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
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
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
proaching and preached Evangelically in our land which is applyed in especial to the land of Judea in which the Lord onely taught himself and was first taught by such others as he sent forth The time of singing of birds is come the seventy read it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and indeed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I rather read according to the mysterie the time amputationis arboris of the cutting tree or vine then singing of Birds because then unbelievers were cut off from believers then Ismael was cast out of the house and not suffered to inherit with Isaac Gal. 4. from verse 21 to 31. before which the Gospel was not cleerly and fully to be applyed until believers were by themselves seperated from the world into Societies or Churches Verse 13. The Fig-tree that is the Iewish first Church appeared in the world and began with the beginning of the summer Matth. 24.32 whose fruit quickly falls The Vine which is the Gentile Church had sent forth their Grapes and therewith a favor as the Church of Rome whose praise was spread far abroad and that of Macedonia Again he calls his Spouse to come away shewing that the Iews did retain many ceremonies after they were a Church which Christ would not have them do and shews Christ would not allow of any Verse 14. My Dove that is the Church now the Spouse of Christ Thou art in the Castles of the Rock that is the Saints were in their several Societies under their threefold Ministry as in their Castles or strengths of safety which is significantly called the holes of the Rock Christ they being instituted by him They are called the hid places because none but the saints come there And then hid places of her measure every one being measured by his state in Christ that cometh into any of those holes Eph. 4.16 Antichrists Church is the strong hold of the false Religion as this is of the true Rev. 18.2 Let me see thy countenance or make me behold thy appearance make me hear thy voice in which he stirs up the Church to prayer and to an apprehension of the happy estate she was in though afflicted and miserable in appearance to the world though dark shaddowy and corrupt in her own eyes yet in this there papears a desireableness in the one and a sweetness {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the other through the variety of gifts she had bestowed upon her and vertues that were in her Verse 15. Take us the Foxes which are false Teachers who crept in wilily into the Churches society to spy out their liberty among which some are more wily then others but all are to be taken and the words are 1. As it were spoken of Christ and the Church to the Ministry to whom the rule of the Church and its oversight was committed Acts 20.28 2. The Vines are Gospel Churches only the National Church Rule of Moses being fallen 3. These Foxes did destroy them as in Galatia Coloss Corinth 4. Our Vines that is Churches have tender grapes that is Believers weak in faith Infants in knowledge and easily deceived by seducers Gal 16. Eph. 4.14 Gal. 2.4 Acts 15.1 if things were thus in the times of the Apostles how were they after Verse 16. My Beloved is mine and I am his that is as a man bestows himself in marriage on the wife he marries and the woman her self on the man by covenant tying themselves each to other So the Church had done to the Lord Iesus and he to her so that none else could say so but her self of Christ nor would Christ say so of any but her 2. It shews the Church was not yet whorish but kept her faith to her Lord with much loyalty and love 3. As a strange woman hath nothing to do with another womans husband so hath no false Church to do with Christ the true church's spouse nor Christ with them 4. He feedeth among the Lillies the Lillies are the Saints or Believers or rather he feedeth in them Rev. 3.20 I will come into him and sup with him Verse 17. Shews the Apostacy of the Iews Church and State they came unto in their first defection 1. A night comes on her she is again troubled with Iewish ceremonies which yet she expect should be driven away by the glorious light should arise again unto her in the now restoration is to be 2. Until when she desires her love to appear himself as divine glory in his glorious nature and as the young of Rams being the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world 3. This she would have him be on the mountains of Bether that is of division which the Antichristian estate that destroyed the way of the Gospel is eminently to be called being Babel and to be understood Rev. 6.14 and 16.20 whose mountains are removed and removing 4. Though here the young of Rams be set down to note the Humane nature yet you know Rev. 6. ult. that the wrath of God that sate on the Throne and the Lamb was that tormented the Popish world which {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} sets out the one and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the other Cap. 3. Verse 1. By night on my bed I sought him 1. This as before sets out the grand defection the Iews made and darkness on her while she was shut up in that estate 2. Her state then was that she was asleep insensible of this desolation and rested in her erroneous way as on a bed called her bed but none of Christ's 3. In it she sought the Lord Iesus whom her soul loved {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifies her diligent seeking Christ in her erroneous way or time of night 4. He was not in her bed to be found yea she sought him again and again in her corrupt Iudaizing way of worship but found him not Verse 2. I will arise now from my quondam bed I will go about the City that is she will examine Antichrist's way having the visible shew of a Church left but seeing the Idolatry and profaness of her in general she will go into the streets that is the meeting places of the Romish church where things were bought and sold and in the broad waies of that city which is the service of people that lead to or from Rome though separated from her she seeks the Lord in these but finds him not she loseth her labour and fails of her expectation Note A Prophesie shewing that the Romish church would never be the means of the conversion of the Jews because they saw not Christ in her 2. They sought after the Lord above all things else a time of their desiring Christ is coming Verse 3. The city here is Babel the Antichristian state the watchmen the Ministers who walk about that city to preserve it in safety and find out such as would perturb the peace of it and wrong the
Not I but Christ liveth in me 2. I have eaten my honey comb with my honey By the comb the sorrows by the honey the joyes of Christ Or The Body or humane Nature of Christ was the comb and the Divine Nature the honey in that comb of which Christ saith He hath eaten that is he is satisfied in his sufferings for the Saints with great content in beholding the effects thereof both with God and men Ephes. 2.16 3. I have drunk my Wine Mark by Wine I understand the Gospell and shews Christ had his part in the Gospell comforts from the Father as we have ours I delight to do thy will O God 4. He had his milk to eat as his honey comb to eat with his wine and honey 5. Christ having eaten and drunk his part first he distributes the rest to the Saints saying Eat ye of the Comb and honey that remains The crosse comforts of Christ 6. Drink ye of the Milk and drink ye of the Wine drink abundantly of them both he having sanctified himself and the truth for them Joh. 17.17.19 7. Drink as my friends invited and heartily entertained to be refreshed therewith as in the supper of the Lord in which as here God and man feast eat and drink together with sweet content and comfort John 15.11 Matth. 26.27 8. But it is to be observed though Christ bids the Saints to eat and drink he bids them not to gather of Myrrhe or Balsome that being to be his only the rest are ours he having by his first taking them to himself in our nature sanctified them to our use and comfort who would they should have their fill of comfort Note that these three generall parts concerne the Restoration of the Gentiles after the grand Apostacy of Antichrist as appears in these following considerations 1. It begins with the Restoration of the Nationall Rule taken away from the Jews by the Romans and foretold of God to be bestowed on the Gentiles Deut. 32.31 Matth 21.43 Rom. 10.19.20 2. Cap. 3. Ver. The Gentiles invite the Jews to go forth and see Christ and the Kingdome restored to him which occasioned that jealousie of heirs the Scriptures do foretell they in this apprehending themselves rejected and another people given in marriage to their Lord in their stead Deut. 32.21 3. Cap. 3. ver. 8. All these are to be done chiefly by sixty men in Authority and Power who subdue by the sword all such as gainsay the same or do oppose it 4. Cap. 4. ver. 8. By these men and their means the Saints are freed from the mountains or powers of the world called the Dens of Lions and mountains of Leopards which are set out by three parts or distinct members Amana Sheuir Hermon the three parts of the city Reu. 16.19 3. The time is noted and the call thereof Rev. 18.4 6. When the ministery is restored and the Covenant cap 4. ver. 9. 7. When the Church Evangelically is separated from the world ver. 12. 8. When the Saints are disposed of under the differing Ministery and administrations in the way of the Gospell ver. 13.14 All which things are first to be accomplished in us of the Gentiles before in the Jews and is by the Apostle called the fullnesse of the Gentiles the graces blessings of God being the fulness of a people untill all which be done on us blindnesse continueth on Israel or the Iew Rom. 11.25 and that Genesis 9.27 where it is said Japhet shall dwell in the Tents of Shem is a Scripture is not fulfilled to this day the Gentiles having yet been under only the dispensations of Christ or the Gospell which is but one Tabernacle the other is that of Moises which as yet we Gentiles have not submitted to but must the Rule of Government therof in the judiciall according to form or this Scripture is never to be fullfilled 9. As he began in Chap. 1. with the Gentile Church so it is orderly to begin with its restoration also 10. God having decreed first to restore the Gentiles the Spirit accordingly by Prophecy begins first with them and their restoration 11. God hath purposed to make use of the Gentiles restoration to restore the Iews thereby that they may not be perfect without us PART IV. Contains a description of the restoration of the Gentile Church beginning with CAP. V. VER. II. Ver. 2. I Sleep but my heart waketh there was nothing awake but the Heart in the time of the Churches sleep 2. Her sleep shews the neglect and carelessenesse she had of Antichrists operations as the man slept whilest the enemy sowed tares so the Church slept whilest Antichrist did delude and deceive her Matth. 13.25 3. The sleep was of the generality of men in the externall means of worship but the heart the sincere man was awake Believers being still kept to adhere to Christ for Salvation in that time of defection who were as the then Churches heart which is primum vivens and ultimum moriens viro 4. In this sleep of the Church she had shut her self with Antichrist up from the Lord Christ Antichrist had more love and entertainment then Christ from her 5. Christ would before the extremity of Apostacy have her open unto him as in the admonition to the seven Churche Rev. Cap. 2 3. The last whereof which was the time of this knocking and was the Church estate of Leodicea Rev. 3. 1. When the sleep was eminently set forth in her saying as men in a dream that she was rich full and wanted nothing when she knew not that she was naked poor and wanted all things 3. When the Churches Apostacy was foretold in that God said he would spew her out of his mouth signifying the lothsomnesse of the false church estate to God Christ would have awakned her and have come in to her and feasted with her and have reformed the corruptions come in upon her 4. He yet calls her his Sister his Spouse his Dove his undefiled one there being not yet Idolatry or confusion of world and Church admitted though that that made way for it was already laid 5. She yet knew his voice which yet had his knock or call Note The reason my head is filled with deaw 1. My head which is God is full of the deaw of the night to shew the indignity God suffered on the rejecting of Christ by her for they that despise Christ despise him that sent him 2. His locks which were those believed on him in that corrupt age were troubled with the drops of the night which the then Doctrine was but as the drops of a cold Winter night to a mans head Spouse Ver. 3. I have put off my coat how shall I put it on Note her coat 1. This coat she had put on by Christ 2. She her self puts it off without leave of Christ and without much inforcement of persecution 3. When she had put it off she knew not how to put it on again
the Gospel Ver. 3. Concludes with a now full possession of Christ saying I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine that is she was now possessed of Christ and Christ possessed of her 2. He feedeth amongst the Lillies the Saints and he feed together as it is in Cap. 5. Ver. 1. in which the Spirit concludes as in the full happinesse of the Saints on earth it consisting in the fellowship of God and Christ so ends this part as he did the former in Cap. 5. Ver. 1. How eminently and evidently this sets out the invisible church estate under Antichrist appears 1. Her heart onely wakes that is the Saints had fellowship with Christ invisibly though the way of the Gospell externally in Ministery Baptism c. were destroyed she was in the night deprived of light and cast asleep with the rest of the Antichristian estate only her heart was awake that is some were stirred up to believe and love and own Christ internally by the spirit in that time of night was come upon her 2. The Gentiles they by the advice of the Ministery and councells of the Bishops of the first true church who were lead away by the actings of Antichrist and their own evill ends and hearts to fullfill the mind of God and make way for the man of sin by their Apostacy in the first putting off of her coat though inwardly were checked by their consciences for what they had done against the truth yet cry how shall I put it on when they never were troubled at the putting of it off at all 3. Some remaining knowledge there was of Christ all the 1â—60 daies desolation of the church among the believers by which he stirs and rowseth up the believers from the false and ertonious practises in the Lords worship practised among men 4. On the first opening to Christ she finds at first as it were but a withdrawing of Christ but after Christ being at a greater distance from her there is a calling for him 5. In this departure of Christ the Saints are in the city Babel called the Wildernesse baptized by Antichrist which the Jews were not they refusing to be baptized 6. There they are discerned by the Priests who by the help of the Pope deprive the church of all her ornaments and priviledges which was done long after the fall of the Jews and their church estate About Luthers time a diligent and open inquiry is made for Christ the Gentiles who retained the profession and knowledge of Christ come to set forth to the Iew the description of him untill which time Christ is hid to the Iew which occasions the Iew to turn seeker with the Gentile after him 5. Generall part concernes the Iewish Nation Begins Cap. 6. Verse 4. with the Nationall Rule as before with the Gentiles Thou art beautifull O my Love as Tirzah That this concernes the Iewish estate eminently appears in the following description made of the Nationall church estate this here being the same with Cap. 4.1.2.3.4 the one pertained to the Gentile State the other the Iewish as in many other things after will appeare 1 Tirzah was a very beautifull city built by Solomon but after proved rebellious which sets out the former state of the Iews first to have been a very delightfull people to God who after turned Rebells and now again at their restoration to their first estate of being Gods people they should be as beautifull as ever they had been in the eyes of their God 2. Comely as Ierusalem in this he alludes to the church estate and proves that herein God intends the restoration of both and both are intended in this Scripture 3. Terrible as an army with banners ready fitted to fight with their enemies which shews that the Church and state of the Jews will be restoâ—ed by a war in which they will become very terrible to their enemies V. 5. Turn away thine eys from me by eys here are meant those first that call the Jews who are as their eys and who usually called their Prophets Seersturning them to God 2. They have overcome me as Jacob prevail'd with God so will the Iews now also an eminent sign of their conquering all things else having prevail'd with God Gen. 32. ver. 26.28 3. Turn away thine eyes is no more then that of God to Moses when he was in most earnest wise seeking Gods face for the people who said to him let me alone that I may destroy them Exod. 32.10 11 12. and Exod. 14.15 Why cryest thou to me speak to the children of Israel that they go forward 4 The words after in this and the next verse are the same with Cap. 4. as above only for {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in cap. 4. ver. 2. here in v. 6. is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which is indeed a flock of sheep when the other word comprehends other cattell as well as sheep which shews that the Gospell estate among the Gentiles should be restored before the call of the Jews so those that teach them the Law shall be sheep men of the true Church as the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ought to be by the Rule of the Gospell 5. That that is contained in cap. 4. ver. 4. of the Tower of David and the Neck with the Shields is not set down here but in the former signifying that the Gentiles should he called first and that consequently the Word and Ministery should now go forth thence as from the mother Church as before it had done from the Iews that they without us might not be perfect 6. This is an Argument if that God restore the Gentile Church first that then what was set down before was of the Gentiles this of the Iew in which is fullfilled that Gospell truth the first shall be last tho last first Matthew 20.16 Ver. 8. There are sixty Queens that is Churches rightly constituted according to the pattern of the Gospell 2. Eighty Concubines which are such as Hagar was and signified the societies under the Catechist who yet have not been united to Christ by covenant nor are not made free by the Gospell 3. Virgins without number which are believers willing and ready fitted to be married to Christ in the way of the Gospell 4 In this ye may see the spirit respects not only the Church but those that are friends of the Bridegroom as John the Baptist said of himself and his society Mr. Brightman would understand by the Queens the purest Churches and the concubines dignantur thoro Injoy the bed but have not the right or splendor of the wifes nor are they possessed of Dowry nor are their children to inherit the right of the estate being Hagars or the Law Sons the Virgins are in the last place who have food in the house c. when indeed nor Virgins nor concubines since the Gospell estate have not been in nor of the house but are cast out under the
was in their being in Covenant with God by Jesus Christ and therefore was above all Note Now the Spirit speaks of the head and the parts thereof who had an immediate representation of Christ and intrustment by him in the church Thy eyes are as the fish pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabim 1. The eyes set forth the ministeriall Authority and place which Christ gave them who as his Embassadors represented him 2 Cor. 5.20 2. It shews how they were honored of and in Christ so that he that despised them despised him c. 3. It shews that they should have especiall light and illumination from Christ 4. That they should see for the whole body and shadowed out his prophetical Office 5. That none of himself might be Minister unlesse placed by God and made overseer by the Holy Ghost Acts 20.28 in the constituted church 6. In that they are said to be pools it shews an especiall part of their watchmanship to consist in a carefull respect whom they admitted in to the church by baptism 7. In that they are said to be at the gate of Bathrabim serves much to illustrate and confirm the same being the daughters of the multitude and chosen of the church 8. As this was the prime and first part so in it was intended the whole in which one was not to act without the other but together Thy Nose is as the Tower of Lebanon which looketh towards Damascus 1. Which sheweth that the favour and sweetnesse of Christ was manifested in the satisfaction of the Law for man signified by the Tower of Lebanon and shadows his Priesthood 2. It is said to look to {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a word compound of dam which signifieth bloud and punishment {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifieth sackcloth and metaphorically sorrow as having respect to the bloud and destruction the misery and affliction of man in his naturall estate and Christ undergoing all these for man whence as from a most sweet perfume arose a sweet favour of Christ to man 2 Cor. 2.15 Ver. 5 Thy head upon thee is like Carmel 1. It is remarkably set forth in this that the true constituted Church was understood in this description and not in that Cap. 4.1 nor that Cap. 6.5 there are hair and eyes expressed but no head as in this place They signified the State this the Church 2. The Head of the Church is Christ Ephes. 5.23 who is compared to Carmel 1. As a Mount exceeding far all the rest of the body 2. As carmell which signifies a green ear of corn which shews that the Saints in Christ did flourish or were fed as corn in a green ear Note The hair of thine head is as purple 1. Here is not meant ordinary hair but as Brightman observes tenuior coma and after hic veluti linum tenuissimum tinctum purpura quasi singulis tunc fideles tunc principes forent 2. I cannot indeed assent to the hairs being set for the faithful but by the purple covered the head of Christ I understand the regall Office of Christ which some particular men in the restoration of the church shall officiate under the Lord Jesus 3. All these Offices of King the last and highest the Priest and Prophet are in Christ the Head fresh and green as carmell and full of fruit as a green ear of corn 4 The eye of the spirit was on these things the word after shews when he saith the King mark the King is held in the gallery The seventy read {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ligatus in transcursibus Brightman and other look on this place as one of the obscurest of all others and indeed it is become so because the way of the Gospell hath been of a long time hid from us 1. The word as Pagnin understands it signifieth aedificium quod sit in domibus altis ad currendum de uno domo ad alterum as a stair case from the lower chamber to that of the second story above it and to the third above that signifying the Saints going from the first Society of the Teacher where they were as children to that of the Pastor as young men to the Society of the Evangelists as fathers 1 John 2.13.14 which is called a going from the glory of one to the glory of the other unto the image of Christ the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 by David prophetically called a going read but of these I have in my book of the smoke of the Temple cleared by the light of the Scriptures written more fully and in my other Treatises which signifie that the Christian growth was from Christ immediately Note In these Christ is said to be shut up his whole delight being in beholding the Saints growing in grace and increase of knowledge which now is not in use 1. The Ministery that is destroy'd 2. The differing administration 3. And with these the precious way of knowledge and understanding 4. In the beholding of this with which the eyes and heart of Christ were taken up and held he cryeth out Ver. 6. How fair and how pleasant art thou O love for delights It is said of Christ under the name of wisdome that his delights were with the sons of men Proverbs 8.31 2. Among the Saints he found much matter of delight for himself yea as being made up of matter for delight unto him so as that in a way of admiration he crieth how fair and lovely art thou as if herein she excelled all praise and commendations Ver. 7. This thy stature is like the palm tree and thy breasts as clusters 1. By breasts are meant the second Ministery or Pastor another from that in ver. 3. 2. The spirit by a speciall foresight only here saith clusters but expresse not grapes to shew that this yet was not the perfecting Ministery 3. Under this Ministery the church is compared to the Palm for greennesse and stature Ver. 8. I that is the Lord said I will go up to the Palm tree which I rather read thus I will ascend that is in the stair case from the first to the their Society 2. I will ascend {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the Palm tree that is in her stair case which is meant of Christ mysticall and take hold of the branches which were as the chambers of the house 3. Now also shall thy brests be as the clusters of grapes here is the last Ministery the perfecting Ministery of the Evangelist whose brests were as clusters of grapes having in them abundance of most sweet wine the peace and joy of the spirit and Kingdome of God being held forth among them 4. The smell of thy Nose like apples the intercession of Christ was as a most sweet refreshment to the Saints apprehended in the teaching thereof by those that believe Ver. 9. The palat of thy mouth is like the best wine for my beloved 1. Brightman non minus