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
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
for shame 4. The putting off and on of this coat made her delay to entertain Christ 5. She had washed her feet and now she could not let Christ in but she must defile her feet again as she thought she apprehending Christ would have condemned her practise newly taken up which she thought to be a pure and clean way in this like the whore she wiped her mouth and said she had not sinned and thus Prov. 16.2 Ver. 4. He put in his hand by the hole of the door as it were to remove the bolts that made it fast or thus my beloved sent his hand from the white that is by his Spirit came to convince her conscience of her own unworthinesse by the knowledge remaining in her upon which her bowells were moved for him apprehending how unworthy she was any way to injoy him Ver. 5. She arose for when once Christ had touched her heart she had no rest but she must arise to open to Christ and so was taken from delaies 1. The white or open place Christ might look in at and put his hand in being at the key hole when the Spouse put her hand on the lock her hands and fingers dropped Myrrhe some divine favour she found upon opening the door 2. This dropped on the handles of the lock Ver. 6. I opened to my beloved she opened and expected Christ but my beloved had withdrawn himself now she misseth Christ who at first she saith had but withdrawn himself and so expected him to be with her shortly but after she saith he was gone and here began the false church estate and saith she my soul failed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} went forth In this she found the misse of Christ I sought him but found him not and that when use of the word did her no good I called him but he gave me no answer Note here she calls him when he was gone to come again or to know when he would come or why he was gone but saith the Text he answered me not She being thus crying after Christ the Watchmen the Priests of Antichrists estate here called the city or false Church they found her that is discern'd her opposition of their errors and love to the truth Indeed so diligent and watchfull were these watchmen of the night estate though it were dark they would quickly espie and find them out as a light is easie discerned in a dark place 1. Having found her that is those Societies that desired to retain the true knowledge and way of God The watchmen smote me or the Peripatericks made me be smitten that is accused me to the Magistrate for a disturber of the peace à Schismatike and therefore must be punished 2. They also wounded her destroying her authority true Ministery and administration forcing her into the Antichristian form corrupted her with fals Doctrine 3. The Keepers of the Walls these were another kind of watchmen who had a greater charge then the rest and these I take to be the Arch-bishops Bishops c. in the time of the Apostacy they took away her Vail {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a word which signified a garment in use in those times the form whereof is not I suppose scarce known of us in these daies {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} But I take it to signifie 〈◊〉 by which the Church priviledges only had among the Saints and not known to the world now came to be unvailed and made common among all the Saints now being not permitted to have any thing distinct from the world when and on which act the Church was driven into the Wildernesse as in Rev. 12. all which time the Spirit of God passeth over in silence in this place unto the time of Luther as being a time of night in which was nothing done but sleept away Ver. 8. I charge you O ye Daughters of Jerusalem these words seem to prove that this was the Gentile Estate thus calling to the Jews who both had lost Jesus Christ and were become seekers 2. It is implyed that the Iews should find Christ and again become the daughters of Ierusalem according to that which was below which was the Law Estate and that above which was the Gospell Estate 3. Here the invisible Church thus stript of its Ornaments calls Christ still her beloved and would acknowledge none but Christ 4. That she would have the Iews Church if restored before her to tell the Lord in prayer that she was sick of Love Resp. Ver. 9. What is thy beloved more then another beloved the word another is added and is not in the Text 1. In this ye have the Iews ignorance of Christ 2. Their contempt of Christ which alwaies accompanies ignorance 3. Their desire to hear of Christ from her 4. That the people seek Christ want him and leave Antichrist are the best and the fairest among women or rather those which God calls his beloved 5. When the Gentile is diligently inquiring for Christ the Iew will then come to do the like and come to be stirred up by it 6. That that moved her was the charge laid on her which was not usually done for a small matter The description of Christ Ver. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy in these words is a generall description of Christ he is white which hath in it a signification of his Divine nature and ruddy in it is a signification of his human nature again he is the chief among ten thousand the Hebrew is that he is conspicuous among many multitudes that is that he is easily known from any other being above all Ver. 11. His head is as the most fine gold of gold now the Apostle tells us that the head of Christ is God and Christ the head of the Church His locks are bushy and black as a Raven In this place Christs hair which springs from his head are not the members of the Church as some would the hair of the Churches Head being compar'd to purple signifies the Kingly authority of Christ but here the hid and unknownnesse of the Divine Nature and glory which was in the gold of the head covered over or shadowed with this thick and dark cover of black hair so the mercy seat was shadowed and the womans hair was given her for a covering and it is Gods glory to hide himself from the world so that he makes the light to hide him Ver. 12. His eyes are as Doves not as Doves eyes but as Doves by the rivers of water so Christs eys were on the teaching of the Word 2. They are as washed with milk and so have no evill remaining in them 3. They are as set on fullnesse in the beholding of God and the invisible things of him who is blessed for ever and this is the glory of Christs eye being set on that we cannot attain nor see and live 4. Christ seeth not as man seeth and therefore his eyes are not to be set