righteousness These are the two most Excellent and most useful points above all others and ought above all things to be preferred Which Doctrine we rightly learn when we submit our selves to the comdemnation of the Law and suffer our selves by faith to be divorced from the Law Else what doth it avail us to hear that the righteousness of Christ is ever so excellent a thing if we be not instructed by the Gospel how to be divorced from our own Now in this thing Christ differeth from all Teachers for the wisdom of man Teacheth after this sort if thou wilt attain to faith in Christ and be assured thereof do the Law keep the Commandments of God but the wisdom of the Holy Ghost saith the clean contrary go forth and behold King Solomon with his Crown For this Act of faith in going forth to behold is not to do the Law but wholly to depart from the Law So that rightly to behold King Solomon with his Crown is wholly to forget and lose the Law This place therefore teacheth us how the righteousness of the Ten Commandments may be attained not by our doing the works of the Law but by faith in Christ without the Law Even by beholding the Kingdom and victory of our Lord Jesus Christ to be given to us freely This matter concerneth the conscience and therefore it had need be well learned Therefore when thou feelest thy sin and fearest the wrath to come confess it to God and ask forgiveness for Christs sake with a believing heart then hast thou spiritually fulfill'd the Law forasmuch as the righteousness of Christ is given to thee as soon as thou feelest and confessest thy condemnation by the Law which thing thou oughtest to beleive it being the chief Corner-Stone in building the Kingdom of Christ in thy distressed Conscience Therefore who ever thou art that wouldest attain to righteousness before God and also to true peace and comfort in thy Conscience learn thou the way how to attain the same even by faith in Christ without the works of the Law to go forth and behold King Solomon with his Crown Now the Crown betokeneth the victory that Christ hath gotten over the
his foul stains yet in regard of his wonderful Wisdom and great Reach that the Lord had given him whereby he was able to borrow Speeches from the nature of Earthly things to set forth the Lord's mind in Heavenly things he was a Man excellently fitted For God gave Solomon Wisdom and largeness of Heart above all Men his Wisdom excelled all the Children of the East for he was wiser than Ethan Henan Calcol and Darda And he spake of Trees from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hysop that groweth out of the Wall He was able also to shew the nature of Fowls and of Fishes There was none like Solomon before him neither after him shall there arise any like him Solomon was also a Figure of Christ in regard of his Wisdom Kingdom and Glory and also being a Man of rest for so the Lord said of him Solomon shall be his Name for I will give Peace to Israel in his days Now Christ is our Peace who is also called Solomon The Pen-man therefore of this Book being the wisest of all the Prophets and Christ whom it concerneth being the very Wisdom of the Father and greater than Solomon therefore is this Song commended unto us by the holy Ghost in the highest degree of Excellency Seeing therefore it is a Song we must learn with all skilfulness to sing it and seeing singing is an argument of joy we must look for nothing in this Song but matter of exceeding joy So that when we are in the lowest condition by reason of Sin and the Cross yet then the understanding of this Song will raise us up beyond our selves For it is not only a Song but the Song of all Songs composed by Solomon a Person wiser than all Persons who figureth out Christ unto us who is the very Wisdom of the Father and therefore greater than Solomon And his carriage to be most gentle and loving to us when we are in the deepest misery and greatest extremity Therefore we must endeavour to learn the Tune and Time of this Heavenly Song and it will fill our Hearts with joy and gladness VERSE II. Let him kiss me VVE must understand that the chief part of this Song is drawn from the similitude of Lovers espoused in Marriage or else those that have fully finished the Marriage knot And Solomon being moved by the Holy Ghost made choice of this Similitude above all other things to set forth the most excellent Mystery between Christ and his Church no resemblance being greater to manifest the same not only in regard of the oneness that cometh by Marriage and also the firmness of the Bond between Man and Wife that cannot be broken but also in regard of the Issue and Posterity that comes by Marriage for even as by reason of Marriage many Children are born into the World so by reason of the Soul 's uniting unto Christ Rom. 7. are many Children brought to Life and Immortality The Church is here represented to come in a pang of Love but what Church Quest Not the Church of the Jews only Answ but also the Church of the Gentiles For the Church is to be considered either generally or distinctly either as the Church of the Jews and Gentiles united into one Body or else the Church of the Jews apart before Christ's Incarnation Now as the Church distinctly considered desired after Christ that was then to come so the Church generally considered desireth after Christ that is come Therefore the Church expressing her self here by the desire of a Lover Let him kiss me it sheweth the desire of the Bride in all Ages of the World But why doth the Bride desire to be kissed Quest Kissing amongst Men is a sign of favour and reconciliation David kissed Absalom Answ 2 Sam. 14.23 and thereby shewed that he was reconciled unto him Moses and Aaron kissed each other when they met as a token of Friendship And when Laban departed from Jacob Gen. 3â— 55 as a token that all strife was ended between them he kissed his Sons and his Daughters and so departed So that the Church desiring to be kissed desireth she may be assured by his word of his Love and Reconciliation to her Now there is a two fold kissing mentioned in Scripture there is a kissing on Christ's part and a kissing on the Bride's part Christ kisseth the Bride when he assureth her by his word that he is reconciled to her and in Love with her Person although she be a most miserable Sinner The Bride kisseth Christ when she by Faith is reconciled to him in believing that Christ is in Love with her Person Christ offereth the kiss first in these words I have loved thee with an everlasting Love The Bride again meeteth him with the kiss as soon as ever she perceiveth and is drawn to believe that her very Person is intended in these words This is the first kiss of Christ which begetteth Faith and all Heavenly Qualities within us There are also other kisses that follow where the first is imbraced when he loveth our Obedience Heb. 11.5 although imperfect because we please him by Faith but this is his antecedent kiss which respecteth not the Work but the Person a most miserable Sinner and this we ought to believe And in this sence it is said Kiss the Son lest he be angry Psal 2.12 that is see that thou thankfully imbrace the first kiss which assureth thee of the acceptance of thy sinful Person before thy works are regarded which truth of God worketh in thee Faith and Love to God and all good works In this sence also it is said 2 Cor. 13.12 1 Thes 5.26 Salute ye one another with an holy kiss and Greet ye one another with an holy kiss by which holy Kiss is meant the Administring on Christ's part and the embracing on our part the first kiss And by greeting and saluting one another is set forth the highest degree of Love among the Brethren which is a mutual forwardness in drawing each other by the Gospel to receive the first kiss therefore the Bride saith here Let him kiss me let him assure me in this one point that my Person is in his Favour which is the first ground and beginning of our Faith in Christ But why doth the Bride here desire to be kissed with more kisses besides the first kiss Quest Because by the first kiss she is so wonderfully taken up with the Love of her Beloved Answ that she cannot be at rest without him but desireth more and more after him And it sheweth us also the true nature and use of Faith which is not to despair nor be dismayed under the feeling of the greatest Sins and Calamities but then when it is at the worst as a Remedy against all it teacheth us to humble our selves and to desire the kisses of our Beloved And she addeth farther With the kisses of his Mouth Because all the Comforts that she findeth in the day of Adversity
shall be as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed VERSE II. As the Lilly among thorns so is my love among the Daughters THese are the words of Christ who first sheweth the Church the danger she is like to fall into by reason of her Doctrine she is like the Lilly among the thorns in danger to be scrat and torn in pieces this acceptance she findeth amongst the daughters meaning the Preachers of the Law that draw on works into the Doctrine of justification these in all ages have been the only enemies to the Bride of Christ which did not fear to set upon Christ himself but crucified the Lord of life let any man but stick fast to the righteousness of Faith and hold it forth against them in this one point concerning righteousness by the Law and they will shew themselves First or last to be as thorns in his side And thus the Gospel sendeth fire on the earth but without the Gospel all things are at quiet Also Christ in these words preferreth the Children of the free-woman which he calleth his love far above the Children of the bond-woman which he calleth the Daughters For thus he saith in effect that as the Lilly far surpasseth the thorns both in Nobility and Beauty So doth my love far surpass the Daughters that is is higher in my esteem then those that earnestly require the works of the Law Next as it were an answer to this follow the words of the Bride VERSE III. As the Apple-tree among the trees of the Forrest So is my beloved among the Sons IN which words even as the Bridegroom before did set forth the Bride beyond the Daughters of the bondwoman under the similitude of the Lilly So here the bride doth set forth the excellency of her beloved beyond the Sons of Agar under the similitude of an Apple-tree Now the Apple-tree far surpasseth the trees of the wood which are by nature wild in regard of the goodness of the fruit and also the variety thereof So doth the fruit she says of my beloved far surpass the Sons that is the fruit of all those that first require the works of the Law to be done before a man can be interested in the Gospel this the spouse of Christ cannot relish because it is not the voice of her beloved and therefore she hath the Sons in small account and betaketh her self to her own Apple-tree and feedeth on his fruit the fruit of which tree doth heal the Nations I sate under his shadow with great delight By the shadow of the Apple-tree understand the shadows and figures of Christ in all ages of the Church which being rightly understood are full of heavenly delight A shadow in Divinity representeth something to faith which is absent to sense and reason confirming that to the eye which the word doth to the ear For God hath always made a double Declaration of his bounty for the comfort of sinful man the one is by his word wherein he instructeth us by hearing the other by figures and shadows wherein he instructeth us by seeing And this comes to pass by reason of our wonderful necessity and weakness being not able to comprehend so excellent a mystery as the Gospel without the use of visible helps Therefore Christ instructing Nicodemus in the Doctrine of regeneration Joh. 3. teacheth him by figures to understand the Mystery If I have told you of earthly things and ye beleive not how can ye beleive if I tell you of Heavenly things As much as to say unless you learn to believe by the knowledg of earthly things ye cannot beleive if I tell you of Heavenly things Now by earthly things he meaneth the figures and shadows of Christ in all ages of the Church and begins with Baptism the thing in question then between Christ and Nicodemus So also Circumcision the Passover the Sacrifices the Temple the Tabernacle the Ark and the mercy Seat were all earthly things by which the Jew was to be instructed in his faith These were the patterns of things in the Heavens to lead the Jew to the knowledg of Heavenly things themselves Now therefore as shadows were necessary to instruct the Jew in his Faith in a Christ that was to come So also were some shadows necessary to instruct the gentile in his faith in the Christ that is come Esa 4. And therefore it was promised that in the days of Christs Kingdom there should be a Tabernacle for a shadow which promise was fulfil'd in the coming of John the Baptist For all the Law and the Prophets prophesied until John the Baptist that is till Baptism Now all the Law and Prophets prophesied of a Christ to come Joh. 1.31 But Baptism manifesteth unto us the Christ that is come Now seeing Baptism endeth that faith and Religion which resteth in a Christ to come therefore it beginneth that Faith and Religion which resteth in the Christ that is come And therefore it is said by the Evangelist Mar. 1. that Baptism is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God Because it endeth the former Prophesie of a Christ to come and beginneth that Faith and Religion which resteth in Christ that is come And even as no man could visibly profess the true Religion amongst the Jews unless he were first united to the Jew by Circumcision So no man can so much as profess the true Religion now unless he be first united to the Church through Baptism And as it is the beginning of our entrance into the way of Christianity So it is the beginning of our comfort in the day of distress for even as Christ was present with the Fathers of old as soon as by faith they rightly understood the shadows so Baptism as oft as we fly unto it by faith hath Christ present with all that he is and all that he hath prepared for poor sinners Which spiritual coming of Christ into the Soul causeth the absence of all discomforts whatsoever The right understanding of this Mistery causeth the bride to sing here I sate down under his shadow with great delight Also this Doctrine openeth a light for the conviction of all false Prophets whatsoever all Sects and Heresies that now be or ever will be having their first rise from the contempt of Baptism or some false opinion concerning the same And with this proposition they all begin that Baptism is nothing unless the person first believe By which proposition they wholy deny the true Christ and rest upon a false Christ For Baptism not only manifesteth the true Christ to become as hath been proved but also sheweth us that until Baptism all people are under the Prophecy of a Christ to come Now that Doctrine which requireth faith before Baptism requireth faith not in the true Christ that is come but in a false Christ which is yet to come which Christ in Scripture is no where to be found And if there be no such Christ to be
said by an indefinite Speech to be sixty valiant Men of the valiant of Israel these are the choice ones in the Church Men that are expert in the Faith that are able to make War against all Heretics and Seducers These are like Solomon's Curtains being always round about the Bed in all Ages of the Church to preserve the Doctrine of Christ from false Glosses These are knit unto Christ by Faith and one to another by Love and Unity in Doctrine Exod. 26. So that even as the Curtains of the Tabernacle were coupled together with Taches of Gold to make one Tabernacle so by these golden Taches of Faith and Love the Saints are knit to Christ and one to another And in this sense the Bride saith here she is comely not only in respect of her Faith towards God but also in that she is an Ornament to the Bed being instrumental to preserve the Church of God from being defiled by reason of corrupt Doctrine This teacheth us what the Life of the Saints is and must be in this World even to keep the Church of God as much as in us lyeth from being polluted by false Doctrine for they are set round about the Bed for this purpose to fight against Satan and his Ministry and the reason and wisdom of the Flesh which always opposeth and fighteth against the Gospel and also to walk in Unity one towards another and towards all Men. VERSE VI. Look not upon me because I am black because the Sun hath looked upon me my Mother's Children were angry with me they made me the Keeper of the Vineyards but mine own Vineyard have I not kept IT is as much as to say this Look not upon me with contempt to despise the Doctrine I profess nor yet upon my stains and blemishes as if I were cast off and rejected of my Beloved for although my Skin be of an evil colour this doth not proceed from any evil there is in the Gospel but from an outward cause to wit the Sun the Sun hath looked upon me therefore I would not be despised and counted a Cast away for it is not my natural hew I am comely in the sight of my Beloved True it is I have some troubles upon me my Mother's Children do afflict me There be many of the same Linage I am of in respect of the outward state of the Church we have all one Mother but they have not the Spirit of Adoption to become the Children of my heavenly Father My Mother's Sons have not true Faith in Christ nor Hearts to live as Brethren and Sisters ought to do For although we were born in one House and brought up in one Family did all eat the same Spiritual Meat and drink the same Spiritual Drink Yet they are fallen away by evil Principles and into an evil course of Life and because I am not willing to follow their evil ways in Life and Doctrine therefore they are angry with me They have canker'd Minds full of malice and very much enflamed against me for when I was about mine own business in the Lord's Vineyard to do good to every Vine according to my power and skill they made me through my own frailty and weakness to look to other Vines not only to do such Orders observe such Ceremonies and preach such Doctrines as I was never appointed to do but also sought to draw me quite away from the Lord's Vineyard to other Vineyards And to persuade me hereunto they would make me a Keeper they would set me in an Office to keep out the defiled and unclean lest their Vineyard should be spoiled by evil Beasts And while I was thus imployed yielding my self too much this way they brought me quite out of Love with my own Vineyard mine own Vineyard have I not kept and in forsaking mine own Vineyard which I too much consented to I had even lost the benefits of Christ my Lord and Saviour The Bride here sheweth that although she be black and stained and out of countenance yet she would not be look'd upon proudly with disdain and contempt but as an object of Pity and Mercy yet this she sheweth to be the practise of the Daughters of Jerusalem in all Ages of the Church to cover all things that is comely in the Bride to bury that in Oblivion but to fasten their Eyes very heedfully upon that which is her blackness and deformity Such is the infirmity of Man's nature that if there be any blemishes and stains in others that we curiously observe and suffer our Affections to be even quite abated from them therefore but if there be any thing worthy of Praise that we skip over and take little notice thereof That which is good in us we would have all Men look upon and have us in high estimation for but in dealing with other Men we behold every spot blemish and stain All Men are willing to have their own deformities skipped over and their vertues highly praised and honoured but are loth to take any notice of the vertues in others although they be ever so excellent and worthy of praise But why do we look upon that which desameth the Person in some things And do not as well behold that which will set him out in other things If there be some blemish in an House we take not much notice of it but most of all behold that which will make it saleable Or if a ground be infected with Herbs and Roots that in some respects may be unprofitable yet if in other respects they are useful we account of them and cherish them Now if in Herbs and Roots we respect the vertues as well as the baseness why do not we the like by the Church of God Why do not we mark the best things to help to inflame Charity and to nourish true Christian Love as well as to fasten our Eyes upon the deformities of the Church which is the ready way to separate our Affections from it She also complaineth farther than in leaning too much to her Mother's Sons she forsook as it were the fruit of her own Vineyard even the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ Of this sort of People the Church of God hath ever been pestered withall such that fall away themselves and then seek to draw Disciples after them some to follow Rules and Orders which are not commanded that live within the Church and to draw Men into an evil course of Life and others which seek to draw Men from the Lord's Vineyard unto other Vineyards whereby they come to lose the Fruits of Christ's Death and Resurrection For it must well be noted that although in separation from Churches a great shew of Holiness may be pretended yet under that shew of Holiness the greatest Sin lyeth hid which is a departing from the Gospel And the reason is because the ground of separating from one Church to another is not because the gifts of God are wanting in the Church separated from which are
the Word and Sacraments but because of Men's corruptions neither is the ground of their uniting into another Church fellowship because of the word of God but the works of Men. Now because they make another ground of Church fellowship which is not the Gospel preferring the abominable works of Men before and beyond the Word and Righteousness of God having nothing to glory in but only in the Act of Separation therefore by the very Act of Separation the Fruits of the Vineyard are lost And this is that which the Bride here toucheth upon and confesseth she did yield too much this way and about this point most that are godly first or last are tottering yet she recovered her self and confesseth that she had rather forsake her Mother's Sons although they be angry with her than by following their Doctrine and way to lose the Fruits of her own Vineyard and purchase the displeasure of her Beloved Therefore let every Man in the Church of God keep to his own Vineyard and do the Lord's work first in looking to himself then in planting the young Vines Also in nourishing those that are planted there is work for every Man to do and God will give a liberal Reward in the end every Man at the last shall have his Penny VERSE VII Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy Flocks to rest at Noon for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the Flocks of thy Companions IN this temptation the Bride sheweth what she did she made her request to her Beloved and to win him to hear and grant her request she calleth him not by such Titles as are usually given to him in Scripture as the Messias or the Anointed of the Lord or the wonderful Councellour but by that Title she felt to be due to him in her own Affections Oh thou whom my Soul loveth Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest I know that where thou feedest there is thy Presence and where thy Presence is there is thy Flock and therefore I pray thee tell me For I am a poor silly Woman thy Spouse and have some Troubles upon me by reason of my Mother's Sons and am many times troubled in Conscience because I do things contrary to my Conscience and cannot tell where to have Peace but in thee therefore I pray thee tell me where thou usest to feed and also makest thy Flocks to rest at Noon What that Doctrine is that is thy People's rest and in what Company of People the Principles of that Doctrine are taught that so even as Shepherds in Countries near the Sun do not only feed their Sheep in fit Pastures but also drive them to shade at Noon So also in the time of Persecution from my Mother's Sons I may know in the heat of the day whither to run to be safe under thy Couch For if thou dost it not I may very much hurt my self by degenerating into a strange Vine for others feed Flocks and make shews to be thy Companions which are but Seducers and Deceivers and why should I be as one that turneth aside following after those Flocks for want of understanding the place where thou art always resident But what is the cause the Church so loveth Christ whom she never saw Quest The cause is Answ because she perceiveth in him the nature and properties of Love for he giveth unto her freely that which she lost in Adam which is deliverance from the Curse and everlasting Condemnation Therefore it is that she loveth him with her Soul and this knowledge she hath by Faith alone and not from her Works for although by Works she manifesteth her Faith before Men yet nothing can evidence Faith to her own Conscience but only Faith it self The last Resolution of Faith is when the Evidence of Works is lost and nothing is left to assure us but the Word alone For nothing can evidence Faith in the last Resolution of it to be Faith but the infusing of Grace into the Soul without precedent preparation but in all Works there must be some precedent Preparative to make them good Now what ever that precedent Preparative is that makes them good Works the same is the Light and Evidence of Faith it self and nothing can evidence Works to us to be good but Faith therefore Faith alone must evidence it self in the last Resolution of Faith it alone being infused into the Soul without any precedent preparation Now Faith is an Evidence because it being a rational Faculty knows what is given us of God and also knows what is by us received And one thing more amongst many is chiefly to be noted The Bride here loveth Christ with her Soul and yet she is ignorant in many things which are also of concernment she knoweth not where he feedeth but scruples she hath about the place nor where to rest her self in the heat of the day nor how to answer something objected against her by Seducers yet she is not dismayed and driven out of her Faith notwithstanding all this but loveth Christ with her Soul Which must comfort those poor wretches that are ignorant in many points that cannot tell how to discourse of high Matters nor to answer many Objections that are made against them by Seducers yet if they know but this one thing that Christ hath given them freely that which they have lost in Adam in this may they rejoyce and by this they may certainly know that they are of the number of Christ's Flock that do pertain to the Bride-bed VERSE VIII If thou know not O thou fairest among Women go thy way forth by the Footsteps of the Flock and feed thy Kids besides the Shepherds Tents THese words are the Answer of Christ to the Churches request wherein he sheweth his Compassion to her although she was ignorant in some things and therefore he answereth her thus If thou knowest not aright the place where I feed yet I account of thee therefore be not dismayed thy Person is in favour for thou art to me the fairest amongst Women therefore hearken to me and follow my direction Go thy way forth by the Foot-steps of the Flock Mark the track of all the Flock that went before thee Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles and other holy Men of God that both knew my voice and followed me and see where they did feed and what they rested on in the heat of the day and when thou hast found the track there feed thy Kids by the Shepherds Tents Christ here termeth his Bride The fairest amongst Women although she hath many imperfections in her and the reason is because he covereth all her deformities with his own Righteousness and Merits therefore he taketh pleasure in her hideth all her stains and blemishes and mentioneth nothing but her fairness and beauty This is contrary to the practice of the World who walk after another Rule who if they see a Man that professeth Religion to
be filled with many excellent Vertues that be worthy of praise yet if they can with their curious Eyes but see any imperfection in him they quickly set him upon the Stage to make him a spectacle to all the World They are willing to behold his stains and blemishes and to cover him with Infamy and Reproach but they bury all things that are comely in him in the Grave of Oblivion These by their despising others do highly magnifie themselves but if they follow the Rules of Christ in other things as they suppose they do why do they not also follow the Example of Christ in this which of all others is so worthy of imitation Why do they walk so directly contrary to Christ and to that which is the principal Duty in practical new Obedience Christ by his Righteousness covereth the deformities of the humbled Sinner and calleth him the fairest these by their Righteousness cover all things that are worthy of praise and upon the sight of some imperfections count him the filthiest of all others This is a shame to all that account themselves Christians especially to those that esteem themselves great in the Church being Teachers of others who talk much of the Gospel in their Doctrine but why do they throw it down by their practice Doth not the Gospel principally teach Pity and Compassion towards Men even as God hath shewed Pity and Compassion towards us If these Men were so Righteous indeed as they seem to be in their own Eyes would they not then do to others as they would be done unto themselves They themselves are willing to have their own Vertues praised and their Deformities buried and this they greedily gape after but in dealing with others they make them as the filth of the World and the off-scouring amongst Men. Now who shall cover the Deformities of these Men before God when they will shew no Pity nor Compassion to their Brethren before Men How far these Men are besides the Mark it is easie for all Men to judge Let every poor humbled Sinner therefore receive the Consolation of Christ here and not be too much dismayed at his own deformity nor yet too much dejected with the Reproaches of Men. Christ saith If thou know not yet thou art to me the fairest amongst Women Knowledge is the Eye of the Soul which ought to be the guide of all Men's Actions and the Eye being blemished a great part of the Churches beauty is stained and defaced yet then if we seek unto him as the Church doth here and humble our selves before him he will speak loving and comfortable words unto us The Church is also directed in this Verse to feed her Kids by the Shepherds Tents It must be noted that the Shepherds Tents were always where the Ark was which was the visible Sign of God's Presence When the Ark of God was in Shiloh 1 Sam. 1. the Shepherds Tents were there And when the Ark was brought into the Temple at Jerusalem then the Shepherds Tents were there And in Num. 2.17 we read that the Children of Israel were to pitch their Tents about the Tabernacle of which the Levites had the charge because the Ark was there And as the Camp of the Levites was set forwards with the Tabernacle so every Man in his place was to set forwards by his Standard But with us the Ark of God is Baptism Mat. 28. because Baptism is the visible Sign to which the promise of Christ's Presence is made Now in that it is said There feed thy Kids it sheweth where the true Church is even where the Ark is Baptism and the Lord's Supper then are the Shepherds Tents Not a resting in the work done but where the right reason of their Institution is preserved and taught there are the true Shepherds and there is good feeding Now in that it is said Feed thy Kids it sheweth that the Flock of Christ consisteth of little Kids as well as of greater and stronger Cattel Isa 40. so Christ is said to gather the Lambs in his Arms Which sheweth he hath not only Sheep but also Lambs in his Flock And also it being said there feed thy Kids it teacheth us this that the Mother cannot have any feeding for her little Kids unless she bring them first under the promise of God So that even as the natural Mother cannot feed her Babe unless she give it the Teat no more can the Spiritual Mother feed her little Kids unless she first bring them to the Ark. Learn therefore the true knowledge of the Ark then thou hast found the Shepherds Tents thither bring thy Kids and feed them with Heavenly nourishment VERSE IX I have compared thee O my Love to a company of Horses in Pharaoh 's Chariot THis sentence seems to hang upon the former and sheweth how well Christ is pleased with the request of the Bride in the former Verse and declareth his loving Affection to her And therefore he begins with a Note of Admiration O my Love I have compared thee I am loth to set thee out by thy self alone I will do it by a similitude and many things there are I might compare thee to but of them all I will set thee out by Horses and not by Horses of the meanest sort but by Horses in Pharaoh's Chariot Egyptian Horses were the chiefest in all the World both for Battel and Courage 1 Kin. 28. and also highest in Account And the Horse is a Warlike Creature that rejoyceth in his strength Job 39. and goeth on to meet the Armed Men. Zac. 10.3 And the Lord did make the House of Judah as his goodly Horse in the day of Battel which treadeth down the Enemy as mire in the Streets and therefore the Bride is here compared to Horses in regard of her Faith and Doctrine by which she treadeth down and spoileth all her Spiritual Enemies And also to Horses in Pharaoh's Chariot that as a company of Pharaoh's goodly Horses well harnessed together running with courage and swiftness made much for the Honour of the King so the Church in shouldering together couragiously for the destruction of Antichrist and his Kingdom maketh much for the Honour of Christ her Beloved Which sheweth that the Lord's delight is in exercising his Church with Enemies and Seducers not only for the tryal of her Faith and Patience but also that the Kingdom of Satan may thereby be overthrown and totally destroyed Therefore no man must take offence if he be exercised in this kind but set forth himself manfully to defend the Gospel and patiently to continue in the Exercise thereof VERSE X. Thy Cheeks are comely with rows of Jewels and thy Neck with Chains of Gold IN the former Verse the Church is commended for her Courage and Skill in making War against her Spiritual Enemies here she is commended for her Beauty Some say the modesty of the Church is here praised which appeareth in her Cheeks when she blusheth for shame having sinned
against God But the words are an Allegory wherein one thing is expressed and another thing is meant therefore we are not to understand by the Cheeks and Neck the Complexion of the Face but what ever may make the Bride beautiful and comely to behold That which gives light for the opening of this place is in Prov. 20.15 The Lips of Knowledge are a precious Jewel And Prov. 1.8 9. The Law is said to be an Ornament to the Head and as Chains about the Neck By which Scriptures it appeareth that as the fine Women in Solomon's time did use to adorn their Cheeks and Necks with Jewels set in rows and Chains of Gold for an addition of their Beauty so also the Church is adorned with Jewels Chains of Gold and Ornaments about her Head and Neck which is a right knowledge and understanding of the Law of Grace which maketh her to appear beautiful and glorious Also it is noted by some that the word Tor which signifies a Row having Affinity with the Hebrew word Torah which hath the name of the Law which is as Chains is used also for a Turtle Dove and then the words may be read thus Thy Cheeks are comely with rows of Jewels wherein are Figures of Turtles And the Turtle Doves were to be used in offering Sacrifice which Offerings and Sacrifices were Types and Figures of Christ's sufferings in the Flesh Now this teacheth us First what it is that doth bespangle the Church as it were with Chains and Jewels even the right understanding and opening of God's Law 1 Cor. 3.12 Isa 54.12 therefore the Doctrine of the Gospel is compared to Gold Silver and precious Stones And the Windows or Lights of the Church to Agates and the laying of her Foundation is said to be with Saphirs Rev. 21.19 and all manner of precious Stones which things as they do wonderfully shine and glitter in the Eyes of Men so the right understanding and opening of the Mystery of the Gospel doth make the Church to shine and glitter in the Eyes of all those that relish the same Next in that the Cheeks are comely with Figures of Turtles it teacheth us that as soon as the Church is adorned with Jewels and Chains as aforesaid as soon as once her Doctrine comes to make a glittering in the Church it bringeth upon her the Image or Figure of the Turtle that is to say Persecution and the Cross She is brought into a suffering condition for Christ's sake and here she is commended and said to be beautiful and very comely in that she patiently beareth the Image or Figure of the Turtle in suffering Calamities for Christ's sake which Calamities will come wheresoever the Gospel is truly preached and therefore the Cheeks of the Church are here commended And thus when the sufferings of Christ were spoken of by the Prophet it is said Isa 50. I gave my Back to the Smiters and my Cheeks to them that plucked off the Hair where the Cheeks and the Back only are named for all Christ's sufferings in regard of his Humanity And thus it is with the Church here So Jeremiah endured smitings and Paul buffettings but every buffetting that comes upon the Face for Christ's sake and the Gospel although it marr the Visage in the sight of Men yet it is as it were the planting of a Jewel in the sight of God He then that desireth to be spangled with rows of Jewels and Chains of Gold must be sure to learn in the first place the right understanding of the Law of Grace that his Doctrine may make a glittering in the Church Eze. 16.10 that the Heavenly City may be cloathed with broidered work and as it were decked with Ornaments and the Consciences of poor distressed Sinners may be garnished with all manner of precious Stones whereby they may be secured from the wrath of God Next he must arm himself quietly and patiently to suffer for the Gospel Then are the Cheeks comely with rows of Jewels then thou dost rightly bear the Image and Figure of the Turtle Dove even of the Lord Jesus Christ who hath loved thee and suffered for thee VERSE XI We will make thee Borders of Gold with Studs of Silver THese words are a promise of the Church's farther enlargement By Borders are here meant Salvation begun in this Life but perfected in the Life to come which the Prophet calleth Walls and Bulwarks Isa 26. because when the knowledge of Salvation comes into the Conscience it is a most sure and certain Defence Now here is an increase of the knowledge of Salvation promised that she may live in abundance of peace and quietness of Heart according to the words of the Prophet Violence shall no more be heard within thy Walls wasting nor Destruction within thy Borders which must be understood of the inward Man here in this Life when the fear of God's wrath is banish'd out of the Conscience through Faith in Christ but as it concerneth the Life to come it meaneth that eternal and everlasting Felicity which is prepared for us in the Kingdom of Heaven And it being said We will make thee it sheweth that the preparation of Salvation for us is a work of the whole Deity and also how both Grace and Glory comes unto us not because of our works but from the promise of God alone And in that the Borders are promised to be made of Gold it meaneth 1 Cor. 3. the preaching of the Gospel which is compared to Gold Silver and precious Stones and therefore the Streets of the City wherein the Bride liveth walketh Rev. 21. and rejoyceth are said to be all of pure Gold And the Borders being made with Silver Studs it meaneth the Righteousness of Christ inherent in himself and imputed to us which is as refined Silver free from all the dross of Man's original and actual Corruptions and is of sufficient value to defend our sinful Souls from the fears of the Law and malice of Satan and also to purchase for us that most excellent and eternal weight of Glory which we shall one day enjoy with the blessed Deity and all the Saints and Angels for evermore VERSE XII While the King sitteth at his Repast my Spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof THese words are the speech of the Church and do set forth the benefit she receiveth from her Beloved when she sitteth at Repast with him To sit at Repast as some say is to sit round in a Circle round about compassing a thing like as when Men sit at a round Table to refresh themselves at Dinner or at Break-fast So that Christ's sitting at Repast is his sitting in Compass And the Compass or Circle that he sits in is the Earth with his Chosen on Earth so that in all places where his Chosen are there sitteth Christ at Repast And when the Bride meeteth the King at Repast she says My Spikenard gave the smell thereof The Spikenard is a Flower growing
faith in the time of tribulation commendeth her for the same which sheweth that he is well pleased And the word behold sheweth his willingness she should know it And when he pronounceth her fair he meaneth free from the guilt of sin And when he saith my love he sheweth that her person is accepted And by the word thou he meaneth to exclude all those that are not of faith from shareing in the benefits of his Death and Resurrection Now the doubling of the words sheweth how hard it is for us in the hour of Temptation to apply our selves to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and also how willing the Lord Christ is that then we should not forget but remember his loving and comfortable words All these things are written that we might believe and that when the hour of Temptation cometh we should put them into use and practise otherwise we cannot possible please our head and Husband who came into the world on purpose and is ascended into Heaven on purpose that we might receive his benefits and rejoice in the same Thou hast doves eyes Now that which he chiefly praiseth the bride for is the eye as a thing which tendeth most of all to the setting out of her fairness other parts draw not the affection as doth the eye therefore Christ chooseth the eye to set forth the praise of his Church which standeth in a comparison thou hast doves eyes The doves eye is simple harmless is not crafty seeketh not greedily after a prey doth not peck with the Bill nor hurt any thing as other Birds do but here it is chiefly used to set forth the chastity of the Bride towards her Husband the Lord Jesus Christ who notwithstanding all her afflictions and temptations chuseth no other refuge to fly unto but with the Dove she cleaveth fast to her mate And also the eyes are here commended because through faith the killeth the Law and liveth in the service and freedom of her beloved and doth good works freely and of choise VERSE XVI Behold thou art fair my beloved THese are the words of the Church wherein she returneth the praise of all her beauty to her beloved who is fairer then the Sons of Men from whom all her fairness is derived She dareth not to appear before him in her self therefore prayeth him to behold his own fairness as being the only cause of her acceptance in his sight which is a rule and pattern for every man to imitate yea pleasant Thou art not only fair but also pleasant in thy self in the enjoyment of me and pleasant to me in that thou speakest so kindly to me and acceptest of me Which words do shew us what manner of person Christ is and what his carriage is to us altogether pleasant and lovely So that as soon as ever we look upon him by faith Esa 62.2 and humble our selves before him he rejoyceth in us and over us as the Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride Therefore when we are overwhelm'd with heaviness and sadness of heart this doth not come from Christ but from the Law and our evil conscience being not well purged and cleansed of unbelief for to those that are humbled before him Christ is pleasant Also our bed is green This is likely to be the joint speech of Christ and his Church rejoyceing together in the place of meeting for the bed is the place either in publick or private where Christ and his people meet together And by the greens of the bed is meant the fruitfulness that cometh by reason of the meeting of Christ and his Church Rom. 7. according to Saint Paul being married to Christ ye bring forth fruit unto God that is many Children unto glory The Gospel is the Doctrine that converts the Soul and the reason why so few are converted is because the Gospel is seldom Preached therefore the labours of the Ministry are not blest but men are smiten with barrenness become dead and withered Trees bringing forth no fruit at all unto God because they want the company of the Lord Jesus Christ in the bed therefore it being said our bed Agar the bondwoman is excluded from the priveledge of the bed as one who although she hath many Children before men yet she hath none at all before God and the reason is because she entertaineth not Christ in the bed she imbraceth the servant and forsaketh her Lord therefore that heavy judgment spoken of by the Prophet Esay follows in its time Esa 47.19 the loss of Children and Widdowhood shall come upon thee in one day in their perfection This is the heavy doom that will one day fall upon the bondwoman and all her Children her bed being too short and the covering too narrow to hide her from her sin and the wrath of God Almighty Learn we therefore that Doctrine which maketh the fruitful bed and sheweth the fruitful Mother that is so to understand the Law as it may further us to faith in Christ and so to understand the Gospel that it may further us in the duties of the Law This is a most rare and Heavenly Art which none can teach but the Holy Ghost let us therefore pray unto him without ceaseing to bestow this gift upon us who hath promised to bestow upon us all things that we shall aske which are according to his will Then shall the bed become fruitful then shall we rejoyce in the meeting place and say with the bride here our bed is also green VERSE XVII The beams of our house are Cedar and our rafters of Fir. NOw here is shewed the reason why the bed comes to be so fruitful and how the family of God comes to be so much enlarged it is by reason of the beams and rafters which are the strong supporters of all the building 1 Tim. 3.15 Where first note that by the house is meant the Church of God And by the beams and rafters the builders of the Church of God And the beams being of Cedar Isa 44.40 Isa 20. it signifies strength and also such timber that will not rot but is dureable and sweet Now the godly are often said to be Cedars and the chief in the Church are said to be pillars Also the house having rafters it sheweth it hath a covering or defence and they being of Fir which some think is another Tree call'd the Brutine Tree which is of pleasant smell signifieth purity of Doctrine Such beams and pillars that are well versed in pure Doctrine are always used in building the house of God in every age therefore the bed is always fruitful and the Church can never decay because the builders thereof are always lasting And as it is a house very sweet and pleasant for a man to live in So it is infinite in strength and for safety It is therefore a vain thing for any man to think to undermine the Church of God seeing it is a house built upon a Rock and although men
think to race it and down with it even to the ground yet he that sits in the Heavens shall laugh Psal 2. the Lord shall have them in derision There may be some breaches made concerning the outward face and prosperity of the Church but her inward peace and glory can never be taken away And also seeing the house of God is for safety it having a roof or covering it is wisdom for every man to get into it that he may be safe from the Wind and stormy Tempests of the wrath of God Blessed is that man whose hope the Lord is that setteth his confidence upon the gracious protection of the Almighty he shall be guarded with Angels and kept as the apple of his eye the Lord will be a sufficient defence unto him in life and death CHAP. II. VERSE I. I am the rose of Sharon and the lilie of the Valleys THESE words are the voice of the bride as appears by the Prophet Esay Esa 35.1 the desert shall rejoyce and blossom as the Rose which words being spoken of the Church it sheweth the Church to be the Rose And she termeth her self to be the Rose of Sharon not only because Sharon of all places was most excellent for Roses but also because it was prophecied that Sharon should be a sheepfold Esa 65.10 that the Gospel should come to Sharon and that Christ should have his flock there And in that she says I am the Lillie it accordeth with the words of the Prophet I will be as the dew unto Israel Hos 14.5 he shall grow as the Lillie Now the Rose is the Queen of flowers surpassing all in beauty and smell and the Lillie is next in Nobility to the Rose surmounting all in respect of her clothing insomuch that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like the Lillie And she termeth her self therefore to be the Rose and the Lilly in regard she is most excellently perfumed with the scent of her beloved and also clothed with his righteousness from the wrath of God She is also compared to the Lillie Mat. 6.28 in respect of the manner of her growth for the Lillies labour not neither do they spin but only stand still and receive the vertue of the ground from whence they grow So the bride she laboureth not she travaileth not in the works of the Law to the end she may attain true and eternal righteousness thereby but becometh a Lillie by sitting still by hearing and receiving the comfortable dew of the Gospel And in that she is said to be the Lilly of the valleys it sheweth from whence the Church springeth even from a low opinion of her self in that the Mountains of her own imaginations are become a valley So that as the choisest Lillies are found in the lowest valleys so the Lilly of Christ becomes decked with such excellent ornaments being first made low by sitting in the desert and solitary place Now it being said I am the Rose of Sharon and I am the Lilly it must lead us into a further consideration for it is as much as to say I am the fairest flower in Sharon I am the choicest Lilly there Others there are in Sharon that count themselves the Rose and reckon themselves the Lilly but they spring not out of the valley are not perfumed with the scent of the Rose nor cloathed with the ornaments of my beloved For it must be noted that Sharon is a sheepfold Esa 65.10 in which fold there are two sorts of people a two fold Ministry or Mother the free Mother which bringeth forth Children before God free in Spirit justified without the Law and the servant or bondwoman which bringeth forth no Children before God but gendereth all her Children unto bondage Against this Mother the bondwoman the bride appropriates these Titles to her self I am the Rose I am the Lilly and this I conceive to be the occasion of her speech Rev. 18. The bondwoman boasteth her self to be a Queen and no widdow because she liveth as she supposeth in the works of the Law Esa 54.4 and also reproacheth the free Mother because she forbiddeth justification by the Law now because she boasteth her self in the Law the bride here taketh away from her all right and interest in Christ her Bridegroom and although she challengeth to her self the Title as to be the only Rose and Lilly of Christ yet she blossometh not she bringeth by her Doctrine no Children unto glory therefore the bride says I notwithstanding the boasting of the bondwoman am the glory of Sharon I that am the free and fruitful Mother am the Lilly for I only blossom and bring forth Children unto glory And by thus saying she boasteth not in her self but gloryeth only in the righteousness of Christ her Redeemer Now the reason why she blossoms and comes to be so fruitful is because she is married unto Christ Esa 35 2. This is the reason given by the Prophet Esay when he says the wilderness shall rejoyce and the desert shall blossom as the Rose the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon meaning Christ who is the excellency of Carmel and Sharon and the glory of all the Cedars in Lebanon shall be given in Marriage to the desart and solitary to she that is barren and fruitless in her own eyes Carmel was a fruitful place where Nabal had possessions and Sharon also was a fruitful field and in Lebanon were many goodly Cedars figuring the Godly people in all ages of the Church but take away the glory of Lebanon and the excellency of Carmel and Sharon that is to say the righteousness of Christ imputed and their glory departeth like a Bird and their fruit withereth and comes to nothing After the same manner must we with the Bride learn to hold fast our Title against the bondwoman and her Children who by their Doctrine bring forth all manner of Sects and every Sect do claim unto themselves the Title as to be the only Rose and Lilly of Christ and condemn all others as Antichristian that are not of their own way and yet they boast of nothing but of their own works Now when this comes to pass we must learn with the Bride to strip them of their glory by the word of God Because she boasteth her self in the Law therefore we must shew unto her her condemnation by the Law and because we are barren and fruitless in our own eyes and condemned by the Law therefore must we lay fast hold on the righteousness of Christ our Lord which is freely given unto us without the Law If thou walkest according to this rule then shalt thou become the fairest flower in Sharon perfum'd with the excellent scent of thy beloved and the Lilly of the Valleys cloathed and decked with his Ornaments and also the scent of the Rose shall cast forth an excellent savour in every place and the smell of thy garments
found which is yet to come then there is no object to be found for such a faith to rest upon By which one argument if thou manage it skilfully thou mayest easily send the former proposition to Satan from whence it came and sit down and rest thy self in peace and joy For one of these propositions must needs be granted that either our faith must be in a Christ that is come or else in a Christ that is to come if in a Christ that is come then Baptism is necessary which manifesteth the same Job 1.31 if in a Christ to come then is our faith and Religion ended ever since the days of John the Baptist Learn thou therefore to be very cunning in the right use of the figure that as Satan hath built up his Kingdom by bringing Baptism into contempt So thou mayest break his head and batter his Kingdom in pieces by teaching a right knowledg and understanding of the same then shalt thou be a right Souldier for thy beloved and also with the bride here shalt sit down under his shadow with great delight His fruit was pleasant to my tast That is the fruit of his shadow because the shadow representeth to us the benefits of Christs death and Resurrection which must needs be pleasant where the benefit is felt But where there is no faith to understand and receive the mystery in the shadow to them they are of no use at all but otherwise they are very pleasant for as much as they make the benefits of Christ which are represented to be as certain to faith as the figure representing is certain to sense and reason VERSE IV. He brought me to the banquetting-house HEre she sheweth the great provision that Christ made for her when once she grew to have a Sacramental faith he entertaineth her with a Banquet As Kings when they entertain their Queens do use to lead them into the Wine Cellar So doth the Lord Jesus Christ by his Queen he bringeth her into his banquetting house or house of Wine By the banquetting house understand the place where the Church of God do use to meet together whether in publick or in private for the hearing and receiving of the Gospel Pro. 9. Which is said to be wisdoms feast where the table is furnished with all manner of varieties and nothing is wanting for this life or the life to come there is comfort in all crosses deliverance in all distresses provision for all wants and necessities pardon for all sins healing for all iniquities there is nothing that the heart of man can possibly stand in need of but in this banquetting-house it is to be found And when she says hath brought me she meaneth not idle and prophane persons that scorn and contemn the word and Sacraments the banquet is not provided for such but I that feel my transgressions and am wearied with the burden of the same that am continually oppressed with heaviness and sadness of heart I that do highly esteem and prize the Heavenly banquet above all things under the sun 't is I for whom the delicates are provided But by whom is she thus brought She answereth my beloved hath brought me she did not come her self but he out of his tender pity and merciful compassion brought her Into this banquetting house he bringeth all those that earnestly and heartily desire the same and that prize the provision that there is made above all earthly things those he feedeth with rich and Heavenly dainties even with such things as eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor ever entered into the heart of man to conceive but those that are scorners and contemners of the same he sendeth empty away and none of those shall ever tast of his supper And his banner over me was love The banner or standard signifies the Kings presence in the field and also it being a warlike sign signifieth fighting with joy and victory Psal 20 6. The use of the banner is when the Standard-bearer holds it up to draw the Souldiers to march to it that they may keep order and attend upon their Colours that the Battle be not disordered Now as the use of the Ensign is to draw Souldiers together that they may march accordingly So is Christ banner to draw all his Souldiers to himself that they may joyfully fight against the world the flesh and the Devil And as in all ages the Churches banners were the signs of Gods presence so have we also the signes of his presence in the Sacraments and by gathering to those Ensigns the love of God comes to be shed abroad in the heart by which we joyfully fight against all our Spiritual enemies Therefore those that come not to their Colours but forsake their Ensigns are blind and senseless and not only remain without the feeling of Gods love but also when they should set themselves in rank and order to fight against the temptations of Satan the wrath of God and Eternal death they lose their strength with Sampson and fall down before the enemy Therefore seeing our beloved hath placed us under his banner we must March to it and attend upon our Colours that so when the wrath of God and the fear of Eternal damnation begins to ceize upon us when the enemy comes in upon us like a flood we may through faith behold the spirit of the Lord to lift up a standard against him Then shall we feel by experience that within us which the bride here rejoyceth in his banner over us to be love VERSE V. Stay me with flagons and comfort me with apples for I am sick of love THe bride having been in the banquetting-house and there met with the fruit of her Apple tree which did so wonderfully comfort her in her afflictions desireth for more She speaketh to those that bear the flagons and carry the Apples to help her to some more those that often use the Wine Cellar and have the banquetting cheer in a readiness to them she says stay me for I am even ready to sink The bride is even overcome because she hath been in the Cellar Others have no mind to the banquetting-house because they never tasted of the Wine The Church is not satisfied with one banquet or one cup of Wine but she must have a flagon or two more stay me with flagons She findeth a continual need of the fruit of her Apple-tree therefore she must be continually comforted with Apples others that see not their need care not a rush for the Wine-cellar but seek for comfort in other things but she cryeth out stay me with flagons and comfort me with Apples Now she sheweth the reason why she desireth after the flagon so much it is because she is sick of love To be sick of love is to be restless till one hear good news from the Lover Now Christ is her Lover and she having heard from him before is even sick till she hear from her beloved again It is as if
she had said thus I have been in my beloved's banquetting-house where I have tasted of his dainties and am even overcome with love and can never be satisfied unless I tast again and again And this effect the Gospel worketh where ever it is received it maketh all people sick of love And the reason why people have so little spiritual life and joy in them it is for want of the Gospel Those that know not the Gospel wonder to see men run after Christ but the reason is because they are sick of love and can no more be without the Wine-cellar then a hungry man can endure to be without meat Next of all she sheweth the cause why she is so much in love VERSE VI. His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me VVHich words do shew the reason why she is so sick after her Lover because of his embraces When ever she meeteth him his left hand is under her head and after the manner of a Lover his right hand doth embrace her By his right hand she meaneth his Divinity Psal 45. as may be gathered from the 45 Psalm And by his left hand his humanity By his humanity he beareth all her sins sorrows and calamities both of her head and whole man and by his Divinity he worketh for her a full deliverance By his left hand he taketh from her all things that make her miserable and by his right hand he gives unto her all things whatsoever that may make her joyful and happy When she heareth of this in the banquetting-house and begins to find and feel within her self that his heart is upon her she is sick after him and cannot chuse but discover it And thus it is with every man that hath once been in the Wine-cellar and hath felt the sweet embraces of the Lord Jesus Christ in himself he cannot but fall in love with him as the bride here doth Now next follow the words of Christ VERSE VII I charge you O ye daughters of Jerusalem by the Roes and by the Hindes of the field that ye stir not up nor awake my love until he please CHrist having heard his spouse declare her faith before and her Heavenly delight and rest that she taketh in himself chargeth the Daughters of Jerusalem meaning those that something discent from the bride concerning the way and manner of planting Christ in the Soul not to molest her or go about to unsetle her in her Heavenly peace and security until he himself please which is never Also this charge implies a penalty if the charge be not observed And here he mentioneth the example of the Roes and Hindes which creatures do dearly love one another and are a similitude between Man and Wife and between Christ and his Church And when he says that ye stir not up nor awake my love it meaneth by driving her from the Gospel by constraint or by infusing evil principles into her by a false interpretation of the Scripture Which is comfortable to us that belong to the Marriage-bed when those that exact the Law and works do accuse and condemn us for holding and maintaining justification by faith alone against them all we must set this charge of our beloved who commandeth their silence under the penalty of everlasting woe This to do is to make Jesus Christ on our side and if God be with us who can be against us VERSE VIII The voice of my beloved behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountains skipping upon the Hills AS soon as ever the bride had heard this charge against the Daughters uttered by Christ she presently breaketh forth into these words the voice of my beloved This voice of Christ no man knoweth but he that pertaineth to the spiritual little flock therefore Christ saith my sheep hear my voice Job 10. others cannot discern it from the voice of Moses but the bride is well acquainted with him and therefore as lovers have their ears listning after the voice of him whom they set their affections upon so doth the bride here she listneth to the voice of her beloved And thus it behoveth all that desire to become the spouse of Christ to learn rightly to understand the voice of Christ otherwise when the conscience is in distress there is no comfort nor succour to be found For if thou makest no difference between Christ and the Law when thy Conscience wrastleth with the Law and the judgment of God then thou art utterly undone for evermore for then shall thine evil life appear before thine eyes and without this rule of distinction be learn'd nothing shall be seen how thy sinful conscience shall be delivered from the malediction of the Law and the wrath of God But Christ teacheth thee far otherwise for after the Conscience is humbled by the Law he raiseth it up again by faith without the Law So that Christ maketh use of the Law to humble the sinner but totally layeth aside the Law in comforting the broken heart But what is meant here by his leaping upon the Mountains and skipping upon the Hills Quest By the Mountains are meant those lets and hinderances Answ or stumbling blocks that were cast in her way by the Daughters to disturb her in the Doctrine of justification by faith alone to which Doctrine because she will not yeild persecution followeth in all ages of the Church therefore Cain killeth Abel Ishmael persecuteth Isaac the Prophets are slain and also Christ himself Now Christ cometh with great hast and also with great joy unto his bride to throw down all those stumbling blocks that the way may be plain before her and the paths made straight therefore he is said to come leaping and skipping and this being a thing of such excellent use as soon as she preceiveth the hinderances removed she declareth it with joy the very first sight of his appearance in this thing causeth her to burst out the voice of my beloved yonder he cometh behold it is he Now next of all she setteth out this leaping and skipping by a similitude VERSE IX My beloved is like a Roe or a young hart behold he standeth behind our wall THe Roe is a beast that delighteth to leap over bushes and skip over hills and also the Hart is a nimble creature that skippeth over Mountains with a swift foot Thus she saith is my beloved He maketh hast to remove all stumbling blocks that Salvation may come into my Soul but there is something in me that hindereth the coming in of Christ and Salvation and that is a wall So that when Christ cometh to the Soul to make it his Habitation he findeth the door shut and a wall to keep him out The wall here importeth something of weight as appeareth by the word behold I conceive that by the wall is meant mans natural imagination reason or understanding that he hath of the Scriptures and of him self which standeth as a wall in man in direct opposition to faith in
Soul shall easily overcome his unbelief and experimentally feel the benefit of faith And also Christ here declareth unto us how willing he is that we should receive him He speaketh not one word of discomfort to the afflicted Conscience as Satan by his instruments doth as the Law doth or as the accusing Conscience it self doth but biddeth us arise and come away that is not to hearken to those discomforts but to set our faith and affections upon his words whereby he doth only and wholly appropriate us to himself For when he faith my love he doth it to assure us of the contrary to that which in time of distress we most of all fear which is that we are not beloved And when he says my fair one he taketh that away from us which causeth us to question his love that is to say the guilt of all our sins And what can discomfort us in Heaven Earth or Hell when God which is greater then all things doth assure us that he loveth us and hath forgiven us all our sins VERSE XIV O my dove thou art in the clefts of the Rock THe Church having made rehearsal of the sweet comfortable words of her beloved Christ here speaketh again and commendeth her in that she is in the clefts of the rock And first he calleth her his dove which hath many excellent properties to which the bride is refembled which are not so much respected in this place as this one thing is in that she delighteth to make her nest in the Rock that she may be safe from the prey of the Hawk and other devouring Birds Now as the dove delighteth to be in the clefts of the Rock that she may be safe from devouring fowls when they make wings after her So the dove of Christ delighteth also to hide her self in a place of safety when she is hunted after by an accusing Conscience the wrath of God the malice of Satan or any of his instruments And this hiding place is in the clefts of the Rock and for this she is commended Some say that God is the Rock and that the Eternal Councel and Decree of God is the cleft wherein the dove of Christ is in safety and that 's one hole And then there is the providence of God by which many times he maketh way for the dove to escape that they make to be another cleft But that I most think on is this Cer. 10.4 The Rock is Christ But then the Rock must open and divide else how can there be a cleft for the dove to get in Understand then by the cleft a right division betwixt Christ and the Law when the Conscience is in distress which distinction thou must learn to make by faith For when the Law putteth thee in fear justly by reason of thy sin if thou humblest thy self by faith thou killest the voice of the Law and makest the cleft but if thou lookest upon the Law in that time after thou hast humbled thy self and asked forgiveness to be the voice of Christ thou makest no cleft thou canst have no hiding place to keep thee safe from fear Make this account therefore with thy self that the Law is crucified dead and condemned unto thee in respect of the Conscience as soon as thou humbless thy self and by faith layest hold upon Christ then thou makest a right division betwixt Christ and the Law and hidest thy self in the cleft of the Rock so that if the Hawk or other devouring fowls do wing after thee to hanch upon thee thou sittest in safety from fear of evil and it is but lost labour for Satan or any of his instruments to endeavour thy ruin For want of this knowledg many peoples hearts do shake when they are like to be made a prey by ravenous Birds and the Law and fear of Gods wrath begins to seize on the Conscience they are even at their wits end being wholly dismayed These are not in the cleft But the bride of Christ that rightly understandeth these things as she presumeth not upon her own worthiness So neither is she dismayed at her unworthyness but sitteth in the cleft of the Rock with Moses Ex. 33.22 where by faith she beholdeth the back parts of God condemning her for sin and by the same faith she heareth proclaimed to her his merciful and gracious name In the secret places of the stairs There are certain craggy places in Rocks that stand out like stairs by which the dove geteth up into her hole After the same manner the Church of Christ ascendeth by certain foot-steps of faith to a communion with Christ in this life and to a perfect communion with him in the life to come These are said to be secret places because the righteousness of faith by which we ascend to this communion is secret and unknown to man's reason for it consisteth in the destroying of the grounds of unbelief which is the mother and root of all sin and the bane of all Christian and holy duties It sheweth a man from the nature of its principles how to love God and keep his Commandments how to behold succour and help to be near in time of tribulation when no help nor succour is seen or perceived All which things are foolishness to reason yet are the foot-steps and track of all the flock of Christ gone before Let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice for thy voice is sweet and thy countenance is comely That is I would have thee to countenance my Doctrine and manner of teaching against all opposers without being abashed or discouraged for the destruction of Antichrist and the whole Kindom of Satan this countenance we ought to shew to our friend And when he saith let me hear thy voice it meaneth that the true Gospel be Preached to poor sinners and that we call upon the name of God by prayer in Christs name in the day of trouble in faith with fervency that we may receive help and deliverance from him which is very sweet and delightful to Christ Jesus and is that joyful voice and comely countenance which is here commended by him VERSE XV. Take us the foxes the little foxes that spoil the vines for our vines have tender grapes NOw here it is shewed that one special and principal means for the preserving of this kind of righteousness in the Church is to take the foxes for they spoil the vines Some write of the foxes that they make holes in the roots of the vines and that by undermining the root the root withers and the vine starves Others say that the fox having venemous teeth fastneth his teeth in the rind of the vine and so spoils the vines And that sometimes also by bruising the young sprigs and shuts they spoil the vines But they that have vines and are much troubled with foxes know best the truth of this But this is certainly known that the fox loves grapes and when they are ripe makes great spoil of
wilderness not only dazling the eyes of the wicked who know nothing of the use and practise of faith but also sweet being perfum'd with heavenly powders as here it follows Perfumed with myrrhe and frankincense and with all powders of the Merchant The Merchant that hath the powders is the Lord Jesus Christ As Merchants bring powders which make excellent perfumes So the Lord Jesus Christ with his excellent perfumes sweetneth all those that come unto him Exod. 30.32 37. Myrrhe was used in making the holy annointing oyl to make persons holy And frankincense in making the sweet perfume to smell thereto which oyl and sweet perfume was holiness before the Lord to all those that were perfum'd therewith Now as Myrrhe and Frankincense mixed with other excellent spices being made a perfume a confection after the Art of the Apothecary made persons outwardly holy So doth the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ where it is received by faith make persons holy before God freeing them from the guilt of sin and everlasting condemnation Now mark we the time here when the bride is thus perfum'd it is when she is in the wilderness for she cometh out thence perfum'd who is this that cometh out of the wilderness perfum'd Which must teach us what is first to be done when we are led into the wilderness even so to order our selves that we may receive this Heavenly perfume They that take offence at the cross cannot receive the perfume But why should any one be offended seeing it is for no other end and purpose but that by receiving the Heavenly powders we might be sensible of our holiness in the sight of God Therefore when we are brought into the wilderness made to sit in the desert and solitary place and all hope faileth us in respect of reason how or which way deliverance shall come then if we can lift up our eyes and heart to our Redeemer with an assured faith we shall on a suddain be altogether be censed with these Heavenly powders and made to pertake of all that the Merchant hath to bestow the smell of which powders should more refresh and comfort us then the fear of any danger should possibly dismay us VERSE VII VIII Behold his bed which is Solomons threescore valiant men are about it of the valiant of Israel They all hold swords being expert in war every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night AFter the Lord Jesus Christ had set forth by way of admiration the behaviour of his Church in the time of her distress and how she came out of the wilderness perfum'd he calleth others to behold it as being a thing of great excellency and weight under the similitude of Solomons bed Solomon being a King rich and glorious and also excellent in wisdom made himself many rich and costly things and amongst other things made himself a most sumptious bed for the entertainment of Pharaohs Daughter and others of his Queens and as he made himself a bed so he provided also a guard to keep the bed and the guarding of his bed is shown by the manner of his guard that kept it they were sixty men and for their strength they are said to be valiant men and to note their faithfulness they are said to be chosen men in Israel not strangers but his own country men trusty ones such as were fit to guard a Prince they were also expert men skilful in handling of their weapons wherefore it is added they all hold Swords and their swords are in a readiness every man hath his Sword upon his thigh and the reason of his guard was because of fear in the night All which noteth the defence that Solomon had for himself about his bed to preserve him from danger in the night by the strong men of Israel Now to apply this to the similitude King Solomon is the Lord Jesus Christ his bed is the place of meeting where Christ and his Church meet together in publick or in private and the bed being said to be his it noteth that it is a delight to the Lord Jesus Christ to be in the bed with his Church to behold her in the right use and excercise of her faith which by the word behold he calleth all people diligently to take notice of that they may know what service above all things is most acceptable to him But what is signified by the sixty valiant men that are about the bed to guard it Quest Some have thought that by these sixty valiant men are meant the Angels Ans which being of invincible strength are set to be the Churches guardians But I conceive that although the Angels are wonderful in power and also do pitch their Tents round about them that fear the Lord being all ministring Spirits sent forth for their sakes which shall be heirs of glory yet that the Ministry of Angels is not here meant because the outward safety of the Church is not so much intended here as her inward purity in respect of Doctrine and faith which inward purity is preserved in the Church by the Ministry of men and not by the Ministry of Angels These threescore valiant men I therefore understand to be the Church of the first born whose names are written in Heaven principal men in the Church who do all with one consent endeavour to keep the marriage bed pure and undefiled teaching the Doctrine of faith truly and the Doctrine of good works aright these be the valiant men that are about the bed that are mighty through their Doctrine to throw down the Kingdom of Satan to confute and overthrow all Hereticks and Seducers that even as Davids worthies did strengthen him in his Kingdom by smiting the Jebusites that David alone might reign so do these valiant ones of Israel throw down by their Doctrine the old Foundations setting up Christ to be the Head of the corner Besides they are not only valiant men but men that are armed they all hold Swords they do not run foolishly into the field but before they enter into the combate are sure of their weapons and also how to use them for they are men expert in War they know the bottom and foundation of all controversy in the Church and wherein the strength of all arguments lie these are fast fellows that will not be bafled but will stand their ground every man hath his Sword upon his thigh the word of God in a readiness they are ready to strike and they draw not the Sword in vain but manfully set about the work to destroy the wisdom of the wise and to bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent and this is their principal work For there is no enmity in all the world the case being rightly understood but about the Gospel neither is there any enmity betwixt God and us but about the Gospel Destroy by the Gospel but the wisdom and righteousness in man and we have peace in Heaven and
of the Scriptures The Silver pillars can never be made the golden bottom can never be laid the Church can never be covered with the purple covering the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ if there be not a right understanding of the Scriptures taught Those that are builders of the Lords Chariot and understand not the Scriptures in stead of making Silver pillars and laying the golden bottom they lay a foundation of wood and trash In stead of building with Gold and Silver and precious stones which will not decay they build with timber hay and stubble which will rot and consume And hence it comes to pass that in stead of cloathing the distressed Conscience with the righteousness of Christ and paving the way for the Soul to come to Christ and making of those Scriptures easy to be understood which seem to stand in direct opposition to faith it so falls out that the way to justification and life seems to be crooked rough and unpaved even to the builders themselves so that in the midst of their work they are many times at a stand and in stead of building fall at difference amongst themselves some build for Christ and others build for Antichrist and all this comes to pass for want of a right understanding of the Scriptures Not that there is a necessity of the understanding of all Scripture in building the Chariot but of the principal parts of the word such as are essential to a mans being and living in the state of grace Such Scriptures as concern the Doctrine of justification and life Eternal without the works and righteousness of man and of the behaviour of the Soul under the sight and feeling of sin and the apprehension of mercy by which Doctrine only the Church is built And there are two principal parts in the Scripture the Law and the promise both which in respect of their use and office are of great concernment Some when they make use of the Law do so interpret it that they take away the glory of mans Salvation from God and give it to men these interpret without a rule and for want of the rule to understand the Scripture by which is the Divine Testimony of the holy Ghost their building falls and all their labour is lost For all Scripture is given by Divine inspiration therefore seeing the holy Ghost is the inditer he ought also to be the interpreter No Scripture being of any private interpretation from which it follows that he that will be sure that the sence which he giveth is right must have his authority from the holy Ghost to warrant his exposition to be true To believe as the Church believes is not the rule to understand the Scriptures by for the Church may erre and when she erreth from the publick interpretation of the holy Ghost her interpretation is private and not to be received Now as in all Arts and Sciences the first principles are proving and not to be proved so in the Scriptures And as the first principle in Divinity is the Scripture So the first principle in the Scripture is the first Commandment Thou shalt have no other Gods but me Mar. 12.28 Hos 13.4 Esa 43.11 Thou shalt know no God but me for there is no Saviour besides me Which if thou understandest according to the Gospel it is this Thou shalt know no other love no other delight in nor depend upon any other righteousness but mine whereby to become righteous in the sight of God Which righteousness of God is not the righteousness of the Law perform'd in thine own person but the righteousness of faith which is manifested without the Law So that the first Commandment driveth thee from the Law Rom. 3.21 This seemeth to be the meaning also of Paul I through the Law am dead to the Law Gal. 2.19 Gen. 19.17 1 Sam. 20.38 He that will spiritually perform the Law must wholly renounce it in the matter of justification Esa 40. to seek for righteousness in Christ The Gospel calleth thee to come and the first Commandment biddeth thee begon It saith to thee as the Angels did unto Lot hast thee thither escape for thy life stay thou not in all the plain And as Jonathan said to David when Saul intended evil against him run make speed hast stay not the arrows are beyond thee By which thou mayest see that the Law notwithstanding it requireth of thee Active obedience before men yet it requireth thee to become passive and wholly to renounce it in thy obtaining Righteousness before God Wherefore if thou wilt be a builder of King Solomons Chariot to make the Sillver pillars and to lay the golden bottom learn thou by the first Commandment to pave the way to make the crooked places straight and the rough places plain that poor distressed Consciences may come to Christ that so when any stumbling block is cast into the way about the righteousness of the Law to hinder the distressed Conscience from closing with Christ thou mayest easily remove it by the proving principle Otherwise if thou drawest the Law into the matter of justification thou walkest contrary to the first Commandment and also sinnest against the Gospel blockest up the way and shuttest fast the door of the Kingdom of Heaven Pro. 25.4 Learn therefore by thy Doctrine to separate the dross from the Silver so shall there proceed a vessel for the finer 2 Tim. 2.20 Then shalt thou make vessels of Gold and Silver even vessels of Honour Some stones in the building of the Temple were set for glittering stones 1 Cor. 29.2 to make a shining if thou receivest no other interpretation of any Scripture but what is agreeable to the first Commandment then shalt thou become a glittering stone in the Church of God then shall the house of God be magnifical 1 Chro. 22.5 and full of Fame and Dignity then shall thy Doctrine shine and make a great light Hitherto hath been shewed what the Chariot is and what is principally needful for the building of it now next it is shewed for whom the Chariot is made or why men are made so skilful by Christ to work in Gold and Silver and Purple and other curious works to cover the sinful Conscience from the wrath of God it is for the daughters of Jerusalem But why Jerusalem In all ages of the Church the people of God were to seek him where he had promised to be found And God made promise that where ever he should place the Ark there he would meet his people and bless them Which Ark of God was sometimes in Shiloh Exod. 25.22 sometimes in Zion the City of David but when Solomon had builded the Temple then it was brought by the Priests and Levites into the Temple at Jerusalem and then the promise was there And as God made promise to Solomon at the dedication of the Temple that his eyes and his heart should be there perpetually So the faithful in their prayers
Lamb. And to be even shorn which sheweth the goodness of the pasture where they feed whereby they grow to be in very high case even like sheep that are fed in fat ground that are so rank in wooll and so high in flesh that they will shear even And to bring forth twins because they teach a right conceiving of the use and Office of the Law and Gospel These twins every one of these teeth bring forth and not one is said to be barren among them This sheweth us that those which so handle the word of God as to destroy the use and office of the Law and Gospel thereby are not the teeth of the Church here spoken of because they destroy the twins They are not the right breakers of the bread of life they chew not the Spiritual meat aright and therefore it never comes to be nourishment to the Soul but in stead thereof the sheep do hunger-bane and starve away And from hence it comes to pass that when shearing time comes when the owner of the sheep should receive the profit of his flock there is nothing to be had neither wooll nor Lamb. For instead of chewing and preparing the word that the Conscience may rightly conceive and bring forth twins they fume into the stomach a false opinion of God and the loss of true and Eternal happiness Hos 9.11 For the glory of Israel flyeth away like a Bird from the birth from the womb and from the conception the Conscience which is the womb of the Church never rightly conceiving of the Law nor of the Gospel Such teeth are rotten and must be drawed being fit for nothing but to be plucked out because no man is nourished by them but every mans mind and Conscience remains defiled Therefore that the word of God may rightly be conceiv'd in the Conscience which is the womb of the Church the Rams of the flock must be of a right kind For the twins come not altogether by reason of the fatness of the pasture but also from the breed of the Ram. Therefore it was promised as a great blessing to the Church by the Holy Ghost when the Rams of Nebajoth should Minister unto it Esa 60. Nebajoth was the eldest son of Ishmael so called by his Town which belonged to the Isles of the Gentiles Now the Gentiles had not the Law yet did pertain to the promise made to Abraham in thy seed shall all Nations of the Earth be blessed These Rams then of Nebajoth were such as should learn by the Gospel rightly to understand the Law and also by the Gospel to attain to the righteousness of the Law Such Rams must be chosen and drove into the flock who can teach by the Gospel the true understanding of the Law that Doctrine and that alone bringeth forth twins and not one is barren among them By this we may easily discern between the teeth of the Church that have this commendation of our Lord Jesus Christ and those teeth that serve for no other use but to corrupt the word of God Also from hence we must learn so to expound hear and receive the word that the right use and Office of the Law and Gospel may be known and preserved every one that so Preacheth Expoundeth and receiveth the same shall bring forth twins and not one shall remain barren among them VERSE III. Thy lips are like a threed of Scarlet and thy speech is comely thy Temples are like a piece of a Pomegranate within thy locks THe lips are the instruments of speech by which words are uttered Which words are like a threed of Scarlet when they are dyed in the blood of Christ and also like a threed when they are fastned and hang'd together as it were with a threed or lace when Arguments are grounded upon a right division when one thing is so drawn out of another that there is no destroying of any one point unless the threed be broke and all be destroyed together then is the speech comely Contrary to this it is when arguments are not grounded upon a right division when the affirming of one thing overthrows another when both notwithstanding are strongly holden for truths Such Doctrine is not laced together with a threed neither is there any knot to be undone because the Doctrine divideth of its own nature The Temples are the seat of invention or finding out of things And are said to be like a piece of a Pomegranate Psal 132.5 because the rind of the Pomegranate being broken of the kernels make an excellent shew Therefore the Churches temples are here commended because she findeth out the mistery of the Gospel in handling the word of God she breaketh the rinde and sheweth the kernels of things which is very delightful and pleasant to the Soul VERSE IV. Thy neck is like the Tower of David builded for an armory whereon there hang a thousand bucklers all shields of mighty men BY the neck of the Church is meant strength Lam. 1.14 as appears in divers places in the Lamentations of Jeremiah Lam. 5.5 And is said to be like the Tower of David because when David was anointed King over Israel 1 Sam. 5.7 he took the Fort of Zion and made himself strong against the Jebusites by fortifying the same and overcame them 1 Cro. 11.5 Now the strength of the Church is faith which being likened to Davids Tower sheweth us that even as David by the strength of his Tower fortified himself against the Jebusites So is the Church also fortified by her faith which as the neck knitteth the body to the head knitteth her to Christ by which she overcometh all her Spiritual Enemies But where there is no faith there Christ and the Church are parted because there is no neck to join them together Such may be joined to the Societies of men but they cannot be united to Christ because they want the neck which couples the Church to Christ Therefore seeing faith is our victory by which we must overcome all the fiery darts of the Devil it behoveth us to know the proper nature of it and the right use of it and also how to define it rightly in the time of Temptation lest otherwise in stead of conquering we should in the end be overthrown Moreover in that it is said there hang a thousand bucklers thereon it further sheweth us that faith is a most mighty shield for even as King Davids Tower built for an armory was fortified with Spears Shields and Bucklers 2 Cron. 23.9 to strengthen him against his corporal enemies so faith wheresoever the use of it is rightly known hath all things in it to defend us from our spiritual enemies because it knitteth us to all the power and protection that is in God Therefore these Bucklers are said to be all shields of Mighty men because all that put upon them the shield of faith are mighty to overcome themselves the world and the Devil So that even
compounding they leave them in their filthiness and under the curse and Everlasting wrath of God Therefore let us learn so to smell the heavenly perfume that we may discern the smell thereof from all other ointments then shall our afflicted Consciences find rest in time of distress then shall the smell of our ointments be beyond the smell of all spices VERSE XI Thy lips O my spouse drop as the honey-comb honey and milk are under thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon THis is meant in regard of Doctrine which is the chief and principal commendation of the Church Which droppeth from the lips of the spouse as the rain upon the tender herb and distilleth like the dew inasmuch as sweet and pleasant Doctrine ministreth grace to the hearers not death and condemnation but justification and life Which Doctrine is like honey from the comb which is the best of the honey And it is added honey and milk are under thy tongue that is in a readiness to drop as soon as any occasion is offered And the smell of thy garments as the smell of Lebanon that is the scent of thy righteousness the fame and good report of thy Religion is sweet and spreadeth far abroad like the smell of Lebanon In which Forrest were very many herbs and spices very seet and pleasant and odoriferous trees none the like for sweetness whose scent might be smelled very far This is that which God promiseth to Israel Hos 14. his branches shall spread his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree and his smell as Lebanon After this manner then must we learn the Doctrine of Christ that we may be full of matter that our belly may be as Wine that hath no vent and like unto new bottels of Wine that be ready to burst that our lips may be ready to drop upon all occasions as honey from the Comb as rain upon the grass that our speech may distil and set a new face as it were upon the afflicted Conscience and be so powdered with the salt of the Covenant that by our lips the earth may be salted Then shall it come to pass that those that live under our shadow shall return shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine the scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon VERSE XII A garden inclosed is my sister my spouse a spring shut up a fountain sealed THe Church is compared to a garden chiefly and principally in regard of the tender care that is taken for it by the owner according to the Prophet Esay Esa 27. he watereth it every moment and keepeth it night and day least any hurt it Psal 87.2 And also in regard of the delight he taketh in the flowers herbs and trees that are set and planted in it And to a garden inclosed because she is hedged or senced about with the promises of God for the preventing of evil beasts which otherwise would destroy her Therefore when the Bear cometh out of the wood and with his paw thinketh to pull down the fence and lay the Garden wast or the wild Boar out of the Forrest with his tusk thinketh to root up the hedg and the Lions roar and make a hideous noise against it we must be sure to see that we understand the Gospel and Christian righteousness so well that the hedg be not broken down thereby but that the inclosure may stand firm and sure And as we must look to the fence so also we must see that the garden be well stor'd with all manner of precious Flowers that the scent of the garden may be smelt and that if any one should desire after a principal Flower he may know where to find it It were a sad thing if a man should come into a Garden that hath a name above other Gardens and should desire the Gardiner for a Posey and should find little else there but common Flowers or perhaps dead and withered Flowers So that when for the very name of the Garden a man hath come very far hath taken pains to search into the Garden and made him a Posey of the choicest Flowers he can find when he smelleth to his nosegay the Flowers have lost their scent This brings a kind of contempt upon the Garden causing it to be of little esteem for when he compares his Posey with the Flowers that grow in other Gardens he findeth them far too short both in beauty and smell When the Lord planted the Garden of Eden a river went out of the garden to water the garden and from thence it was parted into four heads and ran into divers Lands it ran into the Land of Havilah into the Land of Ethiopia into the Land of Assyria and the river Euphrates The river that watered the Lords garden was to water the whole Earth The Flowers and herbs that are set and planted in the Lords garden are to sweeten the whole World Therefore seeing the Lord hath made us his garden and fenced us with his hedg let us learn so to store it with rich and precious things that if any man come to us and desire a Posey we may shew him such choice and principle flowers that common gardens will not yield even such that will cause him to leave a scent and cast forth a perfume in all places whithersoever he goeth And when it is added here my sister my spouse it is to draw all that are within the visible Church to become the Lords garden of delight Some gardens are for the kitching wherein are planted only things for the belly to feed the old man and some are only for beauty and smell Now Christ in drawing the Church to union with himself to become his watered garden when she is once humbled for her sins mentioneth not one word of her infirmities but mindeth her of the relations between them that so by setting himself in her stead he might draw her mind and cogitations wholly to himself Which must well be noted of all Superiors that have any Authority over others and do desire to win them to faith and obedience which usually take another course Who in stead of shewing any favour and acceptance to their relations although they know them to be truly humbled for their faults do continually complain of their disobedience and no wonder if they have cause so to do For they seek not to draw them by any cords and bands of love but to drive them to obedience by wrath and bitterness Seldom or never taking any notice of what is done but still complain for want of what is not done They hardly ever mention the best things that are in them which are worthy of praise but are always uncovering and laying open their frailties and weaknesses and at such times and in such places as may tend most to their discomfort and disgrace And hence it comes to pass that in stead of winning their hearts and affections to love and
of the Cedars of Lebanon So that the streams of this River do water the holy Land The waters issuing out of the Sanctuary do run into the desert and refresh the weary and the solitary place The water in this River runneth not to the high and mighty in their own eyes but to the poor and miserable that are forsaken of the Law they only refresh themselves with these pure and holy streams when the rich are sent empty away VERSE XVI Awake thou North-wind and come thou South-wind and blow upon my Garden that the spices thereof may flow out let my beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits BY the North and South-winds are meant Doctrine for so the winds do usually signify in Scripture And seeing they are of contrary qualities they signify the Doctrine of the Law and the Doctrine of the Gospel The North-wind is usually cold and dry and maketh us sensible when we feel the blast of it that 's the Doctrine of the Law which being truly opened and applyed maketh us very cold revealeth unto us our sin dryeth up all the wisdom and righteousness that is within us blasteth it and bringeth it to nothing Therefore Christ here appointeth the North-wind to awake that is to awake the spouse Now when the North-wind hath done blowing Christ here Commandeth the South-wind to blow which is of a contrary quality hot and moist very sweet and full of content This signifieth the Doctrine of the Gospel By which we understand that when the Law hath done its Office in condemning us and we are made sensible of our guiltiness before God it is the will of Christ that we hear and apply our selves to the Gospel When by the blowing of the North-wind those fruits that grow naturally are blasted then we must desire for the blowing of the South-wind When ever the winds do blow after this manner in order upon the garden then the spices thereof begin to flow out then the light of the Gospel begins to shine in the Conscience and men are hot or cold according to the quality of the wind that blows When the North-wind blows we are cold in respect of the righteousness of the Law and when the South-wind blows hot and comfortable in respect of the righteousness of the Gospel Both these winds we must have an equal respect unto and observe a right distinction between them otherwise we may take that for the South-wind which comes to short of the South by many points and that for the North-wind which is as many points to wide of the North and so fruits of the garden for want of a right distinction between the winds and a right knowledg of the compass may receive a blast and be utterly ruin'd This I conceive was the sin of the Church of Laodicea in that she was neither hot nor cold she neither understood the Law nor the Gospel had she been hot or cold she had been well either would have served for her commendation because they are never alone But because she could not make an exact distinction betwixt the North and South-winds therefore she was neither hot nor cold but luke warm and for that cause Christ saith I will spue the out of my mouth And therefore it is that Christ also wisheth I would thou wert either cold or hot for then she had been in a right Condition As if Christ had said this If thou wert awakened by the North-wind then the South-wind should blow in thy Conscience and if the South-wind did blow in thy Conscience then should'st thou rightly understand how to follow the North-wind in thy Life Where these winds of Heaven do after this manner blow the use and office of the Law and Gospel is rightly Taught and the reason of all good works is perceived then the spices of the Garden do flow out but when the Law is stretched beyond its limits or the Gospel turn'd into the Law then men are neither hot nor cold but luke warm and under the same dreadful and heavy Sentence of Christ which can never be revoked I will spue thee out of my mouth for ever This thing is necessary to be understood of all men especially of the Angels of the Churches that are the holders of the winds of Heaven and are to blow upon the garden of Christ for if they should not understand the contrary nature and quality of these winds in stead of causing the spices to flow out they may by a contrary wind cause a blast to come upon the garden to the spoil and utter ruin of all the fruits For want of a right distinction between the nature of these winds it oftentimes comes to pass that so many winds of Doctrine are blown about that many are thereby blown into Everlasting destruction In the next words here is a prayer of the Church wherein she desireth her beloved to come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Two things are hence to be inquired Quest First What is meant by eating Secondly What is meant by pleasant fruits In answer to the first observe Ans that eating in Divinity signifies union whither it be on Christ part or on our part Christ is said to eat when he takes upon himself all our sins and miseries as if they were his own and undertakes for them and also to swallow up and consume all the miserable effects of sin which we either feel or fear Our eating is when we firmly believe that Christ joineth himself unto us feeleth our present infirmities and careth for us Job 6. Therefore it is often said when speech is made of our union with Christ he that eateth me shall live by me And except ye eat the flesh of the son of manye have no life in you all which setteth forth our union with Christ by faith alone And by fruits here she meaneth the fruits of his death and Resurrection which is freedom and liberty to poor sinners These are called his fruits because freedom from sin and deliverance from Everlasting Condemnation are purchased by him And his pleasant fruits because when we believe that Christ owneth us Esa 53.11 and taketh away our sins and miseries from us Christ rejoyceth and is satisfied So that the meaning of the Churches request here is this That Christ would take from her all her sins and miseries which she feeleth and feareth and give unto her all those blessings and favours that he hath purchased for poor sinners In that she calleth these his pleasant fruits acknowledging it to be Christs delight to grant her request this sheweth her faith in Christ And although it be very delightful to Christ to hear her request yet her desire is prevented before hand by reason of her faith as appears by the next words CHAP. V. VERSE I. I am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse WHICH words contain the answer of Christ to the faith of his Church for in these words he doth not say I will come
according to her request but I am come according to her faith going before Which also sheweth us the meaning of the Prophet when he saith before they call I will answer And yet he willeth us to call upon him for all things which he promiseth to bestow because Prayer must put in execution the decree of God concerning what he hath promised to give us neither can we chuse but pray as soon as we believe After the same manner shall it be to us as with the Church here when we believe and confess that it is Christs delight to help us and to our faith do joyn Prayer when we can pray unto God for Christ his sake to shew mercy to us to bear our burdens to carry our sorrows to come down into his garden and own us then doth Christ speak the same word to us as he doth to the Church in this place I am come into my Garden my Sister my spouse By which we see that Christ cometh to us before we are aware for as soon as we believe the benefits of Christs death and Resurrection to be given to us that are most unworthy of the same our faith incloseth Christ as a Jewel is inclosed in a Ring then doth Christ say unto us I am come my Sister my Spouse Neither could he possibly say otherwise forasmuch as he hath made over himself and all that he hath to that person that believeth This is a rare and Heavenly mistery which whosoever understandeth shall quickly find that of Christ which he never knew before Thus Christ was present to the Patriarchs of old as soon as they believed Abraham by faith saw his day and rejoyced He had not only faith but also a sence of faith which was bred in him by a certain knowledg of the righteousness of Christ imputed So all the holy Fathers that rightly understood the figures and shadows had Christ present in spirit as soon as they believed the use of a figure being to represent something to faith which is absent to sense and reason So Baptism which is a figure Heb. 10.1 9 19 20. hath Christ present as soon as we hear and believe that we are buried with Christ in Baptism Rom. 6. and also assureth us of our communion with him And it is impossible as was said before that it should be otherwise forasmuch as all things being established in faith Christ cannot be absent where faith is present No man by his works can possibly obtain this union because no work can cleave unto the word of God but faith attaineth possesseth and enjoyeth Christ for ever because all things in Heaven and Earth are given to them that believe Mary took pains in seeking after Christ she went to the Sepulchre she wept because she could not find him and why could she not find him Because she sought him where he was not to be found she sought him in the Sepulchre the living amongst the dead but as soon as Christ said Mary she said unto him Rabboni Christ inclosed Mary by his word and Mary by her faith inclosed him After the same manner Christ wrappeth us up in his word when he giveth himself and all that he hath unto us and we after the same manner do inclose and wrap up Christ and all his merits within us by faith So when we come to the Lords Supper Christ is Spiritually present in these words this cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you now he that feeling his own miserable condition can give so much credit to the word of God as to believe that under the figure of the cup the New Testament is given to his own poor Soul in particular that 's the person to whom Christ is then come Therefore when the Law condemneth us of right and by just desert and we are griev'd and burthened with our misery and do feel our wants and would have a supply then must we fly to the Gospel for help and succour and chiefly to our Baptism which assureth us if we learn it well that Christ by his promises is present to rid us of all evils and to supply us in all our wants This consideration freeth us from condemnation because we are under the sign and seal of absolution and remission of sins And thus Baptism is the figure that saveth us The Law condemneth and the Conscience accuseth but faith bringeth into the mind the right use of the sign and seal of absolution and forgiveness To seek for Christ in our works is with Mary to seek him in the Sepulchre where he cannot be found and to look for a Christ yet to come For holiness of life is yet to come cannot be present in this miserable flesh but is still to be waited for Now if we cannot apprehend Christs spiritual presence to be with us until we are better sanctified then we can never apprehend him to be come at all Forasmuch as a better degree of Sanctification is yet to come and still will be to come so long as we are on this side Heaven Learn we then firmly to believe the word of Christ and to deny our selves and call up on his name then shall we feel to our comfort that Christ is spiritually come to us according as Christ says here to his spouse I am come Next here Christ calleth his Church his sister and spouse Which words are often used in this Song to draw the Church to this holy faith and confession and are also full of faith and consolation For if Christ doth own us for his sister and spouse then is he our brother and husband Therefore these words my spouse must teach us to believe and to claim these benefits that belong to the spouse For the wife so long as the husband liveth is free and out of danger by reason of the Marriage knot Now Christ liveth for ever for he being raised from the dead dyeth no more Rom. 6. Therefore all evils that oppress and trouble us must die and vanish away For either Christ must die and depart the Conscience Rom. 6.9 or else sin and the curse must die not Christ therefore the curse Therefore Christ himself saith I am he that liveth Rev. 1. and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore And when he says my sister he draweth us to believe that he is our loving brother and if so then also is God our Father Now if God be our Father then it must needs follow that we are the Children of God and after this manner we must learn to receive the Spirit of adoption even by hearing of the word of faith The true effects of the Spirit of adoption cannot be found till the spirit be received which is not given nor received by the requiring of works but by the hearing of faith Preached I have gathered my Myrrhe with my spice I have eaten my Honey-comb with my Honey I have drunk my Wine with my Milk In these words
and destruction In this condition the Bride falleth asleep she is content to have sense and reason silenc'd and to be stricken dumb and she is not discouraged but constantly dependeth upon the promises of God And therefore she says here I sleep but mine heart waketh I sleep in regard of sense and reason but my heart awaketh in respect of God and his promises And this is also the meaning of David when he says he giveth his beloved sleep or by sleep So that when the Bride doth thus begin to sleep then doth she begin to awake and live by faith in the promises of God After the same manner must we with the Bride fall into this holy sleep and be contented to live in the use and practice of faith For every man in his condition shall find all things fall out contrary to his expectation in all estates and conditions of life and also shall seem to appear directly contrary to the promises of God Who promiseth that no good thing shall be wanting to those that fear him and yet a man shall seem in likelyhood to be in want of every good thing That wealth and riches shall be in his house and yet a man shall behold nothing but penury and want This breedeth a wonderful temptation in the godly so that a man is ready in this condition to fall into one of these evils either to accuse and condemn God of lying or else to conclude that he is not the person to whom the promises are made What must be done then in this condition Even to fall a sleep with the Bride and to be contented that reason may be slain and to lead a new life by faith in promises of God This slaying of reason is the awakening of the heart and then it doth begin to hear and rightly to understand the words of Christ according to the next words here following It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying Open to me my sister my love my dove my undefiled This knocking is when the Church is cast into the use and exercise of faith To knock is to make a noise and it may be defined thus It is an noise in the Conscience arising from the sense of sin and apprehension of danger It is when the very voice of the curse is felt in the Conscience and the miserable effects thereof are feared This she says is the voice of her beloved because the right opening of the Law that maketh the stroke and that the stroke of it may be felt belongeth to the Gospel And further when her beloved knocketh he saith open so that as soon as the knock is heard the Bride is to open According to Rev. 3. If any man hear my voice and open the dore I will come in and sup with him and he shall sup with me I will take from him the hurt of all evils whatsoever that shall be my supper and I will bestow all things upon him to make him comfortable and happy that shall be his Supper So that here is a twofold Supper Christ suppeth and the Bride suppeth Christ hath his delight in taking away her calamities the Bride hath her delight in receiving all blessings and comforts And this comes to pass by opening Now to open is rightly to understand the meaning or end of the knock Which in sum is this To inform the Bride that all her wants shall be supplyed by the Gospel which cannot be supplyed by her own ways and works Thus Christ after the manner of a Lover stands and knocks waiting to enlighten the Church in this point So that whether her wants be spiritual or temporal for this life or the life to come they shall all be supplyed when she is lost by the Law by ways and means unknown if she believeth And this is the end of every knock But for want of understanding the meaning of the knock the noise is many times of long continuance For many instead of studdying how to believe that they may attain all things by the Gospel do strive to relieve themselves by their own wisdom and works and in the end lose their labour and the Gospel too Therefore when we begin to hear a noise in the inward man and to fall into great fear either in regard of our sins and the everlasting judgment of God or by reason of some grievous temporal judgment which we apprehend to hang over our heads let us be sure then that Christ knocketh not to put us in feare for he affrighteth no man but to take away our fears from us so that although it seem terrible to us upon the first apprehension of the knock yet it is but the voice of our beloved who standeth and knocketh not to execute the Law upon us but to take all our evils upon himself that we may be made joyful and happy The hearing then of the noise must cause us to open the dore that is to believe in Christ and call upon his name and to suffer him to come in and sup with us then shall we be freed from all our fears and although we have forfeited all things by the Law yet we shall inherit all things by faith in the Gospel Also we must open that the captivity of the Conscience may first be turned into liberty and freedom before we seek for deliverance in respect of the outward man according to Christ saying seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness thereof and all things else shall be given unto you That so from that liberty and freedom which the Conscience possesseth through faith in Christ the merciful care and providence of God might flow in upon us and the nature of the whole Creation might be changed to us Now because in times of distress the Church is apt to be discouraged Christ here useth words that shew relations between them as my sister my love my dove my undefiled Which in brief is this Thou art my sister and I am thy loving brother and companion in tribulation and am affected with all thy afflictions Thou art my love my only joy and delight therefore I cannot forsake thee but do stand and knock to join my self unto thee to take all evils and miseries from thee and to settle thee in peace and joy Thou art my dove that forsakest not thy mate in a mournful condition And because thou runnest not from me but yeeldest thy self unto me therefore thou art mine therefore thou art undefiled thy sins are washed away and thou art clean I came down from Heaven on purpose to Cloath my self with thy flesh that I might free thy Conscience from all distress and fill it with peace and joy Open therefore unto me and receive that by the new and living way which according to the Law and works thou hast utterly lost These are the words of faith which we must have recourse unto in times of distress being comfortable to us and useful for us For my head is fill'd with dew and
my locks with the drops of the Night In these words Christ sheweth the reason why the Church shall receive all things by inheritance it is because his head is fill'd with dew and his locks with the drops of the Night By the head of Christ is meant his Divinity 1 Cor. 11. the head of Christ is God And by his locks understand his humanity And by the drops of the night his sufferings in the flesh And by the dew that his head is fill'd with the fulness of merit in the Godhead which made all the actions done in the manhood Meritorius and also the pouring out of the benefit thereof by pure and Heavenly Doctrine which is comfortable to poor sinners which Doctrine dropeth as the dew So that the obedience of God and man in one person Deut. 32. poured out in the Preaching of the Gospel and received by faith is the ground and foundation of all our comfort and joy For Christ by his obedience hath taken away the ground of all discomforts Col. 2.14 and nailed it to his Cross which being made known by the Gospel and received by faith setleth us in true peace and comfort This must teach us that when we are most of all oppressed with the drops of the night with the feeling of our sins or the fear of any cross or calamity to fly to the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath suffered for us And stedfastly to believe that seeing the locks of our beloved were filled with the droppings of our present condition that he is not only sensible of our present misery but also knoweth how to succour us and help us And hath also taken away the curse from every condition of misery that possibly we may meet with in this miserable World if we believe Therefore when we feel the curse of the Law and the guilt of our sins and the fearful effects of Gods wrath in any kind whatsoever begin to fasten within us then must we learn by faith to behold them all to be nailed fast to the cross of Christ from whence they can never return if we stedfastly believe VERSE III. I have put off my Coat how shall I put it on THe Church understanding the benefits that come to her by the Gospel and the order in receiving of it says I have put off my Coat by which she meaneth the righteousness of the Law in point of justification This is the first thing taught in the Gospel Joh. 9.31 how to put off our old Coat And the first thing that Christ came to do was to put on our Coat upon himself whereby he became laden with our sins and also with our infirmities The coat being thus put on by Christ therefore the Church learneth to put him off by faith So that this place doth not shew any sluggishness in the Church as if she were in a bed of security with her coat off and as though she were loath to rise and go about the works of the Law but leadeth us into an higher matter how to attain to be righteous before God This wisdom must we also learn which we can never do unless we remove the cause for which we keep our coat on which is our false opinion of the Law Some when they treat of the Law and works do press it with that earnestness that they extol the righteousness thereof far beyond the righteousness of faith as if the principal cause of Christs coming into the world were to make us holy by the Law These with the Pharisee do button on the coat Others will have Christian righteousness to begin in us and perfected by Christâ— which is but to put a piece of new cloth in an old garment and make the rent worse Learn we then to put off our coat wholly But next the Church questioneth here how shall I put it on That is in life and conversation For the greatest and most necessary question of all others in matters of Divinity is rightly to understand these two things How to lay aside the Law totally in teaching the point of justification and how to teach the use and practise of the Law rightly in the life and conversation How to handle these two points aright that the Gospel may not destroy the use and practice of the Law 1 Tim. 1.9 nor the Law the use and practice of the Gospel is a point of great skill Therefore the Church maketh question as if she were something ignorant in this point how shall I put it on How shall I teach this point aright If the works of the Law ought not to be required but totally to be layed aside in teaching the way to justification according as it is written the Law is not made for a righteous man upon what ground then are they to be pressed at all All men have cause to complain of their ignorance in this point therefore it must be our desire to learn this heavenly skill Now to cloath our selves with the Law that the use and practice of it may not be lost and how to be unclothed of the Law that the Gospel may not be lost This is a point of great cunning and ought to be well studied of every Christian chiefly because the strongest hold of Satans Kingdom consisteth in the confounding of these two points one with another Therefore it is further added here I have washed my feet how shall I defile them Where by feet she meaneth the inward man and by washing the cleansing of the Soul through faith in Christ Joh. 1â— according to Christs saying he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit But then it is added how shall I defile them She had washed her feet by putting of her coat whereby she was cleansed from sin therefore she asketh the question how shall I defile them As much as to say how shall I press the works of the Law so as not to defile my feet again If I should urge a necessity of the Law then I should defile my feet or if I should totally cast it off because I am justified without the Law then I should also defile my feet again for then it would come to pass that in living without the use and practice of the Law my Conscience would have no more the feeling and apprehension of sin nor any sensible need of a Saviour So that in casting away of all fear and care of the Law I should at last contemn and cast away the Gospel also And the consequence of all would be this I should forsake my beloved lose my peace and comfort here and also everlasting life hereafter This sheweth us the practice of the Bride in all ages of the Church which is first to lay aside the Law next to live in the use and practice of the Law In receiving the Doctrine of justification she heareth no Law but in the life and conversation she abideth in the use and
saith my beloved had with drawn himself and was gone This condition she fell into for the exercise and tryal of her faith after she had opened to her beloved and well understood the Gospel And this complaint she made in Song third Where she complaineth of the very same condition Which sheweth that such sort of tryals do often befal the godly in this miserable and wretched World when our beloved Christ will seem to hide himself and to cast off all care and regard of us when we are in misery that we shall have no sense or feeling at all of his love but will seem to be as a stranger that hath no relation to us even as one that hath forgotten all his promises And therefore she complaineth further in the next words My Soul failed when he spake I called upon him and he gave me no answer When he spake to me in his promises that no good thing should be wanting but that all my wants should be supplyed and bid me cast my care upon him because he cared for me my Soul did even fail and my confidence was even shaken and gone because I saw that all things were promised but nothing seem'd to be perform'd And further she saith I call'd upon him and he gave me no answer I prayed and humbled my self much before him and cryed aloud unto him in my sad condition and yet he gave me no answer By all which we see that it is no new way of excercising the faith of the Church when the godly are cast into poverty reproach and contempt of the world and when they see no way nor means appearing which way to get out In this condition therefore must we be content to live in and not to despaire of help whensoever it shall please our beloved to exercise us in it This great and sore affliction fell upon the Bride after she had done her duty faithfully and carefully for she had opened to her beloved and her hands had dropped the Myrrhe therefore it was for the tryal of her faith that she might learn by being exercised not to faint in a sad condition but to believe in the promises of God although nothing appeared to reason why she should believe the same According as it is said of Abraham that he believed in God who calleth things that are not as though they were Therefore I say this being mark'd out to be the condition of the Church many times no man must take offence at his beloved if he please to exercise his faith this way but quietly and patiently to depend upon him and call upon his name But mark we further what she complaineth of in this condition VERSE VII The watchmen that went about the City found me they smote me they wounded me VVE are not to understand by the watchmen the Ministers of the Gospel but such as continually watch to see the people of God in misery and to add affliction to the afflicted As is opened more at large in Song third Of these the Prophets David and Jeremy do often complain The Church says of these they smote her that is behind her back with words of reproach and wounded her in her name credit and reputation And this bitter temptation the godly shall be cast into by reason of the watchmen oftentimes of which sort of people let all that love God and their own peace and comfort learn in time to beware The keepers of the walls took my vail from me We are not to understand by the vail in this place Cor. 2.3 that which Paul speaketh of which is spread over the heart in the reading of Moses Nor yet such a vail as was wont to be worn by the Daughters of Zion for ornament Esa 2. she being here in the habit of a mourner But the vail here spoken of or rather the image of a vail is that reproach and infamy which was cast upon her by the watchmen whereby they thought to spoil her of her Title the Bride and to set her as much as in them lay in the shape and attire of an Harlot For even as it was the manner of Harlots to cover their faces with a vail Gen. 38.16 as is to be seen in Tamar that they might never afterwards be known or appear to be Harlots So it was the manner of the watchmen so to cover the Church with infamy and reproach that as much as in them lay she should never afterwards appear to be the Bride And this she calleth her vail And this the keepers of the walls took from her By the keepers Esa 62. understand the watchmen of the walls that do continually watch for the preservation of the spiritual City That do always help to preserve the Church in her faith and confidence lest she should be dismayed by the afflictions of the watchmen these do endeavour to build up the walls of Jerusalem and to pray day and night until she be made a praise in the Earth These keepers took off the vail of reproach Psal 59.6 that by reason of the watchmen was cast over the Bride They mentioned her condition at the Throne of grace comforted her in all her tribulations and endeavoured so to still the noise and smitings of the watchmen that at length all her reproach and infamy vanished and came to nothing This being the lot of the Church every one that is godly must expect that at some time or other in his life he shall be covered with this vail although he carry himself ever so exact and uprightly The watchmen are in every corner they go round about the City as David speaks and make a noise like a Dog which barketh sometimes at a very shadow sometimes because other Dogs bark but be it for what cause it will the least blemish that may be in the Bride sets them all a barking Therefore as we must expect the vail So we must beware of giving occasion Moreover as we must look to be in the condition of the Church so we must imitate the practice of the keepers that so when the afflictions of the Bride do become the musick of the wicked and when she is covered with great reproach when the Sons of Zion are esteemed but as earthen pitchers then we must begin to set to our Shoulder and take of the vail First by our prayers next by our endeavour to remove all the reproaches that are cast upon her and Lastly by comforts and consolations Then shall the breaches of the wall be repaired and the spiritual City preserved from those that desire her ruin VERSE VIII I charge you O Daughters of Jerusalem if ye finde my beloved that ye tell him that I am sick of love THe Churches vail being taken of by the keepers she is sick of love She finding so wonderful a deliverance out of so bitter a Temptation is even sick with joy and thankfulness to God And thus it is with us when God turneth our Captivity by his own
that believes knows that he believes And it is impossible for a man to believe any thing firmly but he must know that he doth believe it for faith is to receive and to receive is by an act of the will and no man can receive a thing willingly but he must needs know that he doth receive it Now in that the speech is here doubled by the Daughters it sheweth that they were very proud and stiff in their opinion What is thy beloved say they more then another beloved that thou dost so charge us What are we blind Here although the confusion be so great that it separateth all men from Christ yet they must not be charged with it nor be thought to err in the least tittle Such a most pestilent Heritick is mans opinion which will not be contented unless it live in the greatest Heresy which separateth all men from Christ and yet it must go for the greatest vertue Now in the next Verse and so to the end of this Chapter in answer to the Daughters the Church setteth down the Excellency of her beloved beyond any other beloved VERSE X. My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand IN which words we must note that she looketh not upon Christ by way of reflection as the Daughters do but directly by faith Therefore that Christian righteousness may be truly known she speaketh of such excellencies as are proper only to his own person And first she says my beloved is white by which she meaneth his righteousness imputed which being of Infinite purity Rev. 19.8 was fit for a Redemption And also ruddy because the guilt and punnishment of mans sin was laid upon him Now by this description of her beloved Esa 63.1 2. she totally overthrows the Religion of the Daughters and learneth rightly to teach the Law For if the white garments of her beloved must cloath her from the wrath of God then the Law which saith do this and live must have a new signification which the Daughters understand not Also if her beloved be ruddy or red being crucified for her sin as she confesseth then is she also white being clothed with his righteousness According to Saint Paul he was made sin for us Cor. 5.21 who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him But on the contrary the Daughters by resting in an opinion of works by a false understanding of the Law do uncloath Christ of his ruddiness and draw the guilt of sin upon themselves and are bound to make an Everlasting satisfaction to the Justice of God Therefore the Bride say here my beloved is more then another beloved And thus it is with us also if we so understand the Law as to make it the condition of the promises then do we uncloath Christ 〈◊〉 his ruddiness and by that Principle in 〈◊〉 suffer only whiteness to remain in his own person which person of Christ being strippeâ— of our guilt his whiteness remains on himself and to us can never be imputed But 〈◊〉 we so understand and teach the Law that 〈◊〉 may be suitable or subordinate to the Gospelâ— then all our redness or guiltiness shall be laâ—â— upon Christ our beloved and his righteousneâ—â— shall be imputed unto us To teach this poinâ— rightly and also to practice it in time 〈◊〉 distress and misery is so exceeding pleasant that no heart can chuse that rightly understanâ— it but burst out into joy and singing Now she further saith that he is the chiefest among ten thousand Meaning the chief Prophet or Teacher and also the chiefest standard Bearer alluding to the heads of the triâ—es who were standard Bearers when they were numbred to go out to War Num. 2. In which War of the Children of Isarel against the Canaanites and also when they were to go out against the Benjamites Judah must go first he must be the chief standard Bearer Reuben according to the Order of the Genealogy was to be first in respect he was the eldest Son of Isarel yet because our Lord sprang out of Judah and because the War against the Canaanites was a type of a greater matter therefore Judah must go first To shew us this that Christ himself must tread the Wine-press of the wrath of God Now seeing Christ hath trodden the Wine-press alone hath banished the curse and overcome death therefore must he stand in the Conscience alone without the Law or works And even as Judah was the first and chiefest in the War against the enemies of Israel and not Reuben although he was the eldest Son even so must Christ and not works be look'd upon first in receiving comfort into the afflicted Conscience And thus the Bride confuteth the Daughters My beloved she faith is more then thy beloved my beloved standing alone in my Conscience separateth me from the Law and the guilt of sin But thy beloved standing not alone in thy Conscience but leaveth thee under the Law and in thy sin VERSE XI His head is as the most fine Gold his locks are bushy and black as a Raven BY the head of Christ is meant his Divinity by which he went through his Kingly Office 1 Cor. 11.3 and got the victory over the Law sin death and Satan Which is compar'd to fine Gold Acts 17.29 not that the Godhead is like unto Gold but to shew that his Kingdom which is purchased by the merits of his Divinity is like unto Gold Luke 1.33 in that it is durable being an Everlasting Kingdom and the Churches cloathing is said to be of wrought Gold Psal 45.13 So that in regard of the golden effects that come to us by the deity his head is said to be as the fine Gold But what is meant by the blackness and bushiness of his Locks Quest If you look in to Dan. Ans 1.9 Rev. 1.14 his hair is said to be white as the pure wooll but here to be bushy and black as a raven Understand then that the whiteness of his hairs in Daniel sheweth him to be the Ancient of days therefore it signifieth his Divinity and that the bushiness and blackness of his locks here sheweth him to be youthly and strong therefore it signifieth his Humanity By this description also the bride overcometh the Daughters and sheweth her beloved to be more then another beloved for the righteousness of my beloved is the righteousness of God and man in one person and therefore accepted for me of the Father but the righteousness of thy beloved is but the righteousness of thine own sinful person whereby thou art accursed and condemned VERSE XII His eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the Rivers of waters washed with Milk and fitly set BY his eyes are meant his understanding whereby he knoweth how to pitty us and help us Psal 33 13 18 34 15. having now in Heaven a fellow feeling of our extremities Esa 63.9 For although he knew not sin
given and thinkest that thou thy self art not intended in the gift because thou findest so many promises made to righteous persons when thou thy self art a miserable sinner then dost thou totally banish Christ out of thy Conscience remainest in thy sins and must suffer the loss of Eternal life and glory and if thou teachest that point unto others thou dost not only discover thine unbelief but also professest thy self to be an unbeliever and dost by thy Doctrine establish the world in the grounds of unbelief directly contrary to the office of the holy Ghost which is to convince the world of sin because they believe not Joh. 16. Thou seest then first wherein the sweetness of Christs mouth lies in that he teacheth thee to believe first by destroying the ground of unbelief which nothing can do but only the Fathers gift next in shewing thee upon what ground thou must begin to build thy faith not because he first loveth thy works but thy sinful person that thou mayest love him bless him confess thy sins unto him and mourn for the depravation of thy sinful nature not out of dispaire but of love and thankfulness to thy Heavenly Father who hath shewed mercy to thee and given thee his Son Secondly His mouth is most sweet in that he teacheth thee the new signification of the terms of the Law he that sate upon the throne said behold I make all things new Rev. 21.5 So that since the fall of man the terms of the Law do this and live have a signification which is new and therefore mans obedience is said to be new But what is it to make all things new Quest I answer to make all things new Ans is to make a new way to attain to the righteousness of the Law and Everlasting life The Covenant of grace maketh the signification of the terms of the Law to be new by the righteousness of faith alone Understand it thus the terms lay'd upon Adam were do this in thine own person and live but do this since the fall is do it in the person of thy Redeemer and live so that do this before and since the fall have a double signification the one is old the other is new to receive grace from the Redeemer to do the Law in thine own person doth not make a new signification of the terms When Moses saith Lev. 18.5 do this and live he speaketh of the old signification of the terms of the Law do it in thine own person according to the Covenant made in Horeb. Exod. 20. But when Moses speaketh of the righteousness of faith Deut. 30.14 Which he calleth also also the keeping of the commandments Ver. 10.11 Rev. 22. He speaketh of the new signification of the terms of the Law according to the Covenant made in the Land of Moab Deut. 29. Ver. 1. The first of these pertains to the self justiciary the latter to the broken hearted nor thy obedience to be new for that is doing in thine own person the same terms which were lay'd upon Adam and not in the person of thy Redeemer nor canst thou ever believe that God loveth thee by that obedience nor yet be brought to love God but to do in the person of the Redeemer is to believe that he hath done it for thee and given his obedience to thee before he requireth any of thee that so by a new and living way thou mightest learn to love him fear him and obey him Therefore when the Law was given the Gospel is set before wherein God giveth himself unto us that we might love him before he requireth any thing from us And in the first Commandment he layeth this prohibition upon us which also runneth through all the ten Commandments that we seek after no preparative righteousness to precede the Gospel So that to do the Law is to do it according to the Gospel and the first Commandment which is not to depend upon the Law Therefore when it is said blessed are they that do his Commandments that their right may be in the tree of Life thou must understand it according to the Gospel and the first Commandment where by doing his Commandments is meant not depending upon the Law which opinion in us of self dependance is the first thing which is taken away by the Gospel and goeth imediately before our establishing in Christ All this hinders not but that the Law is to be done before men to the utmost of our power in the Kingdom of the Law our obedience must be personal which not withstanding helpeth nothing to righteousness because it is prevented by faith in Christ Now herein also the sweetness of Christs mouth is seen in that he teacheth by the Gospel a new understanding of the Law Thirdly The sweetness of Christs mouth is seen in this also in that he teacheth the true reason of the institution of Sacraments which in all ages of the Church were to teach faith in Christ Sacraments were not instituted to assure us that we have faith or to confirm to us that we do believe but to assure us by a figure of the visible ground of our faith that we might believe that our faith might be Sacramental as well as verbal that we might learn the mistery of our faith by and from the figure Thus by Circumcision God did establish his Covenant with Abraham to be his God Gen. 17.7 and the God of his seed and why was this But only from the figure to teach him to believe And when circumcision is said to be a Seal of the righteousness of faith it is Rom. 4. because it confirmeth by a figure the righteousness which faith layeth hold upon And under the figure of the Passover they were taught to believe their deliverance Exod. 12.13 from sin and the wrath of God by the blood of Christ So the reason why Baptism was instituted was to manifest Christ unto Israel John 1.31 It looketh not upon the worthiness of the person but teacheth to behold our unworthiness that we may be made worthy in Christ So the Lords Supper Luk. 22. was instituted to fulfil the Passover and shew us the Lords death that we might have a visible and Sacramental ground to believe that he is crucified and risen for us Now these being the causes why Sacraments were instituted it is proving and not to be proved therefore no unworthiness in the Subjects must be alleaged to bar their priviledg that stands in opposition to the reasons of their institution So that we see Christs mouth is sweet in that he openeth these three points the ground of our faith the sense of the Law and the reason of the institution of Sacraments Which I conceive are the three gates spoken of Rev. 21. which pertain to the holy City new Jerusalem on the East West North and South side of the Heavenly City without the opening of which three gates there is no entrance into the new Jerusalem For let
it sheweth us what the proper Office of the Gospel is even to shine in our hearts and to comfort us in a dark condition This light is the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ who was born at Bethlem which Nativity is given unto us by our hearing and receiving the Gospel Therefore when thou feelest thy self to be in darkness and mightily oppressed with the shadows of the Night make hast into thy Closet and say Lord I am in great affliction and sore distress and have justly deserved by my sin to perish in the darkness I am in but seeing thou hast ordained that I shall live before thee by a borrowed light even by my Lord Jesus Christ who was born at Bethlem where the glad-tidings of great joy were published by the heavenly Angel grant therefore that I may believe the Message of the Angel that so I may receive the whole benefit At the very first time thou beginnest to practice after this manner and feelest thy heart any whit warmed with the apprehension of the blessed Babe that 's the very day and hour that Christ is born in thee Then art thou become fair as the Moon and yet thou hast the Moon under thy feet forasmuch as all thy defects and obscurities changes and alterations which made thee appear like the Moon in her weakest condition yet now being cloathed with the Sun thou despisest them all When once thou understandest these things aright then mayest thou arise and shine by thy borrowed light and shall experimentally feel that of Christ which thou thy self wilt say thou knewest not before Clear as the Sun This is meant in respect of her Doctrine which is said to be clear as Chrystal for as the Sun is the Fountain of Light natural so is Christ the Fountain of Light spiritual and Son of righteousness which being made known to the world maketh a great light By this light every man that believeth his Conscience is acquitted from the wrath of God and also is made to see the vanity of his ways and is delivered from a vain mind By this light he perceiveth wherein the errours of all men lie is made a Judge of all things yet he himself is judged of no man Terrible as an Army with Banners This Doctrine is terrible to the blind world and to the whole kingdom of Satan that it battereth all in pieces even as an Army doth with Banners For there is no Sect nor Heresie upon the face of the earth that can stand before the Gospel let the case be rightly stated and the true state of the business stuck unto on both sides and either he that opposeth it must fly or else he must turn and be converted Therefore it is said of the Day of the Lord that it shall burn as an Oven Mal. 4. and shall burn up all the proud of the earth and leave neither root nor branch The Gospel plucketh up the root of all Heresies and with the root the branch forasmuch as the principal matter whereupon all Hereticks and Sects build their confidence is the very first thing which the Gospel destroyeth Therefore the Gospel is a most terrible Doctrine to all the wicked of the earth but most sweet and pleasant to all those that conform unto it And therefore Christ says I came to send fire upon the earth and what is my desire but that it be kindled Therefore no man must be afraid to maintain the Gospel for fear of the displeasure of men for that is to deny Christ and flatter all men into Hell but every man according to his ability must endeavour to defend the same VERSE XI I went down into the Nut-garden to see the fruits of the Valley and to see whether the Vine flourish'd and the Pomegranates budded I Conceive these Words to be the Speech of the Church and the meaning to be this By Garden understand the publick assembling together of the Faithful to preach and hear the Word of God Call'd the Nut-garden Psal 19.10 Esa 40.4 Song 4.13 Joh. 15.1 because where the Word is rightly taught there are sweet Kernels found By the Valley is meant he that is made low in his own eyes through the sense and feeling of his sin The Pomegranates are the particular Members of the Church The Vine is Christ The flourishing of the Vine is when the Righteousness of Christ alone is taught for the raising up of dejected afflicted Consciences and in that the Church went down to see the fruits of the Valley The flourishing of the Vine and budding of the Pomegranates it meaneth to learn how to be afflicted for her sin and how to become low in her own eyes like the Valley and also how to be healed and exalted through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ that she might rejoyce in the fruits of the Ministry The sum of the whole Verse I conceive is this That the main and principal business that concerns those that are Preachers and Hearers of the Word of God in frequenting publick Assemblies is to teach and to learn how to make and to heal again tender and afflicted consciences How to lay men low in their own eyes that they may lament in secret for their sins and how to bind them up and heal them with the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ For this cause the Bride went down into the Garden to learn this heavenly Art and divine Skill Where this learning is not taught little is said and where this is not heard little is learned If the conscience should be afflicted and not healed again it would fall into despair or if a Plaister should be provided where there is no sore no man would esteem it therefore the Church learneth both these points And the reason why this is the principal thing is because this manner of learning maketh persons new it maketh men righteous before God and also righteous before men It maketh the Tree good and his Fruit good otherwise where it is not taught it leaveth the Tree evil and his Fruit evil This sheweth us the reason why in many places the labour of the Ministry is so improfitable why there is so little good done by Preaching and so little benefit received by hearing but men go away from Church assemblies as cold and blockish as ever they were the reason is because the drift and scope of their manner of handling the word of God tendeth not to the making and healing again of tender and afflicted Consciences but bendeth quite another way Hence they all call for doing of the Law which neither maketh the wound nor healeth the sore And from this also it comes to pass that if any man comes into the Garden and desireth for a kernel he findeth but a shell and in stead of making valleys setting up of Mountains the reason is because the true way to life is hid which to think on aright may cause a Lamentation in that there is so little understood in this point
which is the only thing and foundation whereupon all our happiness doth depend Let all men therefore learn to humble themselves for their wants in this thing and earnestly beg of God that his word may be purely taught Where this knowledg is not little fruit appears in the Valley the Vine flourisheth not there but the miserable Conscience is shut up in Prison and darkness but where this spiritual skill is learn'd there and there only the Pomegranates do bud and a wonderful and suddain change is made according as it here followeth VERSE XII Or ever I was aware my Soul made me like the Chariots of Amminadib AMminadib as some think was the chiefest Chariot driver either in Solomons or in Pharaohs Chariot and which had the most Famous Horses which upon a suddain would be at the place desired This was the Churches condition as soon as she came into the Nut Garden she understood upon a suddain the right way to her beloved as soon as ever the nut was crack'd she began to tast of the kernel and or ever she was aware she became like the Chariots of Amminadib She met with that upon a suddain which she had long desired for And thus it is with us when ever we come into the garden of the Lord where nuts are plenty where the vine flourisheth aright or ever we are aware the Pomegranates begin to bud the fruits of the valley begin to appear within us and we are setled in peace and joy And in that she says my Soul made me It meaneth the understanding which being illuminated and sanctified filleth the will and affections with joy and Heavenly delight VERSE XIII Return return O Shulamite that we may look upon thee return return THese words are also the voice of the Church and by the Shulamite she meaneth a party in the Church which do dissent from her principles in matters of faith and life which she notwithstanding calleth the Shulamite being a general Title belonging to all in the visible Church from Shulamith which is peaceable so call'd being under a Covenant of peace and being the Daughter of Jerusalem Heb. 7. or Shalem which signifies peace and his Tabernacle is also said to be in Shalem To this Shulamite or contrary party in the Church she saith return return which words being so often doubled do shew that she is not only confident of her own Doctrine and way but also that she earnestly desireth the welfare of the Shulamite and a more near and Spiritual communion with her for she says return that we may look upon thee that is with delight and comfort for what inward and comfortable fellowship can there be so long as there remains a contrariety in points of Faith Therefore it is the longing desire of the Bride that they might dwell together in unity But mark we what followes What will ye see in the Shulamite as it were the Company of two Armies These words I conceive to be the voice of Christ and it is as much as to say that which thou wouldest see in the Shulamite thou canst not for in the Shulamite there are two Companies of Prophets are Preachers of the word and they band themselves one against the other like two Armies And the difference between them is the case being rightly stated about this one Question Which is the proving principle in the Scriptures Whether the Law must be expounded by the Gospel or the Gospel expounded so as it may accord with the Law The answering of this Question The extent of the principles of all Heriticks Sects and Seducers being rightly examined they will be found to clash against the Gospel in the Doctrine of justification endeth all controversies in the Church Forasmuch as all differences about Religion do Center in this point Hence it is that what is affirmed by the one overthrows the Law in the matter of justification and what is affirmed by the other overthrows the Gospel in the same point For when the Bride defineth faith to be a believing in Christ without works only because of God the promiser totally excluding the Law the Shulamite and all others that are enemies to the Gospel do define faith to be a believing in Christ by reason of works totally excluding the Gospel Now to decide this controversy it must be noted that the first principles as is shewed elsewhere in this Song are proving and therefore all other Scriptures must be expounded by them Song 3.10 And that as the first principle in Divinity is the Scriptures Hos 13.4 so the first principle in the Scriptures is the Gospel or the first Commandment which drives us to the Gospel which comes all to one for the first word of all is hear O Israel I am the Lord thy God Mark 12.29 which words are the Gospel Wherein God bindeth himself to us without any thing of ours then follows the first Commandment This point rightly understood draweth us into the practise of all good works because it unbindeth us from the rigour of the Law and filleth the mind and Conscience with the love of God which is the ground of all obedience which prohibites our dependance upon any other righteousness but the righteousness of God set before us in the Gospel And also forbids all such definitions of faith and all such interpretations of the Law which strengthen in man an opinion of the Law and works Now the Gospel being the first word and proving principle therefore such a sense must be found of all those Scriptures that promise justification to mans Active doing of the Law as may be suitable to the Gospel and mortify mans opinion of the Law and works But thou wilt say how shall I do that I answer doing in Divinity hath by reason of the Gospel a new signification which is to justify God and is not to be understood when justification is promised to it of a moral doing but of such a spiritual passive doing which is incomprehensible to mans reason whereby thou submittest to the wrath of the Law and flyest from it by faith to Christ who createth in thee a new opinion of the Law which is to walk in the works thereof without dependance upon them which obedience Paul teacheth thee to call a serving in newness of Spirit And thus mayest thou easily give an answer to all opposers of the Gospel Moreover this must also comfort us when we are in great tribulations when we are in doubt of his care and providence in respect of outward things or any way perplexed with the fear of Gods wrath For then will the Law begin to work in us after this manner these things thou hast done and thou canst not deny it and therefore thy judgment is just and nothing shall appear before thine eyes which way thy fears shall be prevented now in this condition if thou expoundest the Gospel according to the Law then shall thy faith be overwhelmed and only the Law shall reign
in fishing is lost Others there are that are able fishers but they forsake their own fish-pools where Christ bids them fish and run to other ponds and cast in their Nets for another sort of fish these are like Jonah who when God sent him to Nineveh ran to Tarshish and what followed this Because he refused to fish where God sent him therefore God provided a fish at length to catch him and swallow him up To conclude all let all men that are Ministers in the Church of God endeavour in the fear of Gods name to be so well enlightned in the knowledg of the Gospel that they may rightly perform their Office then shall they be see-ers indeed and come under this commendation in the Text thine eyes are like the fish-pools in Heshbon Thy nose is as the Tower of Lebanon looking towards Damascus The nose is the instrument of smelling which by reason of its loftiness against her spiritual Enemies for which cause this expression is often used is likened to the Tower of Lebanon which Solomon Built Which Tower is call'd the House of the Forrest of Lebanon 1 Kin. 7.2 which House he furnish'd with Targets and Shields to make it strong against the Enemy 1 Kin. 1â— 17 and it was set upon Cedar Pillars and there was light against light in the rows of Pillars which as 't is probable were to give light towards Damascus Esa 7. which was the chief City in Syria as Esai sheweth the head of Syria is Damascus which people were always Enemies to the Children of Israel Now at those lights the watchmen might perceive what Enemies were at any time coming against the people of Israel Now in that the nose of the Church is likened to this goodly Tower it sheweth the courage and also care of the Bride for the preservation of her self and all her Children against her Spiritual Enemies It smelleth before-hand the subtilties of Satan and armeth her self accordingly She is not much daunted by those that live in Damascus but hath a kind of holy pride against all her adversaries and when she is at the worst yet then she scenteth that mercy and deliverance which is prepared for her by the Gospel VERSE V. Thine Head upon thee is like Carmel and the hair of thine Head like purple CArmel was a Mountain whither Eliah by Commandment from the King sent for the false Prophets and slew them 1 Kin. 18.9 the Prophets of Baal were four Hundred and the Prophets of the Groves four Hundred and fifty And it was to this end and purpose that the people might be convicted concerning the knowledg and worship of the true God where an Altar was to be Built and Sacrifices provided but no Fire put under and the God that answered by Fire was to be acknowledged for the true God which was answered by the consuming of Eliahs Sacrifice Therefore Eliah brought the false Prophets down to the brook Cishon and slew them there Also Carmel was a place where Nabal did inhabite Sam. 25.2 Esa 33.9 Esa 35. which place was very fruitful and is oftentimes spoken of in Scripture by way of excellency for fruitfulness Now in that the Churches head is likened to Carmel it sheweth that as she is fruitful in faith and all good works so also in conceiving the right way for the overthrowing the Doctrine of all false Prophets which none can do but only the Bride of Christ For although many spend much time about controversies in Religion yet for want of stating the case aright the only matter in difference many times never comes in Question and all the work remains to be done The head of such is not like unto Carmel the fruitful Mountain but rather like unto the Mountains of Gilboa barren and unfruitful But herein the Churches head is commended and the way how she attaineth to this Heavenly skill is set down in the next words The King is held in the Galleries Galleries are certain walks that are often builded by Princes and great men into which Galleries they use to retire themselves when then intend to meditate or discourse about matters of weight From which custom I conceive the word Galleries is here borrowed and the meaning to be this to shew the way that the spouse of Christ walketh in instating and handling of controversies for the confuting of false opinions which is She holdeth fast the King in the Galleries The meaning is She alloweth of no contention in the Church unless it be about a matter that concerneth Christ her King If the point in difference seem to be ere so great The Church avoideth vain janglings about the Law and her own supposed works and the contention ever so sharp yet if it touch not against the Gospel she medleth not in it and on the contrary if it seem to be ever so small a matter in difference if it clasheth but in the least title against the Gospel she then armeth her self by the Gospel to meet her adversary in the field Now herein lyeth the fruitfulness of the Churches head in discerning this thing in that she maketh enquiry into the proposition holden by the contrary party and the extent of it whither directly or by consequent it dasheth against the Kingdom of Christ that so she may arm her self accordingly So that she entereth not in to controversy unless it be to preserve the Gospel neither fighteth she against any false opinion with any other weapon but the Gospel and thus she holdeth the King in the Galleries The same Galleries must we also walk in when we meddle with controversies No jangling nor quarrelling much less seperation must be made about the Law Tit. 3.9 forasmuch as every man is faulty in respect of his works therefore every man must bear submit and pray for another and also reprove in love and gentleness thereby to win men if possible to faith in Christ but if any man shall hold any Doctrine which either directly or by consequence dasheth against the Gospel Jude 1. no man must bear it but endeavour by the Gospel to overthrow it When the Question is not about fundamentals let every man keep his faith to himself that no division be made in the Church Rom. 14. hast thou faith have it to thy self before God otherwise there will be no end of disputing in the Church but if the matter in Question be any way against faith in Christ Every man must be strong to defend the Gospel then must every mans mouth be open This is to hold the King in the Galleries which Galleries if they had been walk'd in for Twenty years past we had not seen the days which now we have seen The false Prophetess walketh in other Galleries in medling with controversies She raiseth contentions and many vain janglings not about faith in Christ but about the Law That is about an opinion of her supposed works which because she priceth so high therefore they
are naught which sheweth that she hath no small opinion of her self but that she prizeth her own sinful works far beyond the righteousness of Christ else why doth she separate from Church assemblies accounting all men to be Anti-christian if they be wanting only in the works of the Law There is a mixed multitude the Minister is not rightly called and many other things are done or not done which as she supposeth are besides the rule but what of all this Something 's were ever wanting in men and ever will be so long as the Church is on this side perfection Now because she forsaketh the Church only for her blemishes not because faith is not Preached but in that works are wanting therefore she holdeth not the King in the Galleries but preferreth Moses before Christ And what follows all but only this because she prizeth the sinful works of men far beyond the gifts of God and righteousness of Christ therefore she condemneth the Gospel and is condemned by the Gospel According to the saying of our Saviour he that believeth not is condemned already This way must we also walk in in pacifying and quieting the afflicted Consciences even to hold the King in the Galleries For if when the Conscience is in distress the Law be then acknowledged to be the Lord then shall it be shut up fast in prison and bondage then shall it be held under the Law whereby it is accused and condemned this is to hold Moses in the Galleries not the King Therefore Moses the servant must be cast out of the afflicted Conscience by faith in Christ and not suffered to lodge in the Chamber with his Lord. Let us learn therefore to behold by faith Moses with his Sepulchre to be vanish'd away in respect of the Conscience that Christ with his Righteousness may rule and reign Thus must we hold fast Christ our King against all Enemies without and within Now in that the Churches hair is commended it meaneth believers as is shewed elsewhere and by purple their clothing shewing that all those that are fruitful in this Divine and Heavenly Art are clothed in purple even with the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ which is a Princely Robe For they are those that do overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of his Testimony VERSE VI. How fair and pleasant art thou O love for delights THis is a pashionate speech of Christ being as it were overcome with the delights of his Church in excercising her self in the points aforesaid Therefore he pronounceth her fair and pleasant with admiration VERSE VII This thy Statute is like unto a Palm-tree and thy breasts like clusters CHrist having before commended his spouse in respect of the parts and features of the body under divers and sundry similitudes here he setteth forth her full growth under the similitude of the Palm-tree concerning which Tree there are divers things written by Historians As first that they grow in Couples Male and Female and are full of seed but the Female is only fruitful yet not except growing by the Male. And also that it is of this nature that although never so huge and pondrous a waight be put upon it yet never to yield to the burden but still to resist the Heaviness thereof and to endeavour the more to lift and raise it self upward Now the Stature of the Bride being likened to the Palm-tree it sheweth what the nature of faith is in all the godly even to lift it self upwards in the midd'st of the greatest fears and perplexities and notwithstanding all burdens and waights yet still to grow through them all Therefore in Rev. 7.9 Those that had gotten the victory over Satan and the world by faith in Christ appeared in white Robes and Palm-branches in their hands as tokens of joy and victory And this is also promised in the Psalms Psal 92.12 that the Righteous shall flourish like a Palm-tree There is no doubt but every Christian shall be put to the tryal by having a heavy weight layed upon him at some time or other in his life which weight according to the flesh and reason shall seem to press him down to the very ground so that in appearance he shall never be able to grow upright again Therefore we find that in the description of the Temple there were round about the House figures of Cherubims and Palm-trees Eze. 41.18 where a Palm-tree was between a Cherub and a Cherub and every Cherubim had two faces the face of a man and the face of a Lion the face of a man was towards the Palm-tree on the one side and the face of a Lion towards the Palm-tree on the other side This face of a Lion is doubtless Satan who hath his face always towards the Palm-tree using all means to crush it down by casting heavy weights and burdens upon it but the face of a man is the loving countenance of our Lord Jesus Christ clothed in our humanity which always looks upon us to comfort and strengthen us against all the assaults and Temptations of the Devil Therefore in such conditions we must live by faith and pray without ceasing for as it is sure and certain that the face of our Lord Jesus Christ is towards us upon the one side by whose loving countenance we shall be sure of the Victory So is it also as certain that the face of the Lion is upon us on the other side even Satan the roaring Lion that waiteth continually to devour us Therefore must we continually watch and pray and look unto Christ by faith for as was said before the Palm-tree groweth not to be fruitful except it grow by the Male therefore let us hold fast our head and Husband the Lord Jesus Christ that we may be fruitful to Eternal life Then shall the breasts of consolation be full like clusters which when we have the true use thereof shall wonderfully comfort and strengthen us against all the heavy weights and burdens that Satan shall cast upon us VERSE VIII I said I will go up to the Palm-tree I will take hold of the boughs thereof now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the Vine and the smell of thy Nose like Apples THe Palm-tree as was said before is the Church and the boughs are the Children of the Church Now here it is shewed how they grow to be so fruitful it is because Christ taketh hold first therefore the breasts are full of the Wine of consolation and the nose smelleth variety of fruit in the word of God The sum of these words is this That the principal means for the Children of the Church to be fill'd with variety of excellent fruits is to suffer the Lord Jesus Christ to take hold of them first To suffer him to begin and to perfect his own work by his own means and in his own way And the reason is because God hath decreed that all men that shall ever be made holy and
fruitful shall have it his way Therefore Christ says here I said I will take hold and my word shall stand Therefore the Palm-tree and all his branches shall be made fruitful his way or not at all Which sheweth us the reason why there is so much unfruitfulness amongst the Children of the Church why men remain so blind in their understandings so perverse in their wills and affections and grow to so little stature in Christianity the reason is because they will not suffer the Lord Christ Jesus to begin with them first to take hold and begin his own work in his own way Nothing will serve the turn unless they themselves begin first unless they can bring something of their own whereby to deserve his favour Hence it comes to pass that in stead of being fill'd with Clusters of the Vine which yield the Wine of Consolation and of scenting that variety of fruit which groweth in the Orchard of the Lord they bring forth soure grapes wild fruits such as are fit for nothing but to be cast away From this ground also it comes to pass that so many forsake the Church of God and run some to one Sect and some to another until they have quite lost themselves and run to nothing the reason is because they will not suffer Christ to begin but they themselves must take hold first therefore they forsake the way where he begins the dore by which he enters the gate by which he openeth Everlasting life to Men and every man chooseth his own way his own work his own rule hoping thereby to please God so as to receive something from him as large as life Eternal And from hence also proceeds another evil which is that when great crosses and tribulations come which is the way by which God doth use to govern his Church no man will give him so much honour as to confess that it is the Lord that taketh hold upon him but instead thereof we fall to quarrelling and contending with second causes with those instruments by which God doth afflict us and govern us and in so doing we quarrel and contend against the Lord. So that when God provides the cross on purpose to humble us and drive us into the excercise of our faith that we might learn experimentally to know him to be our God in creating ways and means for our deliverance which we never understood we will by no means suffer him to begin with us or lay hold on us we humble not our selves before him seek not nor submit unto him but rather seek how to revenge our selves upon him Therefore it is just with the Lord seeing we will not suffer him to take hold upon us to enter within us and open Everlasting life unto us that when death judgment the Law Conscience the Devil and Hell do begin to stare in our faces that we should be forsaken of him and left in a most desperate and sad condition Therefore let us suffer Christ to go up to the Palm-tree and take hold of the boughs thereof which he first doth visibly when we are Baptized in his name Secondly invisibly when he giveth us the Holy Ghost who teacheth us to understand our Baptism which leadeth us to submit to the condemnation of the Law which is justly due unto us and to fly to Christ by faith and walk in newness of Spirit But if we put a false construction upon our Baptism and think that Christ doth not begin with us and own us thereby we then suffer him not to take hold on the boughs but forsake the visible foundation of our faith Baptism is like the Pillar of Stone between Laban and Jacob which was a witness between them that neither of them must pass beyond that pillar towards the other for hurt Therefore it witnesseth unto us that God beareth us no grudg which witness he cannot deny if we stick unto it by faith then shall we love fear and obey him and flourish like the Palm-tree but if we forsake his witness and break Covenant with him then will God be constrained to enter into judgment with us then shall we never feel the comfort of the breast the wine of consolation neither shall our nose ever smell that variety of excellent fruit which otherwise we might have found in the word of God VERSE IX And the roof of thy mouth like the best Wine for my beloved that goeth down sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak THis is another effect that follows from the understanding of the former point it causeth the roof of the mouth or palate to be like the best wine There is a twofold use of the palate which is to tast meat for ones own use and it is also the instrument of speech both which are here meant For first of all as soon as the understanding is rightly enlightned in the way how the Palm-tree grows so strong and tall the palate can tast nor relish no other wine that is it cannot endure the prescribing of any other way to faith and Holiness but by the righteousness of Christ Those that prescribe any other way never tasted one cup of the best Wine This is that which Christ saith goeth down sweetly and that it is for his beloved it is not for strangers to tast of but the family of God that are willing to hear and understand the way to the Tree of life Such cannot endure to spend money for that which is not bread to have that dressed and set upon the Table which will not satisfy but are only delighted with the Wine that is provided at wisdoms feast This is the first use of the palate And the next is it is the instrument of speech which causeth an utterance of things Divine For when once the roof of the mouth hath tasted the Wine of consolation for its own use it communicates the same also unto others which goeth down sweetly as soon as the goodness of it is once known and also causeth the lips of those that are asleep to speak That even as Wine maketh men Talkative so doth this Heavenly liquor of consolation cause those that drink well thereof to utter forth the secret and wonderful Misteries of God Now from what hath been spoken by the Bridegroom in this Chapter in the commendation of the Bride she learneth to make application of his love as appears in the following words VERSE X. I am my beloveds and his desire is toward me IN which words are set down the Conclusion the Bride maketh from the commendation of her beloved mentioned before Which conclusion is this I am my beloveds And the cause of her yielding her self thus unto him is from the confidence she hath of his affection to her which is set down in the words next following his desire is towards me But how commeth the Church to this confidence I answer by the word of God for being Baptized in his name and in learning the use of her Baptism
early to the Vineyards let us see if the Vine flourish whether the tender grapes appear and the Pomegranates bud forth there will I give thee my loves THis Verse setteth forth the care and dilligence of the Church in looking to those that were planted in it Where by Vineyards she meaneth Esa 1. those particular congregations where the word is taught And by the Vine Christ And by the tender grape Joh. 15. the Conscience made tender by the word of God And by the budding of the Pomegranate the growth of the Church in Heavenly Doctrine and in shewing forth all good works before men And in that she says let us go up early to the Vineyards it meaneth before false Teachers creep in and spoil the fruit For as soon as the Fox cometh he falleth upon the Vine he endeavoureth to spoil Christ of his name and glory Therefore to prevent this she saith let us get up to the Vineyards meaning the principal members in the Church both in the Magistracy and Ministry whose care ought to be that the Church be rightly instructed in sound Doctrine and that order be taken with those that are perverters of the Gospel There she saith I will give thee my loves that is in so doing I will testify my loves unto thee meaning to Christ She speaketh in the plural number because it is more then a bare single love it being not only to Christ but also to his Members The sum of all is this That it is a very great Testimony of love to God and a principal means in causing the Lords Vineyard to become fruitful when an early care is taken by the principal Members in the Church that the word be purely taught and that the mouths of false Teachers be stopped If the word be not rightly taught no man's Conscience can be edified if the mouths of seducers be not shut Satan will quickly pervert the Gospel of Christ Either of these wants hindereth the fruitsulness of the Vineyard and in a manner layeth it wast Such therefore must be charged by Timothy that they Preach no other Doctrine or else by Titus their mouths must be stopped Want of care in this thing betimes spoileth the flourishing of the Vine the budding of the Pomegranate neither doth the tender grape hardly every appear Care therefore must be taken in this that no person be suffered in the Vineyard that is a Seducer nor set to work in the Vineyard unless he be a cunning Artificer a man of skill that is able to succour the tender grape and to refresh the Pomegranate that his buds may shoot forth and appear This is a work highly acceptable to the Father who is the great Husbandman and to the son who is the Archbishop of his Church and therefore I humble conceive it ought to be the care of every Bishop If any man offend in his life the Magistrate is to punish him but if any man go about to pervert the Gospel Paul and Barnabas must go up to Jerusalem about the Question where should always be some that are able to hear and determin the same Whatsoever care is taken or ought to be taken about matters of Discipline yet it is most certain that the main and principal thing to be cared for and looked after is matter of Doctrine that mens Consciences be rightly instructed otherwise no man can be saved What misery is come upon us for many years past for want of this care we have seen by woful experience VERSE XIII The Mandrakes give a smell at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits both new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved THese are the words of Christ which are of the nature of a promise to supply his Church with the variety of all pleasant fruits And first of all he speaketh of the sweetness of the Mandrakes of which we read in Gen. 30.14 which were found by Reuben in the time of Wheat Harvest All that I gather from it is this Reuben was the first born son of Jacob which first born son was a type of Christ the first born among many brethren Now the Mandrakes being brought by Reuben to his Mother Leah which were very delightful as it appears by Rachel it sheweth unto us the Excellency of the fruits that come to us by Christ who is the first begotten of the dead which are the fruits of his Death and Resurrection manifested by the Preaching of the Gospel Which are said to be pleasant Fruits meaning to the tender afflicted Conscience The time when they appear so pleasant is when the gates are opened when the Gospel of Eternal life is opened and rightly applyed to the tender Conscience These Fruits are said to be New and Old not in respect of substance of Doctrine but the variety And it being said Note which I have laid up for thee my beloved it sheweth that all the secret Misteries of the Kingdom of Heaven that have been hid from ages are laid up on purpose by Christ himself to bestow upon those that put an high estimation upon them And this I conceive to be the meaning of the words And the Reason why they are laid up only for such is because the Misteries of the Kingdom of Heaven are of an Infinit value therefore must not be bestowed upon those that will despise them they are of so great a price that no man is able to put an estimate upon them they are beyond Silver Gold and Rubies and all things that can be desired Now who can imagine that Jewels of such inestimable worth Prov. 3.15 shall be given to such that shall only Trample them under ther Feet Therefore Christ hath laid them up for his beloved Even for those that esteem of them most highly above their appointed food Which openeth the cause and sheweth us the Reason why there are so few that are acquainted with the secrets of the word of God that understand so little of the Misteries of the Kingdom of Heaven it is not because Christ is not willing to open the Secrets and reveal the Misteries but the reason is because men put no estimation upon them Christ hath laid up all manner of pleasant Fruits hath abundance in store to bestow of things both New and Old upon all those that are willing to receive them but no man cares for the taste of them The Mandrakes give a most Excellent smell but no man careth for the scent At wisdoms gates are all manner of pleasants Fruits even those that heal the Nations that save us from the Everlasting wrath of God but we value them not we look not after them but set an higher estimation upon Transitory things that perish then upon those Everlasting things that shall never decay Just like unto Children that more esteem of a Counter of little or no value at all than of a rich Jewel that is of great price Therefore no man must blame the Lord Jesus Christ but
all those that are willing to sit under the Tree and receive them By the Mother is here meant the Church and by her bringing forth regeneration which new birth is under the Apple-tree for there she brought thee forth that bare thee Now in that he says I raised thee up he distinguisheth himself from Moses or the Law not but that Christ maketh use of the Law in the raising up of the Church but in a different respect to those that do not rightly teach the Law Christ maketh use of the Law to humble the sinner that it may be driven to Christ by faith to be justified without the Law but the Ministry of Moses promiseth justification and life to none but those that turn from sin Morally according to the the Terms of the Law and herein lies the difference between the true and the false handling of the Law and by this mark only may we discern the voice of Christ from the voice of Moses Now Moses casteth all men down but raiseth up no man by his Ministry because he setteth them not under the Heavenly Apple-tree but endeavoureth to raise them first by other fruit therefore he maketh the heart of the righteous sad whom the Lord hath not made sad But Christ casteth down all men by the Law but raiseth them up again by his own fruits even the fruits of the Heavenly Apple-tree And after this manner doth the true Mother exercise all her Children by the Ministry First she casteth them down by a right administration of Moses next she raiseth them up again by Christ her Heavenly Apple-tree Thus must we also suffer our selves to be hewen down by the Law that we may be stripped of all our glory and boasting principles and also be willing to receive the fruit that droppeth from Christ our Heavenly Apple-tree that our Consciences may be healed of the guilt and filth of all our sins VERSE VI. Set me as a Seal upon thine heart as a Signet upon thine Arm for love is strong as death jealousie is cruel as the grave the coals thereof are coals of fire which hath a most vehement Flame THese words are not to be understood of the Churches speech to Christ as some imagine but of Christs words to the Church Wherein he plainly instructeth her how her faith and dependance shall be continued and strengthned Which is thus set me as a seal upon thine heart Me Meaning the promises of the Gospel As a seal that they may make an impression and leave the print of it behind such an impression that the word may be rooted and grounded in the Soul And on thine arm meaning the visible sign or seal the Gospel being a double seal the word and Sacraments and all is to arm and prepare us against the evil day Then he gives the reason for love is strong as death by which he meaneth his own love My love to thee is strong as death therefore build upon it For as death is of most invincible strength which swalloweth up and overcometh all things so saith Christ is my love to thee So that the love of Christ manifested to us in the Preaching of the Gospel being received by faith swalloweth up Death Hell the Grave the Curse and briefly all things else whatsoever that may make us any way miserable But jealousie is cruel as the Grave meaning cruel to the spouse when through the strength of Temptation she begins to Question the love of Christ to her and grows jealous of the same and can hardly be perswaded to the contrary this wheresoever it reigneth is even as the Grave which swalloweth up and putteth an end to all the comforts of man The coals of it are coals of fire Meaning that even as fire where it once catcheth hath a most vehement Flame so that if it be not suddenly quenched it burneth up and consumeth all things So it is with every dejected Soul when once it begins to grow jealous of the love of God and will not have the comforts of the Gospel to fasten upon it So grievous a thing is unbelief that where it is lodged it burneth up and consumeth all true opinions of God and of his Holy Word Therefore seeing our loving Lord Jesus Christ out of his wonderful care and love to us to strengthen us in our faith and to preserve us from this dreadful and bitter Temptation says here set me as a seal upon thine heart let us suffer the Gospel to make an impression within us and look upon it as the decree of Heaven that can never be changed And seeing it must be as a Seal also upon our arm let us never leave till we are able to find out the true Mystery and meaning in the Sacraments and to receive it by faith And seeing his love is so strong unto us as death that putteth an end to all our discomforts whatsoever let us never Question his favour nor be jealous of his love any more but let his word serve for all So that although our Sins and Temptations are many and our afflictions as great as any that are common to man yet as soon as we humble our selves before him and call upon him in faith and confidence let us assure our selves that he can look upon us no otherwise but as objects of his love which love he having once set upon us it continueth for ever so that no afflictions whatsoever we meet with must be an argument sufficient to disswade us from believing the same According as here next followeth VERSE VII Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned IT is as much as if Christ had said this the many afflictions that thou meetest with in this world be they ever so many and like waters that do overflow yet they cannot quench my love to thee For I do not love thee for thy prosperity and hate thee when thou art in in adversity as the world doth but have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction and came down from Heaven on purpose to carry thy sorrows to bear thy burdens and to help thee in all thy distresses Therefore when afflictions come like floods that would seem to drown all upon a suddain yet they cannot drown my love to thee which always remaineth one and the same These words are written on purpose for us to have recourse unto in time of distress that when Satan leaveth no means unattempted but useth all his skill to devour our faith we might overcome him by these words of our beloved by laying them up in our hearts as a most sure and certain creasure Now because the nature of man is proud it is apt to make an Objection as thus If I were better qualified then I might have more assurance of Christs love to this Christ answereth If a man would give all all the substance of his House for love meaning thereby to
obtain Christs love it would utterly be contemned that is of Christ Now by substance of the House he meaneth all works done in the flesh none of all which can procure the love of God to a Soul but are all utterly contemned and despised the assurance there of being attained unto by faith alone These words therefore must utterly confound all opinion of works within us and destroy all confidence in the flesh and it being the Gospel it must teach us also so to expound all those Texts of Scripture that seem to attribute something to works in attaining to the love of Christ that the sense may be agreeable to what is here writen VERSE VIII We have a little Sister and she hath 〈◊〉 breasts What shall we do for our Sister in the day when she shall be spoken for THese are the words of the Church wherein she bemoaneth her little Sister when the day comes that she is even ready for marriage what shall we do for her in the day when she shall be spoken for We are not to understand by the little Sister only the Gentiles as the most do which then when Solomon wrote this Book were without the word for then how shall it be understood now seeing the Gentiles are called Therefore seeing this bemoaning of the little Sister is the voice of the Church in all ages such a sense must be found as will agree to all times Understand then by the little Sister all those that are unlearned in the Doctrine of the Gospel whither they be Jews or Gentiles within the Pale of the Church or without all that belong to the Election of grace and are yet uncall'd All these are comprehended under the Title of the little Sister which first or last shall be spoken for Little she is not in number but in regard of knowledg of the way to Life and Salvation A Sister she is yet not of whole blood she is Sister by the Father but not by the Mother For as Abraham had two Sons which were brethren by the Father but not by the Mother So hath God Almighty two sorts of people in the world and but two which are brethren by generation but not by regenertion They are brethern by the Father as proceeding all from Adam but not brethren by the Mother being not yet new born in the Church And therefore she says she hath yet no breasts that is she hath not breasts of the true Mother being not yet born This little Sister she bewaileth and bemoaneth not so much for the time present as she doth in thinking on the day when she shall be spoken for What shall we do for our little Sister in that day Which bemoaning is always among the Godly in the Church and will be to the end of the world What shall I do for my Husband my Wife my Son my Daughter my Friend But what is meant here by the day when she shall be spoken for Quest I answer Ans the spouseman is the Lord Jesus Christ himself and the day when the little Sister is spoken for is when she feeleth her condemnation by the Law They and all they that feel their condemnation by the Law they and all they are spoken for by the Lord Jesus Christ Now she bemoaneth her little Sister in this condition what shall we do for her that she may be married to Christ And in that she doth so bewail her and make it her principal care to help her it giveth us to understand this That the principal care of the true Church of God for her little Sister is that as soon as she perceiveth her to be spoken for or condemned by the Law to make dilligent enquiry how to give her in marriage to the Lord Jesus Christ And the Reason is first because to Solemnize the Marriage between Christ and the Soul is a work of the greatest difficulty that ever was therefore the Church may well say what shall we do for our little Sister in that day And also it is the most destructive to Satans Kingdom of all things and therefore the marriage is most strongly opposed by the Devil and his Angels But chiefly because unless the Soul be married to Christ the compound between the Conscience and the Law can never be dissolved or untied but the same bargain or Covenant that was made with man at first remains in force which bindeth all men to the penalty which is to endure the wrath of God for ever This informeth us that there are but a very few that pertain to the true Church of God because there are so few that make it their principal care to comfort their little Sister in the day of her distress When she is afflicted with her sin and feeleth her condemnation by the Law and is much broken and distressed by reason of great tribulations and by these things is spoken for by the Lord Jesus Christ that she might be matched to himself instead of making it the principal care to give her in Marriage to the Son of God by faith alone they endeavour with great earnestness to present her to Christ by the works of the Law Instead of dissolving the compound and making void the Covenant that was made with man at first and matching the Soul to Christ in an Everlasting Covenant that the guilt of her sin might be removed and that she might be justified in the sight of God they endeavour in the first place as the only thing needful to Solemnize the contract between her Conscience and the Law Which is according to St. Rom. 7. Pauls Allegory but to present her an Adultress before God for which sin seeing she is separated thereby from the true God she is bound in captivity under the guilt of sin and is in bondage to Satan and the wrath of God for evermore All people therefore must learn from hence to imitate the true Church of God which is to lay down the true grounds of consolation for their little Sister to rest on in the day of her distress that as soon as she is spoken for and feeleth her condemnation by the Law and that she hath no breasts of her own to nourish her in her misery then to become instrumental to marry her to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith alone Now that the match may be made and that she may be wedded to the Son of God she must acknowledg her death by the Law and aske forgiveness for her sins with a believing heart Rom. 7. then is she free according to St. Paul from her first Husband the Law being dead unto it through faith in the Son of God For in that she feeleth and confesseth her death by the Law the Law is also become dead having lost its power and dominion Then may are assure her that the compound made with man at first is dissolved between the Conscience and the Law and may also Solemnize the contract between Christ and the Soul This is the duty we