against us There is nothing in Heaven Earth or Hell can possibly dismay us where God is present being apprehended by Faith But there is another thing here which maketh her esteem his Name not only because his Name is as Ointment but also as Ointment poured forth His Name is not as Ointment kept in a Box but as Ointment poured out If Ointment were kept in a Box always and not poured out then no Man could smell it but being poured out it will make an excellent Persume as may be seen by that Ointment which Mary brought in an Alabaster Box to anoint Christ withall She breaketh the Box and poureth it out and it is noted John 12. the whole House did smell of the Odour of it Before the Box was broken it did not smell so much but after the Box was broken and the Ointment poured out it did smell exceedingly So although the Humanity of Christ be filled with all Grace that a Creature can be capable of yet if no Man knew it what were it the better But when he is declared and manifested to Man then he is as an Ointment poured out and this is done by the preaching of the Gospel There is a double consideration to be had about the pouring out of Christ's Ointments the one is the pouring them out upon his own doings the other is when the Ointment is poured out upon the Virgins The one of these pourings out respecteth himself but the other respecteth fainting distressed Minds The one is the pouring forth of his Ointments upon the Actions of the Redeemer the other is the pouring them forth into the Consciences of the Redeemed For the case standeth thus If the Actions that were Christ's own had not been perfumed with the excellent savour of his Ointments they had not been fit nor of sufficient worth for a Redemption but seeing they were all perfumed with the Infinite Odour of the Godhead therefore they became a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour acceptable to the Father And as the Grace that is in Christ Jesus did make him shine and glitter in the sight of the Father so when his Ointments are poured out in the preaching of the Gospel it maketh him shine and glitter in the Consciences of the Elect. And this is that which the Bride here hath an Eye unto even to that which is poured upon the Virgins whereby they came to love him which could never be if it were only poured upon his own doings and no man knew it therefore that the Virgins may love him they must smell the sweetness of the Ointments themselves And this is done when it is poured out in the preaching of the Gospel This sheweth us that without we are persum'd by these Ointmenes we are no better in the sight of God than stinking Carrion and that until the Gospel hath poured out the Ointments we can never be perfumed thereby Therefore when thou feelest the stink of thy Sins make hast to the Box of Perfume that the sweet Ointments may be poured upon thee Pitiful it is if thou know not the stink of thy Sins and worse not to know of this Heavenly Box of Perfume but worst of all to those that cannot abide this Heavenly Ointment but stop their Nostrils at the breaking of the Box what will become of such But that the word to them will become a savour of Death unto Death Learn thou therefore to smell this sweet and heavenly Perfume then shalt thou find in thy self the same Effects that were wrought in the Virgins as here followeth Therefore the Virgins love thee The Church in general and all the Members thereof in particular are called Virgins in respect of the purity of their Faith being formed without the works of the Law In this sence the Church is called a Virgin by St. Paul 2 Cor. 11.2 I have presented you a pure Virgin to Christ So that she is a Virgin in regard she is delivered from the Law and married to Christ by Faith alone She is ignorant of the Law knowing nothing of the Law and her own Righteousness in the matter of her justification before God She hath a single Eye beholdeth not a double object in distress of Mind but fixeth her Eye upon Christ alone If thou formest thy Faith only by the promise then thou art delivered from the Law and Curse of God but if thou countest thine own Works to be Essential to Faith then the Virginity of Faith is lost then thou dost Adulterate from the Promise and art overwhelmed with the Curse This Virginity is preserved where there is a right distinction taught between Faith and the Law man's Reason when it heareth the promises to be annexed to the Law it presently concludeth as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai All that the Lord commandeth us we will do thinking it self sufficiently able to perform the Law Which opinion in Man causeth not only the loss of true Virginity but also of true and everlasting Happiness Now there being so wide a difference between Faith and Man's opinion of the Law it will not be amiss to consider what true obedience to the Law is There is a double Consideration to be had about Obedience to the Law Active and Passive Active Obedience is when thou puttest forth all thy Abilities to perform the Law Passive Obedience is when thou submit test thy self to the condemning Power of the Law and utterly renouncing the Law flyeâ— to Christ by Faith This Passive Obedience goeth before Justification forgiveness of Sins and imputation of Righteousness being promised to it and Active Obedience followeth after This Passive Obedience I call Obedience to the Law because it is required in the first Command ment which forbiddeth thee to depend upon thine own Righteousness which is by the Law and requireth thee to lay hold on the Righteousness of God Rom. 3.21 which is manife-fested without the Law So that all those Scriptures that require a necessity of the Law as the doers of the Law shall be justified and bless those only that are the doers of the Commandments intend this Active and Passive Obedience in order as hath been said And therefore must be understood according to the first Commandment which first teacheth us to hear the word of the Curse and to justifie God and next it driveth us to the promise which justifieth us And this is the true obedience of Faith which I here call the Passive Obedience which as soon as thou enterest into thou becomest a pure Virgin to Christ and yieldest thy self in Marriage to the Son of God which as soon as thou apprehendest by Faith thy Conscience is made joyful and glad by the Righteousness of thy Redeemer which also breedeth in thee Active Obedience whereby thou joyfully dost good works unto thy Neighbour Faith then separateth between Active and Passive Obedience and so preserveth pure Virginity in the Church for it placeth the one before and the other after justification Where
Lamb. And to be even shorn which sheweth the goodness of the pasture where they feed whereby they grow to be in very high case even like sheep that are fed in fat ground that are so rank in wooll and so high in flesh that they will shear even And to bring forth twins because they teach a right conceiving of the use and Office of the Law and Gospel These twins every one of these teeth bring forth and not one is said to be barren among them This sheweth us that those which so handle the word of God as to destroy the use and office of the Law and Gospel thereby are not the teeth of the Church here spoken of because they destroy the twins They are not the right breakers of the bread of life they chew not the Spiritual meat aright and therefore it never comes to be nourishment to the Soul but in stead thereof the sheep do hunger-bane and starve away And from hence it comes to pass that when shearing time comes when the owner of the sheep should receive the profit of his flock there is nothing to be had neither wooll nor Lamb. For instead of chewing and preparing the word that the Conscience may rightly conceive and bring forth twins they fume into the stomach a false opinion of God and the loss of true and Eternal happiness Hos 9.11 For the glory of Israel flyeth away like a Bird from the birth from the womb and from the conception the Conscience which is the womb of the Church never rightly conceiving of the Law nor of the Gospel Such teeth are rotten and must be drawed being fit for nothing but to be plucked out because no man is nourished by them but every mans mind and Conscience remains defiled Therefore that the word of God may rightly be conceiv'd in the Conscience which is the womb of the Church the Rams of the flock must be of a right kind For the twins come not altogether by reason of the fatness of the pasture but also from the breed of the Ram. Therefore it was promised as a great blessing to the Church by the Holy Ghost when the Rams of Nebajoth should Minister unto it Esa 60. Nebajoth was the eldest son of Ishmael so called by his Town which belonged to the Isles of the Gentiles Now the Gentiles had not the Law yet did pertain to the promise made to Abraham in thy seed shall all Nations of the Earth be blessed These Rams then of Nebajoth were such as should learn by the Gospel rightly to understand the Law and also by the Gospel to attain to the righteousness of the Law Such Rams must be chosen and drove into the flock who can teach by the Gospel the true understanding of the Law that Doctrine and that alone bringeth forth twins and not one is barren among them By this we may easily discern between the teeth of the Church that have this commendation of our Lord Jesus Christ and those teeth that serve for no other use but to corrupt the word of God Also from hence we must learn so to expound hear and receive the word that the right use and Office of the Law and Gospel may be known and preserved every one that so Preacheth Expoundeth and receiveth the same shall bring forth twins and not one shall remain barren among them VERSE III. Thy lips are like a threed of Scarlet and thy speech is comely thy Temples are like a piece of a Pomegranate within thy locks THe lips are the instruments of speech by which words are uttered Which words are like a threed of Scarlet when they are dyed in the blood of Christ and also like a threed when they are fastned and hang'd together as it were with a threed or lace when Arguments are grounded upon a right division when one thing is so drawn out of another that there is no destroying of any one point unless the threed be broke and all be destroyed together then is the speech comely Contrary to this it is when arguments are not grounded upon a right division when the affirming of one thing overthrows another when both notwithstanding are strongly holden for truths Such Doctrine is not laced together with a threed neither is there any knot to be undone because the Doctrine divideth of its own nature The Temples are the seat of invention or finding out of things And are said to be like a piece of a Pomegranate Psal 132.5 because the rind of the Pomegranate being broken of the kernels make an excellent shew Therefore the Churches temples are here commended because she findeth out the mistery of the Gospel in handling the word of God she breaketh the rinde and sheweth the kernels of things which is very delightful and pleasant to the Soul VERSE IV. Thy neck is like the Tower of David builded for an armory whereon there hang a thousand bucklers all shields of mighty men BY the neck of the Church is meant strength Lam. 1.14 as appears in divers places in the Lamentations of Jeremiah Lam. 5.5 And is said to be like the Tower of David because when David was anointed King over Israel 1 Sam. 5.7 he took the Fort of Zion and made himself strong against the Jebusites by fortifying the same and overcame them 1 Cro. 11.5 Now the strength of the Church is faith which being likened to Davids Tower sheweth us that even as David by the strength of his Tower fortified himself against the Jebusites So is the Church also fortified by her faith which as the neck knitteth the body to the head knitteth her to Christ by which she overcometh all her Spiritual Enemies But where there is no faith there Christ and the Church are parted because there is no neck to join them together Such may be joined to the Societies of men but they cannot be united to Christ because they want the neck which couples the Church to Christ Therefore seeing faith is our victory by which we must overcome all the fiery darts of the Devil it behoveth us to know the proper nature of it and the right use of it and also how to define it rightly in the time of Temptation lest otherwise in stead of conquering we should in the end be overthrown Moreover in that it is said there hang a thousand bucklers thereon it further sheweth us that faith is a most mighty shield for even as King Davids Tower built for an armory was fortified with Spears Shields and Bucklers 2 Cron. 23.9 to strengthen him against his corporal enemies so faith wheresoever the use of it is rightly known hath all things in it to defend us from our spiritual enemies because it knitteth us to all the power and protection that is in God Therefore these Bucklers are said to be all shields of Mighty men because all that put upon them the shield of faith are mighty to overcome themselves the world and the Devil So that even
do proceed from the Mouth of Christ her Beloved For when Satan rageth the Law threatneth and her Conscience accuseth yet then the Mouth of her Beloved is most sweet and Lovely His Lips are like Lillies dropping sweet smelling Myrrhe The kisses of an Enemy are deceitful Prov. 27.6 Can. 5.16 therefore she desireth her Friend The Law cannot comfort her in the day of distress therefore she desireth after her Lord. She forsaketh the Servant and desireth to be kissed with the kisses of Christ's mouth Now the reason why she desireth the kisses of Christ above all others is set down in the next words For thy Love is better than Wine In which words she setteth out the excellency of his Love far beyond all his Gifts Wine is an excellent gift of God having many excellent Properties in it 1 Tim. 5. it helpeth the infirmity of Man's Body it is delightful to the Eye pleasant to the Tast but above all this the Psalmist saith Psal 104.15 It maketh glad the Heart of Man These things she denieth not but that they are very delightful but yet she esteemeth them as nothing in comparison of his Love Wine also was in much esteem at Marriages as we see by the Wedding Christ was at when he turned Water into Wine yet notwithstanding all these the Bride is more imflamed with the Love of his Person than with the Love of Wine and the reason she giveth is because his Love is better than Wine Which sheweth us the right way how to have a light esteem of all things under the Sun which is to fasten our Eyes upon something that is better And also that when we are in the greatest Misery by reason of Sin and the Cross it sheweth us what to do even then to desire the apprehension of Christ's Love and to assure our selves by Faith that he speaketh good and comfortable words unto us and not as the Law and our own evil Consciences doth these things thou hast done and therefore thy Misery is just I say Christ doth not thus speak to the humbled Soul but ceaseth then from Rigour parteth with his Right and speaketh the words of Grace and Consolation to us Therefore must we embrace his Heavenly kiss with thankful Hearts and then shall we find by experience that to be true which the Bride here singeth Thy Love is better than Wine VERSE III. Because of the savour of thine Ointments HEre it is farther shewed by the holy Ghost why the Bride doth so much esteem of his Love and why her Affection is so much drawn to him it is because of the savour of his Ointments his Person is most excellent and sweet for being anointed with the Godhead all his Actions became meritorious for her in the sight of the Father For it must be noted that when the nature of Man was taken by the Godhead in Unity of Person it was filled with notable and excellent Graces both with all created and uncreated Perfections with Wisdom in the Understanding Holiness in the Will Purity in the Affections in all points whereby the Body it self became a worthy Instrument for the great Work of Man's Redemption And these the Bride calleth his Ointments by which he became a Person whose sacrifice was a sweet smelling savour not only in the sight of God but also in the Consciences of all the Elect. And this anointing of Christ was shadowed in the Law Exod. 20.30 when God did appoint that there should be an anointing Oyl made of the Oyl of Olives and other notable Perfumes for the anointing of Aaron and his Sons and the Vessels of the Sanctuary which holy Oyl was to be as a Sacrament of that most excellent sweetness that should be found in Christ the high Priest of his Church That even as Aaron and his Sons being anointed therewith were made to smell sweet in the Nostrils of the People so the Godhead did persume the Humanity of Christ with such most excellent sweetness whereby the smell of his Actions did make a most pleasant Persume for us in the fight of God the Father But besides these Ointments of the Sanctuary there were other Ointments also that Kings did use who had as it seemeth the fairest and sweetest things that could be invented for themselves and their Queens to perfume their Clothes withall as appears by Queen Esther Esth 2.12 who for certain days before she came to the King perfumed her self with Oyl of Myrrhe and sweet Odours and other things which were appointed for the purification of Women And Solomon also being a Type of Christ Psal 45. is said to have his Garments perfumed with Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia out of the Ivory Palaces Now either of these Ointments whether those that were made for Priests or the Perfume that was made for Kings do serve to set forth the most excellent sweetness that is in Christ whereby distressed Consciences when once perfumed therewith do become an Odour of a sweet smelling Sacrifice in the sight of God And therefore Christ under the Figure of Solomon is said to be anointed with the Oyl of Gladness Psal 45. because when the Merits of his Actions are given to the distressed Conscience it is delivered from the guilt of Sin and wrath of God And therefore it is that the Bride here speaketh of the savour of his Ointments She looketh not upon any thing of worth in her self but smelleth the savour of the good Ointments of her Beloved which are as a Soveraign Balm to heal her of all her wounds and of infinite sweetness to drive away the stinking and loathsom smell of all her Sins from the presence of God whereby she comes to be filled with sweet and Heavenly delight Which teacheth us the true nature and use of Faith which is that when we feel the stink of our Sins the grievousness of our Wounds and the loathsomness of our filthy Nature not then to look after any worthiness in our selves but only to smell to the sweet and precious Ointments of our Beloved which being presented before the Justice Seat do send forth such a smell that causeth the Father to forget the stink of all our Sins and will also fill our Minds and Consciences with Heavenly delight For to this purpose was the Lord Jesus Christ anointed that our Minds and Consciences might be fill'd with the savour thereof Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth In which words the Bride farther amplifieth why she doth so much esteem of his Love it is from his Name For it was promised concerning Christ That a Virgin should Conceive and bring forth a Son and his Name shall be called Emanuel which is God with us The understanding of this Name she saith is as precious Ointment because through this Name she hath her Mind perfumed and her Conscience discharged from the wrath of God for if God be present the scar of his wrath must needs be absent If God be with us who can be
this Virginity of Faith is the Conscience resteth hopeth and rejoyceth in Christ his Saviour and the outward Man joyfully doth good works unto his Neighhour Love thee The holy Ghost here sheweth the reason why the Virgins fall in Love with Christ which is as was said before drawn from the savour of his Ointments The first Commandment is Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart But now the Question is how this Love of God shall be wrought in the Soul that what is commanded in the Law may be attained to That which is here set down resolves this Question Therefore the Virgins love thee Not because of the Law but because of the Gospel So that the Gospel teacheth thee how to attain to all those things which are required in the Law namely To love God and thy Neighbour otherwise thy Obedience is nothing worth This had need be well understood by those in the Ministry lest instead of teaching Men to love God they drive them from God and cause them to hate and abhorr him more than they did before Lest instead of teaching the Passive Obedience which breedeth Love to God they press nothing but the Active Obedience which driveth all Men from God for it breedeth in Men an opinion of Righteousness by the Law which is a Sin directly against the first Commandment Therefore Christ calleth this manner of Teaching a teaching Men to break the Law He that breaketh the least Commandment Mat. 5.19 and teacheth Men so shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven This teacheth Men to break the Law because it establisheth in Men a false opinion of the Law which bindeth all Men under the Curse of God Now to teach Men to break the Law is when no other Righteousness is required to make Men Holy and Righteous in the sight of God and Conscience but only the Righteousness of the Law These are the least least of all accounted in the sight of God and least of all accounted on in the Church of God because they forsake the true and lay another Foundation of Faith and Holiness which is contrary to the testimony of the holy Ghost here and also contrary to the Doctrine of the first Commandment as hath been shewed before VERSE IV. Draw me IT is not here said Command me or Compel me and we will run but draw me This sheweth what Doctrine it is by which the Soul is united to Christ it is not done by pressing or requiring the works of the Law but by giving or infusing into the Soul the Righteousness of the Gospel For the Church is here in heaviness and weariness being not able of her self to go nor stand by reason of her Sin and the greatness of her Affliction by which she is filled with so many fears and perplexities that the Heart is even ready to sink into despair and to conclude that God hath cast it off for ever Now what shall be said to this miserable Woman in this condition that may be sutable in order to her Peace and Comfort Shall it be said go thy way amend thy Life keep the Commandments of God and then thou shalt have full deliverance This is even as for a Malefactor that is condemned by the Law and nothing can help him but Mercy to be sent to his Accuser for help and deliverance This is not to draw the Soul to Christ but to wrap it up in Guilt and Bondage Therefore when thy Conscience is in distress thou must then hear no Law but harken only to the voice of the blessed Son of God which draweth thee to himself not by the Law but by the Gospel which delivereth thee from all thy fears and distresses and settleth thee in a Kingdom of Peace and Joy Christ doth not put the Conscience in fear as the Law doth but speaketh comfortable words to the trembling afflicted Conscience John 8. The poor Woman that was taken in Adultery no doubt was in a trembling and very sad condition when she was so vehemently accused by the Pharisees when they brought her before Christ Master say they this Woman was taken in the very act must she not be stoned For so Moses wrote what sayest thou But Christ maketh no answer to them only writeth with his Finger on the ground and biddeth them He that is without Sin cast the first Stone at her and they being all convicted went out one by one But the Woman stayed and heard Christ No doubt the poor Woman could not chuse but fall in Love with Christ greatly which appeared by her staying until the Pharisees were all gone and none left but only Christ and her self For Christ did not put her in fear neither was she afraid of him but he asked her this Question Woman where are thine Accusers Hath no Man condemned thee She said No Man Lord. And Jesus said Neither do I Condemn thee This was comfortable to the poor Woman that had broken the Seventh Commandment for it is thus much in effect in as much as thou hidest not thy Sin nor flyest away but abidest with me and expect mercy and forgiveness from me therefore behold I will not Condemn thee but forgive thy Sin Go and Sin no more And by this means was this poor distressed Woman drawn to Christ even by the loving and gentle carriage of Christ her Lord For she regardeth not the Accusation of the Pharisees nor yet the Accusations of her own Conscience but listeneth and harkeneth very diligently to the comfortable News that the Gospel bringeth And this is the request of the Bride in this place when she says Draw me and this must we all do when we are in misery and distress even desire to hear and rest upon the blessed voice of the Son of God And we will run after thee That is to say in all times of Misery and Affliction we will make hast after thee Having once found how and after what manner Christ doth draw which is by presenting himself and his merits unto the Conscience in distress against the Accusations of the Law and the fear of God's wrath she finding him to be a Person so gentle and amiable one that will not upbraid her and discomfort her adding Affliction to the Afflicted but that speaketh kindly and friendly to her saith here We will run after thee This running is nothing but with readiness of Affection and speediness of Action to make application of the Promises in time of distress and therefore it is said After thee that is after thee for Succour and Comfort in the time of great Affliction and Misery The KING hath brought me into his Chambers The Church desireth to be drawn before after Christ began to pull her once she ran speedily after him Now here she sheweth whither she was pulled or drawn it was into his Chambers and also by whom she was drawn even by the King the Lord Jesus Christ her Beloved He that might disdain her as a Begger
Law Gal. 4.5 Rom. 8.3 Heb. 2.14 Hos 13.14 Joh. 3.16 Satan sin and death which victory is given to thee as soon as thou believest And it is further added here the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him by which is meant the Church And by Crowning him the right preaching of the Gospel and also receiving of the same Gal. 4.26 For even as Batsheba the Mother of Solomon became instrumental for the setting of King Solomon on his Regal Throne 1 Kings So doth the Church which is the Mother of us all become instrumental in the Crowning of Christ by the Preaching of the Gospel Now Christ is Crowned by his Mother when she so interpreteth the Law that she taketh away all glory from man and attributeth the praise of her Salvation to Christ alone In the Crowning of Christ she afflicteth her Children with the feeling of sin by the Law and comforteth them again with the Crown and victory of the Lord Jesus Christ without the Law The Mother of Harlots Rev. 18. Crowneth Christ in words calling him her Lord King and Law-giver but by her practice she denyeth him For she so interpreteth all those Scriptures that are branches of the Law that she draweth the Law into the Doctrine of justification Thus she taketh off the Crown from Christs head Heb. 2. who is Crowned with Glory and Honour and putteth upon his head a Crown of Thornes There is a two fold Crowning of Christ in Scripture by his Father and by his Mother The first was at his Resurrection 2 Acts 36. when he was declared to be Lord and Christ that was by his Father the second when the benefits of his death and Resurrection are infused into the Consciences of men by the Preaching of the Gospel this is done by his Mother Therefore we are not only to behold him Crowned by the Father although that we must do first but also to learn the true way of Crowning him as the Mother that he alone may reign in the heart and Conscience This is the day of the gladness of Christs heart it being the day of his espousals when he marrieth us unto himself in an everlasting Covenant and rejoyceth in us and over us as the Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride Now when we have learn'd by faith to be separated from the Law and to go forth and behold King Solomon with his Crown then must we come into the practice of the Law which is to go forth and behold him in his afflicted members to help those that are in misery Tit. 3.8 to comfort all that are in distress Thus all that have believed in God must be careful to maintain good works which are good and profitable unto men So that although the Gospel divorceth us from the Law in the matter of justification yet it joyneth us to the matter of Sanctification and causeth us to do that freely for others according to our power which our Lord Jesus Christ out of his abundant kindness hath freely done for us For who can choose but shew kindness joyfully to his brother that hath apprehended by faith the love of Christ towards himself All works before the Gospel is received are naught because they are not directed towards men but drawn into the judgment seat to make us righteous but faith separateth works from the judgment seat and directeth them towards our neighbour and so it makes our works good works This wisdom the world understandeth not therefore it is Condemned for despising the Gospel which it will not be subject to Let us learn therefore to lay aside our works when we come before God that we may be justified by faith and live in the practice of all good works before men that we may want no qualification which the Gospel requires CHAP. IV. VERSE I. Behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair thou hast doves eyes within thy locks thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Mount Gilead CHRIST having in the former verse directed the Church how to receive his righteousness by faith alone here he commendeth her for her fairness and calleth her to behold it and doubles it again that she may believe it In which commendation he setteth her forth by the parts and features of the body by which are meant the Spiritual beauty of the Church First he commendeth her eyes which are the instruments of sight whereby she beholdeth her beloved and compareth them to the eyes of doves in regard she continually respecteth her mate as the dove Which sheweth that when she is disowned and forsaken of the Law yet then she looketh up by faith unto her Redeemer In regard therefore that she spieth out by faith the comforts of her beloved in a sad condition she is pronounced to be fair and called to behold it And after the same manner it is also with us as soon as we humble our selves for our wretchedness and do behold his righteousness to be given unto us it is pronounced in Heaven thou art fair my love thou art fair Therefore this being the decree that is pronounc'd in Heaven we must learn by faith to behold and receive it into the Conscience The next thing commended is her hair which seemeth to mean the whole company of believers as may be gathered from the similitude of the Prophets hair Ezek. 5.1 12. which signified the dividing of the people of Israel and also in regard of the Original from whence the hair proceedeth which is the head having its nourishment from the moisture and strength of the head And also it being likened to a flock it doubtless meaneth the flock of Christ These hairs are likened to the Goats that appear from Mount Gilead which was a Mountain beyond Jordan Num. 32 39. where the tribe of Manasseh dwelt Which Mountain being excellent for feeding those that dwelt there had many Goats and also there were Trees of price and estimation for the Goats to breuse on and to rub themselves against therefore the Goats were of good liking and also smooth Now the hairs being likened to a flock of these Goats it sheweth that they have rich seeding in green pastures because they all hang upon their head the Lord Jesus Christ VERSE II. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn which came up from the washing whereof every one bear twins and none is barren among them THe teeth are the instruments of the stomach whereby the meat is fitted for disgesture by which are signified the Ministers of the word and breakers of the bread of life whose office is so to chew the Spiritual meat that it may be digested and become nourishment to the Soul These are said to be like a flock of sheep Esa 40.9 because they receive their nourishment from Christ of whom it is said he shall feed his flock like a shepherd And to go up from the washing being made white in the blood of the
Pomegranate because it being freely bestowed upon the Church by Christ himself she also freely giveth it to all that are willing to receive it This sheweth us what kindness those that are strong in the faith ought to shew towards those poor wretches that are newly coming on Even to take them as it were by the hand and bring them into their Mothers house to bring them acquainted with the Spiritual people that they may be well instructed in the Gospel even to those that are fill'd with spiced wine that have store of the juyce of the Pomegranate that are able by Divine arguments and by a holy kind of violence to fasten the words of Eternal life upon them All men must be willing and no man must think himself too great or too good to stoop to help poor dejected creatures this way Most men will be willing to discourse with those that are able and great in the Church that have least need of help but what shall be come of poor silly creatures that are ignorant Why should not poor people when they are found without and much distressed in consideration of their own barreness and by reason of the cross and great tribulations be saluted with the kiss of the Gospel seeing it hath been and is the practise of the godly rather then those that are better able to help themselves The want of this thing sheweth that there are but a very few that do live in the right Practice of Piety VERSE III. His left hand should be under my head and his right hand should embrace me THese words seem to prevent an objection that may be made by a Conscience in distress for when once a man feeleth himself under the curse and in great tribulations he begins to be afraid and to cry out for help What shall I do To this the Church answereth here after the manner of a Lover his left hand shall be under my head meaning his humanity And his right hand shall embrace me meaning his Divinity She speaketh in the first person but the whole company of believers are included being all one body by faith The Church teacheth this Divine and Heavenly art how to unlade the Conscience of sins burthens cares and calamities upon the humanity of Christ who nail'd them all to his cross and burried them in his grave and how to receive the embraces of Christ from his Divinity whereby he conquered all the enemies of man After the same manner must we also learn and teach others even when the Conscience is in distress to unlade it by faith upon Christs humanity and when we stand in need of any help or succour then by faith to receive it from the Divinity Then shall we by the blessings of his left hand be eased of our burthens and sorrows and by the blessings of his right hand shall have a supply of all our wants from him VERSE IV. I charge you O yee Daughters of Jerusalem that yee stir not up nor awake my love until he please THis charge is given by Christ to the Daughters of Jerusalem not to disturb the Bride in this her holy faith and confidence wherein she sweetly sleepeth and resteth secure in the promises contrary to reason and not to awake her until himself please which is never VERSE V. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness leaning upon her beloved THese are the continued words of Christ and so to the eight Verse And it is a Note of admiration at the spouse in that she leaneth upon Christ by faith in all the tribulations that she meeteth with in the wilderness of this world by which faith she also cometh out of them all She is not commended nor admired at for her Riches Honour Prosperity and esteem amongst men For in the wilderness she is commonly without all these things being afflicted with Poverty Reproach and all manner of Calamities Counted as an object and as the off-scowring of all things Yet in that she doth not faint and pine away in this Condition but humbleth and submitteth her self to the cross and leaneth upon her beloved through faith she is look't upon with a Note of admiration Who is this We see this then clear That at the self same time that the Church is look't upon as an object of reproach and of no esteeem by men of the World she is look't upon with admiration by the Lord Jesus Christ In that she is in the Wilderness where she is afflicted being without the glory of the World she is despised of men but in that she is not offended at her condition but leaneth upon her beloved by Faith she is look't upon with admiration by the Lord Jesus Christ And the reason why she is so much admired is because she fighteth with the word of God against all enimies at once she setteth the Gospel against all oppositions therefore Christ says here Who is this She hath not only Enemies without but also within she hath the World the Flesh and the Devil yet with one weapon she over-comes them all and that is Faith in her beloved Which consideration must wonderfully comfort all those poor wretches which are much afflicted by men that are despised and rejected of the World who by reason of their blemishes and staines or poverty or any outward calamity which things are common in the Wilderness are despised and reproached and even utterly rejected of the World yet in that they are willing to submit unto the Cross without being offended to humble themselves and cleave to Christ by Faith their comfort lies in this that at the very same time that they are despised of men they are look't upon with admiration by the Lord Jesus Christ Which must encourage every man to submit himself to his Heavenly Father if he please to exercise him in such a condition This course must we also take when the Conscience accuseth us the Law threatneth and we can apprehend nothing but death Eternal even then must we fall down before him confessing our sins and hearken to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ who at the very self same time that we humble our selves before him doth speak good and comfortable words unto us on purpose to draw us to himself therefore must we hearken to him and believe his words then shall we not only feed upon the hid Manna that will comfort us in the wilderness but also joyfully shall come forth of the wilderness leaning upon our beloved I raised thee up under the apple-tree there thy Mother brought thee forth there she brought thee forth that bare thee These words shew how this faith and dependance was wrought in the Church I raised thee up under the Apple-tree By the Apple-tree is meant Christ himself And it being said under the Apple-tree it sheweth that no man can be raised to any degree in the faith without the fruits of the Tree And also that the fruits of Christs death and resurrection do naturally and freely drop upon
must all learn for the helping and comforting of our little Sister that she being so setled in the love of her Redeemer she may burst forth into love and all good works amongst men To teach this point aright hath hath some difficulty in it as appears by the moan she makes what shall we do for her in that day which sheweth it requireth some skill yet this was her practice and endeavour as appeareth in the next words VERSE IX If she be a wall we will build upon her a Palace of Silver and if she be a door we will inclose her with boards of Cedar WHich is as much as to say this if she be a wall that setleth aright upon the foundation laid in Sion in the day that she is spoken for and doth not turn aside to another foundation we will then build upon her that is upon her principles a Palace for the King to delight himself in Which Palace or Spiritual house cannot perfectly be finished until the full number of the Elect be call'd Heb. 11. until which time the true Church and every particular member thereof according to his capacity laboureth in building And it being said to be builded of Silver it sheweth the matter that buildeth the Palace which is the Doctrine of the Gospel which elsewhere is compar'd to Gold 1 Cor. 3. Silver and precious Stones being pure and lasting and things of inestimable worth And further if she be a dore which is that openeth to hear and receive the promise of Everlasting life which is made to all those that are spoken for which feel and confess their death by the Law we will enclose her with boards of Cedar she shall be safe in the Kings Place where the King is always present VERSE X. I am a wall and my breasts like Towers then was I in his eyes as one that found Favour THe little Sister having heard that Christ by the Law bespeaketh her for himself that she is not spoken to to be left under wrath and condemnation but spoken for that she might be delivered from an opinion of righteousness by the Law and might be married to Christ this being the intent of the Spokesman she concludeth I am a Wall As soon as ever she understandeth the Office of the Law truly it worketh in her a sence of Faith and so it in with all people for it is as much as to say then am I settled in mind for as much as the Office of the Law is not to justifie but to bring me to Christ that I might be justified by Faith And she further saith my Breasts are like Towers the one of my Breasts destroyeth my opinion of righteousness by the Law the other of my Breasts giveth me Life everlasting without the Law These she saith are as Towers or Castles of Defence which are built to preserve the City from the Enemy He that liveth in both these Towers is safe from the malice of Satan and wrath of God This knowledge of Christ breaketh the head of Satan and utterly aboblisheth his Kingdom therefore she addeth then was I in his Eyes as one that found favour then and not till then The knowledge of the Gospel giveth us a certain evidence that we are in God's favour Mark this then well that thou attainest not his favour by the Works of the Law but only by Faith in Christ without the Law which Faith condemneth thee by the Law and so destroyeth thine opinion of the Law and giveth thee an assurance that Christ is given most freely where that opinion is destroyed Learn thou then to believe that Christ is given to thee because Ezek. 13.10 because thou feelest and confessest thy just condemnation by the Law Then shalt thou also become a Wall Ezek. 13.14 15. and thy Breasts like Towers They that require nothing but Works in building the Wall do daub but with untempered morter which shall be broken down and they that daubed it Learn thou then with Paul even through the Law to become dead to the Law that thou maist live unto God without the Law then shalt thou be in his Eyes as one that findeth favour VERSE XI Solomon had a Vineyard at Baal-hammon he let out the Vineyard unto keepers every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of Silver CHrist in these words compares his own Vineyard the Church with the Vineyard of Solomon at Baalhamon which formerly was his Father David's who appointed Officers to look to his Vineyard and to manure it and to pay him an yearly Tribute for the same 1 Chro. 24. and to retain part of the profit themselves Now the Vineyard of our King Solomon is the House of Israel Isa 5. the universal Church of Jews and Gentiles and Baalhamon which signifies the Owner of a multitude sheweth the place where this Vineyard is planted even amongst the multitudes of this World He lets out his Vineyard also to Keepers Mat. 21.34 that is according to the Parable to Husbandmen to manure it and dress it and the reason rendered in the Parable is that they meaning the Husbandmen as well as himself might receive the Fruits of the Vineyard which is Life everlasting and also to yield unto himself a continual Tribute which is to render everlasting thanks and praises unto God for his infinite mercies and loving kindness to us and to serve him with joyfulness all the days of our Lives which is said here to be a thousand pieces of silver And this is all that is expected from us by our Lord King Solomon Now he sheweth in the next Words there is great reason we should return him thanks and praise for he says VERSE XII My Vineyard which is mine is before me I Set mine Eyes upon it continually and my care is always for it and although I sometimes hide mine Eyes from it seemingly for a time yet I keep it night and day lest any hurt it In answer to this follows next the words of the Spouse Thou O Solomon must have a Thousand Which is an indefinite Speech meaning To thee O Solomon be all praise and thanks for evermore for it is thy due for thou art worthy to receive all glory honour and praise for ever and ever Where she attributeth to Christ all that he requireth of her which is to sing everlasting praises to the honour of his name Next follows the last words of the Bridegroom in this Song And they that keep the fruit thereof two Hundred By which he meaneth also praises which sheweth he is so far from begrudging any one the Fruits of his Death and Resurrection that whosoever is but willing to receive the same shall have honour and praise for so doing for they that keep the Fruit thereof must have two hundred that is they shall be crowned with everlasting praise and honour at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ This is a most wonderful comfort to all poor wretches that almost all their Lives long are are oppressed with sins sorrows cares crosses and calamities which through manifold temptation are continually in heaviness of heart who if they are but willing to receive the fruits of the Vineyard they shall have two hundred They shall have honour and praise and glory at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ Next follow the words of the spouse which close up the whole Song VERSE XIII XIIII Thou that dwellest in the Gardens the companions hearken to thy voice cause me to hear it Make haste my beloved and be thou like to a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices VVHich words are a Prayer wherein the Church calleth upon her beloved not as the high and lofty one that doth inhabit Eternity but she looketh upon him as one whose dwelling is in Sion and whose delight is with the Sons of Men. O thou that dwellest in the Gardens that are constant and resident with thy poor afflicted people Thy companions hearken to thy voice meaning those that are in Church fellowship they hearken but they do not understand cause me to hear it meaning the whole company of the Elect who must all be united through faith into one body and spiritual communion Make haste my beloved my earnest desire is that this thing be speedily accomplished that even as the Roe or young hart doth speedily skip over the Mountains where spices grow So do thou speedily destroy all those Mountains in man that produce fruitlesness and barrenness that the spices of the Gospel may enter into the hearts of all thine Elect that the guilt of sin may be removed the reign of sin subdued that all afflictions may be sanctified and the whole universal Church may be armed and fortified against all the assaults of Satan in this life and may receive Eternal glory in the life to come FINIS
against God But the words are an Allegory wherein one thing is expressed and another thing is meant therefore we are not to understand by the Cheeks and Neck the Complexion of the Face but what ever may make the Bride beautiful and comely to behold That which gives light for the opening of this place is in Prov. 20.15 The Lips of Knowledge are a precious Jewel And Prov. 1.8 9. The Law is said to be an Ornament to the Head and as Chains about the Neck By which Scriptures it appeareth that as the fine Women in Solomon's time did use to adorn their Cheeks and Necks with Jewels set in rows and Chains of Gold for an addition of their Beauty so also the Church is adorned with Jewels Chains of Gold and Ornaments about her Head and Neck which is a right knowledge and understanding of the Law of Grace which maketh her to appear beautiful and glorious Also it is noted by some that the word Tor which signifies a Row having Affinity with the Hebrew word Torah which hath the name of the Law which is as Chains is used also for a Turtle Dove and then the words may be read thus Thy Cheeks are comely with rows of Jewels wherein are Figures of Turtles And the Turtle Doves were to be used in offering Sacrifice which Offerings and Sacrifices were Types and Figures of Christ's sufferings in the Flesh Now this teacheth us First what it is that doth bespangle the Church as it were with Chains and Jewels even the right understanding and opening of God's Law 1 Cor. 3.12 Isa 54.12 therefore the Doctrine of the Gospel is compared to Gold Silver and precious Stones And the Windows or Lights of the Church to Agates and the laying of her Foundation is said to be with Saphirs Rev. 21.19 and all manner of precious Stones which things as they do wonderfully shine and glitter in the Eyes of Men so the right understanding and opening of the Mystery of the Gospel doth make the Church to shine and glitter in the Eyes of all those that relish the same Next in that the Cheeks are comely with Figures of Turtles it teacheth us that as soon as the Church is adorned with Jewels and Chains as aforesaid as soon as once her Doctrine comes to make a glittering in the Church it bringeth upon her the Image or Figure of the Turtle that is to say Persecution and the Cross She is brought into a suffering condition for Christ's sake and here she is commended and said to be beautiful and very comely in that she patiently beareth the Image or Figure of the Turtle in suffering Calamities for Christ's sake which Calamities will come wheresoever the Gospel is truly preached and therefore the Cheeks of the Church are here commended And thus when the sufferings of Christ were spoken of by the Prophet it is said Isa 50. I gave my Back to the Smiters and my Cheeks to them that plucked off the Hair where the Cheeks and the Back only are named for all Christ's sufferings in regard of his Humanity And thus it is with the Church here So Jeremiah endured smitings and Paul buffettings but every buffetting that comes upon the Face for Christ's sake and the Gospel although it marr the Visage in the sight of Men yet it is as it were the planting of a Jewel in the sight of God He then that desireth to be spangled with rows of Jewels and Chains of Gold must be sure to learn in the first place the right understanding of the Law of Grace that his Doctrine may make a glittering in the Church Eze. 16.10 that the Heavenly City may be cloathed with broidered work and as it were decked with Ornaments and the Consciences of poor distressed Sinners may be garnished with all manner of precious Stones whereby they may be secured from the wrath of God Next he must arm himself quietly and patiently to suffer for the Gospel Then are the Cheeks comely with rows of Jewels then thou dost rightly bear the Image and Figure of the Turtle Dove even of the Lord Jesus Christ who hath loved thee and suffered for thee VERSE XI We will make thee Borders of Gold with Studs of Silver THese words are a promise of the Church's farther enlargement By Borders are here meant Salvation begun in this Life but perfected in the Life to come which the Prophet calleth Walls and Bulwarks Isa 26. because when the knowledge of Salvation comes into the Conscience it is a most sure and certain Defence Now here is an increase of the knowledge of Salvation promised that she may live in abundance of peace and quietness of Heart according to the words of the Prophet Violence shall no more be heard within thy Walls wasting nor Destruction within thy Borders which must be understood of the inward Man here in this Life when the fear of God's wrath is banish'd out of the Conscience through Faith in Christ but as it concerneth the Life to come it meaneth that eternal and everlasting Felicity which is prepared for us in the Kingdom of Heaven And it being said We will make thee it sheweth that the preparation of Salvation for us is a work of the whole Deity and also how both Grace and Glory comes unto us not because of our works but from the promise of God alone And in that the Borders are promised to be made of Gold it meaneth 1 Cor. 3. the preaching of the Gospel which is compared to Gold Silver and precious Stones and therefore the Streets of the City wherein the Bride liveth walketh Rev. 21. and rejoyceth are said to be all of pure Gold And the Borders being made with Silver Studs it meaneth the Righteousness of Christ inherent in himself and imputed to us which is as refined Silver free from all the dross of Man's original and actual Corruptions and is of sufficient value to defend our sinful Souls from the fears of the Law and malice of Satan and also to purchase for us that most excellent and eternal weight of Glory which we shall one day enjoy with the blessed Deity and all the Saints and Angels for evermore VERSE XII While the King sitteth at his Repast my Spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof THese words are the speech of the Church and do set forth the benefit she receiveth from her Beloved when she sitteth at Repast with him To sit at Repast as some say is to sit round in a Circle round about compassing a thing like as when Men sit at a round Table to refresh themselves at Dinner or at Break-fast So that Christ's sitting at Repast is his sitting in Compass And the Compass or Circle that he sits in is the Earth with his Chosen on Earth so that in all places where his Chosen are there sitteth Christ at Repast And when the Bride meeteth the King at Repast she says My Spikenard gave the smell thereof The Spikenard is a Flower growing
faith in the time of tribulation commendeth her for the same which sheweth that he is well pleased And the word behold sheweth his willingness she should know it And when he pronounceth her fair he meaneth free from the guilt of sin And when he saith my love he sheweth that her person is accepted And by the word thou he meaneth to exclude all those that are not of faith from shareing in the benefits of his Death and Resurrection Now the doubling of the words sheweth how hard it is for us in the hour of Temptation to apply our selves to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and also how willing the Lord Christ is that then we should not forget but remember his loving and comfortable words All these things are written that we might believe and that when the hour of Temptation cometh we should put them into use and practise otherwise we cannot possible please our head and Husband who came into the world on purpose and is ascended into Heaven on purpose that we might receive his benefits and rejoice in the same Thou hast doves eyes Now that which he chiefly praiseth the bride for is the eye as a thing which tendeth most of all to the setting out of her fairness other parts draw not the affection as doth the eye therefore Christ chooseth the eye to set forth the praise of his Church which standeth in a comparison thou hast doves eyes The doves eye is simple harmless is not crafty seeketh not greedily after a prey doth not peck with the Bill nor hurt any thing as other Birds do but here it is chiefly used to set forth the chastity of the Bride towards her Husband the Lord Jesus Christ who notwithstanding all her afflictions and temptations chuseth no other refuge to fly unto but with the Dove she cleaveth fast to her mate And also the eyes are here commended because through faith the killeth the Law and liveth in the service and freedom of her beloved and doth good works freely and of choise VERSE XVI Behold thou art fair my beloved THese are the words of the Church wherein she returneth the praise of all her beauty to her beloved who is fairer then the Sons of Men from whom all her fairness is derived She dareth not to appear before him in her self therefore prayeth him to behold his own fairness as being the only cause of her acceptance in his sight which is a rule and pattern for every man to imitate yea pleasant Thou art not only fair but also pleasant in thy self in the enjoyment of me and pleasant to me in that thou speakest so kindly to me and acceptest of me Which words do shew us what manner of person Christ is and what his carriage is to us altogether pleasant and lovely So that as soon as ever we look upon him by faith Esa 62.2 and humble our selves before him he rejoyceth in us and over us as the Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride Therefore when we are overwhelm'd with heaviness and sadness of heart this doth not come from Christ but from the Law and our evil conscience being not well purged and cleansed of unbelief for to those that are humbled before him Christ is pleasant Also our bed is green This is likely to be the joint speech of Christ and his Church rejoyceing together in the place of meeting for the bed is the place either in publick or private where Christ and his people meet together And by the greens of the bed is meant the fruitfulness that cometh by reason of the meeting of Christ and his Church Rom. 7. according to Saint Paul being married to Christ ye bring forth fruit unto God that is many Children unto glory The Gospel is the Doctrine that converts the Soul and the reason why so few are converted is because the Gospel is seldom Preached therefore the labours of the Ministry are not blest but men are smiten with barrenness become dead and withered Trees bringing forth no fruit at all unto God because they want the company of the Lord Jesus Christ in the bed therefore it being said our bed Agar the bondwoman is excluded from the priveledge of the bed as one who although she hath many Children before men yet she hath none at all before God and the reason is because she entertaineth not Christ in the bed she imbraceth the servant and forsaketh her Lord therefore that heavy judgment spoken of by the Prophet Esay follows in its time Esa 47.19 the loss of Children and Widdowhood shall come upon thee in one day in their perfection This is the heavy doom that will one day fall upon the bondwoman and all her Children her bed being too short and the covering too narrow to hide her from her sin and the wrath of God Almighty Learn we therefore that Doctrine which maketh the fruitful bed and sheweth the fruitful Mother that is so to understand the Law as it may further us to faith in Christ and so to understand the Gospel that it may further us in the duties of the Law This is a most rare and Heavenly Art which none can teach but the Holy Ghost let us therefore pray unto him without ceaseing to bestow this gift upon us who hath promised to bestow upon us all things that we shall aske which are according to his will Then shall the bed become fruitful then shall we rejoyce in the meeting place and say with the bride here our bed is also green VERSE XVII The beams of our house are Cedar and our rafters of Fir. NOw here is shewed the reason why the bed comes to be so fruitful and how the family of God comes to be so much enlarged it is by reason of the beams and rafters which are the strong supporters of all the building 1 Tim. 3.15 Where first note that by the house is meant the Church of God And by the beams and rafters the builders of the Church of God And the beams being of Cedar Isa 44.40 Isa 20. it signifies strength and also such timber that will not rot but is dureable and sweet Now the godly are often said to be Cedars and the chief in the Church are said to be pillars Also the house having rafters it sheweth it hath a covering or defence and they being of Fir which some think is another Tree call'd the Brutine Tree which is of pleasant smell signifieth purity of Doctrine Such beams and pillars that are well versed in pure Doctrine are always used in building the house of God in every age therefore the bed is always fruitful and the Church can never decay because the builders thereof are always lasting And as it is a house very sweet and pleasant for a man to live in So it is infinite in strength and for safety It is therefore a vain thing for any man to think to undermine the Church of God seeing it is a house built upon a Rock and although men
shall be as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed VERSE II. As the Lilly among thorns so is my love among the Daughters THese are the words of Christ who first sheweth the Church the danger she is like to fall into by reason of her Doctrine she is like the Lilly among the thorns in danger to be scrat and torn in pieces this acceptance she findeth amongst the daughters meaning the Preachers of the Law that draw on works into the Doctrine of justification these in all ages have been the only enemies to the Bride of Christ which did not fear to set upon Christ himself but crucified the Lord of life let any man but stick fast to the righteousness of Faith and hold it forth against them in this one point concerning righteousness by the Law and they will shew themselves First or last to be as thorns in his side And thus the Gospel sendeth fire on the earth but without the Gospel all things are at quiet Also Christ in these words preferreth the Children of the free-woman which he calleth his love far above the Children of the bond-woman which he calleth the Daughters For thus he saith in effect that as the Lilly far surpasseth the thorns both in Nobility and Beauty So doth my love far surpass the Daughters that is is higher in my esteem then those that earnestly require the works of the Law Next as it were an answer to this follow the words of the Bride VERSE III. As the Apple-tree among the trees of the Forrest So is my beloved among the Sons IN which words even as the Bridegroom before did set forth the Bride beyond the Daughters of the bondwoman under the similitude of the Lilly So here the bride doth set forth the excellency of her beloved beyond the Sons of Agar under the similitude of an Apple-tree Now the Apple-tree far surpasseth the trees of the wood which are by nature wild in regard of the goodness of the fruit and also the variety thereof So doth the fruit she says of my beloved far surpass the Sons that is the fruit of all those that first require the works of the Law to be done before a man can be interested in the Gospel this the spouse of Christ cannot relish because it is not the voice of her beloved and therefore she hath the Sons in small account and betaketh her self to her own Apple-tree and feedeth on his fruit the fruit of which tree doth heal the Nations I sate under his shadow with great delight By the shadow of the Apple-tree understand the shadows and figures of Christ in all ages of the Church which being rightly understood are full of heavenly delight A shadow in Divinity representeth something to faith which is absent to sense and reason confirming that to the eye which the word doth to the ear For God hath always made a double Declaration of his bounty for the comfort of sinful man the one is by his word wherein he instructeth us by hearing the other by figures and shadows wherein he instructeth us by seeing And this comes to pass by reason of our wonderful necessity and weakness being not able to comprehend so excellent a mystery as the Gospel without the use of visible helps Therefore Christ instructing Nicodemus in the Doctrine of regeneration Joh. 3. teacheth him by figures to understand the Mystery If I have told you of earthly things and ye beleive not how can ye beleive if I tell you of Heavenly things As much as to say unless you learn to believe by the knowledg of earthly things ye cannot beleive if I tell you of Heavenly things Now by earthly things he meaneth the figures and shadows of Christ in all ages of the Church and begins with Baptism the thing in question then between Christ and Nicodemus So also Circumcision the Passover the Sacrifices the Temple the Tabernacle the Ark and the mercy Seat were all earthly things by which the Jew was to be instructed in his faith These were the patterns of things in the Heavens to lead the Jew to the knowledg of Heavenly things themselves Now therefore as shadows were necessary to instruct the Jew in his Faith in a Christ that was to come So also were some shadows necessary to instruct the gentile in his faith in the Christ that is come Esa 4. And therefore it was promised that in the days of Christs Kingdom there should be a Tabernacle for a shadow which promise was fulfil'd in the coming of John the Baptist For all the Law and the Prophets prophesied until John the Baptist that is till Baptism Now all the Law and Prophets prophesied of a Christ to come Joh. 1.31 But Baptism manifesteth unto us the Christ that is come Now seeing Baptism endeth that faith and Religion which resteth in a Christ to come therefore it beginneth that Faith and Religion which resteth in the Christ that is come And therefore it is said by the Evangelist Mar. 1. that Baptism is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God Because it endeth the former Prophesie of a Christ to come and beginneth that Faith and Religion which resteth in Christ that is come And even as no man could visibly profess the true Religion amongst the Jews unless he were first united to the Jew by Circumcision So no man can so much as profess the true Religion now unless he be first united to the Church through Baptism And as it is the beginning of our entrance into the way of Christianity So it is the beginning of our comfort in the day of distress for even as Christ was present with the Fathers of old as soon as by faith they rightly understood the shadows so Baptism as oft as we fly unto it by faith hath Christ present with all that he is and all that he hath prepared for poor sinners Which spiritual coming of Christ into the Soul causeth the absence of all discomforts whatsoever The right understanding of this Mistery causeth the bride to sing here I sate down under his shadow with great delight Also this Doctrine openeth a light for the conviction of all false Prophets whatsoever all Sects and Heresies that now be or ever will be having their first rise from the contempt of Baptism or some false opinion concerning the same And with this proposition they all begin that Baptism is nothing unless the person first believe By which proposition they wholy deny the true Christ and rest upon a false Christ For Baptism not only manifesteth the true Christ to become as hath been proved but also sheweth us that until Baptism all people are under the Prophecy of a Christ to come Now that Doctrine which requireth faith before Baptism requireth faith not in the true Christ that is come but in a false Christ which is yet to come which Christ in Scripture is no where to be found And if there be no such Christ to be
Christ For all men naturally are of this opinion that God will justify those that keep the Law morally and reject the rest and to strengthen this opinion many Scriptures are alleaged with being not understood this opinion is increased Now until this wall be thrown down there is no entrance for Christ therefore when the bride says he standeth behind our wall she meaneth to throw down the wall Christ is as a lover that will come in although the opposition be ever so great the walls must go down and the house must be pulled in pieces and a new foundation laid So that a man would judge when Christ cometh that all were going to ruin even then when he is about to lay a new foundation This opposition Christ findeth more or less even in his own people while they are in this world and therefore he standeth behind the wall and the first thing he doth by his Ministry is to throw down the wall that is those imaginations in man that are the roots and grounds of unbelief He doth not as some other builders do prop up the old foundation or piece up the old wall but maketh all things new And this was prophecied of him in Num. Num. 24. 24. he shall smite the corners of Moab and cast down the walls of all the sons of Seth. Looking forth at the windows shewing himself through the Lattice These words do expound the former and shew the reason why the imaginations in man must be thrown down it is that light may be in the Soul For the windows and lattices are instruments to convey light into the house and when there is any obstruction between the light and the window it must be took away otherwise the house will be dark Now Christ is our light and the understanding is the window of the Soul and the first light that Christ bringeth is by teaching a right understanding of the Law and by throwing down mans natural opinion of the Law by discovering of our original and actual sin by which we sencibly feel that we are lost this is the first light and a matter of great weight because it teacheth man a true knowledg of himself therefore it behoveth all people rightly to study the same otherwise the windows will remain shut and nothing but darkness will appear in the house VERSE X. My beloved spake and said unto me rise up my love my fair one and come away AFter the windows are opened by a right understanding of the Law she saith my beloved spake that is of the promises of the Gospel saying come away by which she meaneth to receive his own righteousness and merits Nothing is here placed between the revealing of sin and giving of righteousness but only faith in Christ And when 't is said rise up it sheweth that the Law casteth all men down and that Christ is not delighted to see us too long in sorrow and heaviness And seeing he saith my love it sheweth he owneth us in our sorrows and setteth his heart upon us And in that he says my fair one he taketh from us the guilt of all our sins and imputeth to us his own righteousness and merits These are the true foot-steps of faith and are written on purpose that we might upon the true sight and confession of our sin after the same manner apply unto our selves the comfortable words in the Gospel VERSE XI For lo the winter is past the rain is over HEre it is shown that so long as the Conscience is under the Law the feeling of Sin and the wrath of God it is as the time of winter wherein flowers and fruits do seem to be consumed by reason of Storms and Tempests and frosty nights And as in the time of rainy weather when little benefit of the Sun appears for it is for the present as if there were no Christ or Saviour when all former experiences of Gods love and favour are forgotten and lost Which condition no man can speak effectually of unless he have in some measure found it in himself But as soon as the Conscience is humbled confesseth sin and lifteth up through faith his eyes and heart to the voice of his Redeemer the winter is past and the rain is over All fears and doubts do then begin to vanish away According to the saying of the Prophet Isa 35.10 they shall hear of joy and gladness and sorrow and mourning shall flee away So that the Gospel putteth an end to the Law in respect of the Conscience that Christ alone may there rule and govern I say in respect of the Conscience not in respect of the conversation but in removing the guilt of sin and filling of it with peace and joy for in saying the winter is past it sheweth us also that Summer is come All a mans life may be said to be winter in respect of the flesh and the manifold sins vexations cares and dayly calamities it is subject to in this mortal life but in respect of the Conscience it is sometimes winter and sometimes Summer Therefore no man must be too much cast down with discouragement when he feeleth his sin and the wrath of God as though the winter would never be past nor yet be too much overcome with rejoicing when the Gospel shineth within him as though the rain would never come again VERSE XII The flowers appear on the earth THese are tokens of the spring which causeth all people to rejoice when they behold the buds and blossomes of the herbs trees and flowers when there is as it were a new face upon the Earth when all things appear like a new Creation which maketh all Creatures to rejoice and sing Which sheweth the proper effects of the Gospel which is tidings of greater joy and gladness to all those that by faith receive it And therefore whatsoever Doctrine it be that by the nature of its principles maketh the heart of man sad and cannot truly comfort it again but leaveth it in sadness is not the Doctrine of the Gospel By this then we may know when the Gospel is taught Deu. 18. when a Prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord that is that says the Doctrine which he delivereth is the Gospel yet if the principles of his Doctrine do not nor cannot produce that effect which the Gospel worketh which is righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost the Prophet speaketh presumptuously his Doctrine is not the Doctrine of the Gospel The time of the singing of Birds is come Another mark that the spring is come Now as the pleasantness of the spring is seen by the cheerfulness of the Birds in their pleasant notes so the joyful and pleasant news of the Gospel is seen and manifested in the voices and harmonies of men Who even as Birds in time of spring So in their nests do sit and sing Now in that it is here said the time of the singing of Birds is come we must note that a Christian man
Soul shall easily overcome his unbelief and experimentally feel the benefit of faith And also Christ here declareth unto us how willing he is that we should receive him He speaketh not one word of discomfort to the afflicted Conscience as Satan by his instruments doth as the Law doth or as the accusing Conscience it self doth but biddeth us arise and come away that is not to hearken to those discomforts but to set our faith and affections upon his words whereby he doth only and wholly appropriate us to himself For when he faith my love he doth it to assure us of the contrary to that which in time of distress we most of all fear which is that we are not beloved And when he says my fair one he taketh that away from us which causeth us to question his love that is to say the guilt of all our sins And what can discomfort us in Heaven Earth or Hell when God which is greater then all things doth assure us that he loveth us and hath forgiven us all our sins VERSE XIV O my dove thou art in the clefts of the Rock THe Church having made rehearsal of the sweet comfortable words of her beloved Christ here speaketh again and commendeth her in that she is in the clefts of the rock And first he calleth her his dove which hath many excellent properties to which the bride is refembled which are not so much respected in this place as this one thing is in that she delighteth to make her nest in the Rock that she may be safe from the prey of the Hawk and other devouring Birds Now as the dove delighteth to be in the clefts of the Rock that she may be safe from devouring fowls when they make wings after her So the dove of Christ delighteth also to hide her self in a place of safety when she is hunted after by an accusing Conscience the wrath of God the malice of Satan or any of his instruments And this hiding place is in the clefts of the Rock and for this she is commended Some say that God is the Rock and that the Eternal Councel and Decree of God is the cleft wherein the dove of Christ is in safety and that 's one hole And then there is the providence of God by which many times he maketh way for the dove to escape that they make to be another cleft But that I most think on is this Cer. 10.4 The Rock is Christ But then the Rock must open and divide else how can there be a cleft for the dove to get in Understand then by the cleft a right division betwixt Christ and the Law when the Conscience is in distress which distinction thou must learn to make by faith For when the Law putteth thee in fear justly by reason of thy sin if thou humblest thy self by faith thou killest the voice of the Law and makest the cleft but if thou lookest upon the Law in that time after thou hast humbled thy self and asked forgiveness to be the voice of Christ thou makest no cleft thou canst have no hiding place to keep thee safe from fear Make this account therefore with thy self that the Law is crucified dead and condemned unto thee in respect of the Conscience as soon as thou humbless thy self and by faith layest hold upon Christ then thou makest a right division betwixt Christ and the Law and hidest thy self in the cleft of the Rock so that if the Hawk or other devouring fowls do wing after thee to hanch upon thee thou sittest in safety from fear of evil and it is but lost labour for Satan or any of his instruments to endeavour thy ruin For want of this knowledg many peoples hearts do shake when they are like to be made a prey by ravenous Birds and the Law and fear of Gods wrath begins to seize on the Conscience they are even at their wits end being wholly dismayed These are not in the cleft But the bride of Christ that rightly understandeth these things as she presumeth not upon her own worthiness So neither is she dismayed at her unworthyness but sitteth in the cleft of the Rock with Moses Ex. 33.22 where by faith she beholdeth the back parts of God condemning her for sin and by the same faith she heareth proclaimed to her his merciful and gracious name In the secret places of the stairs There are certain craggy places in Rocks that stand out like stairs by which the dove geteth up into her hole After the same manner the Church of Christ ascendeth by certain foot-steps of faith to a communion with Christ in this life and to a perfect communion with him in the life to come These are said to be secret places because the righteousness of faith by which we ascend to this communion is secret and unknown to man's reason for it consisteth in the destroying of the grounds of unbelief which is the mother and root of all sin and the bane of all Christian and holy duties It sheweth a man from the nature of its principles how to love God and keep his Commandments how to behold succour and help to be near in time of tribulation when no help nor succour is seen or perceived All which things are foolishness to reason yet are the foot-steps and track of all the flock of Christ gone before Let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice for thy voice is sweet and thy countenance is comely That is I would have thee to countenance my Doctrine and manner of teaching against all opposers without being abashed or discouraged for the destruction of Antichrist and the whole Kindom of Satan this countenance we ought to shew to our friend And when he saith let me hear thy voice it meaneth that the true Gospel be Preached to poor sinners and that we call upon the name of God by prayer in Christs name in the day of trouble in faith with fervency that we may receive help and deliverance from him which is very sweet and delightful to Christ Jesus and is that joyful voice and comely countenance which is here commended by him VERSE XV. Take us the foxes the little foxes that spoil the vines for our vines have tender grapes NOw here it is shewed that one special and principal means for the preserving of this kind of righteousness in the Church is to take the foxes for they spoil the vines Some write of the foxes that they make holes in the roots of the vines and that by undermining the root the root withers and the vine starves Others say that the fox having venemous teeth fastneth his teeth in the rind of the vine and so spoils the vines And that sometimes also by bruising the young sprigs and shuts they spoil the vines But they that have vines and are much troubled with foxes know best the truth of this But this is certainly known that the fox loves grapes and when they are ripe makes great spoil of
as Davids Worthies did hold strongly with him 1 Cron. 11.10 and with all Israel to make him King so do all these mighty men by their Doctrine and faith oppose the world and the whole Kingdom of Satan Therefore seeing faith is so great a Tower hath so many Bucklers and Weapons of defence in it and maketh such mighty men in the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ we that dwell in this mighty fort should wonderfully rejoyce and not easily be overcome but set our selves against our selves the world and the whole Kingdom of Antichrist and learn through the power of this mighty shield to make all our adversaries whatsoever to tremble VERSE V. Thy two breasts are like two young Roes that are twins which feed among the Lillies AS the Lord is the Father of many Children so he also provideth a Mother for them And she hath breasts by which she nourisheth them It is not enough to have a Child if there be nothing to feed it for then for want of nourishment the Child must die Some say that by the breasts are meant the Old and New Testament others say no because in Solomons time the New Testament was not written Others think the Ministers of the word are the breasts because they are termed Nurses but they cannot understand the number why they should be said to be but two Those that by the breasts understand the Old and New Testament or if you will the Law and Gospel seem to be in the right for the New Testament although it was not written in Solomons time as we have it now yet the Covenant of grace was understood then and also pen'd by Solomon most sweetly as in this Canticle of Solomon doth appear The milk that cometh out of these breasts is conveyed into the Conscience by the teats which pertain to the breasts The teats are the Ministers and expounders of the Law and Gospel which are called the teats of virginity Because when they give the sense of the word truly faith is preserved Eze. 23.3 and the Church is presented a Virgin to Christ But if the teats are corrupted then the virginity of the Bride is destroyed and the purity of faith is lost Therefore it is said in the aforesaid Text that when Aholah and Aholiab Jerusalem and Samaria had committed whoredom in Egypt there the breasts were pressed and the teats of their virginity were bruised These breasts are said to be twins because the knowledg of them are brought into the Soul both together And also to be two to shew that they are distinct and also that the true Mother feedeth her Children with both the breasts with equal respect And being likened to Roes feeding among Lillies it sheweth not that Roes do eat Lillies for of all things as some write they eat them not but the goodness of the pasture where they feed For as in our Land we know ground to be good for feeding when we find some certain sort of grass in it so in Jury they knew their ground to be good when there were store of Lillies growing in it So that there is rich feeding where the milk of these breasts is drawn out which filleth all that tast thereof with heavenly and Divine consolations Which sheweth us the cause why the Children of the Church prove so little why they do not learn knowledg nor understand Doctrine but in stead of growing in grace they grow in error the reason is because they are weaned from the Breasts Esa 28.9 they never find the teat The milk of consolation never comes into the Conscience for the nourishment of the Soul because there is a stoppage in the teats that will not suffer the sense of the word to enter Therefore the breasts are pressed begin to quar and grow sore because the teats are bruised and do not perform their Office And hence it comes to pass that although the Gospel be infinitely full of comfort and joy such joy that eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath ever entred into the heart of man to conceive yet because the sence is not given that the Conscience which is like a silly Babe may taste and make application thereof the comfort is gone the joy is lost And as the stoppage in the teat is one cause so also the waywarness in the Babe is another that will not come near the breasts to tast of the milk that although the breasts be full and the teat be put into the mouth of it yet it will not suck by any means that can be used Therefore the breasts being forsaken and the teat despised in stead of proving it grows to be a Dwarf it falleth into incurable disseases runneth up and down from one Physician to another and at length falleth down into Everlasting death and condemnation Therefore seeing the pasture is so good and the feeding so excellent as to feed among Lillies it is good for every man so to learn to feed that he may grow thereby The Nurse must learn how to give the teat and also the infant how to receive the teat that both may grow to a manly stature in Christianity Some that are Nurses will suckle but with one breast they give the Gospel but deny the Law to be of any use at all to a believer these are not Children of the true Mother because they lose one of the Breasts Others do earnestly require the works of the Law to be done and give not the Gospel but upon condition of mans obedience to the same these destroy the use of both the Breasts But the true Mother giveth both the breasts and so openeth and defineth both the Law and Gospel that every mean capacity may understand it She considereth the condition of all her Children and when she findeth any in heaviness of heart she suckleth them with the Gospel but those that are hardned and presumptuous and think themselves secure She followeth them with the Law to drive them to Christ Therefore seeing the Breasts are here commended because the Church is nourished by them and the Mother also in that she giveth both the Breasts let every one in his place learn so to give the Breast and so to receive the milk in the natural taste of it that the Conscience having once caught the teat by faith it may suck and be satisfied with Divine consolations VERSE VI. Until the day break and the shadows flee away I will get me to the Mountains of Myrrhe and to the hill of Frankincense THese words seem to be the answer of Christ to the Churches Petition in the last Verse of the second Chapter Wherein Christ promises that which the Church there desireth even to be with her until the day break and the shadows flee away There are two great Mountains in man by reason of the fall The one is the Mountain of presumption which standeth in a false opinion of the Law and is by reason of the loss of mans Spiritual wisdom and
And the Satyr shall cry to his fellow a wild god of the wood a creature of divers shapes Ver. 14. And the Shrichowl shall rest there also whose voice is tun'd something like a woman speaker Such as these a nation shall be fill'd with when God will punish a people for the contempt of his word And the great Owl also shall make her nest there and lay and hatch and gather under her shadow This is not meant of the natural Owl as I conceive but of some Spiritual Father that is a gatherer that layeth strange principles and hatcheth up others in his own opinions These sorts of Creatures many of them come from far no man knows from whence few or none of them use to haunt amongst the Birds of Heaven but use unhaunted and unaccustomed places and by a strange confusion of Language seek to undermine the faith of Christ Therefore the Holy Ghost likeneth them here to wild beasts and their meetings to be but like the crying of Satyrs a kind of betwitching of little Children in the cradles and the noise of Shrichowls and their gatherings to be but as the laying and hatching of the Owl the which nothing could be spoken of more contemptibly Now in that Christ calleth his Church to come from Lebanon from Amana from Shenir and Hermon it sheweth plainly that where the Gospel is taught the Church must look to be pestered with Sects and Seducers that shall oppose the same There the Satyrs shall dance and walk in divers shapes seeking to bewitch those that follow them Thither the wild beasts shall come who shall run head long upon all those that shall oppose them There the Owls shall hold their Court and think by a strange and an unaccustomed noise to destroy all at once Now in regard Christ saith come with me from Lebanon it sheweth that the victory over these Vermin is not to be gotten by the Law but by Christ Sectaries and Seducers teach no other way to faith and Justification but by their own doings therefore the Holy Ghost calleth them and their followers an habitations of Dragons Now in regard by their principles they seek justification by the Law Rev. 18.2 therefore they cannot be convicted by the Law because the Law requireth obedience upon the same terms Therefore Christ saith here come with me from Lebanon my spouse and doubles it again with me from Lebanon that is with my righteousness and works wherein righteousness and Salvation alone is to be found The first point of policy in the old Serpent the Devil was to corrupt Eve in her faith which thing is also attempted by the whole Ministry of Satan If therefore thou hearkenest to that Doctrine that by the principles of it destroyeth faith in Christ then thou art an inhabitant with the Dragon and setled in the Owls nest Hearken we therefore to the voice of our beloved which teacheth the active doing of the Law in obtaining righteousness before men but gathereth all his sheep into his fold not by the Active but by the Passive doing of the Law Therefore when thou hearest from Amana the active doing of the Law urged to bring thee to faith and justification Look thou then from the top of Amana and stedfastly believe the Gospel which teacheth no other preparative to faith and justification but the Passive doing of the Law If thou groundest thy faith there then thou forsakest all the wild beasts in Lebanon and art separated from Amana Shenir and Herman thy being is no longer with Dragons but thy Scituation is in Mount Sion and the Lord is become thy habitation From the Dens of Lions from the Mountains of Leopards He calleth them Lions and Leopards because false Prophets are destructive Creatures all their Labour is to bring Souls to everlasting ruin And although they walk under the Title of Saints amongst themselves yet the Holy Ghost calleth them the habitation of Devils and a cage of every unclean and hatefull Bird. The Den of these Lions is where men prefer their own doings beyond the Gospel Not when the Law is truly taught but when it is stretcht beyond its bounds and limits when man hath an high opinion of his works an evident sign whereof is when the Publican is despised which maketh it appear that the Pharisee which despiseth him trusteth in his works This is the Lions Den and in regard there are many such people and also such Societies that flock together into Mountains and Dens into obscure places and under a pretence of great zeal and holiness do destroy the faith of some and danger the Seducing of others therefore the Holy Ghost termeth them to Dens of Lions and Mountains of Leopards and calleth the Church from those Dens and Mountains because no man can live there but first or last he shall be made a prey Moreover Lions and Leopards may signifie wicked Rulers which are fierce cruel and full of rage against the Church of God and also those of any sort that plot and contrive how to get power in their hands to work the ruin of the people of God Of such David speaks Psal 10.9 10. that lie in wait secretly as a Lion in his Den to catch the poor that crouch and will not stir nor wag but only cast their eyes about till they are certain of their prey but as soon as the prey comes within their reach they clap in their claws and tear the poor in pieces These are like the Leopards also Jer. 13.23 which are fierce Creatures and full of spots And even as the Leopards may be known by their spots so also may these be known having spots that make them very discernable So that a man may easily find where the Leopard hath been by his spots which spots he cannot change but sheweth them wheresoever he maketh after his prey which is always the utter ruin and destruction of the people of God Now in regard Christ saith come with me it sheweth that the spouse is safe in his presence notwithstanding these Lions and Leopards And seeing he saith from the Dens and from their Mountains it sheweth that they are utterly disowned by Christ and left alone in the Kingdom of the Devil where God will make use of them for a time for the afflicting of his Church and afterwards will cast them from their Mountains into Everlasting destruction VERSE IX Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my spouse thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chain of thy neck THe Church being obedient to the call of Christ in forsaking the Lions Dens and the Leopards Mountains in separating from Amana Shenir and Hermon and resting her self in Mount Sion Christ here says thou hast ravished my heart To be ravished is to be overcome and to have the heart and affection wholly taken up by the sight of another This ravishment is said to come from one of the eyes or from one look of the eyes that
is when she looketh after the manner of a Lover with indignation upon the Doctrine of false Teachers that do trample under foot the Gospel and advanceth the Gospel from the destruction of the same And also from one chain of the neck which is a right understanding of the Law of grace by which Sectaries and wicked men are overthrown So that Christ is ravished when we learn by the Gospel to destroy the Kingdom of the Devil And to shew us the certainty of it He doubleth his speech thou hast ravished my heart thou hast ravished my heart which words are written on purpose to draw us into the combate and that we might not by any means Question his love in so doing but stedfastly through faith to embrace the same VERSE X. How fair is thy love my Sister my spouse THis is a note of admiration which sheweth that Christs delight is in nothing but that we love him which love we shew when we believe his word and endeavour by the same to throw down the Kingdom of the Devil This is the only thing which maketh us beautiful in the sight of Christ And when he addeth my sister my spouse it comprehendeth all Divinity setteth forth the nature of God to us and the full ground of our faith For seeing he saith my sister he teacheth us that he is really and truly our loving brother that is naturally affected to us careth for us in all conditions and pityeth us in all distresses And seeing he saith my spouse he teacheth us that we are no longer twain but one And doth thereby assure us that he is bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh and that whatsoever he hath done and suffered is ours as really and truly as if we had done it in our own persons These words therefore are full of admirable consolation because they assure us that Christ came into the world on purpose to own us to take all evils from us and to bestow all good things upon us Which must also draw us into the use and practise of our faith For seeing he is our brother we should not be afraid of him but go unto him with boldness and confidence And seeing he is our Husband we must be assured that he taketh from us the guilt of all our sins and dischargeth us to his Father The consideration of this must also help us in all crosses and calamities forasmuch as he cannot suffer us to want any thing we stand in need of if we stedfastly believe in him But it is cursed unbelief that causeth in us a slighting and contemning of the word and therefore we lose the good things we stand in need of which otherwise we could not want How much better is thy love then Wine Which is as much as to say I love thee far beyond all Creatures Wine cheereth and rejoiceth the heart of man but in that thou lovest me with hearty affection it is better to me then Wine is to any man And when he saith how much better he teacheth us that no Creature is able to set down the several dimensions of his love which passeth knowledge Christ useth this passionate speech to draw us to a good opinion of him being written for no other purpose but that we might believe for when he loveth us once he loveth us to the end These words therefore are chiefly to be made use of in times of distress when the mind is perplexed with hard thoughts of God when we look upon him as he is revealed in the Law but not as he hath revealed himself in the Gospel to the humbled sinner then are we principally to hear these words For to this end Christ makes himself known to us by his word that he might get himself a name in our hearts and that we might get the victory over our unbelief We must therefore believe these words and then it shall be to us according to his word but if otherwise we slight and contemn his word he shall notwithstanding find an object of his love else where but we shall be cast off forsaken and despised And the smell of thine ointments beyond all spices Spices by the Law were to be used in making the sweet ointments for the Tabernacle Exod. 30. and all the vessels thereof Which ointments had a most excellent smell and did signifie the righteousness of Christ inherent in himself Which righteousness of Christ when it is received by faith the spouse is annointed with and made to smell sweet in the presence of God These ointments being said to be beyond all spices the righteousness of Faith is beyond all righteousness because it sendeth up an excellent perfume into the nostrils of God And the reason why these ointments are so sweet is because they are compounded according to Art Exod. 30.23 So that no ointments are like unto them The ointment of the Tabernacle was made of principal spices and also compounded according to the Art of the Apothecary The ointment that sweetneth the spouse is the righteousness of God and man no compound so excellent So the perfuming spice for the Tabernacle was a most rare confection tempered together of most excellent spices pure and holy and also was made according to Art and therefore it is that it was so excellent Which sheweth us the reason why there is so little sweetness in the World why men stink like carrion in a ditch and leave a filthy savour behind them in every place whereere they come the reason is because they were never perfumed with these sweet and holy ointments What profit were it in the ointments of the Sanctuary although they were ever so sweet a perfume if none were annointed therewith The righteousness of Christ is a most excellent sweet perfume but what availeth this at all to those that are not anointed therewith To those that smell it not the pure Myrrhe and the Cinamon is but cast away the sweet Calamus and the Cassia is but troden under foot Therefore we must learn in time of distress of mind to smell to these sweet and heavenly ointments that when the stink of our sins do cast an ugly favour before God in the Conscience and in the sight of the World yet that then the scent of these holy ointments may make us a pleasant perfume Now as there was an Art in compounding these ointments Exod. 30.33 37. so there is also an Art in smelling And as there was no compound like unto it so there was no other perfume that was to be smelt unto Some there are that can smell no difference between these ointments and the perfumes of their own compounding these make not a confection after the Art of the Apothecary And therefore it comes to pass that when they go about to annoint the spiritual Tabernacle and his vessels the Candlestick and his vessels to make them most holy that the Lord may delight to dwell amongst them by annointing them with perfumes of their own
and destruction In this condition the Bride falleth asleep she is content to have sense and reason silenc'd and to be stricken dumb and she is not discouraged but constantly dependeth upon the promises of God And therefore she says here I sleep but mine heart waketh I sleep in regard of sense and reason but my heart awaketh in respect of God and his promises And this is also the meaning of David when he says he giveth his beloved sleep or by sleep So that when the Bride doth thus begin to sleep then doth she begin to awake and live by faith in the promises of God After the same manner must we with the Bride fall into this holy sleep and be contented to live in the use and practice of faith For every man in his condition shall find all things fall out contrary to his expectation in all estates and conditions of life and also shall seem to appear directly contrary to the promises of God Who promiseth that no good thing shall be wanting to those that fear him and yet a man shall seem in likelyhood to be in want of every good thing That wealth and riches shall be in his house and yet a man shall behold nothing but penury and want This breedeth a wonderful temptation in the godly so that a man is ready in this condition to fall into one of these evils either to accuse and condemn God of lying or else to conclude that he is not the person to whom the promises are made What must be done then in this condition Even to fall a sleep with the Bride and to be contented that reason may be slain and to lead a new life by faith in promises of God This slaying of reason is the awakening of the heart and then it doth begin to hear and rightly to understand the words of Christ according to the next words here following It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying Open to me my sister my love my dove my undefiled This knocking is when the Church is cast into the use and exercise of faith To knock is to make a noise and it may be defined thus It is an noise in the Conscience arising from the sense of sin and apprehension of danger It is when the very voice of the curse is felt in the Conscience and the miserable effects thereof are feared This she says is the voice of her beloved because the right opening of the Law that maketh the stroke and that the stroke of it may be felt belongeth to the Gospel And further when her beloved knocketh he saith open so that as soon as the knock is heard the Bride is to open According to Rev. 3. If any man hear my voice and open the dore I will come in and sup with him and he shall sup with me I will take from him the hurt of all evils whatsoever that shall be my supper and I will bestow all things upon him to make him comfortable and happy that shall be his Supper So that here is a twofold Supper Christ suppeth and the Bride suppeth Christ hath his delight in taking away her calamities the Bride hath her delight in receiving all blessings and comforts And this comes to pass by opening Now to open is rightly to understand the meaning or end of the knock Which in sum is this To inform the Bride that all her wants shall be supplyed by the Gospel which cannot be supplyed by her own ways and works Thus Christ after the manner of a Lover stands and knocks waiting to enlighten the Church in this point So that whether her wants be spiritual or temporal for this life or the life to come they shall all be supplyed when she is lost by the Law by ways and means unknown if she believeth And this is the end of every knock But for want of understanding the meaning of the knock the noise is many times of long continuance For many instead of studdying how to believe that they may attain all things by the Gospel do strive to relieve themselves by their own wisdom and works and in the end lose their labour and the Gospel too Therefore when we begin to hear a noise in the inward man and to fall into great fear either in regard of our sins and the everlasting judgment of God or by reason of some grievous temporal judgment which we apprehend to hang over our heads let us be sure then that Christ knocketh not to put us in feare for he affrighteth no man but to take away our fears from us so that although it seem terrible to us upon the first apprehension of the knock yet it is but the voice of our beloved who standeth and knocketh not to execute the Law upon us but to take all our evils upon himself that we may be made joyful and happy The hearing then of the noise must cause us to open the dore that is to believe in Christ and call upon his name and to suffer him to come in and sup with us then shall we be freed from all our fears and although we have forfeited all things by the Law yet we shall inherit all things by faith in the Gospel Also we must open that the captivity of the Conscience may first be turned into liberty and freedom before we seek for deliverance in respect of the outward man according to Christ saying seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness thereof and all things else shall be given unto you That so from that liberty and freedom which the Conscience possesseth through faith in Christ the merciful care and providence of God might flow in upon us and the nature of the whole Creation might be changed to us Now because in times of distress the Church is apt to be discouraged Christ here useth words that shew relations between them as my sister my love my dove my undefiled Which in brief is this Thou art my sister and I am thy loving brother and companion in tribulation and am affected with all thy afflictions Thou art my love my only joy and delight therefore I cannot forsake thee but do stand and knock to join my self unto thee to take all evils and miseries from thee and to settle thee in peace and joy Thou art my dove that forsakest not thy mate in a mournful condition And because thou runnest not from me but yeeldest thy self unto me therefore thou art mine therefore thou art undefiled thy sins are washed away and thou art clean I came down from Heaven on purpose to Cloath my self with thy flesh that I might free thy Conscience from all distress and fill it with peace and joy Open therefore unto me and receive that by the new and living way which according to the Law and works thou hast utterly lost These are the words of faith which we must have recourse unto in times of distress being comfortable to us and useful for us For my head is fill'd with dew and
my locks with the drops of the Night In these words Christ sheweth the reason why the Church shall receive all things by inheritance it is because his head is fill'd with dew and his locks with the drops of the Night By the head of Christ is meant his Divinity 1 Cor. 11. the head of Christ is God And by his locks understand his humanity And by the drops of the night his sufferings in the flesh And by the dew that his head is fill'd with the fulness of merit in the Godhead which made all the actions done in the manhood Meritorius and also the pouring out of the benefit thereof by pure and Heavenly Doctrine which is comfortable to poor sinners which Doctrine dropeth as the dew So that the obedience of God and man in one person Deut. 32. poured out in the Preaching of the Gospel and received by faith is the ground and foundation of all our comfort and joy For Christ by his obedience hath taken away the ground of all discomforts Col. 2.14 and nailed it to his Cross which being made known by the Gospel and received by faith setleth us in true peace and comfort This must teach us that when we are most of all oppressed with the drops of the night with the feeling of our sins or the fear of any cross or calamity to fly to the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath suffered for us And stedfastly to believe that seeing the locks of our beloved were filled with the droppings of our present condition that he is not only sensible of our present misery but also knoweth how to succour us and help us And hath also taken away the curse from every condition of misery that possibly we may meet with in this miserable World if we believe Therefore when we feel the curse of the Law and the guilt of our sins and the fearful effects of Gods wrath in any kind whatsoever begin to fasten within us then must we learn by faith to behold them all to be nailed fast to the cross of Christ from whence they can never return if we stedfastly believe VERSE III. I have put off my Coat how shall I put it on THe Church understanding the benefits that come to her by the Gospel and the order in receiving of it says I have put off my Coat by which she meaneth the righteousness of the Law in point of justification This is the first thing taught in the Gospel Joh. 9.31 how to put off our old Coat And the first thing that Christ came to do was to put on our Coat upon himself whereby he became laden with our sins and also with our infirmities The coat being thus put on by Christ therefore the Church learneth to put him off by faith So that this place doth not shew any sluggishness in the Church as if she were in a bed of security with her coat off and as though she were loath to rise and go about the works of the Law but leadeth us into an higher matter how to attain to be righteous before God This wisdom must we also learn which we can never do unless we remove the cause for which we keep our coat on which is our false opinion of the Law Some when they treat of the Law and works do press it with that earnestness that they extol the righteousness thereof far beyond the righteousness of faith as if the principal cause of Christs coming into the world were to make us holy by the Law These with the Pharisee do button on the coat Others will have Christian righteousness to begin in us and perfected by Christâ— which is but to put a piece of new cloth in an old garment and make the rent worse Learn we then to put off our coat wholly But next the Church questioneth here how shall I put it on That is in life and conversation For the greatest and most necessary question of all others in matters of Divinity is rightly to understand these two things How to lay aside the Law totally in teaching the point of justification and how to teach the use and practise of the Law rightly in the life and conversation How to handle these two points aright that the Gospel may not destroy the use and practice of the Law 1 Tim. 1.9 nor the Law the use and practice of the Gospel is a point of great skill Therefore the Church maketh question as if she were something ignorant in this point how shall I put it on How shall I teach this point aright If the works of the Law ought not to be required but totally to be layed aside in teaching the way to justification according as it is written the Law is not made for a righteous man upon what ground then are they to be pressed at all All men have cause to complain of their ignorance in this point therefore it must be our desire to learn this heavenly skill Now to cloath our selves with the Law that the use and practice of it may not be lost and how to be unclothed of the Law that the Gospel may not be lost This is a point of great cunning and ought to be well studied of every Christian chiefly because the strongest hold of Satans Kingdom consisteth in the confounding of these two points one with another Therefore it is further added here I have washed my feet how shall I defile them Where by feet she meaneth the inward man and by washing the cleansing of the Soul through faith in Christ Joh. 1â— according to Christs saying he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit But then it is added how shall I defile them She had washed her feet by putting of her coat whereby she was cleansed from sin therefore she asketh the question how shall I defile them As much as to say how shall I press the works of the Law so as not to defile my feet again If I should urge a necessity of the Law then I should defile my feet or if I should totally cast it off because I am justified without the Law then I should also defile my feet again for then it would come to pass that in living without the use and practice of the Law my Conscience would have no more the feeling and apprehension of sin nor any sensible need of a Saviour So that in casting away of all fear and care of the Law I should at last contemn and cast away the Gospel also And the consequence of all would be this I should forsake my beloved lose my peace and comfort here and also everlasting life hereafter This sheweth us the practice of the Bride in all ages of the Church which is first to lay aside the Law next to live in the use and practice of the Law In receiving the Doctrine of justification she heareth no Law but in the life and conversation she abideth in the use and
casting out of Hagar and her Son Nevertheless they had great gifts bestowed upon them Gen. 25. for although Abraham as a figure of God gave all his inheritance to Isaac yet unto the Sons of the Concubines Hagar and Keturah Abraham gave gifts and sent them away into the East Coutry These Concubines jointly considered are nothing else but the bondwoman who although she liveth in visible Society with the Bride yet she gendereth her Children unto bondage These are said to be fourscore which is also a certain number for an uncertain meaning there are multitudes of these sort of people that keep a wonderful stir in the Family of God chiefly about government and ruling that would if they knew how fain bear sway in the Family in outward goverment yet have no authority as the Wife who ruleth all things through faith in Christ By the Virgins without number understand the companions of the Bride who are not yet converted yet not opposers but well wishers to the Bride that are not yet brought but that shall be brought unto her Psal 45. according to the Psalmist These are called Virgins because they ought to be undefiled in respect of their faith and to look with a single eye upon the Lord Jesus Christ VERSE IX My dove my undefiled is but one she is the only one of her Mother the choise one of her that bare her THe Queens and Concubines are many and are also of many opinions in matters of Religion but my dove is but one One in regard of universality and one in respect of unity She endeavoureth to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. And in that she is said to be undefiled it sheweth that the Queens and Concubines are such as are defiled in heart and Conscience before God though outwardly they may seem to appear righteous before men The cause of their defilement is because they all say I sit a Queen and am no widow they all boast in the Law therefore saith the Holy Ghost shall her plagues come at one day death and mourning and famine Rev. 18. for strong is the Lord God that will condemn her Because she trusteth in the wickedness of her own opinion therefore her own opinion shall condemn her By all which we see that although the Queens and Concubines are the only righteous persons in their own eyes yet she that mourneth for her sins is the only excellent creature in Christs sight And why is she so excellent Even because she presenteth her self before him not a righteous person but a sinner by her principles and asketh forgiveness of the same The Queens and Concubines are sinners in word but by their principles they seek justification in the Law which sheweth that in heart and opinion they are not sinners by the Law That they seek justification by the Law appears in that they teach a necessity of the Law from which also flowes another evil which consisteth in destroying the right end of all obedience to the Law which is not to become righteous and just before God but that I may with a cheerful heart do good unto my Neighbour But the Bride teacheth no necessity of the Law Vnderstand this no necessity only in the matter of justification therefore by her principles she presenteth her self a sinner before God by the Law now because she separateth the Law from the judgment seat therefore she layeth down the ground of all good works and also sheweth the right end of the Law And therefore she is said to be as it here followeth the only one of her Mother The Mother is Jerusalem which is above the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 By which is meant the universal Church For Sarah the freewoman which Paul is there treating of was the Mother of Isaac and a type of the New Testament which Isaac was born by promise For Abraham had Isaac by Sarah and he had also Ishmael by Hagar his Concubine Both these Sons were born in Abrahams Family which was the visible Church of God Isaac was born by promise but Ishmael was born without the promise of God In Abrahams Family then there are the two Testaments and a twofold Mother The one is Agar figuring the Law which being without the promise of God gendereth all her Children unto bondage The other is Sarah which is called the freewoman being a type of the true Church which giveth the Gospel freely without the works of the Law She that after this manner gendereth Children unto God is the only one of her Mother The Concubine is without this praise because she gendereth from Sina therefore is she under the curse and wrath of God Now as Isaac is the heir because he is born by promise So the Children of the freewoman are the only Sons and heirs of God by Adoption And as Ishmael was a servant cast out of Abrahams Family and never to have any share in the inheritance with Isaac So the Law only maketh men servants subject to the wrath of God and separateth them from the glorious inheritance of the Saints for evermore Let us learn then so to understand the Gospel that we may become Children of the free-woman which thou canst not do unless thou renounce the bondwoman and her Son Therefore when thy Conscience is in distress and thou feelest thy self to be in bondage under the curse of the Law and wrath of God and thou beginnest to humble thy self before him stop thine ears then from hearing the Law either for what thou hast done or what thou oughtest to have done and hearken only to the comfortable voice of the promise which speaketh nothing but grace and mercy to a poor Creature that feeleth his misery and suffer the same to make an impression within thee Then shalt thou have a certain feeling within thy self that although thou art defiled in thine own eyes because thou hast broken thy bounds yet that thou art undefiled in the sight of thy beloved in regard thou receivest grace and mercy from him The Daughters saw her and blessed her yea the Queens and the Concubines and they praised her To bless in Scripture sometimes signifies to justify Psal 32.1 2. so God blesseth us when he justifieth us But a man may be said to justify another when he followeth the practice of another Thus Jerusalem is said to justifie her Sisters Samaria and Sodom Eze. 16. by following their abominations And this I understand in another sense to be the meaning here by the Daughters blessing and the Queens and Concubines praising the Bride Which is they followed the practice of the Bride They do not condemn but bless or justify the practice of the Bride But it may be said in what I answer in seeking after a Christ All manner of Sects and Hereticks do seek after a Christ but not after the true Christ There is a great difference in seeking after a Christ and the Christ A
which is the only thing and foundation whereupon all our happiness doth depend Let all men therefore learn to humble themselves for their wants in this thing and earnestly beg of God that his word may be purely taught Where this knowledg is not little fruit appears in the Valley the Vine flourisheth not there but the miserable Conscience is shut up in Prison and darkness but where this spiritual skill is learn'd there and there only the Pomegranates do bud and a wonderful and suddain change is made according as it here followeth VERSE XII Or ever I was aware my Soul made me like the Chariots of Amminadib AMminadib as some think was the chiefest Chariot driver either in Solomons or in Pharaohs Chariot and which had the most Famous Horses which upon a suddain would be at the place desired This was the Churches condition as soon as she came into the Nut Garden she understood upon a suddain the right way to her beloved as soon as ever the nut was crack'd she began to tast of the kernel and or ever she was aware she became like the Chariots of Amminadib She met with that upon a suddain which she had long desired for And thus it is with us when ever we come into the garden of the Lord where nuts are plenty where the vine flourisheth aright or ever we are aware the Pomegranates begin to bud the fruits of the valley begin to appear within us and we are setled in peace and joy And in that she says my Soul made me It meaneth the understanding which being illuminated and sanctified filleth the will and affections with joy and Heavenly delight VERSE XIII Return return O Shulamite that we may look upon thee return return THese words are also the voice of the Church and by the Shulamite she meaneth a party in the Church which do dissent from her principles in matters of faith and life which she notwithstanding calleth the Shulamite being a general Title belonging to all in the visible Church from Shulamith which is peaceable so call'd being under a Covenant of peace and being the Daughter of Jerusalem Heb. 7. or Shalem which signifies peace and his Tabernacle is also said to be in Shalem To this Shulamite or contrary party in the Church she saith return return which words being so often doubled do shew that she is not only confident of her own Doctrine and way but also that she earnestly desireth the welfare of the Shulamite and a more near and Spiritual communion with her for she says return that we may look upon thee that is with delight and comfort for what inward and comfortable fellowship can there be so long as there remains a contrariety in points of Faith Therefore it is the longing desire of the Bride that they might dwell together in unity But mark we what followes What will ye see in the Shulamite as it were the Company of two Armies These words I conceive to be the voice of Christ and it is as much as to say that which thou wouldest see in the Shulamite thou canst not for in the Shulamite there are two Companies of Prophets are Preachers of the word and they band themselves one against the other like two Armies And the difference between them is the case being rightly stated about this one Question Which is the proving principle in the Scriptures Whether the Law must be expounded by the Gospel or the Gospel expounded so as it may accord with the Law The answering of this Question The extent of the principles of all Heriticks Sects and Seducers being rightly examined they will be found to clash against the Gospel in the Doctrine of justification endeth all controversies in the Church Forasmuch as all differences about Religion do Center in this point Hence it is that what is affirmed by the one overthrows the Law in the matter of justification and what is affirmed by the other overthrows the Gospel in the same point For when the Bride defineth faith to be a believing in Christ without works only because of God the promiser totally excluding the Law the Shulamite and all others that are enemies to the Gospel do define faith to be a believing in Christ by reason of works totally excluding the Gospel Now to decide this controversy it must be noted that the first principles as is shewed elsewhere in this Song are proving and therefore all other Scriptures must be expounded by them Song 3.10 And that as the first principle in Divinity is the Scriptures Hos 13.4 so the first principle in the Scriptures is the Gospel or the first Commandment which drives us to the Gospel which comes all to one for the first word of all is hear O Israel I am the Lord thy God Mark 12.29 which words are the Gospel Wherein God bindeth himself to us without any thing of ours then follows the first Commandment This point rightly understood draweth us into the practise of all good works because it unbindeth us from the rigour of the Law and filleth the mind and Conscience with the love of God which is the ground of all obedience which prohibites our dependance upon any other righteousness but the righteousness of God set before us in the Gospel And also forbids all such definitions of faith and all such interpretations of the Law which strengthen in man an opinion of the Law and works Now the Gospel being the first word and proving principle therefore such a sense must be found of all those Scriptures that promise justification to mans Active doing of the Law as may be suitable to the Gospel and mortify mans opinion of the Law and works But thou wilt say how shall I do that I answer doing in Divinity hath by reason of the Gospel a new signification which is to justify God and is not to be understood when justification is promised to it of a moral doing but of such a spiritual passive doing which is incomprehensible to mans reason whereby thou submittest to the wrath of the Law and flyest from it by faith to Christ who createth in thee a new opinion of the Law which is to walk in the works thereof without dependance upon them which obedience Paul teacheth thee to call a serving in newness of Spirit And thus mayest thou easily give an answer to all opposers of the Gospel Moreover this must also comfort us when we are in great tribulations when we are in doubt of his care and providence in respect of outward things or any way perplexed with the fear of Gods wrath For then will the Law begin to work in us after this manner these things thou hast done and thou canst not deny it and therefore thy judgment is just and nothing shall appear before thine eyes which way thy fears shall be prevented now in this condition if thou expoundest the Gospel according to the Law then shall thy faith be overwhelmed and only the Law shall reign
but if thou hast learned this Divine and Heavenly Art to expound the Law by the Gospel then shall the Law vanish out of thy Conscience and Christ alone shall rule and govern Therefore in such a condition as this enter into thy closet and pray after this manner Lord I am in great distress and know not what to do and the evils that I fear are justly coming upon me by reason of my sin and if I should now expound the Gospel by the Law which is now upon me then should I be totally ruined without all hope of recovery but seeing thou hast taught me to expound the Law by the Gospel and not to make construction of things according to sense and reason but according to thy holy and gracious promise teach me to stick unto it so long as life shall last When once thou enterest into this excercise of thy faith thou wilt quickly find the sweet of it and wilt not care a rush for any affliction Then shalt thou experimently feel in thy self that although there be in the Shulamite as it were the company of two armies the flesh warring against the Spirit and the Spirit warring against the flesh inwardly against the accusations and terrors of the Law and outwardly against false Prophets and Seducers yet that thou mayest easily overcome them by the Gospel And also shalt find that this Battel cometh not to pass from the principles of the Gospel but from the natures of men who by reason of blindness and wilfulness will not understand the same CHAP. VII VERSE I. How beautiful are thy feet with shoes O Princes Daughter BY reason of the Churches Victory in this Battel against Satan within and Satan without Christ commendeth her again And first her feet and shoes are commended she being so well shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace for then the feet are said to be beautiful when they are well furnished with the glad tidings of peace and good things then do the feet stand upon holy ground Now when the Gospel is made the standard to try all Doctrines by and also the only weapon to drive away the guilt of sin and all fears out of the Conscience then doth the Church obtain this Title to be call'd the Princes Daughter Then is she looked upon no longer as coming from Adam but as one who by her new birth or Nativity is the Daughter of a Prince even fo the Lord Jesus Christ For so Christ is said to be the Everlasting Father and Prince of peace because by his word he generateth Children to himself Psal 45. to make them Princes in all the Earth For this cause also must we endeavour to receive the Gospel that our feet may be well shod that our inward man may be made beautiful with the righteousness of the Son of God then shall we be look'd upon no longer in respect of the Conscience as Children of Adam but as Sons and Daughters of the living God For being separated from Adam we are likewise separated from the curse that lyeth upon Adam and all his posterity Therefore this must teach us whither to go when we are disturbed either in our inward or outward peace even to him that is the Prince of Peace And also what to do in case of wants even to humble our selves upon our knees before the Prince who being the Kings Son and heir of all things can deny us nothing who are become the Princes Daughter We must not therefore be faithless but believing then shall we also perform good works joyfully and thankfully before men but if we forget or dispise this Heavenly Title then shall we remain in our old natural condition under the curse and the benefits of the new Nativity shall be utterly lost The joints of thy thighs are like jewels the work of a cunning Artificer Next to the feet the joints are here commended which must be understood as they are instruments to convey nourishment into the body Col. 2. For the body is said to increase by reason of the joints and bands Eph. 4. which minister nourishment one to another from every part which causeth it to increase with the increasings of God The joints then are here commended in respect of their use and Office which is to minister nourishment from the head to the rest of the body These joints are the particular Members in the Church which are like jewels being wonderful precious in the estimation of the owner Where these joints do rightly perform their Office the body groweth strong but where there is a coldness and benumendness in the joints the body groweth lame and little agility will be seen and there also are the Bridegrooms jewels Therefore all those that live in this Exercise and do supply the Office of the joints must believe that they are in high account in the sight of their beloved which must comfort and encourage every one in the body to perform his Office Next these are said to be the work of the hands of a cunning Artificer By the Artificer I understand the Preacher of the Gospel who is skilful in forming or planting Christ in the Soul Who is able through the holy Ghost to teach a right division between the Law and Gospel in use and practice that Christ may rule in the Conscience and the Law may govern the old man which cannot be done but by the hand of a cunning workman This is he that Paul speaks of when he says a workman that needeth not to be ashamed dividing the word of truth aright where this skilful Artificer is the Conscience is kept pure and undefiled but where there is daubing with untempered Morter the Conscience is often out of joint Therefore he that is the Artificer must be a cunning workman that knoweth how to break the stone in the heart by the hammer of the Law and also how to bind up the broken hearted by the Gospel without the Law Where this Artificer is nourishment is conveyed from the head into the body and every part is supplyed as it were by joints and bands to the edifying of it self in love there is nothing done but the framing and fashioning of Jewels for the Lord and the presenting as it were of a Royal Diadem into the hands of God Therefore it is said of the holy City the new Jerusalem that it is all of pure gold and that it is garnished with all manner of precious Stones which is the business of the Jeweller to garnish the City Therefore seeing he is to work in Gold and Silver and precious Stones even with the pure Doctrine of the Gospel seeing he must break in pieces stony hearts and grind them as it were to powder and also must set in order poor distressed Consciences that are altogether out of joint that they may be armed and fortified against so mighty an enemy as the Devil he had need be a cunning workman a wise Master builder that is able so
and not to give place Therefore the judgment of faith must conclude and determin all things it being the judgment of God Christ and the holy Ghost and not a tittle of it must be diminished A man must rather suffer his life to be taken from him than the glory of God to be lost Saint Paul in a point of faith when the truth of the Gospel was brought in Question would not give place to the false brethren no not for an hour Therefore no man must think Gal. 2.5 when he heareth the righteousness of the Law to be preferr'd above the righteousness of faith that he may sit still and be silent as though all were well for that is not to Judg but to suffer the Gospel to be lost In matters of the second Table In matters of the second Table Charity hath the preheminency a man is to be a servant to all there Charity must have the preheminence above faith there faith must suffer it self to give place to Charity it must submit become pliant and patient towards all not requiring himself to be counted for a rule whereunto all men must submit but to think modestly of himself to permit to take in good part to obey to give place to do and suffer all things as he shall see it profitable for the winning of his Neighbour to the Gospel An example hereof see in St. 1 Cor. 11.19 Note from hence the temper of St. Paul 's Spirit towards those of whom he had any hopes and what his carriage was to win them to Christ Paul who although he was free from all men being a Lord and Judg in respect of his faith yet he made himself a servant to all in respect of his Charity To the Jews he became as a Jew to them that were under the Law as under the Law that he might gain them to the faith to them that were without Law as without Law that he might win them to Christ For this I do as there he saith for the Gospels sake But when the matter in Question is concerning Everlasting Salvation or Everlasting Damnation a man is to be so certain of his faith and the foundation upon which he buildeth that he is to give place to none he is not to be in subjection for an hour Then is the neck under the commendation here of King Solomons Tower or Throne of Jvory The next thing commended are the Eyes of the Church Thine eyes are like the Fish-pools in Heshbon by the gates of Beth-rabbim Heshbon was a City where Sihon King of the Amorites sometime dwelt The fish-pools in Heshbon were certain ponds where fish were wont to breed Num. 21.26 without which fish-pools the fry could not be preserved The gates of Beth-rabbim were in a certain place as is probable near unto the Kings fish-pools and also the way unto the fish-pools and frequented by many that did desire to see the pools or to have any tast of the Kings fish So that if any one did desire to fish there or to tast of the fish that were bred in those pools he must come in by the gates of Bethrabbim The meaning of the similitude I conceive to be this The fish-pools are the waters of life the fish that are bred in those pools are men the Fishers in those pools are the Ministers of the Gospel called by our Saviour Fishers of men Heshbon being a City of the Amorites where the Law was not given signifieth the free-mother which is barren in the account of the world but gendereth many Children unto God The eyes which are like these fish-pools are the eyes of the understanding which being enlightned in the knowledg of the Gospel and how to apply it do breed many a good fish By the gates of Bethrabbim or way to the fish-pools understand the new and living way to the waters of life which being rightly opened the fish-pools are well stored with many a good fish but if not few fish shall come into the Net and the fish-pools shall be but of little use This matter is plainly expressed in the prophecy of Ezekiel Eze. 47.8.9 where the waters of the Sanctuary are said to go down into the desert and that every thing that liveth which moveth whithersoever the river shall come shall live And that there shall be a very great multitude of fish because these waters shall come thither From whence it is plain that seeing the waters of the Sanctuary run down into the desert that the fish-pool is not made in the fruitful but in the barren and Solitary place which must comfort every poor dejected Soul that is sensible of his own barrenness and encourage him to drink of the living water that he may live for ever For thither the River shall run and there the fish shall breed and increase to a multitude by reason of the coming of the waters Let every one then that feeleth his misery rejoyce and be glad and clap his hands for joy and not be an enemy to himself in stopping up the passage of the River and in striving to turn it over the fruitful Land where it can never run but let him drink sweetly of the Heavenly fish-pool then shall his eyes be like the fish-pools in Heshbon where the fry shall be preserved and the ponds stored Also this teacheth all those that are fishers that intend to cast in their Nets so as to catch men to learn rightly to open the gates of Bathrabbim the new and living way to life which cannot be done unless they go to Christ for the key who giveth the same to those whom he intendeth shall be fishers of men Where those gates are not opened the way to the fish-pools can never be found Some poure the waters of life into the fruitful Soil only which is not only to shut themselves out of the Kingdom of Heaven but also others For all their labour is to make men holy by the Law which is but to leave them under the curse and condemnation of the Law These instead of preserving the full fry of fish do dam up the pools and where there are no fish-pools there can be no fish and where there be no fish beed all the labour in making the ponds is utterly lost So that for want of a right bait for the fish to nibble at those that in likelyhood might have bred good fish do in the end decay and come to nothing And as the way to the fish-pools must be open'd so the right time must be observed when to cast in the Net which must not be until Christ calleth Some run before they are sent these fish all night with the disciples but catch nothing Joh. 21. but when Christ bid them cast in their Nets they caught a multitude of fish When Christ committed the uncircumcision to Paul and the circumcision to Peter a mighty work was wrought by them but when men run before they are call'd all their labour
She perceiveth by faith that her person is accepted and this confidence must we all learn to have in Christ even that his desire is to us and his heart upon us Now this is a wonderful thing that the desire of the son of God should be after a poor miserable sinner that is his Enemy yet this is the truth she here believeth and it is also written for us that we might believe For mark it The Church perceiving Christ to peep after her who is despised in her own eyes and commend her so much yieldeth her self wholy unto him and so the match is made between Christ and the Soul in all the foregoing Verses in this Chapter Christ setteth forth the beauty of her person by which she findeth his desire is after her for which very reason she yieldeth her self to him and says I am my beloveds and so the match is made From all which we see this clear That the main matter which makes up the match and knits the knot between Christ and the Soul is when we find by the word of God that Christ is willing to take us with nothing and that we are willing to cast our selves upon him on the same terms And the reason is because nothing else is required in our Marriage with Christ but a consent of both parties which consent there is not until we agree upon terms Which informeth us in the Reason why there are so few that are married to Christ and so many to Antichrist the reason is because they agree not upon terms Christ useth all art and skill that is possible for a lover to use to draw people to himself and bringeth the matter so near to ones view that a man would imagine the contract were made yet let the case be but rightly stated and the propositions on both sides rightly look'd into and a man shall find as much difference in the terms as there is between light and darkness The terms upon Christs side being to take us with nothing or not at all but the terms on the other side are to bring a sufficient portion or else not to marry as yet This is a despising to marry with Christ who is raised from the dead to deliver us from our sins and to live in Captivity under our first husband the Law and to die for ever in our sins We must therefore learn to submit our selves to Christ and to yield to his own terms Christ will not be brought to our terms Our terms are to bring a portion with us but Christ says all that we have is worth nothing which difference is very great Therefore he requireth nothing of us but that we stedfastly believe and confess this one thing that although we are condemned by the Law being poor miserable and wretched Sinners yet that his desire is towards us Therefore must we learn to confess our sins before him with confidence that he will forgive us and with the Bride to believe that his desire is towards me that he came down from Heaven for me and satisfied the wrath of God for me Thus must we with the Bride first endeavour to find that we are objects of Christs desire and next of all to confess by our consenting to his choise that we are his then shall we not only attain to true Righteousness and blessedness but also to an assurance of the same VERSE XI Come my beloved let us go forth into the field let us lodge in the Villages THe Church being espoused to Christ through the great affection of her beloved and also having found the new and living way how to attain this Heavenly knowledge to be assured thereof desireth after the manner of one that is espoused or contracted in marriage to go forth into the Fields that her beloved may be known By which she meaneth Gods Fields where Gods Husbandry and his tillage is and also where the true and living way to life is not yet rightly understood thither she desireth to go with her beloved therefore she says let us lodge there by which she meaneth her Doctrine that the Husbandry of God may go forward and that Christ may come to some more esteem amongst them And by Villages she meaneth such as where Christ and his Apostles went up and down Preaching the Gospel By which we see that the Churches care is not only to receive the Gospel but also to plant the Gospel and this she cannot do without her beloved therefore she taketh Christ with her Those that go forth into the Vineyard without the Beloved may compel men to labour and toil to bear the burden and heat of the day but they can never gather a sheaf into Gods barn And this must be the care of every one in his place to go forth with Christ into the Fields and help to set forwards the Husbandry of God that a good foundation may be laid for harvest to lodge his Doctrine in the Villages that so the seeds of Eternal life being sown in the minds of men there may be hopes of a joyful crop There must not be only plowing in Gods field but also sowing For how can any man expect a crop at harvest if he shall only Plow and break the clods and make plain the face of the Earth if he never sow the seed Now the sower is the son of man not Moses but Christ Which ploweth up the fallow ground of the heart by the condemning power of the Law and then it soweth the immortal seed of the word into the distressed mind Moses neither soweth the seed Moses saith do it and live but break it and die which neither ploweth nor soweth therefore without Christ Moses is a destroyer because the promise being made to doing all men naturally think to obtain it that way But Christ saith thou hast sinned and art deprived of the glory of God and calleth us to believe the same and to fly to himself by faith and confession nor yet ploweth up the fallow ground but only commandeth it to grow and if it prosper promiseth a goodly Harvest Those that pertain to the Kingdom of Moses do require the works of the Law to be done and then promise Eternal life to the doers but touch it not with the least of their fingers These plant nothing in Gods field but only that which which was there before they nourish an opinion of themselves which nothing changeth the nature of the ground which is a most miserable evil and marreth all good Husbandry in the Church of God Therefore Moses without a Mediator serveth not but only to bridle the outward man and to keep it in fear but in the hand of a Mediator that is to say Christ is of rare an Excellent use First to reveal sin to the Conscience that it may be driven to Christ next it openeth a light unto us to teach us how to serve in newness of Spirit and not in the oldness of the Letter VERSE XII Let us get up
only himself if he should one day see many to come from the East and West and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the Father and he himself to be thrust out If he should at the last day for despising of the Gospel be separated from the presence of the Lord in whose presence there is fulness of joy and should be driven to suffer the punishment of loss and the punishment of sense for ever yet I say no man can complain or once open his mouth against the Lord Jesus Christ who is willing to bestow all blessings upon men but they do not value them nor esteem them All men will put a must and necessity upon themselves in other matters to rise early and to go to bed late and to eat the bread of carefulness but scarce any man counts it a necessity to attend at the gates of wisdom to seek after knowledg to call and cry for understanding without which every man must perish for evermore Learn we then before it be too late to put an high price upon the things of the Gospel then shall the Mystery be opened to us which is lock'd up and hid from the wicked despisers thereof Which thing we can never do unless we feel our need of the Gospel and the Infinit worth that there is in it to serve our necessities Let us therefore learn to behold the evil scent that our sins do cast into the nostrils of God that we may be afflicted with the same next we must smell to the Mandrakes which are brought unto us by the first born Then shall we find the blessedness that is at wisdoms gates and begin to tast of the pleasant fruits of Christ death both New and Old which are for all those and only those that do esteem them according as Christ says here which I have laid up for thee O my beloved CHAP. VIII VERSE I. O that thou wert as my brother that sucked the breasts of my Mother when I should find thee without I would kiss thee yet I should not be despised THE Church hearing from Christ the Excellent things that are laid up for her and only her which esteemeth of the same wisheth that all those that live in the same Society with her might partake of the same pleasant Fruits Therefore she says O that thou meaning a visible brother unconverted or the whole company of those that do dissent from her in the true principles of faith and good works We rt as my brother that is my natural brother in the faith That sucked the breasts of my Mother meaning Jerusalem which is above the Free mother and Mother of us all which the Children of the bond-woman pertain not unto These words amount to as much as this there is a difference between thy Mother and my Mother my Mother freely giveth the milk of the Gospel without the works of the Law thy Mother giveth nothing without but for the observance of the Law Now because she gendereth Children by the Law therefore thou art not without but under the Law If I could find thee without that is to say the Law or thine own opinion of Righteousness by the Law then would I kiss thee which meaneth with the comforts of the Gospel but because thou dependest upon the Law thou therefore excludest thy self from the promises of God and despisest me when I offer the kiss but if I could find thee without the Law then would I kiss thee yet I should not be despised This sheweth us that there is a wonderful difference between people that are born under the same Covenant of promise The one she says is my brother that sucked the breasts of my Mother the other is but as Abraham said of his Wife the Daughter of my Father but not the Daughter of my Mother For it cannot be denied but that they are the people of God visibly to whom the Oracles of God are given yet that doth not make them Children of Adoption unless they suck the breasts of the true Mother whereby they learn the true knowledg and sense of the Scriptures Therefore she saith O that thou wert as my brother that suck'd Which sheweth that they never yet tasted of the Teat The same thing must we also desire earnestly and heartily for our brethren that live with us in the same visible Society which yet are averse to the faith of Christ That if it be possible we might find them without that so they being divorced from their opinion of Righteousness by the Law we might freely bestow upon them a kiss by the Gospel without being scorned contemned or despised This also sheweth us clearly what the condition of the Gospel is namely to be without the Law to be found without our own works and righteousness for mark it if I should find thee without then would I kiss thee as much as to say then would I upon this only condition Administer the the comforts of the Gospel unto thee Nothing can be more clear to settle us in the ground of our faith then what is here written Therefore when thou art afflicted for thy sin and comest before God thou must learn to believe in Christ without and against the Law and fully to perswade thy self that the Gospel is thine because thou art without an opinion of the Law Then shalt thou be enabled and encouraged when thou comest before men to live in the use and practise of the Law VERSE II. I would lead thee and bring thee into my Mothers house who would instruct me I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juyce of my Pomegranate THese words set forth the kindness of the Church towards those that are coming on in the faith I would lead thee that is if I could find thee without I would guide thee and become instrumental to bring thee with Honour and Solemnity Into my Mothers house amongst the Spiritual people that belong to the Family of God that are fill'd with Heavenly liquor and are willing freely to bestow it by whose acquaintance thy Conscience should be covered with the voice of joy and gladness for my Mother to whom I would bring thee would instruct me She changeth the person here to shew the unity that faith maketh amongst the Saints I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine I would cause thee by Divine reasons and arguments to receive not only wine without any thing to compound with it meaning the Righteousness of a man only but I would cause thee to drink of spiced Wine Which is made more Excellent by reason of art in mixture even of the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ which being spiced and perfumed with the Merit of his Godhead preserveth the Conscience from the wrath of God and the fear of Eternal death This I would cause thee to drink of even by a holy kind of violence and compulsion that thou shouldest not forgo it Which she calleth here the juyce of her