by Christ the Sonne whereby hee is reconciled to the Elect for ever Mark 15. 22. Here was the sword of that triumphaâ—t Emperor hung about the necke of the Church wherewithall our deadly enemies were slain at once Now we see how this skilfull craftsmam hath painted out the state of the Church so long after his time with more then mortall wit describing the ornaments of her flourishing estate comforting the calamities of her afflicted estate and sweetly rejoycing at the felicity of her estate restored With how divine words hath he comprehended the birth infancy office and death of Christ Here is the last end of the old Church and the beginning of the new For the death of Christ brought that midday wherein the old shadowes utterly vanished never to returne again Verse 7. Thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee So far of the Legall Church Now of the Christian Church only as it was at Christs resurrection A. D. 34. from thence hath increased unto this day the flourishing condition whereof is declared in these five next verses for Christ departing into the hill of Frankincense by his death and buriall was not long absent but rose early the third day by power of the Spirit and returned to his own with whom he conversed 40. dayes shewing them all things which belong to the Kingdome of God making and acknowledging the Church by his instructions sound perfect and absolute She was never all faire till now she was many times before commended for her beauty and by the divine mercy wherein the Father beholdeth her in the Son she is alwaies glorious Ephes 5. 26. 27. Sanctified and clensed with the washing of water by the Word But now she was in her most pure and flourishing estate Not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but holy and unblameable Now she obeyed Christ onely adding nothing of her owne neither changing or omitting any of those things which he required to be done and observed This perfection lasted the first 300. yeereâ— though somewhat declining towards the end yet tolerable all that space without any great spot of deformity Verse 8. Come with me from Lebanon my Spâ—use with me from Lebanon looke from the top af Amana from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the Lions Dens from the mountaines of the Leopards The meaning of this verse will be the better understood if we first run over the words Lebanon is a famous hill on the North borders of the Land of Israel Amanus far more Northerly toward the West of Syria being a parcell of the Mount Taurus and stretching to the River Issicus from whence one may behold Syria Mesopotamia Cilicia and all the lesser Asia Shenir and Hermon are two hills on the East side Deut. 3. 9. These hills are called Lyons dens and mountains of Leopards not so much becâ—use wilde beasts did live in them but rather men of fierce and cruel dispositions Heathen Idolaters void of all knowledge and fear of God This inviting then whereby the Bridegroome soliciteâ—h his spouse to look down upon him from these mountains teacheth the propagation of the gospel after Christs resurrection wherby the fierce and cruell nations should be admitted into the Church of God Now the woolf should dwell with the Lamb c. Isa 11. 6. The Church was before shut up in the narrow bounds of Indca The doctors were breasts indeed but they yeelded milk only to the Israelites they were dry to strangers Now the Iewes Gentiles should draw together of the same fountain so that by Christ both had an accesse by one Spirit unto the Father Eph. 2. 18. Christ led his spouse as it were by the hand from Lebanon and the other mountains when the brethren dispersed by persecution preached Christ first to the Grecians Act. 8. 1. and 11 20. At that time he was preached to the Samaritans the Eunuch was baptized and Peter warned by a vision to call nothing common or unclean Act. 10. 15. This joyfull messâ—ge went all the world over but the first report of it flew towards the north and East Philip the Spirit commanding him went neer unto Gaza but straightwayes returned from thence to Azotus Acts 8. Vers 9. Thou hast ravished my heart my sister my spouse thou â—â—st ravished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy nâ—ck This eye and chaine are the Church of Antioch enclosed with the mountains Amana and Lebanon who by the labour and diligence of Paul and Barnabas and the working of the Spirit the Bridegroom was with good cause ravished with this eye which shined with so great light yet the beautie thereof chiefly glistered when some contending to have the Law joyned with Christ this Church withstood them and by Barnabas and Paul in the Synod of the Apostles at Ieruâ—alem maintained faith only in Christ sufficient to salvation Act. 15. And then was the chaine hung about her neck when she was firâ—t called a Christian Act. 11. 26. The humanitie of Christ was before the neck of the Church now the name of Christ is the chaine of thâ—t neck And being a Gentile yet is now a sister to the Jewish Church And to shew that she is as deer to him as the Jewish He â—â—lleth her also his spouse Vers 10. How fair is thy love my sister my spouse how much better is thy love then wine and the smell of thine oyntments then all spices Love is taken figuratively for the effects whereby it is shewed Oâ—ntments are gifts of grace which the Father bestow eth on the Church for the Sons sake he acknowledged her love before this time yet now in the space remaining of the flourishing Church in this and the next verse she sheweth most apparent arguments of highâ—st and most unsained love For love that cannot be withdrawn by adversity is ever most precious and pleasant But no times yeelded more matter of triall of constancy then those An. D. 60. c. of Nero Domitian Trajanâ— and the other Romane tyrants who left nothing unattempted that either hatred of the truth might yeeld them or power might perform whereby the Christian name might be altogether extinct But it was wonderfull how the tyrants were wearied with killing and the Christians incouraged in dying So that it was no marvell if these boxes being broken the smell of the oyntments most pleasantly spread it self farre and wide The ten books of Eusebius his Ecclesiasticall history are full Commentaries of this and the next verse Vers 11. Thy lips O my spouse drop as the honycomb Hony and milke are under thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon The honycomb of the lips is sweetnesse of speech Hony and milk pleasantnes of Doctrine milk is chief among those things that nourish and hony in the faculty of preserving The garments are chiefly the covering of Christs righteousnes with which only the nakednes of the Saints is covered
and against thy will to endure the Harnesse the Bridle and the Whip Such was the condition of that Kingdome by whose aid and succour his Love was protected For in the fifth yeer of the reign of Rehoboam when they had a little breathed after their former troubles Shishak the king of Egypt made war upon them having twelve hundred Chariots and a very great Hoste He took many fenced Cities and had proceeded to the utter wasting of the Land had not the Lord at the length pitied them and turned away the rage of his wrath from Jerusalem so that he would not utterly destroy it but only bring it in bondage to the Egyptians As he saith by the Prophet Shemaiah 2 Chron. 12. 8 9. Neverthelesse they shall be his servants that they may know my service and the service of the Kingdomes of the countries This Shishak entring into the City took away the treasures of the House of the Lord and the treasures of the Kings house he carried away also the shields of Gold which Salomon had made Behold the Church now like a Mare in the Chariots of Pharaoh The drawing Mare betokeneth servitude The Chariot that they should be compelled unto it by war Pharaoh by a common name the King whom they should serve how brief and plain it is described yet lest the Saints should faint altogether under the weight of such calamity their comfort is that he calleth her his Mare as if he should say although I deliver thee over to Shishak yet understand I have a care of thee I do challenge thee for mine own and thou shalt be safe under my protection Note that hee whom the holy Scripture calleth Shishak is called by prophane Writers Steroosis And hee joyned Kings together to draw his Chariot Diod. sic lib. 1. pag. 37. lin 23. Vers 9. Thy cheeks are comely with Turtles or withrows of Jewels Thy neck with chaines of Gold Wee heard in the Analysis that this and the two next verses did belong to the Kingdom of Abijah and Asa Abijah ruled but a while and therefore no great variety of matter hapned in his time therefore that which is common to both is delivered in the beginning of this Versâ— but that which concerneth the affaires of Asa is afterwards set forth more at large The Iewels like Turtles beâ—oken chastity and carefulnesse The two Cheeks are the most conspiâ—uous parts of the body these were the Tribes of Iuda and Benjamin in whom the Church at that time was chiefly known unto men This chastity and carefulnesse appeared first in Abijah who making warre with Ieroboam endeavoured with gentle speech to call back the ten Tribes from their wicked purpose warning them of their falling away from God There are with you saith he Golden Calves which Ieroboam made you for gods but wee have the Lord our God whom we have not forsaken and the Priests which minister unto the Lord are the sonnes of Aaron and the Levites wait upon their businesse 2 Chro. 13. 8. 10 c. for although this integrity was not pure without any pollution as appeareth 1 King 15. 3. yet was it Turtle-like chastity to that filthy whoredome of the Israelites so when Abijah and the two Tribes were beset both behind and before they cried unto to the Lord Behold the voyce of Turtles carefull doubtlesse in so great a strait but adorned with holinesse as with Jewels the Lord heard them and stroke Ieroboam and all Jsrael before Abijah and Iudah with a great slaughter 2 Chron. 13. 14 15. So Asa beset with almost infinite hosts of Zerah the Ethiopian called upon the Lord in the voyce of a Turtle saying It is nothing for thee to help either with many or with them that have no power help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy name we goe against this multitude O Lord thou art our God let not man prevaile against thee Whereby the enemies were put to â—light and the Church greatly inriched with their spoiles 2 Chron. 14. 11. c. Vers 10. Wee will make the borders of Gold with studs of Silver The Spirit proceedeth to shew the condition of the Church under Asa that hee might give her yet a more comely ornament as it is declared by the taking counsell of adorning the Spouse Wee will make thee saith he borders of Gold that is wont to be better which is brought to passe by the conjoyned studies of many then that which is done by one alone Furthermore Gold is now also added no lesse excellent in the singular workmanship then in the price it self for it should be chequered with silver studs This did openly foreshew that constrained meeting of the Kingdome by Asa and that consultation made by the common consent of the people and of all orders in the fifteenth yeer of â—is reigne of taking away all abominable gods out of the whole Land of Juda and Benjamin and a penalâ—y imposed on him that would not seek the Lord 2 Chro. 15. 9. 10. c. Now was order taken for adorning the spouse not by the Kings authority alone but by the decree of all orders And that Reformation which was begun in the beginning of his reigne was now more fully grown to a ripenesse The silver studs were that faithfull executing of the decree whereby the Kings grand-mother Mahaka was put from her regency for her horrible idolatry 2 Chro. 15. 16. Vers 11. Whilest the King was at his repast my Spikâ—nard gave smell thereof Ye have heard before that the gifts of the spirit are shadowed by oyntments and Spikenard which is chief among oyntments rightly betokeneth the most excellent gifts Therfore while the King sate the spouse as it were opening a Box perfumed all the neighbourhood with breathing out most holy graces But if any ask who the Prophet saith sate at this repast Behold King Asa compassed with a large garland of Iewes and Israelites in that assembly where he made borders of gold with studs of silver 2 Chrâ— 15. 9 10. A covenant was made but whâ—t mirth of a banquet could be compared with this delight Furthermore the joy in sacrificing which was great at that time had the holy pleasure of banqueting conjoyned to it by the Law As concerning the smell of the Spikenard how pleasant was it to make a covenant among so many people to worship the Lord with all their heart and with all their minde Many of Ephraim Manasses and Simeon stirred up by the sweetnesse of this smell clave to Asa seeing the Lord his God to be with him c. As it is said 2 Chr. 15. 9. Therfore whatsoever is spoken of the Church in the raign of Aâ—a is contained in these 3. little verses Vers 12. My wâ—lbeloved is as a bundle of Myrhe unto me He shall lie between my breasts Herein are three things signified sweetnesse of knowledge by Myrhe Administration of doctrine by breasts and the quiet and continuall use thereof by lying or
resting All which concerne the times of Iehoshaphat who besides that care of preserving the chaste and pure Religion which he had received of his father he was also excellent in the study of teaching sending governours and Levites with the book of the Law to all the cities of Iuda and Benjamin that they might teach the people the will of God 2 Chro. 17. 7 8 9. He also appointed Judges through all the fenced cities and in Ierusalem of the Levites and Priests and elders of the families for the judgements of the Lord and for controversies which Iudges were as breasts yeelding the pleasant knowledge of Gods will And also Iehoshaphat diligently labouring that each one should perform his duty holily and faithfully shewed a lively image of the Bridegroom lying between the breasts of his love 2 Chro. 19. 5 6. c. This resting was only called a provocation because that since the Kingdom was rent under Rehoboam a grievous darknes covered the Church howsoever it seemed more pleasant at one time then at another yet this rest was quiet because the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Iuda that they should not fight against Iehoshaphat The Philistians also brought tribute and the Arabians flocks 2 Chro. 17. 10. 11. the Moabites made war against them but were soon overcome After which they returned to their former rest 2 Chro. 20. 29. 30. pleasant then was that rest which was molâ—sted by no troubles Vers 13. My welbeloved is as a clustre of Camphire unto me in the vines of Engedi In these words is excellently declared what next succeeded Iehoshaphat in the times of Iehoram Ahazi Joast Amazia Huzzia Iotham and Ahaz whereof some were apparently wicked some obscurely godly he stayeth not to remember them all severally least he should thereby pollute the marriage Feast and cause the guests to loath the banquet but briefly binds them up altogether in a bundle And where he addeth in the end in the vines of Hengadi he teacheth that this company should spring up in the middest of the chiefe Princes who for their pleasant and plentifull fruit may worthily be compared to most fruitfull vines Now the Princes before them were Asa and Iâ—hoshaphat after Hâ—zekiah and Iosias between whom this cluster of Camphire with their berries sprung up among the vines Vers 14. My love behold thou art fair behold thou art fair Thine eyes are like the doves The doubling of the words declared her excellent beauty especially with the Hebrews who use it familiarly for Superlatives The eyes of Doves are chaste and shamefaced which wander not hither and thither to seek new loves Such is the chastity of the Church when as contented with one true God she turneth not her eyes to idols or any other invented worship These things then undoubtedly pertain to Hezekiah which restored true and pure Religion to the Church casting out all Idolatry Then truly the Church did wonderfully shine when by the testimony of the spirit it self the like had not been in Ierusalem since the dayes of Solomon 2 Chro. 30. 26. But were there not dove-like eyes which when hee considered their wanton lookes even towards the Brazen Serpent hee commanded it bee broken though it had been Gods own ordinance and an excellent Monument of former memory 2 Kings 18. 4. Loe here excellent chastity joyned with like wisdom Vers 15. My welbeloved behold thou art fair and pleasant Also our Bed is green How coherent is this praise which aswell instructeth the minde in knowledge as it endueth the heart with Religion It is one thing for us to be thankfull to Christ and another thing for Christ to be thankfull to us He accounts us thankfull by reason of election we feel not him sweet and pleasant before we be called to the knowledge of the truth and our hearts be kindled with a desire of godlinesse But if any godly one desire to know the state of the Church after the death of Hezekias the Bride declareth it in commendations of the Bridegroom She then flourisheth when she may freely behold and set forth the beauty of her beloved which verily hapned in the time of Iosias in whose excellent sanctity the Church saw the sweetnesse of her beloved 2 Chro. 34. and 35. At sixteene yeers of age he began to seek the God of his father David four yeers after to cleer Inda and Ierusalem from the high places and the groves and from carved and molten images 2 Chro. 34. 3. Religion adorneth every age but especially that tender age aswell for the present and unexpected ripenes of it as for a greater hope therof in time to come But the latter part of the verse declareth more fully the History of Manasses Ammon Also our bed is green The Kings chamber before signified the Temple Neither is it to be doubted but Bed is here used for the same which is wont to be placed in the more inward and privy Chamber where the godly may injoy Christ most familiarly This Bed waxeth green like the meadowes in the beginning of the spring whose beautie the winter had defaced if they had alwayes kept their greennesse it had been unnecessary to make mention of it And if Iosias had succeeded next after Hezekias it had been as superfluous to make mention of the Temples flourishing as of green grasse in summer The words then declare aswell that winter which miserably afflicted the Church under Manasses and Ammon which shook off altogether the flowers of godlinesse and exposed Christs Bed to all injuries and tempestuous stormes 2 Chro. 33. As also the pleasantnesse of a milder time under Iosias who beautifully repaired the winters spoiles And the event very well answered the prophesie for the purity of Religion was the first care of Iosias when he was yet a childe but after in the eighteenth yeer of his reigne he applied his minde to re-edifie the house of God desirous to leave the Bed green which he had found grievously rent and torne with stormes and tempest 2 Chro. 34. c. Vers 16. The beames of our house are of Cedar our Rafters are of Firre This more fully sets forth that which was begun before dâ—clared by the green bed for first the grasse is green which afterward ariseth into a talk and forthwith groweth till in the end it come to it's full ripenesse The infancy of Josiâ—u was pleasant but his riper age yeelded more pleasant fruit whereof there was hope even from his cradle He sent Shaphan Mâ—aseiah Joah to repaire the house of the Lord his God He gathered mony of the Tribes of Manasses and Ephraim and all the rest of Israel and of all Juda and Benjamin to repaire the common house of the Bridegroom the Bride Wherein they might mutually delight themselves He gate workmen and builders to hew stone and timber for beams and for couples of the houses which the Kings of Iâ—da had destroyed 2 Chro. 34. 8.
that time a Florentine Bishop openly began to lament the Misery of the Church and doubted not boldly to affirm Antichrist to bee come already Also one Arnold a Romane could not hold but with the losse of his head bewailed the grief of the Spoâ—se And Hildegarde the Prophetesse to whom the Church appeared in a vision in the forme of a woman wailing her face sprinkled with dust by the Priests her garments rent and torne the innocent Lambe driven from her by their fault and many the like Adde unto these Bernards complaints upon the Canticles and others Afterwards there arose many and more and more every day which freely professed their grief By whose tongues the Spouse declared her misery to the daughters of Ierusalem Verse 8. What is thy beloved more then another beloved O thou fairest among women What is thy beloved more then another beloved that thou doest so charge us These daughters of Ierusalem were the friends of the Spouse They call unto her familiarly and lovingly and better sighted then others they acknowledge her most beautifull being naked and compassed with darkenesse Yet were they altogether ignorant of her beloved otherwise they would not have asked what he was They shew great desire of knowledge asking again and again to be shewed him At the complaint of the godly doctors the studies of the Elect were stirred up so that hee which promised onely the first lineaments of true piety and Religion had great companies following him See the multitude â—locking to Petrus Waldeâ—sis about the yeer 1160 a private man not graced with any ambitious titles Vers 9. My beloved is white and ruddie the chiefest among tennâ— thousand Shee willingly yeeldeth to their desire hoping to get what she sought for the sooner by their meanes The answer is threefold Common spâ—â—iall and mixte Which seemes to note out so many times wherein there should be the like knowledge of Christ Common in this verse taken aswell from things inheâ—ent as from Circumstances The things inherent declare the excellent sweetnesse of the lively colours of Christ which concernes those times of the Waldensâ—s when the aforesaid Peter made his house as it were a Schoole of Sacred learning where he taught the Caâ—â—chisme and first rudiments of Religion turned the Bible into their owne language translated some writings of the Fathers and by his diligence and piety brought it to passe that at length the beautifull colours of Christ shining with pure holinesse and Red with the merits of his death might be seen of all men which did not wilfully shut their eyes The circumstances are 10000. men attending on Christ For when the truth was discovered by Petrus Waldensis and his fâ—llowes the Romane Antichrist seeking by all meanes to abolish the truth spread it abroad unwittingly in many other places whose fruitfulnesse was such that about the yeer 1200. the Albigenses duâ—st joyne battell with the Antichristian Bands which Innocent the third sent to destroy them under the leading of Leopoldus the sixth Duke of Austria and Simon Earle of Mountfort At length Reymond Tolosaâ—us and Petrus King of Tarracon came to aid the Albigeuses Then might ye see the Bridegroom begin to shew hiâ—selfe again to the world attended with 10000. truly Crosse-bearing souldiers Which had wandered many yeers before solitary and without company Vers 10. His head is as the most fine gold his lockes are bushie and black as a Raven An other part of the knowledge of Christ more plaine and evident then the former For now the Daughters of Ierusalâ—m learn of the Spouse the excellency of the principall members which the world knew not by many ages The head as the most fine gold or as it is in the originall gold of gold signifieth as much as King of â—ings For all other wear Crownes of gold upon their heads which with their Kingdomes may be taken away but his head is as pure gold it selfe because it is Eternall and Essentiall which teacheth that Christ would now shew himself a King in the Earth As it came to pâ—sse about the yeer 1216. in that long contention of Frederick the Emperour the second of that name with Honâ—rius the third Gregory the niâ—th and Innocent the fourth then presently after the Albigensâ—â—n Warre that the Kingdome usurped of the Popes by Tyranny might be restored again to Christ the right Lord or true owner The bushie looks are the multitude of the faithfull very comely and beautifull in those times for their mutuall love and imbracing one of another yet wanting the brightnâ—sse of externall policy The blacknesse of the hair be to keneth the Wars troubles and persecutions of those times bewailed by many As some of Sweveland at Hallis Robert Groster Bishop of Lincolne Matthew Paris Guilihelmus de sancto Amore Arnoldus de villa nova cryed out that all Christian people by craft of the devill had gone astray from the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ that the faith which the people commonly had was like the faith of devils and that all Christian people were led to hell See how rightly they are compared to the colours of a Raven they were so black and disordered Neither did this deformity then first invade her but then she bâ—gan first to be acknowledged and bewailed Vers 11. His eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the rivers of water washed with milke and fitly set Christ carefully looking on his spouse boweth down his head that he may behold her the more neerly and exactly As the doves bow their necks with eyes inclining towards the water when they desire to quench their thirst And where the spouse was deformed altogether with dust he useth no shâ—rp remedy but applieth much mercy and gentlenesse in cleansing her outward filthinesse His eyes are fâ—tly set not overnâ—â—ch standing out nor too much dipping in but fitly placed to behold the whole condition of the Church These eyes of the Bridegroome so delectable were shewed to the world by Michael Cesenas and Petrus de Carbaria about the yeer 1277. together with Iohn de Poliaco all which Pope John condemned Because first they taught diligently that Pâ—ter was nâ—nâ—onâ— head of the Church then any other Apostle neither did Christ â—eâ—ve after him any vicar â—r head of the Church Which evidently declareth the first part of the similitude that Christ beholdeth his Church with no lesse attention then the thirstie and drinking doves behoâ—â— the waters with â—ttentive eyes Secondly they taught plainly that The Church hath no power to correct any one with coactive punishment as thâ—y â—â—ll it much lesse hath the Pope any such power to correct punish institute or remove any one in the magistracie Whereby they prove the Pope clean contrary to Christ the one washeth away spots with milk the other with salt-peter the one restraineâ—h and puâ—isheth faults with the word the other with the sword c. Thirdly they taught that Priests and elders had all a like authority power and jurisdiction Emperors
and Synagogues For they which raged so much against others which confessed him somewhat more freely what would they not â—o to him himself for whose cause they were so violent against others Ioh. 9. 22. But these people will not only open the gates that the King of glory may come in but will lead him through the streets and set him highest in the midst of their assemblies The same manner of speech we met with before Cap. 3. 4. which we interpreted of his coming in the flesh otherwise his mothers house is the Church as we saw in the first Chap. vers 17. Thou shouldest teach me Tremelius referreth it to my mother which teacheth me The words beare it but the Aâ—tithesis requireth such exposition as I have made The Iewes very much frequented the Temple they boasted themselves to be the white sonnes of their mother the Church but of the doctrine of their brother the man Christ there will be great difference between the old and these They could not abide to heare Christ preaching these will hearken to his voyce only they will draw their doctâ—ine from this only Well they will preferre themselves no other manner of life and salvation but him alone Lastly whereas she will give him spiced wine to drinke thereby he teacheth how far the new people shall differ from the old in cruelty They mingled him vinegar and gall to drinke Maâ— 27. 34. These shall tremble at such barbarous wickednesse and in stead of that most bitter cup shall invite him to most generous wine of Chast and fervent piety Their excellent forme and beauty could not be better painted out then by the opposite deformity of that old and degenerate Synagogue the fruit of the Pomegranate may be referred to some principall men among the Iewes who shall apply all their authority to advance religion c. Vers 3. His left hand should be under my head and his right hand should imbrace me The love of the Bridegroome which resteth most pleasantly in the bosome and imbracing of the Church thus settled he shall carry the Bride in his armes and shall keep her safe and sound from all troubles as before Chap. 2. 6. but that the Church was never before so well adorned and protected by the divine power as in this last renovation according to that of Ieremy Chap. 16. vers 14. 15. and of Esay Chap. 43. verâ— 5 6. The exceeding glory of Gods presence shall then obscure all former memory how famous or renouned â—oever Vers 4. I charge yee O daughters of Ierusalem that yee stir not up nor awake my love untill he plâ—â—se This betokeneth the perpetuity of this love and condition as before by the same kinde of oath he alwayes declareth a settled estate of the Church for some long continuance here are no Harts and Roes of the field to disturb the peace of the Church as when shee living among enemies had neer her by Gods just judgement revengers of their revolting but now the Kingdome shâ—ll be yeelded to Christ for this is the time wherein the stone cut out without hands c. Dan. 2. 34. 44. 45. and 7. 27. For in this Kingdome all enemies shall be far removed or rather taken away altogether so that the Church shall for ever hereafter live free from feare of them Then all things shall attaine their own ends and that whole Mystery Revel 10. 7. and 16. 17 It is finished which was foretold by the Prophets for hitherto belongeth their sacred Oracles Neither doe they further mention any notable change till our Lord shall come from heaven For this is that fulnesse then which nothing can be farther expected on earth which seemeth to be manifested by this removing of all causes of disturbing the Bridegroome hereaftâ—r Let us then leave the Christian Church of the Jewes most flourishing till Christ Translate his hence into heaven Verse 5. Who is this that commeth up from the Wildernesse leaning upon her beloved Iraised thee up under the Appletrce there thy mother brought thee forth there she brought thee forth that bare thee Hitherto hath beene spoken of the first younger daughter Another sister followeth for by this kinde of inquirie we have twice seene a new arising of some Church to be shewed And of this is a double state declared the beginning in this verse the progrâ—sse in the 6. and 7. The name of this Nation which commeth up from the wildernesse me seemeth may easily be supposed out of other places of the Prophets As Esay chap. 19 23. c. wherein he treateth of the calling of the Assyrians and the Egyptians for though many of either Nation were in former times indued with the saving knowledge of Christ yet that small number was nothing to this great assembly now spoken of Hither belongeth that of Ezek. 47. 1 2. and Ioel cap. 3. 18. See Numb 25. 1. Zachary extendeth the limits of this kingdome from sea to sea Cap. 9. 10. and from the sloud to to the end of the earth for the pride of Assyria c. Zach. 10. 11. Wherefore this Church shall be that whole bordering Eastern Region Arabia Chaldea Babylonia Assyria and Persia and those inmost corners of the East The waters flowing into these Regions is the course of the Gospell wherewith they shall be watered leaning upon her beloved sheweth her great familiarity with him as lovers are wont to cast themselves into the bosomes of their beloved and whereas she was raised up under an apple tree we learned before that the Apple tree betokeneth inferiour Magistrates under whose shadow the Bridegroome covereth his Church as under Tamarisk and lower trees the high and loftie Cedars being cut downe Chap. 2. 3. 4. Wherefore the first infancie of this Church seemeth to be governed by some inferiour Officer who though in the beginning there wanted the chiefe Princes authority yet by his labour and diligence he shall bring it to passe that the seede of the truth sowen shall spring up into the light that men may behold it yet it seemeth more likely that this Magistrate should be given them of the Jewes to whose rule bordering Regions shall obey And therefore this Church is raised up under an Apple tree because it shall be ruled by such Government Vers 6. Set me as a seale upon thine heart as a Seale upon thine arme for love is strong as death jealousie as cruel as thâ— grave the â—oales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Such was the beginning The progresse shall be famous for her marvellous and earnest desire of piety which is most elegantly painted out in her desire and the reason thereof Her desire is that she may be as a seale on his heart and arme as a note Printed with a seale whereby the impression of it might be aswell deepely fixed inwardly in the minde as appeare alwaies outwardly to the sight wherein she desireth that she may cleave to him as the figure is wont which
flattering and glorious words wicked and treacherous practises And if he go on further to give credit unto them he shall cast head-long himselfe wife and children and all the confederates of Christendome into pernicious destruction whence the Pope of Rome shall take up a great laughter But the Lord doth raise up an Elector which shall throw down and raze out the Romane Antichrist with all his members and ayders In this violent head-long and Sea-tumult and in the song of despaire of the Romane Caesar the Exiles of all the Kings and Princes of Europe the Bavarians the Bohemians Burgundians and Portingalls shall be restored to their former estate And a noble and stout Bohemian Lord doth possesse and recover his jurisdiction They that have not seene the destruction the meeting together of Armes and the dissipation these being expelled shall plot or seeke their recovery And the heires of them shall contend and labour that by the bounty of the last Emperour of Germanie they may be set againe in the place of their Ancestors There ariseth now a fortunate Bohemian Zisca for the Bohemian Warre And a certaine Germane Zisca most powerfull and famous who shall bruise and breake the heads of the Iesuites in Germany He shall drive and banish them out of Bohemia and Austria and shall subdue to himselfe the Bohemians and all that thorow Austria and Pannonia even to Constantinople and all those people And therefore it is meete and just that a glittering and precious golden crowne burning be set on the head of this Teutonicall or Germane Zisca or on the head of the Storke who being a great and stout Warriour doth come forth out of the stock of Mars And he shall be called a worthy noble man He shall ruse victoriously which shall doe these famous things and happily finish them with his other Captaines of Zisca After these changes a subtile exercised interpretor of the Revelation of Saint Iohn may more easily understand and more lively decipher the same the ninths being past by little and little betweene the 606. There shall be a more lively explication of those things which Ezechiel and Daniel have Prophesied of the last Act of the age of the world Paulus Grebnerus his silken thread of the world perfected at Magdeburgh Anno. 1574. This booke was found in the Closet of Queen Elizabeth at her death by Doctor Nevill c. Also a Prophesie of Capistranus in the Records of Canterbury The Lyon of the house of Burgundy having got the Empire will seeke to build a sure nest for his young but it shall not be for there ariseth a certaine grave and constant man neere Aquisgrave of the Rheine who being chosen shall restore the Apostolicall discipline And in the third incursion of time shall prevaile and do great things and there shall be of his race to the day of jadgement This Capistranus was a Franciscan Minorite Fryer and prayed for the Souldiers under Huniades at the siege of Belgrade by the Turke Anno 1454. saith Symonds fol. 224. He is also one of Maxwells Prophets Also Nostrodamus saith that Rome shall be ruled by her old Britâ—nish head Those 10. Kings which were to rise with the beast and gave their power to her and which shall also hate the Whore and make her desolate Bale reckons them as before seven in England the other three in Wales Ireland and Scotland These saith he rose with the Beast and first gave their power to the Beast and did hâ—m homage paying him Peter pence as a service This was Anno 433. This kingdome was afterward reduced into a Monarchy by Aluredus Anno Dâ—m 687. But I rather like Grebnerus judgement who reckons them thuâ— The French the English the Danes the Swetians and the Germanes for they begin to combine prettily together at this time Savanorolla saith that one should come over the Alpes like to Cyrus which should subvert and destroy Jtaly and Rome He lived about Anno 1496. saith Lanquet FINIS 1 King 10. 9. Ioh. 3. 33 1 Thes 21. 1 Cor. 14. 33.