male and female but some other pleasant herbs of which Gen. 30.15 being of some choice nature as seems by the word by reason whereof it is not easie to apply the sense of the spirit in this place Mr. Brightman applies them to men newly ingrafted into the church it may be the catechists are meant here who are men not awake and soporiferous field plants At our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits the church hath three gates set out in the square form of the new Ierusalem which had twelve gates three at each side which shewed that in all quarters of the world the church should be of the same constitution the three gates were belonging to the three-fold ministery at each of which the Angell thereof stood either to let in or keep out 1. The first whereof was the Teacher and his gate at which were old fruits that is repentance required with self deniall c. 2. Faith and obedience of the Gospell which were the new fruits 3. All these must be at the gates before entrance which are said to be before Christ that is for his glory and praise who called them his redeem'd ones and delivered them by his power and vertue from Satan to God and from darknesse to light with his Saints 4. They are said to be laid up for him the church receiving upon the effectuall call of any a profession made by them to leave the world and himself and to love Christ and obey the Gospell and to walk in all the commands thereof as appears 1 Timoth. 6.12 which was rightly said to be laid up for Christ also CAP. VIII Ver. 1. O That thou wert as my brother that sucked the breasts of my mother Christ is said not to be ashamed to call us brethren Heb. 2.11 wherefore it should seem the Church wisheth that Christ were conversant with her in the flesh as before and as those suck the breasts of her mother though the Apostle saith that Christ is no more to he known after the flesh 2 Cor. 6.18 Malachy 3.1 2. When I should find thee without that is not admitted to the church which shews none is of the church untill admitted all are found without the church at first 3. This is altogether against Christs personall raign on earth for if ever he should raign personally on earth it were at this time of the churches restoration 4. I would kisse thee a ceremony performed in the church by the brethren only and not as now among us men kissing women 2 Cor. 13.12 Salute {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and so 1 Cor. 16.20 1 Thes. 5.26 it is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} not {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} thus Judas saluted Christ Absalon all the people Abner kissed Hazael nor do we read of any mans kissing woman but Isaac his wife Rebecca But because som have of late been about to revive the holy kisse in their churches note that the manner in the Primitive church was this that when the churches met together in one place on the receiving of the Sacraments or the like the brethren of the Evangelists Society kissed all the brethren of the Pastors and Teachers to witnesse their inward love and affection to them upon their departure each from other Object This is not the custome of our countrey Resp. The word saith that Believers must not be conformed to this evill world but be changed in therenewing of their mind so that no custom but that of the word is to be practised by men in and of the Church 5. Yet I should not be despised 1. Doing that women use not to do 2. Doing that the Saints use not to do that is kisse those that are without men that are not members of the church a thing which ought not to be done 1. In thy eyes 2. In the Saints eyes 3. The world did they know Christ would not despise the church for kissing Christ 4. It shews how Christ though he be not of the world yet were he what esteem she would give him 5. And thence what esteem the Saints that are in the world shall have of the church if that Christ appear to be in them 2. Ver. 2. I would lead thee and bring thee into my mothers house which is the church being indeed the house of her mother that is the first church constituted by the Apostles so that those which think of a new church way not known in the word are but in a dream 2. Thou shouldest teach me in which it shews the desire it had above all of Christ teaching who taught as one having authority 3. I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine the church would indeavour to acquaint Christ with that comfort they themselves came to find and know to be in that salvation they found within themselves to have received from him 4. And the juice of the Pomgranat that is the sweetnesse and comfort of the works writings and sufferings of the Apostles Ver. 3. His left hand should be under my head and his right hand should imbrace me Ver. 4. I charge you c. in which two verses as in the former periods the church shuts up this part also The eighth generall part Cap. 8. Ver. 5. Ver. 5. Who is this cometh up from the wildernesse As I was slow writing these words I find Mr. Brightman to hint hereon that on this coming up out of the wildernesse and in the other places of this book is meant the restoration of the church whose words I thought good to insert to take away the reproach that some may cast upon the ground and way I have here laid down and used in the expounding this book as of novelty fancy c. as silly men are wont to do Haec enim sciscitandi forma semel atque iterum novam originem Ecclesiae alicujus indictam vidimus And by who is this cujus nominis est haec gens quae ascend it è deserto 1. When rather I understand it thus that the church having been in the wildernesse and the state of the Law government lost above 1200. years the form vvhereof being unknown to the world on Gods discovery of it men stand amazed and cry out who is this 2. This is clearly proved in that the body of the Song contains á discovery of these estates and of Christ their King as of things hidden and unknown 3· By the wildernesse is meant the state of the world opposed to the garden or church of God which God in the Revelation calls the Antichristian estate Rev. 12.6 where the woman the church is driven into the wildernesse or world estate Antichrist baptism and church being no better then the rest of the unbaptized world 4. Out of this world of the Antichristian estate shall the Gentile church first ascend the Jews church estate ascends out of the Mahometan world estate being Gog Magog 5. The word signifies to ascend as alluding to the
the inward excellency that appears to the creature to be in him Ver. 3 Because of the savour of thy good Oyntments Here by Oyntments is meant the gifts of God the human nature of Christ was indowed withall who was anoynted with the Oyl of Gladnesse above his fellows 2. These did breath forth a sweet savour from Christ as from a Rose with which the Church is greatly delighted to smell unto for refreshment 3. The Excellency of Christ preached and revealed like precious balm powred out perfumed the persons hearts that heard it as with divine odors 4. Therefore because of the smell and savour of his Name and Gifts the Virgins that is such as are not yet united to Christ in the Gospell way of marriage both love and desire him as a husband to be injoyed by them The Catechumenâ— Ver. 4. Draw me we will run after thee 1. In the words she finds in her self a backwardnesse a slownesse toward Christ as the Lord reproved the Disciples for being slow of heart to believe so the Spirit manifests hers to her self within her and reproves her 2. That it is the work of Christ to draw her violently to himself from all and against all difficulties and allurements of the world by his heavenly call 3. This was not in some but the whole Church 4. Christ easily frees from delaies the delaying souls and makes them find their feet to run after him who by their delaies seem to fail them The King brought me into his Chambers 1. Christs word is now of command with her who is now made subject to him and admitted by him ino the house of God 2. He brings her into his Chambers which are the distinct administrations of the Gospell under which before she never was distinct from that Cap. 8. ver. 2. 3. On this say the Infants we wil be glad in thee not in our selves or any thing else besides thee 4. We say the young men will rejoyce having an addition of joy in this second administration added unto us of what we had when in the first 5. We Fathers will remember thy love to us before and after calling when Infants and when in their youth which thought on and remembred is better then wine as naturall men solace their souls with wine so do we with the thoughts of that love that is in thee to us and hath been shewed us The righteous that is all Believers love thee from the Child to the Man grown up in thee Ver. 5. I am black but comely O Daughters of Jerusalem 1. By Jerusalem is meant the Gospell Church and not the state of the Jews before Christ as Brightman 2. Nor is it meant the Jews Church under that state but the Gentiles who thus speaks of her self to the Jews 3. She not only speaks to Jerusalem the Mother but the Daughter Churches of the Jews which the first state of the Jews Church did not produce the Church of that Nation then being one Church only at Jerusalem untill others after were constituted 4. She was black in her self that is in her own corruptions but pure in Jesus Christ 5. In her self as the Tents of Kedar or darknesse in Christ as the Curtains of Solomon in which Solomons glory was described or set forth as Christs is in the Justification of sinners with which as with a Vail he hid the sins of the Elect from the sight of God Ver. 6. Look not on me because I am black for the Sun hath shined on me 1. The Jews at the conversion of the Gentiles questioned Peter for baptizing them others forbid the Apostles to teach to the Gentiles Acts 11.3 1 Thes. 2.16 2. She warns the Jews not to judge her because long in sin and darknesse to be uncapable of grace and favour from Christ now under the Gospell state The Sun that is Christ had now looked in mercy on her and had passed by the blacknesse in her therefore they much more ought so to do others understand the Sun here set down as the cause of her blacknesse 1. The children of my mother Paul and Barnabas the Apostles and the children of the Church of Jerusalem made the Gentile Church-keeper of the Vineyards the Jews Church being broken off 2. They were angry with Galatian Churches with burning zeal and moved against the Corinthians for Apostacy and corruption Gal. 3.1 1 Cor. 4.21 3. They made her keeper of the Vineyards when they left the Jews and turned to the Gentiles committing Law Estate and Gospell to the Gentiles 4. She kept not her own Vineyard but became Apostate after the way of Antichrist in which was the fall of the Church about four hundred years the new Covenant which was that of the Church was her now Vineyard Ver. 7. Make me know O thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest 1. Now it was not known where Christ was taught or had call'd men to teach if any had known it had been the Church who knows not but is to seek 2. She desires to know of Christ and be directed by him where the truth was indeed taught there was to be so much and so much glosing error taught and cryed up for truth among men in this time 3. Where thou makest them lie down giving rest to the Church in the scorching time of Antichristian persecution Tyranny and delusion she being in want of satisfactory knowledge of her Lord and his mind 4. The reasons 1. There are at this time many Flocks besides Christs 2. Who are the flocks of Christs companions such as use Christs Name Authority and truth as their own 3. And make the flocks theirs and not Christ Lutherans and Calvinists Brownists Socinians Papists Pelagians Arians Independents Anabaptists Presbyters 4. Without Christ shews her yea makes her know where he now feeds she is in danger to turn from Christ to any of these of which Christ Matthew 24.24.26 hath admonished us that we be not turned to lies Ver. 8. Contains Christ Resp. or directions to this dubious case and Question 1. If thou know not O thou fairest among women notes to us that the souls that do not know where Christ feeds and desire to know are the true Believers of this time and shews a mighty darknesse and losse of truth among them 2. Go forth by the footsteps of the Flock Mark not of the Flocks of Christs companions but the true Church Primitive as of one 3. The Flock was past away but left it 's steps in the way that is it's practise for us to walk by in the Word 4. Feed thy Kids by the tents of the Shepheard or Apostles under Evangelists Pastors Teachers the Tents set up by the Apostles which untill the Church restoration the Saints were to be fed by not in these Tents Ver. 9. To the Troops in the Chariots of Pharoah have I likened thee my Beloved 1. The Saints as yet are in captivity under Antichristian power and authority 2. They are in his Chariots by which he
Resurrection being very sweet and saving as the Tree of Liâ—e Rev. 22.2 Christ giving the savour thereof in the sweetness of Gods Divine love and mercy to her thereby verse 4. He brought me into the house of Wine 1. That is the society of men in Christ where the Lords Supper was to be administred at which the whole Church met partly celebrated by Wine in which the Churches estate was fully constituted 1 Cor. 11.20 2. Called the House of Wine because the wine of Gospel joy and peace is there to that society most Divinely published and applyed 3. Love was his Banner over me 1. The Banner signifies Christ held out in the Gospel 2. This Banner was his love 3. This love as A Banner conserved her and was spread over her wrapping her as it were up therein as in a garment of love Verse 5. The Church being in this flourishing estate once again declines but it is after a long time of prosperity predicted Rev. 20.7 Satan is again let loose verse 8. He again by false Doctrine deceives the world few are freed from his delusions when there will again open and secret Anti-christian enemies arise and bring a very great persecution of the Saints but not so overcome them as before v. 5. the Anti-christian Ministry said to be dead at the binding of Satan or said again to live after the 1000 years and the Devil got his liberty when the Church cryeth stay or support me with Flaggons or Vessels in which the Wine or Gospel-grace was laid up in which shewes she was much burthened and oppressed and cryes for support and help from the World in which it seems she had few left to comfort her Comfort me with Apples Christ is compared to the Apple tree and the works of Christ for the Church in his Mediatourship are those Apples with which she would be comforted I am sick saith she of love That is she loved Christ dearly but the Priests were false to her and would not satisfie her they kept both Flagons and Apples from her also leaving her to her fainting estate Verse 6. Christ supplies their lack and he puts one hand under her head that hangs down and is very heavy and the other embraceth her that is holds her up that she sink or faint not which ends in sleeps and drowsiness Verse 7. Are the words of Christ as {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the Femenine clears sufficiently again he speaks them to the Daughters of Jerusalem that they wake not his love that is the Gentiles Church until she be made willing thereunto Now in this verse Christ concludes the first period of the Gentiles Church having in it its rise its fall its restauration and decay after that again That in this Part is meant undeniably the Gentile Church 1. She had never received a kiss from Christ that is Christ never owned her as yet 2. She is shaddowâ—d out by Pharaoh's daughter a Gentile 3. She is made keeper of the Vinyards the Iews being broken off 4. She keeps not her own Vinyard but turns Antichristian 5. The Saints are employed in Pharaohâ—s Chariots or Wars in Reformations 6 The fellowship intimated in the bed Cap. 1. verse 16. which she had with Christ now was new and of no long contiuance before the Gospel estate she being without God and Christ in the world Eph. 2.12 7. These things are so spoken of the Gentiles that they cannot be rightly applyed to the Iews Church or State The Jewish Church begins Cap. 2. Verse 8. 1. The Voyce of my Beloved The Baptist was that Voyce in the Wilderness that prepared the way of Christ or gave notice of his coming 2. John he came leaping upon the Mountains as it were to beat them into a Plain This coming sets out the end of his Ministry and what he was to do upon the Hills also Luke 3.5 Verse 9. My Beloved that is Christ is like the Roe or rather the Church apprehends in Christ the likeness of glory or appearance of glory in his Divine Nature and says my Beloved is to be assimulated to glory or the yong of Rams in his Humane Nature being the Lamb slain from the beginning of the World Behold he standeth behind our Wall the Humane Nature was as a Wall behind which Christ stood being among the Iews his Humanity and the meanness of his Estate was as a Wall which hindred them from the sight of him it may be applyed to the Ceremonial Law he looketh through the Windows that is the Divine Nature did manifest it self through those out-lets as by the Windows of the Humane Nature whereat he gives out the knowledge of his God-head as by the hand when he did any wonders God came to manifest himself to those that saw them so when he taught he manifested himself by that Teaching to men God as it were looking out at the Windows in his forgiving sins c. Thus Paul to Timothy God was seen of men shewing himself through the Lettice by the many ways God had to discover himself by Christs Humane Nature to man 1 Tim. 3.16 manifested in Flesh Verse 10. The Church speaks of Christ as her Love he answers her love and speaks in love to her again it was both answer and speech also to the Churches he now teacheth and the Church knows his voice from any other He saith to her Arise that is from thy earthly estate to a heavenly from a servant to a Queen from beggarly Rudiments to Royal Ornaments Again he calls her to come away the first shews how hardly the Iews were brought from their Ceremonies or that they were first brought in part from that way of worship by Christ and then fully afterward by his Apostles The words in the Original signifie come from thy self first as natural and secondly as a member of the Iews Church here Prophetically is hinted at Christ calling the Apostles call the seventy's call at several seasons Verse 11. He useth reasons to perswade her hereunto that she may not doubt to Arise and come away upon his call which shews men should not do any more then they have warrant for in the Word from God to do but sit still until they have his Word to walk by as Mat. 14.28 Peter did 1. The winter is past a time that is bad to travel in for a woman in which the Lord compares the law estate to winter the Gospel to summer in the winter the days are short and nights long the Sun shaddowed not shining with so strong a heat all things dead and cold so were the Ceremonies and Service of that time if compared with the staâ—e of the Gospel 2. The Reigne or Ministry is now changed from Law to Gospel Heb. 7.12 3. It is now come to me I am now thy Priest and no more Aaron 26.28 Verse 12. The flowers appear on earth who are the Apostles the first fruits and the voyce of the Turtle which is Christ
inhabitants who quickly found the poor Jews wandring in the dark being raised from her bed in the dead of the night of the Antichristian state Note The Ministery of Antichrist are watchmen of the night and the people all under them asleep and quiet the Ministery would not suffer any to wake or trouble them at all out of that spirituall slumber they were over-taken with by the wine of fornication they drank out of Antichrists cup her false doctrine To whom I said is not in the Hebrew Saw ye him whom my soul loveth The Jew seems to enquire of the Ministery of Antichrist concerning Christ 1. She found him not 2. They in the dark knew him not 3. Or had they they would have slain him sooner than her who walked in the dark with them neither of them knowing where they went they wanting Christ the light to shew them 4. They give her no answer and shew their ignorance of Christ or were not willing to talk much of him for fear of an Inquisition and said nothing worth remembrance or were dumb dogs and could not bark Vers 4. She passed from them She saw no good to come from them nor no furtherance in the matter she desired of them and therfore leaves them for Antichristian as they were and their city also Sure the name of the city the esteem of a church drew the Jew to look for Christ in Babel but was deceived Sure where Christ is that city suffers no night as Babel doth and did do as Rev. 21.23 25. 2. It was but a little after that she had upon inquiry rejected the Antichristian worrhip and church but she found him whom her soul loved 3. She took hold of him that is in his truth by believing on and receiving of him for her Lord John 1.12 4. She would not let him go when she had him Some of her Rabbies would take him from her The Greek {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Antichrists Ministry it may be fall to disswading of her or to persecuting her or Christ to stir up her love the more seems willing to leave her as those Luke 24.28 29. 5. She brings him that is the restored Church of the Jews bring Christ into her mothers house that is into the first estate of the church set up by the Apostles called Jerusalem from above which shews the new Jerusalem to be differs not from that that the Apostles set up in their days in form or ministry or administrations 6. Into the chamber of her that conceived me by the chamber is here meant in particular the ministry of the Teacher in which the soul was baptized and made a member of the church by the first minister God shall raise up to restore her Verse 5. Is an admonition to the Iews of a general Apostacy after the thousand yeer as before to the Gentiles in their period Cap. 2. verse 7. That this second Part undeniably concerns the State of the Jews Church is very clear 1. In that the voice of the Beloved began the church or rather made way for it going before Christ being the Baptist who onely taught among the Iews 2. Christ the Turtle was only heard in Iewry 3. The Vine of the Iews was only pruned and was that into which the Gentiles were grafted in 4. Christ he calls and then sends out the Apostles and calls again and then the seventy and calls again before the church constitution which was not so done among the Gentiles 5. The Foxes were indeed the envious Iudaizing unsound Iews Gal. 2.4 6. The Iews indeed have gone about the city wandring all over the Roman Empire or Antichristian estate in the night state thereof as no Nation or People have in like kind bin dispersed as they have bin from the beginning 7. All these so are spoken of the Gospel estate and of the Iew that they cannot be spoken of the time before Christ nor of the Gentile churches or Nations 3. General part prophetically shews the restauration of the Kingdom under Christ in the Iudicial rule and Gospel Cap. 3. Verse 6. Who is this which shews the government of the Law should be a strange thing when it should appear and so should the Gospel also 2. It comes out of the wilderness the Antichristian estate 3. It arises as pillars of smoak dark like vapors as having nothing in it discerned to be substantial but only a vanishing thing 4. But perfumed having a sweet savour of Myrrhe and Frankincense Gods wisdom and goodnes manifesting it self therein after a divine way 5. With all the powders of the Merchant that is the practise of the Apostles and the people of God should appear together in it as in the churches Note She begins with the Law rule first and shews that that is first to be restored in time and order Verse 7. Behold his bed a bed in this Scripture is taken for a way of worship which is either true or false 2. This bed is that which was Solomons which is that Christ the true King should reign over men in the way of the Law government when such as were under that Rule should worship God according to Moses as under Solomon they did 3. This being brought forth threescore valiant men come to set it up and to defend it against the opposition of the many enemies it shall have and they are of Israel that is Men seeing God overcoming Esau 4. They are called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} being like Sampson or Davidâ—s Worthies in which it appears that but few will stand out in this work of the Reformation of the Law-rule especially of Magistrates and these are such as are full of vertue others fall off and faint in the way of the work Sixty are numbred to do the work 5. They all hold Swords and will not let them go must and will fight it out against the opposers of this glorious and heavenly work of God 6. They are expert in War men that are of approved Valour and tryed strength in Battel that know when and how to use their weapons being a time of war 7. Every one hath his Sword on his thigh that is girt on for the Battel 8. The reason is because of the fears of the Night 1. The Night here signifies the state of the world under Antichrist it is the state of night and darkness as the state of Christ is the state of the day and light 2. In this Night-time arise many terrors and fears through the treachery and perfidiousness of the men of the Anti-christian estate 3. In all this it appears that the Restauration of the worship and way of God National is to be by Gods appointment restored by the Sword as Israel out of Egypt was when the Church estate is to be restored in the Spirit of meekness to which this serves and makes way for 4. During the Night estate there is no safety nor security to be expected Verse 9. King Salomon
out by ours as some on this Text indeavour Note Some on this description made of Christ indeavour to set forth his beauty by ours or that is in us when the Prophet apprehended in Christ his Divine Nature as well as human in which his lovelynesse and beauty mainly did consist and of which no human figure can be any representative at all Saith Giffard hereon I do not hold it necessary to interpret every part as signifying somewhat but only this The Spouse describing Christ maketh her description according to the parts of the naturall Body of man but observe you the names of the parts indeed are expressed in which is his humanity but the Representatives differ as gold from the head of man Doves from the eyes rings from the hands c. Brightman speaking of the person of Christ and two Natures sayes Unum idem corpus ambâ— constituum unde non minus illius quà m hujus veuustas ad totius pulchritudinem pertinet Ac peritissimus artifex hac varietate satietati occurrit nec Sponsam indecore monstrosam proteam effingit Bernard ends his Exposition with the beginning of the Churches description of Christ saying Obuixè adjurat paratè respondet figurat ornatè distinctè partitur 〈◊〉 perâ—ranfit sum â—uim stringit noscio an sufficienter exprimit scio quidem quod affectuosè concludit and after O gratiosus Sponsus amabilis valde in quo Generatio Divina candet rubet humana Ver. 13. His cheeks are as a bed of Spices or Balsom 1. The Cheek is that part of man by which he is usually known from others so Christs discovery was in the spirituall residence of the divine grace and glory appeared to be in him â— If we read the word Spices then in him and from him issued all calling and authority of the Ministeriall Officers and Offices he being King Priest Prophet Apostle Evangelist Pastor and Teacher of the Church in which these Offices as plants in a garden bed had their rise residence and being 3. Sweet Flowers these sweet flowers were the tops of the Balsom or Spices as the tops of the Towers thereof which were the Apostles who were the flowers and the other Ministery the stalks they stood upon in whom the Lord was especially made known and in their Doctrine and Gifts of the Spirit conferred on them with their calling in which the Kingly Priestly and Propheticall Offices of Christ and Power in an eminent way are set forth 4. His lips like Lillies there being no guile found in them nor from them in which they exceeded Lillies Myrrhe dropped from them that is divine wisdome and knowledge he only bringing Life and Immortality to Light Ver. 14. His hands are as gold rings set with Berill others read the words thus His hands are as rings of gold set with Chrysolit Brightman manus ejus orbes auri repleti Berillo Thalasio I read them thus his hands are globes of gold made full or full set with Tarsis for so the 70. render the word retaining the Hebrew {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a word sometime rendred the Hyacinth the Onix Berill Chrysolite Carbuncle so that either the word should be retained or said to be set with every precious stone 1. Christs hands are as gold because what he did was done by a Divine Power and Authority 2. They are round which shews the perfections of them for forma rotunda est capacissima 3. The Works of Christ had all kind of Excellency in them and were as precious stones adorning his hands of all sorts and kinds 4. If we read them Rings of Gold 1. It shews the Authority Christ had from his Father to execute all his Offices and do all his Works for so the Ring in Scripture set down signifies Authority 2. It had not only power in the hand and Authority in the Ring but a pretiousnesse of use for all men that it did concern in the precious Stone in which was no Tyranny and oppression but Life and Salvation His belly is as bright Yvory overlaid with Saphyrs Ver. 14. His legs are as Pillars of Marble set on sockets of fine gold 1. In the Pillars of Marble is set out the strength Christ stood by and the sure standing of all such as stood on his strength 2. They are set in sockets of Gold the Divine Nature ministring thereto help and strength 3. By {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I understand Leg and Foot and shews that the affections of Christ were of a Divine Nature set out by the sockets of fine gold 4. His countenance or appearance was as Lebanon as the choise Cedars overlooking all earthly and carnall things and set on the top of the mountains or Powers of the world Ver. 15. His Pallat or Mouth is of most sweet things that is Christ reveals and discovers most sweet things for Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christs discovery in which are the sweets of God and man 2. All in him are desireable as these are excellent before so all else in him are so and nothing in him but is so where as God or Man occasioning the joy of all 3. This is my beloved Christ ye see is known of his Saints which is the cause they love him for love cannot be sincere that is not grounded on knowledge 4. She knows him as her friend supplying and supporting her in all her extremities by a long and daily experimentall knowledge she had of his being to her so Hosea 2. I will return to my first husband then was it better with me then now 5. The application of this description is made to the daughters of Jerusalem who hereupon are greatly drawn to inquire after and to know him CAP. VI Ver. 1. WHere is thy beloved gone Christ is dearly mist when mist and he is hardly found when gone from men 2. See she asks of them they ask of her for Christ they are as well troubled for him as she when they knew him and what needs there were of him 3. They inquire where he is turned aside alluding to Cap. 5. Ver. 6. 4. They inquire that they might seek Christ with her in which it seems that the Lord will cause the Jews as well as the Gentiles to lay out for Christ together one provokes the other 5. The Jew hath the first discovery of Christ from the Gentile Ver. 2. A church is gathered called the Garden and his Garden the first church 2. He is found among the Gentiles first who discover him to be gone down into his garden his church not into Antichrists 3. To the beds of Balsom viz. the Administrators of the church in them Christ appears as the means by which he restores the Church 4. Feeding in the gardens not garden signifying the severall distinct churches rising from that first Vid. Cap. 1. Ver. 5. 5. And to gather Lillies that is call the Saints and unite them into fellowship with himself in the way of
These Armies are raised on two grounds one for the Law and its Rule the oâ—her for the Gospell and its Rule which it is like will be done in two severall Nations in the world at two distinct times though not one long distant from the other in time 5. This is more clear if you apply what was said before more generally in ver. 4. Tirzah the one Jerusalem the other which are said to be terrible as an Army with Banners So ver. â—0 Fair as the Moon the state Rule Clear as the Sun the Church Rule terrible as an Army of Banners 6. Or if you take ver. 4. Tirzah and Jerusalem for the State the Morne Moon and Sun ver. 10. for the Church to which two there are two Armies said to be terrible to their enemies on which two and the things done by them the other Gentile Churches look and wonder at what they hear thereof reported CAP. VII MAtth. 3.11 Johns Ministery is compared to an untying of the latchet of the shoe Christs Ministery the shoe it self who as the Apostle 2 Cor. 2.16 cries out of his unworthinesse therefore Ver. 1. How beautifull are thy feet with shoes For the understanding whereof see Ephes. 6.15 having your feet shod with the preparations of the Gospell of peace where note there is the Gospell and the preparation of the Gospell the preparation of the Gospell is that Scripture and obedience that is required of men to believe and obey before admission to the Saints Society which is their repentance leaving all hearing the Crosse and following Christ which prepares for the Gospell to be taught and applyed to all such and before men are prepared thus they cannot have the Gospell to be applied to them which is called the key of knowledge 2. The church being thus prepared are said to have shooes on their feet 1. By which they obey God and walk in his way comfortably without offence when those want these shoes in stony or thorny ground cannot walk but be offended at every command and suffering or losse 2. If we take for the feet the affections it shews that those have these shoes on of the preparation of the Gospel love God indeed there is nothing will be able to hinder their love from him 3. The Preposition {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies in in shooes and shews these shooes did beautifie her feet that is her obedience to God 4. The Apostle and Prophet Esay 52.7 and Rom. 10.15 speak of the feet and the beauty of them when without shooes and the Preparation is not mentioned at all 5. Here the church is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is excellent daughter 6. The turning round of thy thighes are like the Ornaments made by the hands of a faithfull workman it being a custome in those daies that the bride like a girdle wore the work of some curious Artist Gifford But here the Spirit rather alludes to a joynt in the body to which also the Apostle speaking of the church doth the same Ephes. 4.16 from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth and thus also our translation reads it Col. 2.10 And not holding the head from which all the body by joynts and ligaments having nourishment ministred and knit together c. Note This Joynt some way sets forth the Ministery in the feet by vvhich the people were joyned together in the body 2 Cor. 8.4 Heb. 13.7.17 which is here said to be as a precious Jewell and effected or set up and restored to the church by one that is faithfull both to God and the people doing according to the will of God therein Now it is to be observed that that joyns the head or Christ and the church is the neck which is the Gospell covenant and that that joynts the minister ano people who is the servant of the church is this joynt of the thigh Note Farther the Spouse describing Christ begins at the head but the Spirit describing the church begins at the shooes then the feee and so upwards to the head upwards Ver. 2. Thy navell is as a round goblet that is not without mixture the word retunditas is taken from the full Moon and signified an Ornament among women as in Esay 3. 1. Note the navell of the church is that whence the Saints have nutriment which is not without mixture there being some that are hypocrites get in to be among the believers as Judas among the Apostles Simon Magus among believers of that Church 2. As the church is not without mixture of men so is not left without a mixture of administrations as well having a power to cast forth as to receiue into the Church all which was done in love as proceeding from the womb of affections 3. These administrations are excellently set out by a cup in which the authority of Christ is designed there being a cup of salvation a cup of death Thus Christ can you drink of the cup I shall drink of Mark 10.39 4. The word for the Navell is taken for the middle of a thing which shews that men were brought in or cast out by consent of all 1 Cor. 5.4.5 Jude 4. Gal. 2.4 the churches loosenesse in this work brought the confusion that was on the then churches Note To this Navell he adds next the belly in which the Saints as a heap of wheat lie and are ministred unto 2. They are hedged or compassed about with lillies that is some eminent men who are intrusted with the care of rule and oversight over them as Elders and Deacons who as lillies ought to be full of innocency and holinesse men for wisdome Justice and knowledge exceeding others 1 Cor. 6.5 Ver. 3. Thy two brests It is to be observed her brests are spoke of three times in this description of her which proves this only to be the condition of the restored state thereof and the three-fold Ministery and adminstration ministred to three distinct Societies in the church of Infants young men Fathers who here first speak of the Infants 1. The churches brests are as young Roes yeelding tender milk for Lambs and are the first mentioned 2. They are the twins of Zebei that is the glory signifying that the Doctrine taught was of the Gospell or Christ being the glory of God and man and that which was not to be taught without the church Ver. 4. Thy neck is as a Tower of Ivory the neck is that member that joyns the head and body together which the covenant of the Gospell doth do Christ and the church 2. For the solidity and reality that there is in Christ to the church therein and that there ought to be in the church to Christ it is compared to the tooth of the Oliphant in the substance whereof are not discernable any pores or hollownesse at all 3. It is compared to a Tower to shew that the highest of all human happinesse in the Church
AN EXPOSITION UPON THE CANTICLES OR SOLOMONS Song of Songs Written by an unworthy Witnesse of the Truth of the most high God JOHN BRAYNE Orig. in Cant. Cant. Hom. 1. Quatuor mihi in his videor invenisse personas virum sponsam cum sponsa adolescentulas cum sponso sodalium greges Idem Ibid. Audi Canticum Canticorum festina intelligere illud cum sponsa dicere ea quae sponsa dicit ut audias quae audivit sponsa si autem non potueris dicere cum sponsa quae dixit ut audias ea quae dicta sunt sponsae festina vel cum sponsi sodalibus fieri porro si illis inferior es esto cum adolescentulis quae in sponsae deliciis commorantur Hom. 3. Intelligatur sponsus ut pote vir non semper in domo neque semper assidere sponsae intra domum positae sed exeat frequenter illa eum quasi amore ejus sollicita requirat absentem ut ipse interdum redeat ad illam LONDON Printed by Robert Austin 1651. To my ever honored dear and faithfull friend 〈◊〉 JOHN SADLER Esquire Sir IT hath been the way of the most gracious God in the Gospel to make precious the memory of his Saints as in the woman that poured the box of Balm upon his head Mar. 14.9 by which they are said to die wel reported of Heb. 11.2 God speaking well of them Paul did the like by Onesyphorus 2 Tim. 1.16.18 to which may be added the Church Book called the Book of Life or of the living believing souls to which David alludes Psal. 87.6 by which their memory was continued among the blessed when dead Sir these waies cease yet the Doctrine contained therein remains which is a thankfull acknowledgement of the favors we have received from God by such God raised up to do us good in this world of which as Paul said 2 Timoth. 1.18 in how many things you have ministered unto me not Timoth. but God knoweth very well the Lord be be mercifull to you and to your house and so sanctifie this unworthy Treatise and brief Exposition to your soul that the sense of Christ the savour of the Divine Life and the grace of God may be stirred up in you and increased thereby to eternall life which instead of Silver and Gold I presume to present you with and remain Yours alway to observe you and seek God for you John Brayne THis Book of the Canticles is a Prophecy of the state of the Church as under Christ and the rule of the world as under Moises to be restored according to the pattern of the Judiciall or Morall Law and the pattern of the Gospell 1. He begins his first Chapter with the call of the Gentiles occasioned by his marriage with the Egyptian Queen a type of the call of the Gentiles and their marriage to Christ 2. It appears that in this book Solomons eye was altogether on the Gospell estate and not the time before as Mr. Brightman hath expounded and applied much of the same 3. In that of the Jews estate if in any part be would have spoken of the Mosaicall rule but he only passeth it over with the Winter is past Cap. 2. Ver. 11. and then begins with the Voice of Christ the Baptist the Turtle Christ himself the flowers the Apostles the pruning of the Vine the call of men from the Jewish old state in Johns baptism and the Apostles gathering believers into the Church out of the world {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which is translated the singing of Birds but contrary to the scope of the Prophecy which Gal. 4. is admirably illustrated in the Allegory of Hagar and Ismaels abode in Abrahams house a while that is untill the time of the new Covenant when the Vine is cut and they cast out of doors so that this Song may be called the Song of Songs as the Gospell is the Wine of Wines the Wisdome that excells all Wisdome so this being of the Gospell estate of the Church it excelled his Songs of the Law estate or those that commended his wisdome and knowledge in the discovery of the Nature of the Plants and trees friend the things done lately with those now doing and what else are to be done are so set forth herein as in none of the Prophecies else where they are not to be found let not my brevity used herein be offensive because I am necessitated thereunto diversly time may inlarge me and it and gain me oportunity to present unto thy view the other Key of Prophecy and Councell which I have long intended by an Exposition on the Revelations then which two Scriptures I know none for History Mistery Prophecy and all other fullnesse of variety to exceed by understanding whereof thou mayest be abundantly made rich in knowledge and wise to understand the Salvation Purposes and Councell of God whereunto thou shalt do well to give heed as to a light shining in a dark place that thou be not comprehended by the now darknesse nor deceived in thy hopes and happinesse which thou shalt do well to beware that thou mayest be saved from the now immediate burnings of the man of sin and that thou mayest stand before the Son of Man who shortly will appear on the Clouds of the Truth in the glory of the Gospell which is all and only that is sought for at thy hands by the Author hereof Who is an unworthy witnesse of this and the other truth of the most high God JOHN BRAYNE AN EXPOSITION UPON THE CANTICLES CAP. I. IT hath been the way of the Spirit to shadow out under severall Metaphors one and the same thing to illustrate and set forth his mind the more clear thereby as in the Revelations and the Histories of the life of Christ many Parables diversly set forth the same Kingdome and visions the same truth In this Book ye have the rise the fall and restoration of the Gospell Church as set up among both Jews and Gentiles most excellently predicted and shadowed out unto you 1. The Prophet begins with the Gentile Church Ver. 1. Kisse me c. Psalm 2. Ver. 12. Servants were bound to their Master by a Kisse in which she begins to shew her love to her Lord in desiring love and sign of favour from him which is spiritually in Gods speaking love to her and lovely of her as after he calls her his Love Dove and perfect one as men shew an inward love by an outward complement of a kisse so God loves inwardly those whom he speaks well of and unto it being the first of her acquaintance with sight of God 2. The reason why she demands this favour is because therein she apprehended an excellency above other things for sayes she thy loves are better then wine wine is good but the Church discernes an excellency in the loves of God it 's beyond all compare which shews that Christ wins the soul to himself by
proaching and preached Evangelically in our land which is applyed in especial to the land of Judea in which the Lord onely taught himself and was first taught by such others as he sent forth The time of singing of birds is come the seventy read it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and indeed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I rather read according to the mysterie the time amputationis arboris of the cutting tree or vine then singing of Birds because then unbelievers were cut off from believers then Ismael was cast out of the house and not suffered to inherit with Isaac Gal. 4. from verse 21 to 31. before which the Gospel was not cleerly and fully to be applyed until believers were by themselves seperated from the world into Societies or Churches Verse 13. The Fig-tree that is the Iewish first Church appeared in the world and began with the beginning of the summer Matth. 24.32 whose fruit quickly falls The Vine which is the Gentile Church had sent forth their Grapes and therewith a favor as the Church of Rome whose praise was spread far abroad and that of Macedonia Again he calls his Spouse to come away shewing that the Iews did retain many ceremonies after they were a Church which Christ would not have them do and shews Christ would not allow of any Verse 14. My Dove that is the Church now the Spouse of Christ Thou art in the Castles of the Rock that is the Saints were in their several Societies under their threefold Ministry as in their Castles or strengths of safety which is significantly called the holes of the Rock Christ they being instituted by him They are called the hid places because none but the saints come there And then hid places of her measure every one being measured by his state in Christ that cometh into any of those holes Eph. 4.16 Antichrists Church is the strong hold of the false Religion as this is of the true Rev. 18.2 Let me see thy countenance or make me behold thy appearance make me hear thy voice in which he stirs up the Church to prayer and to an apprehension of the happy estate she was in though afflicted and miserable in appearance to the world though dark shaddowy and corrupt in her own eyes yet in this there papears a desireableness in the one and a sweetness {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the other through the variety of gifts she had bestowed upon her and vertues that were in her Verse 15. Take us the Foxes which are false Teachers who crept in wilily into the Churches society to spy out their liberty among which some are more wily then others but all are to be taken and the words are 1. As it were spoken of Christ and the Church to the Ministry to whom the rule of the Church and its oversight was committed Acts 20.28 2. The Vines are Gospel Churches only the National Church Rule of Moses being fallen 3. These Foxes did destroy them as in Galatia Coloss Corinth 4. Our Vines that is Churches have tender grapes that is Believers weak in faith Infants in knowledge and easily deceived by seducers Gal 16. Eph. 4.14 Gal. 2.4 Acts 15.1 if things were thus in the times of the Apostles how were they after Verse 16. My Beloved is mine and I am his that is as a man bestows himself in marriage on the wife he marries and the woman her self on the man by covenant tying themselves each to other So the Church had done to the Lord Iesus and he to her so that none else could say so but her self of Christ nor would Christ say so of any but her 2. It shews the Church was not yet whorish but kept her faith to her Lord with much loyalty and love 3. As a strange woman hath nothing to do with another womans husband so hath no false Church to do with Christ the true church's spouse nor Christ with them 4. He feedeth among the Lillies the Lillies are the Saints or Believers or rather he feedeth in them Rev. 3.20 I will come into him and sup with him Verse 17. Shews the Apostacy of the Iews Church and State they came unto in their first defection 1. A night comes on her she is again troubled with Iewish ceremonies which yet she expect should be driven away by the glorious light should arise again unto her in the now restoration is to be 2. Until when she desires her love to appear himself as divine glory in his glorious nature and as the young of Rams being the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world 3. This she would have him be on the mountains of Bether that is of division which the Antichristian estate that destroyed the way of the Gospel is eminently to be called being Babel and to be understood Rev. 6.14 and 16.20 whose mountains are removed and removing 4. Though here the young of Rams be set down to note the Humane nature yet you know Rev. 6. ult. that the wrath of God that sate on the Throne and the Lamb was that tormented the Popish world which {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} sets out the one and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the other Cap. 3. Verse 1. By night on my bed I sought him 1. This as before sets out the grand defection the Iews made and darkness on her while she was shut up in that estate 2. Her state then was that she was asleep insensible of this desolation and rested in her erroneous way as on a bed called her bed but none of Christ's 3. In it she sought the Lord Iesus whom her soul loved {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies her diligent seeking Christ in her erroneous way or time of night 4. He was not in her bed to be found yea she sought him again and again in her corrupt Iudaizing way of worship but found him not Verse 2. I will arise now from my quondam bed I will go about the City that is she will examine Antichrist's way having the visible shew of a Church left but seeing the Idolatry and profaness of her in general she will go into the streets that is the meeting places of the Romish church where things were bought and sold and in the broad waies of that city which is the service of people that lead to or from Rome though separated from her she seeks the Lord in these but finds him not she loseth her labour and fails of her expectation Note A Prophesie shewing that the Romish church would never be the means of the conversion of the Jews because they saw not Christ in her 2. They sought after the Lord above all things else a time of their desiring Christ is coming Verse 3. The city here is Babel the Antichristian state the watchmen the Ministers who walk about that city to preserve it in safety and find out such as would perturb the peace of it and wrong the
for shame 4. The putting off and on of this coat made her delay to entertain Christ 5. She had washed her feet and now she could not let Christ in but she must defile her feet again as she thought she apprehending Christ would have condemned her practise newly taken up which she thought to be a pure and clean way in this like the whore she wiped her mouth and said she had not sinned and thus Prov. 16.2 Ver. 4. He put in his hand by the hole of the door as it were to remove the bolts that made it fast or thus my beloved sent his hand from the white that is by his Spirit came to convince her conscience of her own unworthinesse by the knowledge remaining in her upon which her bowells were moved for him apprehending how unworthy she was any way to injoy him Ver. 5. She arose for when once Christ had touched her heart she had no rest but she must arise to open to Christ and so was taken from delaies 1. The white or open place Christ might look in at and put his hand in being at the key hole when the Spouse put her hand on the lock her hands and fingers dropped Myrrhe some divine favour she found upon opening the door 2. This dropped on the handles of the lock Ver. 6. I opened to my beloved she opened and expected Christ but my beloved had withdrawn himself now she misseth Christ who at first she saith had but withdrawn himself and so expected him to be with her shortly but after she saith he was gone and here began the false church estate and saith she my soul failed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} went forth In this she found the misse of Christ I sought him but found him not and that when use of the word did her no good I called him but he gave me no answer Note here she calls him when he was gone to come again or to know when he would come or why he was gone but saith the Text he answered me not She being thus crying after Christ the Watchmen the Priests of Antichrists estate here called the city or false Church they found her that is discern'd her opposition of their errors and love to the truth Indeed so diligent and watchfull were these watchmen of the night estate though it were dark they would quickly espie and find them out as a light is easie discerned in a dark place 1. Having found her that is those Societies that desired to retain the true knowledge and way of God The watchmen smote me or the Peripatericks made me be smitten that is accused me to the Magistrate for a disturber of the peace à Schismatike and therefore must be punished 2. They also wounded her destroying her authority true Ministery and administration forcing her into the Antichristian form corrupted her with fals Doctrine 3. The Keepers of the Walls these were another kind of watchmen who had a greater charge then the rest and these I take to be the Arch-bishops Bishops c. in the time of the Apostacy they took away her Vail {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a word which signified a garment in use in those times the form whereof is not I suppose scarce known of us in these daies {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} But I take it to signifie 〈◊〉 by which the Church priviledges only had among the Saints and not known to the world now came to be unvailed and made common among all the Saints now being not permitted to have any thing distinct from the world when and on which act the Church was driven into the Wildernesse as in Rev. 12. all which time the Spirit of God passeth over in silence in this place unto the time of Luther as being a time of night in which was nothing done but sleept away Ver. 8. I charge you O ye Daughters of Jerusalem these words seem to prove that this was the Gentile Estate thus calling to the Jews who both had lost Jesus Christ and were become seekers 2. It is implyed that the Iews should find Christ and again become the daughters of Ierusalem according to that which was below which was the Law Estate and that above which was the Gospell Estate 3. Here the invisible Church thus stript of its Ornaments calls Christ still her beloved and would acknowledge none but Christ 4. That she would have the Iews Church if restored before her to tell the Lord in prayer that she was sick of Love Resp. Ver. 9. What is thy beloved more then another beloved the word another is added and is not in the Text 1. In this ye have the Iews ignorance of Christ 2. Their contempt of Christ which alwaies accompanies ignorance 3. Their desire to hear of Christ from her 4. That the people seek Christ want him and leave Antichrist are the best and the fairest among women or rather those which God calls his beloved 5. When the Gentile is diligently inquiring for Christ the Iew will then come to do the like and come to be stirred up by it 6. That that moved her was the charge laid on her which was not usually done for a small matter The description of Christ Ver. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy in these words is a generall description of Christ he is white which hath in it a signification of his Divine nature and ruddy in it is a signification of his human nature again he is the chief among ten thousand the Hebrew is that he is conspicuous among many multitudes that is that he is easily known from any other being above all Ver. 11. His head is as the most fine gold of gold now the Apostle tells us that the head of Christ is God and Christ the head of the Church His locks are bushy and black as a Raven In this place Christs hair which springs from his head are not the members of the Church as some would the hair of the Churches Head being compar'd to purple signifies the Kingly authority of Christ but here the hid and unknownnesse of the Divine Nature and glory which was in the gold of the head covered over or shadowed with this thick and dark cover of black hair so the mercy seat was shadowed and the womans hair was given her for a covering and it is Gods glory to hide himself from the world so that he makes the light to hide him Ver. 12. His eyes are as Doves not as Doves eyes but as Doves by the rivers of water so Christs eys were on the teaching of the Word 2. They are as washed with milk and so have no evill remaining in them 3. They are as set on fullnesse in the beholding of God and the invisible things of him who is blessed for ever and this is the glory of Christs eye being set on that we cannot attain nor see and live 4. Christ seeth not as man seeth and therefore his eyes are not to be set
new covenant as Hagar was which served as an Allegory to shew what was to be done with them under the Gospell and so applied at large by the Apostle Gal. 4. from ver. 22. to the end Note The only thing that seems to oppose this is in the next words ver. 9. Ver. 9. My Dove my undefiled is one then you may say how are they sixty Queens to be understood the Churches 1. To which I answer when the Churches are said to be sixty it is to be understood the Lord speaks of severall Churches under particular Evangelists Pastors Teachers set up in severall Cities as in the first setting up of the Churches in the Gospell 2. When he speaks of the Church as one 1. He speaks of the Elect as they are immediatly joyned to Christ by the Spirit he the Head they the Members they all his wife and he their husband 2. They are said to be one as having one Spirit Faith Baptism Lord Discipline and are not as the false Church some Papists Protestants Lutherians c. 3. It shews the Unity God will give in the world to all true Churches at the restoration thereof 4. Having spoke briefly of all in this verse 8. he speaks mor particularly of them and begins with the Queens or true Church estate 1. She is the only one of her Mother by her Mother is meant the first Church at Jerusalem which was the Mother Church of all as the Apostle Gal. 4.26 2. No Church constituted by any will be more perfect then the Church that is to be of this estate Hence she is said to be the only one and the choice one of her that bare her 3. The Daughters here are set before the Queens which I take to be 1. Either the Churches constituted in the Apostles time whose writings will commend her and pronounce her blessed 2. Because it is said they saw her the Virgins here may be meant who being extremely affected with her and filled with a desire of her are said to pronounce her blessed 3. The Queens and Concubines praise her that is are satisfied that that is the true grace of God in which the Church then stands Note That this is meant of the Jews estate 1. Appears in that the Law estate is set before Cap. 4.1 2 3. 2. It being set down here without difference of the former proves that though it be the same thing yet they were to be fullfilled not in the same people but one in the Gentiles the other in the Jews 3. The Gentiles appearance is set out by Galeed Laban a Heathen covenanting with Jacob there the Jews in Tirzah a City built by a King who as the Jews turned Rebels and are again to be restored 4. Here both are set down together Tirzah and Jerusalem but not in the Gencile estate to shew that the Jews had both these administrations before and should have them again 6. Generall is that of the Jews Church estate Cap. 6. Ver. 10. Who is she that looketh forth as the Morn 1. The first appearance of the truth is a strange thing to that people 2. She peeps out at first among them as the Morn out of a dark night in which is the beginning of light among them 3. Fair as the Moon truth in a more glorious way being manifested to them then before but yet not manifested as the truth is indeed but as it were a light of night this is no lesse true in the coming forth of the Gentile then the Jews Church light 4. Truth appears in its most glorious brightnesse being as the Sun which is the day light in which all things are clear and the shadows are driven away that are of the night 5. It becomes with this spirituall blessing honored with victory over the enemies of the truth and is terrible to them 6. In this is shewed that the Jews are delivered by the sword or war from the enemies of her cause and liberty and that they will be terrible to them as Zachary hath foretold Cap. 12. from ver. 1. to the 9. Ver. 11. Upon this Christ manifests his presence among them saying I went down into the garden of Nuts to see the fruits of the valley 1. The Jews are indeed in the valley of distresse and suffering in a very low and servile condition {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the sorrows of the valley 2. In this estate they now begin to seek God in Christ as Hosea foretold Cap. 2. that they should have the valley of Achor or trouble given them for a door of hope and they should sing there as in the day God brought them up out of the Land of Egypt 3. As in Egypt God came down to visit the Jews in their affliction Exod 3.7 8. so now Christ saith I went down into the garden of Nuts not of Spices to see the fruits of the valley 4. To see where the Vine flourished by the Vine in this place I understand the true knowledge of the Law and Justice which is the flourishing of the Vine 5. And the Pomgranats by the Pomgranats I understand the writings of the Apostles or men having the spirit and Church Authority as buds from the Apostles to reveal the Gospell truth to men Ver. 12. Christ being among the Jews his grace so wrought in and upon that people that before he was aware the Hebrew reads I knew not my soul in which Christ was as it were in an extasie and surprized with admiration of what was done in them 2. His soul placed him as on wheels to that honorable people by which he could not retain his love from them but must as the father to the prodigall son run to him fall on them weep over them and kisse them in which we may see Christ loveth not as man loveth he loved them as an honorable people still God having honored them with many honors above all the Nations of the earth Ver. 13. Return return O Shulamit the Shulamit was a Virgin sought out for David in his age who is said to be very fair 1 Kings 1.3.4 and that she ministred to King David or the beloved King 1. Return return signifies a call ministred to them to return to God and his truth 2. They are not yet fully informed nor called from the world and their other wayes therefore he calls again return return 3. This may allude to the call of the Jews into their own Countrey from the Nations they are mixt among when and where they will only attain their perfect glory 4. That we that is that Christ and the Gentile Churches thy sister may look on thee or contemplate thy beauty 5. What will ye see in the Shulamite as it were the company of two Armies 1. It seems to me God holds forth in this Question and Answer some noteable â—hing stirring men up thereby to an inquirie after it 2. Which I take to be applied to the two calls 3. These two calls raise two Armies 4.
palati sua vitatem quam uberum foecunditatem praedicat nisi forsan discrimen sit infantiae virilis aetatis quarum illa pascitur uberibus haec institutis monitis parentum informatur in which ye may see the man hinted something at the mind of God but I rather take it thus O Church thy tasting the sweetnesse of thy Saviour in his love as Priest King and Prophet to thee becomes to Christ himself an unspeakable joy and delight and is to himself as the good wine is to thee 2. Hence the pallat which is the churches is placed in the head among the Royall Offices of Christ that it may dwell and be fed daily with the delights and sweetnesse thereof and that immediately it may be hers from God before it be mix'd with a carnall matter and called the joy of the Holy Ghost and the Kingdome of God 3. The palat is for the beloved that is the church should savor relish or delight in no other but Christ tast and see hovv good the Lord is it should be kept for him 1 Pet. 2.3 if ye have tasted hovv good the Lord is 4. It is said to go down to the heart and rejoyce it as well as please the pallat 5. Causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak which I rather read thus rectifying the lips of those that are asleep to speak 1. Brightman and others would have those here said to be asleep to be meant the Jews but without doubt this description is made of the Church after the call of the Jews and of the Jews Church who though she be called after the Gentiles to restore the Church yet the pattern here spoke of will be eminently seen to be among them 2. By those asleep I rather understand some of the membeâ—s of the Church which like David after some sinne are fallen asleep and against which the Apostle speaks 1 Thes. 5.6 3. That the Offices of Christ preached to these makes their lips to speak the praise of it 4. Of this vvord here comes {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} infamia or detractatio which then shews this that men asleep and know not Christ who therefore detract from him do no sooner come to tast the sweetnesse of it but it rectifieth their tongues and brings them to commend and honour the excellency of the Lord as Paul c. Ver. 10. The Church concludes in these words I am my beloveds by Covenant and by Redemption and none but his alone And his desire is towards me it is to be observed that in the fall God said to the woman That her desire should be to her husband and he should rule over her Gen. 3.16 the word for desire there and here are expressed by the same word and shews that as the womans desire after the fal was to be to the man so after the restoration Christs desire is to the Church The Church being heightned to this perfection it 's thoughts are to propagate and to constitute Churches either at home or among other Nations abroad which is the seventh part The seventh generall part Cap. 7. Ver. 11. 1. Come my beloved in which there is a call or invitation to Christ and shews that there is no company like Christs nor no good to be done without him in the work of God For Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God that gives the increase 1 Cor. 3.7 2. Let us we of the Ministery they going three together alwaies to set up Churches as in my letters written to the Assembly and printed I have set forth at large 3. We and thee let us go forth 2 Cor. 6.1 we as workers together with God we that is Paul Silvanus Timothy 2 Cor 1.19 as workers together in one Church not dividedly in many work with the beloved and cannot work at all without him 4. Let us goe forth of the Church into the field the world and shews the care of the Jews to distribute and convay knowledge among men that never heard of it which their dispersion now will notably help then after their call through their knowledge of the languages and those countrey customes of the world that never heard of Christ Brightman understands here by the field the desire the Iews had to have the unconverted Iews to be converted which I think to be too narrow and further that the Iews conversion will be admirable even in one year as it were brought to passe in most part of the world and those are not then perswaded perish among the Nations for their unbelief Esay 66.8 5. They go forth into the fields but lodge not there but in the villages that is with such as embrace the doctrine of repentance and the preparation of the Gospell Ver. 12. Let us be as the morning on the Vineyards to shew that men under the Law had not that clear manifestation of grace to them as the Church had but had a morning light in which their own nature and darknesse of estate was set forth and the love of the Lord Iesus in his call of them thence to his marvellous light for the call of men is from darknesse in the state of nature to light in the state of grace and is the first work of grace and Gospel effect of the Ministery on man and not baptism 1 Pet. 2.9 thus 2 Acts 38. repent be baptized so that repentance must go before baptism and the call before repentance as in Mark 2.17 I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance which is the key of the Kingdome now taken from the people that they enter not therein and the preparation of the Gospell both which light and darknesse is in that of John and Christ saying Repent there is the darknesse for the Kingdome of heaven is at hand 2. Let us see if the Vine flourish where it seems that the church shall have under Christ the oversight of the world and the government thereof as under Moses the flourishing whereof is the true and right administration of Iustice 3. Where the tender grapes appear the word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies a tender grape that is a grape that hath lost his flower that is a poor soul that hath lost his own glory by the Law whose flower is fallen from him on whom Christ cast his eyes Esay 4. If the Pomgranats have sent out their buds that is the Apostles or men raised up of God to teach as the Apostles did the truth of Christ called the buds of them 5. There will I give saith Christ my loves unto thee so that ver. 11. was the churches call of Christ ver. 12. Christs call of the church who saith that where the Domgranats bud there Christ will give his loves in the plurall and no where else or not before Ver. 13. The Mandrakes give a smell I do not conceive that the Mandrakes here are those soporiferous herbs said to be like