that are at his right hand VERS 4. He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner ouer me was â—oue Here is the great desire longing expre'st which she hath for Christ enlarged narration-wise by two most sweete and notable fruits that proceed from him vnto his Church First life safety and deliuerance from all euill then pleasure comfort ioy peace of conscience and the fruition of all good The former she setteth forth first by the efficiâ—nt cause his onely loue shed in her heart by the holy Ghost wherby he kept her as fast vnto himselfe as Soldiers are kept about the colours of their Generall that nothing could pul her from him Secondly by the place wher this was done the banqueting house of the congregation of his Saints where all dainties and iunketing dishes all pleasures and delights were to be found in him VERS 5. Stay mee with these flagons hold me vp with these apples for I am sick of loue Thirdly by her fainting for the desire of Christ So sick shee was with spirituall loue Fourthly by her great desire expressed by turning her speech to his seruants that stood round about the Table the ministers of the Word to stay and hold her vp and to keep life within her by an holy vse of the Word and Sacraments which are as refreshing apples and as bottles of wine out of the which wee suck the swcete promises of the Gospell VERS 6. His left hand is vnder my head and his right hand doth embrace mee Fifthly by Christs doing a great deal more then we should require Euen himselfe as a kinde husband will doe vnto his wife taking her in both his armes and so falling with her into a sweet rest and slumber from the cares of this present world VERS 7. I adiureye yee daughters of Ierusalem tarrie without with the roes or with the hindes of the field Stirre not vp nor waken this loue vntill he please Sixthly by adiuring all Christians to abide in their place and standing that is to say in some honest and lawfull vocation as Rachell that looked to her fathers heards and not eyther thorough idlenesse or disorderly walking and following after sinfull pleasures to grieue the spirit and to giue Christ cause when they may haue and hold him to disioint himself from them And so she liues and breaths in him thorough that sweet and happy coniunction shee hath with her head VERS 8. It is the voice of my well-beloued Behold this same hee commeth lepping vpon these mountaines skipping vpon these hils But that is not all She thus resting in quiet sleep and hee going into the countrey to the pleasant fields to prepare and set things in a readines returning againe heapeth vpon her fauours and pleasures that cannot be expressed which shee with a ioyfull heart setleth her selfe to entertaine First hee speaketh vnto her shee heareth his comfortable voice Secondly he commeth shee seeth him comming a farre of Thirdly hee is present and at hand no hilles nor hillocks no offences great or small haynous sinnes or meaner imperfections are able to stay his comming VERS 9. My well-beloued is like a roe or a young Hart. Behold this same he standeth behind our wall looking forth of the windows shewing himselfe cheerefully thorough the grates Hereupon she crieth out for ioy compareth him with the hindes yong roes for his swiftnes with goodly flourishing trees for his sweetnesse and the pleasure of his countenance Onely this is her griefe that hee looketh but as it were through the grates standeth behinde the walls and doth not as she would communicate his presence with her VERS 10. My well-beloued spake and saide vnto me Arise my fellow friend my faire one and come thy way Then thus prepared to heare and to receiue him he speaketh to her heart and powring forth a golden shower of kinde and gracious words with siluer streames of eloquence manifesting his affection inuiteth her to the fruition of those good and excellent things which by his Word and spirit hee is ready to bestow vpon her VERS 11. For behold the winter is past the raine is ouer it is gone Drawing arguments from her present state and condition compared with her former misery that was in the time of her ignorance whilst she lay dead in sinne and trespasses and was a stranger from the life of God al which time was as the winter season foule and tempestuous full of stormes of horror of minde terror of conscience feare of death and desperation VERS 12. The flowers appeare in the earth the time of the chirping of birds is come and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our land VERS 13. The Figge-tree hath put forth her greene figges and the vines with the tender grape giue forth a smell Arise my fellow friend my faire one and come thy way But this now com in the place of it is as the pleasant spring all greene fresh and flourishing Such are the pleasures that the enioying of Christ doth bring That done here moueth two maine obiections that euermore trouble the Saints of God and hold them as it were amazed VERS 14. My done that dwellest in the clefts of the rocks in the fâ—eety denne shewe mee thy countenance make mee to heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet and thy countenance comly One the conscience of their own infirmity and weakenesse which maketh them like silly doues to hide themselues in corners in the clifts of the rock vnder the grices of the staires in secret places flying the fight of men and not to dare to shew their faces This hee remoueth with the consideration of Gods eternall election and of his deepe and vnsearchable counsels a rocke of strength to comfort her in her weakenesse a sure hold and vnaccessable denne whereunto no euill can approach a fort impregnable vnder the which she resteth and shall rest safe for euer And thereupon hee biddeth her to take heart of grace to come vnto him to walke before him and to be vpright to talke with him to make him heare her voice in Praiers and the praises of her God For that in Christ be accepteth her and is well pleased with her both her person and those spirituall sacrifices and fruits of her faith VERS 15. Take vs the foxes the little foxes which spoile the vineyards and that whilest our vineyards are bringing foorth the tender grape The other thing that troubleth is the opposition of wicked and vngodly men not the cruell tirants of the world onely but false teachers which nippe the Church in the head and are the instruments of Sathans malice when it first beginneth to peepe for then Sathan is euer busiest to seduce vs in the first birth of Christ in our hearts waiting to kill and to destroy vs. These also hee saith hee will take order for by sending workemen into his vineyard that shall spare none not the least euill but by drawing forth the sword of holy discipline shall cut
of this booke hee hath not set downe the whole entire Text but only so much as serued to shew whence the obseruations were gathered because they were at large set downe in the former part If in reading the Obseruations thou be desirous to see the whole Text turne to the same place in the Exposition Reade the seuerall sections both of the Exposition and of the Obseruations so as if they were ioined together without any interruption of the Text for sometimes the beginning of one Section dependeth vpon the latter end of another There is one generall point omitted thoroughout the whole booke viz. the setting downe of such words as were needfull to be added in the Text for sense sake and propriety of our tongue in a differing letter it cannot now be amended I pray thee therefore more diligently marke them blame not the Author who I am sure would haue seene this and other faults redressed if he had reuised the sheetes before they had past the presse Such faults as may seeme to hinder the sense are in the next following page set downe Errata PAge 5 line 2â— read larges p. 7 l. 21 these paths p. 9. l. 9. 10 friends p. 17 l. 18. thee could p. 20 l. 1â— he remoneth p. 29 l. 2◠〈…〉 p. 23. l. 15 is my p. 39 l. 〈◊〉 owne hurt p 4 l. 5 what should you â—ell him p. 55 l. 14 lonely Chap. 18. verse 2. l. 1. buâ—â—â— in it p. 80 l. 29 is rapt AN EXPOSITION of the Song of Solomon called CANTICLES CHAP. I. VERS 1 A Song of songs which is Solomons THe Bookes of Solomon the Iewes compare not vnfitly to the Temple which he built Whereof this song of songs or most excellent song resembleth the holy of holies oâ— the most holy place Being a declaration of the blessed and sweet coniunction betweene Christ and his Church and of the contract and espousels made betweene them whilest the Church is now militant vpon earth All which time is as it were a bidding of the banes vntill by his second comming from heauen our spirituall marriage with him shall be solemnized and made vp The Author Solomon peaceable for so his name doth signifie a figure of Christ the Prince of peace and the builder both of the earthly Sanctâ—arie and of this heauenly frame was no doubt whatsoeuer otherwise his fals might be an elect vessell of God 1. Because all the Prophets of which number he was one are in the kingdome of heauen Luke 13. 28. for howsoeuer it pleased God sometimes to speake by the wicked as hee did by Balaam and to wring out of their mouthe contrary to their heart that which might serue for the glory of his name yet he neuer vsed the seruice of any but vessels of election to be the penmen of his Spirit So the Apostle 2. Pet. 1. 19. 20. teileth vs that those which by diuine inspiration wrote the propheticall Scriptures were all of them holy men of God 2. The holy Ghost doth alwaies speake well of Solomon after his death and maketh in all places an honourable mention of his name which it neuer doth of the reprobate 3. His waies are commended and Rehoboam hath his worthy praise for walking in them 2. Chron. 11. 17. 4. God whose counsels are constant loued him and cleped his name Iedidah beloued of the Lord. 2. Sam. 12. 24. 25. 5. He himselfe is said againe to haue loued God 1. Kings 3. 3. Which being true and vnfeined otherwise the Holy Ghost would neuer haue spoken of it was impossible to be lost And this very booke if it were written before his fall is an vndoubted argument how sincere earnest and vehement his loue was and what a feeling hee had of the loue of Christ If after his fall it argueth then most certainly a sincere and true repentance 6. And lastly the booke of Ecclesiastes doth manifestly euince it written when hee was olde after hee had seene so much and had so long experience of his owne vanities and corruptions The title whereof A soule an humble and grieued soule reconciled to the Church from whence hee was before cast out for his offences or A soule speaking and making confession in the Church sheweth his repentance The manner of writing is that which we call actiue or representatiue that is wherein Persons onely are brought in speaking the Author himselfe saying nothing and the persons here are Christ the Church and sometimes but very rarely the friends of them both In all which the Church burning with a desire of Christ longeth and is impatient till shee be ioined vnto him For hether tend all her passions exclamations testifications of her loue commendations of her spouse Christ againe by kinde gentle and louing speeches comforteth and cheereth vp the Church with certaine hope of that happie and blessed time for hether tend all his commendations of her present and promise of future graces the accepting of her vnfeined repentance and the assurance of purging pruining and making her more holy and fit for him Till shee be taken vp vnto him without spot or wrinckle The Booke hath two parts Whereof the first comprehendeth all that time that Christ and shee are friends before any falling out in the foure first Chapters The Churrh longing to bee ioined to Christ Chapt. 1. Acknowledging the benefits and comforts of life pleasure and all good things which he bestoweth vpon her Chapt. 2. And lastly desiring to see Christ in his heauenly glory Chapt. 3. Whom Christ most sweetly comforteth Chapt. 4. The second part in the foure last chapters is a falling out of these two louers thorough the Churches fault and vnkindnesse to him But this falling out is a renuing of their loue In her by repentance Chapt. 5. in him by a gratious accepting of her into his fauour againe as deere as euer shee was before Chapt. 6. Whence ariseth all thankefulnesse from the Church and promise to amend Chapt. 7. vers 1. 2. 3. 4. with a noble demonstration of her zeale vnto him testified by her longing first for his owne comming in the flesh Chapt. 7. vers 5. to the end of the Chapter Secondly for the drawing of others that as yet were strangers and aliens from the common wealth of Israell to the fellowship and participation of Christ and for the whole Israell of God Iewes and Gentiles to be knit and ioined together in one holy society Chapt. 8. And so this second part containeth three most excellent prophesies One of the words incarnation an other of the calling of the Gentiles the third of the conuersion of the Iewes and their accesse in the last daies vnto the Church of Christ But let vs now heare themselues speake and with their owne words to vtter their owne affections CHVRCH VERS 2. O let him kisse mee with the kisses of his mouth for thy Loues are excellent better then wine The Church whose heart the Spirit of Christ had before knit vnto him beginneth to
him forth but Christ hath many Crownes and diadems vpon his head Solomon in his excellency and the crowne of his glory was a spectacle worthy to bee looked vpon and admired but Christ to be worshipped honoured and adored not of the maidens of Ierusalem onely but of the whole hoast of heauen Solomons heart leapt for ioy the day thht he was contracted but Christ is anointed with the oyle of gladnesse aboue his fellows with a heape and variety of gifts and graces more then all men or Angels So farre is he to be preferred CHAP. IIII. CHRIST VERS 1. Behold thou art faire my fellow friend behold thou art faire thine eies are doues eies from betweene thy locks thy haire is like a flocke of Goates which sheare vpon mount Gilead CHRIST here comforteth the Church against that anxiety of minde which appeared in the former Chapt. shewing how gracious she is vnto him how beautifull in his eies not for any bodily but for her spirituall bewty Whether you consider her wholy and entirely being all faire or her members and lineaments one by one eies haire and locks teeth lippes temples her neck and both her breasts all in that comlinesse and proportion as is fit both for the discharge of the great duty of the ministery and the common duty of christianity Her eies first how chast they are how simple how douclike if you consider eyther the faithfull Minister the eies and lights of the Church whose care is to present vs chast and pure virgins vnto Christ or the eie of iudgement in euery Christian which maketh the whole body lightsome and keepeth them single and sincere in all things Againe how comely they are within her locks seemelily turned vp for such is both the Churches decency reiecting all toyish ceremonies and the graue and sober cariage of euery Christian And this haire so goodly shining smooth as of fat Goates that feede in fruitfull pastures these ceremonies this carriage orderly sober decent bring that reuerence to a Christian that comlinesse to a Church as make them both gracious VERS 2. Thy teeth are like a flock of euen shorn sheep that come vp from the washing which all of them doe bring forth twinnes and there is not a miscarrying one among them VERS 3. The lips are like a threed of skarlet and thy talke is comely thy temples within thy locks are as a peece of pomegranet VERS 4. Thy neck is as the towre of Dauid built for armories a thousand targets hang therein all shields of mighty men VERS 5 Thy two brests are as two young hindes the twins of a roe which feede among lillies Goe vnto her teeth they are equall shining dowblerewed whereby she cheweth the meate of heauenly doctrine both for her selfe and others The Law of grace is in her skarlet lippes speaking things comely and for edification Temples like a rose to see to of the hew of a Pomegranet bending beyond the haire So naturall is her bewty and her face her owne for what needeth shee the dyings or colourings of worldly glory to set forth her spirituall bewty or of humane wisdome to adorne the simplicity of the Gospell Is her face onely and the parts thereof worthy to bee commended doe not the rest as well excell her neck of holy discipline and gouerment to assist the ministery of the Word and that compleat armour of proofe which euery christian fighteth with holdeth her vp and keepeth her steddy more strong then all the weapons of any tower or armourrie can doe Lastly her pappes plumpe round faire are â—full of all good nourishment of the sincere milke of the word of God that flowes as from a streame out of both her brests of that olde and the new Testament VERS 6. Till that day breath and these shadows flie away I will get mee vnto the Mountaine of Mirrh and to the hill of frankinsense This description done and made an end of now to satisfie her request he promiseth that notwithstanding till the mariage daie doe come when the mistes of sinne ignorance and afliction that are cast in this world before the eies of the Church shall fleete away he must keepe his residence and aboade in Ierusalem that is aboue where are his friends who performe vnto him duties sweeter then mirrh and frankinsence VERSE 7 Thou all faire my fellow friend and not a spot in thee VERS 8. With me from Lebanon my spouse with mee from Lebanon shalt thou come thou shalt looke down from the top of Amana from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the dennes of Lyons from the mountaines of Leopards Yet he will euer be present with his Church by his Word and the power of his spirit sanctifying and cleansing the same vntill being all faire without any spot or wrinckle in her and so fitted and made ready for the wedding day he do receiue her as his spouse that is to say a wife ioyned and married to her husband for so he is bould now to call her in regard of that prefixed time into euerlasting life and crowne her with glory and immortality At what time he saith he will redeeme her wholy and euery part so as not one whom the Father hath giuen vnto Christ shall perish from the most remote places and borders of the Land and out of the clawes of Lyons and Leopards her most cruell fierce barbarous and sauage enemies VERS 9. Thou hast rauished my heart my Sister Spouse Thou hast rauished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy necke The remembrance of this day and of the perfection she now hath in his iudgement estimation of her and then shal actually haue by his benefit bestowed vpon her maketh him to cry out in the passion and vehemency of his loue calling her Sister as being of one nature also his married spouse professing shee hath rauished his heart with the bewty of her lookes with the ornaments of her graces that are as chaines about her neck yea with one looke of faith with that one grace of his sanctifying spirit in her VERS 10. How faire are thy loues my sister spouse how good are thy loues better then wine and the smell of thine ointements better then all spices Amplifying with exclamations the excellency of her loue better then wine and the sweete sauour of her ointements the annointing of his spirit sealing her vp to the day of redemption better in sense and feeling then all spices VERS 11. Thy lips my spouse drop the hony-combe Hony and milke are vnder thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is as the smell of Lebanon Thus hauing declared the feruency of his loue vnto her hee doth by many figures and formes of speech expresse the sweetenesse and the ornaments of her faith and of the fruits that proceed from it Thy lippes saith hee both of them that is in the publique ministery in priuate speech droppe the hony and the hony-combe sweete and heauenly lessons and
instructions comforts and consolations Out of thy tongue that milke of the Word is ready to come forth thy smell is odoriferous thine outward carriage and behauiour sweete amiable and full of grace VERS 12. A gardaine enclosed my sister spouse a spring shut a fountaine sealed vp Thou keepest thy selfe most chast vnto me ' and thy fruits sound and entire as a gardaiâ—e closed as a spring shut vp as a fountaine sealed for in thee is the cestern of that wholsom and fauing doctrine whereby the parts of the field or gardaine of my Church the beddes and plantes particular congregations are all watred and which no stranger can haue accesse vnto for none entreth thither but in and thorough me VERS 13. Thy plants are as of an orchard of pomegranets with fruit of precious things as Cypres with Spicknard VERS 14. Spicknard and Safron sweete Canes and Cinamon with all trees of Frankinsence mirrh and Santales with all the chiefe spices To conclude thy plants meaning the fruits of faith are most precious as an orchard stored with all precious and delicate fruits CHVRCH VERS 15. O fountaine of the gardains O Well of liuing waters and flowing more then the waters of Lebanon The Church ioying in her spouses thus gracious accepting of her doth first modestly attribute all she hath to him Doest thou call me a spring and fountaine giuest thou me the name of a gardaine Vouchsafest thou mee such honour that my fruits should bee esteemed as sweete spices O but how soeuer I may in some sort disperse vnto mine the waters of life yet thou in truth art the onely fountaine from whose fulnesse we all receiue I water but from thee thou art the onely well of liuing water out of the which I doe drawe thou art the wind and comfortable ayre that purgest thy gardaine makest seasonable times raine and faire weather as is most commodious and best for the manurance of it I whatsoeuer I haue meate drinke or any thing else it is all of the gift of thy hand my life and sauing health I haue and hold from thee VERS 16 Awake O North and com O South breath vpon my gardaine Let those waters ouerflow the spices of it Let my well-beloued come vnto his gardaine and eate his dainty fruits Wherefore saith she deny not these two things vnto me blesse me yet more with all spirituall blessings Let thy windes blow vpon my gardaine and those liuing waters ouer flow my beddes and spices Secondly come and dwell with me feast and make merry in the middest of my soule and conscience for euen heere also as well as in Heauen thou hast as thou sayest a gardaine CHRIST VERS 17. I am com into my gardain my sister spouse I gather my mirrh with my spice I eate my hony-combe with my hony I drinke 〈◊〉 wine with my milk Eate fellow friends drinke and bee dronke O yee my well-beloued O no saith hee you know not what you aske that were nothing good for you and hurtfull to many other for yet til the marriage day doe com my place is to be in heauen with the infinite thousands of holy Angels and spirits of the righteous that are deceased where I in them and they in me take incomparable pleasure delight and where I welcome and entertaine most louingly with all dainties and delightfulnesse the faithfull soules whom I dayly take out of this transitory world into euerlasting glory CHAP. V CHVRCH VERS 1. I being asleepe but my heart awake heard the voice of my wellbeloued bounsinâ— open to mee my sister my fellow friend my doue my vndefiled one for my head is filled with deâ—â—e my locks with the droppes of the night WE come now to the second part of this booke which is the falling out between Christ his Church The fault whereof is first of al laid where it was in the Churches vnkindnes to him which she her selfe sticâ—eth not to acknowledge that it grew from her owne drowsinesse and carnall security Although thus farre to bee excused that it was thorough weakenesse and humane frailety against her owne heart and liking not with that full swing of sinne that the wicked giue themselues scope to runne into nor with all her heart and soule The spirit being alwaies ready to doe his part though the fleshe were weake Her faith was smothered it was not put out yet this one sinne as the nature of such things is went not alone it was accompanied with a multitude of other sinnes reiecting him so scornefully who with his owne lacred vâ—ice spake vnto her to arise from the sleepe of sinne and to awake vnto righteousnesse and yet could not preuaile What might be done that hee did not to reclaime and bring her home For the manner of his comming it was not only knocking but bounsing at the dore of her heart by the ministery of his Word vehemently ernestly more then once The thing he did desire small in it self so easie for her to graunt as nothing could bee more onely to open and to let him in He spake so kindâ—ly so louingly in such a gentle and so earnest a manner as might haue moued a heart of flint gaue her such and so many so sweete and so honourable titles all with one breath my sister my friend my doue mine vndefiled one bestowed such care and diligence to compasse his desires as if it were his own good that he sought and not hers Hee bearing all the infirmities of our nature and the inconueniences of this life compared to the night in regard of the life to come refused to vndergoe no perill nor wearisomenesse or incommodity of weather no toile or trouble for her sake to goe by day or by night early in the morning or late in the euening in faire of foule weather in the dewe and in the raine his head and his haire his skull and his locks all beesprinckled and wet that what heart not made of stone could be so vnkinde to let him stand without in the raine and in the dangers and hazards of the night VERS 2 To whom I answered I haue put off my coate how should I put it on I haue washed my feete how should I foule them Yet for all that euery vaine pretence euery fond and friuolous excuse was enough to keep her from admitting Christ and from opening the dore vnto him that dore of her heart whereby through a true and liuely faith Christ doth make an entrance and is receiued and more and more fruitfully applied vnto vs. A manifest argument what small account shâ—e made of him and how little shee set by the inestimable good that he came to bring vnto her preferring a little ease and daintines before the pleasures that are in him Shee thought it for sooth a matter of no small adoe to put on her coate againe and rise when once she was abed for feare of catching cold she was loath to touch the ground with her feet now they wer
the Countrey let vs lodge by the Cypres Then she rouseth vp her dul hâ—auy spirits praying him not alone and by himselfe apart to spend his howers in obseruing of the time of their spirituall marriage as hee said before he did since shee also had a care and longing to haue the same consummate as well as he VERS 3 Let vs get vp early to the vine-yards let vs see if the vine budde the first grape open the pomgranets sprout there will I giue my Loues to thee Promising withall not to be found henceforth vnready not to be any more so drousie so sluggish so wretchlesse as shee was but hereafter night and day to watch and attend that hower and to enquire and learne after all the signes tokens when shee may come to be perfectly knit to Christ VERS 4 These louely flowers that giue a smel about our gates all precious things new and also old my well-beloued I keepe in store for thee In the third place shee consecrateth all shee hath vnto him and vndertaketh in the meane time against the solemnization of that marriage to prouide all manner of presents flowers garlands and the like which men at such times are wont to straw at the thresholds and in the entries That is to furnish her selfe with spirituall graces and to lay vp in store plenty and variety of heauenly treasure things both new and old VERS 5. O that thou wert as a brother vnto me sucking the brests of my mother finding thee without I would kisse thee also I should not be despised But because there rest two great workes to bee accomplished before that time can come the manifesting of God in the flesh and the calling of the Gentiles in them both shee sheweth her ardent affection and therein the aboundance of her loue and zeale to Christ Fourthly therefore you haue her desire which was the desire of all the prophets and holy men to see the day of Christ the day of his comming in the flesh that hee might be her brother and suck the brests of her mother naturally of the virgin spiritually of the Church vniuersall where Christ is borne in the hearts of the faithfull by his Word and Spirit for so comming among his owne she his owne and his onely owne would kisse him and receiue him both by faith and sense when shee should see with her eies that Word of life and behold him and her hands should feele and handle him So shold she be free from the scorns of wicked men their contumelies and despites that reproach the steppes of Gods Messias and vexe and molest the Church whilest shee is in the expectation of that happie day VERS 6. I would leade thee I would bring thee into the house of my mother which teacheth me I would giue thee to drinke of spiced wine of the iuice of the pomegranets Then saith shee there should be no delay this this should be the marriage day I would euen now without more adoe bring you into my mothers house which teacheth instructeth me in all piety and good offices to you-wards into the Catholick Church of God that all growing vp into one bodie whereof my spouse is the head I might at the last be presented as a chaste and pure virgin glorious to the Lord. Then would I giue him pleasures and delights for a King and entertaine him with a most royall banquet of the graces of Gods spirit VERS 7. His left hand vnder my head and his right hand embracing me VERS 8. I adiure you yee daughters of Ierusalem why should you stirre vp or why should you waken this loue vntill he please I haue sweete fellowshippe and rest with him neyther whilest thus I were in his armes and vnder his embracings should any the least offence be giuen to him I would be carefull to shunne all occasions of any more displeasing my loue or of causing him to retire from me VERS 9. Who is she that commeth vp out of the wildernesse ready to ioyne her selfe to her welbeloâ—ed vnder the very Appletree I waken thee where thy mother was in labour of thee where she was in labour that bare thee Hauing thus set forth her desire of Christs incarnation now shee bestoweth many sweete and gracious words to expresse and amplifie the vehemencie of this loue First by the duties shee will performe vnto him great in themselues but greater if you compare these duties of hers with those that are to be looked for from other women Was there euer saith shee any woman in the world that would endure those labours and take vpon her such perills as I doe to ioyne herselfe to her beloued But I by faith ouercome all difficulties to come to thee It is a small thing in myne eies which to others seemes so hard to put off the old man to renounce this present wicked world wherin is no pleasure nor sound delight but a very wildernesse and a desert that I may finde thee out and present my duties to thee euen in that sweete and blessed place where thy mother after the manner of other women sinne excepted fell in trauaile of thee Let me for the certeinety and secret of this wonderful hidden mystery once againe speake it where shee fell in trauaile that did beare thee This labour this toyle may bee an argument what and how great my loue is vnto thee VERS 10. O set me as a seale on thy heart as a seale on thine arme for loue is strong as death zeale hard as the graue The Coales thereof are Coales nay a fire of the flame of Iah O doe thou loue me again for this loue should be mutuall Haue me in thy minde with an earnest and continuall remembrance of me set me before thine eies imprint me vpon thine hand as an inseperable ornament of thy glory so as the wife is to her husband The second amplification of her loue is by the properties adioyned to it set forth by many elegant and apt similitudes It is most vehement most ardent most constant like to death which deuoureth all or as the dominion of death which ouercommeth all God himselfe the mighty IAH hath kindled it in our hearts by the powerfull light of his holy spirit neuer to goe out VERS 11 Much waters cannot quench this loue nor the flouds drown it If a man would giue all the substance of his house for this loue it should vtterly be contemned It is firme inuincible that neither force â—raud nor promises troubles and persecutions pleasures or commodities no height or depth things present or things to come are able to preuaile against it CHAP. VIII CHVRCH VERSE 1 We haue a sister a little one and she hath no brests what shall we doe for our sister in the day that she shall be talked of FIfthly the Church of Solomons time as maimed and imperfect till the fulnesse of the Gentiles should com in which then were a fewe and rarely called and without any ministery
loue is all fierie and kindleth and enflameth the very bowels of the heart Let him â—â—sse c. Secondly a desire to bee knit vnto him as neere as is possible to enioy his sweete and blessed coniunction For thy loues are excellent better then wine Thirdly a preferring of the loue of Christ before all worldly things and aboue all the pleasures and delights of this present life Because c. Fourthly a magnifying and extolling of Christ whose very name and the only remembrance of him is most sweet fragrant which draweth the Christian heart vnto a loue and in loue to an admiration of him The virgins This loue if you consider the quality thereof is chast holy pure and they only loue Christ who keepe themselues vndefiled from worldly pollution and vncleanesse Draw mee The efficient cause is not in our selues it commeth from Christ alone who speaking to our heart by the ministery of the Word and the sweet allurements of his spirit pulleth vs out of this present euill world and draweth vs after him Then will wee runne Heereby strength is put into vs which maketh our feete nimble and shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace to runne after Christ and with might and maine to performe all holie duties to him Let the King Whereunto wee are enabled by the corroborating spirit of Christ into whose hands God the Father hath committed all things and giuen him all power in Heauen and vpon the earth making him both Lord and Christ the King and ruler of his Church Bring me into his primie chambers Who in his fauour and princely bounty communicateth vnto vs more and more the rich graces and treasures of his Spirit maketh vs more inward with him and and leadeth vs as it were by the hand into his priuy chambers those goodly roomes and parlours where are all the Iewells and precious things laid vp for his people Wee will reioyce c. This draweth from vs ioy in the holy Ghost glorious and vnspeakeable Wee will record c. It maketh vs neuer to satisfie our selues in setting forth and publishing vnto other the sweete comforts wee haue in him They shall c. Whom also wee desire to bee made pertakers hereof and to loue Christ as well as wee Who in all rightnesse doe loue thee For such men onely the holy and righteous are the siluer trumpets fit to sound forth Gods praises in his sanctuariâ— O if we euer felt how sweet a thing it is to haue his praises in our mouth let vs not commit by word and deed that through our owne folly and loosenesse so great a comfort should be taken from vs. I Lastly wee are carefully to remooue all lets and impediments that may hinder their approach to Christ 〈◊〉 Conflicts we haue great and grieuous with our owne soules many a pluck and wrestle but by faith wee ouercome them all black Wee confesse our owne wretchednesse of ourselues more black then any blackamore and therefore vnworthy to be matched with so great a King for wee are borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquity and are by nature the children of wrath euen wee that liue in the Church and are borne within the outward couenaunt aswell as other men Eph. 2. Gal. 2. but comlie But being purged and washed by the lauer of the new birth wee are gracious and pleasing vnto Christ more amiable and bewtifull in his eies then Solomon with all his brauery could bee to the eie of any mortall creature Looke not vpon mee True it is the world seeth not this honour which Gods children haue because it is spiritually discerned it acknowledgeth not vs because it knoweth not him Yet the Christian man comfortâ—th himselfe himselfe in the testimony of his owne conscience and and in Gods iudgement and estimation of him because I am blackish Though hee carrie about many remnants of sinne the reliques of his old Adam and is manifoldly assaulted with the pricks temptations of the fleâ—â— For sinne is in vs as the spots are in the Leopard not by accident but by nature which no art can cure no water wash off because they are not in the skinne but in the fleshe bones in the sinowes in the most inner parts By this meanes it commeth to passe that euen a regenerate man falleth many times and falleth grieuously and fearefully lofeth of his hold and of the bewty that God hath giuen him Howbeit the seede of God abiding in him maketh that he cannot sinne finally and totally for the oyle of Gods spirit where with hee is annointed setteth the colours which are of his owne tempering so sure on and maketh them cleaue so fast together that it is impossible hee should euer returne to his old hew to be black all black coale-black as he was before The holinesse therefore of a Christian is alwaies mingled with sinne his siluer with much drosse not as chaffe is mingled with corne but as wine is mingled with water or as when two colours black and white are mingled together that there is no part white but it is blackish also Because the Sunne hath cast his beames vpon mee Hence it is that a Christian is subiect to much affliction anguish and distresse as it were to the scorching of the Sunne which turne all his moisture into the drought of Somer Because the sonnes of my mother incensed against me Especially his sinnes and infirmities expose him to the taunts and reproaches of the wicked open mens mouthes against him and against the holy trueth of God for his sake who vpon euery slip are ready to take aduantage to scandalize the Gospell Hereby a christian is exceedingly humbled and cast downe and driuen to renounce and for sake armes Neyther can he euer satisfie his own soule but dâ—â—reth alwaies to rest there without any the least interruption It is the voice The cause of all comfort to the Church is the voice of Christ speaking to her heart and mouing and perswading her by his Spirit His dealings are by degrees and he vseth not ordinaryly to vtter all his fauours at once of my well-beloued First is his power supporting vs that in our spirituall sicknesse the spirit bee not quenched Behold him Then hee speaketh a farre of whispering as it were in our heart hee commeth After hee commeth neeror at the length hee is himselfe present Lepping skipping When he commeth his comming hath foure excellent properties First it is hastely and with speede Vpon these hilles vpon these hillocks Secondly no sinnes of ours no vnworthinesse can hinder his approach all things high or lowe great or small offences are too little for to stay him Standeth behind c. Thirdly he doth not com so to our senses as wee desire hee communicateth not his whole presence with vs but standeth as it were behind the wall so as there is a space betweene him and vs to keepe him from vs Hee looketh but out of a casement or as it were thorough a
him Yea we had need againe and againe to be beaten vpon and all little enough So you haue the truth of that which Elehu telleth Ioh God speaketh once and twice and a man doth not discerne it Iob. 33. 14. Wee are speedily to turne to God and not to put off our repentance for So much also doth the word bounsing import Signifying all three that is to say earnest and often knocking and a desire speedily to be let in Open Of our selues and by nature we are held prisoners and captiues of Sathan as it were vnder lock and key till Christ open the dore and let vs loose by his word and the power of his Spirit God ceaseth not to vse all good meanes that possibly may be deuised to drawe vs home vnto him What how many and how gracious arguments dooth hee bring in this place Taken first from the easinesse of the thing it is but to open the doore Tome Secondly from his owne person open to me not your enemy but your friend your louer one that seekes your good My sister c. Thirdly from our person that should not sticke to doe a greater matter then that My fellow-friend my Doue my vndefiled one Fourthly by the manner of his speaking with all the sweet and kinde words that can be imagined speaking to our heart as he sayth hee will Hos 2. 14. and beseeching as it were when he may commaund As if Christ besought you by vs sayth the Apostle 2. Cor. 5. 20. For my head is filled with dewe my lockes with the droppes of the night Fiftly by comparing his owne cares labours and trauailes taken for vs whom wee may be ashamed so vnthankfully to requite that wee will doe nothing for him againe Thus he leaueth no meanes vnattempted no arguments no perswasions to call vs backe when we goe astraie The loue of Christ wherewith hee hath loued vs ought to be a speciall motiue for vs to loue him againe So Paul teacheth 2. Cor. 5. 14. 15. For the loue of Christ constraineth vs iudging this that if one died for all then were all dead And he died for all that they which liue might no more liue vnto themselues but vnto him which died for them c. To whom I answered Sinne goeth not singly and alone one and no more but the nature of it is for one sinne to drawe manie other after it How should I c. Sinne for the most part is ioined with hardnesse of heart and where sinne hath once seized without a great mercie of God it stoppeth all the passages from admitting of the voice of Christ I haue put off my coatâ— c. I haue washed my feete c. how should I c. Where sin possesseth the soule Sathan is strong and forcible to cast mistes before vs to make euery babble not worth the naming to seeme a great matter in our eyes and sufficient to hold our Christ Put it on foule them A little case carnal pleasure with those that haue not their hearts effectually touched preuaileth more then all the ioies and delights that are to be found in Christ My welbeloued let downe c Wee must receiue Christ when hee offereth himselfe vnto vs for it we refuse him hee will not alwaies continue knocking Seeke the Lord vvhilest hee may be found Esay 55. 6. But the ease pleasure and commodities of this life are great impediments to hold vs back and to make vs seeke all manner of delaies The Word and all other outward meanes profit little vnlesse it please God by his spirit to make the same effectuall Therefore in Hoshea 2. 14. with the Word and with afflictions is ioyned his owne perswading of vs by the inward working of his Spirit without which the other auaileth nothing The ministery of the Word bringeth not forth fruit alwaies at the instant but many times the sweete impression that it leaueth behind euen then when it seemeth to fall by the waie side is at the length in his time effectuall to drawe men vnto God My bowels earning within mee God suffereth not his to lie still in security as hee doth the wicked which is an other difference between these two but one time or other awakneeth them out of the sleepe of sinne how long soeuer they continue in it The two degrees of repentance are heere to bee obserued First an earning of the heart compunction of soule and spirit comming from a sight of our sinnes and preaching of the Lawe So it is said Dauids heart smote him when hee cut off the lap of Sauls garment to thinke hee had so dallied with that monster of sinne And Ier. 31. 19. bringeth in Ephraim saying After I shall be made to know my sinne I will clap on my thigh in token of mourning As contrariwise of the wicked the same Prophet saith Ier. 8. 6. There is none that saith What haue I don I arose to open to my wel-beloued The second is a conceiuing of comfort a raising vp of our selues by the sweet promises of the Gospell for both see Acts 2. 37 38 39. My hands dropped mirrh and my fingers soft mirrh in the handles of the lock The very sweetnesse that Christ leaueth behinde him when to our feeling hee departeth from vs and as it were the shadow of his presence doth marueilously rauish a Christian man This appeareth by the ioy and comfort that the people of God tooke in the Arke the Temple and other symboles which Phineas wife shewed when she so bewailed the taking of the Arke that she called her sonnes name I chabod The glory is departed 2. Sam. 4. 21. How much more sweete then must it bee to receiue Christ himselfe to enioy his owne presence which bringeth all good things with it I arose to open c. A third note of repentance which the Apostle speaketh of 2. Cor. 7. 11. is heere also to be seene studie or care and diligence that is to say a framing of our heart and disposition to awake from sleepe and to seeke after Christ I opened c. And a putting of the same in execution my well-beloued withdrew himselfe he passed awey Christ for our incredulity and hardnes of heart doth somtimes after a sort leaue vs for a while withdrawing all comfortable sense and feeling of his grace This is that spirituall desertion that Gods children may fall into and is one of those heauy iudgements that God punisheth their sinne withall I fell into a swoune A fourth note of repentance is zeale to faint for the absence of Christ and to be sick of loue for him I sought him I cryed on him A fift also to seeke him to call and crie vpon him to wander vp and downe after him finally to leaue nothing vndon till wee finde him which the Apostle calleth a longing or desire after him because of his speech The meditation and calling to minde of the word of God of that which wee haue heard in the publick congregations and
assemblies is very profitable for the quickning raising vp of our soules but I could not finde him but hee answered me not Christ to trie the faith of his children seemeth many times to deale very hardly and vnkindely with them the fountaine of mercy to haue no drop of mercy in him So hee dealt with the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. 22. c. First when shee cryed vpon him hee made himselfe deafe hee would not answere one word but turned himselfe away and when his disciples besought him to speake how vntowardly and techely as a man with reuereâ—ce may say doth hee seeme to answere her ' I was not sent but to the lost sheepe of the house of Israell Shee for all that humbling her selfe yet more and falling at his feete in what reproachfull manner doth hee vse her calling her a dogge or rather for more disgrace a whelpe How must not this wound her very soule He that biddeth all men learne of him because he is meeke and lowly in heart to bee so rough to a poore sillie weoman so deiecting herselfe before him but wherefore did he so to discourage or driue her from him No but that her faith being tryed in the furnace might come forth purer then the gold and after many a pluck and wrestle like a true Israelite supported by his Spirit shee might preuaile with God and so at the length he suffereth himselfe to be ouercom by the greatnesse of her faith The watchmen that goe about the Citie found mee A Christian truely repenting will not thinke much to throw himselfe into neuer so great perills and hazards for the recouery of Christ And so is expressed the sixt marke of repentance consisting in a reuenge or taking the peny-worths of our selues for our former transgressions not shrinking now for any danger but running thorough thick and thinne as wee say in the night among the watch to come vnto him All this sheweth the feare that a Christian man hath least hee should bee ouertaken with drowsinesse as he was before which is an other and the last of those seauen notes of true repentance mencioned 2. Cor. 7. 11. And so haue you in this Chapter besides the falles and infirmities of Gods children and how and wherein they differ from other men a worthy example of the cause the means the parts the steppes and degrees and lastly of the notes and markes of their repentance they smote me they wounded me An other punishment of our sinnes is affliction outward trouble and persecution which God is wont to send vpon vs to chastise and correct vs and to make vs come to him the keepers of the walles tooke Those that should bee the greatest friends vnto vs for the truths sake proue many times our greatest enemies such as carrie the name of watchmen in Gods Church whose office it is to encourage and protect vs in well doing none more then they do oppose themselues and discourage vs in the waies of godlinesse my vaile from me This is a great offence and stumbling block to Gods children who by reason heereof lose their vaile that is the hold of their purity and integrity and begin a little to decline and to waxe fainter in the seruing of God I adiure you Till by the company of Gods children in the communion of Saints they begin to take heart againe and to recouer their spirits and so afresh follow after Christ ye daughtâ—rs of Ierusalem The society of the godly is an excellent meanes to stirre men vp and to kindle in them the holy fire of the loue of Christ for with them wee may boldly conferre of such things as the world sauoureth not nor hath any relish in if ye finde c. Yea though they be not come so far as we in comprehending the length breadth and depth of the excellency of the loue of Christ What is there in thy well-beloued c. If to those that dwell in the Church it be strange to see the passions that many of the godly are exercised with in their longing thirsting after Christ what shall we thinke of other men White ruddie fit to heare the banner aboue 10000 his head c. The things which wee are specially to consider in Christ are First his spirituall glory and power shining euen in his humanity His eyes as doues eyes c Secondly The eies of his prouidence or the perfection of the graces of the Spirit dwelling in him whereby hee pearceth euery where and entreth into mens harts seeing the things that are most secret his lippes his pallat c. Thirdly his doctorshippe or Propheticall office Vpon his hands c. his lagges are pillars of marble c. Fourthly his gouernment and administration of the world in glory maiestly and power chrushing to peeces the wicked and vngodly and whatsoeuer doth set and oppose it selfe against him in his bowels is a shining as of iuory couered with Suphires his looke as of Lebanon c. Fiftly The glorifying of his humane nature which he hath purchased by his death and sufferings that me â—ay seeke him c. The fruit of a Christian mans temptations is that other by our vehemency are stirred vp to seeke Christ My well-beloued in gon downe c. I am my well-beloueds c. Christ in the end is found of those that seek him though he absent himselfe for a time as he was of the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. 28. And this is our comfort that God is faithfull who will not suffer vs to bee tempted aboue our strength but in euery temptation how great soeuer will giue vs a meanes how to come out of it 1 Cor. 10. 13. By mutuall conference and communication of of our faith we haue the same strengthened and nourishe and kindle in our selues a holy longing after Christ CHAP. VI. VERS 1. Thou art faire c. TRue repentance washeth off all the spots and deformities that our sinnes bring vpon vs. terrible as an armie with banners The life of Christian is a warrefare vpon earth For the enabling of him to fight the Lordes battailes God infuseth into his heart an heroicall and noble courage for though hee fall yet he riseth vp againe though hee bee ouertaken yet hee getteth out and recouereth his strength Which maketh Sathan to feare the faith of a Christian because hee knoweth it is built vpon that rocke which the gates of hell cannot preuaile against O turne thine eyes ouer-against me Our slippes and falles must not discourage vs but wee must looke vp to Christ with a liuely faith and bee of good comfort that they may lift me vp For Christ glorieth and taketh pleasure in the faith of his people it reioyceth his heart and he thinketh himselfe the better for it being affected with their miseries and is glad when they are comforted Thy haire is c. The holinesse and righteousnesse of a Christian is not lost by the manifold infirmities hee falleth into But it remaineth firme and
of their owne as it were brests to giue suck consulteth with Christ what course to take when the mystery so long kept secret shall bee reucaled and made knowne for their conuersion How she may behaue her selfe in helping and administring vnto them what Christ will bee pleased to doe in giuing an encrease and blessing And thus she doth further testifie her loue to Christ by her loue vnto their common sister Sister to her by the seede of the same spirtit whereby they are both begotten vnto God sister to Christ by his assuming of the same nature to him CHRIST and his CHVRCH both VERS 2. When a wall is to be built we will build it in a pallace of siluer When as a gate is to bee fenced wee will fence it about with boord of Cedre Christ and she make answere telling what they meane to do that since when that time shal be it is not possible to containe the Church within the narrow boundes of Ierusalem which of a particular Church of the Iewes shall then bee made the Catholicke Church of all the world a new manner of Citie must bee built wherefore plucking downe the mid wall of partition a new wall and new gates shall bee made to enlarge the Cittie a new gouernment and discipline new officers pastors teachers c. to administer it New not in substance which hath alwaies been the same euen among the Iewes but newly stablished be wâ—ified and translated to the Gentiles Neither shall this be any disgrace to the now Ierusalem euery thing shall bee then so farre more glorious and more excellent A house of saints shall bee erected by the preaching of the Gospell to bee the Pallace of the great King a stately and magnificent pallace all of siluer which is the precious graces of Gods spirit the Gate the euer lasting gate of this Pallace where the King of glory doth come in the gate of our heart shall be seeled with faith more precious then Cedre by which onely wee receiue him and make him ours CHVRCH VERS 3. I being a wall and my brests as towers then shall I bee in his eâ—â—es as one that findeth peace To this the Church in the sixt and last place replyeth that she is so far from enuving this great good vnto her sister as contrariwise when she the Church of the Iewes shall herselfe become of the same society and by the communion of the Spirit grow vp with the Gentiles into one Citie embracing Christ whom so long they shall haue reiected and making one glorious part both for gouernment and doctrine of the heauenly Tsion Ierusalem which is aboue shee shall then obtaine a great part of her desire and bee in a manner perfected not being far from that rest and happinesse which she longeth after to bee receiued into the perfect communion of her spouse For these are euery where called the last daies CHRIST VERS 4. Solomon had a vine-yard in a fruit full place he let out the vine-yard to keepers Euery one bringeth for the fruit of it a thousand pieces of siluer Christ againe sheweth how precious the Church is in his eies and how much hee doth regard her for this and all other her excellent parts and that by a comparison in this wise There is no King saith hee and take Solomon the wisest that if hee haue a vineyard in a fruitfull place is able himselfe to dresse and to manure it or to take all the fruit but must be driuen to let it forth to others And though his tenaunts and farmours pay him a rent for it yet som part they look and so reason would they should keepe vnto themselues VERS 5 My vineyard which I haue is still before my face I receiue both that thousand of thine O Solomon and also the two hundred peeces of those that keepe the fruit of it But I saith Christ neyther let out the Church my vine-yard nor suffer any part of the profits to goe from mee for all grow vp into that bodie whereof I am the head I purse vp all the rent and that also that Solomons lessees were to haue So iealous I am of mine inheritance and haue mine eies alwaies vpon it being euer present with it and in the middest of it VERS 6. O thou shee that settest in these gardaines to the fellows which attend vnto thy voice preach me Hereupon he concludeth leauing this commandemeÌ„t as his last farewel to al the Churches which are his gardaines wherein hee walketh and maketh his plants to grow that in season and out of season they preach the gospell to all that haue a mind to attend vnto the wholsome doctrine CHVRCH VERS 7. Flie to vs my well-beloued and hee thou like to the râ—e or young hart Othou that dwellest in the mountaines of spices She shutteth the booke vp vndertaking to doe that which he enioyneth but knowing her owne vnability prayeth him to bee present with her to giue her strength to doe it from his throne of glory which is in the highest heauens and spedily to accomplish all his promises by his last and glorious comming Amen Euen so come Lord Iâ—svs OBSERVATIONS on the Song of Solomon for the comfort of euerie true Beliâ—â—er CHAP. I. VERS 1. A song c. THis excellent Song concontaineth a description of the state of a Christian man after he is once vnited vnto Christ during our whole life whilest wee walke here by faith and not by sight This is the summe of the Booke The parts are two One the state of such a Christian when his faith and holinesse of life are at the highest his signe in the Appogaeon or middest of Heauen that it cannot alter any point but it must decline when he saileth with winde and weather and hath the Sunne-shine of Gods fauour to goe before him that is whilest he enioyeth peace of conscience quietnesse and tranquility of minde and is free from those great offences that make a kinde of separation between Christ and him in the foure first Chapters The other part setteth forth the state of a true Christian comming to himselfe after that earth linesse and worldly pleasures haue seized vpon him when the cloudes and mistes of of his owne sinfulnesse of drousinesse and carnall security doe ouercast the face of the heauens and darken and eclipse the brightnesse of his glorie in the foure last Chapters The state of a Christian liuing in peace and quietnesse of a good conscience hath three excellent steppes First his loue of Christ in the first Chapter Secondly the benefits here ceiuâ—th from him in the Second Chapter 3. A desire to be made perfect Chap. 3. Whereunto Christ giueth answere in the fourth Chapter The loue of a Christian soule to Christ which is not possible to bee in any till Christ haue first loued him and wrought in his heart a feeling of that loue the holy Ghost doth thus describe O First the vehemency of his affection noting true zâ—ale For this