I in his eyes as one that findeth peace 〈…〉 on had a Vineyard in Baalhath on hee gave the Vineyard to keepers every man shall bring for the fruit thereof a thousand shekels of silver 〈◊〉 My Vineyard which is mine is before 〈…〉 ô So 〈◊〉 and two hundred to those that keepe the 〈◊〉 thereof Thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions attending to thy voice 〈◊〉 thou me to heare Hee my beloved and bee thou like to a Roe or to a 〈◊〉 of the Harts upon the mountaines of spices CHAPTER VIII O Who will give thee as to me a brother Even he that sucked the breasts of my mother I would finde thee without I would kisse thee And also I should not despised be I would thee leade I would thee bring into My mothers house instruct me shouldest thou I would cause thee to drink wine mixt with spice Of my Pomegranate the delightfull juice His left hand underneath mine head have place His right hand also me about imbrace O daughters of Ierusalem that be I doe adjuring charge you why should ye Awaking-stirre and why should ye disease By stirring up the Love untill it please Who 's this that comes up from the desert wast That to her Loved leaning cleaveth-fast I stird thee up under the Apple-tree Thy mother there with pain did bring-forth thee There she that bare thee did bring-forth-with smart O set me as a seale upon thine heart Vpon thine arme eke set me as a seale For love is strong as death and jealous-zeale Is hard as hell the coales eke of the same Are coales of fire of Iahs consuming flame The many waters love they cannot quench Neither the flouds are able it to dreâ—ch If man would all wealth of his house expend For love it would be utterly contemn'd We have a sister small no breasts hath she In day when she is spoke of what shall we Doe for our sister If she be a wall A silver pallace build on her we shall And if she be a doore inclose will we Her round about with boards of Cedar tree I am a wall my breasts as towres likewise Then was I as peace finding in her eyes In Baal-hamon there a Vineyard was Of Solomons the Vineyard he did passe In hire to keepers every man he brings For fruit thereof a thousand silverlings My Vineyard which is mine fore me remaines The thousand to thee Solomon pertaines Two hundred eke be the fruit-keepers part O thou that dweller in the gardens art Vnto thy voice they that companions be Attending are to heare it cause thou mee Flee my Belov'd and have a â—â—es likenes 〈◊〉 a yong Hart on 〈◊〉 of spices Annotations VVHo will give thee that is O if some would give thee or O that thou wert a forme of wishing often used in the Scripture see Deut. 5. 29. Psal. 14. 7. The faithfull here desire the brotherhood love and communion of Christ for their further comfort and that they might manifest their love and obedience unto him as a brother loving affected conjoyned familiar and conversant with me Brotherhood signifieth neere conjunction and consociation whether by bond of nature or otherwise by agreement and covenant Zach. 11. 14 Wherefore things without life coupled together are called man and his brother or Woman and her sister Exod. 25. 20. and 26. 3. and they that are companions in like estate though differing iâ— nature are brethren as Iob was a brother to dragons and a companion to Owles Iob 30. 29. and a man in quality condition or action like another is called his brother Prov. 18. 9. Gen. 49. 5. and when Solomon perswadeth his sonne to affect love and associate himselfe unto Wisedome hee biddeth him say unto her Thou arr my sister Prov. 7. 4. Although therefore Christ in his humanity was the brother of his people taking part of the same flesh and blood with them Heb. 2. 14. yet is he chiefly called our brother because we are all of one Father by the Spirit of sanctification Heb. 2. 11. 12. Matth. 12. 50. And this seemeth to bee the desire of the godly here that Christ would vouchsafe to enter into covenant with them by his Word and Spirit and to accompany them with his grace for their mutuall comfort and fruition each of others love that he would shew himselfe as a brother lovingly affectioned mercifull and compassionate in their troubles and miseries as a brother is borne for adversity Prov. 17. 13. sucking or that sucked the breasts of my mother that is every way most neerely conjoyned as having both one father and one mother for so the band or kinred is more neere then if they had one father onely as Abraham said she is the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother Gen. 20. 12. Wherefore the childe followed the mother if shee were a free or a bondwoman the childe was likewise Exod. 21 4. Gal. 4. 22. 30. And between brethren of the same mother the affections and love are most vehement as Iosephs cariage towards Benjamin manifesteth Gen. 43. 29. 30. 34. The mother here is Ierusalem which is above which is the mother of us all and signifieth the new Testament or Covenant of grace and freedome Gal. 4. 26. 24. To 〈◊〉 the breasts of this mother is to participate of her grace and consolations Esa. 66. 10. 11. and 60 16. and Christ is then said to suck these breasts when the Covenant or Testament is by him confirmed and stablished to and with his people openly professed and the communion of graces mutually doth grow Which communion is figuratively signified by eating drinking sucking supping together and the like Song 5. 1. Luk. 22. 15. 16 Ioh. 6. 51. Rev. 3. 20. The Hebrewes in then Chaldee paraphrase give this exposition In that time the King Christ shall be revealed unto the Congregation of Israel and the sonnes of Israel shall say unto him Come be thou with us for a brother and let as goe up to Ierusalem and we will sucke with thee the senses or meanings of the Law as a sucking child sucketh the breasts of his mother It may also be observed that things are sometime said to bee done unto Christ which are done unto his people Matth. 25. 35. 40. Acts 9. 4. 5. Colos. 1. 24. As therefore Christians when they are begotten or converted unto Christ by the Gospell have Christ formed in them Gal. 4. 19. so when such are nourished with the sincere milke of the word as 1 Pet. 2. 2. it may bee said that Christ himselfe is nourished in them for he and his people are one body and mystically called Christ 1 Cor. 12. 12. Thus the things here spoken of as to be done unto Christ may be fulfilled by the be getting nourishing and cherishing of the elect when the Covenant of life and peace is made continued and confirmed among them I would finde thee without Her fervent love and desire of Christs communion and brotherly grace is here
that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 17. and is by him made perfect stablished strengthened setled as 1 Pet. 5. 10. This grace is foretold by the Prophet according to Gods first dealing with Israel when he put his holy Spirit within his people and led them through the deepe as an horse in the wildernesse they stumbled not As a beast goeth downe into the valley the Spirit of the Lord quietly led him so didst thou leade thy people to make thy selfe a glorious name Esa. 63. 11. 13. 14. I stirred thee up or I raised thee up They by the words of the Spouse speaking againe to her Beloved whom she stirred or raised up as out of sleepe by her earnest prayers as in Psal. 44. 24. Stirre up why sleepest thou Lord And they that give themselves to prayer are said also to stirre up themselves Esa. 64. 7. This raising up was under the Apple tree the tree of life and grace whose shadow and fruit had been delightfull and sweet unto her and to which tree Christ himselfe was likened Song 2. 3. So shee by faith taking hold on the covenant of grace promises of life in Christ called on his name in her for owes and stirred him up for her helpe comfort there under the Apple tree the faith and hope of salvation and life thy mother the faithfull company or the primitive Church who brought forth Christ into the world by preaching professing practising and suffering for his Gospell painefully brought thee forth travelled of thee with sorrow The bringing forth of Christ into the world by the preaching and witnessing of the Gospell that the childe might be borne unto us Esa. 9. 6. is set forth by the similitude of a woman in her painefull-travell Rev. 12. 1. 2. Gal. 4. 19. For as child-birth is accompanied with many pangs and sorrowes like bands that constraine forceably so is the bringing forth of Christ into the hearts and mindes of men that they may beleeve in him performed with much labour sorrow and difficulty In much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tossings to and fro in labours in watchings in fastings c. 2 Cor. 6. 4. 5. and 4. 8. 11. Wherefore the Church signifying her sorrowes for the deliverance and salvation of her children saith Like as a woman with childe that draweth neere the time of her delivery is in paine cryeth out in her pangs so have we beene in thy sight O Lord. Wee have beene with childe wee have beene in paine wee have as it were brought forth winde we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth c. Esa. 26. 17. 18. Vers. 6. Set me or Put mee as a seale upon thine heart The Spouse desireth of Christ assurance and confirmation of his love towards her that she may be graven as the ingraving of a scale or signet upon his heart This hath reference to the high Priest of old who having the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel graven upon twelve precious stones like the ingravings of a signet or seale is said to beare the names of the sonnes of Israel in the Breast-plate of judgement upon his heart for a memoriall before the Lord continually Exod. 28. 21. 29. So shee desireth Christ to be her mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things pertaining to God Heb. 2. 17. that he would have a continuall care of her salvation mindfull of her himselfe and making a memoriall of her before God his Father and that this affection of love might not vanish away but be as a deepe impression in his heart for ever For a seale is used for a ratifying and confirming that which is spoken that it may not be disanulled Neh. 9. 38. Rom. 4. 11. And this God signified to Zerubbabel saying I will set thee as a seale for I have chosen thee Hag. 2. 23. and againe it is said The foundation of God standeth sure having this seale the Lord knoweth them that are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. a seale upon thine arme The high Priest bare the names of the Tribes not onely upon his heart but the same names he also bare ingraven like a seale upon his shoulders before the Lord for a memoriall Exod. 28. 11. 12. And the Lord promising the daughter of Sion that hee would not forget her to have compassion on her saith Behold I have graven thee upon the plames of my hands thy walles are continually before me Esa. 49. 15. 16. But as the heart signifieth inward love so the arme of Christ signifieth his outward manifestation of love by helping bearing and supporting her in all her infirmities through his power wherfore it is said Thou redeemest thy people with the arme Psal. 77. 16. and thou hast scattered thine enemies with the arme of thy strength Psal. 89. 11. and unto Ierusalem he saith Behold the Lord will come with strong hand and his arme shall rule for him Hee will feed his flocke like a sheepheard hee will gather the Lambs with his arme and carry them in his bosome Esa. 40. 10. 11. love is strong as death as death is strong and overcommeth the strongest man Psal. 89. 48. so the love which I beare towards thee desiring to be united unto thee is a strong affection which cannot be subdued in me by any trouble or tentation zeale or gealousie zeale is love inflamed and â—ervent and is used sometime in good part as Ioh. 2. 17. sometime in the evill called bitter zeale or envying Iam. 3. 14. so is gealousie 2 Cor. 11. 2. Here it seemeth to bee meant of godly zeale or gealousie wherewith her heart was also affected towards Christ. hard as hell cruell fierce and inexorable as is hell it selfe that is the grave or state of death whereof see the notes on Gen. 37. 35. that as death and the grave devoureth all so love and gealous-zeale consumeth and eateth up not sparing for the love of Christ constraineth 2 Cor. 5. 14. and the zeale for his glory eateth up the godly Psal. 69. 9. the coales the fierie coales arrowes or fierie darts properly the word signifieth that which flieth and burneth is applyed sometimes to plagues judgements Deut. 32. 24. sometimes to arrowes Psal. 76. 3. here to burning coales or darts of love that pierce and inflame the heart and cannot be quenched flame of Iah the consuming flame of God Shalhebeth-jah noteth a vehement or consuming flame of Iah the Lord as the piercing and devouring lightning but meaneth the fire of his Spirit which is compared unto fire Matth. 3. 11. for the power and efficacie thereof in the hearts of the children of God Vers. 7. many waters By waters and floods are often meant afflictions troubles warres persecutions tentations wherewith the faith love patience of Christs people are exercised tried Psal. 69. 2. Esa. 8. 7. 8. and 59. 19. Dan. 9. 26. and 11. 12. So here is signified that the love of Christ wherewith the
thousands that is the thousand generation of them that hate me or to my haters whereunto the Chald. addeth where the sons goe on to sin after their fathers For hereby they turne to be Gods enemies Mic. 2. 8. as they do love him that keepe his commandements v. 6. Verse 6. love me c. Love is first named as that from which the keeping of the commandements proceedeth Iohn 14. 15 for the end of the Commandement is Love out of a pure heart c. 1 Tim. 1. 5. and towards such as love him and keepe his commandements God keepeth covenant and mercy Daniel 9. 4. The Hebrew Doctors write Let not a man say loe I doe the Law and exercise my selfe in the wisedome thereof to the and that I may receive all the blessings that are written therein or that I may be worthy of life in the world that is to come and I will keepe mee from the transgressions which the Law warneth me of that I may bee delivered from the curses written in the Law or that I bee not cut off from the life of the world to come It is not meet to serve God after this manner For hee that serveth thus serveth of feare c. but hee that serveth of love exerciseth himselfe in the Law and walketh in the waies of wisedome not because of any thing in the world nor for feare of evill or that he may inherite good things but doth the truth because it is the truth c. And this is a very great dignitie which no wise man is worthy of and it was the dignity of Abraham our father whom the holy blessed God calleth his Lover or Friend Esay 41. 8. because he served him not but of Love And this is the dignitie which God commandeth us by the hand of Moses saying And thou shalt love the Lord thy God Deut. 6. 5. And at what time a man loveth the Lord with love convenient immediately hee will doe all the commandements out of love c. Maimony treat of Repentance c. 10. S. 1. 2. Verse 7. not take up to wit upon thy lippes or mouth as this phrase is opened in Psalme 16. 4. and 50. 16. that is not speake use or mention So to take up a proverbe Esay 14. 4. to take up a lamentation Ezek 26. 17. is to speake or utter the same The Chaldee restraineth it to one particular thou shalt not swears by the name c. and the Thargum called Ionathans thus My people the house of Israel Let not any of you sweare by the name of the Word of the LORD your God in vaine But though swearing be a principall thing here intended Esay 48. 1. yet the precept is more large forbidding all unreverent unholy use of Gods name in heart mouth oraction and commanding the fanctifying thereof as it is Holy and Reverend Matth. 6. 9. Psalme 111. 9. and to sweare by the same Deut. 6. 13. Name that whereby God hath made himselfe knowne as his titles and attributes Exod. 54. 56. 7. his Word Law Gospell Deut. 32. 3. Act. 9. 15. as the Law of Christ Esay 42. 4. inexpoundeth he his Name Matt. 12. 21. also prayer Gen. 4. 26. and Gods whole worship and all ordinances pertaining thereto Deut. c. 12. 5. Mal. 1. 〈◊〉 12. Mic. 4. 5. his sacraments Matth. â—8 â—8 19. censures 1. Cor. 5. 4. 5. Matt. 18. 20. and whatsoever belongeth to Christian religion is comprised in this Name of God That as the second commandement teacheth us wherewith to serve the Lord so this third directeth us unto the holy use of all religion in heart profession action in vaine or to vanitie which word implyeth also falsitie as after in v. 16. and so it is used to denote false religion or idolatry Ier. 18. 15. Ion. 2. 9. false doctrine error and heresie Lam. 2. 14. Ezek. 13. 6. 7. but commonly vaine and fruitles speaking or doing whereof no good commeth Ps. 127. 1. 2. Esay 1. 13. Ier. 4. 30. and 6. 29. So two things chiefly are here forbidden the mentioning or using of Gods name in word or deed when it should not be used for that there is no just cause so to doe secondly the using of it amisse wheÌ„ duty bindeth us to use it with feare and holinesse As swearing when there is no cause of an oath Matt. 6. 34. and swearing falsly Levit. 19. 12. swearing and not performing 2 Chron. 36. 13. vowing and not paying Deuternomie 23. 21. vaine praying in respect of matter or manner Iob 35. 13 Matt. 6. 7. corruption in teaching or hearing the Word of God Ezek 21. 29. 2 Cor. 2. 7. Matt. 13. 19. Ezek. 33. 31. abusing the Word to unlawfull arts superstition jesting profanenesse Deut. 18. 11. Esay 66. 5. abuse of the sacraments and holy mysteries Mal. 1. 11. 12. 1 Cor. 11. 27. 29. Ier. 7. 4. 10. abuse of ecclesiasticall censures Esay 66. 5. abuse of Lots Esth. 3. 7. Prov. 16. 33. hypocrisie in any religious worke Mat. 15. 7. 8. 9. and all unbeliefe Rom. 14. 23 Iam. 1. 6. a sinfull conversation whereby the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles Rom. 2. 24. with whatsoever else is contrary to the sanctifying of Gods name which on the other part is here commanded Lev. 22. 31. 32. The Hebr. Doctors say Whosoever transgresseth wittingly and without constraint any one of all the commandements spoken of in the Law with a contemptuous soule to provoke Gods anger loe this man polluteth the Name of God and if he transgresse in the presence of the men of Israel he polluteth the Name publikely Also whosoever separateth himselfe from transgression or doth that w ch is commanded not for any thing in the world nor for feere or dread nor for to seeke honor but for our blessed Creators sake as Ioseph the just refrained himselfe from his masters wife Gen. 39. 9. loe this man sanctifieth the Name of the Lord Maimonian Iesudei hatorah c. 5. S. 10. guiltlesse or cleare innocent that is he will not leave him unpunished so the phrase signifieth as is opened in 1 King 2. 9. but he shall be plagued in this world or in that which is to come as Tharg Ionathan paraphraseth the Lord will not hold him just or innocent in the great day of judgmeÌ„t V. 8. Remember Heb. To remember of w ch phrase see Exo. 13. 3. God speaketh thus of this commandement to note the importance of it for hereckoneth the breach of this precept as one of the greatest sins in Israel Ezek. 20. 12. 22. 8. 23. 38 c Likewise to signifie the antiquitie of it as being from the creation of the world Gen. 2. 2. 3. and for that it was to bee kept but one day in seven that when the time come it be not forgotten or neglected In repeating this law Moses saith Observe or keep the sabbath Deut. 5. 12. In Esa. 58. â—3 the Lord add 〈◊〉 two words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to call the Sabbath a Delight the
man-servant c. that they may rest as well as thou Deuteronomie 5. 14. Here the Hebrewes say The man and woman servant whom wee bid to keepe Sabbath are servants that are circumcised and baptised c. and have received the commandements which servants are bound unto But servants not circumcised nor baptised but onely have received the seven Commandements given to the sonnes of Noe they are as sojourning strangers and may doe worke for themselves openly on the Sabbath as an Israelite may on a working day Maimony treat of the Sabbath chap. 20. S. 14. But this permission seemeth unto mee to bee against Gods Law which from the creation was given to all the world Genesis 2. 2. 3. yet the Iewes restraine it to themselves from Exodus 31. 17. see the annotations there cattell or beast which in Deuteronomie 5. 14. is amplified thus thine oxe or thine asse or any beast of thine thy stranger in Greeke the proselyte thy gates the Chaldee expounds it thy cities So that which in 2 Samuel 10. 8. is called the entring in of the gate is in 1 Chron. 19 9. the entring in of the citie Vers. 11. therefore Hereby it appeareth that the Sabbath was instituted from the beginning of the world and so was given to all nations and not to Israel onely Though upon their bringing out of Egypt they were put in mind to keepe it and in Deuteronomie 5. 15. that their deliverance is made a reason to them of this commandement Vers. 12 Honour This is called the first commandement with promise Ephesians 6. 2. that is the first of the second table which directeth us in all duties toward man and this precept is to maintaine the order which God hath set amongst men of superioritie and subjection The Hebrew word for Honour or Glorie hath the name of weightinesse and so Paul speaketh of the weight of glorie 2 Cor. 4. 17. and it implieth a dignity and excellency in parents and governours which God would have to be maintained whereupon magistrates are called Glories or Dignities 2 Peter 2. 10. Honour is to be performed with the bodie in reverend gesture 1 King 2. 19. Leviticus 19. 32. in reverend speeches 1 Peter 3. 6. Exodus 32. 22. Numbers 12. 11. in action as obedience to their instructions and commandements in the Lord Prov. 6. 20. Ephes. 6. 1. in recompencing their love and care and releeving them with our substance in their age and need Marke 7. 10. 11. 12. 13. 1 Tim. 5. 4. to cover their infirmities Gen. 9. 21. 22. and in heart to reverence feare and love them Leviticus 19. 3. Rom. 13. 5. 9. and by all other like meanes to shew respect and honor unto them In an Hebrew Commentarie upon Moses called Chazkuni it is said Werâ—â—de Honour the LORD with thy substance Prov. 3. 9. and Honourly father and thy mother Exodus 20 The LORD is to be honoured if thou have it thy father and mother whether then hast it or no for if thou hast nothing thou art bound to beg for them Againe as God commandeth Honour so he for biddeth all dishonour contempt and disobedience in heart word gesture or action Leviticus 20. 9. Prov. 30. 17. Deut. 21. 18. 21. Eccles. 10. 20. And as he requireth children to honour their parents so the parents are bound to educate and governe them with gravity and lenitie in the instruction and information of the Lord Ephes. 6. 4. father and thy mother in Leviticus 19. 3. the mother is named before the father Vnder these names all superiors governors are implyed first the father that begat and mother that bare Prov. 23. 22. and 31. 2. then parents by law and affinitie Ruth 3. 1. 5. parents that adopt children Esth. 2. 7. 20. Kings and all Magistrates Esay 22. 21. 2 King 5. 13. Prophets and Church governours as Elias and Eliseus were fathers 2 Kings 2. 12. and 6. 21. and 13. 14. Deborah a mother in Israel Iudg. 5. 7. and 17. 10. Ancients in yeares patrons instructors protectors and all such like 1 Tim. 5. 1. 2. Iob 29. 16. Gen. 45. 8. and 4. 20. 21. may be prolonged in Deut. 5. 16. Moses addeth and that it may be well with thee It may be Englished that they thy parents by their prayers may prolong thy dayes but such phrases are often used impersonally as is noted on Gen. 2. 20. and 16. 14. and so the Apostle according to the common Greeke version saith that it may bee well with thee and that thou maiest be long lived or live a long time in the land Ephes. 6. 2. 3. Also the Chaldee said to bee Ionathans translateth that your daies may be multiplyed the land of Canaan which was to bee given unto Israel and was a figure of an heavenly countrey as is noted on Gen. 12. 1. 5. Thus pietie hath the promise both of this life and of that which is to come Maimony in Misneh treat of Repentance chap. 8. S. 1. saith That which is written in the Law Deut. 22. 7. that it may be well with thoe and thou maiest prolong thy dayes we have beene taught to understand thus that it may be well with thee in the world where all is well and thou maist prolong thy daies in the world which is all long and that is the world to come Vers. 13. Thou shalt not kill or Thou shalt not murder for the Hebrew Ratsach properly signifieth Murder that is killing of mankinde unjustly and so differeth from another word Harag which is to kill a person which sometime is justly Deut. 13. 9. We may also English it Kill not and so the rest Commit not adultery Steale not c. for both these waies doth the holy Ghost translate these precepts into Greeke Matt. 19. 18. Mark 10. 19. This sixt Commandement is for preserving mans life the seventh is for the just propagation of mankinde the eight concerneth his goods the ninth his good name the tenth teacheth every man to be contented with his owne estate The Chaldee translateth this Thou shalt not kill a soule that is any person and it for biddeth all murder of soule or of body Ezek. 13. 19. and 3. 18. Gen. 9. 6. of ones selfe or of another Act. 16. 27. 28. Prov. 〈◊〉 11. 16. and this not onely in act but in reproachfull words Matt. 5. 21. 22. malicious gesture Matt. 27. 39. Gen. 46. inward unadvised anger malice 〈…〉 hatred M 〈…〉 ew 5. 22. for whosoever hateth his brother is 〈…〉 1 Iohn 3. 15. Co 〈…〉 rari wise it commandeth to preserve the life of all men except such as God for their sinnes commandâ—th to bee killed Genesis 9. 6. 〈◊〉 Samuel 15. 2. 3. 〈…〉 Verse 14. not commit 〈◊〉 or not adulterate the originall is one word and forbiddeth all manner of wâ—oredome fornication uncleannesse Ephesians 5. 3. and unnaturall filthinesse Leviticus 18. 22. 23. not onely the outward act but all lascivious words gestures and attire Ephesians 4. 29. 1 Peter 2 14.
chaines Afterwards they put the ends of the â—â—eathings of the Brestplate into the rings that were above on the shoulders of the Ephod Then they pâ—t the two laces of blew which were on the edges of the Brestplate into the two rings which were above the curious girdle of the Ephod And they let downe the 〈◊〉 which were in the rings on the shoulders of the Ephod unto the rings of the Brestplate which were uppermost that the one might cleave fast unto the other and so the Brestplate might not bee loosed from the Ephod M 〈…〉 ony treat of the Implements of the Sanctuary 〈◊〉 9. s. 9. 10. Ver. 29. upon his heart The Greeke translateth upon his brest so in Revel 15. 6. the brests girded meaneth the hearts As before presenting them â—nto God he bare them on his shoulders on two 〈◊〉 of equall worth and glorie so now to signifie Gods favour in Christ towards the Church they are borne upon his heart graven on sundry stones which signified the manifold and sundry graces of the Spirit wherewith the Saints are glorified here every one in their measure proceeding all from the love of Christ. Wherefore the Church desiring confirmation in his grace love prayeth Set me as a â—ignet upon thy heart Song 8. 6. memoriall which the graving did signifie as in Esay 49. 15. 16. I will not forget thee behold I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands c. Ver. 30. the Urim and the Thummim which is by interpretation the Lights and the Perfections but what these were is not easie to say The Gr. translateth them the Manifestation and the Truth There is no commandement given unto Moses for to make them neither is there any mention of them in Exod. 39. where the making of all Aarons ornaments is related but in Levit. 8. 8. it is said of Moses he put in the Brestplate the Vrim and the Thummim From which some of the Hebrews as R. Menachem on Exod. 28. doe gather that they were not the worke of the artificer neither had the artificers nor the Church of Israel in them any worke or any voluntary offring but they were a mysterie delivered to Moses from the mouth of God or they were the worke of God himselfe For Moses tooke the Urim and the Thummim and put them in the Brest-plate after that he had put upon Aaron the Ephod and the Brestplate Levit. 8. 7. 8. Some doe thinke that as those words Holinesse to Iehovah in verse 36. were graven on a plate and put on Aarons fore-head so these words Vrim and Thummim were likewise graven on a golden plate and put in the Brestplate which was double verse 16. for something to be put therein Others thinke they were no other then the precious stones fore-spoken of The use of these Vrim and Thummim was to enquire of God and to receive an answer of his will by them as is said of Eleazar the priest he shall aske counsell for Ioshua after the judgement of Vrim before the LORD Numb 27. 21. The manner of asking counsell is recorded by the Hebrews to be thus When they inquired the priest stood with his face before the Arke and hee that inquired stood behind him with his face to the backe of the priest and the inquirer said Shall I goe up or Shall I not And hee asked not with an high voice nor with the thought of his heart onely but with a sub 〈…〉 〈◊〉 as one that prayeth by himselfe And forthwith the holy Ghost came upon the Priest and hee beheld the Brestplate and saw the 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of prophesie Goe up or goe not up in the letters that shewed 〈◊〉 themselves upon the Brestplate before his face Then the Priest answered him and said Goe up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not up And they made no inquiry of two things at once and if they so inquired yet the 〈…〉 〈◊〉 but unto the first onely And they enquired not hereâ—y for a common man but either for the King or for him on whom the affaires of the Congregation â—ay Maimony treat of the Implements of the Sanctuary Chap. 10. Sect. 11. 12. Of this see examples which may give light hereunto in Num. 27. 18. 21. Iudg. 1. 1. and 20. 18. 28. 1 Sam. 13. 9. 10. 11. 12. and 28. 6. These Vrim and Thummim were lost at the Captivity of Babylon and wanted at the peoples returnâ— Ezr. 2 63. Nehemiah 6. 65. neither doe we find that ever God answered by them any more The Bab. Thalmud 〈◊〉 â—oma Chap. 1. sol 21. speaking of Hag. 〈◊〉 8. where the Hebrew word Ecchabda I will be glorified wanteth the letter H which in numbring signifieth five saith The want of H sheweth the want of five things in the second Temple which had beene in the first namely 1 The Arke with the Mercy-seat and Cherubims 2 The fire from heaven 3 The Majesty or Divine presence 4 The holy Ghost 5 and the Vrins and Thummin By the Majesty Shecinah they seeme to meane the Oracle in the most holy place where God had dwelt betweene the Cherubims Psal. 80. 2. Num. 7. 89. And by the holy Ghost they meane the spirit of prophesie not onely in the Priests but in the Prophets as the Commentary on that place of the Thalmud saith The holy Ghost was not in the Prophets from the second yeere of Darius c. that is after Haggai Zachary and Malachie which were the last Prophets and in that Kings time Haggai 1. 1. Zach. 1. 1 So elsewhere in the Thalmud in Sanhedrin Chap. 1. they teach from their ancient Doctors that after the later Prophets Haggai Zachary and Malachi were dead the holy Ghost went up or departed from Israel howbeit they had the use of a voice or Eccho from heaven R. Menachem on Ex. 28. saith of this Oracle by Vrim Thummim that it was one of the degrees of the holy Ghost that is of the gifts of the holy Ghost inferiour unto Prophesie and superiour to the voice or Eccho Like wise R. Moses Gerundens on Exod. sol 146. affirmeth that betweene the Voice and the Prophesie were Urim and Thummin Of this Voice or Eccho there is no mention in the Scriptures of the Prophets but the Hebrew-Doctors which say that it was in Israel after the Prophets ceased doe often write of it and call it Bathkol that is the daughter of a voice as it were one voice proceeding out of another such as we call an Eccho and which some thinke was with distinct and plaine words Of old they had in Israel Oracies or answers from God three manner of wayes by Dreames or by Urim that is the Priest with Vrim and Thummim Num. 27. 21. or by Prophets 1 Sam. 28. 6. 7. When the Lord would by none of these answer King Saul then he rought to a Witch The footsteps of these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among the ancient Heathens as Homeâ— in 〈◊〉 bringeth in Achilâ—es advising the Greekes in the time of a
promise Daniel hath respect in his praier Dan. 9. 4. and Nehemiah Neh. 1. 5. Vers. 10. his face that is the face of every of them So after to destroy him that is every one of them therefore the Greeke translateth plurally them The Chaldee saith In their life time hee will repay them Chazkuni likewise and others expound it In his life time And so it is said Behold the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth much more the wicked and the sinner Prov. 11. 31. A like phrase there is of recompensing the wicked into their bosome Esay 65. 6. not delay that is not faile See the notes on Exod. 22. 29. will repay him or recompense reward him to wit with vengeance or punishment as these are joyned together in Deut. 32. 35 41. and it is called paiment or reward because it shall be according to mans worke Iob 34. 11. Psal. 62. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the 46 Section of the Law whereof see Gen. 6. 9. Vers. 12. because the Greeke translateth it when 〈◊〉 it implieth a reward of their obedience which God of his grace will give as in Gen. 22. â—8 And the originall word sometime is used for a reward as Psal. 19. 12. sometime it signifieth for or because of Esay 5. 23. these the Greeke addeth all these which is intended as the like phrase in Deut. 27. 2â— is opened by the Apostle Gal. 3. 10. And under the name judgements the commandements and statutes are also contained keepe unto theâ— understand againe keep doe that is performe unto thee Here by promises of communicating good things and turning away evill hee exciteth them unto obedience for godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to some 〈◊〉 Tim. 4. 8. s 〈…〉 unto thy fathers The oath and promise unto the fathers pertaineth unto the faithfull children which are all implied in the covenant Psal. 105. 8. 11. Luk. 〈…〉 5. 72 73 74. Act. 3. 25 26. Gal. 3. 29. So punishment remaineth for the wicked from the parents to the children for God recompenseth the iniquity of the fathers into the bosome of their children after them ser. 32. â—8 Vers. 13. love thee that is continue to love thee for the love of God to his people was the cause why hee chose and called them 〈◊〉 7 8. not that we loved God but that hee loved us 1 Iob. 4. 10. and from the feeling of this in our hearts proceedeth our love towards God and out of love obedience and so God continueth his love which is the fountaine of all blessings So Christ faith Hee that hath my commandements and keepeth them is hee that loveth mee and he that loveth mee shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will shew my selfe unto him Iob. 14. 〈◊〉 fruit of thy wombe in Chaldee the childe of thy bowels so in Deut. 28. 4. The just man walking in his integrity his children are blessed after him Prov. 20. 7. increase or young as Exod. 13. 12. the Greeke and Chaldee here translate herds of thy kine Vers. 14. barren male the Greeke translateth without seed or generation compare this with Ex. 23. 26. Hereupon barrennesse was a reproach Luk. 1. 25. and fruitfulnesse counted a blessing Psalm 128. 1 3. Vers. 15. evill diseases that is painefull malignant and incurable diseases as Deut. 28. 27. Compare Exod. 15. 26. and 23. 25. lay Hebrew give that is lay or impose as the Greeke translateth Vers. 16. eat up that is as the Chaldee translateth it consume But the word eat hath respect unto that in Num. 14. 9. they are bread for us See also Psal. 14. 4. This is not onely a promise of victory but a precept also to abolish those cursed nations as the words following manifest and v. 1 2 3. spare to wit from vengeance not take pitty on them This affection is often given to the eye as in other cases Matt. 20. 15. See Gen. 45. 20. Deut. 13. 8. Ezek. 5. 11. snare a cause of thy ruine the Chaldee faith a scandall or stumbling-blocke so after in v. 25. See Exod. 23. 33. and the performance hereof mentioned in Psal. 106. 36. they served their Idols which were a snare unto them Vers. 17. dispossesse them or as the Chaldee translateth cast them out in Greeke destroy them These words of God tend to the strengthening of faith against the feares and infirmities of the Saints and power of their enemies Compare Num. 13. 32. 34. Vers. 18. Egypt or the Egyptians as both Greeke and Chaldee doe translate This example is often mentioned for the comfort of faith Deut. 4. 34. c. and 29. 2 3. for it was a manifestation both of the power of God and of his good will towards his people Vers. 19. tentations or trialls essaies see Deut. 4. 34. and 29. 3. Vers. 20. the hornet or hornets as the Greeke translateth As God by frogs lice and other creatures plagued the Egyptians Exod. 8. so did he the Canaanites with hornets Ios. 24. 12. shewing his power in confounding mighty enemies by small and weake meanes 1 Cor. 1. 27 28. Hereby also the pricks and terrours of conscience sent upon the wicked may fitly bee signified So in Exod. 23. 28. from thy face the Greeke translateth from thee so it is referred to the latter word hide rather than to the former perish Vers. 21. fearefull or terrible in Greeke strong that is able to save thee terrible to thine enemies as 1 Sam. 4. 7. 8. and unto thee fearefull and to be reverenced Psal. 89. 7. Vers. 22. by little This was accomplished when some could not at the first bee driven out Ios. 15. 63. Iudg. 3. 1. suddenly or hastily quickly that is at once but by degrees Yet in Deut. 9. 3. hee promiseth that they should destroy them suddenly to wit in respect of their enemies 〈◊〉 whom sudden destruction come 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 awareâ— but in respect of Israel it was not so 〈◊〉 as they looked for and desired For God foresaw their infirmities and how they would sin against him if they were not exercised with troubles yea and for their sinnes it is observed that he would not drive out the nations that through them hee might prov 〈…〉 whether they would keepe the way of the Lord c. Therefore the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nations 〈◊〉 haue 〈…〉 ing them 〈◊〉 hastâ—ly 〈◊〉 delivered hee them into the hand of Ioshua 〈◊〉 21 22 23. beasts Hebr. beast Here the Greeke addeth lest the land be wildernesse and the 〈◊〉 beasts of the field multiply God could also have destroyed the wild beâ—sts from before them as 〈◊〉 promiseth in Lâ—vâ— 26. 6. Ezek. 34. 25. but if Israel had suddenly destroyed the peoples pride or security or other vices would have crept upon them which God in justice must also have punished 〈…〉 Iudg. 3. 1 2 3 4. Vers. 23. destroy or vex with 〈◊〉 and tumult see
here commendeth the graces of Christ which he had being full of the Holy Ghost for his God had anointed him with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellowes Heb. 1. 9. and of him it is said The Spirit of the Lord is upon mee because hee hath anointed mee to preach the Gospell c. Luke 4. 18. Esay 61. 1. And the odour of these graces is smelt when the Gospell preached is by sense or judgement perceived Phil. 1. 9. Luke 9. 45. Heb. 5. 14. thy name is an ointment powred-forth As Messias and Christ is by interpretation Anointed and he is called the Oile or Ointment in Esay 10. 27. so by his Name is meant his Law the doctrine of grace or Law of faith Rom. 3. 27. as it is written The Iles shall wait for his Law Esay 42. 4. which is expounded The Gentiles shall trust in his name Matth. 12. 21. and the preaching of that grace is called the bearing of Christs Name before the Gentilis Acts 9. 15. and as a good Name is better then a good ointment Eccles. 7. 1. so the name and doctrine of Christ excelleth all other that at the name of Iesus every knee should bow Phil. 2. 10. This name is as a precious ointment powred forth by the preaching of the Gospell and by the miracles confirming the same accomplished not onely by Christ himselfe a man approved of God among the Israelites by miracles wonders and signes which God did by him Act. 2. 22. so that there went out a fame of him through all the region round about and he taught in their synagogues being glorified of all Luke 4. 14. 15. but also by his Apostles who were to preach on the house tops that which they heard in the eare Matth. 10. 27. which also they performed Rom. 15. 19. and 16. 25. 26. and therein rejoyced and said Now thankes be unto God which alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place For we are unto God a sweet-savour in Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life 2 Cor. 2. 2. 14. 15. 16. And as the boxe of ointment when it was broken and powred forth on Christs head the house was filled with the savour of it Marke 14. 3. Iohn 12. 3. so when his Name and Gospell is preached abroad it giveth the odour thereof into all Christian hearts so that by the preaching of faith they also receive the Spirit Gal. 3. 2. 5. and are anointed of God 2 Cor. 1. 21. and have an unction from the Holy-one and know all things 1 Iohn 2. 20. that whereas before they mourned for their sinnes and miseries they now are comforced and have the oile of joy given unto them Esay 61. 3. the Uirgins love thee These are the fellow friends of the Spouse Ps. 45. 15. By Uirgins are meant all such as are chosen and called of God and faithfull whether whole Churches as 2 Cor. 11. 2. or particular persons who with chaste and pure minds serve the Lord onely and worship him in spirit and truth and stand with Christ on the mount Sion having his Fathers name written in their foreheads of whom it is said These are they which were not defiled with women for they are virgins these are they which follow the Lambe whither soever he goeth these were bought from among men being the first fruits unto God and to the Lambe and in their mouth was found no guile for they are without fault before the throne of God Rev. 14. 1 4. 5. And these love the Lord for the odour of his good ointments which they perceive by his word and Spirit though they see him not 1 Pet. 1. 8. they love him because he first loved them 1 Iohn 4. 19. and hath shed abroad his love in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them Rom. 5. 5. and this is love that they walke after his commandements and keepe them 2 Ioh. v. 6. Iohn 14. 15. Vers. 4. Draw me A second request of the Spouse unto Christ that he would not onely call her outwardly by the voice of his Gospell but forasmuch as the word preached profiteth not if it bee not mixed with faith in them that heare it Heb. 4. 2. and faith is not of our selves it is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. who worketh in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. that he would also open her heart Acts 16. 14. effectually worke in her by his Spirit and continue and increase his grace towards her For drawing implyeth power in him that draweth as Hee draweth the mighty with his power Iob 24. 22. and when it is unto good it argueth grace and good will as I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love Hos. 11. 4. and continuance of grace as O draw that is continue thy loving kindnesse to them that know thee Psal. 26. 10. and in them that are drawne it is a signe of infirmity as No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Iohn 6. 44. And this is a fruit and effect of Christs death as himselfe saith And I if I bee lifted up or taken away from the earth will draw all men unto mee Iohn 12. 32. This drawing is by being effectually taught of God as againe he saith It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father commeth to me Iohn 6. 45. and is a signe of Gods everlasting love towards such as it was said unto Israel Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee Ier. 31. 3. we will runne I and the Virgins fore-mentioned will runne after thee for they follow the Lambe whithersoever he goeth Rev. 14. 4. Christ is our Fore runner gone before us into heaven Heb. 6. 20. Our Christian conversation is called a running Gal. 2. 2. and 5. 7. and our life is likened to a course or race which is runne as Iohn fulfilled his course or race Acts 13. 25. and Paul saith I have finished my course 2 Tim. 4. 7. Running signifieth readinesse of affection and speedy performance in action Hag. 1. 9. 1 King 19. 19. 20. Psal. 147. 15. it argueth also strength in the runner Dan. 8. 6. all which are here implyed as an effect of Christs grace drawing her according to the Prophesie Behold thou shalt call a nation that thou knewest not and nations that knew not thee shall runne unto thee c. Esay 55. 5. And againe They that wait on the Lord shall renew strength c. they shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not faint Esay 40. 31. Now the way which we are to runne is his commandements of which David saith I
will runne the way of thy commandements when thou shalt inlarge my heart Psal. 119. 32. Vnder this promise of the Church is contained also the constant suffering of afflictions for and with Christ who being our Fore-runner and being consecrated through sufferings and so entring into his glory Heb. 2. 9. 10. Luke 24. 26. hath herein left us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. and hath said If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take up his crosse daily and follow mee Luke 9. 23. Therefore it is written Let us lay aside every weight and the sinne which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience unto the race that is set before us looking unto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12. 1. 2. into his chambers This sheweth the benefits which they finde that follow Christ they are brought not onely into the Kings palace as in Psal. 45. 16. but into his privy chambers the most secret safe and quiet roomes of his Palace Chambers are places of greatest secrecy 2 King 6. 12. Luke 12. 3. Matth. 6. 6. and of most safety Deut. 32. 25. Ezek. 21. 14. and in such the Bridegroom and Bride used to rejoyce together Ioel 2. 16. Iudg. 15. 1. Hereby is signified the revelation of the mystery of the Gospell the Secret of the Lord which is revealed to them that feare him Psal. 25. 14 and the spiritual comforts which they reape thereby for Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God and thus we have the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 9. 10. 16. and are brought into such chambers as by knowledge are filled with all precious and pleasant riches Prov. 24. 4. Into them Paul as a friend of the Bridegroome endevoured with great strift to bring the Church that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the fulnesse of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Coloss. 2. 1. 2. 3. In these chambers also the Saints are kept safe from evill Psal. 27. 5. delivered from the wrath and judgements of God due for their sinnes and comforted by the words of Christ against the persecution of men that in him they may have peace though in the world they have tribulation Ioh. 16. 33. Therefore unto them hee saith Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doores about thee hide thy selfe for a very little moment untill the indignation be overpast Esa. 26. 20. Be glad and rejoyce be glad inwardly and rejoyce outwardly these comforts they finde in the Kings chambers whose Kingdome is not meat and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. Wherefore they say I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soule shall be joyfull in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse as a bridegroome decketh himselfe with ornaments and as a bride adorneth her selfe with jewels Esay 61. 10. and thus they rejoyce with joy unspeakeable and full of glory receiving the end of their faith even the salvation of their soules 1 Pet. 1. 8. 9. will remember thy loves or will record rehearse make-mention of thy loves more then wine or which are better then wine as in vers 2. The foresaid joy of the Saints redoundeth to the praise and glory of Christ whose loves manifested by his sufferings death resurrection ascension and the graces and benefits flowing from them to his Church are remembred inwardly recorded and mentioned outwardly For they with joy drawing water out of the wells of salvation doe say in that day Praise the Lord call upon his name declare his doings among the people make mention that his name is exalted Esay 12. 3. 4. I will mention the loving kindnesses of the Lord the prayses of the Lord according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us and the great goodnesse towards the house of Israel which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses Esay 63. 7. I will make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine onely Psal. 71. 16. I will make thy name to bee remembred in every generation and generation therefore peoples shall confesse thee for ever and aye Psalme 45. 18. The upright love thee Hebr. uprightnesses or righteousnesses love thee whereby righteous or upright persons are meant the virgins fore-mentioned in vers 3. who have upright hearts and righteous conversation as pride in Ier. 50. 31. is for a proud person sin in Prov. 13. 6. is for a sinner thankesgivings in Nehem. 12. 31. for companies of thanksgivers and many the like So this fruit commeth by remembring and mentioning Christs loves that the righteous are confirmed and increased in love towards him more and more as the Apostle wrote to them that beleeved on the name of the Sonne of God that they might beleeve on the name of the Sonne of God that is might be confirmed continued and increased in their beleefe 1 Iohn 5. 13. The Hebrewes ignorant of Christ have applied these things unto Gods ancient mercies towards them in the giving of his Law as the Chaldee paraphrast saith When the people of the house of Israel was come out of Aegypt the divine-presence of the Lord of the world was their guide by the pillar of a cloud by day and by the pillar of fire by night The just men of that generation said O Lord of all the world Draw us after thee and wee will runne after the way of thy goodnesse and bring us neere to the bottome of the mount Sinai and give us thy Law out of thy treasure-house which is in the Firmament and we will be glad and rejoyce in the 22 letters with which it is written and we will remember them and will love thy Godhead and will depart from after the idols of the peoples and all just men which doe that which is right before thee shall feare thee and love thy commandements But the Law being the ministration of death though it was glorious hath no glory in respect of the ministration of the Spirit and of righteousnesse which exceedeth in glory 2 Cor. 3. 7. 10. Therefore the new Testament being now confirmed in Christ those former things which were figures and shadowes are no more remembred as was prophesied in Ier. 3. 16. Vers. 5. I am blacke Hitherto hath beene the Churches first speech unto Christ testifying her faith and love now follow her words to the daughters of Ierusalem against the scandals and offences that might arise for the
the Ministers who by the doctrine of the Gospell susteyned the Church as Iames Cephas and Iohn seemed to be pillars Gal. 2. 9. If unto other things it may bee understood of the words of God likened unto fined silver in Psal. 12. with whose oracles as with pillars the charret of the Church is sustained So Prov. 9. Wisedome builded her house and hewed out her seven pillars A pillar signifieth constancy and stability Rev. 3. 12. the bottome or the seat on which Solomon sitteth resteth or lyeth in his charret so the Greeke translateth it Anacliton that which one sitteth or lyeth downe upon This bottome or seat of gold seemeth to have reference to the golden Mercie-seat over the Arke in the Temple on which God is said to sit Ps. 80. 2. And it signifieth the covenant of grace apprehended by faith which is much more precious theÌ„ gold that pensheth 1 Pet. 1. 7. and the doctrines of the Law by faith which are better then thousands of gold and silver Psal. â—19 72. the covering the top and hangings which have the name here of riding because it seemed as it were to ride upon the charter so the Greek calleth it Epibasis of ascending It seemeth to signifie the outward conversation and cloathing of the Church which being purple is not onely a Princely colour denoting heavenly life but hath speciall reference to the blood and death of Christ wherof the Church is made partaker both for justification and sanctification Rev. 1. 5. 6. and 7. 14. Rom. 6. 3. 4. And so the hope of heavenly glory is here also applyed and protection from Christ till wee come unto his glory the midst or the inmost thereof being paved with love or he made a pavement of love This in respect of Christ signifieth his inmost and servent love towards us even giving his life for us and having us as it were written in his heart in respect of his people it signifieth the sense and feeling of Christs love towards them as also their love unto Christ and one to another So the seat the covering and the pavement are answerable to those three graces faith hope and love spoken of in 1 Cor. 13. of the daughters of Ierusalem these are the elect of God the children of Ierusalem the mother of us all Gal. 4. 26. which being loved of Christ are graven on the palmes on his hands Esay 49. 16. yea caried upon his heart as the high Priest bare the names of the children of Israel in the brest plate of judgment upon his hart Ex. 2â— 29. And so of his Ministers as it is said Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts 1 Cor. 3. 2. you are in our hearts to dye and live with you 〈◊〉 Cor. 7. 3. Such therefore as the love of Christ are the pavement of his Coach Ver. 11. daughters of Zion Zion was a mount in Ierusalem and as that was called the holy Citie Esay 52. 1. so Zion is called the Lords holy mountaine Ioel 3. 17. because of his Temple there The daughters of Zion were the women dwelling therein or belonging thereto Esay 3. 16. 17. and 4. 4. But under the name daughters all the inhabitants men and women are comprised and all Townes and Cities of Israel which were daughters in Scripture phrase to the mother Zion and so the Chaldee here expoundeth it Inhabitants of the Provinces of the land of Israel This mount Sion figured the Christian Church Heb. 12. 22. the daughters figured Christians either persons or Churches Esay 49. 14. 22. which are therefore said to be Virgins and to follow the Lamb Christ who standeth upon mount Sion Rev. 14. 1. 4. These are called forth by the preaching of the Gospel to behold Christ the true Solomon with his crown So in Psal. 149. 2. Let the sons of Sion be gladin their King and in Mat. 21. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion behold thy King commeth c. see K. Solomon the faitfull are called out of their former state to a further degree of knowledge to see Christ whom Solomon figured in his kingdome crowned with glory and honor in his Church So unto Iohn it was said Come and see Rev. 6. 1. 3. 5. 7. his mother crowned him by the mother seemeth to bee meant the congregation of the faithfull as also the Chaldee here expoundeth it the people of the house of Israel called his mother because by the doctrine of faith they spiritually doe conceive and bring forth Christ Gal. 4. 19. and doing the will of his Father they are esteemed and loved of him as his sister and mother Mat. 12. 50. The crowne is a signe of Kingdome Dominion and Victorie Psal. 21. and Christ warring against his enemies and overcomming hath on his head many crownes or â—â—ademes Rev. 19. 11. 12. c. and 6. 2. And the Kingdomes of this world after the tyranny of Antichrist do become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11. 15. When Christ therefore ruleth in his Church by the sâ—epter of his Word and his people submit unto his Law and Governement then let they the Crowne upon his head acknowledging his soveraignty day of his espousalls when he was esponsed unto his Bride the Church this is the day of the Covenant made betweene Christ and his people Ezek. 16. 8. c. as he saith to Ierusalem I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee the kindnesse of thy youth the love of thine espousals wheÌ„ thou we 〈…〉 st after me in the wildernesse c. Ier. 2. 2. For when a people are by the Gospell won unto the faith and setled in the order of Christ they are espoused unto him as to a husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. And this is after called the day of the gladnesse of his heart because as the Bridegroome 〈…〉 th ever the Bride so God rejoyceth over his people Esay 62. 5. CHAPTER IIII. BEhold thou art faire my love behold thou art faire thine eyes are as doves within thy lockes thy haire is as a flocke of goats that appeare from mount Gilead Thy teeth are like a flocke of sheepe even shorne which come-up from the washing which all of them beare-twinnes and none among them is bereaved-of-the-yong Thy lips are like a threed of scarlet and thy speech is comely thy temples are like a peece of a pomegranate within thy locks Thy necke is like the tower of David builded for an armorie a thousand bucklers hang thereon all shields of mighty men Thy two breasts are like two fawnes twinnes of the Roe which feed among the Lillies Vntill the day dawne and the shadowes flee-away I will get me to the mountaine of myrrh and to the hill of Frankincense Thou art all faire my love and there is no blemish in thee Come with mee from Lebanon my Spouse with mee from Lebanon looke from the top of Amanah from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the Dennes of the Lions from the mountaines of the Leopards Thou hast ravished-my-heart my
countrey a place of corne Vines figtrees Pome granat-trees c. as Ioel 11. 12. in the villages or by the Cypresse trees for the Hebrew Cepharim may signifie both but the Greeke also interpreteth it villages and such country villages are distinguished from fenced cities 1 Sam. 6. 18. 1 Chron. 27. 25. The Spouse here desireth of Christ that they may goe together into the field and villages to looke unto their husbandry how it prospered and whether the trees there planted did flourish and fructifie as the next words manifest Hereby their desire and care is signfied for the encrease and propagation of the gospell abroad in the world for the field in the parable is the world Matth. 13. 38. And as Christ himselfe in the dayes of his flesh went about all the cities and villages preaching the gospell Matt. 9. 35. Mark 6. 6. and his disciples went abroad to teach all nations Matt. 28. 19. so afterward both hee in spirit walked among the golden Candlestickes of his Churches looking to their wayes Revel 2. and 3. and his Apostles went againe to visit their brethren in every City where they had preached the word of the Lord and to see how they did Act. 15. 36. Such a cate is here intimated that the Lords field might bee visited where hee had like a wise husband man prepared and fitted his worke Prov. 24. 27. Verse 12. Let us get up early or Let us rise betimes in the morning another act of diligence and care Psal. 127. 2. such as God performed to Israel of old when hee rose up early and sent his Prophets unto them because hee had compassion on them and the Prophets rose-early and spake unto them 2 Chron. 36. 15. Ierem. 25. 3. 4. to the vineyards that is the Churches or places where the Gospell had beene planted so the house of Israel was the Lords Vineyard Esay 5. 7. The Chaldee also expoundeth this of the house or place of assembly for learning Gods Law the tender grape the first small-grape of this see Song 2. 13. 15. open it selfe that is appeare and so give a sweet smell the Greeke interpreteth it flourish it meaneth the first appearance of fruit before the grapes be any thing neere ripe a token that the Spring is come and that Summer is nigh as Song 2. 12. 13. The Chaldee Paraphrast applyeth it to the time of Israels redemption pomegranates or pomegranate-tres such doe signifie the particular persons in the Churches full of grace and good works See Song 4. 13. there will 〈◊〉 give my loves The Spouse promiseth to give unto Christ the fuition of her graces and fruits of her faith confession thankes good workes c. there in the Vineyards of the Churches in the societie of the Saints For the Lord keepeth his Vineyard and watereth it every moment hee causeth them that come of Iakob to take root Israel shall blossome and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit Esay 27. 3. 6. And I will bring forth saith the Lord a seed out of Iakob and out of Iudah an inheritor of my mountaines and mine elect shall inherite it and my servants shall dwell there There shall the house of Israel all of them in the land serve me there will I accept them and there will I require your offrings and the first fruits of your oblations with all your holy things I will accept you with your sweet savour c. Esay 65. 9. Ezek. 20. 40. 41. Vers. 13. The Mandrakes Dudaim which the Greeke also called Mandragoraes or Mandrakes have allusion in name to Dodim loves forementioned and Dod that is Beloved as she after calleth Christ. Mandrakes grew in the field and were found in the daies of wheat harvest as the historie sheweth in Gen. 30. 14. c. It appeareth by 〈◊〉 chels desire there of them by the smell that here they are said to give that they were very lovely and pleasant differing from the Mandrakes that grow in these parts The Chaldee paraphrast calleth it Balsemon Balsam give a smell or an odour that is are fragrant and yeeld a pleasant savour so the Uines are said before to give a smell Song 2. 13. and the Spikenard of the Spouse Song 1. 12. at our-doores or by our doores which seemeth to be opposed unto the fields where Mandrakes grew as after new fruits are opposed unto the old signifying that both at home and abroad neer far the fame and odour of graces in Gods people spread it selfe For a thing is said to be at the doores when it is nigh at hand Mat. 24. 53. precious things or dainties pleasant fruits delightfull graces see the notes on Song 4. 13. 16. new and old signifying here by variety and plenty Lev. 26. 10. and old fruits are oft times better then new as Luk. uk 5 39. So â—ow the state of the Church instructed unto the Kingdome of heaven is like the housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasurie things new and old Matt. 13. 52. laid them up or hidden treasured stored-up to be reserved safely kept The Chaldee paraphraseth thus Now rise O King Christ receive the Kingdome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have layd up for thee As the goodnesse of God is great which he hath laid up for them that feare him Psal. 31. 20. so all the goodnesse and fruits of grace that flow from his people are unto his honour and praise consecrated unto him For of him and through him and for him are all things to him 〈◊〉 glory forever Amen Rom 11. 3â— CHAPTER VIII VVHo will give thee as a brother to me sucking the breasts of my mother I would finde thee without I would kisse thee also they shold not despise mee I would leade thee I would bring thee into my mothers house thou shouldest instruct mee I would cause thee to drinke of spiced wine of the juce of my Pomegranate His left hand under mine head and his right hand imbrace mee I adjure you ô daughters of Ierusalem why should yee stirre and why should yee stirre-up the Love untill it please Who is this that commeth-up out of the wildernesse that leaneth upon her Beloved Vnder the apple-tree I stirred up there thy mother painfullybrought thee forth there she painfullybrought forth that bare thee Set me as a seale upon thine heart as a seale upon thine 〈◊〉 for love is strong as death zeale is hard as hell the coales thereof are coales of fire the flame of Iah Many waters cannot quench love neither can the flouds drowne it if a man would give all the substance of his house for love contemning they would contemne it We have a little sister and she hath no breasts what shall wee doe for our sister in the day when she shall bee spoken of If shee bee a wall wee will build upon her a pallace of silver and if shee be a doore wee will inclose her with boards of Cedar I am a wall and my breasts as to w 〈…〉 then was
gathereth another reason of the womans subjection in that the man was not created for the woman but the woman for the man 1 Cor. 11. 9. V. 19. them unto Adam or unto the man but the Greek version keepeth the Hebrew name Adam addeth the word them for to make the sense plain So the holy Ghost sometime doth in repeating matters as he blessed and brake Mat. 14. 19. that is and brake them Luke 9. 16. Shew to the Priest Mar. 1. 44. that is shew thy selfe Mat. 8. 4. See also Gen. 31. 42. would call them or call it that is every of them This sheweth Gods bounty in giving man dominion over all earthly creatures Psal. 8. for the giving of names is a signe of soveraignty Numb 32. 38. 41. Gen. 35. 18. and 26. 18. It manifesteth also Adams wisedome in naming things presently according to their natures as the Hebrew names by which he called them doe declare Vers. 20. he found not that is the man found not a meet helpe for himselfe among all the creatures therefore the woman when shee was made was the more acceptable Or as the Greeke translateth there was not found an helper like unto him So in Gen. 15. 6. he imputed it is translated it was imputed Rom. 4. 3. See also Gen 6. 20. and 16. 14. Vers. 21. a dead fleepe This the Greeke calleth an extasie or trance which the Scriptures shew to have falne also on men when they did see visions of God as Gen. 15. 12. Act. 10. 10. In such deepe-sleepe the senses are all bound up as 1 Sam. 26. 12. V. 22. builded To build the rib to a woman is to make or create a woman of it as with a speciall care or art and fit proportion Hereupon our bodies are called houses Iob 4. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 1. And although by building is meant making as the Lord will build thee an house 1 Chron. 17. 10. is the same that he will make thee an house 2 Sam. 7. 11. yet by the many words used in the generation of man-kind as creating Gen. 1. 27. making Gen. 1. 26. forming and inspiring Gen. 2. 7. and now building Moses would set forth this wondrous workmanship which the Psalmist so laudeth God for Psal. 139. 14. he brought God her builder was also her bringer and so her conjoyner in mariage with the man Mat. 19. 6. and the Scripture noteth a wife to be a speciall favour of the Lord Pro. 18. 22. and 19. 14. He also blessed them together as Gen. 1. 28. whereby may bee seene how Moses changeth the order in this Chapter inlarging things here which before he had touched briefly Vers. 23. This now or this time this once flesh c. Hereby Adam shewed both his thankfulnesse to God and love to his wife and from hence Paul teacheth that men ought to love their wives as their owne bodies for no man ever hated his owne flesh Ephes. 5. 28. 29. The like speeches are used of persons neere a kin that they are their bone and their flesh Gen. 29. 14. Judg. 9. 2. So the Apostle by this setteth forth Christs mystical union with his Church that we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones Ephes. 5. 30. woman or Mannesse of Man as in Hebrew shee is called Ishah of Ish which word Ish hath the signification of strength and valour so that the Scripture useth this word shew your selves men for be yee strong or couragious Esay 46. 8. 1 Cor. 16. 13. And it hath affinity with Esh which in Hebrew is fire for heat in man causeth strength and courage Therefore as Adam is used for base men borne of adamah the earth so Ish is used for noblemen Psal. 49. 3. Also Ish is used both for man and husband and Ishah both for woman and wife as in the verses following out of man The Greeke translateth out of her man and the Chaldee out of her husband Hence is a third reason of womens subjection because the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man as Paul saith 1 Cor. 11. 8. Vers. 24. leave his father c. This is a perpetu all law given of God as Christ sheweth Mat. 19. 4. 5. and teacheth that the band of mariage is the neerest conjunction in the world and all societies rather to be left then this betweene man and wife who may not depart one from another 1 Cor. 7. 10. 11. as they doe depart from their parents Gen. 24. 58. 59. and 31. 14. Lev. 22. 12. 13. The like is observed in the spirituall mariage between Christ and his Church Psal. 45. 11. 12. The Chaldee translateth it he shall leave the bed of his father and mother And the Hebrew Doctors gathered from hence a law unto all Adams sonnes against unjust carnall copulations and incestuous mariages with a mans fathers wife or mother in law and with his owne mother as after by he shall cleave to his wife they say is forbidden any other mans wife and all pollution with the male and likewise with beasts Maimony in Misn. book 14. treat of Kings chap. 9. 〈◊〉 5. to his wife or to his woman for it is the same word Ishah used before in verse 23. and by his woman he sheweth there is no lawfull conjunction for a man but with one and she a wife become his by mariage Wherefore all other women are in this respect called strangers to him Prov. 5. 3. 18. 20. And for shall cleave the Greeke saith shall bee glewed which word is also in Mar. 10. 7. maketh against all unjust divorces they shall be the Greeke translateth they two shall be one flesh and so it is alledged in the New Testament Mat. 19. 5. that hereby a man is restrained from more wives then one which is to be observed in other speeches of Scripture wherein like restraint is implyed as him thou shalt serve Deut. 6. 13. that is as Christ alledgeth it him onely Mat. 4. 10. Luke 4. 8. So but for the Priests Mar. 3. 26. which another Evangelist writeth but for the Priests onely Mat. 12. 4. Of like force is that saying a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Iesus Christ that is by faith onely Gal. 2. 16. one or to one flesh See vers 7. This is meant in speciall by generation of children wherefore Paul doth by proportion apply these words even against unlawfull fleshly copulation 1 Cor. 6. 16. adding a further mystery of our union with Christ hee that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit vers 17. Vers. 25. not ashamed thought not themselves in any shamefull plight as a Chaldee paraphrase saith they knew not what shame was For they being innocent and adorned with the image and glory of God had nothing in soule or body that was defective miserable or shamefull but now by sin nakednesse in us is a want a filthy thing and a shame Deut. 28. 48. Rev. 3.
16 Iacob could not discern the fraud Ver. 24. Zilpah in Greek Zelpha hand maid or bondwoman servant see Gen. 16. 1. V. 25. the morning Every mans worke shall be made manifest for the Day shall declare it 1. Cor. 3. 13. They that do evill know not the light the morning is to them even as the shadow of death Iob 24. 16. 17. Therefore is this fact observed to bee done in the evening and discovered in the morning beguiled me The Chaldee saith lyed unto me These things as they shew the evill mind and cariage of Laban both in this his fact and the excuse following so may they bee considered as a chastisement of God upon Iakob who had by guile tho with a better mind gotten the blessing Gen. 27. 35. For even the righteous are recompensed in the earth Prov. 11. 31. and with what measure men mete it shall bee measured to them againe Mat. 7. 2. But how great an affliction was this unto Iakob to bee beguiled of his Loue and deflyed with another whom in respect of her he hated ver 30. 31. For love is strong as death Song 8. 6. Ver. 27. the seven of this or the weeke that is the seven daies banquet of this Leah and so confirme the mariage with her and then we will give thee the other A weeke hath the name in Hebrue of seven daies as with us it is called a seven night And the mariage feast used to continue seven daies as appeareth by Iudg. 14. 10. 12. And it is a canon among the Iewes that whosoeuer marieth a maide shall rejoyce with her 7. dayes not doing any worke but eating drinking and making merry And so if he marry a woman not a maid 3. daies And if he take more wives together he must rejoyce with every of them her conuenient time of joy Maimony treat of Wives ch 10. S. 12. 13. Thus Laban provided that Iakob by voluntary consent to this mariage with Leah should not be able afterward to put her away The Ierusalem Chaldee paraphrase plainly applyeth this to the seven dayes banquet for Leah And that it cannot be meant of seven yeeres before he should mary Rachel the birth of their children and life of Iakob after in the Historry do manifest Gen. 47. 9. and 41. 46. and 30. 24. there shall be given to we et by me as the Greeke translateth I will give The Hebrew also may signifie we will give that is I and my friends this also meaning Rachel ver 28. So to make him amends he urgeth upon him another mariage incestuous Which how ever Iakob accepted and it may by the special motion of Gods spirit as Samsons mariage with the Philistian woman was of the Lord Iudg. 14. 4. yet ordinarily the fact cannot be cleared nor may be imitated Though in mystery the churches of Iewes and Gentiles may by these two sisters be implyed as the two Testaments were in Abrams wives Gen. 16. Gal. 4. shalt serve So covetousnes of gaine by Iakobs service made him thus to offer and Iakob in yeelding to this is a mirror of patience Ver. 31. hated not simply but in comparison of Leah that is lesse loved as the former verse sheweth So in Deut. 21. 15. also in Mat. 6. 24. and Luk. 14. 26. And herein Leah was chastised of God for consenting to the sin with her father opened her womb that is made her to beare children the contrary was in Gen. 20. 18. The Chaldee translateth gave her conception Ver. 32. Ruben that is Son of-seeing or of him that seeth meaning her affliction as the next words doe explaine or See ye the Son So in Pirkei R. Eliezer chap. 36. it is said God saw Leahs tribulation and gave her conception and consolation to her soule and she bare a man-child of a goodly forme and sayd see the son which God hath given me Vers. 33 Simeon written in Greek by the Evangelists Symeon 2 Pet. 1. 1. and Simon Mat. 10. 2. by interpretation Hearing or son of hearing that Leah was hated Vers. 34. he called or not noting any person his name was called See Gen. 16. 14. Levi that is Ioyned the reason of the name here was of her husbands joyning unto her after the Levites were joyned unto the Priests in the ministery and service of God as Numb 18. 2. 4. Vers. 35. this time or now to weet againe as the Greeke addeth confesse that is openly praise and celebrate in solemne manner This here applyed to the Lord is after applyed to Iudah himselfe Gen. 49. 8. Iudah or Iehudah in Greeke Iudas by interpretation A Confessor or the son of Confession or of Praise Of him all the sons of Iakob are called Iewes Esth. 3. 6. Mat. 27. 37. and he is a true Iew whose praise is of God Rom. 2. 29. stayed or stood stil that is left off bearing for a whilâ— afterward she had more increase Gen. 30. 17. And thus God dispensed his blessings where least love of man was showen which redounded to his further glory by Leahs thankfulnesse CHAP. XXX 1. Rachel in griefe for her barrennesse giveth Bilhah her mayd unto Iakob 5. Bilhah beareth Dan and Naphtali 9. Leah giveth him Zilpah her mayd who beareth Gad and Asher 14. Reuben findeth Mandrakes with which Leah hireth her husband of Rachel 17. Leah beareth Issachar Zebulun and Dinah 22. Rachel beareth Ioseph 25. Iakob desireth to depart 27. Laban stayeth him on a new covenant 37. Iakobs policie whereby he became rich ANd Rachel saw that she did not bearechildren unto Iakob and Rachel envied her sister and she said unto Iakob Give me sonnes or else I dye And Iakobs anger was kindled against Rachel and he sayd am I in Gods stead who hath with-held from thee the fruit of the wombe And she said Behold my handmaid Bilhah goe in unto her and shee shall beare upon my knees and I also shall bee builded by her And shee gave unto him Bilhah her handmayd to wife and Iakob went in unto her And Bilhah conceived and bare unto Iakob a son And Rachel sayd God hath judged me and hath also heard my voice and hath given unto me a sonne therefore called she his name Dan. And Bilhah Rachels hand maid conceived againe and bare a second son unto Iakob And Rachel said wrastlings of God have I wrastled with my sister I have also preuailed and she called his name Naphtali And Leah saw that shee had stayed from bearing and shee tooke Zilpah her handmaid and gave her unto Iakob to wife And Zilpah Leahs handmayd did beare unto Iakob a sonne And Leah said With a troupe and shee called his name Gad. And Zilpah Leahs hand-maid did beare a second son unto Iakob And Leah said With my blessednesse for the daughters will call me blessed and she called his name Aser And Reuben went in the daies of wheat haruest and found Mandrakes in the field and brought them unto his mother Leah and Rachel sayd unto Leah Give
childe Such had naturall right to a double portion of all their fathers goods Deut. 21. 17. the excellencie that is most excellent in dignitie or preferment Whereby the dignitie of the priesthood seemeth to be meant as by strength following is meant the government or kingdome And so the Chaldee paraphrast explaineth it thou shouldest receive three portions the first birthright the priesthood and the kingdome The Ierusalemy Thargum saith the same adding this withall and for the sinne of my sonne Ruben the first birthright is given to Ioseph the kingdome to Iudah and the priesthood to the tribe of Levi. And that the first borne were Priests and governours see Gen. 25. 31. of strength or excellent strong This word which properly signifieth hard or firme strength is often applyed to kings and kingdomes which for the most part are gotten and maintained by strength and the kings strength is an honourable stile of his Majestie see Psal. 99. 4. and 110. 2. Vers. 4. Vnstable or Light soone-mooved this is alwaies used in the evill part Iudg. 9. 4. Zoph 3. 4. ser. 23. 32. and implyeth both his sudden light affections which caried him to evill and his sudden downfall from his dignity excell not that is thou shalt not excell but lose thine honour So the Chaldee explaineth it thou shalt not have profit nor receive the excellent portion he went up unto the Greeke changeth the person and translateth on which thou went est up also the Chaldee expoundeth it when thou wentest up to my bed Iakob as with indignation of the fact turneth his speech from Ruben to his brethren Such changes are often in the holy text as Deut. 5. 10. that love me and keepe his commandements for which in Exod. 20. 6. is my commandements And in Dan. 9. 4. thou keepest covenant towards them that love him for that love thee So Mark 11. 32. they feared the people for w ch in Matt. 21. 26. is written we feare Otherwise wee may read it thus thou defiledst my couch it is gone-up that is it is vanished away meaning the excellencie which we should have had For by defiling Bilhah his fathers concubine he lost his birthright Gen. 35. 22. 1 Chron. 5. 1. 2. To goe-up is sometime used for vanishing away Exod. 14. 16. Ier. 48. 15. Vers. 5. brethren specially consociate in that evill deed of killing the Sychemites Gen. 34. 25. and so brethren not in nature onely but in conditions See Gen. 10. 21. instruments or weapons to weet they were giving themselves and their members as weapons of unrighteousnesse unto sin as Paul speaketh Rom. 6. 13. meaning of their cruell fact forementioned Gen. 34. 25. sojourning habitations in the land of their sojourning as saith the Chaldee paraphrast where they being strangers indangered the ruine of themselves and their fathers house Gen. 34. 30. Or their agreements meaning the covenanted conditions made with the Sychemites to consent unto them if they would be circumcised which was with deceit Gen. 34. 13. 15. c. Thus also the Greeke may bee understood hairesis being sometime used for a conditional covenant Or their swords but the word is not so found elsewhere Vers. 6. secret that is as the Greeke translateth it and Thargum Ierusalemy their councill their assembly So David saith the secret of evill doers Psal. 64. 3. and Ieremy the secret of mockers Iere. 15. 17. that is the assembly Iakob here meaneth that neither should any neither would he approve of their perfidy glorie or honour hereby may be meant the tongue which is the glorie of man by speech being good and the contrary if it be evill Iam. 3. 5. c. So my glory Psal. 16. 9. is by the Apostle cited my tongue Act. 2. 26. Otherwise it is a repetition of the former my glory that is my soule a man Hemor the King and Sychem his son with the men of the citie Gen. 34. 25. 26. Therefore the Greeke translateth it men and Thargum Ierusalemy Kings and rulers And the singular is often put for many as the man of Israel fled 1 Chro. 10. 1. that is the men of Israel 1 Sam. 31. 1. See also Gen. 3. 2. selfe-will or pleasure houghed the Oxe so the Greeke also translateth it meaning that they tooke away and destroyed the oxen and other beasts of the Sychemites Gen. 34. 28. Oxe is for Oxen as Gen. 32. 5. Some as the Chaldee translate they pulled downe the wall but Shor the word here used is properly an oxe or bull and Shur a wall neither was there mentioned any pulling downe of walls in Gen. 34. Therefore the Ierusalemy Thargum expounds it of their selling of Ioseph who is likened to an oxe Deut 33. 17. But that seemeth not to be intended here Vers. 7. I will divide that is I prophesie their devision so Ezekiel saith when I came to destroy the citie Ezek. 43. 3. Which was his foretelling the destruction See also Hos. 6. 5. them in Iakob that is their posteritie among the children of Iakob see Gen. 19. 37. This was accomplished when Symeon had his inheritance in the middest of the inheritance of Iudah Ios. 19. 1. and was faine to seeke a larger possession 1 Chron. 4. 39 40. and Levi had his cities of habitation among the other tribes Ios. 21. 2. 3. c. Howbeit afterwards Levi for their zeale against idolaters Exod. 32. 26. 28. 29. had this their dispersion turned to a further blessing while they were consecrated to teach Iakob Gods judgements and Israel his law c. Deut. 33. 9. 10. and so had the priesthood in their tribe This the Ierusalemy Thargum also mentioneth and saith likewise of the Simeonites that they were teachers of the Law in the Synagogues of Iakob and the Levites in the schooles of the sons of Israel Vers. 8. thou to weet art so by name and shalt bee so indeed for Iudah signifieth Confession or Praise and to his name he hath reference Praised thou art called and praise thee shall thy brethren Thargum Ierusalemy saith Iudah to thee shall all thy brethren confesse and by thy name shall all the Iewes be called See the notes on Gen. 29. 35. confesse or as the Greeke translateth praise thee meaning that his brethren should acknowledge the dignitie of the firstborne in respect of the government to bee given unto him and that Christ the King should come of him 1 Chron. 5. 2. Heb. 7. 14. And when the rest of the house of Israel compassed the Lord with lyes and deceit Iudah is praysed for yet ruling with God and being faithfull with the saints Hos. 11. 12. In Christ this prophesie is chiefly fulfilled as the particulars following shew to him the Hebrew Doctors also doe apply it as in Breshith ketannah or their lesser Commentary upon this place it is said Iudah was borne the fourth among the tribes and in the fourth day were the lights created and it is written of the Messi is His throne as the Sunne before me
which the wicked of their owne accord doe also rush into most unjustly as Acts 4. 27. 28. 2 Samuel 12. 11. 12. And he hath mercie on whom he will and whom he will bee hardeneth Romans 9. 18. The Hebrew Doctors though they erre about mans free-will yet say that it may be a man sinneth so great a sinne or so many sinnes as judgement is given from the Iudge of truth that vengeance be taken on the sinner for the sinnes thâ—â— he hath done willingly wittingly and that repentance be with-holden from him and leave is not permitted him to 〈◊〉 from his wickednesse but that hee die and perish in the sinne that he hath done This is that which the holy blessed God saith by the hand of Esaias Make the heart of this people fat c. Esa. 6. 10. Likewise heâ— saith But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no healing 2 Chro. 36. 16. as if he should say they sinned willingly and multiplied their trespasses till they were condemned to have repentance with-holden froÌ„ them for that is the healing Therefore it is written in the Law And I will make strong the heart of Pharaoh because Pharaâ—h sinned of himselfe first and did evill unto Israel which were strangers in his land as it is said Comâ— on let 〈◊〉 deale wisely with them Exodus 1. 10. hee gave sentence that repentance should bee with-holden from him till vengeance were taken on him Therefore GOD hardened his heart And why then sent his unto him by the hand of Moses saying let my people goe and repent thou when as GOD had said unto him but thou and thy servants I know that yee will not yet feare c. Exodus 9. 30. And indeed for this have I raised thee up c. Exod. 9. 16. c. To the end that he might make knowne to those that come into the world that when God with-holdeth repentance from a sinner heaâ— cannot repent but shall die in his wickednesse which hee did at the first of his owne accord Maimony treat of Repentance chap. 6. S. 3. Whereas the Rabbine saith of repentance that that is the healing we may better say that the forgivenesse of sinnes upon their repentance and faith in God is the healing for whereas it is written lest they should be converted and I should heale them Matth. 13. 15. another Evangelist expoundeth it lest they should bee converted and their sinnes should be forgiven them Mar. 4. 12. With his other doctrine of God with-holding repentance from some sinners we may compare that of the Apostle in Heb. 6. 4. 6. of those whom it is impossible to renew unto repentance Vers. 22. my first borne This sheweth both the right which God had in them and the love which he bare unto them Gen. 22. 2. Psal. 89. 28. 1 Ioh. 3. 1. This grace Israel obtained by adoption in Christ Ioh. 1. 12. Rom. 8. 14. 15. Heb. 12. 23. Hos. 11. 1. And by Israel here is meant the people the sonnes or Church of Israel as all Israel 1 King 8. 62. is in verse 63. all the sonnes of Israel and in 2 Châ—on 7. 4. 5. called all the people So all Israel 2 Chron. 10. 3. is expounded all the Church or congregation of Israel 1 Kings 12. 3. Howbeit as the like speech in Hos. 11. 1. is applied unto Christ himselfe Matth. 2. 15. so is this place by the Hebrew Doctors in their Midras or Comment on Psalme 2. 7. Vers. 23. And I or Therefore I see Gen. 31. 44. say unto thee This manner of speech is with authority as commanding so the Greeke translateth the word in Ios. 11. 9. and say in Luke 9. 54. and 4. 3. is for command and a thing spoken in Gods name 1 Chron. 21. 19. is said to bee commanded 2 Sam. 24. 19. and that which in Mark 7. 13. is called the word of God is in Matth. 15. 6. called his commandement send away that is by thy word let my sonne goe or suffer him to goe to wit willingly as that which in Mark 5. 12. is written Send us unto the swine is in Matthew 8. 31. and Luke 8. 32. Suffer us to goe And it is meant here of letting them goe free out of their servitude as after this word is used in like cases Exodus 21. 26. 27. for Egypt was the house of servants Exodus 20. 1. and 1. 13. thy first borne not onely of Pharaoh but of all the Egyptians as was fulfilled Exodus 12. 29. and upon all the hoast of Pharaoh Exod. 14. 28. Vers. 24. the way towards Egypt Iehovah the Greeke and Chaldee translate the Angell of the Lord. to kill him that is Moses who for neglect of circumcising his sonne was guilty of cutting off by the law of God Genes 17. 14. This severity God used toward Moses who was going to take charge of the Church of God and yet had such corruption in his owne family as that the seale of the righteousnesse of faith in Christ was therein omitted an evill example to all Israel So the Hebrew Doctors as the Zohar upon this place frame a speech from hence that God should say unto Moses Thou art going to deliver Israel and to bring downe a mighty king and thou thy selfe hast cast away my covenant from thee Others of them write that except the tribe of Leviâ— of whom it is said they kept thy covenant Deuteronomie 33. 9. all Israel besides omitted the covenant of circumcision in Egypt and were circumcised there by Moses that they might eat the passeover according to the law Exodus 12. 48. Maimony in Misneh tom 2. in Asure biah chapter 13. S. 2. Vers. 25. sharpe stone or sharpe knife but both Greeke and Chaldee versions call it a stone the Hebrew hath the name of edge or sharpenesse Psal. 89. 44. and a stone-rocke is so called for the sharpenesse of it So in Ios. 5. 2. mak thee knives of edges that is sharpe knives or of stones cast it Hebrew made it touch his feet the Chaldee saith brought it neere before him Hereby Moses feet seeme to be meant howbeit the Ierusalemy Thargum expoundeth it the feet of the Destroyer meaning of the Angell that came to kill Moses The Greeke translateth shee fell at his feet a husband or a bridegroome of bloods that is a bloody bridegroome or husband as a man of bloods 2 Sam. 16. 7. is a cruell bloody man so here Zipporah seemeth in indignation against her husband thus to call him Some thinke the childe is thus called because in the day of the circumcision it is as espoused unto GOD by the seale of the covenant The Chaldee translateth it for the blood of the circumcision let my husband be given me Vers. 26. hee let him goe or left off slaked from him by hee meaning GOD who sought before to kill Moses verse 24. So the Thargum Ierusalemy
hee seeketh not to save a soule from death as Iam. 5. 20. therefore God will require his blood at his hand as Ezekiel 3. 18. It may also be Englished suffer not sinne upon him that is leave him not in his sinne unreproved And as a man may â—eare sinne for his brother by leaving him unrebuked so for not reproving him in good sort and in love but in bitternesse and to his reproach And thus the Hebrewes apply it saying He that rebuketh his neighbour first let him not speake unto him hard words to make him ashamed for it is written AND BEARE NOT SINNE FOR HIM c. Hereby a man is forbidden to shame an Israelite how much more if it be in publike Our wise men have said he that maketh his neighbours face ashamed publikely shall have no inheritance in the world to come Therefore a man must be warned that he put not his neighbour to shame publikely bee he small or great nor call him by a name whereof hee is ashamed c. whereby is meant in matters that are betweene a man and his neighbour But in matters of the God of heaven if he convert not in secret they are to make him ashamed publikely and divulge his sin put him to reproach openly despise set him at â—ought untill he returne unto well doing as all the Prophets in Israel did unto such Maim in Degnoth ch 6. s. 8. Vers. 18. not avenge The Greek translaceth Let not thy hand revenge The Apostle openeth it thus Beloved avenge not your selves but give place unto wrath for it is written Uengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Rom. 12. 19. Hereupon David said to Saul The Lord avenge me of thee but mine hand shall not be upon thee 1 Sam. 24. 12. so Ierem. 15. 15. And Solomon saith Say not thou I will recompence evill wait on the Lord and he will save thee Prov. 20. 22. What vengeance is is shewed in Ier. 50. 15. Take vengeance or her as she hath done doe unto her The Hebrewes say He that avengeth himself on his neighbour transgresseth the Law Levit. 19. 18. and although he is not to be beaten by the Magistrate for it yet it is a very great evill Avenging is thus as when a man would borrow an axe of his neighbour or the like and he refuseth to lend it him on the morrow his neighbour hath need to borrow an axe of him and he saith I will not lend it thee because thou wouldest not lend mee when I would have borrowed of thee this is vengeance But when he commeth to borrow he should give it him with a perfect heart and not reward him as hee hath done to him and so in all like cases And so David with a goodminde said in Psal. 7. 5 If I have rewarded evill to him that had peace with me yea I have released my distresser without cause Maim in Degnoth c. 7. s. 7. nor keep to weet injurie in minde that is not beare grudge or not observe the sonnes of thy people which is spoken of such as would seeme to forgive but will not forget wrong or unkindnesse The Greeke translateth thou shalt not be angry or beare inveterate displeasure the Chaldee thou shalt not keep enmity So God is said to take vengeance on his adversaries to keepe wrath for his enemies Nahum 1. 2. but to his people not so Ier. 3. 12. Psal. 103. 9. whose example herein we are to follow Matth. 5. 48. The Hebrewes explaine it by a similitude thus As if Reuben say to Simeon hire mee this house or lend mee this oxe and Simeon will not After a time Simeon commeth to Reuben to borrow or hire of him and Reuben saith Lâ—e I lend it thee and I will not doe as thou didst I will not repay thee according to thy deedes Hee that doth thus transgresseth this Law THOV SHALT NOT KEEPE but he should blot the thing out of his heart and not keepe it For all the while that be keepeth the thing and remembreth it he is in danger to fall unto revenging Therefore the Law cutteth off this keeping in minde untill he put the injurie out of his heart and remember it not at all Maimony in Degnoth c. 7. s. 8. Chazkuni also explaineth it thus Thou shalt not avenge in worke thou shalt not keepe in thought as thy selfe This is the Second of the two great commandements which our Saviour saith is like unto the first Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart c. and on these two commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets Matth. 22. 37. 40. For this thou shalt not commit adulterie Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not beare false witnesse Thou shalt not covet and if there be any other commandement it is briefly comprehended in this word namely Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe Rom. 13. 9. To this we may adde the Hebrewes testimony LOVE THY NEIGHBOVR AS THY SELFE this is the great universall precept in the Law R. Azai said unto him IN THE IMAGE OF GOD MADE HE HIM this is an universall rule greater then it that a man should not say forasmuch as I am despised my neighbour shall be despised with me R. Thancuma answered if thou dost so know whom thou despisest for loe hee that loveth his neighbour who is made in the Image of God loveth the blessed God himselfe and honoureth him R. Menachem on Levit. 19. Another writeth thus Every man is commanded to love every one of Israel as his owne body Levit. 19. 18. Therefore he must speake in his commendation and spare his goods as he would spare his owne goods and as be would his owne honour And hee that honoureth himselfe by the dishonour of his neighbour he hath no inheritance in the world to come Maimony in Degnoth chap. 6. sect 3. Vers. 19. my statutes in Greeke my law This is here repeated lest the ordinances following which may seeme to be small should bee neglected Or as this word Statute or Decree is sometime used for Gods ordinances in nature bounding and limiting things Psal. 148. 6. Iob 26. 10. and 38. 33. Prov. 8. 29. so here hee may intend the same that his naturall ordinances for the distinct kindes of things should not be violated let thy catted or cause thy beast of any sort The Hebrewes say He that causeth the male to ingender with the female which is not of the same kinde whether it be of cattell or wilde-beast or fowle yea though it bee of the kindes of wilde-beasts that are in the sea he is to be beaten of the Magistrates by the Law in every place whether it be within the land of Israel or without the same Levit. 19. 19. and whether it be a beast or fowle of his owne or of his neighbours Who so transgresseth and causeth heâ— beast to ingender with another kinde that which is bred of them is lawfull for use And
himselfe for it is written AND THOV SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD Deut. 6. 5. And the holy blessed God himselfe loveth strangers Deut. 10. 18. Maimony in Degnoth c. 6. s. 4. Vers. 35. unrighteousnesse or injurious-evill see vers 15. in mete yard the Greeke translateth it in measures The Hebrew Middah is properly such measure or dimension as concerneth the greatnesse of things or length of them by the yard elle inch rod or the like the next two concerne the multitude of things by weight as in skoles or by measure as in vessels Hereof the Hebrewes say Hee that weigheth to his neighbour by lesser weights then the people of that countrie are wont to doe or meteth by a lesser mete-yard then they are wont transgresseth the Law in Levit. 19. 35. Although hee that meteth or weigheth lesse is a theefe yet he payeth not the double as in Exod. 22. 4. but payeth him his measure or his weight Neither is he beaten for this trespasse because he is bound to make restitution Who so hath in his house or in his shop a lesser meteyard or weight transgresseth the Law in Deut. 25. 13. 14. For though he himselfe doe not sell thereby yet an other may coâ—e who knoweth it not and may measure by it Whether he buy and sell with an Israelite or with an Infidell if hee mete or weigh by too little a weight hee transgresseth and is bound to restore And so it is unlawfull to let an infidell erre in accompts but he must exactly reckon with him yea though hee be one that is subdued under thy hand how much more then with others that are not subdued Maimony treat of Theft chap. 7. Vers. 36. just stones Hebr. stones of justice which the Chaldee well explaineth true weights and the Greeke just weights So stones are often used for weights Deut. 25. 12. Prov. 11. 1. and 16. 11. and 20. 20. 23. where double and deceitfull weights are shewed to bee an abhomination to the Lord. The reason of this name is for that they used weights of stone rather then of other things They make no weights either of yron or of lead or of other like metall because they will canker and waxe too light but they make them of the cleare stony-rocke or of glasse or the like Maimony treat of Theft chap. 8. sect 4. Ephah put for all measures as the Greek and Chaldee here translate though the Ephah was one certaine measure like our Bushel containing ten Omers see the annotations on Exod. 16. 36. just Hin Hebr. Hin of justice the Hin was a measure of liquid things as the Ephah was for drie and it contained as much as seventie two hennes egges see the notes on Exod. 30. 24. And under these two names all other measures are comprehended which God requireth to be just and true condemning all falshood and deceit as Ezek. 45. 10. 11. 12. Amos 8. 5. 8. In Israel the Magistrates looked unto these as in the Hebrew canons it is said The Iudges are bound to appoint Officers in every citie and in every shire that they may goe about into shops and look that their ballances and measures be just and determine the stinted measure of them And with whomsoever they finde any weight or measure too light or short or ballances that goe awry they have authoritie to smite him and to mulct him as the Iudges shall 〈◊〉 meet c. Maimony treat of Thft chap. 8. sect 20. These ordinances as they taught men justice in all their civill affaires so especially in spirituall that all things pertaining to religion be faithfully and equally weighed in the ballance of the heart by the measures and weights of the Lords sanctuarie that is by his lawes and words of truth contained in the holy Scriptures Act. 17. 11. 1. Thes. 5. 21. 2. Tim. 3. 16 17. compared with Hos. 12. 7. As also that all persons be tried and judged according to their workes by the word of God Mat. 7. 1 2 3. Ioh. 7. 24. compared with Iob 31. 6. Dan. 5. 27. Psal. 58. p. 3. CHAP. XX. 1. Lawes for the punishment of him that giveth of his 〈◊〉 to Molech 6 of him that goeth to Wizards 9 of him that curseth his parents 10. of adulterers 11 14 17 19. of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persons 13. of them that lye with mankinde 15 or with beasts 18 or with a woman in her 〈◊〉 7 12 26 Holinesse and obedience 〈◊〉 required 23 the manners of the heathens to be avoided 25 difference to be put betweene beasts clean and uncleane 〈◊〉 Wizards must be stoned to death ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses saying And thou shalt say unto the sons of Israel Every man of the sonnes of Israel or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel that giveth of his feed unto Molech he shall surely be put to death the people of the land shall stone him with stones And I will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people because he hath given of his seed unto Molech that hee might defile my sanctuary and to prophane the name of my holinesse And if the people of the land hiding shall hide their eyes from that man when hee giveth of his seed unto Molech that they put him not to death Then I will set my face against that man and against his familie and will cut off him and all that goe-a-whoring after him to goe-a-whoring after Molech from among their people And the soule that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits and unto wizards to goe-a-whoring after them I will also set my face against that soule and will cut him off from among his people And yee shall sanctifie your selves and be holy for I am Iehovah your God And yee shall keepe my statutes and doe them I am Iehovah that sanctifieth you For every man that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death hee hath cursed his father or his mother his bloods shall be upon him And the man that committeth-adulterie with a mans wife that committeth-adulterie with his neighbours wife the adulterer and the adulteresse shall surely bee put to death And the man that lyeth with his fathers wife hath uncovered his fathers nakednesse both of them shall be surely put to death their bloods shall be upon them And the man that lyeth with his daughter-in-law both of them shal be surely put to death they have wrought confusion their bloods shall be upon them And the man that lyeth with a male like copulation with a woman they have done abhomination both of them they shall be surely put to death their bloods shall be upon them And the man that taketh a wife and her mother it is wickednes they shall burne him and them with fire that there be no wickednes among you And the man that giveth his copulation with a beast hee shall surely bee put to death and yee shall kill the beast And the woman that approcheth unto
life preserved his service is not perfect as Satan said in Iob. 1. 9. 10. doth Iob feare God for nooght Hast thou not made an hedge about him c. He that serveth God because of bodily things on which his service dependeth it shall not be confirmed unto light in the light of the living For when those things cease for which he serveth his love will cease And there is no eating and drinking in the state of death whether thou goest But hee that serveth God out of intire love his love shall be in life everlasting and shall not depart for ever and his reward that loveth God shall be eternall R. Elias in Reshith chochmah treat of Love chap. 2. fol. 77. See also the annotations on Exod. 20. 6. Vers. 11. set my tabernacle Hebr. give that is set and stablish it for both these wayes is giving expounded by the holy Ghost as 1 King 10. 9. compared with 2 Chron. 9. 8. and 2 Sam. 7. 24. with 1 Chron. 17. 22. Gods Tabernacle was a signe of his dwelling in favour amongst them Revel 21. 3. See the annotations on Exod. 25. 8. The 〈◊〉 signification was concerning Christ who should dwell in the Tabernacle of our flesh by whom God built againe the Tabernacle of David which was fallen downe Act. 15. 16. and in him God was reconciling the world unto himselfe 2 Cor. 5. 18. and under this figure eternal life in heaven was implied For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. And that the Israelites had of old the true understanding of these promises that they belonged to the dayes of Christ and the end of them was eternall life in heaven it appeareth by the footsteps which yet remaine in their later doctors though they have quenched the light of grace in labouring to have it by the workes of the Law For they say For this cause have all Israel their Prophets and their Wise men desired the dayes of Christ that they might have rest from the kingdomes which will not suffer them to study in the Law c. that they might be worthy of the life of the world to come For in those dayes knowledge and wisedome and truth shall be multiplied as it is written for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD Esa. 11. 9. it is also written And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour c. Ier. 31. 34. againe it is said And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh Ezek. 36. 26. For that King which shall stand up of the seed of David shall be more wise then Solomon c. and therefore he shall learne all the people and teach them the way of the Lord and all the heathens shall come to heare him Mich. 4. 1. 2. And the end of all the reward and later goodnesse which is without ceasing and diminishing that is the life of the world to come But the dayes of Christ are of this world and the world goeth after the wonted manner save that the kingdome shall be restored to Israel Maimony treat of Repentance chap. 9. sect 2. Thus they speake missing the right way by going about to establish their owne righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3. and mistaking Christs kingdome which though it be in this world yet is it not of the same Ioh. 18. 36. my soule shall not lothe you or not abhorre not cast you away as vile and lothesome Man is by nature lothsome through sinne as it is said Thou wast cast-out into the open field to the loathing of thy soule or person in the day that thou wast borne Ezek. 16. 5. But through the grace of God in Christ our bloods are washed away and we are adorned with the gifts of his spirit Ezek. 16. 8. 9. 10. So this promise concerneth such as keepe the covenant of God that they shall not lothesomly be rejected For my soule the Chaldee translateth my word shall not loath you So in verse 30. Aben Ezra explaineth it thus And I will set my Tabernacle amongst you and ye shall not feare that ever ye shall come into want for my glory resideth with you and it is not as the sonne of man whose soule loatheth to dwell in one place Vers. 12. I will walke among you the Chaldee paraphraseth I will cause my divine majestie to dwell among you that Majestie is Christ who by his spirit is with his church al dayes unto the worlds end Math. 28. 20. who walketh in the midst of the seven golden Candlestickes Revel 2. 1. For his people are his Temple wherein he dwelleth as it is written yee are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them 2 Cor. 6. 16. For Gods walking was in his Tabernacle 2 Sam. 7. 6. See also Revel 7. 15. and 21. 3. Vnder this eternall life was also promised in heaven whither Christ went to prepare a place for us and will come againe to receive us unto him selfe that where hee is there we may be also Ioh. 14. 2. 3. a God or for a God that is as the Greeke translateth your God of which blessing see the annotations on Gen. 17. 7. V. 13. from being servants to them under whom all sinfull servitudâ— was also signified from which the church is redeemed by Christ as from Sinne Ioh. 8. 34. 36. from Satan Heb. 2. 14 15. and from bondage to men in things concerning God as it is said Ye are bought with a price be not yee the servants of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. slaves of your yoke or barres of your yoke meaning the bondage of Egypt and of sin which they were intangled with there Ezek. 20. 7. 8. For though bonds and yokes signifie civill bondage as in Ier. 27. 2. 3. 6. 7. 2 Chron. 10. 4. yet the wicked is also holden in the cords of his sin Prov. 5. 22. And of this the church complaineth The yoke of my trespasses is bound by his hand they are wreathed they are come-up upon my necke Lam. 1. 14. And from this Christ hath freed us as it was promised his yoke shall be removed from off thy necke and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the Oile that is for Christs sake Esa. 10. 27. So in Ezek. 34. 24. 27. Ier. 2. 20. Contrariwise for their sins God threatneth them with a yoke of yâ—on Deut. 28. 48. The Hebrew Mâ—t is properly 〈◊〉 staffe Numb 13. 23. and so is used for the staves or barres of yokes and for yokes themselves as in Ier. 27. 2. where it is joyned with bonds where with the staves of the yâ—â—e are tyed made you goe upright or with upright-stature not stouping as under the yoke to the Chaldee saith I led you forth into freedome and the Greeke I led you with boldnesse This also figured our redemption by Christ whereby the
to preserve us alive as it is this day And justice shall it be unto us when we observe to doe all this commandement before Iehovah our God as hee hath commanded us Annotations COmmandement put generally for Commandements as the Greeke translateth it see Deut. 5. 〈◊〉 Here Moses entreth upon the explanation of the first commandement of the ten before rehearâ—â—â— in chap. 5. to doe that yee may doe them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continually For practise and obedience is that which the Law requireth for blessednesse Iam. 〈◊〉 â—5 And that w ch one prophet calleth Doing the words of the covenant 2 Chron. 34. 31. another callâ—th Stablishing or Confirming 2 King 23. 3. and Confirming is expounded by the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 Gal. 3. 10. from Deut. 27. 26. 〈◊〉 to wit the river Iordan that so they might come into Canaan This was by the condâ—â—t of Iosua Ios. 1. 1 2 c. and it figured the 〈◊〉 of the Church under Christ by whom these commandements are fulfilled in us that beleeve 〈◊〉 20. 40. 44. Rom. 8. 1 2 3 c. In the 〈◊〉 time the possession of Canaan and good thinâ—s therein was a gracious inducement of that People unto voluntarie obedience and keeping of Godâ—â—aw which notwithstanding they perform not Psal. 105. 44. 45. Nehem. 9. 24 25 26 35. Vers. 〈◊〉 feare this is the beginning of wisdome Psal. 111. 10. and by it we depart from evill Prov. 16. 6. and it comprehendeth generally Gods worship and true religion Esay 29. 13. Matt. 15. 8 9. therefore it is mentioned in the first place prolonged under which eternall life is also implied for Gods commandements when they are kept doe adde unto men length of dayes and yeeres of life and peace Prov. 3. 2. 1 Pet. 3. 10 11 c. Vers. 3. and honey signifying heavenly graces as is observed on Exod. 3. 8. Vers. 4. Heare The last letter of this first word Heare and of the last word One are extraordinarily great in the Hebrew and so noted in the margent to cause heed and attention And here beginneth the first and great commandement as our Saviour calleth it Mark 12. 29 30. Matt. 22. 38. And this place of Scripture unto the end of the ninth verse was one of the foure paragraphs which the Iewes were wont to write upon their Phylacteries as is noted on Exod. 13. 9. and fastned to their doore-posts and read in their houses twice a day as the Hebrewes say Twice every day doe men reade the lecture HEARE O ISRAEL c. at evening and at morning as it is written in Deut. 6. 7. when thou liest downe and when thou risest up at the time when men are wont to lie downe which is at night and at the time when men are wont to rise up which is at day And what is it that he readeth Three sections to wit Heare O Israel c. Deut. 6. 4 And it shall be if you shall hearken c. Deut. 11. 13. And Moses said unto the people c. Exod. 13. 3. And they read first the section Heare O Israel because in it there is the propertie of God and the love of him and the doctrine of him which is the great foundation whereupon all doe depend Maim in Misn. b. 2. in Keriath Shemangh ch 1. sect 1 2. is one so in Mark 12. 29. the LORD our God the LORD is one where the word is which the Hebrew wanteth is supplied in the Greeke and explained by a learned Scribe saying Well Master thou hast said the truth for there is one God and there is none other but he Mark 12. 32. So Paul saith There is no other God but one 1 Cor. 8. 4. Here it is probable that Moses closely taught the unitie of the God-head and trinitie of persons Iehovah the Father our God the Sonne and Iehovah the Holy Ghost thus many doe understand these words But the Apostle cleerely openeth the mysterie saying There are three that beare record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one 1 Ioh. 5. 7. And here is the ground of saith Vers. 5. love The end of the commandement is love out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfained 1 Tim. 1. 5. See the notes on Exod. 20. 6. Ieâ—â—vah thy God these implie the causes of our love of the Lord the one for his owne nature and being Iebovah the other for the covenant of his grace whereby he is our God These two are often joyned together by Moses and all the Prophets heart unto the heart the Scripture attributeth wisdome and understanding 1 King 3. 9. 11. 12. Prov. 2. 2. 10 and beleefe in God differing from confession with the mouth Rom. 10. 10. and it is opposed unto hypocrisie Matth. 15. 8. soule the seat of the will and affections Deut. 21. 14. and 24. 15 and 12. 20 21. might in Hebrew Meod which signifieth might or vehemencie all that we can The Chaldee translateth it riches the Greeke power dunamis but the holy Ghost useth a more significant Greeke word ischus might or ability Mark 12. 32. where also another word is added for explanation dianoia which is the efficacie both of the mind and will and the Scribe useth a fit word Sunesis understanding Mark 12. 33. By which variety of words God would teach us to love him unfainedly with all whatsoever is in vs and in our power for wee ought to honour him with our substance also Prov. 3. 9. This praise is of King Iosias above all kings that he turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soule and with all his might according to all the law of Moses 2 King 23. 25. Moreover from this word with all thy might the Hebâ—ewsteach that a man is bound to blesse God with cheerefulnesse of soule for evill or affliction even as he blesseth for good or prosperity with gladnesse Maimony in Beracoth chap. 10. sect 3. And hereof we have a good example in Iob Iob 1. 21. Vers. 6. these Words the Oracles of God are also to be loved as the outward meanes whereby wee are bronght to the love and obedience of God Psal. 119. 97 98. in thy heart as the fleshly tables wherein Gods law is to be written Prov. 3. 3. and 7. 3. 2 Cor. 3. 3. The Greeke addeth in thy heart and in thy soule Vers. 7. What them that is often earnestly and diligently teach them that they may pierce the hearts of thy children to understand and affect them So the Greek and Chaldee explaine it to fore-instruct and teach thy children or thy sonnes under this name the Hebrews understand not the naturall sonnes onely but schollers also or disciples because disciples are called sonnes as it is written in 2 King 2. 3. and the sonnes of the Prophets came forth c. Maimony in Thalmud Torah chap. 1 sect 2. Children are to bee trained up or catechized in the way they should goe and brought
looking to the waies of his people is hereby meant Esay 12. 6. Rev. 2. 〈◊〉 2. Of jealousie see Exod. 20. 5. by it was signified that God would not forgive their transgressions Ios. 24. 19. Vers. 16. in Massah or in the tentation as the Greeke and Chaldee explaine it where in their distresse and want they tempted the Lord saying Is the Lord amongst us or no Exod. 17. 1. 7. As prosperitie so adversity often occasioneth men to sione therefore the Prophet prayeth against both extremities Proverb 30. 8 9. Vers. 18. right in Greeke pleasing which the word also signifies as is noted on Exod. 15. 26. And so our Saviour did alwaies those things that pleased his Father Ioh. 8. 29. By things right and good are meant the things commanded of God and the doing of them with a sincere heart To performe this the Apostle saith Bee yee transformed by the renewing of your minde that ye may prove what is that good that well-pleasing and perfect will of God Rom. 12. 2. Vers. 19. to drive out that is hee sware unto thy fathers that he would drive out c. But because the people obeyed not the voice of God he would not drive out all from before them Iudg. 2. 1 2 3 12 14. and 3 1. 4. Vers. 20. tomorrow that is hereafter in time to come See Exod. 13. 14. Here followeth a briefe Catechisme containing the grounds of religion what are that is what meane or signifie The word are is supplied also in the Greeke as before in vers 4. and by it the meaning of Gods precepts is intended as the answer following sheweth Here God provideth for the continuance and propagation of his true religion in Israel in respect of the whole Law morall ceremoniall and judiciall commanded you The Law was commanded the Fathers that they should make them knowne to their children that the generation after even children that should bee borne might know might rise up and tell their children Psal. 78. 5 6. Vers. 21. to Pharaoh the Historie hereof is in Exod. 1. and 2. c. the mystery was our servitude unto sinne and Satan from which God hath redeemed us as Rom. 6. 17 18. Heb. 2. 14 15. The memoriall whereof is alwaies to be continued amongst us and our posterity to the praise of Gods grace Deut. 26. 5 6 7 8 9. strong hand that is by force and constraint through great judgments see Exod. 6. 1. and 3. 19. Vers. 22. evill that is hurtfull grievous noysome to the enemie as were all the plagues of Egypt Exod. 7. and 8 c. So in Revel 16. 12. a noysome and evill sore house that is houshold as the Chaldee translateth it men of his house our eies that is our sight This is one of Gods promises to such as trust in him With thine eyes shalt thou behold and shalt see the reward of the wicked Psalme 91. 8. Vers. 24. for good or as the Greeke explaineth that it may bee well with us The end of our redemption from misery is that wee may serve God and keepe his Law for his glory in our good and salvation Rom. 6. 17 18 22. to preserve meaning that hee may preserve us alive the Greeke translateth that wee may live Here Life is promised to the doers of the Law as also in Luke 10. 28. but this is a legall promise unpossible for us to fulfill Romans 8. 3. and is not of faith as the Apostle teacheth by which the just shall live Galathians 3. 11 12. Vers. 25. justice or righteousnesse the Greeke translateth Mercy shall be to us so the word justice sometime signifieth Psal. 112. 9. But here it meaneth justice or righteousnesse whereby men if they could doe the law might bee justified before God and differeth from the justice of faith which wee have obtained in Christ as Paul saith Moses describeth the justice which is of the Law that the man which doth those things shall live by them But the justice which is by faith speaketh c. Rom. 10. 5 6. Thus the law was a Schoolemaster unto Christ that wee might bee made righteous by saith Gal. 3. 24. CHAP. VII 1 A commandement to root out the seven nations in Canaan 4 lest they corrupted Israel 5 To abolish their idolatry 6 The holinesse and election of Israel whence it proceedeth 9 and what use they should make thereof 12 The blessings promised upon the keeping of the Law 16 The commandement repeated to abolish Idolaters and their religion 17 A confirmation of the faith of Israel against the multitude of their enemies 22 whom God promiseth to destroy but not all at once 25 The abomination of their idolatrie WHen Iehovah thy God shall have brought thee in into the land whither thou goest in to possesse it and hath cast out many nations from thy face the Chethite and the Girgasite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Pherizzite and the Evite and the Iebusite seven nations greater and mightier than thou And Iehovah thy God shall have delivered them before thee and thou shalt smite them utterly destroying thou shalt utterly destroy them thou shalt not strike any covenant with them nor shew them grace Neither shalt thou make mariages with them thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his sonne and his daughter thou shalt not take unto thy sonne For hee will turne away thy sonne from after me that they may serve other gods and the anger of Iehovah will be kindled against you and will destroy thee suddenly But thus shall yee doe unto them yee shall destroy their altars and breake downe their pillars and cut downe their groves and their graven Images yee shall burne with fire For thou art an holy people unto Iehovah thy God Iehovah thy God hath chosen thee to bee unto him a peculiar people above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth Not for your multitude above all peoples did Iehovah set his love upon you and chose you for ye were the fewest of all peoples But because Iehovah loved you and because hee would keepe the oath which he had sworne unto your fathers hath Iehovah brought you out with a strong hand and hath redeemed thee out of the house of servants out of the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt Know therefore that Iehovah thy God hee is God the faithfull God that keepeth covenant and mercy to them that love him that keepe his commandements to the thousand generation And repayeth them that hate him unto his face to destroy him hee will not delay to him that hateth him unto his face he will repay him Therefore thou shalt keepe the commandement and the statutes and the judgments which I command thee this day to doe them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And it shall be because yee shall hearken to these judgments and shall keepe and doe them that Iehovah thy God will keepe unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers And hee will
unto God by him Heb. 7. 11. 12 23 24 25. Vers. 7. From thence namely from Beeroth of the sonnes of Iaakan Numb 33. 32. Gudgodah in the Chaldee Gudgod in Greeke Gadgad before Moses named it Hor-hagidgad that is the Hole of Gidgad see Num. 33. 32 33. Iotbath in Greeke Ietabatha as in Num. 33. 33. Vers. 8. At that time not when they came to Iotbath but long before whiles they were at mount Sina God separated the tribe of Levi see Num. 3. 1 6 c. So the time when God was provoked to wrath commendeth the riches of his grace separated from all other businesse to serve the Lord and his people Exod. 28. 1. Numb 3. 45. and 16. 9. tribe of Levi of which tribe Aaron and all the Priests were so he speaketh here of the whole to beare Hereupon David said It is not for any to beare the Arke of God but for the Levites c. 1 Chron. 15. 2. See also Numb 4. 15. to stand this gesture the Priests and Levites used in all their ministration standing not sitting and it was a signe of service as hee that stood before the King Ier. 52. 12. is in another Scripture called the servant of the King 2 King 25. 8. So after in Deut. 17. 12. and 18. 5. 7. Iudg. 20. 28. In like manner the Prophets are said to stand before the Lord 1 King 17. 1. and 18. 15. 2 King 3. 14. and 5. 16. Likewise also the Angels as Luk. 1. 19. I am Gabriel that stand before God so in 2 Chron. 18. 18. And as the Levites stood before the Lord so they are said also to stand before the people and to serve them Numb 16. 9. 2 Chron. 35. 3. Ezek. 44. 11. to blesse of this duty see the annotations on Num. 6. 23. Thus God provided for the comfort of their soules whiles his ministery was setled among them by which they might daily have accesse unto his throne of grace Vers. 9. no part to wit no part in the spoiles taken by warre no inheritance in the land of Canaan which was divided among the other tribes onely see Num. 18. 20. and 26. 53 57. and 35. 2. Deut. 18. 1. he is for of the first-fruits tithes vowes and oblations of the Lord the Priests and Levites had their livelihood see the annotations on Num. 18. 8 9. 20 21 c. Therefore the Chaldee paraphrast here translateth the gifts that the Lord hath given him they are his inheritance Of which see more in Deut. 12. 19. and 14. 27. and 18. 1 2. Vers. 10. And stood or when I had stood that is both stayed or abidden and in prayer waited upon the Lord for mercy Standing often signifieth prayer as is noted on Gen. 18. 22. and the words following here manifest the same hearkned the Chaldee expounds it accepted my prayer destroy Hebr. corrupt which when it is spoken of God usually meaneth destruction set Gen. 6. 13. Vers. 11. that they may or and they shall which the Greeke translateth and let them goe in These phrases are one in sense as is noted on Gen. 12. 12. and 27. 4. This commandement and promise was a testimony that God now was reconciled unto them by the intercession of Moses Vers. 12. aske of thee This word often used when men aske that is request or desire a thing of God 1 Sam. 1. 17 20 27. Iam. 1. 5 6. is here used for Gods asking obedience of men as if he desired and requested the same and as in Mica 6. 8. he is said to seeke or require the like thing This grace Paul sheweth most effectually saying as though God did beseech you by us wee pray you in Christs stead be yee reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 20. to feare see the notes on Deut. 6. 13. This feare is the beginning of wisedome Prov. 1. 7. by which men depart from evill Prov. 16. 6. Vnto which and other holy duties Moses calleth this people as being the end and use of the former rehearsall of their sinnes and of Gods mercies towards them So by other Prophets he calleth men to obedience and humble walking before him rather than to sacrifice see 1 Sam. 15. 22. Ier. 7. 22 23. Mic. 6. 6 7 8. his wayes that is to follow him in his faith and religion and all his commandements for these are the wayes of God Psal. 25. 4 5. Act. 18. 25 26. The Chaldee translateth the wayes which are right before him see the notes on Gen. 18. 19. and 6. 12. to love The summe and end of the Law 1 Tim. 1. 5. See the notes on Exod. 20. 6. serve in outward obedience also that we love not in word neither in tongue but in deed and truth 1 Ioh. 3. 18. What serving implieth see noted on Exod. 20. 5. and Deut. 6. 13. Vers. 13. for good or as the Greeke and Chaldee interpret that it may be well with thee so Deut. 5. 33. In serving the Lord the glory redoundeth unto him the benefit to our selves for them that honour him hee will honour 1 Sam. 2. 30. and godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4 8. Vers. 14. unto Iehovah or of Iehovah his they are and of him made preserved and loved generally as his creatures for he saveth man and beast Psal. 36. 7. and is kinde unto the unthankefull and to the evill Luk. 35. So it is acknowledged in Neh. 9. 6. Thou even thou art Lord alone thou hast made the heavens the heavens of heavens with all their hast the earth and all things that are therein the seas and all that is therein and thou preservest them all and the hâ—st of heaven worshippeth thee the heavens of heavens that is the highest heavens as the Apostle mentioneth the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. Hereby â—he Angels also are implied so in Targum Ionathanâ— it is explained the heavens of heavens and companies of Angels which are in them to 〈…〉 ister before him Vers. 15. had a delight which the Greeke translateth fore-chose to love them and this is his speciall grace to his Church in Christ Ephes. 1. 3 4 5 c. their seed their children as the Chaldee explaines it for Gods grace is continued unto the posterity of the faithfull even to thousands of them that love him c. Exod. 20. 6. Vers. 16. the superfluous fore-skinne this the Greeke translateth hardnesse of heart the Chaldee foolishnesse or grossenesse of the heart See the annotations on Gen. 17. 11. Hereby is taught repentance and mortification of the inward man by circumcision of the heart in the spirit Rom. 2. 29. in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh Col. 2. 11. For we are the circumcision that worship God in the Spirit Phil. 3. 3. Hereupon God promiseth to circumcise their hearts Deut. 30. 6. and blameth them that were uncircumcised in heart Ier. 9. 26. Acts 7. 51. make not your necke stiffe or harden
unto men Num. 12. 6. Ier. 23. 25. 28. By a Prophet he seemeth to denote the principall sort such as saw visions by a dreamer the inferiour sort that saw things more obscurely he give either by word and promise or by action or gesture as 1 King 13. 3. and 22. 11. Mat. 12. 39 40. wonder any miraculous or supernaturall thing as Iannes and Iambres in appearance turned water into bloud Exod. 7. 22. Vers. 2. or the wonder Hebr. and the wonder these are said to come when they are effected or fulfilled so Ier. 28. 9. Deut. 18. 22. saying that is and he say as saying in 1 Chron. 13. 12. is expounded and said in 2 Sam. 6. 9. so in 2 King 22. 9. compared with 2 Chron. 34. 16. after other gods the Greeke explaineth it and serve other gods which the Chaldee calleth idols of the peoples Thus the religion given of God by the hand of Moses was established against all opposition that after might arise upon what pretence soever And so the saith taught by Christ and his Apostles was confirmed against the future signes and lying wonders of Antichrist 2 Thess. 2. 9. 10. The Hebrews say If there stand up a prophet and hee doth great signes and wonders and seeketh to denie or make false the prophesie of Moses wee may not hearken unto him but wee know certainly that those signes are by enchantment and sorcery For the prophesie of Moses was not by signes c. but with out eies we saw and with our eares we heard as he did heare c. Therefore the Law saith If the signe or wonder come to passe thou shalt not hearken to the words of that Prophet Deut. 13. for loe hee commeth unto thee with signe and wonder to make that false which thou hast seene with thine eies And for as much as we beleeve not in a wonder but because of the commandement which Moses commanded us how should wee receive this signe which commeth to make the prophesie of Moses false which we saw and heard Maimony tom in Iesude hatorah chap. 8. sect 3. See also the annotations on Exod. 19. 9. Vers. 3. that dreamer or the dreamer of that dreame and so the Greeke translateth it God tempteth or proveth See the notes on Gen. 22. 1. But there God himselfe immediately tempted Abraham here mediatly and that by evill meanes which he of his grace and wisdome ordereth and disposeth for good to his people as also the Apostle saith There must be also heresies among you that they which are approved may bee made manifest among you 1 Cor. 11. 19. Vers. 4. After Iehovah the Chaldee saith after the feare of the Lord your God Here the Lord and his commandements are opposed to all other so that after Iehovah meaneth after him onely as our Saviour expoundeth a like speech Mat. 4. 10. from Deut. 6. Vers. 5. spoken revolt or apostasie that is spoken words to cause thee to revolt or turne away as the Greeke translateth to make thee to erre from the Lord. This judgment of the false Prophet as all other weighty matters none but the high councell of 71 Elders might judge of as the Hebrewes say Talmud Bab. in Sanhedrin c. 1. and Maimony in Sanhedrin c. 5. See the annotations on Num. 11. 30. the evill both person and worke as the Chaldee translateth the evill doer the Greeke the evill thing but in Deut. 17. 7. the Greeke translateth the evill one which Paul approveth using the same words in 1 Cor. 5. 13. Vers. 6. thy brother by nature or in the same faith and Church but the Greeke addeth thy brother on thy fathers side or on thy mothers son of thy mother such are dearest brethren as the example of Ioseph and Benjamin sheweth Gen. 43. 34. and 45. 12 14. daughter Love and affection descendeth from parents to children as it were by inheritance and the daughter for in firmity of sex is most spared and pittied but may not so bee in this case of thy bosome the Greeke saith which is in thy bosome as thine owne soule most deâ—rely loved put therefore in the last place for a friend sticketh closer than a brother Prov. 18. 24. And as man and wife are one flesh Matt. 19. 6. so friends here are as one soule intice with motions reasons exhortations the Greeke translateth exhort the Chaldee counsell The Hebrewes write Hee that entiseth any one of Israel whether man or woman he is to be stoned although neither the 〈◊〉 nor the intised hath worshipped the idoll yet he dâ—â—th for teaching to worship it Whether the intiser bee private man or Prophet bee the intised one singular person man or woman or a few persons they are to die by stoning Hee that intiseth the multitude of a citie he is a thruster away and is not called an intiser Maimony treat of Idolatry chap. 5. sect 1 2. See after in vers 13. other gods in Chaldee Idols of the peoples so in vers 7. Vers. 7. unto the other end that is all the world over Hereby God condemneth all the feigned religions thorowout the earth as being gone astray from him and having made himselfe and his word knowne unto Israel would have them therein to rest their faith without declining to novelties Wee know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickednesse 1 Ioh. 5. 19. Vers. 8. not consent or not affect have any liking or will unto him From which word the Hebrews gather that it is unlawfull for the intised to love the intiser Maimony treat of Idolatry chap. 5. sect 4. If he were drawne away by him so that hee said Goe we and let us serve them although they had not as yet served both of them were to be stoned the intiser and the intised Ibidem sect 5. eye spare to wit from vengeance See this phrase in Gen. 45. 20. Deut. 7. 16. pitie or use gentlenesse and indulgence as Gen. 19. 16. conceale him but bewray and use all meanes to bring him to his punishment Therefore the Hebrews thinke that the intised person was to take witnesses to see if he would intise before them if hee would not then they say it is commanded to lay privy wait for him and they lay wait for none that are guilty of death by the Law but for this man And thus they doe it The intised bringeth two men and sets them in a darke place so that they may see the intiser and heare his words but he may not see them Then he saith to the intiser Say what is it that you said c. When he hath spoken the intised answereth How shall wee leave our God which is in heaven and goe and serve stockes and stones If he convert hereby or hold his peace hee is free But if hee say unto him thus are we bound to doe and thus it be seemeth us then they that stood there aloofe bring him to the judgment Hall and they stone him Maimony treat of Idolatry chap. 5.
godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. Vers. 9. make thee plenteous or make thee excellent unto which Thargum Ionathan addeth for good that yee may prosper in all the workes of your hands rejoyce over thee This Christ taught in parables of rejoycing for the lost sheepe that was found Luk. 15. 6 7. and of the Prodigall sonne he saith It was meet that wee should make merry and be glad for this thy brother was dead and is alive againe and was lost and is found Luk. 15. 32. So in the other Prophets I will rejoyce in Ierusalem and joy in my people Esay 65. 19. and I will rejoyce over them to doe them good Ier. 32. 41. See also Deut. 28. 63. Vers. 10. that which is written meaning all and every thing written so teaching us exact obedience unto Iehovah in Chaldee unto the feare of the Lord. Vers. 11. this commandement which after in v. 14. he calleth the Word and the Apostle expoundeth it the Word of faith Rom. 10. 8. So this speech is not of the Law onely neither sheweth it what man can doe by the Law much lesse by nature but is the speech of the righteousnesse of faith Rom. 10. 6. Though Moses teacheth them also not to blame the Law of hardnesse to bee learned seeing God had now caused it to be written expounded unto them not hidden from thee or not too marvellous and hard for thee to know and so not impossible through faith in Christ as is the Law without faith in that it is weake through the flesh Rom. 8. 3. The Chaldee translateth it is not separated from thee and Thargum Ionathan expoundeth it is not covered or hid from you The holy Ghost in Greeke translateth this word marvellous Matt. 21. 42. from Psal. 118. and unpossible Luk. 1. 37. See the Annotations on Gen. 18. 14. and Deut. 17. 8. By Esaias also God saith I have not spoken in secret in a darke place of the earth Esay 45. 19. Vers. 12. to say that is that thou shouldest say so in v. 13. see the Annotations on Gen. 6. 19. where sundry like speeches are shewed This saying is meant of the heart also wherefore the Apostle citeth it thus Say not in thine heart who shall goe up into heaven Rom. 10. 6. Who shall goe up for us the Ierusalemy Thargum explaineth it O that wee had one like Moses the Prophet that might goe up into the heavens c. but the Apostle applieth it more heavenly to Christs incarnation Who shall goe up into heaven that is to bring Christ downe from above Rom. 10. 6. Vnto which doubt hee opposeth the confession with the mouth that Iesus is the LORD vers 9. that is that God was manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. for no man hath ascended up to heaven of whoÌ„ we may learne the true understanding of the Law but hee that came downe from heaven even the Son of man which is in heaven Iohn 3. 13. and cause us to heare it that is preach it unto us that wee may doe it or and we would doe it Vers. 13. beyond the sea Thargum Ionathan explaineth it beyond the great sea and Thargum Ierusalemy addeth Neither is the Law beyond the great sea that thou shouldest say O that we had one like Ionas the Prophet that might goe downe to the bottome of the great sea and bring it to us c. All things hidden from men which they cannot attaine are either in heaven above or beyond sea in the farre places of the earth but the Law of God is in neither of these but neere unto every one to learne and to doe who shall goe over to beyond sea Paul alleageth this place thus Who shall goe downe into the deepe that is to bring up Christ from the dead Rom. 10. 7. unto which he opposeth in vers 9. beleefe in the heart that God hath raised him from the dead Now Ionas the Prophet to whose example the Ierusalemy Thargum applieth this was a figure of Christ as himselfe hath said As Ionas was three daies and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the Sonne of man be three daies three nights in the heart of the earth Matt. 12. 40. And as the Sea in Ionas case is called the Deepe Psal. 104. 6. and 107. 24 26. Exod. 15. 5. so David prophesying of Christ saith that God had brought him up from the deepes of the earth Psal. 71. 20. So the Apostle speaking of Christs rising out of the grave useth the word Abysse or Deepe which is spoken both of earth and sea Vers. 14. But the word This the Apostle expoundeth thus But what saith the righteousnes which is of faith The Word is nigh thee c. that is the word of faith which we preach Rom. 10. 8. By this it appeareth that Moses wrote of Christ Iohn 5. 46. and that he was closely taught in the Law Eâ—r Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10. 4. And the Iewes which cleaving to the Law refused the Gospell or word of faith had a zeale of God but not according 〈◊〉 knowledge Rom. 10. 2. in thy mouth or for thy mouth that is for thee to confesse with thy mouth that Iesus is the LORD as Rom. 10. 9. So in is used for for in Deut. 9. 4. and 24. 16. in thine heart or for thine heart that thou maist beleeve in thine heart that God hath raised him Christ froÌ„ the dead so maist be saved Rom. 10. 9. to do it the Law which is fulfilled by beleeving in Christ as it is said This is the worke of God that â—ee beleeve in him whom he hath sent Iohn 6. 29. upon which beleefe true obedience followeth Hâ—â— 8. 10. Vers. 15. I have set Hebr. I have given that is proposed and confirmed by my doctrine So in vers 19. life and good life as the end and good as the meanes leading to life or life that is God himselfe of whom hee saith iâ— vers 20. hee is thy life and good that is felicity following The Greeke version changeth the order thus life and death good and evill Thargum Ierusalemy explaineth it the Law of life which is a good Law and the Law of death which is an evill Law And Thargum Ionathan thus The way of life for which a good reward shall be recompenced to the just and the way of death for which an evill reward shall be recompenced to the wicked Vers. 16. to love this is a declaration of the life and good fore-mentioned which they whose hearts God would circumcise vers 6. should come unto by the faith that is in Christ. in his waiâ—s the Chaldee saith in the wayes that are right before him keepe his commandements which is an effect of love as If ye love me keepe my commandements Iohn 14. 15. and This is the love of God that we keepe
the throne of Gods glory which are set over the nations But wee are warned to beware how wee intrude our selves into those things which wee have not seene Coloss. 2. 18. Vers. 9. portion or part which hee hath divided unto himselfe Exod. 19. 5 6. and for whom he long before prepared an habitation And as he hath taken his people for his portion so they againe take him for theirs Psal. 142. 6. and hee is called the portion of Iakob Ier. 10. 16. and 51. 19. This word Paul applieth to our heavenly calling in Christ speaking of the portion of the inheritance of the Saints in light Coloss 1. 12. Iakob that is the posterity of Iakob which being the name of his infirmity before he was called Israel commendeth Gods love unto his when they were weake and unworthy And Iakob is the generation of them that seeke Gods face Psal. 24. 6. the line or the cord of his inheritance that is his heritage as by line or measure befallen or allotted to him and so his peculiar whom none other can challenge Compare Psal. 16. 6 7. Vers. 10. Hee found him that is God found Iakob meaning Iakobs posterity the Israelites whom God found and was present with them in the wildernesse to helpe them in all their miseries Therefore the Greeke translateth He sufficed him and the Chaldee He sufficed their necessities as finding is used for sufficing in Numb 11. 22. Gods people of themselves doe all goe astray like lost sheepe but hee seeketh and findeth them for their salvation Esay 53. 6. Psal. 119. 176. Luk. 15. 24 7. 32. land of wildernesse a wilde or desert land where no inhabitants were no dwelling citie no food to sustaine him Ps. 107. 45. Ier. 2. 6. See before in Deut. 8. 15. The wildernesse figured the peoples of the world Ezek. 20. 35. amongst whom Gods people straied till he found them up for when we were yet sinners and enemies he loved us and reconciled us to himselfe by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 8. 10. empty place in Chaldee a dry place Hebr. emptinesse a place not to be inhabited as appeareth by the opposition in Esay 45. 18. So all men naturally are emptie till they be filled with grace and made the habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2. 11 12 22. howling of the desart or yelling of Ieshimon the wildernesse is called a place of howling for the wilde beasts that dwell there or for the wants that men finde therein and Ieshimon which signifieth a desart or desolation may be taken for a speciall wildernesse so named as in Num. 21. 20. or generally for all desolate waste places and such was that which Israel wandered in Psal. 78. 40. The Greek and Chaldee translate it a waterlesse place and so in Esay 43. 20. God promiseth to give waters in Ieshimon or in the wildernesse It figured our estate in sinne without Gods Word and Spirit which are likened unto waters Esay 44. 3. Iohn 3. 5. and 7. 38 39. he led him about to wit in the wildernesse forty yeeres as Deut. 8. 2. Or hee compassed him about to wit with his love and providence so the Greeke translateth be compassed but and the Hebrew well beareth it Thus David saith to God thou wilt compasse me about with songs of deliverance Psal. 32. 7. and in Ier. 31. 32. compassing is used for going about to winne ones love and favour which may also be intended here The Chaldee translateth Hee placed them round about 〈◊〉 divine Majestie which may have reference to Israels encamping round about Gods Tabernacle Nâ—m 2. instructed him or made them to understand to wit by his Law and by his Spirit as Ne 〈…〉 9. 18. 20. So the Chaldee explaineth it hee learned them the words of the Law apple of his 〈◊〉 or the blacke the sight of his eye that is with 〈◊〉 diligent care and love tendering them Thus Dâ—vid prayeth Keepe me as the apple of the eye Psa. 17. 8. and the Prophet saith He that toucheth you 〈…〉 heth the apple of his eye Zach. 2. 8. Vers. 11. an Eagle the chiefest of all birds which similitude God therefore applieth to himseâ—â—â—here and in Exod. 19. 4. stirreth up or 〈…〉 th up her nest that is her young ones which 〈◊〉 Eagle rowseth up with her cry so God did 〈◊〉 people with his Word and promises whiles 〈◊〉 slept in their sinnes in Egypt This is decla 〈…〉 Ezek. 20. 5 6 7. and the history is in Exod. 4. 29 30 31. So to the Church it is said Awake 〈◊〉 put on thy strength O Sion c. Esa. 53. 1. and 〈◊〉 thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead 〈◊〉 Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5. 14. flut 〈…〉 th or moveth and cherisheth This is the word 〈◊〉 in Gen. 1. 2. the Spirit of God moved or flutte 〈…〉 upon the face of the waters That openeth the meaning here to be Gods motions by his Spirit in the hearts of his people spreadeth abroad as preparing herselfe to flight and thereby provoking her young to goe with her This God performed by spreading out the wings of his power against Egypt in plaguing them and for Israel in preserving them from those plagues so making way for his people to passe out of the place of their bondage taketh them that if they be slacke or negligent shee may procure them to come away So God by his Angels tooke hold on Lots hand and led him out of Sodom Genes 19. 16. and hasted the departure of Israel out of Egypt Exod. 12. on her wings in gentlenesse and for their safety not in her talents wherewith she beareth her prey And the Eagle soaring high her young being on her wings are safe from all danger Thus God lead Israel safe thorow the red sea Exod. 14. and into the wildernesse of Sinai where hee said unto them You have seene what I did to the Egyptians and I have borne you upon Eagles wings and brought you unto my selfe Exod 19. 4. So Christ giveth to the woman his Church two wings of a great Eagle that she might flee into the wildernesse into her place where she is nourished Rev. 12. 14. Vers. 12. alone lead or lead him alone which may be referred to Iehovah their onely leader and so the Greeke explaines it or to the people lead alone as in Num. 23. 9. Deut. 33. 28. they are said to dwell alone and thus the Chaldee interpreteth it lead him that is lead Israel conducting them thorow the wildernesse in safetie as Deut. 8. which mercie is often mentioned Psal. 78. 14. 52. 53. and 1 36. 16. Neh. 9. 12. The Angell of his presence saved them Esay 63. 9. with him with Iehovah or with Israel as the Greeke translateth with them God erected his Tabernacle and set his true worship in Israel without commixture with the idolatrie of the nation And unto that they should have kept themselves as Psal. 81. 8 9 10. The Chaldee parphraseth there
signifieth From is sometime put for unto by the interpretation of the Holy Ghost himselfe as from Baale of Iudah 2 Sam. 6. 2. is by another Prophet explained to Baalah 1 Chron. 13. 6. So the Deliverer shall come from or out of Sion Rom. 11. 26. is the same that hee shall come unto Sion Esay 59. 20. Min hashamajim from heaven 2 Chron. 6. 21. is El hashamajim unto or in heaven 1 King 8. 30. Thus Mikkedem is to the East or Eastward Gen. 13. 11. Mitstsâ—phon is Northward 1 Sam. 14. 5. and sundrie the like Sinai is a mountaine in Arabia Gal. 4. 25. where God gave his Law Exod. 19. from or out of that mountaine God came unto Israel and as the Chaldee interpreteth was revealed there unto them and from thence came with his people to conduct them towards Canaan Or came unto Sinai and to his people there And this is the first chiefe blessing unto Israel Gods Law Tabernacle Statutes and Iudgments given them at Sinai after which hee called them to journey towards the Land of promise Deut. 2. 6 7. rose up as the Sunne ariseth for of that rising the Hebrew word is properly used The Chaldee translateth it the brightnesse of his glory from Seir appeared unto us So Esaias prophesying grace to the Church saith The glory of Iehovah is risen as the Sunne upon thee And of the heavenly Ierusalem which Christ hath built it is said The Citie hath no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God doth lighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof Rev. 21. 23. from Seir the mountaine of the Edomites Deut. 2. 4. 5. As Israel compassed Edoms land they were stung with fiery serpents for their murmuring then God appointed the Brazen serpent a figure of Christ to be set up to heale them Num. 21 4. 9. And here was a second degree of grace whereby God shined unto them as he doth unto us by his Gospell after wee have beene under the Schoolemaster of his Law Rom. 7. 4 25. Gal. 3. 23 24 26. unto them or unto him meaning Israel therefore the Chaldee expoundeth it unto us shined forth or shined bright and cleare as the Sunne shineth in his strength This word is used for the cleare manifestation of Gods power in saving his people or punishing their enemies Psal. 82. and 94. 1. and 50. 2. The Greeke here translateth hee hastened from mount Pharan the Chaldee hee was revealed in his might upon mount Paran Pharan or Paran the name of a mount and of the wildernesse of the Ismaelites Gen. 21. 21. thorow which Israel travelled Num. 10. 12. Neere it Moses by the Spirit of God explained the law more cleerly repeated this booke of Deuteron Deut. 1. 1 c. So the Prophet after speaketh the Holy one came from mount Pharan Selah Habak 3. 3. Some of the Hebrewes understand these things otherwise thus Hee rose up from Seir unto them that is to the sonnes of Esan that they might receive the Law but they would not From thence hee went to the sonnes of Ismael that they might receive it but they would not And then he came unto Israel R. Sol. Iarchi on Deut. 33. So Ionathan in his Thargum on this place and R. Eliezer in Pirkei chap. 41. But unto us it sheweth the third degree of Gods grace who after wee are come unto Christ by faith doth sanctifie us by his Spirit informing us in his truth and waies and so prepareth us to enter into his heavenly rest as by Moses he prepared Israel to enter into the Land of Canaan Rom. 8. 2 3 11. Gal. 3. 2 14. and 4. 6. and 5. 16 18 of Saints Hebr. of sanctitie meaning spirits of sanctity which Ionathan in his Thargum expoundeth holy Angels So Stephen saith that Israel received the Law by thy disposition of Angels Act. 7. 53. and Paul calleth the Law the word spoken by Angels Heb. 2. 2. So wee by grace in Christ are come to ten thousands of Angels Heb. 12. 22. which are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall bee heires of salvation Heb. 1. 14. Compare Psal. 68. 18. Or by Saints wee may understand the Israelites as in v. 3. with whom or for whom God came from Sinai from his right hand to wit went or at his right hand was the fire of the Law or of the ordinance Hebr. Esh dath of which word Dath the Greekes borrowed their word Tatto to order or ordaine the Legall fire or the fiery Law and it is so called because the Lord spake those words out of the midst of the fine Deut. 5. 22. and to shew the nature and effect of the Law which is like fire Ier. 23. 29. The Greeke translateth it Angels Angels with him the Chaldee thus his right hand wrote out of the midst of fire the Law he gave unto us Answerable to this Legall fire is that fire of the Law of the Spirit which was given with cloven tongues like fire Act. 2. 3 4. The Hebrewes say by tradition that the Law appeared written with blacke fire upon white fire before the Lord. R. Moses Gerundens and Sol. Iarchi on Deut. 33. which seemeth to be either mysticall or fabulous Vnto us the fire of the Law is the Spirit of God whiles wee being baptized with the holy Spirit and with fire Matth. 3. 11. are by the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus made free from the Law of sinne and death Rom. 8. 2. Vers. 3. Yea the lover of the peoples that is yea or certainly hee loveth or thou O God lovest the peoples or protectest them The Hebrew Chobeb signifieth a loving embracing or hiding as in the bosome and so implyeth Love and Protection And the peoples are meant of the tribes of Israel as in Iudg. 5. 14. after thee Benjamin among thy peoples and in Act. 4. 27. the peoples of Israel The Greeke translateth And he spared his people the Chaldee yea he loved them for tribes that is of his love chose and disposed them to be tribes It may imply also the strangers converted unto God And now in Christ there is neither Iew nor Greeke neither bond nor free for we are all one in him Gal. 3. 28. all his Saints that is the Saints of Israel as the Chaldee expoundeth all the Saints of the house of Israel Or the Saints of God as in Psal. 34. 10. Feare Iehovah yee his Saints So his Saints may be used for thy Saints as his commandements Dan. 9. 4. for thy commandements see the notes on Deut. 5. 10. in thine hand in thy power and custody under thy guidance care and protection Hand is often for power so the Chaldee here translateth with power hee brought them out of Egypt and in the hand is under the guidance and direction Num. 4. 28 33. so the Greeke here translateth and all the sanctified ones are under thine hand It noteth the safety of Gods
how it was used Exod. 29. 27. Hebrew why so called Gen. 14. 13. Hell what it signifieth Gen. 37. 35. Hin a measure how much it contained Exod. 29. 40. and 30. 24. To the Hoary head men should rise up Lev. 19. 32. Holy of Holies a place in the Sanctuary Exod. 26. 33. The high Priest might not enter into it but one day in the yeere and how Le. 16. 2 3 c. Honey unlawfull in the sacrifices Lev. 2. 11. Honey a figure of heavenly graces Deut. 32. 13. Honour what it signifieth and to whom it is due Exod. 20. 12. Horeb a mount called also Sinai Exod. 3. 1. 12. Host Saba what it implieth Gen. 2. 1. The Host or Campe of Israel must be cleane Deu. 23. 9. c. Houre for time Exod. 9. 18. Humbling a woman for defiling Gen. 34. 2. Hur a man in Israel Exod. 17. 10. I IAakob why so named Gen. 25. 26. and 27. 36. Iah the name of God Exod. 15. 2. Idols forbidden Lev. 19. 4. Idolatry with the monuments thereof to be destroyed Deut. 12. 2. Enticers and revolters to Idolatry to die Deut. 13. and 17. 2. c. Iehovah what it signifieth Gen. 2. 4. Exod. 6. 3. Iehovih Gen. 15. 2. Iesurun the name of Israel Deut. 32. 15. Iesus or Iosua Exod. 17. 8. he was first named Hoseas Num. 13. 16. he is appointed Governour after Moses Num. 27. 18. c. Iethro Iether Exod. 3. 1. If used in swearing Gen. 14. 23. and 21. 23. in praying Gen. 24. 42. in vewing Gen. 28. 20. for that Gen. 31. 52. Iles for Countries Gen. 10. 5. Image of God what it meaneth Gen. 1. 26. and 9. 6. Imbalming what it was Gen. 50. 2. Imposition of hands what it signified Exod. 29. 10. The manner of Imposition Lev. 1. 4. Incense how it was made Exod. 30. 35. c. how offered Exod. 30. 8. Incense altar Exod. 30. 1. Ingendering with divers kindes forbidden Levit. 19. 19. Inheritance what it signified Gen. 21. 10. Inheritances might not passe from tribe to tribe Nu. 36. Iniquity for punishment Gen. 19. 15. In for After Exod. 2. 23. In for because or for Deut. 9. 4. Inwards for heart Exod. 29. 13. Iordan or Iarden a river Gen. 13. 10. Num. 34. 12. Ioshua see Iesus The Iourneyes of Israel from Egypt to Canaan ' Num. 33. The sanctifying of their Iourneyes by Moses Num. 10. 35. Is for is become Gen. 3. 22. Isaak his name interpreted Gen. 17. 19. Ismael his name Gen. 16. 11. for Ismaelites Genes 28. 9. Israel why so named Gen. 32. 28. Issachar why so called Gen. 30. 18. why put in the fift place before his elder brethren Gen. 35. 23. Issues that defile men and women with the cleansing of them Lev. 15. The Iubilee or fiftieth yeere Lev. 25. 8. c. Iudging for delivering Deut. 10. 18. Iudgements or judiciall lawes Exod. 21. 1 c. Iudges and Officers to be set up with their dutie Deut. 16. 18 c. The supreme Iudges in the place which God shall chuse and their authority Deut. 17. 8 c. Iust Gen. 6. 9. Iustice Gen. 15. 6. Iustice in weights and measure Lev. 19. 36. Iust judgement required Deut. 25. 1 c. Lev. 19. 15. K KAdesh the name of a place Gen. 16. 14. called Enmishpat Gen. 14. 7. Keeping and Keepers of divers sorts Ex. 22. 10. Kidneyes what they signified Ex. 29. 13. Killing of sacrifices and who did it Lev. 1. 5. The Kings authority and dutie Deut. 17. 14 c. Kissing how used Gen. 31. 28. and 41. 40. Know for accompany Gen. 4. 1 17. and 19. 5. for care or regard Exod. 2. 25. Korahs rebellion and punishment Num. 16. L LAmbs of the first yeere as Ram of the second Lev. 2. 10. Lamb is the young of sheepe or of goats Ex. 12. 4 5. Deut. 14. 4. Land of Canaan was the Lords and might not be sold for ever Lev. 25. 23. what it figured Genes 12. 5 7. Land-markes not to be removed Deut. 19. 14. Latter daies what they are Gen. 49. 1. Laver and the signification thereof Exod. 30. 18. the manner of the Priests sanctifying there-from ibid. vers 19. It was made of the womens looking-glasses Exod. 38. 8. Laughing for joy Gen. 17. 17. and 21. 6. through weaknesse Gen. 18. 12. in mockage Gen. 21. 9. The Law the inheritance of the Church Deut. 33. 4. Law-giver Gen. 49. 10. Law how it was given with what preparation of the people and with how great terrour Exod. 19. and 20. chap. The Law delivered to the Priests Deut. 31. 9. Of reading it publikely at the end of seven yeeres Deut. 31. 10 11 c. The fire of the Law Esh dath Deut. 33. 2. Laying on hands see Imposition Leading for feeding Gen. 47. 17. Left hand for North Gen. 14. 15. Leprosie a plague Exod. 4. 6. The Law for Leprosies and their cleansing whether on mens persons garments or houses Levit. 13. and 14. chap. Lest a word of affirming Gen. 3. 3. Leven what it signified Exod. 12. 15. what it was Exod. 12. 20. Levites given to assist the Priests in stead of the first-borne of Israel Num. 3. 12 45. and 8. 16. The number of the Levites Num. 3. 15 c. The age and time of the Levites service Numb 4. 3 c. and 8. 24. The Levites charges when the Tabernacle removed Num. 4. 15 c. The manner of consecrating the Levites Numb 8. The 48. Cities and Suburbs which should be given to the Levites Num. 35. Levites were to teach the Law Deut. 33. 10. Levies power what it meaneth Deut. 33. 11. Life in Hebrew Lives and why Gen. 2. 7. Lifting up the hand for swearing Gen. 14. 22. for doing any thing Gen. 41. 44. for praying Exod. 17. 11. Lifting up the head diversly used Gen. 40. 13. 19. Lifting up the eyes for looking about Gen. 30. 10. Light Ge. 1. 3. Lights for light some bodies Ge. 1. 14. Linsey-woolsey forbidden Deu. 22. 11. Lev. 19. 19. Lions of divers names and why Gen. 49. 9. Lip for language Gen. 11. 1. Life or liveth used in swearing Gen. 42. 15. Living water what it meaneth Ge. 26. 19. Le. 14. 5. Log what measure it was Le. 14. 10. Ex. 30. 24. Looking forth of the evening or morning Gen. 24. 63. Exod. 14. 27. Locusts or grashoppers Exod. 10. 4. Lord Adonai Gen. 15. 2. and 18. 3. Love the summe and end of the Law Exod. 20. 6. Deut. 6. 5. To love ones neighbour as himselfe Lev. 19. 18. M MAgicians Gen. 41. 8. Magistrates or Rulers what manner of men they should be Exod. 18. 21. Deut. 1. 13. Making for yeelding or bearing Gen. 1. 11. for perfecting polishing c. Gen. 2. 3. for getting winning Gen. 12. 5. Making frustrate Gen. 17. 14. Males bound to appeare before God thrice a yeere Exod. 23. 17. Man Ish Gen. 2. 23. Earthly man Adam Gen. 1. 26. Man and wife for male and female Gen. 7. 2. Man added to
are silver and gold the worke of mens hands A mouth they have and speake not eies they have and see not Eares they have and heare not a nose they have and smell not Hands they have and feele not feet they have and walke not they make no sound with their throat Like them be they that make them every one that trusteth in them O Israel trust thou in Iehovah he is their helpe and their shield O house of Aaron trust ye in Iehovah he is their helpe and their shield Ye that feare Iehovah trust in Iehovah he is their helpe and their shield Iehovah hath remembred us he will blesse us he will blesse the house of Israel he will blesse the house of Aaron Hee will blesse them that feare Iehovah the small with the great Iehovah will adde unto you unto you and unto your sonnes Blessed shall you be of Iehovah which made the heavens and earth The heavens are Iehovahs and the earth he hath given to the sonnes of Adam Not the dead shall praise Iah neither any that goe downe to silence But wee will blesse Iah from this time and for ever Halelu-jah Annotations NOt to us or for us the Chaldee addeth not for our desert This Psalme the Greeke joyneth with the former and maketh it a part of the 114. Psalme See the notes on Psal. 10. 1. Vers. 2. now or I pray A word of intreating but used here in mockage See Ps. 79. 10. Vers. 3. And or But our God It is a signe of indignation as Psal. 2. 6. Vers. 5. They have Hebr. is to them speake not or cannot speake as Psal. 77. 5. and so the rest Compare herewith Ier. 10. 3 4 5 9 c. Deut. 4. 28. Vers. 7. sound or matter meditate see Psal. 1. 2. Vers. 9. Israel the Church is here distinguished into three parts 1 Israel or the body of the Common-wealth 2 Aarons house the Ministers and 3 the fearers of Iehovah that is strangers converts of all nations Acts 2. 5. and 10. 35. So after in vers 12 13. and Psal. 118. 2 3 4. trust thou the Greeke saith hath trusted and so the rest See the notes on Psal. 22. 9. and 114. 7. their helpe to wit which trust in him Or it may be for your helpe one person put for another as often is See Psal. 59. 10. 65. 7. and 80. 7. Vers. 10. House that is children or posterity See Psa. 113. 9. Vers. 12. hath remembred The Chaldee explaineth it The word of the Lord hath remembred us for good will blesse to wit us as the Greeke turneth it being mindfull of us hath blessed us See the like want in Ps. 59. 14. and 69. 2. and 45. 4. Vers. 13. small or little in age or degree So Rev. 11. 18. Vers. 14. will adde unto or adde upon you that is increase you as Deut. 1. 11. Esa. 26. 15. or adde his blessings Vers. 15. shall you be of or are you to Iehovah that is by him See the like phrase Gen. 14. 19. 2. Sam. 2. 5. Vers. 16 hee hath given or understand which hee hath given for the earth also is his Psal. 24. 1. though heaven properly is his dwelling place yet not able to containe him 1 King 8. 30. 27. Vers. 17. to silence the grave the place of silence quiernesse as Iob 3. 17 18. See Ps. 94. 17. So the Chaldee expoundeth it the place of buriall in the earth PSAL. CXVI The Psalmist professeth his love and dutie to God for his deliverance 12 He studieth to be thankefull I Love because Iehovah heareth my voice my supplications Because he bowed his eare unto me and in my daies I will call The pangs of death compassed me and the straight afflictions of hell found me I found distresse and sorrow And I called on the name of Iehovah O Iehovah deliver my soule Gracious is Iehovah and just and our God is mercifull Iehovah keepeth the simple I was brought low and he saved me Returne O my soule unto thy rest for Iehovah hath bounteously rewarded unto thee Because thou hast released my soule from death mine eie from teares my foot from sliding I will walke on before Iehovah in the lands of the living I beleeved therefore did I speake I was afflicted vehemently I did say in my hastening away every man is a lier What shall I render to Iehovah for all his bountifull rewards unto me I will take up the cup of salvations and will call on the name of Iehovah My vowes to Iehovah I will pay in the presence now of all his people Precious in the eies of Iehovah is the death of his gracious Saints O Iehovah surely I am thy servant I am thy servant the son of thine hand-maid thou hast unloosed my bands To thee will I sacrifice a sacrifice of confession and will cal on the name of Iehovah My vowes to Iehovah will I pay in the presence now of all his people In the courts of the house of Iehovah in the middest of thee O Ierusalem Halelu-jah Annotations I Love to wit the Lord or I am lovingly affected and well pleased The Greeke here beginneth the 114. Psalme see the note on Psal. 10. 1. and after vers 10. heareth or will heare to wit continually Vers. 2. and that is therefore will I call or when I did call my daies that is whiles I live or daies of affliction as Iob 30. 16. See Ps. 119. 84. 37. 12. Vers. 3. pangs or paines compare Psa. 18. 5. c. hell the state of death or grave see Ps. 16. 10. found that is came upon me So 1 Chron. 10. 3. Nehem. 9. 32. Esth. 8. 6. Psal. 119. 143. Vers. 5. Oh or I beseech thee O now The Hebrew Anna and Na are words of intreating as the Greeke Nai Philem. 1. 20. Rev. 1. 7. Vers. 6. brought low drawns drie weakened and afflicted see Psal. 41. 2. and 79. 8. Vers. 7. thy rest thy quiet comfortable estate in God without trouble of conscience This Christ giveth Matth. 11. 29. but sinne taketh away Deu. 28. 65. rewarded or as the Greeke saith been beneficiall the Chaldee explaineth it the word of the Lord hath rewarded good unto thee See Psal. 13. 6. Vers. 8. sliding or thrust fall See Psal. 56. 14. 1 Sam. 2. 9. Vers. 9. walke on to wit pleasingly as the Greek explaineth or pleasingly administer so 1 Sam. 2. 30 35. Psal. 86. 14. the living in this world see Psal. 27. 13. Vers. 10. therefore the Hebrew Ki For is here used for therefore as the Greek translateth and the Apostle alloweth 2 Cor. 4. 13. So may it also be taken 1 Sam. 2. 21. so the Greeke hoâ—â— as Luke 7. 47. for she loved that is therefore she loved much Here the Greek version beginneth the 115 Psalm Vers. 11. my hastening through feare in Greek my extasie or trance see Psal. 31. 23. hereto is opposed his quietnesse Psal. 30. 7. every man even the Prophets which have promised mee the kingdome
to shine upon thy servant and learne mee thy statutes 136. Rivers of waters runne downe mine eyes because they observe not thy law 137. Iust art thou Iehovah and righteous thy judgements 138. Thou hast commanded the justice of thy testimonies and faithfulnesse vehemently 139. My zeale suppresseth me because my distressers have forgotten thy words 140. Thy saying is fined vehemently and thy servant loveth it 141. I am small and despised thy precepts I have not forgotten 142. Thy justice is a justice for ever and thy law is the truth 143. Distresse and anguish have found me thy commandements are my delights 144. The justice of thy testimonies is for ever make me to understand that I may live 145. I have called with the whole heart answer me Iehovah I will keepe thy statutes 146. I have called upon thee save thou me and I wâ—l observe thy testimonies 147. I have prevented in the twilight and cried I hopefully waited for thy word 148. Mine eyes have prevented the night-watches to meditate in thy saying 149. Heare my voice according to thy mercy Iehovah according to thy judgement quicken thou me 150. They draw neare that follow after a mischievous purpose they are farre off from thy law 151. Neare art thou Iehovah and all thy commandements are truth 152. Of old I have knowne of thy testimonies that thou hast founded them forever 153. See mine affliction and release me for I have not forgotten thy law 154. Plead my plea and redeeme mee according to thy saying quicken thou me 155. Salvation is farre from the wicked because they seeke not thy statutes 156. Thy tender mercies are many O Iehovah according to thy judgements quicken thou me 157. Many are my persecutors and my distressers from thy testimonies I have not declined 158. I saw unfaithfull transgressours and was grieved for that they observed not thy saying 159. See that I love thy precepts Iehovah according to thy mercy quicken thou me 160. The beginning of thy word is truth and for ever is every judgement of thy justice 161. Princes have persecuted me without cause for thy word mine heart doth stand in awe 162. I am joyfull for thy saying as one that findeth much spoile 163. Falsehood I hate and I abhorre thy law I doe love 164. Seven times in a day doe I praise thee for the judgements of thy justice 165. Much peace is to them that love thy law and to them is no stumbling-blocke 166. I have hoped for thy salvation Iehovah and have done thy commandements 167. My soule hath observed thy testimonies and I love them vehemently 168. I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies for all my wayes are before thee 169. Let my shouting crie come neare before thee Iehovah according to thy word give thou me understanding 170. Let my supplication for grace come before thee according to thy saying deliver thou mee 171. My lips shal utter praise when thou hast learned mee thy statutes 172. My tongue shall resound thy saying for all thy commandements are justice 173. Let thine hand be to helpe me for I have chosen thy precepts 174. I have longed for thy salvation Iehovah and thy law is my delights 175. Let my soule live that it may praise thee and let thy judgments help me 176. I have strayed like a lost sheepe seeke thou thy servant for I have not forgotten thy commandements Annotations PErfect in way intire or unblemished in their state or conversation See Ezek. 28. 15. Psalm 1. 1. Vers. 2. seeke him with hope and trust as the word also importeth Esay 11. 10. with Rom. 15. 12. See also Deut. 4. 29. Ier. 29. 13. 2 Chron. 15. 15. The Chaldee translateth seeke his doctrine Vers. 3. Also they c. the Greeke turneth it thus For not they that worke iniquitie doe walke in his wayes Vers. 4. to be observed or for men to observe See the notes on Psal. 36. 3. Vers. 5. O that or My wishes are that c. The Chaldee expounds it It is good for me that I have directed my waies Vers. 8. very much or unto vehemencie vehemently that is utterly a like prayer is against Gods anger Esay 64. 9. Or it may here have reference to the former I will keepe thy statutes with vehemencie if thou forsake me not Vers. 10. let me not wander oâ— make mee not to erre in Greeke repell me not Vers. 14. as above as that which is superiour to all riches or as for all abundant wealth Vers. 16. delight or solace recreate my selfe Vers. 18. Vncover or unveile that I may or and I shall so after in this and other Psalmes often See Psal. 43. 4. Vers. 19. in the earth or in the land See Psal. 39. 13. Vers. 20. sor desire or with desiring or to desire as the Greeke saith my soule coveteth to desire A like forme of the Hebrew word is in Ierem. 31. 12. Vers. 23. spake or talked of me spake largely and freely See the word in this forme Ezek. 33. 30. Vers. 24. men of my counsell that is my counsellours they with whom I consult So in Esay 40. 13. man of his counsell is turned in Greeke Sumboâ—los Rom. 11. 34. that is Counsellour Vers. 25. quicken me or spare my life as Ios. 9. 15. Vers. 26. answeredst me which the Chaldee expoundeth acceptedst my prayer Vers. 27. and I will or that I may as vers 18. and 33. Vers. 28. droppeth to wit teares that is weepeth as Iob 16. 20. raise up or confirme stablish as vers 38. and 106. Vers. 30. of faithfulnesse or faith that is a sure and faithfull way proposed to wit before me as Psal. 16. 8. Vers. 32. inlarge that is amplifie and increase with wisdome as 1 King 4. 29. as to want an heart is to be foolish Prov. 9. 4. or with comfort as Isa. 60. 5. or love as 2 Cor. 6. 11. Vers. 33. to the end Greeke continually some turne it for rewards as after the Greeke doth vers 112. The Hebrew properly is the heele or foot-sole figuratively the end and sometime reward see Psal. 19. 12. that I may or and I shall keepe c. So vers 34. Vers. 37. Turne away or Make passe transferre so vers 39. from seeing or that they see not Psal. 69. 24. and 66. 18. Vers. 38. Confirme or raise up that is performe and doe it as 2 Sam. 7. 25. and that continually as Deut. 27. 26. with Gal. 3. 10. So to confirme words 2 King 23. 3. is â—o doe them 2 Chron. 34. 31. which that is which servant is given or addicted to thy feare or which word is given for the feare of thee that thou mayest be feared Vers. 41. come that is be performed as Iudg. 13. 12. Vers. 42. answer Hebr. answer him word that is returne him answer as this phrase importeth 2 Sam. â—4 13. 1 King 20. 9. and 12. 16. so Prov. 27. 11. Or answer him the matter Vers. 43. very much or unto vehemencie vehemently as
of brasse 1 Chron. 15. 19. the Harpes and Psalteries were of fine wood 2 Chro. 9. 11. These are called the instruments of musicke or of the song of the Lord 2 Chron. 7. 6. and David appointed them to be used continually before the Arke 1 Chron. 16. 4 5 6. and divided by lot the Levites which were Musicians into foure and twenty wards 1 Chron. 25. and they were by their courses to stand every morning to confesse and to praise the Lord and likewise at evening 1 Chron. 23. 30. And when Solomon had builded the Temple he continued therein the order set by David his father so that the Levites Singers and Musicians being arayed in white linnen having Cymbals and Psalteries and Harpes stood at the end of the Altar and with them an hundred and twenty Priests sounding with Trumpets and the Trumpeters and Singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and confessing to the Lord 2 Chron. 5. 12 13. and 7. 6. and 8. 14. This order when it was interrupted by the sinne of the Iewes King Ezekias restored 2 Chron. 30. 21. that when the Burnt-offering began the song of the Lord began also with the Trumpets and with the Instruments ordained by David King of Israel and all the Congregation worshipped and the Singers sang and the Trumpeters sounded all this continued untill the Burnt-offering was finished 2 Chron. 29. 27 28. The same order of song and musicke continued in the second Temple after their returne from Babylon as appeareth by Ezra 3. 10 11. and Nehem. 12. 24 27 35 36 42 45. In the Psalmes of David we finde mention also of Flutes or Pipes and Timbrels and other Instruments used with songs of praise unto God Psal. 149. 3. and 150. 3 4 5. The Hebrew Doctors have recorded some things more particularly thus They said the song over all the Burnt-offerings of the Congregation which they were bound to offer and over the Peace-offerings of the solemne assemblie at the time when the wine the Dring-offering was powred out But the voluntarie Burnt-offerings which the congregation offered and the Drinke-offerings brought for them they said not the song over them A Levite that mourned might not serve or sing And there might not be fewer then twelve Levites standing upon the banke or stage every day to say the song over the sacrifice but they might alwayes have moe so many as they would And they said not the song but by mouth without instrument For the root or foundation of the Musicke is that it be a service by mouth And there were others standing there playing with instruments of Musicke And they played on Psalteries and Pipes and Harpes and Trumpets and Cymball There might not bee fewer than two Psalteries nor moe than six not fewer than two Pipes nor moe than twelve not fewer than two Trumpets nor moe than an hundred and twenty so many as were at the dedication of the Temple 2 Chron. 5. 12. Not fewer than nine Harpes but as many moe as they would and but one Cymball onely In all the dayes of the solemne feasts and at the new Moones there were Priests blowing with Trumpets in the houre of the sacrifice Numb 10. 10. and the Levites said the song The Trumpets were of silver and it was not lawfull to have them of other metall The Pipes which they played on were of Cane or Reed The Psalterie Nebel was an instrument like a bottle and it had strings and they played thereon Twelve dayes in the yeere they played on the Pipe before the Altar at the killing of the first Passover and at the killing of the second Passover and in the first good day of the Passover and in the first good day of the Retention or Pentecost and in the eight dayes of the Feast of Tabernacles Maimony in Misn. tom 3. in Cle hammikdash chap. 3. and Thalmud Bab. in Erachin chap. 2. These ordinances being ended by the comming of Christ who was to destroy the Citie and the Sanctuary and to cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease Dan. 9. 26 27. it remaineth that now the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdome and that wee be filled with the Spirit speaking to our selves teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs singing with grace and making melodie in our hearts to the Lord Coloss. 3. 16. Ephesians 5. 18 19. SOLOMONS SONG OF SONGS IN ENGLISH METRE VVITH ANNOTATIONS AND REFERENCES TO OTHER SCRIPTVRES FOR THE EASIER VNDERSTANDING OF IT BY HENRY AINSWORTH PSAL. 45. 11. 12. 11 Heare ô daughter and see and bend thine eare and forget thy people and thy fathers house 12 And the King will covet thy beauty for he is thy Lord and bow-downe thy selfe to him EPHES. 5. 32. 23. 25. 26. 27. 32 This is a great mystery but I speake concerning Christ and concerning the Church 23 Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body 25 Christ also loved the Church and gave himselfe for it 26 That he might sanctifie and clense it with the washing of water by the word 27 That he might present it to himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Imprinted in the yeere 1626. THE SONG OF SONGS CHAPTER I. The Song of Songs which is Solomons LEt him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy loves are better then wine For the savour of thy good ointments thy name is an ointment powred-forth therefore the Virgins love thee Draw me wee will runne after thee the King hath brought me into his chambers wee will be glad and rejoyce in thee wee will remember thy loves more then wine the upright love thee I am blacke and comely ô ye daughters of Ierusalem as the tents of Kedar as the curtaines of Solomon Looke not upon me because I am blackish because the Sunne hath looked downe upon me the sonnes of my mother have beene angry with mee they made me the keeper of the Vine-yards my Vineyard which is mine I have not kept Tell me ô thou whom my soule loveth where thou feedest where thou makest to rest at noone for why should I be as one that turneth-aside unto the flockes of thy companions If thou know not ô thou fairest among women goe thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock and feed thy kiddes besides thy shepheards tents I have compared thee ô my love to the company-of-horses in the charrets of Pharaoh Thy cheekes are comely with rowes thy necke with chaines We will make for thee rowes of gold with speckes of silver While the King sitteth at his round-table my spikenard giveth forth the smell thereof A bundle of myrrh is my welbeloved unto me he shall lyeall-night betwixt my breasts A cluster of Cypres is my wel-beloved unto me in the Vineyards of Engedi Behold thou art faire my love behold thou art faire
thine eyes are as doves Behold thou art faire my beloved yea pleasant also our bed is greene The beames of our houses are Cedars our galleries of Brutin trees CHAPTER I. This may be sung as the 55 or 86 Psalme WIth kisses of his mouth let him kisse me Because thy loves then wine much-better be For thy good ointments odoriferous-sent Thy name it is a powred-forth ointment Therefore the Virgins they have loved thee Doe thou me draw run after thee will we Into his chambers brought me hath the King We will be glad in thee and joyfull-sing We will record thy loves the wine above They that are upright doe thee dearly-love O daughters of Ierusalem I am Blacke but am pleasing-comely with the same Like to the tabernacles of Kedar Like to the curtaines Solomons which are Looke not on me because that I am browne Because the Sun hath on me looked-downe The children of my mother they have beene Incensed against me with angry-teene To keepe the Vineyards they did me assigne I have not kept my Vineyard which is mine O my soules love tell me where thou feedest Where thou dost make thy flocke at noone to rest For why should I be like to one that goes Aside unto the flocks of thy fellowes If thou thy selfe know not ô fairest one Of womankind then forth get thou thee gone By footsteps of the flocke and thy yong-goates Feed thou besides the shepheards dwelling-cotes I have compared thee my love unto The horses troop in Charrets of Phar'oh Thy cheekes with rowes thy necke with chaines are deckt We will make thee gold rowes with silver speckt At his round table while the King doth sit My spikenard giveth-forth the smell of it A bag of myrrh my Loved is to me Betwixt my breasts lye-all-the-night shall he My Lov'd to me a cluster of Cypres That in the vineyards of Engedi is Lee thou art faire ô thou my dearest love Loe thou art faire thine eyes are as the dove Loe thou art faire ô thou my deare-loved Yea pleasant art greene also is our bed Beames of our houses of the Cedars be Our galleries are of the Brutin tree Annotations THe Song of Songs Songs and Psalmes are for the most part arguments of joy and gladnesse in them that sing and of their praises whom the songs concerne Iam. 5. 13. Ephes. 5. 19. Exod. 15. Iudg. 5. Esay 26. 2 Sam. 22. Psal. 66. 1. 2. 3. c. So this booke treating of mans reconciliation unto God and peace by Iesus Christ with joy in the Holy Ghost is called a Song which therefore the faithfull should learne to sing with understanding making melody in their hearts to the Lord when they feele themselves made partakers of his joy And it is intituled the Song of Songs that is the chiefest and most excellent Song as Christ whom it concerneth is called the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. and 17. 14. that is the most high and mighty King and supreme Lord of all Solomon made a thousand Songs and five 1 King 4. 32. of all which this was most excellent yea and of all the Songs in the Scripture for this celebrateth the mysteries of Christ and his Church and the communion betweene them more amply and excellently then any other which is Solomons It is better to heare the rebuke of the wise then for a man to heare the song of fooles Eccles. 7. 5. but Solomon who made this Song in praise of Christ and of his Church surpassed all the Kings of the earth in riches and wisdome 2 Chron. 9. 22. hee was wiser then all men for God gave him wisedome and understanding exceeding much and largenesse of heart even as the sand that is on the sea shoore 1 King 4. 31. 29. and all the earth sought the face of Solomon to heare his wisedome which God had put in his heart 1 King 10. 24. There was none like him before him neither after him shall any arise like unto him 1 King 3. 12. It may also bee interpreted which belongeth to or concerneth Solomon understanding hereby Christ himselfe whom Solomon prefigured in Kingdome wisedome and glory And Solomon called in Hebrew Shelomoh but after the Greeke Solomon Matthew 1. 6. had his name of peace because he was a man of rest and God said of him Solomon shall be his name and I will give salom that is peace and quietnesse unto Israel in his dayes 1 Chronic. 22. 9 so hee had peace on all sides round about him 1 King 4. 24. Now Christ is our peace Ephes. 2. 14. even the Prince of peace Esay 9. 6. and he is called Solomon in this Song Chapter 3. 11. and David prophesying of Christs Kingdome intituled his Psalme For Solomon Psalme 72. Thus the penman of this booke being the wisest of all the Prophets and Christ whom it concerneth being the very wisedome of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. and greater then Solomon Matthew 12. 42. this Song is commended unto us by the Holy Ghost in the highest degree of excellency The Chaldee paraphraseth on this title thus Songs and hymnes which Solomon the Prophet the King of Israel uttered by the Spirit of prophesie before the Lord the Lord of all the world V. 2. Let him kisse me As the Scripture mentioneth the Bride the Bridegroome and the friends of them both the children of the bride chamber Ioh. 3. 29. Matthew 9. 15. so in this Song all these especially the two former are brought in as speakers every one of and unto other so declaring their mutuall desires loves and affections The Bride is the Church espoused to Christ and called the wife of the Lambe Rev. 21. 9. to whom shee is to be presented a chaste virgin 2 Cor. 11. 2. and this Church Christ loved and gave himselfe for it that he might sanctifie and clense it with the washing of water by the Word that he might present it to himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such things but that 〈◊〉 should bee holy and without blemish Ephes. 5. 25. 26. 27. How be it before Christ came in our humanity the Church according to the â—â—conomical dispenlatio of God was as a child in her non age under tutors and governours untill the time appointed of the Father Gal. 4. 1. 2. kept under the Law shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed which law was a Schoolemaster unto Christ Gal. 3. 23. 24. In this estate shee continued till faith came and then she being dead to the Law by the body of Christ was to bee maried unto another even to him who is raised from the dead that she might bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7. 1. 4. So though our godly forefathers in the daies of the Prophets saw the promises a farre off and were perswaded of them and embraced them and did all obtaine testimony and were glorious through faith yet they received not the promise God having provided some better thing
for us that they without us should not be perfected Heb. 11. 13. 39. 40. Now in Solomons dayes the Church before Christs comming had greatest glory having the Temple builded living under that most wise rich and peaceable King the Israelites being many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude eating and drinking and making mery and dwelling safely every man under his vine and under his fig-tree 1 King 4. 20. 25. notwithstanding Solomon being a Prophet foresaw the ruine of his house and kingdome and in his booke of Ecclesiastes proclaimed all things under the Sunne to be vanity and in this Song prophesieth of the Church and Kingdome of Christ. And as he with many other Prophets and Kings and righteous men desired to see Christ and to heare his words but did not Luke 10. 24. Mat. 13. 17. so here hee manifesteth the desire of him-selfe and of all the faithfull to enjoy the blessings and graces of Christ saying Let him kisse mee Whereby the Church desireth to have Christ manifested in the flesh and to have the loving and comfortable doctrines of his Gospell applyed unto her conscience that shee might not be alwayes under the Schoolemaster of the Law which worketh wrath Rom. 4. 15. but might bee prevented with the grace of Christ be reconciled unto God united unto Christ and have the feeling of his love towards her For kissing is a token of love 1 Pet. 5. 14. Luke 7. 45. was used at the meeting and salutation of friends Exod. 4. 27. and 18. 7. 1 Thess. 5. 26. and David kissed Absalom in signe of favour and reconciliation 2 Sam. 14. 33. And as we are willed to kisse the Sonne Psal. 2. 12. that is lovingly and gladly to submit unto and obey his commandements so the Church here prayeth first that the Sonne would kisse her that is in love and kindnesse teach and apply unto her the grace of his Gospell For herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Sonne to be the propitiation for our sinnes 1 Iohn 4. 10. Afterward we love him because he first loved us 1 Iohn 4. 19. and we kisse him Song 8. 1. The Hebrew expositors as the Chaldee Paraphrast and others doe for the most part apply these things to the giving of the Law by Moses For they being ignorant of the righteousnesse of God have gone about to establish their owne righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3. Howbeit some of them in ancient time saw better as appeiteth by their Midrash an Hebrew commentary on this booke which here saith Moses taught them the Law and whatsoever they learned they forgat againe Then they said unto Moses ô that God would shew himselfe againe and kisse us with the kisses of his mouth that his doctrine might be fastned in our hearts Moses said unto them This cannot be done now but it shall be in the dayes of Christ as it is said I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts Ier. 31. 33. kisses of his mouth his owne lovely and gracious doctrines As in Prov. 27. 6. the wounds of a friend signifie sharpe reproofes and are opposed to the deceitfull kisses that is the flattering speeches of an enemy so here the kisses desired of this friend are the comfortable words of the doctrine of salvation opposed to the severe rebukes which the Law giveth for our sinnes condemning and cursing every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to doe them Gal. 3. 10. But Christ into whose lips grace is poured Psal. 45. 3. openeth his mouth and uttereth Blessings Matth. 5. 2. 3. c. for thy loves She turneth her speech unto Christ and sheweth a reason of her former desire By loves are meant graces and the fruits of them here first from Christ to his Church afterward from her unto Christ which he acknowledgeth saying How much better are thy loves then wine Song 4. 10. These shee perceiveth from Christ by the works of Adoption Redemption Iustification and Sanctification through Christ and his Spirit as in 1 Iohn 3. 1. 16 and 4. 9. 10. Iohn 15. 13. Rom. 5. 1 5. Ephes. 5. 25. 26. 27. So on the contrary Antichrists allurements to communion with his impiety are with these words Come let us take our fill of loves untill the morning Prov. 7. 18. and Israels communion with Babylons idolatry is thus shâ—wed The sonnes of Babylon came to her into the bed of loves Ezek. 23. 17. better then wine or good more then wine The word good is of large use for profitable pleasing sweet comfortable joyfull c. as is noted on Gen. 1. 4. Wine is one of the most comfortable creatures rejoycing the heart of man Psal. 104. 15. and wine maketh the life or living joyfull Eccles. 10. 19. it causeth to forget affliction poverty misery Prov. 31. 6. 7. It was also used in the legall sacrifices and service of God Num. 15. 5. Hos. 9 4. But the graces of Christ and comforts of his Spirit wherewith the Saints are to be filled Ephes. 5. 18. doe farre excell all worldly pleasure and doe cause such as drinke of them to forget their bitternesse poverty sorrowes which by the terrors of the Law and guilt of conscience for sinne did before afflict them Rom. 7. 10. 15. 18. 24. 25. and 8. 2. And the service of God now in spirit and truth Iohn 4. 23. 24. and consolation which aboundeth by Christ 2 Cor. 1. 5. is much more comfortable then were all the ordinances of divine service in the worldly Sanctuary which could not make him that did the service perfect as partaining to the conscience Heb. 9. 1. 9. and 10. 1. 2. 3. 4. Vers. 3. For the favour or For thy odour swell of thy good ointments By savour or smell is meant knowledge understanding sense or feeling as the Apostle expoundeth it the savour of his knowledge 2 Cor. 2. 14. So a tree is said to bud through the smell or 〈…〉 of water Iob 14. 9. and towe is broken when it smelleth the fire that is feeleth it Iudg. 16. 9. Good ointments or good oiles are precious and sweet ointments wherewith speciall persons were anointed of old as the holy anointing oyle made of principall spices Exod. 30. 23. 25. is called the good ointment Psal. 133. 2. and of the precious things which King Hezekiah shewed to the Ambassadors of the King of Babylon the good ointment was one 2 King 20. 13. and with such they were wont to be anointed at feasts Amos 6. 6. Luke 7. 36. 46. and it was a signe of joy and cheerfulnesse Eccles. 9. 7. 8. for sweet odours revive and comfort the spirits in man when they are dulled with sorrow or much meditation wherefore it is said Ointment and perfume rejoyce the heart Prov. 27. 9. But in fasting or mourning they used not to anoint themselves Dan. 10. 3. 2 Sam. 14. 2. By this similitude the Church
and of a pleasant smell like Cedar as Pliny sheweth in Nat. hist. l. 12. c. 17. Hereupon the Greeke translateth it Cypresse-trees but Aquila an exact Greeke translator turneth it Boratine as being of the tree named in Greeke Boraton which hath also affinity with the Hebrew name and is a tree growing in Arabia Diodor. Sicul. biblioth l. 2. These Cedar and Brutine trees may bee applyed both to the persons of men as is foreshewed and to the doctrines wherewith the Church is builded upon the foundation Christ 1 Corinth 3. 9. 10. 11. 12. all which set forth by these similitudes are strong and firme and of sweet odour unto the comfort of the Saints and glory of Christ. So the holy persons and graces wherewith the Church should be adorned are by the Prophets likened to goodly trees in Esay 41. 19. and 55. 13. and 60. 13. The Chaldee paraphraseth on this verse thus Solomon the Prophet sayd How faire is the house of the Sanctuary of the Lord which is builded by mine hands of Cedar wood but fayrer shall bee the house of the Sanctuary which shall bee builded in the dayes of the King Christ the beames whereof shall bee of the Cedars of the garden of Eden or of Paradise and the galleries thereof shall be of Brutine trees c. CHAPTER II. I am the rose of Sharon the lilie of the vallies As the lilie among the thornes so is my love among the daughters As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sonnes in his shadow I desired and sate-downe and his fruit was sweet to my palate He brought me into the house of wine and his banner over me was love Stay me with flagons strow me a bed with apples for I am sicke of love His left hand under mine head and his right hand imbrace me I adjure you ô daughters 〈…〉 erusalem by the Roes or by the Hindes of the field if 〈◊〉 and if yee stirre-up the Love untill it please The voice of my beloved behold he commeth leaping upon the mountaines skipping upon the hills My Beloved is like a Roe or a fawne of the Hindes behold he is stāding behind our wall looking-forth thorow the windowes flourishing thorow the lattesses My beloved answered said unto me Rise-up thou my love my faire one and come thou away For loe the winter is past the raine is over it is gone-away The flowers appeare on the earth the time of the singing of birds is come and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our land The fig-tree putteth-forth her greene figs and the Vines with the tender-grape give a smell Rise up thou my Love my faire one and come thou away My dove that art in the clefts of the Rock in the secret place of the staires let mee see thy countenāce let me heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet and thy countenance is comely Take ye for us the foxes the little foxes that corrupt the vineyards for our vineyards have tender-grapes My beloved is mine and I am his hee feedeth among the Lilies Vntill the day dawn and the shadowes flee-away turne-about and be thou like ô my beloved to a Roe or to a fawne of the Hindes upon the mountaines of Bether CHAPTER II. I am the rose that doth in Sharon grow The lilie also of the valleyes-low Like-as the lilie is the thornes among So is my Love among the daughters yong As th'apple-tree among trees of the grove So is among the sonnes he whom I love I in his shade desired and downe sate And sweet his fruit was unto my palate Into the house of wine he hath me led And over me love was his banner spred Stay me with flagons strow me a bed to lye With apples for even sicke of love am I. His left hand underneath mine head haue place His right hand also me about-imbrace O daughters of Ierusalem you by The Roes or by Hindes of the field doe I Adjure if that ye stirring-doe-disease And if the Love ye stirre-up till it please My Loveds voice behold he comes he leapes Vpon the mounts upon the hills he skips Ly Lov'd is like a Roe or fawne of th'Hinde Behold he standing is our wall behind Thorow the windowes looking-forth he viewes Thorow the lattesse flourishing he shewes My Loved spake and unto me did say My Love my faire one rise and come thy way For winter loe is past over is the raine It s gone The flowers on earth appeare againe Come is the time of the birds singing-noise And in our land heard is the Turtles voice The fig-tree with her greene-figs forth doth sprout And Vines with tender grapes a smell give out My Love my faire one rise and come thy way My dove that in clefts of the rocke doth stay Within the stayers hiding place secret Sight of thy countenance ô let me get Let me thy voice heare for thy voice sweet is Also thy countenance hath comelinesse The foxes little foxes for us take That in the vineyards wastfull spoile doe make Because the tender-grape is on our vine He that my welbeloved is is mine And I am his ' meng lilies he feedeth Vntill the day with dawning light breaketh And till the shadowes fleeing hence be gone Turne thee about ô my beloued one And be thou like the yong Hart or the Roe That doth upon the mounts of Bether goe Annotations I This is thought of some to bee the speech of Christ of others to be spoken by the Church which seemeth most probable and is so expounded by the Chaldee Paraphrast If we vnderstand it of Christ it signifieth the excellency of graces in himselfe which he readily communicateth with his people if of the Church it sheweth her graces receiued from Christ whereby she is louely and delightfull for sweet odour and beauty Hos. 14. 7. the rose of Sharon in Greeke the flower of the field but Sharon is the name of a place or plaine which was very fruitfull wherein King Dauids herds of cattell were fed 1 Chron. 27. 29. and the Prophet mentioneth the excellency of Carmel and Sharon Esay 35. 2. and when hee threatneth desolation hee saith Sharon is like a wildernesse Esay 33. 9. but promising mercy to his people he saith Sharon shall be a fold of flockes Esay 65. 10. The Rose is the Queene of flowers most commendable for sweetnesse and beauty so the Lilie after mentioned is glorious and amiable even Solomon in all his glory was not arayed like one of these Matth. 6. 29. The Lily is next in nobility to the Rose saith Pliny hist. l. 21. c. 5. of the valleyes or of the low or deepe places These also were fruitfull places where the Kings herds were fed 1 Chron. 27. 29. And as roses and lilies growing in Sharon and these vallies had more moisture then those that grew on hills and mountaines so hereby it signified the blessed estate of the Church in Christ by whose grace it is in
is faire and commendable among the unfruitfull trees and all the world knoweth it so the Lord of the world was faire and commendable among the Angels when he was revealed upon Mount Sinai at the time that hee gave the Law unto his people at that time I desired to sit in the shadow of his Divine majesty and the words of his Law were sweet to my palate and the reward of his precepts is reserved for me in the world that is to come Vers. 4. the house of wine that is either the wine celler the place where wine is kept or rather the banquetting house where wine is drunke For cellars are called the treasuries or store-houses of wine in 1 Chron. 27. 27. Wine besides that it slaketh thrist cheareth also the heart of man Psal. 104. 15. causeth him to forget his sorrow and misery Prov. 31. 6 7. comforteth the sicke by cherishing and augmenting the vitall spirits By this the Church signifieth encrease of grace from Christ as the fruit of the vine excelleth the fruit of the apple tree and is more comfortable unto the heart And as her troubles and tentations were increased so was his grace towards her for spirituall consolations for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ 2 Cor. 1. 5. This house of wine is like that in Prov. 9. 1. 5. where wisedome having builded her house c. inviteth the simple to come and eate of her bread and drinke of the wine which she hath mingled Of the Hebrewes Iarchi expoundeth this wine house to be the Tabernacle of the congregration where the interpretation explanation of the Law is given answerable to which now is the assembly of the Saints though it may also be understood of Gods booke or Scripture the true wine-celler that affordeth spirituall comforts his banner or his standard a flag or ensigne spred abroad a warlike signe as in ch 6. 4. 10. the Church is said to bee terrible as an army with banners And the banner lifted up is a signe of fighting with ioy and victory as in Psal. 20. 6. We will shout-joyfully in thy salvation and in the name of our God we will set up the banner So Christs banner over her signified his defence and the victory which he giveth over all her enemies Sin Satan and the world also the signe that as all souldiers doe camp under their owne standards Num. 2. 2. so shee under the Gospell the ensigne of Christs love towards her love that wherewith Christ hath loved us 1 Iohn 4. 10. wherefore some reade it thus his standard was love toward me By love the Church is redeemed Ephes. 5. 25 by it everlasting consolation is given us and good hope through grace 2 Thess. 2. 16. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us Romanes 5. 5. Vers. 5. Stay or Sustaine Strengthen Uphold ye me The Church in her soule sicknesse speaketh to her friends the Ministers of Christ and other Christians that they with the comfortable doctrines and promises of the Gospell applyed unto her conscience would stay and uphold her ready to fall as into a swowne through trouble of minde because of her owne infirmities and want of feeling of Christs grace and blessing Thus in figure when Isaak had blessed Iakob he saith with corne and wine I have sustained him Gen. 27. 37. Spiritually we are sustained and strengthned by the words and promises of Christ which comfort the heart quicken the spirit and strengthen faith when it is weake as it is said Be ye also patient stablish or strengthen your hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh Iam. 5. 8. and I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spirituall gift to the end you may be established Rom. 1. 11. And example may be seene in Iudah when Ezekias spake unto their heart and said Bee strong and couragious c. for there be moe with us then with him with him is an arme of flesh but with us is Iehovah our God to helpe us and to fight our battels And the people stayed or rested themselves upon the words of Ezekias King of Iudah 2 Chron. 32. 6. 7. 8. Likewise in the Apostles who preaching the Gospell confirmed or stablished the soules of the Disciples Acts 14. 21. 22. and 18. 23. with flagons to weer of wine which at banquets was wont to bee distributed by flagons When David had brought the Arke of God into his place and had offred burnt-offrings and peace-offrings and blessed the people he dealt to every 〈…〉 of Israel both man and woman to every one a loafe of 〈◊〉 and a good peace of flesh and a flagon 1 Chr. 〈…〉 2. 3 meaning a flagons or pot of wine as flagons of grapes that is of wine made of grapes are mentioned in Hos. 3. 1. So here with flagons of the 〈◊〉 of grace and consolation which Gods people have distributed among them in the spirituall banquet of the Gospell doth the Church desire to be sustained Flagon are named for the wine in them as the cup for the wine therein Luk. 22. 20. The Hebrewes after their wonted manner apply this to the doctrine of the Law as the Chaldee paraphrast here saith Receive ye ô Moses and Aaron the voice of the words of the Lord out of the midst of the fire and bring me into the house of doctrine and sustaine me with the words of the Law wherewith the world is delighted But it is the Law which causeth the sicknes of the soule as the Apostle sheweth in Rom. 7. and the Gospell of Christ healeth it Luke 4. 18. strow me a bed or spread mee make me a couch boulster me up The originall Raphad signifieth properly to spread abroad as a bed to lye on Iob 17. 13. and so it is translated by the Greeke Stoibasate which is to strow a bed as they were wont with hearbes or to stuffe and boulfter up Thus it is of like meaning with the former word for they used beds and couches at banquets Amos 6. 4. Esth. 1. 5. 6. or it further signifieth her falling downe as into a swowne and as one not able to stand is to lye down on her couch which she desireth may bee made and boulstred with the apples the comfortable doctrines and fruits of Christ forementioned in verse 3. which the Chaldee explaineth the interpretation of the holy words which are sweet like the apples of the garden of Eden sicke of love in languishing with desire to enjoy the comforts of my beloved The Greek translateth it wounded of love The originall word signifieth also weaknesse as in Iudg. 16. 7. 11. This speech implieth a want of feeling and enioying the presence and comforts of Christ as by her after speech is manifest when she saith I adjure you ô daughters of Ierusalem if ye finde my beloved that ye tell him that
I am sicke of love Song 5. 8. And that soth is the Churches estate sometimes appeareth by Song 3. 1. 2. c. and 5. 6. And as love is one of the strongest affections Song 8. 6. 7. so the sicknesse which commeth it doth sore afflict and weaken the person as may be seene in that evill example of Amnon sicke of love for his sist 〈…〉 T 〈…〉 ar 2 Sam. 13. 1. 2. 4. This sicknesse ariseth in the heart by feeling the wrath of God due to us for finne and curse of his law Psal. 90. 8. and 38. 3. 5. 7. Dan. 9. 11. Rom. 7. 24. whereupon it is said The inhabitant shall not say I am sicke the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity Esay 33. 24. and afflictions laid upon us for our humiliation Mic. 6. 13. Iob. 7. 18. and 30. 15. 1. 10. 6. Lament 3. 17. 18. Amos 6. 6. in which Christ sometimes as it were hideth himselfe from us Iob 13. 24. Psal. 77. 6. 7. 8. and 80. 3. 7. 19. The Church feeling and acknowledging her selfe sick seeking for the Physitian and is in the way to health for they that are whole need not a Physitian but they that are sicke Matt. 9. 12. And such as feele not their death in sin will not come unto Christ that they may have life Iohn 5. 40. who healeth all our sicknesses Psal. 103. 3. as he himselfe was a man of sorrowes and acquainted with sicknesse Esay 53. 3. Vers. 6. His left hand understand is under my head or prayerwise let it be under mine head The Church by faith beholdeth the helpe of Christ himselfe in the ministery of his Word and Spirit sustaining her outwardly and inwardly as with the left and right hand upholding her head folding about and comforting her heart as a loving husband doth his wife in her sorrow and sickness as the Apostle saith the Lord doth nourish and cherish his Church Ephes. 5. 29. The like speech is repeated in Song 8. 3. under my head as a pillow to rest upon By sinnes and afflictions the whole head is sicke and the whole heart faint Esay 1. 5 By the righteousnesse of Christ and consolations of his Spirit our 〈◊〉 are forgiven and our consciences comforted 1 Iohn 2. 12. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Rom. 14. 17. This grace is felt when by the ministration of the Word the flagons and apples forementioned in vers 5. are applyed to the repentant beleeving sinner who saith when his flesh and his heart is consumed and faileth The Rock of my hart and my portion is God for ever Psalme 73. 26. his right hand which teacheth him fearfull things Psalm 45. 5. so both his hands even all that Christ is his Godhead and Manhood his life death resurrection ascension his weaknesse power and glory are imployed for the comfort and salvation of his Church doth imbrace me or let imbrace me or will imbrace me it is a speech of faith or prayer as in Chap. 1. 2. Let him kisse me concerning the fruition of Christs love and graces For to imbrace or fould the armes about one is as kissing a signe of love Gen. 29. 13. and 48. 10. In this sense we are counselled to imbrace the wisedome of God Prov. 4. 78. This commendeth the love of Christ that leaveth not his Church in her sicknesse sinnes and infirmities but commeth to her comforteth and sustaineth her with his owne hands in manifestation of all love compassion and kindnesse and joyeth in her as the bridegroome rejoyceth over the Bride Esay 62. 5. and keepeth her safe from evill It setteth forth also the Churches faith and thankfulnesse which seeth Christ present in his doctrine and ordinances and his Ministery as if he were crucified before her Gal. 3. 1. and rejoyceth before others for his love and help 2 Cor. 1. 3. 4. 5. c. Vers. 7. I adjure you that is I earnestly charge you with an oath for which if you breake it you shall be guilty of punishment This seemeth to be the speech of the Church here as it is also after in ch 3. vers 5. and ch 8. v. 4. to the daughters of Ierusalem her friends of whom see chap. 1. 5. An adjuration and a curse are much of like nature and one is sometime put for another see Gen. 24. 8. 41. Ios. 6. 26. 1 Sam. 14. 24. 27. 28. So it sheweth the weightinesse of this speech by the Roes here may be understood yee that are by the Roes yee which feed your flockes abroad in the fields where the Roes and Hindes runne or abide with the Roes or with the Hindes of the field Some take it as if the oath were by them which cannot bee but unproper and figurative seeing oathes and adjurations are by the name of God onely Deut. 6. 13. Gen. 24. 3. The Roes and Hinds are wilde beasts of the field and have the notation of their names of armies and powers and by wilde beasts the nations of the world are often signified which were not of the Lords fold among his sheepe so that the daughters of Ierusalem Gods elect being with and among them are charged and it may bee figuratively by them as the instruments by whom God would punish them if they kept not this charge to beware that they troubled not her Love Moreover the Roe and the Hinde are set forth in Scripture for examples of swiftnesse of foot as in 2 Sam. 2. 18. and 22. 34. which being referred to the punishment for breaking this adjuration may signifie the swiftnesse of Gods judgements on them that shall so doe These creatures are also mentioned when speech is of love betweene man and wife as in Prov. 5. 19. Let her be as the loving Hind and as the pleasant Roe c. that as the males and females of these beasts doe dearly love one another so is the unfeigned love betweene man and wife and betweene Christ and his Church And hereunto this speech may have respect the rather for that after in verse 9. shee likeneth Christ to a Roe or a yong Hart. And as the heavens earth stones c. are called to witnesse against men if they sinne Deut. 30. 19. Ios. 24. 27. so the Roes and Hindes shall rise up and condemne such as breake their faith and love unto Christ. if yee stirre and if ye stirre up or if ye awake and if yee wake up they are both words of one signification save that they differ in forme and being both referred to the Love after mentioned they meane a stirring up or disquieting much or little But the former may have reference to the daughters of Ierusalem that they themselves stirre not in this peace and quietnesse of Christ and his Church the latter if ye stirre up is referred to the Love that it be not disquieted And the word If used in oaths and adjurations is a prohibition upon penalty see that ye stirre not as in Gen. 21. 23. sweare unto me here by God if thou
shalt lye unto mee that is that thou wilt not lye and in Marke 8. 12. if a signe be given which is explained in Matt. 16. 4. a signe shall not be given Stirring is opposed unto quietnesse or sitting still and unto sleepe and rest Psal. 80. 3. and 35. 23. Dan. 11. 25. Zach. 2. 13. 4. 1. and the Lord is said then to stir up or awake when he delivereth his Church out of troubles Psalme 78. 65. 66. and the Church then stirreth up the Lord when it earnestly prayeth for such deliverance Psal. 44. 24. 25. The Chaldee Paraphrast and other Hebrewes understand it so here but apply it to the deliverance of Israel out of Aegypt which might not bee untill the time appointed of God and if we take it in this sense the daughters of Ierusalem are charged to suffer affliction for and with Christ in faith and patience unto the comming of the Lord Iam. 5. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 6. 7. and not to provoke him by murmuring or otherwise through feare and unbeleefe a figure wherof may be seene in Christs sleeping in the storme and the disciples waking him Marke 4. 37. 40. But it may be applyed unto the stirring and provoking of Christ by sinne for which he often departeth from his people and chasteneth their transgressions Exod. 23. 20. 21. Esay 59. 2. and 63. 10. that they should by no meanes grieve the holy Spirit of God Ephes. 4. 30. the Love understand my Love meaning Christ her beloved who is called Love for excellency sake as in Song 1. 4. righteousnesses were righteous persons because God is Love 1 Iohn 4. 8. most worthy to be loved and loving his most dearly So loves for lovers in Hos. 8. 9. Afterward the Spouse her selfe is called by this name Love in Song 7. 6. untill it please or untill he please speaking of Christ and being understood of stirring or provoking him by sinne it meaneth never for so the word untill often signifieth as Michal had no child untill the day of her death 2 Sam. 6. 23. that is she never had any and this iniquity shall not be purged from you till yee dye Esay 22. 14. and I will not leave thee untill I have done that which I have spoken unto thee Gen. 28. 15. and sundry the like Vers. 8. The voice Here the Spouse breaketh out and rejoyceth to heare the Bridegroomes voice and signifieth to her friends the comforts that she had thereby as it was her soules sicknesse and griefe when he withdrew himselfe and kept silence By the voice is meant the word of his grace the preaching of the Gospell which she knoweth to be his and receiveth with joy as Christs sheep are said to heare and to know the voice of the shepheard and not a strangers Iohn 10. 3. 4. c. In this sense he said before Pilate Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice Ioh. 18. 37. and they knew not the voices of the Prophets Acts 13. 27. that is their doctrines and to day if yee shall heare his voice harden not your hearts c. Heb. 3. 7. This voice is heard before his comming to prepare the hearers to receive him as Iohn the Baptist who prepared the way before Christ is called the Voice of a cryer c. Marke 1. 2. 3. behold he commeth A further degree of grace from him and comfort in her that she not onely heareth his voice but seeth him comming to save her as is promised in Esay 35. 4. By the preaching of the Gospell received with faith Christ himselfe commeth and is present with his people Ioh. 13. 20. Gal. 3. 1. And as the Church was sicke of love vers 5. so Christ here answereth to her desire fulfilling that which he promised If a man love me hee will keepe my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Iohn 14. 23. leaping a similitude taken from the Roes and Harts whereunto Christ is likened in vers 9. which are swift in running and skip upon mounts hills and rockes as in Esay 35. 6. the lame man shall leape as an Hart. Hereby therefore Christs speed and readinesse to helpe is signified upon the mountaines that is openly and apparently to the eye of faith as in Nahum 1. 15. Behold upon the mountaines the feet of him that bringeth good tidings c. Spiritually by the mountaines and hils may be meant the Kingdomes and Nations of the world subdued unto Christ by the preaching of the Gospell Rev. 11. 15. Or it may be translated over the mountaines and over the hills passing over all impediments which might seeme to hinder him as the sinnes of his people the opposition of the world and the like So the adversaries of the Church are likened to a mountaine in Zach. 4. 7. Who art thou ô great mountaine before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plaine And by the preaching of the Gospell every mountaine and hill shall be made low Esay 40. 4. See also Esay 41. 15. and 42. 15. Habak 3. 6. Vers. 9. Like a Roe for swiftnesse 2 Sam. 2. 18. and for pleasantnesse Prov. 5. 19. The same is meant by the next similitude of the Fawn or yong Hart 2 Sam. 22. 34. Prov. 5. 19. fawne of the Hindes or of the Harts for the originall word implyeth both males and females and shee speaketh in the plurall number either because the Fawne is ingendred of both male and female which delight each in other or for excellency as Sol. Iarchi expoundeth it the Fawne of a choice Hinde or Hart. Here the Church sheweth the readinesse of Christ to helpe her as in verse 8. she saw him come leaping and skipping so by these two creatures most swift of â—cot she signifieth the speed hee maketh as in Chap. 8. 14. and the mutuall love and delight betweene them according to Prov. 5. 19. behind our wall This signifieth a more neere communion with Christ then when he was farther off leaping on the mountaines and yet not so neere but there was still a wall betweene her and him which parted them so the degrees of graces are here meant whereby Christ manifesteth his love to his Church not wholly at once but as he seeth good for us that by beholding and delighting in his goodnesse we may bee drawne to follow him calling us after him vers 10. His standing behind our wall if it bee referred to Christ himselfe may be understood of his incarnation when he dwelt in our house of clay as it is called in Iob 4. 19. and in our flesh appeared preached suffered c. to draw us after him into the kingdome of his Father as Iohn 1. â—4 the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and wee beheld his glory the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth If it be referred to the wall which God hath made for his Church it may meane his holy ordinances which in the time
29. called partition because it was parted by the river Iordan from the land of Iudea And on those mountaines as by this Scripture appeareth Hartes and Roes used to runne from whom the similitude is taken CHAPTER III. VPon my bed in the nights I sought him whom my soule loveth I sought him but I found him not I will rise now and goe about in the citie in the streets and in the broad-places I will seeke him whom my soule loveth I sought him but I found him not The watchmen that goe-about in the Citie found mee Saw yee him whom my soule loveth It was but a little that I had passed from them but I found him whom my soule loveth I held him and would not let him goe untill I had brought him into my mothers house and into the chamber of her that conceived mee I adjure you ô daughters of Ierusalem by the Roes or by the Hindes of the field if ye stir and if yee stirre-up the Love untill it please Who is this that commeth up out of the wildernesse like pillars of smoakperfumed with myrrh frankincense with all powder of the Merchant Behold his bed which is Solomons threescore mightie-ones are about it of the mighty ones of Israel They all hold the sword being expert in war every-man hath his sword upon his thigh because of feare in the nights King Solomon made him selfe a charret of the wood of Lebanon He made the pillars therof of silver the bottome thereof of gold the covering thereof of purple the midst thereof being paved with love of the daughters of Ierusalem Goe forth O ye daughters of Zion and see King Solomon with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladnes of his heart CHAPTER III. VPon my bed I in the nights him sought Whom my soule loves I sought but found him not Now will I rise and 〈…〉 bout the citie goe Within the streets in places-broad also I will seeke him whom I doe love in minde I did him seeke but him I did not finde The watch that 'bout the Citie goe found me Whom my soule loves said I did ye him see It was but even a little that from them I passed had untill that I found him Whom my soule loveth hold on him I caught And would not let him goe till I him brought Into my mothers house and into the Chamber of her that hath conceived me O daughters of Ierusalem you by The Roes or by Hindes of the field doe I Adjure if that ye stirring-doe disease And if the Love ye stirre-up till it please Who is she this that maketh her egresse Like smoakie pillars from the wildernesse Perfum'd with myrrh and frankincense with all The merchants powder-aromaticall Behold his bed that which is Solomons About the same are threescore mighty-ones Of mighty ones of Israel which are They all doe hold the sword expert in war Ech man his sword upon his thigh he dights Because of fearfull-terrour in the nights A charret of the wood of Lebanon Make for himselfe did the King Salomon Of silver he did pillars of it frame Of gold he made the bottome of the same Of purple was the covering-above The middest of it being pav'd with love Of daughters of Ierusalem that be O Zions daughters get yee forth and see King Solomon with royall diademe Even that wherewith his mother crowned him The day wherein hee his espousals had And in the day wherein his heart was glad Annotations VPon my bed The Church now sheweth greater afflictions into which shee fell through want of feeling the presence and comforts of Christ. Whiles she thought her selfe sure of her Beloved and laid her downe as on the bed of ease supposing him to bee with her she misseth his company and seeking him by solitary meditation found him not Thus may wee understand this place comparing it with Chap. 5. vers 2. 3. c. The bed sometime signifieth tribulation as in Rev. 2. 22. which may be also implyed here that the Church sought and waited for the Lord in the way of his judgements as in Esay 26. 8. the nights the times of solitary earnest meditation as also of effliction are signified by the nights as in Ps 63. 7. and 119. 55. and 77. 3. 4. 7. c. So in Esay 26. 9. With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my Spirit within me will I seeke thee earely I sought by prayer study meditation upon repentance of sins negligences in faith of Gods promises c. See Matt. 7. 7. 8. Hoâ—ea 3. 5. and 5. 15. Ieremy 50. 4. 〈◊〉 2. 3. Deu◠〈◊〉 4. 29. my soule loveth Christ whom before shee called her Beloved is here the love of lier soule for by withdrawing the light of his face afflicting the conscience the love zeale and affections of the Christian heart are kindled and increased When he slew them thâ—n they sought him and returned sought God early c. Psal. 78. 34. 35. I found him not to weet presently till afterward v. 4. For neglect of taking hold on grace when it is offered or not keeping it when it is received God often withdraweth the light of his countenance to stirre up zeale and fervency in his children Prov. 1. 24. 28. Mic. 3. 4. Ier. 11. 10. 11. V. 2. I will rise now or Let me rise now This signifieth a stirring up of grace in her an increase of faith love zeale and fervency in spirit Neh. 2. 12. 18. Lam. 2. 19. Psal. 57. 6. Thus afflictions are profitable that we may learn Gods statutes Ps. 119. 17. goe about in the Citie a signe of earnest desire to obtaine that which one seeketh whether it be for evill as in Psal. 55. 11. and 59. 7. 15. or for good as in this place See also Esay 23. 16. By the Citie understand Ierusalem the holy citie where Christ dwelt amongst men and had seated his Temple and the practice of his ordinances wither all Israel repaired thrice every year which was a figure of the Church Eccl. 10. 15. Esa. 26. 1. So amongst the people of God in his word and ordinances she sought Christ for the comfort of her soule streets and broad places or narrow streets and broad streets for both words are used for streets of a city and the latter for such broad places as oftentimes people met together in as in 2 Chron. 32. 6. Neh. 8. 1. 3. 16. Iob â—9 7. So this nâ—teth an exquisite search as in another case it is said Run ye to and fro through the streets of Ierusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can find a man if there be any that executeth judgment c Ier. 5. 1. And she therfore seeketh him in the streets because there wisdome uttereth her voice Pro. 1. 20. 22. there Christ teacheth Luk. â—3 â—6 yet now in them she cannot find him Vers. 3.
Watchmen that did goe the city round Did finde me they did smite me did me wound The keepers that upon the walles did watch They from on me my veile away did catch O ye the daughters of Ierusalem I you adjuring charge if ye finde him That my Beloved is what shall yee say To him that I for love languish away What is thy Lief more then another Lief O thou that hast mong women beauty chiefe Thy Lief then other Liefs what is he more That thou adjuring chargest us so sore My welbeloved white and red appears Above ten-thousand he the banner bears His head is fine gold solid-gold-of-Fess His lockes are curl'd blacke as a Raven is His eyes as doves the streames of water by Washing in milke sitting in plenity His cheekes as bed of spice flowers sweetly-smelling His lips like Lilies passing myrrh distilling His hands gold rings fild with the Chrysolite His bowels yv'rie bright with Saphirs dight His legs like Marble pillars that have hold Firmly on sockets of fine-solid gold His sight as Lebanon choise as Ceders His palate sweets and he is all desires This is my welbeloved and this same My friend O daughters of Ierusalem Annotations IAm come or I have come but the time passed is often used for the present Here Christ answereth to the prayer of the Spouse being ready to fulfill the desire of them that feare him Psal. 145. 19 God is said to Come unto men when he manifesteth his presence by his workes either of mercy or judgement Exod. 3. 7. 8. Gen. 11. 5. 7. Here he commeth to the garden of his Church with grace acceptation comâ—ort and blessing to keepe a spirituall banqâ—et there as he promised In every place where I shall make the memoriall of my name I will come unto thee and I will blesse thee Exod. 20. 24. My sister spouse see the notes on chap. 1. 4. vers 8. 9. Myrrh with my spice that is with my other spices or aromaticall-fruits for myrrh was one of the chiefe spices used in composition of sweet ointments Exod. 30. 23. with such ointments they anointed them and their friends at feasts see the annotations on ch 1. 3. I have eaten or I doe eat for the words following shew this to bee spoken as at a banquet my honey-combo as the word and doctrine of Christ is likened to honey and the honey combe to wine and milke Psalme 19. 11. and 119. 103. Esa. 55. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 2. because it is sweet comfortable and wholesome to nourish the soule as these things doe the body so here the manifold fruits and graces which that word by the Spirit bringeth forth in Christians are likened also to such things whereof Christ is said to eat that is graciously to accept and delight in them On the contrary the evill fruits of sinners are likened to grapes of gall and their wine to the poyson of dragons Deuteronomie 32. 32. 33. eate O friends or O neighbours Christ speaketh as at a feast chearing up his friends as partakers with him of his graces and comforts aforesaid They that doe his commandements are his friends Ioh. 15. 14. as Abraham is called the friend of God Esa. 41. 8. Iam. 2. 23. and these desire and delight to be partakers of the fruits of the saints and rejoyce in their obedience Phil. 1. 9. 10. 11. and 41. 17. 18. â— Ioh. v. 4. 3 Ioh. v. 3. 4. The Angels also are made joyfull at the conversion sanctitie and salvation of sinners by Christ Luk. 15. 7. 10. and 2. 13. 14. The Chaldee expoundeth this of Gods acceptation of his churches service under the Law thus The holy and blessed God said to his people the house of Israel I am come to the house of my sanctuarie which thou buildest for me my sister O congregation of Israel which art likened to an honest spouse and have caused my divine presence to dwell in the midst of thee I accept thy incense of spices which thou madest for my name I have sent fire from heaven and it hath eaten the Burnt-offrings and sacrifice of Peace-offrings accepted with favour before me is the drinke-offring of red wine and of white wine which the Priests have poured out upon mine Altar Now come yee Priests that love my precepts eat that which is left of the oblations and delight your selves in the good that is prepared for you drinke abundantly O beloved or be drunken that is be plenteously-filled with loves By Beloved he meaneth his friends aforesaid or by loves for so the word may be interpreted hee meaneth the fruits of love which his Spouse had brought forth unto him which loves hee said were much better then wine c. 4. 10. In Esa. 25. 6. it is prophesied how the Lord of hosts would make in the mountaine of his church unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wine on the Lees c. Vers. 2. I sleepe or I sleeping and my heart waking The Spouse of Christ here telleth of a new and greater trouble that befell her through her owne negligence and how shee got out thereof In chap. 3. she had a much like tentation but not so heavy as this for there shee slept not but upon her bed in the nights sought her beloved here she sleepeth her beloved seeketh her knocketh provoketh but shee maketh excuses for a while There the watchmen though they tell her notidings of her beloved yet they doe her no farther har 〈…〉 e here they smite wound and unveile her There she soone findeth him after shee was past the watchmen here she findeth him not so soone but languisheth with love and complaineth to her friends who upon report of his praises doe helpe to seeke him with her Sleepe is the rest or ceasing of the creature from use of the outward senses and from action It is caused by vapour in the head that arise from meat drinke c. which stop the passages of the spirits and binde the senses This sleepe as it is a refreshing is sometime used in a good sense for the repose and rest that the faithfull have in God Psalme 3. 5. and 4. 8. Prov. 3. 24. But more often it signifieth the neglect of holy duties and a sinfull kinde of life Esa. 56. 10. Rom. 13. 11. 1 Thes. 5. 6. 7. and this sleepe is caused sometimes through sorrow Luke 22. 45. sometime through wearinesse Esa. 5. 27. sometime through sloathfulnesse and then it causeth spirituall beggery Prov. 19. 15. and 20. 13. The Spouse here having eaten and drunke largely of the blâ—ssings of Christ beginneth to remit her zeale and neglect the workes of faith and love wanting the presence of her beloved and being pressed with the remnants of the flesh so shee gave place to caâ—â—all case and security Occasioned further hereunto by the time the night and by the wether which was rainy that is by ignorance and errour prevailing and by the opposition and persecution of enemies and my heare â—aketh
for an offring to the Lord Esay 66. 20. so the Ministers of the new Testament did so minister the Gospell of God that the offring up of the Gentiles might be acceptable Romanes 15. 16. in which sense Christ here is by his servants as charrets for his voluntary free people to be brought as an oblation to the Lord. The Chaldee paraph 〈…〉 eth on these words thus I consulted with my soule to doe them good and to put them high in the charrets of Kings c. Verse 13. O Shulammitesse As Solomon named in Hebrew Shelomoh had his name of peace 1 Chron. 22. 9. and Ierusalem was also called Shalem or Salem Psalme 76. 3. which signifieth Peace Hebrewes 7. 2. so here the Church or people called upon to returne is named Shulammitess in Hebrew Shulamith of her peace and perfection with God in Christ and so in one Greeke version it is interpreted Eirenevousa as being at peace It may also have reference to Ierusalem as being a daughter to that mother of us all And this name hath occasioned some probably to apply this unto the recalling of the Iewes as was fore-told Romanes 11. 25. c. which is yet to be fulfilled returne returne this doubling of the word and that twise sheweth the earnest desire of her conversion with the certainty thereof that we may looke upon thee or and let us see or view thee and properly it meaneth a looking upon with delight This seemeth to bee spoken by her friends desirous to see the graces in this Shulammitesse returned For even the Angels desire to looke into the things that are imparted to the Church by the Gospell 1 Peter 1. 12. and it was Davids one request that hee might view the pleasantnesse of the Lord in his House or Temple Psal. 27. 4. And the Prophet foretold how the watch-men should sing with a high voice for that they should see eye to eye when the Lord returned Sion Esa. 52. 8. The Chald. paraphrast explaineth the words thus Returne unto mâ—e O congregation of Israel returne unto Ierusalem returne unto the house of the doctrine of my law returne to receive Prophesie from my Prophets which prophesie in the name of the Word of the Lord. What shall ye see in the Sulammitesse or Why looke ye or would ye looke upon the Sulammitesse The question which seemeth to be demanded by Christ is to stir up attention and affection in the hearers as the company or as the dance that is a company of dauncers that rejoyce together as they were wont after victories Exod. 15. 20. And prophesiyng of the spirituall joy at the restoring of his people God saith O Virgin of Israel c. thâ—â— shalt goe forth in the dances of them that make merry and Then shall the Virgin rejoyce in the dance Ierem. 31. 4. 13. And at the returne of the prodigall son there were musicke and daunces in his fathers house Luk. 15. 25. This answer seemeth to bee made by Christ himselfe that asked them or it may be the question continued thus what looke ye upon the Shulammitesse which is like the company or daunce of two armies of two armies or of two camps two hosts in Hebrew Machanaim by which name the place was called where an host or troop of Angels met Iakob with his troope at his returne out of servitude Gen. 32. 1. 2. Hereby is signified both the deliverance of this Shulammitesse out of her miseries and the joy of men and Angels for her victorie For there is joy also in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Luke 15. 10. and they pitch their campes about them that feare the Lord for to deliver them Psal. 34. 8. CHAPTER VII HOw beautifull are thy feet with shoes ô bounteous-princes daughter the joynts of thy thighes are like jewels the worke of the hands of an Artificer Thy navell is like a round goblet let there not want mixture thy belly is like an heape of wheat set about with Lilies Thy two breasts are like two fawnes twinnes of the Roe Thy necke is like a tower of yvorie thine eyes like the pooles in Heshbon by the gate of Bath rabbim thy nose is like the Towre of Lebanon looking toward Damascus Thine head upon thee is like Carmel and the hayre of thine head like purple the King is bound in the galleries How fayre art thou and how pleasant art thou O Love for delights This thy stature is like to a palme-tree and thy breasts to clusters I sayd I will goe up to the Palme-tree I will take-hold of the boughes thereof and now let thy breasts bee as clusters of the vine and the smell of thy nose like apples And thy palate like the good wine that goeth to my beloved to righteousnesse causing-to-speake the lips of those that are asleepe I am my beloveds and his desire is towards mee Come my Beloved let us goe-forth into the field let us lodge in the villages Let us get-up earely to the Vineyards let us see whether the vine flourish the tender-grape open it selfe whether the Pomegranates blossome there will I give my loves to thee The Mandrakes giue a smell and at our doores are all precious-things new and old O my Beloved I have layd them up for thee CHAPTER VII THy feet with shoes how are they beautifull O thou the daughter of Prince bountifull Ioynts of thy thy thighes like unto jewes are Worke of the hands of an artificer Thy navel is like to a goblet round Of mixed colour let no want-be-found Thy belly is like to an heape of wheat That is with Lilies round about-beset Thy two breasts like two fawnes twins of the Roe Thy necke an yv'rie towre is like unto Thine eyes are like the pooles in Hesebon By gate that haunted is of many a one Thy nose is like the towre of Libanus That looketh to the face of Damascus Like unto Carmel is thine head on thee The hayres eke of thine head like purple be The King he bound is in the galleries How faire art thou how pleasant art likewise Thou ô deare Love for all delightfulnesse Like to a palm-tree this thy stature is Like unto clusters are thy breasts also I sayd I will up to the palme-tree goe Will of the boughes thereof fast-hold get me And now thy breasts like the Vine clusters be And of thy nose like apples be the smell Thy palate eke like wine that doth excell That goes to my Belov'd to righteousnesse Causing the sleepers lips speech-to expresse I my Beloveds am and his desire Is towards me Come let us forth retire Into the field ô my Belov'd and let Vs in the villages a lodging-get Vnto the vineyards let us rise-earely Whether the vine doe flourish let us set The tender-grape if opening it appeare If the Pomegranate-trees doe blossomes beare There will I give my dearest loves to thee The Mandrakes give a smell at our doores be All precius things eke new and old
14. which may also be meant here seeing after her haire is likened to purple and these were colours worne of Princes and great personages and so meet for this Princes daughter verse 1. and for the attire of her head on which she weareth the hope of salvation through the blood of Christ which these colours also prefigured for an helmet 1 Thes. 5. 8. hayre The originall word dallath is no where used for hayre but in this one place as the Greek also interpreteth it properly it signifieth slendernesse or tenuitie and so meaneth small and slender hayre Some take it for a small lace or head band wherewith the attire of the head was tyed This her hayre-like purple denoteth her cogitations and purposes to bee holy heavenly and as dyed in the blood of Christ. The Chaldee paraphrase applyeth the head here spoken of to the King the chiefe Governour in Israel and the slender hayre to the poore of the people which should bee clad in purple as was Daniel Mordecai c. See the notes on Song 4. 1. where the Spouses hayre was likened to a flocke of goats that description differing from this seemeth to imply a variety of estate for Gods people are not alwaies of like condition in this world though ever glorious in his eyes the King is bound in the galleries By the King in this Song is meant Solomon that is Christ. Reâ—atim which the Greeke here likewise translateth galleries is in Genesis 30. 38. 41. and Exod. 2. 16. gutters wherein waters runne for the flocke to drinke unto which some thinke this place hath reference but in Song 1. 17. rahitim are galleries that runne along the house sides and so it seemeth to meane here To bee bound in the galleries is to have a fixed habitation in the house of his Church where the King is retained and as it were tyed with the bands of love towards his Spouse so excellent in all her parts that now is fulfilled that which is elsewhere said unto her The King will covet thy beauty Psalme 45. 12. and that which is spoken of the lewd woman her hands are as bands Eccles. 7. 26. may have use here of the chast woman that her graces are such as doe not onely delight the King but hold him fast bound unto her in the bands of spirituall wedlocke no more to leave her but to abide with her for ever For so he hath promised I will betroth thee unto mee for ever Hosea 2. 19. the Lord delighteth in thee and thy land shall be maried Esay 62. 4. my servant David shall be their Prince for ever and I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for ever more and the name of the City from that day shall bee The Lord is there Ezek. 37. 25. 26. and 48. 35. The throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall reigne for ever and ever Rev. 22. 3. 5. Vers. 6. and how pleasant This admiration of her beauty and pleasantnesse in all her parts cariage and administration sheweth the reason of the former speech why the King was bound in the galleries for that he was delighted and as it were ravished with her heavenly graces as before in Son 4. 9. 10. And as shee admired Christ for his fairenesse and pleasantnesse so now she is magnified for the like see the notes on Song 1. 15. 16. O love that is ô thou that art dearely loved thus they call her to signifie Christs great affection towards her for it is another and more forceable word then was used before in Song 1. 9. 15. and 2. 2. and 4. 1. 7. and 5. 2. and 6. 4. that betokening loving society and outward friendship this signifying inward charity and loving affection which is strong and servent Song 8. 6. 7. for delights or delicacies or with pleasures meaning full delight all manner pleasure so that all that love her may rejoyce with her and delight themselves in the brightnesse of her glory as Esay 66. 10. 11. Vers. 7. thy stature or thy height in Greeke thy greatnesse a palme-tree or a date tree called in Hebrew Thamar in Greeke Phoenix it is of tall and upright stature alwayes greene and flourishing bearing pleasant fruit Wherefore the just mans state is likened to this tree Psalme 92. 13. and figures of Palme trees signifying heavenly graces were made in the Temple 1 King 6. 29. and 7. 36. and foretold to bee also in the spirituall Temple under the Gospell Ezek. 41. 18. 19. and palm-branches caried in the hand or on the head were signes of victorie wherefore the Saints that by faith overcome the world appeared with palme-branches in their hands Rev. 7. 9. And the palme-tree is said to bee of such a nature that it will not bow downward or grow crooked though heavy weights be laid upon it but groweth still upright So this stature of the Spouse likened to a palme-tree sheweth her spirituall growth in the faith notwithstanding all her tribulations tending alwaies upward towards heaven till shee attaine unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ as Eph. 4. 13. For God hath now broken the slaves of her yoke and made her goe upright Lev. 26. 13. So the Kingdome of Israel whiles it flourished is likened to a tree whose stature was exalted among the thicke branches c. Ezek. 19. 11. clusters to wit of the Vine as in v. 8. signifying hereby that her breasts were not onely fashioned as in Ezek. 16. 7. but full of milke to nourish her children and of the wine of heavenly consolations which they that love her may suck and be satisfied as Esay 66. 11. So that now the state of the Church is not as when complaint was made there is no cluster to eate Mic. 7. 1. but as when new winâ— was found in the cluster and he said Destroy it not for a blessing is in it Esay 65. 8. Vers. 8. I will goe-up to or I will climb-up on the palme-tree meaning to gather the fruit thereof This purpose and promise if it bee spoken in the person of Christ implyeth his acceptation of the fruits of the Spirit in his Spouse as is noted on Son 5. 1. But it seemeth by that which followeth to be the speech of her friends aforesaid speaking collectively as one person to note their unity and joint co 〈…〉 to communicate with her graces as in Esay 66. 15. 11. For things of this sort are spoken both of God and of his people Esay 62. 5. the boughes thereof or the branches of it the Hebrew Sansinnim is no where used but in this place the Greeke translateth it the heightes thereof meaning the branches which are on high and which beare the fruit For the Palme-tree though it be very tall hath no boughes growing out by the sides of the bodie as other trees but on the very top the leaves which are long like swords spread abroad pleasant to behold
mindes of his people are inflamed is such as cannot be quenched with any calamities And thus it is said Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheepe of slaughter nay in all these things wee 〈◊〉 more then conquerours through him that loved us 〈◊〉 I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor 〈…〉 nor Principalities nor powers nor things present 〈◊〉 things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate us from the love of 〈◊〉 which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8. 〈…〉 all the substance or all the riches wealth 〈…〉 ver gold c. that is in his house 〈◊〉 they would contemne it that is it would utterly or altogether be contemned or he would wholly be contemned As the love betweene Christ and his Church cannot be separated being united by the Holy Ghost so neither can love nor other grace of God be bought for money but is the free gift of God bestowed on whom he pleaseth Act. 8. 18. 19. 20. Rom. 9. 11. 16. So wisedome cannot be go 〈…〉 for gold neither shall silver bee weighed for the price thereof c. Ioh. 28. 15. 19. Prov. 8. 11. 19. Vers. 8. Wee have a little sister The godly here consult about a new Church arising whom they call a sister in respect of the unitie of faith little or small as being yong newly converted and nothing populous without breasts as having yet no stablished ministerie for such is the state of the Churches in their beginning as appeareth by Act. 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5. so that her children could not sucke out the sincere milke of the word and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations 1 Pet. 2. 2. Esa. 66. 11. for she was not yet come to the estate of Israel whose breasts were fashioned and the Lord entred into covenant with her and shee became his Ezek. 16. 7. 8. when she shall be spoken of or wherein speech shal be of her when the fame of her calling and conversion shal come abroad what furtherance shall we yeeld to increase settle stablish her in the truth This sheweth the duty of love from one Church to another in communicating their graces each to other and praying one for another See an example in Act. 11. 19. 22. 23. This Hebrew phrase of speech to be had of her or in her may be understood two waies for or against her for her when treatie shall be of her espousals unto Christ thus David sent and spake of or with Abigail to take her to him to wife 1 Sam. 25. 39. against her as the people spake against God and against Moses Numb 21. 5. and Princes speake against me Psal. 119. 23. For no sooner doe a people turne to the Lord but the wicked doe oppose in word and worke And thus the Hebrewes in their Chaldee Paraphrase expound it here What shall wee doe for our sister in the day when the nations shall speake to goe up against her unto warre Vers. 9. If she be is wall The answere to the thing proponed made as some thinke by Christ to which the Chaldee paraphrast agreeth saying Michael the Prince of Israel will say or by other her sister churches desirous to procure her good a wall that is strong and well grounded in the truth and so become a citie which is often described by walles gates barres c. 2 Chron 8. 5. and 14. 7. Revel 21. 12. Spiritually it meaneth her faith and hope of salvation in Christ grounded on the doctrine of the twelve tribes of Israel and twelve Apostles of Christ Rev. 21. 14. 19. as Thou shalt call thy walles salvation Esa. 66. 18. and we have a strong city salvation will God appoint for walles and bulworkes Esa. 26. 1. Moreover when God signified the strength and courage of his Prophet against their enemies he faith I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall and they shall fight against thee shall not prevaile â—er 15. 20. wee will b 〈…〉 d Here by we may be implied the Trinitie in the Godhead as Gen. 1. 26. Song 〈◊〉 11. or we may meane Christ inwardly effectually by his grace and his people her sisters outwardly and ministerially by the word of the Gospell a pallace or 〈…〉 le a tower a faire and orderly building such as were wont est times to bee set on strong walles of cities and this being of silver noteth the puritie excellencie and durablenesse of this pallace adorned with the graces of Gods word and Spirit that so she might be builded for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2. 22. and bee able to resist the forces of her enemies and if she be a doore if shee goe forward in the faith and practise of the Gospell that she be not onely built up as a wall but as a gate and doore fully edified as at the repairing of Ierusalem when they sanctified the gates and set up the doores of it Nehem. 3. which gates doores barres c. were for the safeguard of the inhabitants and shewed their care to resist and keepe out the enemies as appeareth by the contrary in Ier. 49. 31. as also to open that the righteous nation which keepeth the truths may enter in Esa. 26. 2. Psal. 118. 20. Therefore Angels are at the gates of the heavenly Citie to conduct Gods people into it Revel 21. 12. 27. and 22. 14. wee will inclose her or we will fence her about with board of Cedar which is faire strong and durable and of sweet savour of such the Temple was builded 1 King 6. 15. 18. V. 10. I am a wall or I became a wall that is I grew up and waxed strong in the faith love of Christ. The little sister sheweth her readinesse to receive and increase in the doctrine of the Gospell my breasts as towers my breasts are fashioned Ezek. 16. 7. the ministerie of the word established in mee to nourish up children unto Christ. The similitude of towers noteth also the strength power and glory of the administration of the Gospell and the open preaching of it out of pulpits of high places that all may heare For Migdal a towre is used for a pulpit in Neh. 8. 4. in his eyes in Christs sight findeth peace We all in our naturall corruption are enemies to God Rom. 5. 10. but being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 5. 1. for the worke of righteousnesse is peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever Esa. 32. 17. and this peace is injoyed by the Holy Ghost Rom. 8. 6. 9. and it is opposed to all the troubles tentations persecutions and afflictions in this life and world Ioh. 16. 33. and is that which guardeth our hearts and mindes
with dust on his feete or with bags of money about him And I need not speake how it is unlawfull to spit in any part of the mountaine of the House but he must wrap up his excrements in his handkerchiefe And he may not make the mount of the house a thorow-fare to goe in at one doore and out at another to shorten his way but must goe round about and not come in there save for the thing that is commanded And all that went in to the mount of the House went in by the way of the right hand and turned and went out by the way of the left except hee unto whom some thing had befallen for which he turned towards the left hand Therefore they asked him what is befallen thee the thou turnest towards the left hand If he said because I am a mourner they answered Hee that dwelleth in this House comfort thee If he said Because I have the Niddui that is the lesser excommunication upon me they answered Hee that dwelleth in this House give into thine heart that thou maist hearken unto the words of thy neighbours Whosoever had accomplished his service and went his way did not goe out with his backe to the Temple but went backward by little and little and went softly sidelong till he was out of the courtyard and so did the men that kept the watch and their courses and the Levites c. all this was for reverence of the Sanctuarie And whosoever assembled into the Courtyard went softly unto the place whither it was lawfull for him to come and he was to consider that he stood before the Lord as he hath said Mine eyes and mine heart shall be there all dayes 2 Chron. 7. 16. And he was to goe with dread and with feare and trembling And it was unlawfull for any man to sit in all the Courtyard neither was there any seat in the Courtyard s 〈…〉 for the Kings of Davids house onely as it is writtâ—â— And King David went in and sate before the 〈◊〉 1 Sam. 7. 18. And it is unlawfull for a man to make an house after the fashion of the Temple or a 〈◊〉 like the porch thereof or a courtyard like the câ—â—â—t thereof or a Table like the Table there or a C 〈…〉 cke like the C 〈…〉 lesticke thereof c. With these rites which were in Israel wee may compare the 〈◊〉 of our Saviour who for reverence of the Sanctuarie drove out the merchants from thence and the sheepe and the oxen and poured out the changers money and overthrew the Tables and said Make not my fathers house an house of merchandize Ioh. 2. 14. 15. 16. And he would not suffer that 〈◊〉 man should cary any vessell through the Temple Mark 11. 16. And for turning their backs towards the Sanctuarie see Ezek. 46. 9. and 8. 16. But as the Sanctuarie of God was chiefly a figure of the body of our Lord Iesus Iohn 2. 19. 21. Hebrewes 9. 11. so this precept hath chiefest respect unto him whom all ought to reverence and to honour the Son even as they honour the Father Ioh. 5. 23. Who when hee bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. Vers. 31. Turne not unto them the Chaldee saith after them and so the Greeke ye shall not follow So in Levit. 20. 6. Hereby is forbidden consulting with or 〈…〉 ing of them as Deut. 18. 11. that have 〈◊〉 spirits called in Hebrew Oboth of Ob which is a bottle Iob 32. 19. in Greeke Eggastri 〈◊〉 as speaking with an hollow voice out of the belly or as out of a bottle in Chaldee Biddin Pitâ—â—â—s These were spirits of divination as Act. 16. 16. Or which see the annotations on Deut. 18. 11. And Oâ—â—th is here for Baale oboth such as have familiar spirits as is expressed in 1 Sam. 28. 7. So Spirits are used for spirituall gifts and men that have them in 1 Cor. 14. 12. 32. 1 Ioh. 4. 1. wizarde or cunning persons so named of their knowledge which they pretended to have These are joyned to the familiar spirits aforesaid as like unto them in sinne and both of them were to be killed by the Magistrate Levit. 20. 27. See the notes on Deut. 18. 11. This precept is added next the former of reverencing Gods Sanctuarie which figured Christ even as in Deut. 18. when God calleth them â—â—om all such familiar spirits wizards c. he promiseth the Prophet Christ unto his people So here Chazkuni observeth ye shall reverence my Sâ—â—ctâ—â—rie therefore turne not to them that have familiar spirits and to wizards for what have you to doe with such behold you have a Sanctuarie wherein is V 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Thu 〈…〉 im Vers. 32. rise up in signe of honour 1 King 2. 19. the â—oary-head that is the man which hath an 〈◊〉 head or gray-hayres which as it is the ho 〈◊〉 of old-men Prov. 20. 29. so God would have such to be honoured The Greeke translateth it the 〈◊〉 headed the Chaldee him that is skilfull in the Lâ—â— And so it is holden by the Hebrewes that learned men are by this law to be reverenced as the aged and that when such came within foure 〈◊〉 the yongers were to rise up and so soone as they were past to sit downe againe of the old-man or of the elder which was a common name for aged persons and for Magistrates usually called Elders Deut. 22. 18. and 25. 7. both are to be honoured the one for their age the other for their office But for their sins the Lord threatned the contrary Deut. 28. 50. which Ieremy saw fulfilled and lamented that the faces of Elders were not honoured Lam. 5. 12. By the Hebrewes account a man at sixtie yeeres was Old and at seventie Hoarie or gray-headed The old man here is in Targum Ionathan expounded the wise man Vers. 33. a stranger in Greeke a proselyte this Law is here repeated from Exod. 22. 21. see the annotations there vexe him in Greeke afflict him and Targum Ionathan addeth with hard words So it is explained by Sol. Iarchi vexations of words as thou shalt not say unto him yesterday thou wast an idolater and now thou comest to learn the Law which was given from the mouth of the Power of God Vers. 34. as one homeborne that is as a naturall Israelite for affection towards him and not communion in the holy things of God see the notes on Exod. 12. 48. 49. as thy selfe the same which was commanded before touching the Israelites verse 18. The Hebrewes write hereof thus The love of the stranger which commeth and gathereth him-selfe under the wings of the Divine-Majestie is a twofold commandement first because he is among our generall neighbours and againe because he is a stranger and the law saith YE SHALL LOVE THE STRANGER Deut. 10. 19. He hath commanded the love of the stranger even as hee hath commanded the love of
his commandements 1 Iohn 5. 3. And this is his commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ and love one another c. 1 Iohn 3. 23. Vers. 17. But if or And if thine heart turne c. This is the death and evill fore-spoken of see Deut. 29. 18. other gods in Chaldee the idols of the peoples Vers. 18. perishing yee shall perish that is assuredly and speedily perish as the Greeke saith perish with perdition So in Deut. 4. 26. Vers. 19. I call the heavens c. This obtestation of heavens and earth used also before in Deut. 4. 26. may be understood of God and the Angels in heaven as Paul expresseth them in 1 Tim. 5. 21. or of the other creatures also in heaven and in earth as Iosua said This stone shall be a witnesse unto us for it hath heard all the words of the Lord c. Ios. 24. 27. So in Deut. 32. 1. Esa. 1. 2. Give eare O heavens heare Oearth in Psa. 50. 4. He will call to the heavens from above and to the earth to judge his people and in Iob 20. 27. the heavens shall reveale his iniquity and the earth shall rise up against him I have set Hebr. I have given that is faithfully proposed by doctrine and discharged my dutie so in vers 15. The life and blessing which he set before them was by the faith of Christ Gal. 2. 16. and 3. 9. the death and curse was by refusing Christ and seeking to be justified by the workes of the Law for as many as are of the workes of the Law are under the curse Gal. 3. 10. therefore chuse Hebr. and chuse thou or and thou shalt chuse which is the dutie of all Gods people to be performed by grace in Christ. So David chose the way of truth the precepts of God Psal. 119. 30. 173. Compare also Ios. 24. 15 22. Thargum Ionathan explaineth this speech thus and chuse ye the way of life which is the Law that ye may live in the life of the world to come you and your sonnes This is true if it be understood not of the Law of workes but of the Law of faith as Rom. 3. 27 28. and 9. 31 32 33. Vers. 20. to hearken to his voice in Chaldee to receive his word unto him Chald. unto his feare he is thy life that is the author of thy life and salvation through Christ as in Iohn 17. 3. This is life eternall to know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent yea Christ himselfe is the resurrection and the life Iob. 11. 25. and 14. 6. And in 1 Iohn 5. 20. We know that the Sonne of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Iesus Christ this is the true God and eternall life CHAP. XXXI 1 Moses being ready to die encourageth the people that should goe into Canaan 7 He encourageth Iosua that should be their Governour 9 He delivereth the Law unto the Priests which was to be read in the soventh yeere unto the people 14 Moses and Iosua present themselves before the Lord 16 who fore-telleth the peoples falling from him and his anger against them therefore 19 Hee commandeth a song to be written to testifie against the people 24 Moses delivereth the booke of the Law to the Levites to be kept in the side of the Arke for a witnesse against them and their rebellion 28 Hee maketh a protestation to the Elders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ANd Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel And hee said unto them I am an hundred twenty yeeres old this day I can no more goe out and come in and Iehovah hath said unto me thou shalt not goe over this Iordan Iehovah thy God he goeth over before thee hee will destroy these nations from before thee and thou shalt possesse them Iosua he shall go over before thee as Iehovah hath said And Iehovah will doe unto them as hee did to Sihon and to Og Kings of the Amorite and unto the land of them whom hee destroyed And Iehovah will give them before you and yee shall doe unto them according to every commandement which I have commanded you Be ye strong and couragious feare not neither be discouraged because of them for Iehovah thy God he it is that goeth with thee he will not faile thee nor for sake thee And Moses called unto Iosua and said unto him in the eies of all Israel Be thou strong and couragious for thou shalt goe in with this people into the land which Iehovah hath sworne unto their fathers to give unto them and thou shalt cause them to inherit it And Iehovah he it is that goeth before thee hee will be with thee hee will not faile thee nor forsake thee feare not neither be dismaid And Moses wrote this Law and gave it unto the Priests the sonnes of Levi which bare the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah and unto all the Elders of Israel And Moses commanded them saying at the end of seven yeeres in the solemnity of the yeere of release in the feast of Boothes When all Israel is come to appeare before Iehovah thy God in the place which he shall chuse thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel in their eares Gather together the people men and women and children and thy stranger that is within thy gates that they may heare and that they may learne and may feare Iehovah your God and observe to doe all the words of this Law And that their sonnes which have not knowne may heare and learne to feare Iehovah your God all the daies that yee shall live on the land whither ye are going over Iordan to possesse it And Iehovah said unto Moses Behold thy daies approach to die call Iosua and present your selves in the Tent of the congregation that I may give him a charge And Moses and Iosua went and presented themselves in the Tent of the congregation And Iehovah appeared in the Tent in a pillar of a cloud the pillar of the cloud stood over the doore of the Tent. And Iehovah said unto Moses Behold thou liest downe with thy fathers and this people will rise up and goe a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land whither they are going in to be amongst them and will forsake mee and breake my covenant which I have stricken with them And mine anger shall be kindled against them in that day and I will forsake them and will hide my face from them and they shall be devoured and many evils and distresses shall finde them and they will say in that day have not these evils found us because our God is not amongst us And I hiding will hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have done in that they are turned unto other gods And now write ye