37 Ezek. 1.12 when God brings the Iews out of their graves and bone and flesh and skin and breath by the ministery in the four winds come on them and restore them 6. God here understands not any particular Nations or Churches nor is it warrantable to apply them so the Scripture of the Old Testament comprehending all under the two generall tearms of the Iews and Gentiles it is true Prophecy speaks of the states of the world in particular as the four Empires and the ten Kingdomes and their periods but for the Church in Prophecy the spirits purpose is after the call of the Iews Gentiles before which they vvere two but after speaks of them as one for that that of Paul and Johns writing of particular Churches and naming them warrants not us where that particular is not spoken of but generall only ver. 8. of this chap. hath the signification of some high matter of which I shall say something when I come to speak thereof 8. Leauing on her belowed that is depending on the strength help and power of Christ to bring her thence against the povver of her opposers 8. I raised thee up under the apple tree by the apple tree is meant Christ Cant. 2.3 the apple tree among the trees Christ among other Kings is as the apple tree among the fruitlesse trees of the wood 2. Under it that is Christ coming to take a people to himself in the vvay of the old Covenant nationally the Iew grows jealóus that God hath put him avvay and taken another people to himself to vvife vvhich raiseth them up Deut. 32.21 Rom. 10.19 Luke 15.28.29 3. By I raised thee up is meant Christ raised her up who speaks here and the vvord is I made thee to be raised up 4. The vvord for leaning on may be read sticks unto or joyned unto her beloved to shevv that the people sticking to or joyned to Christ at the churches coming up from the desert vvere not knovvn to the vvorld 9. There thy mother brought thee forth in the old Covenant 10. There again thy mother brought thee forth in the New Covenant 11. She that bare thee which was the first Church owned by Jesus Christ now that this concerned the Jevvs Church is clear for as yet none but the Jews have enjoyed both Covenants Verse 6. Set me as a seal upon thy heant they are the words of Christ to the Church after he had raised her up signifying that he desired nothing of her for all he had done for her but her love 2. That he should be the seal of her heart whence she should let nothing go without his leave to any nor to worship love or fear any besides himself all being to be shut up to him and for him 3. Set me as a seal upon thy seed our translation reads on thy arm by the seal here I understand Baptisme which all the seed of the Church were to be sealed with that is set apart from others to Jesus Christ which time state and work is foretold by John Revel. 7.2 where the Man that God authorizeth in his name to constitute the church is said to be an Angel having the seal of God who sealed the Jews tribes verse 4. to the 8. Note The Reasons why Christ requires the Church thus to set him as a seal on her heart and on her children are set down in that that remains of this verse and in the seventh verse Reason 1. Love is strong as death as death overcomes all men so love overcomes all things in man crucifies and subdueth all things to Jesus Christ Reason 2. Or thus as if Christ should say my love to thee made me dye for thee and now if thou shouldst not love me and set me as a seal upon thy heart it would prove again as strong as death was to me when I dyed Reason 3. Jealousie is as the grave for cruelty God is set forth to be a jealous God over the Jews in the first Covenant Christ in the second but Christs jealousie is of the heart that the Church loves not so singly cordially spiritually the Lord her husband as she ought Which as the grave he would devour all that in heart adulterated the Covenant or Marriage-bed of Christ Reason 4. The coles thereof are the coles that the fire Jah hath kindled here some only use the word Jah as a Hebraisme to set forth the greatness or vehemency of the flame of it but I rather do thus understand them the coles of this jealousie are kindled by the fire or heat of zeal that is from Jah or Jehovah my God-head to whom all is due and with whom none is to be Corrival Verse 5. Many waters cannot quench love in which Christ would again mitigate the expression used before in which his love as jealousie was as fire or a flame coles to consume a consuming fire now shews that many or much waters cannot quench his love and whereas the Apostle saith love covereth a multitude of sins so sin like water here though it abound in the Saints yet it cannot quench the flame of Gods love nor can the floods that is some exceeding gluts of sin on some temptations they neither cannot drown it but love will exceed them and be above them 6. If a man would give all the substance of his house with a lover it would be utterly despised Christ applies most sweetly in these words to shew the effects of a faithful woman loving her husband saying if a man would intice her to adulterate her husbands bed and to offer to give her the substance of his house she would in despising despise it that is exceeding contemn him and them now saith Christ if a woman will do this for her husband that loves him how canst thou say thou lovest me and not do the like have not I deserved more of thee then any man of any woman Our ordinary Translation to me seems strange I know no right sense can be given of it which saith if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be despised 1. As if the Church could not obtaine Christs love or as if she were to buy it 2. As if Christ could not or had not purchased the Churches love But if ye take the words as I have read them before 1. Ye have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a man offering then {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with a lover in the feminine with a woman loving her husband it would be despised which shew that the contempt is said to be of the woman tempted by any to folly against her husband that she loveth Part. 9. Cap. 8. Ver. 8. We have a little sister and she hath no breasts Note By the little sister cannot be meant the Gentiles 1. They are called before the Iews and the Iews have their Call and Ministry from the Gentiles at their Restauration 2. The Iews Church will be
Salomon speaks of another whilst he names himself he made himself or for himself a Throne What is a King without a Throne Christ as yet is without the Throne but now he is about to make one for himself which Throne shall be of the Wood of Lebanon That is the rule of Christ shall be that in the world was in the time of the Temples estate it is of the Wood of Lebanon and not a new Law to rule by 1. The Pillars of it are silver The Law was divided into two Tables which as Pillars hold up the Throne of Christ for it is said The Throne is established by Justice and then said to be silver because as Silver is to Gold so is the Law to the Gospel 2. Supporters That is those on which the Pillars stood were of Gold it being founded on the Will and upheld by the Power of this Almightiness of God and his Iustice 3. The seat thereof was Purple Purple being a rich and Kingly colour did set out the Authority Christ had received from God to rule by and that others had to rule under him 4. The middest of it was a Coal of Love To shew that that which was comprehended within the Pillars of the Law was Love a Love like that of Fire much water could not quench it and that Gods Throne of Justice was full of Love to the Daughters of Jerusalem or that God ruled in a way of Love over Men commanding love of men to himself and others 1. The Law being holy just and good not Tyrannous 2. Commanding Love condemning Envy Oppression Hate c. 3. In this it shews what manner of men they ought to be that ascend into this Throne to judge and what the judgement ought to be and how to proceed and whose it ought to be It is very noteable that God sets down the Daughters of Jerusalem that is those of the Gospel estate who indeed have the coal of love in them which kindled by Christ in them But now in this verse It is very noteable that God sets down the daughters of Jerusalem that is the Gospell estate who indeed have the coal of love in them kindled by Christ to God and man But now in this verse Ver. 11. He calls on the Daughters of Sion which I take to be those that shall injoy the Rule of the Law as the Jews once had and Gospell also or it may be the Jewish believers are meant in this place 1. The Spirit calls on them to go forth from their captivity of darknesse 2. And to see king Solomon that they may approve of his rule for all authority is now given the Son and shews that though when Christ came in the flesh they saw nothing in him now that he comes to raigne they shall behold another glory in him then before 3. It may be applied to the people and present state of the Jews that they on the giving up of the Kingdome by the Gentiles to Christ are called forth from their Dens of darknesse to see and behold what honor was now done to Christ to whom Solomon their most Royall King could no waies compare 4. Christ the true King of peace was now crowned with that crown that Solomon his Vicegerent was crowned by the Jews and so proved to be the Christ of which sales God against all the worlds great opposition yet have I set my King on my holy hill of Zion in which it appears that Zion was the place or Representative of Monarchy and the Rule of Christ to be as King in the world 5. It was the crown of his Metropolis for so {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies a Metropolis which is some eminent place and people are to do for Christ Rev. 6.2 a thing not yet done and that people do it shall be as the Metropolis of the great King or his Mother 6. This is done in the day of his Espousalls that is in that day Christ is espoused as Lord to the people the people as servants to the Lord in that day Christ contracts affinity with a people that they which before were not a people do become the people of the living Lord and those under other rule and law are beasts 7. It was the day of the joy of his heart 1. Christs heart longs for this day it is the travail of his soul 2. We are not more glad of Christ then he is of us for his delight are with the sons of men John 1.7.23.27 That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them Christ would have God love them as himself and that the sense of Gods loving him may be shed abroad in their hearts as loving them with the same love he loved him CAP. IV. Ver 1. BEhold thou art fair my Love behold thou art fair The Gentiles having set up the Mosaicall Rule and made Christ their King the Lord he commends her beauty under that administration 2. With her beauty she had simplicity in her Doves eyes not desiring any other Lord or Law but his 3. These eyes are said to be within her Lock Note She is not said to have any Head for Christ is the Head of the Church Estate not the worlds and therefore this here is spoke of the world 4. Her Hayre that is those of her constitution were Goats a Flock o Goats such as indeed the men of the world are from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifies fear they being held thereunder as yet Heb. 2.18 5. These are as those appear from Mount Gilead Mount Gilead was the place where Jacob and Laban made their Covenant and feasted and rolled a heap of stones See here by this the Nation as Goats first appear in making Covenant with God in which is known who the people are God hath chosen Gen. 21.48 Ver. 2. Thy teeth that is the Teachers of the Law were as a Flock Our translation adds of Sheep which is not in the Originall and omitted because not of the Church or Gospell fold as yet it being not set up among men 1. Again these Teachers seem to differ from the goats in the hair and are said to be shorn being such as had in some measure put off their old conversation and were come up from the washing of repentance and regeneration 2. Every one bears twins and none is barren among them they addicting themselves to fruitfullnesse in good works commanded by the Law and Gospell Ver. 3. As a thred are thy two lips The Law is fitly here compared to a line or thred and the two tables to the two lips who were to be spoke by as by a line thy speech is comly shewing that the Law taught now should be a comely a usefull thing to the people that were under the same to rule and govern them As a divided Pomgranat or a Pomgranat broken one half set on one side of the face and the other on the other so are thy temples The
AN EXPOSITION UPON THE CANTICLES OR SOLOMONS Song of Songs Written by an unworthy Witnesse of the Truth of the most high God JOHN BRAYNE Orig. in Cant. Cant. Hom. 1. Quatuor mihi in his videor invenisse personas virum sponsam cum sponsa adolescentulas cum sponso sodalium greges Idem Ibid. Audi Canticum Canticorum festina intelligere illud cum sponsa dicere ea quae sponsa dicit ut audias quae audivit sponsa si autem non potueris dicere cum sponsa quae dixit ut audias ea quae dicta sunt sponsae festina vel cum sponsi sodalibus fieri porro si illis inferior es esto cum adolescentulis quae in sponsae deliciis commorantur Hom. 3. Intelligatur sponsus ut pote vir non semper in domo neque semper assidere sponsae intra domum positae sed exeat frequenter illa eum quasi amore ejus sollicita requirat absentem ut ipse interdum redeat ad illam LONDON Printed by Robert Austin 1651. To my ever honored dear and faithfull friend 〈◊〉 JOHN SADLER Esquire Sir IT hath been the way of the most gracious God in the Gospel to make precious the memory of his Saints as in the woman that poured the box of Balm upon his head Mar. 14.9 by which they are said to die wel reported of Heb. 11.2 God speaking well of them Paul did the like by Onesyphorus 2 Tim. 1.16.18 to which may be added the Church Book called the Book of Life or of the living believing souls to which David alludes Psal. 87.6 by which their memory was continued among the blessed when dead Sir these waies cease yet the Doctrine contained therein remains which is a thankfull acknowledgement of the favors we have received from God by such God raised up to do us good in this world of which as Paul said 2 Timoth. 1.18 in how many things you have ministered unto me not Timoth. but God knoweth very well the Lord be be mercifull to you and to your house and so sanctifie this unworthy Treatise and brief Exposition to your soul that the sense of Christ the savour of the Divine Life and the grace of God may be stirred up in you and increased thereby to eternall life which instead of Silver and Gold I presume to present you with and remain Yours alway to observe you and seek God for you John Brayne THis Book of the Canticles is a Prophecy of the state of the Church as under Christ and the rule of the world as under Moises to be restored according to the pattern of the Judiciall or Morall Law and the pattern of the Gospell 1. He begins his first Chapter with the call of the Gentiles occasioned by his marriage with the Egyptian Queen a type of the call of the Gentiles and their marriage to Christ 2. It appears that in this book Solomons eye was altogether on the Gospell estate and not the time before as Mr. Brightman hath expounded and applied much of the same 3. In that of the Jews estate if in any part be would have spoken of the Mosaicall rule but he only passeth it over with the Winter is past Cap. 2. Ver. 11. and then begins with the Voice of Christ the Baptist the Turtle Christ himself the flowers the Apostles the pruning of the Vine the call of men from the Jewish old state in Johns baptism and the Apostles gathering believers into the Church out of the world {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which is translated the singing of Birds but contrary to the scope of the Prophecy which Gal. 4. is admirably illustrated in the Allegory of Hagar and Ismaels abode in Abrahams house a while that is untill the time of the new Covenant when the Vine is cut and they cast out of doors so that this Song may be called the Song of Songs as the Gospell is the Wine of Wines the Wisdome that excells all Wisdome so this being of the Gospell estate of the Church it excelled his Songs of the Law estate or those that commended his wisdome and knowledge in the discovery of the Nature of the Plants and trees friend the things done lately with those now doing and what else are to be done are so set forth herein as in none of the Prophecies else where they are not to be found let not my brevity used herein be offensive because I am necessitated thereunto diversly time may inlarge me and it and gain me oportunity to present unto thy view the other Key of Prophecy and Councell which I have long intended by an Exposition on the Revelations then which two Scriptures I know none for History Mistery Prophecy and all other fullnesse of variety to exceed by understanding whereof thou mayest be abundantly made rich in knowledge and wise to understand the Salvation Purposes and Councell of God whereunto thou shalt do well to give heed as to a light shining in a dark place that thou be not comprehended by the now darknesse nor deceived in thy hopes and happinesse which thou shalt do well to beware that thou mayest be saved from the now immediate burnings of the man of sin and that thou mayest stand before the Son of Man who shortly will appear on the Clouds of the Truth in the glory of the Gospell which is all and only that is sought for at thy hands by the Author hereof Who is an unworthy witnesse of this and the other truth of the most high God JOHN BRAYNE AN EXPOSITION UPON THE CANTICLES CAP. I. IT hath been the way of the Spirit to shadow out under severall Metaphors one and the same thing to illustrate and set forth his mind the more clear thereby as in the Revelations and the Histories of the life of Christ many Parables diversly set forth the same Kingdome and visions the same truth In this Book ye have the rise the fall and restoration of the Gospell Church as set up among both Jews and Gentiles most excellently predicted and shadowed out unto you 1. The Prophet begins with the Gentile Church Ver. 1. Kisse me c. Psalm 2. Ver. 12. Servants were bound to their Master by a Kisse in which she begins to shew her love to her Lord in desiring love and sign of favour from him which is spiritually in Gods speaking love to her and lovely of her as after he calls her his Love Dove and perfect one as men shew an inward love by an outward complement of a kisse so God loves inwardly those whom he speaks well of and unto it being the first of her acquaintance with sight of God 2. The reason why she demands this favour is because therein she apprehended an excellency above other things for sayes she thy loves are better then wine wine is good but the Church discernes an excellency in the loves of God it 's beyond all compare which shews that Christ wins the soul to himself by
the inward excellency that appears to the creature to be in him Ver. 3 Because of the savour of thy good Oyntments Here by Oyntments is meant the gifts of God the human nature of Christ was indowed withall who was anoynted with the Oyl of Gladnesse above his fellows 2. These did breath forth a sweet savour from Christ as from a Rose with which the Church is greatly delighted to smell unto for refreshment 3. The Excellency of Christ preached and revealed like precious balm powred out perfumed the persons hearts that heard it as with divine odors 4. Therefore because of the smell and savour of his Name and Gifts the Virgins that is such as are not yet united to Christ in the Gospell way of marriage both love and desire him as a husband to be injoyed by them The Catechumenâ— Ver. 4. Draw me we will run after thee 1. In the words she finds in her self a backwardnesse a slownesse toward Christ as the Lord reproved the Disciples for being slow of heart to believe so the Spirit manifests hers to her self within her and reproves her 2. That it is the work of Christ to draw her violently to himself from all and against all difficulties and allurements of the world by his heavenly call 3. This was not in some but the whole Church 4. Christ easily frees from delaies the delaying souls and makes them find their feet to run after him who by their delaies seem to fail them The King brought me into his Chambers 1. Christs word is now of command with her who is now made subject to him and admitted by him ino the house of God 2. He brings her into his Chambers which are the distinct administrations of the Gospell under which before she never was distinct from that Cap. 8. ver. 2. 3. On this say the Infants we wil be glad in thee not in our selves or any thing else besides thee 4. We say the young men will rejoyce having an addition of joy in this second administration added unto us of what we had when in the first 5. We Fathers will remember thy love to us before and after calling when Infants and when in their youth which thought on and remembred is better then wine as naturall men solace their souls with wine so do we with the thoughts of that love that is in thee to us and hath been shewed us The righteous that is all Believers love thee from the Child to the Man grown up in thee Ver. 5. I am black but comely O Daughters of Jerusalem 1. By Jerusalem is meant the Gospell Church and not the state of the Jews before Christ as Brightman 2. Nor is it meant the Jews Church under that state but the Gentiles who thus speaks of her self to the Jews 3. She not only speaks to Jerusalem the Mother but the Daughter Churches of the Jews which the first state of the Jews Church did not produce the Church of that Nation then being one Church only at Jerusalem untill others after were constituted 4. She was black in her self that is in her own corruptions but pure in Jesus Christ 5. In her self as the Tents of Kedar or darknesse in Christ as the Curtains of Solomon in which Solomons glory was described or set forth as Christs is in the Justification of sinners with which as with a Vail he hid the sins of the Elect from the sight of God Ver. 6. Look not on me because I am black for the Sun hath shined on me 1. The Jews at the conversion of the Gentiles questioned Peter for baptizing them others forbid the Apostles to teach to the Gentiles Acts 11.3 1 Thes. 2.16 2. She warns the Jews not to judge her because long in sin and darknesse to be uncapable of grace and favour from Christ now under the Gospell state The Sun that is Christ had now looked in mercy on her and had passed by the blacknesse in her therefore they much more ought so to do others understand the Sun here set down as the cause of her blacknesse 1. The children of my mother Paul and Barnabas the Apostles and the children of the Church of Jerusalem made the Gentile Church-keeper of the Vineyards the Jews Church being broken off 2. They were angry with Galatian Churches with burning zeal and moved against the Corinthians for Apostacy and corruption Gal. 3.1 1 Cor. 4.21 3. They made her keeper of the Vineyards when they left the Jews and turned to the Gentiles committing Law Estate and Gospell to the Gentiles 4. She kept not her own Vineyard but became Apostate after the way of Antichrist in which was the fall of the Church about four hundred years the new Covenant which was that of the Church was her now Vineyard Ver. 7. Make me know O thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest 1. Now it was not known where Christ was taught or had call'd men to teach if any had known it had been the Church who knows not but is to seek 2. She desires to know of Christ and be directed by him where the truth was indeed taught there was to be so much and so much glosing error taught and cryed up for truth among men in this time 3. Where thou makest them lie down giving rest to the Church in the scorching time of Antichristian persecution Tyranny and delusion she being in want of satisfactory knowledge of her Lord and his mind 4. The reasons 1. There are at this time many Flocks besides Christs 2. Who are the flocks of Christs companions such as use Christs Name Authority and truth as their own 3. And make the flocks theirs and not Christ Lutherans and Calvinists Brownists Socinians Papists Pelagians Arians Independents Anabaptists Presbyters 4. Without Christ shews her yea makes her know where he now feeds she is in danger to turn from Christ to any of these of which Christ Matthew 24.24.26 hath admonished us that we be not turned to lies Ver. 8. Contains Christ Resp. or directions to this dubious case and Question 1. If thou know not O thou fairest among women notes to us that the souls that do not know where Christ feeds and desire to know are the true Believers of this time and shews a mighty darknesse and losse of truth among them 2. Go forth by the footsteps of the Flock Mark not of the Flocks of Christs companions but the true Church Primitive as of one 3. The Flock was past away but left it 's steps in the way that is it's practise for us to walk by in the Word 4. Feed thy Kids by the tents of the Shepheard or Apostles under Evangelists Pastors Teachers the Tents set up by the Apostles which untill the Church restoration the Saints were to be fed by not in these Tents Ver. 9. To the Troops in the Chariots of Pharoah have I likened thee my Beloved 1. The Saints as yet are in captivity under Antichristian power and authority 2. They are in his Chariots by which he
Resurrection being very sweet and saving as the Tree of Liâ—e Rev. 22.2 Christ giving the savour thereof in the sweetness of Gods Divine love and mercy to her thereby verse 4. He brought me into the house of Wine 1. That is the society of men in Christ where the Lords Supper was to be administred at which the whole Church met partly celebrated by Wine in which the Churches estate was fully constituted 1 Cor. 11.20 2. Called the House of Wine because the wine of Gospel joy and peace is there to that society most Divinely published and applyed 3. Love was his Banner over me 1. The Banner signifies Christ held out in the Gospel 2. This Banner was his love 3. This love as A Banner conserved her and was spread over her wrapping her as it were up therein as in a garment of love Verse 5. The Church being in this flourishing estate once again declines but it is after a long time of prosperity predicted Rev. 20.7 Satan is again let loose verse 8. He again by false Doctrine deceives the world few are freed from his delusions when there will again open and secret Anti-christian enemies arise and bring a very great persecution of the Saints but not so overcome them as before v. 5. the Anti-christian Ministry said to be dead at the binding of Satan or said again to live after the 1000 years and the Devil got his liberty when the Church cryeth stay or support me with Flaggons or Vessels in which the Wine or Gospel-grace was laid up in which shewes she was much burthened and oppressed and cryes for support and help from the World in which it seems she had few left to comfort her Comfort me with Apples Christ is compared to the Apple tree and the works of Christ for the Church in his Mediatourship are those Apples with which she would be comforted I am sick saith she of love That is she loved Christ dearly but the Priests were false to her and would not satisfie her they kept both Flagons and Apples from her also leaving her to her fainting estate Verse 6. Christ supplies their lack and he puts one hand under her head that hangs down and is very heavy and the other embraceth her that is holds her up that she sink or faint not which ends in sleeps and drowsiness Verse 7. Are the words of Christ as {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the Femenine clears sufficiently again he speaks them to the Daughters of Jerusalem that they wake not his love that is the Gentiles Church until she be made willing thereunto Now in this verse Christ concludes the first period of the Gentiles Church having in it its rise its fall its restauration and decay after that again That in this Part is meant undeniably the Gentile Church 1. She had never received a kiss from Christ that is Christ never owned her as yet 2. She is shaddowâ—d out by Pharaoh's daughter a Gentile 3. She is made keeper of the Vinyards the Iews being broken off 4. She keeps not her own Vinyard but turns Antichristian 5. The Saints are employed in Pharaohâ—s Chariots or Wars in Reformations 6 The fellowship intimated in the bed Cap. 1. verse 16. which she had with Christ now was new and of no long contiuance before the Gospel estate she being without God and Christ in the world Eph. 2.12 7. These things are so spoken of the Gentiles that they cannot be rightly applyed to the Iews Church or State The Jewish Church begins Cap. 2. Verse 8. 1. The Voyce of my Beloved The Baptist was that Voyce in the Wilderness that prepared the way of Christ or gave notice of his coming 2. John he came leaping upon the Mountains as it were to beat them into a Plain This coming sets out the end of his Ministry and what he was to do upon the Hills also Luke 3.5 Verse 9. My Beloved that is Christ is like the Roe or rather the Church apprehends in Christ the likeness of glory or appearance of glory in his Divine Nature and says my Beloved is to be assimulated to glory or the yong of Rams in his Humane Nature being the Lamb slain from the beginning of the World Behold he standeth behind our Wall the Humane Nature was as a Wall behind which Christ stood being among the Iews his Humanity and the meanness of his Estate was as a Wall which hindred them from the sight of him it may be applyed to the Ceremonial Law he looketh through the Windows that is the Divine Nature did manifest it self through those out-lets as by the Windows of the Humane Nature whereat he gives out the knowledge of his God-head as by the hand when he did any wonders God came to manifest himself to those that saw them so when he taught he manifested himself by that Teaching to men God as it were looking out at the Windows in his forgiving sins c. Thus Paul to Timothy God was seen of men shewing himself through the Lettice by the many ways God had to discover himself by Christs Humane Nature to man 1 Tim. 3.16 manifested in Flesh Verse 10. The Church speaks of Christ as her Love he answers her love and speaks in love to her again it was both answer and speech also to the Churches he now teacheth and the Church knows his voice from any other He saith to her Arise that is from thy earthly estate to a heavenly from a servant to a Queen from beggarly Rudiments to Royal Ornaments Again he calls her to come away the first shews how hardly the Iews were brought from their Ceremonies or that they were first brought in part from that way of worship by Christ and then fully afterward by his Apostles The words in the Original signifie come from thy self first as natural and secondly as a member of the Iews Church here Prophetically is hinted at Christ calling the Apostles call the seventy's call at several seasons Verse 11. He useth reasons to perswade her hereunto that she may not doubt to Arise and come away upon his call which shews men should not do any more then they have warrant for in the Word from God to do but sit still until they have his Word to walk by as Mat. 14.28 Peter did 1. The winter is past a time that is bad to travel in for a woman in which the Lord compares the law estate to winter the Gospel to summer in the winter the days are short and nights long the Sun shaddowed not shining with so strong a heat all things dead and cold so were the Ceremonies and Service of that time if compared with the staâ—e of the Gospel 2. The Reigne or Ministry is now changed from Law to Gospel Heb. 7.12 3. It is now come to me I am now thy Priest and no more Aaron 26.28 Verse 12. The flowers appear on earth who are the Apostles the first fruits and the voyce of the Turtle which is Christ
Temples are the Magistracy who ruled and governed under Christ in the dispensations of the Law who were within the locks the people choosing them maintaining and defending them and shews that by divine authority it should come again to be set up among men two Judges judging in every city Esay 1.26 Ver. 4. Thy Neck is as the Tower David builded for an armory the neck is that the head rests on and is fastned to and is here compared to an armory which is the old Testament wherein the Worthies of God have their arms hung up for men to have at need in which there are a hundred bucklers for defence from Satans temptations and the old covenant made with God by many worthies the only preservative and safety of a nation Ver. 5. Thy Brests that is the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or the preparatory Ministery or doctrine of the Law like two young Roes being the beginning-knowledge for children which twins are one Law though two tables Christ the glory of God and man is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or Gloria the Glory feeds among the Lillies that is the Saints gathered into the the Church only on which saith Christ Ver. 6. I will go to my self that is I will be saith Christ with the Father and leave the world without manifestations of my presence untill the day appear and the shadows are fled for as yet the darknesse of the Antichristian estate or state of nature from which the shadows of that night were not fled untill which be done in the soul Christ is with himself not with the soul I will goe to the mountains of Myrrhe the three persons and to the hill of frankincense as one God Note In this estate though Christ were King yet his glory was not manifested thereunder untill the other administration of the day by which unbelief and ignorance are expell'd by the spirit or none can injoy Christ as he is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the glory The Church Estate Ver. 7. Thou art all fair my beloved there is not one spot in thee 1. In this Christ speaks to believers the Church 2. He commends all in her saying Behold thou art all fair 3. And her in all saying there is no spot in thee Ver. 8. Come with me from Lebanon 1. The Law estate is not to be continued in by the Elect. 2. Men continue in it untill called from it by Christ being shut up under the Law to the Faith that is after to be revealed Gal. 3.23 3. It is Christ calls men by the Gospell thence and makes them free from it 4. Christ is strength and help to bring men thence they cannot come thence alone without him thence he saith Come with me 5. My Spouse is a word never given the Law estate but the Church drawn from Lebanon and joyned to Christ by the new covenant 6. He calls her again and again from Lebanon to himself which shews how hard and how slow men are to believe and to leave themselves the Law estate Rev. 18.4 Saith the Lord thou shalt come with me and look or sing with me from the head of Amana Shiner Hermon hills about Judea 1. By Hills I understand the worldly powers and greatnesse thereof as under Antichrist and other Kings of the Nations 2. The top of or head of these hills are the supreme powers thereof 3. From these or their subjection they shall be fully set free after that the first people have crowned Christ King 4. When they come thence they shall sing and go forth with joy as Israel out of Egypt Hos. 2.15 5. In these hills or Dens of Lions Gods people have been kept all the time of Antichrist as Daniel in the Lions Den Christ untill the call having been there with them and kept them but now if they stay after the call and he leave them there they are threatned with ruine Rev. 18.6 6. From the mountains of Leopards that is the false Church estate which was a filthy spotted Beast quick and nimble for the pray the Beast and Kings ruling together Rev. 13.2 the Papacy is compared to a Leopard Ver 9. Thou hast ravished my heart my sister my Spouse 1. The Church relates to Christ as his sister being like us in all things sinne excepted and as a brother Heb. 2.11 2. As his Spouse and he her husband Ephes. 5.31 32· 3. He is much more delighted and taken up with her then she with him 4. This delight comes from one of the Churches eyes that is her eye of Faith or some person God raised up at that time to restore the Church by whom the Ministery of the Gospell which had been hid comes to be revealed and thus Moises said of Hobab that he might be eyes to them in their journey through the Wildernesse and who knows not that the Prophets were called Seers 4. With a chain of thy neck the body politick under Christ had a neck so the Church estate by which the head and body are united here by the Neck I understand the New Testament and it's Covenant made therein by which Christ and the Church are one 2. About this Neck there is a chain which Chain are the promises and profession of the Believer made before the Church of denying himself forsaking all and becoming Christs by which as with a Chain the Believers come to have their neck adorned by the Lord and shews that in this his glory was set forth and was become an Ornament unto him of praise Ver. 10. Upon taking the covenant and making this good promise and profession this good profession before many Witnesses as Paul speaks the Lord cries out How fair are thy Loves in the plurall my Sister my Spouse to shew she loved him in denying her self and in forsaking all and in bearing her crosse and in following Christ Christ takes no content in any thing but this nor no content in any man till then when they are under the Gospell Covenant then the souls love to Christ is better then wine to comfort him and refresh his soul after his suffering instead of the vineger and gall given him 3. Note the gradation better much better how much better then Wine which shews how acceptable the Believers love and service to Christ is and without love all service is nothing and that he looks on it in the parts thereof and calls them Loves 4. And the smell of thy Ointments then all spices 1. The Lord gives in this estate abundance of his Spirit Act. 2 17. 2. The graces hereof are called Ointments and they his annointed ones John 2.27 3. These Ointments have a savour of the Spirit and of the divine Nature 4. All Spices are no way comparable hereunto Ver. 11. Thy lips that is her speech or words being Evangelicall dropped as a honey comb full of honey and under her tongue that is she had in the meditation of those things she spake both
new covenant as Hagar was which served as an Allegory to shew what was to be done with them under the Gospell and so applied at large by the Apostle Gal. 4. from ver. 22. to the end Note The only thing that seems to oppose this is in the next words ver. 9. Ver. 9. My Dove my undefiled is one then you may say how are they sixty Queens to be understood the Churches 1. To which I answer when the Churches are said to be sixty it is to be understood the Lord speaks of severall Churches under particular Evangelists Pastors Teachers set up in severall Cities as in the first setting up of the Churches in the Gospell 2. When he speaks of the Church as one 1. He speaks of the Elect as they are immediatly joyned to Christ by the Spirit he the Head they the Members they all his wife and he their husband 2. They are said to be one as having one Spirit Faith Baptism Lord Discipline and are not as the false Church some Papists Protestants Lutherians c. 3. It shews the Unity God will give in the world to all true Churches at the restoration thereof 4. Having spoke briefly of all in this verse 8. he speaks mor particularly of them and begins with the Queens or true Church estate 1. She is the only one of her Mother by her Mother is meant the first Church at Jerusalem which was the Mother Church of all as the Apostle Gal. 4.26 2. No Church constituted by any will be more perfect then the Church that is to be of this estate Hence she is said to be the only one and the choice one of her that bare her 3. The Daughters here are set before the Queens which I take to be 1. Either the Churches constituted in the Apostles time whose writings will commend her and pronounce her blessed 2. Because it is said they saw her the Virgins here may be meant who being extremely affected with her and filled with a desire of her are said to pronounce her blessed 3. The Queens and Concubines praise her that is are satisfied that that is the true grace of God in which the Church then stands Note That this is meant of the Jews estate 1. Appears in that the Law estate is set before Cap. 4.1 2 3. 2. It being set down here without difference of the former proves that though it be the same thing yet they were to be fullfilled not in the same people but one in the Gentiles the other in the Jews 3. The Gentiles appearance is set out by Galeed Laban a Heathen covenanting with Jacob there the Jews in Tirzah a City built by a King who as the Jews turned Rebels and are again to be restored 4. Here both are set down together Tirzah and Jerusalem but not in the Gencile estate to shew that the Jews had both these administrations before and should have them again 6. Generall is that of the Jews Church estate Cap. 6. Ver. 10. Who is she that looketh forth as the Morn 1. The first appearance of the truth is a strange thing to that people 2. She peeps out at first among them as the Morn out of a dark night in which is the beginning of light among them 3. Fair as the Moon truth in a more glorious way being manifested to them then before but yet not manifested as the truth is indeed but as it were a light of night this is no lesse true in the coming forth of the Gentile then the Jews Church light 4. Truth appears in its most glorious brightnesse being as the Sun which is the day light in which all things are clear and the shadows are driven away that are of the night 5. It becomes with this spirituall blessing honored with victory over the enemies of the truth and is terrible to them 6. In this is shewed that the Jews are delivered by the sword or war from the enemies of her cause and liberty and that they will be terrible to them as Zachary hath foretold Cap. 12. from ver. 1. to the 9. Ver. 11. Upon this Christ manifests his presence among them saying I went down into the garden of Nuts to see the fruits of the valley 1. The Jews are indeed in the valley of distresse and suffering in a very low and servile condition {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the sorrows of the valley 2. In this estate they now begin to seek God in Christ as Hosea foretold Cap. 2. that they should have the valley of Achor or trouble given them for a door of hope and they should sing there as in the day God brought them up out of the Land of Egypt 3. As in Egypt God came down to visit the Jews in their affliction Exod 3.7 8. so now Christ saith I went down into the garden of Nuts not of Spices to see the fruits of the valley 4. To see where the Vine flourished by the Vine in this place I understand the true knowledge of the Law and Justice which is the flourishing of the Vine 5. And the Pomgranats by the Pomgranats I understand the writings of the Apostles or men having the spirit and Church Authority as buds from the Apostles to reveal the Gospell truth to men Ver. 12. Christ being among the Jews his grace so wrought in and upon that people that before he was aware the Hebrew reads I knew not my soul in which Christ was as it were in an extasie and surprized with admiration of what was done in them 2. His soul placed him as on wheels to that honorable people by which he could not retain his love from them but must as the father to the prodigall son run to him fall on them weep over them and kisse them in which we may see Christ loveth not as man loveth he loved them as an honorable people still God having honored them with many honors above all the Nations of the earth Ver. 13. Return return O Shulamit the Shulamit was a Virgin sought out for David in his age who is said to be very fair 1 Kings 1.3.4 and that she ministred to King David or the beloved King 1. Return return signifies a call ministred to them to return to God and his truth 2. They are not yet fully informed nor called from the world and their other wayes therefore he calls again return return 3. This may allude to the call of the Jews into their own Countrey from the Nations they are mixt among when and where they will only attain their perfect glory 4. That we that is that Christ and the Gentile Churches thy sister may look on thee or contemplate thy beauty 5. What will ye see in the Shulamite as it were the company of two Armies 1. It seems to me God holds forth in this Question and Answer some noteable â—hing stirring men up thereby to an inquirie after it 2. Which I take to be applied to the two calls 3. These two calls raise two Armies 4.