Five Godly and Profitable Sermons, Sermon 5
Canticles, or Solomons song. 2. 16.
My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the Lillies.
IN the former part of this Chapter as in the whole song throughout, the Holie Ghost hath described vntounto vsus vnderunder most excellent similitudes the great louelove that is betweene Christ and his Church, that is, everie faithfull soule. This louelove appeares, 1. in the mutuall commendations one of another, 2. in the mutual desire of one vntounto the fellowship of the other. The praises which Christ giues vntounto the Church are, that the church (the companie of the faithfull) hath a wonderfull excellencie aboue all other societies in the world. Vers. 2 [Like a Lillie amongest the thornes, so is my louelove amongest the daughters.] All the states and societies of men vponupon the earth being compared to the Church they are but like thornes vntounto Lillies and Roses without al beauty & delight, vnpleasant & harmeful Plants. The praise which the church giues to Christ is answerable to the former: namelie that among al persons of the world he only it is that brings comfort and helpe vntounto her. Vers. 3 [Like the apple-tree among the trees of the forrest, so is my welbeloved among the sonnes of men.] Men and Angels withal their glory, and greatnesse are but barren trees compared to Christ: they bring no grace, no glorie, no peace, no protection to the Church, only Christ is that apletree whose boughs are full ladē, with that spirituall fruit which is that which the Apostle speaks in other tearms [Neither is there saluatiō in any other: Act. 4. 12.for among men there is no other name giuen whereby wee must be saued.] Thus mutuallie Christ prefers the Church, the Church Christ before all. The great Ioy which is betwene them, one to injoy the other followes at large in the next verses. The Church desireth alway to injoy Christs favour and protection, his graces to be bestowed vponupon her, his power and Spirit to comfort her and support her, in the fellowship of Christ shee professeth to be true Ioy and contentment [I sate downe vnderunder his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet vntounto my tast.] Vers. 3 The grace of God and his protection is all her desire and delight, as it is further amplified vntounto the 8th verse. The desire and affection of Christ to his Church, every way as ardent as that of the Church to him. He is readie to answere her when she calls vponupon him, he makes speed to come vntounto her, to shew her his gracious presence, to comfort her, he speaks kindlie vntounto her, inviting her by all louing tearmes to come, and partake of all the abundant graces and comforts prepared for her, he tells her how well he is pleased with her obedience, her prayers she makes, her services she performes although in many imperfections and afflictions, Vers. 14 [Let me see thy countenance, let me heare thy voyce, for sweet is thy voyce, and thy coūtenance pleasant.] Lastly be testifieth his care of her safetie, that she be not spoiled by foxes, Heritiques, or other enemies, that would laie her wast. All which is larglie exprest from the 8th verse to the 16th verse. After the declaration of so great affection of the faithfull toward Christ, and of Christ toward them againe follow by way of conclusion▪ the words of my text giuing vsus a short summe of all together, My beloued is mine and I am his he feedeth, &c.
In these words the Church briefly comprehends the whole Misterie of that spirituall communion which shee hath with Christ, the gloriousnesse of it, the desire she hath to enjoy it more fully. More distinctlie obserue these particulars. First the title which the Church giues vntounto Christ calling him her Welbeloued, my Welbeloued. Secondly the communion or the fellowship, that is betweene Christ, and the Church. What is in Christ serues for the comfort of the Church; what in the Church, all is for the glory and honour of Christ (he is mine and I am his) This communion and mutuall intercourse of all good things betweene Christ, and the faithfull is amplified by two particulars. First the excellencie of it, in that it is full of all heavenly comfort, and sweetnesse [he feedeth amongst the Lillies] not in barren, and vnpleasant places, Vers. 1 but in fruitfull and most pleasant Vallies, or b Gardens stor'd with Lilles, Chap. 6. 2. and such other delights, there doth Christ feed his Church, noting vntounto vsus vnderunder those figures, the singular joyes which faithfull soules are partakers of, vnderunder the gracious government of Christ their Sepheard and Bishop; whose graces and favours are aboundantly communicated vntounto them, things farre aboue the rarest and choiest delights that can be imagined. Secondly the vehement desire the Church hath to injoy this communion with Christ, perpetually during this life, and perfectly in the life to come. Vers. 17 [Vntill the day breake and the shadowes flee away, turne my beloued, and be like the Roe or the young Hart vponupon the topps of the mountaines of Bether.] VnderUnder which Alegorie the Church desireth, that which she elsewhere in plain tearmes prayeth for [Come Lord Iesus, Rev. 22. 20.come quickly] that like a Roe or an Hart, (that is) swiftly he would afford his assiistance and presence, to releiue her in the time of her Warfare in this world [till the night be past, and the shadows thereof be gone, (that is) all such imperfections, afflictions, sinne, temptations, and miserie that be vponupon her in this life be taken away [when the day shall breake] The day of Christs Chap. 4. 6. glorious comming which the Church shal enjoy in al fulnes of Happinesse in the presence of God and Christ for ever. This is the plaine relation and meaning of this Scripture, nor will I trouble this place with any further scruple about the words. I come rather to giuegive you some Instruction for your practise. The first lesson is from the tittle of (Welbeloued) tis this.
Doct. 1 That Christ is the only well Beloued of a Faithfull Christian. This is that which the Church so often repeats in this whole song, stiling Christ her faire one, her Beloued, her welbeloued, him whom her soule loueth, him whō she only admires, of him she talks, is neuer well but when she enioies his presence. Chap. 5. 9. If you aske her now, What is thy beloued more then another beloued? she can soone answere and tell vsus wherefore it is, that all her affection is placed vponupon Christ, such excellencies there be in him, …o much happinesse is there in her fellowship with him that none but he deserues her entire true louelove, and Affection. Good reason then a faithfull soule should louelove Christ.
Reason 1 First in regard of the excellencies that are in the person of Christ, he is in himselfe most louely, and therefore deserues most louelove, al comlynes is deformity if cōpared to the beauty that is in him,1. Ch. 5. 10. he is the fairest of ten thousand, nay he is fairer then all the children of men. Psal. 45. 2.Cōsider him in his graces, cōsider him in his glory never any person more louely & amiable. 1 For his graces, he is enriched with all the beauty of holynesse, Ioh. 3. 34.he hath received the Spirit without measure, he is anointed with the oile of gladnes (that is) the holy Ghost, Heb. 1. 9.and with power aboue his brethren. When hee was vponupon the earth how sweet, and louelie was his carriage, how innocent … vnblameable, what Man or Diuel could charge him with the least offence? Obedient hee was in al things, to his Parents, Rulers, to Caesar, to God. In everie point he fulfilled all Righteousnesse to the least Title, and Iot of the Law. Grace was powred into his lips, and from them into his heart, and the hearts of all them with whom he conversed in most divine and heavenlie discourses. Charitie fild his heart and from thence flowed forth on all that had neede of helpe: he did good where twas not expected: he did good where t'was refused. What kindnes was done vntounto him, but it returned vpō the head of the doer with abundant recompence? What iniuries did he not passe by, and pardon? He endured a world of indignities, persecutious, revilings, reproaches, and in the midst of all is so farre from minding revenge, that he praies and weepes for his enemies, admonisheth them with all meekenesse, heapes kindnesses on them, & seekes by all meanes to overcome their evil by his goodnes. Goodnes is his whole nature, his whole life is nothing but a trade of doing well, & suffering evill. Such was the sweetnes of his nature and so affectionatelie charitable was his heart, that no froward, and crooked perversenes of scornefull, prowde, gainesaying, disobedient men could turne awaie his desires from doing them good. In all this he was amiable as man, euen a man in abasement and infirmitie, yet then was he glorious full of grace and truth. But now looke on him in his person, Ioh. 1. 14.and in his glorie, and these excellencies are redoubled, nay multiplied a thousand fold. Consider him in his person, Coloss. 2. 9and so they are infinite: because in him all the fulnesse of the godhead dwelleth bodyly, and the graces of God are his graces, because he is God.
As for his glory, it is not for mortall eie to behold it, or tongue to tell it: he was abased, but God hath highly exalted him aboue all names and dignities: Phil. 2. 9.he hath made him head of the Angels, who adore him; of the Church to rule it by his spirit, Ruler of the world to governe it by the scepter of his power; he is now sate downe at the right hand of Maiestie and Glorie, the father having put into his hands all power in heauen and earth, and committed vntounto him all power over Men and Angels. To which greatnes of his power is equal the glorie of his person invested with the robes of Maiestie, brightnes, imp…ssibility, and all other excellencies that can be imagined most excellent. When we reade the description of his transfiguration on the Mount,Mat. 17. of his appearance to Saint Paul,Act 9. to St Iohn, we may conceiue a little what they saw,Revel. 1. but ti's heareafter that we shall see him as he is. Now vntounto all these graces;1. Ioh. 3. 2. these glories of Christ ioine that which is the fountaine of all, from whence ye shal see the parts of his compleat excellencies. That now is the infinite louelove of God the Father towards him his only Sonne. He is his delight, Prov. 8. 3.his elect in whom his soule delighteth, his beloved sonne in whom he is well pleased; Esa. 42. 1.so that if we would seeke for a patterne of all excellencies,Mat. 3. 17. they were no where to be found, but only in him. No marvaile if the Church, the faithfull (whose eies are opened to behold those things in Christ) doe louelove him, a person so beloved of god, so louelie in himselfe, so gracious, so glorious. But this is not all, they louelove him also.
Reason 2 Secondly in regard of what he is to thē, vntounto the church, Christ is all in all, what good shee hath it is from him, what shee expects it is by him.
1 First in this life shee hath grace and protection, grace from his spirit, protection from his power, both from his LoueLove. The Church is sanctified by his spirit, he baptizeth it with his Spirit, washing the faithfull with cleane water from the filthynes both of the flesh and spirit: he hath freed them from that loathsome vncleanenesse of corrupted Nature, wherin the vngodly remain, polluted with all vncleane lusts, he sets them all at libertie from the bondage of sinne, of servants to sinne making them servants to God in righteousnes: he liues in our hearts by faith, and changeth our sinfull natures into the likenesse of his most glorious nature by the powerfull workes of his spirit, sending life into vsus who were wilde, and withered branches, that being quickned thereby, we might bring forth fruit according to God in all holynesse.
2 Secondly the Church is protected by the power of Christ frō the malice of Sathan whether he act; plot, contriue destruction against whole Churches, or by temptations feeke to vndoe the soules,Rev. 1. 20. and salvation of private men. Christ walketh in the midst of the Candlestickes, Revel. 1. 20. he only that hath placed them can remoue them: he hath his starres his Ministers in his right hand, where they shall bee sa…e: he hath all those that God hath giuen him in his keeping and none shall plucke them from him, all are kept safe to that everlasting kingdome. In peace he is the glorie of his Church, in trouble the safetie of it: if shee be in the wildernes, he is the Angel that goes before her to giuegive her rest, if shee be persecuted he hath a wildernesse whereto she may flee, there be cleft; and holes in the rocke wherein shee shall be hid, and if the Dragon cast forth whole flowds of malice to overwhelme her, the earth shall open her mouth, & swallow vp the flowds, if shee be invaded with Armadoes he can blow with his breath, and they shall sinke into the bottome of the deepe like lead; if vnderunder-mined by a Powder-plot, he can bring to light the deedes of darknesse, and saue his anointed and his people, by a deliverance as wonderfull as the act intended. In a word his heart is vponupon his Church, and faithful people, their sorrowes he thinkes vponupon, their afflictions, his afflictions, he is pained when they are persecuted, in every distresse he is neere at hand to afforde succour: in health to saue them from sicknesse; in sicknesse to saue thē from death: in trouble of estate and paine of body, to preserue them from a disquiet minde, in anguish of soule to vphold from fainting by despaire. In life to saue them from a thousand deaths, in death it selfe to deliver them from that death, which is to come. Thus is Christ beneficiall to vsus in this life.
But in the life to come he bestowes glory on the Church: the Saints shalbe made perfectly righteous, perfectly glorious like vntounto himselfe: where he is, there they shall be for ever to behold his glory, to be partakers of his ioie.
You see then that Christ every way deserues all our louelove, seeing he is not only most excellent in himselfe, Ch. 1. 13. but hath also done most good vntounto vsus. Ch. 5. 16. Whence it is no wonder if everie faithfull soule conclude as it is in this booke often, that Christ is to it as a bundle of Myrrh, a cluster of Camphire, that he is faire and pleasant and wholy delectable. Let vsus nowe make some vse to our selues of this point.
Ʋse 1 The first vse shalbe for a reproofe of mens mis-guided affections, who louelove any thing better then Christ; they are baptized into the name of Christ, count it an honour to bee called Christians, and if you will belieue them they exspect to be saued by Christ, yet if a man looke into their practises, thei'le appeare to any that can iudge, that they thinke of nothing lesse, care for nothing lesse then Christ. That which the Church confesseth of her owne negligence whereinto shee was misled, Chap. 1. 6. [They made me keeper of the vines but I kept not mine owne vine,] shee attended on the fancies and pleasures of others, but not on her owne welfare, this we may apply vntounto the profanenesse of most men, who hauehave Vines, enough to keepe and dresse where about Sathan and their owne lusts hauehave set them on worke, but for that true Vine which is Christ Iesus, they take no pleasure at all, in resting themselues vnderunder his shadow, or tasting his pleasant fruit. Men hauehave many things to busie their affections about, but while they tend other things they are vtterly carelesse of this one thing that is the chiefest. One man hath set vp preferment and greatnes in the World for the idoll which he worships, and all his time, meanes and thoughts are taken vp in prosecution of some plot wherevpon he hath contrived his farther advancement. Another wallowes in all base pleasure, and so long as hee can content the beastly part of himselfe, his sensuall desires; he thinkes himselfe well-apaid, hee enioies what he loues, and what needes he more. Another loues nothing but mony and cattle, and trees, and earth, it is his happynes to say all this is mine, and when he is amidst those things he is amidst all his contentments. In short, every man hath his welbeloved in some kinde or other; but it is not the beloued here spoken of. No (my brethren) these men louelove not Christ say they what they will, they make little reckoning of him. Come to the triall of it and you shall see it so. The old saying's true, Vbi Amor, ibi Oculus, where we like, there we looke; or as Christ saith, where our treasure is there will our hearts be also, Mat. 6. 21.Mat. 6. 21. Consider then your selues, in your thoughts what is it you most thinke of? Is it of Christ, of his excellencies, of his benefits? Can you take pleasure in describing to your soules the glorious and gracious qualities of his person, musing attentiuely vponupon such admirable excellencies, so farre surpassing all that in this world can be called either gracious or glorious? Are our hearts often warmed with heauenly ioie, when in our private meditations we recount with our selues what great things he hath done and will doe for our soules? To thinke how mightelie he hath wrought in vsus by his spirit, to make vsus aliue, and keepe vsus aliue, when we were once dead in sins; how sweetly he perswades our will and stubborne affections to yeeld obedience, how forcible hee assists vsus against most powerfull temptations? Can we reioice to thinke what happynes we hauehave in his favour, that he is a faithfull friend to vsus in all our necessities, to whom wee may repaire for counsell and comfort? Doe his consolations refresh our spirits, that when sinne wounds vsus, his stripes heale vsus, When Sathan accuses vsus, he is our advocate to plead for vsus; when sorrowes and paines are vponupon vsus, he speakes peace vntounto our Soules, that in all wants & troubles we can surely pray vntounto him, and poure out our soules into his bosome who only giues them rest? Doe we often meditate on that happynes he will one day bring vsus vntounto, when hee shall make vsus like himselfe, most glorious in our bodies, most righteous in our soules, most blisfull in all, and that for ever? Be our thoughts (my brethren) on these things? Run our desires and wishes this way? Oh what strangers are such meditations from most mens hearts! they thinke what they shall eate, what they shall put on, how they shall bring the yeare about▪ how they shall pay this debt, purchase that field, that house, provide to raise such a sonne, to marry such a daughter, to grow rich, to get high places, titles, and offices, how to follow their pleasures and liue at hearts ease, how they may effect their wicked designes, oppresse a man, and his inheritance, revenge such wrongs as hauehave beene done them by their neighbours, and watch them an ill turne to be even with them, yea these be the great and mighty imployments of mens thoughts, where about they busie themselues, and often breake their sleepe, day and night, the whole weeke, the whole yeare, their mindes run vponupon these things, when they be at Church at praier, in hearing, at any good exercise the heart still wanders about such matters, euen at this present. Is it not euen so my bretheren, which of vsus can excuse our selues, and say my heart is innocent? Consider we againe the practises of men, whether they will stand with the louelove they professe to Christ: we will doe much for one that wee louelove, especially if it be one that can doe much for vsus. Now what saith our Saviour.14. Ioh. 15. If you louelove me keepe my commandements. Ioh. 14. 15. If Christ be our beloved, his cōmandement; must be so too. Whosoever hates the law hats the Lawgiver also. Take a view then of mens practises, & we shall see, they make a very scorne of Christ, & of his cōmandements. Looke vponupon them in their families, & you cannot finde any foot-steps of religion, no constant praier morning and evening: no reading of the word, no instruction of children and seruant, no duties of devotion whereby you shall know them from Papists, Atheists, or Infidels. See them in the publike worship of God, and there is nothing but negligence and profanenesse, seldome at church if any businesse else be to be done, & when they are there, they are carelesse in praier, in hearing of the word read, or preached, nothing is remembred for which they are a …ote the better. Looke vponupon them in their private conversation, & they are full of all vngodlines, vnrighteousnes, and vnsobernesse, horrible swearers, that cannot speake but they must blaspheme, profane despisers of Gods word, and worship, deriders of preaching and preachers, in a word, enemies to all godlinesse and piety of life, which by reproaches, and vnchristian revilings, they seeke to blast in whōsoeuer they see it grow, extreamely ignorant, knowing nothing distinctly in matters of Religion, not able with any vnderstanding to giuegive you a reasonable account in any point of their faith. In ciuill dealing mē that are vnfaithfull, vntrustie, vnmercifull. In their carriage prowd, disdainefull, luxurious, wanton and vncleane persons. May we belieue such men when they say Christ is their beloued? Surely we cannot though they should sweare it. What? louelove Christ, yet not know him, except it be by his name; louelove him? And yet despise his seruants, his service, his Ministers, make a iest at his word, and put off with a scoffe the counsels and rebukes which out of it are brought to them. LoueLove Christ? Yet set thy mouth against heauen, and in thy rage and hellish surie discharge thy blasphemies vponupon his soule, his body, his blood, his wounds, his name, vponupon all that is pretious in him, and not to be named but with devotion. Wilt thou say thou louest Christ, when thou hast no heart to thinke on him, to talke of him, to be in his presence, in the assemblies of Gods people in publike, at sermon, at sacraments, at private praiers? Is he thy friend? And yet art though loath to hauehave any thing to doe with him, in such places, in such exercises? In fine wher's thy louelove to Christ, whilst I see thy vngodly life, whereby thou dishonourest Christ▪ and shamest the name of a Christian? If by these practises we shall know thy louelove of him, whereby I mervaile shall we know thy hatred of him. But, brethren▪ be not deceiued, God will not so be mocked, delude thy selfe thou maist, but Christ thou canst not with such faire glosses: it is not him whom thou louest, it is some thing els, thy pleasures, thy wealth, thy lusts, the world, the Diuell. These be the things whereon thy affections dote, whereto thy desires are fastned, these things thou canst serue, let thē commande any thing, thou art at a becke to doe it, it is thy felicitie to be imploied by them. If any will crosse thee in these thy courses, admonish thee, rebuke thee, perswade thee, thou canst not brooke them, thou countest them thine enemies, that thus trouble thee; when thou art entreated by thy louelove to God, thy louelove to Christ, thy louelove to his word, by thy louelove to his Ministers, by thy louelove to thine own soule, by all things that are louely, & by all loues to deny vngodlines and worldly lusts, and to liue righteously, soberly, and godly. Wouldst thou not be perswaded to reason; didst thou indeed louelove any of these, as in word thou professest to doe: but when all admonitions, reprehensions, exhortations, or whatsoever good coūsel given in the name of Christ shall not yet be entertained for the louelove of Christ, but fall vponupon the heart like the hammer on the anvill, that strikes but enters not, or like a ball from a wall be smitten backe into the face of him that sent it, with scorne and contempt of him, his message, and his Minister too, say what thou wilt, thy tongue belyes thine heart, Christ is not he whom thy soule loveth, when thou wilt doe nothing for his sake, take it for a conclusion, he hates Christ that hates Christianitie.
Ʋse 2 2 Vse is for Exhortation that seeing wee hauehave so faire an obiect of louelove as Christ is, we would place our louelove there and bestow it on him who best deserues it. This is a verie good point to put in practise. Wee hauehave ignorant, and worldly mindes, wee know not the high Excellencies of Christ Iesus and therefore doe not affect them. The world and worth of it we know and louelove, but too well. Againe Sathan, and our wicked hearts doe blinde our eies, that wee cannot iudge aright of things; it is with our mindes, as it is with our eyes, things that are a farre off though of greater & bigger circuite, yet seeme far lesse then those things that are neerer at hand. The earth, and earthly pleasures they are hard by, we taste see and handle them, we finde the sweetnesse of them by their present possession, their natures agree with ours, they are carnall, and so are wee, and therefore they will sort with our sensuall desires: But now for Heauen and it's Ioy; for Christ, and his graces, and glories, they are matters a far off, out of our kenne, we heare much talke of them in word, but our fleshly mindes cannot raise vp themselues so high, as to conceaue the true worth of them, by that which we heare spoken of them; such spirituall things, fit not with our earthly dispositions, and therefore when we heare of them (take away a few faint desires, that dye of themselues) we hauehave otherwise indeed no great liking of them, we ful…ll eueryevery of vsus more or lesse the Prophecy of Esay, foretelling how corruptly men would iudge touching Christ and his conditions, euen wee thinke that He hath no forme nor comelinesse, Esay. 3. 3.and when wee shall see him there's no such beauty that wee should desire him. Looke how meanely the Iewes esteemed of Christ in his abasement vponupon Earth, so doe Christians now iudge of him though in his glory, they see no such great excellency as men speake of in Christ, in his graces, his word, his ministers his seruice, that they should be so much carried away with the louelove of him, or his. How often doe men aske that question in their hearts, Which the daughters of Ierusalem asked the Church, What is thy beloued more then another beloued, Cant. 5. 9.O thou fairest among women, what is thy beloued more then another beloued that thou dost so charge vsus? What need such adoe, such calling and seeking and enquiring of the Watchmen of the citty; such charging of vsus to tell him to thee, if wee finde him is there any such singular dignity in this thy beloued aboue others? so men in their hearts and tongues doe enquire strangely touching Christ and religion, they wonder what great matters we finde in Christ, and his seruice, what good they get by so much prayers, preaching, running to Sermons, and hearing; by such strictnesse in their liues, and all this for the louelove of Christ, & conscience of his commandements: they see not where the benefit is, and it euen angers them that others should admire what they see not, for any thing they perceiue grace desires not so mmch law as God; the communion of Christ hath not so much delight in it, as that wi…h they call goodfellowship; filthy pleasures rellish sweeter, then the ioyes of the spirit, and peace of a good conscience; they can louelove the world & the things in the world, bee it an impure strumpet, the very image of the divell aswell, nay rather then Iesus Christ. The brightnes of Gods glory, Heb. 1. 3.& expesse image as he is called of his person, This doctrine of louing Christ soundes strangely in the eares of carnall men; Wherefore that wee may make a right vse of this instruction two things are to be obtained before we shall louelove Christ.
1 Knowledge of Christ, what are his excellencies in himselfe and benefits toward vsus. This knowlede is the mother of affection, What the eye sees not the heart rues not; and tis true on the other side, what the eye sees not the heart ioyes not. Wherefore all meanes must bee vsed to get a distinct knowledge of Christ, in all the forenamed particulars. e Perfectly we shall not know him in this life, neither shall we perfectly louelove him, but so farre as the word hath described him to vsus we may and must know him.
2 Holinesse of heart: for Christ, and all things in him are holy, heauenly, and spirituall, and our affections will never take to them, till they bee made like to them heauenly and spirituall, 'tis indeed naturall to louelove some things, but to louelove God thats from grace, this affection is found only in the church, 'tis the soule calls Christ wellbeloued, those that are regenera…e, whose hearts are sanctified, those virgins are spoken of in the third verse of the first chapter, who hauehave smelt the odor of the sweet perfumes, & oyntments of the Grace of Christ shed abroad in their hearts: these louelove Christ, and none els. When thus the eyes of our mindes are enlightned, and our sinfull hearts changed, then shall wee begin vnfainedly to louelove & admire those treasures of knowledge and Wisdome those exceeding riches of grace & glory which are stored in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ: wee shall then looke vponupon all that good is the world which before we loued and magnified, now comparing it with Christ wee shall conclude with the Apostle,Phil. 3. …. The things which were advantage to mee, the same I cannot loose for Christs sake, and iudge them to bee dung that I may winne Christ. It wilbe with vsus as it was with the daughters of Ierusalem before spoken of, who at first ignorantly and somewhat scornefully asked the spouse what was her beloved, that shee sought so much after him, but when shee had at large described him in all his excellencies, and told them: This is my beloued, this is my louelove O Daughters of Ierusalem, Now their eyes are opened, and their hearts touched,Cant. 5. 16 they are as desirous to goe seeke him as the spouse her selfe and now they begin to enquire of her O thou fairest among women, whether is thy beloued gone, whether is he turned asiae, that we may goe and seeke him with thee chap. 6. 1. Now the lord open our eyes by his spirit, that wee may cleerely see and ardently louelove Christ, to whom with the father, &c.
FINIS
End of the text · William Pemble, Five Godly and Profitable Sermons (1628)