A Brief Exposition of the Book of the Song of Solomon, Chapter 2
THE CANTICLES, OR SONG OF SONGS opened and explained.
THE TEXT, CHAP. 2.
I Am the roſe of Sharon, and the lilly of the vallies.
verse 2 As the lilly among thornes, is ſo my love among the daughters.
verse 3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, ſo is my beloved among the ſons, I ſate downe under his ſhadow with great delight and his fruit was ſweet to my taſte.
verse 4 He brought me to the banquetting houſe, and his banner over me was love.
verse 5 Stay mee with flaggons, comfort me with apples, for I am ſicke of love.
verse 6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
verse 7 I charge you, O yee daughters of Jeruſalem, by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, that yee ſtirre not up nor awake my love till he pleaſe.
verse 8 The voice of my beloved, behold hee commeth leaping upon the mountaines, skipping upon the hils.
verse 9 My beloved is like a Roe or a young Hart: behold, hee ſtandeth behind our wall, hee looketh forth at the window, ſhewing himſelfe through the lattice.
verse 10 My beloved ſpake, and ſaid unto me, Riſe up my love, my faire one, and come away.
verse 11 For loe, the winter is paſt, the raine is over and gone.
verse 12 The flowers appeare on the earth, the time of the ſinging of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
verse 13 The figtree putteth forth her greene figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good ſmell. Ariſe my love, my faire one, and come away.
verse 14 O my dove! that art in the clefts of the rocke, in the ſecret place of the ſtaires, let mee ſee thy countenance, let me heare thy voice, for ſweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
verse 15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that ſpoile the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.
verse 16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: hee feedeth among the lillies.
verse 17 Ʋntill the day breake, and the ſhadowes flee away: turne my beloved, and be thou like a Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountaines of Bether.
THE EXPLANATION.
Cant. 2. verſe 1.
I am the roſe of Sharon, and the lilly of the vallies.
THe eſtate of the Church from Joſiahs repaire of the Temple, (in the laſt verſe of the laſt chapter) is deſcribed here,
Firſt, before the captivity, verſe 1. 2. under the laſt dayes of Ioſiah, 2 Kin. 23. 30, 34. and 24. 6, 17.Iehohahaz, Iehojakim, Iehojachin and Zedechiah.
Secondly, in the captivity,
1. At home, the remnant, verſe 3.
2. Abroad, in Babylon, verſe 4.—7.
Thirdly, in the end, after the captivity, where is deſcribed,
1. Her calling out of captivity, to returne and worſhip in Jeruſalem, verſe 8.—13.
Secondly, her eſtate at Jeruſalem till the dayes of the Maccabees, verſe 14. —17.
I am the roſe,] The roſe is firſt, lovely for beauty.
Secondly, ſweet for ſmell, comforting both heart and braine.
Thirdly, wholeſome for uſe and medicinable.
Of Sharon,]1 Chro. 5. 16, 17. & 27. 29. Sharon was a fruitfull field lying under Baſhan, where the heards were wont to feed,Eſay 33. 9. & 35. 2. excellent for fatneſſe and fruitfulneſſe.
And the lilly,]Matth. 6. 28, 29. The lilly is firſt fragrant,
Secondly faire, yet of the vallies, where the heards uſe to feed,1 Chr. 27. 29. as in Sharon.
Theſe words then ſet forth the Churches complaint of that time, as ſome Interpreters of chiefe worth have conceived it; though the words may as fitly be uttered by Chriſt himſelfe, to ſet forth both his owne diſpoſition and the Churches eſtate.
The firſt, Hee was then the roſe of the field, the lilly of the vallies, to ſhew, that when the Church deſpiſed him, to converſe with her in the Temple, and the worſhip there celebrated:
*Chap. 1. ver. 16, 17 Ezek. 9. 3. & 10. 4, 9. & 11. 23. 16.Hee was now ready to leave his Temple, and to be a Sanctuary to his Church abroad.
Secondly, Chriſt is here deſcribed according to the eſtate of the Church of that time, which wanted culture, ordering and dreſſing, thornes and bryars growing up in the Church, and not weeded out:*2 Sam. 23. 6. The wicked are as thornes and bryars,†Mic. 7. 4. and ſtore of them growing up in the Church.
When the Church is as a garden incloſed, aCant. 4. 12.then bryars and thorns are weeded out; but neither Magiſtrate nor Miniſter did his duty in removing offences in thoſe dayes:bMatth. 6. 28, 29. ſo lillies of the field are taken for lillies neglected, which neither take care for themſelves,Verſe 2. 3. nor others take care for them.
Thirdly, As the roſe of the field, or lillies of the vallies, or lilly amongſt the thornes, is continually,
Firſt, ſubject to be prickt and rent with thornes.
Secondly, trodden underfoot by the heards of beaſts, ſo the Church was then ſubject,
1. To be vexed with the wicked growing up with her.
2. To be trodden under foot by the beaſts of the field, the Babilonians, the Egyptians.
c2 Chro. 35. 22, 23, 24.Joſiah, how ſweet a Roe! how faire a lilly! yet how untimely trodden down by Necho: The other Kings were placed, diſplaced,2 Chron. 36. 17. impriſoned, and the whole kingdome with them, at the pleaſure of the Babylonians and Egyptians: and in the end, the whole Church laid waſt by the Babylonians.
Againe, Chriſt is the roſe and lilly, as being,
Firſt, ſweet with the ſavour of his graces.
Secondly, beautifull.
Thirdly, medicinable.
When the Church is corrupt in it ſelfe, it is yet faire and ſweet in Chriſt; dCol. 3. 3.In him our life is hid in our worſt taking: He being white as a lilly by the purity of his righteouſneſſe, we likewiſe are white as lillies in him cloathed with his righteouſneſſe.
As the Apple tree among the trees of the wood, Verſe 3.ſo is my beloved among the ſonnes, I ſate mee downe under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſte.] A tree firſt, not tall as the Cedar of Lebanon, not ſtrong as the Oakes of Baſhan; but a tree of middle ſtature, implying an inferiour Magiſtrate, not ſo high and mighty as the Monarchs of the world, yet ſuch whoſe ſhadow yeelds,
Firſt, refreſhing to a man wandring and fainting in a wilde forreſt.
Secondly, whoſe fruit is ſweet and comfortable, ſuch was Chriſt to his Church, diſpenſing himſelfe in; Gedaliah, whom*2 Kin. 25. 22. Nebuchadnezzar made governour over the remnant of the people that were left in the land.
Firſt, under him, as under a ſhadow, they were feareleſſe and ſafec2 Kin. 25 23.—25.: But after he was cut down, they were driven from under his ſhadow, and durſt ſtay no longer in their own countrey, which was left as a wilde forreſtfverſe 26..
Secondly, they gathered,
Firſt, much ſweet ſummer fruit*Ier. 40, 10.—12..
Secondly, much good Inſtruction and direction from Ieremiah and Baruch gIer. 40. 6 & 43. 6., who both lived with him.
Wine cellar,] Heb. Verſe 4.Houſe of wine; not ſo fitly termed banquetting houſe, which Solomon expreſſeth by another name*Eccleſ. 7. 2.. A wine Cellar is a low vault, under the ground, darke, cold, raw and gloomy; yet repleniſhed with veſſels of liquor, which refreſheth and inlargeth the heart, and openeth the mouth.
This houſe, to the Church, was Babylon, whither God brought his people into captivity, which at firſt view ſeemed dolefull and heavy, but afterward yeelded to them many ſweet taſtes, yea deep draughts of Gods favour: Gods Spirit coming upon men, makes them ſeeme as full of new wine*Acts 2. 13.. It refreſheth and enlargeth the heart, and openeth the mouth,
Firſt, to the praiſe of God.
Secondly, to the edification of his Church; ſuch a ſpirit God poured upon Daniel, Ezekiel, Shadrach and his fellowes *Dan. 1. 19, 20.in the captivity.
And his Banner over mee was love.]
Banner.
Firſt, for an enſigne of defence to the Church.
Secondly, for a flagge of defiance to their enemies: how lovingly and gloriouſly (as with a banner of love diſplaied) did God defend the three children andDan. 3. 25 Daniel himſelfe*Dan. 6. 22..
How did God offer defiance to Idolatry in the three children.†Dan. 5. 16.—18. & 6. 10.
Stay me with flaggons and comfort mee with apples, Verſe 5.for I am ſicke of love.] I, the Church is here faint and ſicke, and ready to ſwoone, for deſire of further fellowſhip with Chriſt, and for her own helpe deſireth,
Firſt, Flaggons of wine to ſtay her.
Secondly, Apples to comfort her; as indeed apples doe comfort the heart and ſtomacke, prevents ſwooning, and reſtraines poyſon*Fernelius a Phyſician.: Thus Daniel, through abundance of Revelations was faint and ſicke, and deſirous of more cleere knowledge of his viſions, and of the Churches deliverance, and found the†Dan. 8. 27. and 10.—12. verſe 15.—19. Angell ready to refreſh and ſtrengthen him: And the other members of the Church feeling ſuch ſweet taſte of Chriſts preſence amongſt them in the captivity, were (doubtleſſe) earneſtly deſirous of more full enjoying him perfectly,
Firſt, by the Miniſtery of the Prophets, as by flaggons of wine.
Secondly, by the Magiſtracy of Daniel and his fellowes,Dan. 2. 48, 49. whom the King ſet up for inferiour Magiſtrates, as by apples, the fruit of the Apple trees.
His left hand is under my head,Verſe 6. his right hand doth embrace me.]
The words may be either a narration how it is, or a prayer that it may be; ſo in the orriginall, the bleſſings of Gods left hand are riches and glory,*Prov. 3. 16. and of his right hand length of daies, or immortality: Riches and Honors God conveyeth to us by the hand of the Magiſtràte, immortality by the hand of Miniſters.
The Church therefore deſireth God in her captivity, (which thing alſo God granted) that,
Firſt Princes ſhould be the lifters up of her head, her nurſing fathers & mothers.
Secondly, Prophets and Prieſts might deliver to her the ſweet teſtimonies of Chriſts embracing love, this was done*2 King. 25. 27.—30. Dan. 2. 48, 49. by evill Merodach to Iehojakin, and by the Miniſtery of Daniel and Ezekiel.
The Princes allowed them great liberty, †Ier. 29. 5, 6.the Prophets diſpenſed heavenly and comfortable doctrine.
I charge you, Verſe 7.O yee daughters of Ieruſalem, by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, that ye ſtirre not up, nor awake my love till he pleaſe.] Heb. I adjure you, that is, I cauſe you to ſweare by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, not by them as the perſons thou art to ſweare by, but by thoſe for whoſe ſake, and by whoſe meanes they are to take themſelves bound as by a ſolemne oath (not to ſtirre up or awake my love) that is, not to provoke Chriſt to exerciſe his Church by any change of their eſtate, till it ſhall pleaſe himſelfe.
Theſe Roes and Hinds are wilde and fearefull creatures, eaſily and and ſwiftly running away, yet otherwiſe willing to feed with the ſheepe, ſuch were then the Gentiles willing to converſe with the Jewes, and to come towards Religion: yet if the eſtate of the Church ſhould have proved more troubleſome by any indiſcreet or offenſive carriage of the Jewes, they would ſoone have ſtarted backe from fellowſhip with them; for their ſakes therefore the Church chargeth her daughters, as by an oath, not to diſturb the peace of Babel, not to ſeeke prepoſterouſly deliverance from thence, before the time that Chriſt had appointed, leſt it turned to the diſturbance of her peace; and to the*Ier. 29. 4.—9. carrying away ſuch Gentiles as were comming on to be Proſelites.
Uſe 1 This may firſt let us ſee that notwithſtanding the reformation of Religion, Chriſt may be pleaſed rather to live abroad in the fields, then at home, where the people would willingly aſſemble: The houſe of God was now repaired, and the bed greene*Cant. 1. 16, 17.: and the Church invites Chriſt to come in unto her, in it, yet hee diſpoſeth himſelfe ſo, as more willing to call her abroad. So wee may ſee, that notwithſtanding the purity and ſimplicity of Chriſts worſhip, yet Chriſt is not bound to any place; if things were never ſo reformed, yet he might leave us, and goe into the wilde field. Rome hath long doted on Peters Chaire, and Jeruſalem might as well have bragged of her priviledges as any other place, but Chriſt leaves them: Never reſt we then in any outward eſtate, for Chriſt may leave us. The Palatinate hath beene as reformed as any Church for doctrine, and though they might ſay, their bed was greene, and their beames were of Cedar, and their rafters of Firre, yet God hath left them: for doe we thinke that if God had beene there, theſe things had befallen them that now are.
Uſe 2 Secondly, this lets us ſee, that though Magiſtrates and Miniſters ſhould both neglect their duties in ordering and dreſſing the Church, ſo that the wicked were tolerated to grow up with them; yet God keepes the ſpirits of his children ſweet and pure, as roſes and lillies in the midſt of bryars and thornes: be not deceived then, for there may be Roſes and lillies growing, where is nothing but bryars and thornes to ſcratch them: It is not ſtraight no Church, when it is there; for Chriſt can ſee his Church, though ſhe be there.
Uſe 3 Thirdly, we may here obſerve againſt the Separatiſt, that it is not ſtraight no Church, that is commingled (as they ſpeake) with notorious wicked ones: the Church may be Chriſts love, yea and a fragrant and pure flower in his ſight and noſtrils, and yet live amongſt bryars and thornes.
Uſe 4 Fourthly, obſerve the ſtate of the Church, is ſometimes expoſed to opportunitie of treading under-foot, no wall nor hedge to fence them: It may lye open,
Firſt, to ſcratching and rending of thornes.
Secondly, to treading under-foot of the wilde beaſts*Pſal. 80. 12, 13..
Uſe 5 Fifthly, this ſerves to direct inferiour Magiſtrates, how to carry themſelves towards the Church, to be as Appletrees in a wood, wherein the Church travailing may finde,
Firſt, ſhadow of protection.
Secondly, ſweet fruit of loving mercy.
Uſe 6 Sixthly, we may here ſee the wonderfull power of God, and goodneſſe to his Church, in turning their houſe of bondage into a houſe of wine, in ſpreading alſo his banner of love over them in their greateſt diſtreſſes and dangers: what more dolefull times of his Church then captivity, when men would thinke God carries his Church into a dungeon, then he carries her into a wine Cellar: This may be a ground of ſolid comfort to us in our worſt takings, for though wee be in the greateſt extremity, yea, in the deepeſt dungeon of darkneſſe, God can ſuſtaine and uphold us here, and refreſh us with many comforts.
Uſe 7 Seventhly, this ought to ſtirre us up to more ardent and longing affections after Chriſt, ſo that as wee be ready to faint and ſwoone through earneſt affections, after more full and familiar fellowſhip with him: It was Daniels caſe, he was ſicke of love, ſo let it be with us for want of Gods preſence; and pray that God would refreſh us with his preſence, and ſend good Miniſters and good Magiſtrates to be as nurſing fathers to his Church.Eſay 49. 23.
Uſe 8 Eighthly, this ſerves to teach, and ſtraightly to charge the children of God, when they enjoy Gods preſence and favour in the Miniſterie and Magiſtracie, ſuſtaining and comforting them, to take heed of diſturbing their peace,
1. By any indiſcreet, or
2. Offenſive carriage, for it is
Firſt, a diſturbance to Chriſt himſelfe, he is ſtirred up and awaked, (as it were) before he pleaſe.
Secondly, the Roes and Hinds of the field, young commers on in Religion, are ſoone ſcared away by dangers and troubles ariſing againſt the Church; therefore we ſhould be carefull and take heed wee provoke not any dog to barke, for then they will be gone: Let us therefore walke wiſely, and inoffenſively, that none be diſcouraged, that Chriſt, who doth ſuſtaine us, and refreſh us, may dwell with us for ever.
The voyce of my beloved,Verſe 8. to end. behold hee commeth leaping upon the mountaines, and skipping upon the hills.]
In theſe words are deſcribed,
Firſt, the Churches deliverance out of captivity: where is laid downe,
Firſt, the preparation to the deliverance in the cauſes of it; which were
Firſt, the voice of the beloved.
Secondly, the comming of the beloved, and that ſwiftly,
Firſt leaping and skipping.
Secondly, as a young Hart or Roe*Ver. 8, 9..
Thirdly, his beſieging Babel and overcomming it ſet forth in three actions:
Firſt, ſtanding behind the wall.
Secondly, looking out at the windowes.
Thirdly, ſhewing himſelfe through the lattice*Ver. 8, 9..
Secondly, the calling out of captivity:
Firſt,Verſe 10,—13. to goe out of Babylon into their owne Countrey; whereunto there are motives
Firſt, from removall of impediments, verſe 11.
Secondly, from ſtore of opportunities, ver. 12, 13.
Thirdly, to worſhip God in publicke meetings in their own Countrey*Ver. 14..
Secondly, the ſtate of the Church returned into her owne Countrey, in regard,
Firſt, of oppoſition of enemies*Ver. 15., ſubtill and ravenous: where is ſet forth,
Firſt, their nature; they are foxes, little foxes.
Secondly, the harme they doe; they ſpoile the vines.
Thirdly, there take us the foxes.
Secondly, of their communion with Chriſts outward enemies, and inward abuſes reſtrained, partly, more plentifull and intire.
Firſt, My beloved is mine, and I am his.
Secondly, *Ver. 16.Feedeth amongſt the Lillies.
Secondly, interrupted, and yet by turnes Chriſt often and ſpeedily, viſiting and ſuccouring them, and that to the time of the comming of Chriſt, and the aboliſhing of the ſhadowes of the ceremoniall Law*Ver. 17..
The voyce of my beloved.]Verſe 8. This was the report of Cyrus comming to beſiege Babel, and his muſtering together of many Nations to that ſervice; which rumour was diſcerned, by the faithfull, to be the accompliſhment of the prophecies given them before, of deliverance by Cyrus *Eſay 44. 28. & 45. 1.And therefore the Church hearing this rumour, ſuddenly acknowledgeth in it the promiſe and voyce of Chriſt†Ier. 50. 42, 43,—46.: and ſo it was no leſſe gratefull to them, then dolefull and dreadfull to the Babylonians.
He commeth leaping upon the mountaines.
My beloved is like a Roe,Verſe 9. or a young Hart; behold he ſtandeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the window, ſhewing himſelfe through the lattice.]
Theſe words expreſſe the great expedition and ſpeed which Cyrus made in his journey againſt Babel, all the Nations lying in the way,
Firſt, either of themſelves ſetting open their gates to him, as weary of the Babylonian yoke.
Secondly, or ſpeedily ſurpriſed and ſubdued.
Hee ſtandeth behinde the wall,] Laying ſiege to the wals of Babylon.
He looketh forth at the windowes:] That is, hee giveth ſome glimps of hope, of further enlargement to the Church.
He ſheweth himſelfe through the lattice.] As in the originall, any place burned through in the ſiege of Babel, Cyrus diverting the courſe of Euphrates another way, which before came through the midſt of the City, burning up the reeds, and drying up the water paſſages, hee ſhewed himſelfe through the place, and entered the City*Ier, 30. 31, 32..
My beloved ſpake and ſaid to me, Ver. 10.Riſe up my love, my faire one, and come away:] That is, Cyrus made open proclamation for my departure out of Babel, and returne into into mine owne countrey†Ezra 2. 1.—4.. Though Cyrus was an heathen, and knew not Chriſt the beloved,*Eſay 45. 4, 5. yet the Church in Cyrus ſaw the hand and voyce of Chriſt, uſing Cyrus as an inſtrument for deliverance; whence Ezra ſaith,*Ezr. 1. 7. the Lord ſtirred up the ſpirit of Cyrus.
For loe the winter is paſt,Ver. 11. the raine is over and gone.]
That is, firſt, partly it was now ſpring time of the yeare, the winter and raine were now over, which elſe might have hindered travaile.
Secondly, the metaphoricall winter of Babels captivity, and all the ſtormes of it were blowne over; whence it is, the Caldean word is here uſed to ſignifie this winter, not the common Hebrew word.
The flowers appeare on the earth,Ver. 12. the time of the ſinging of birdes is come, and the voyce of the turtle is heard in our land:]
Which, with the words following, is,
Firſt, partly a deſcription of the ſpring time, which invited them to this journey.
Secondly, partly a ſetting before them of ſuch conveniences, which, like to the ſpring time, might invite them to this journey.
The flowers appeare on the earth:] That is, even they of the people of the Countries amongſt whom they ſojourned; they both,
Firſt, praiſed God for their deliverance *Pſ. 126. 1.—3..
Secondly, furniſhed them with gold and ſilver, and other uſefull things for their journey†Ezr. 1. 4. 6.—8..
The time of the ſinging of birds is come:] To wit, that the Prieſts and Levites ſhould now ſing and praiſe God in their owne Countries; which they thought unſeaſonable to do in a ſtrange land†Pſa. 137. 3, 4..
The voyce of the turtle is heard in our land.] That is, of Chriſt the faithfull ſpouſe of his Church, who is mourning in Judea, becauſe he findeth not his Mate (the Church) there.Ver. 13.
The fig-tree putteth forth her greene figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good ſmell,] That is, the chiefe of the Fathers and Elders of the people, they ſhew themſelves forward to countenance the journey, and to prepare for it.
Ariſe my love, my faire one, and come away.] Being twice repeated*Ver. 10, 13., it argueth the people were ſlacke to leave their ſtates, which they had planted themſelves in at Babel; and therefore ſtood in need of calling on againe and againe.
O my dove,Ver. 14. that art in the clefts of the rocke, in the ſecret place of the ſtayers, let me ſee thy countenance, let me heare thy voyce, for ſweet is thy voice, and thy countenance comely.
O my dove.] That is, my chaſte, innocent and faire ſpouſe.
That art in the clefts of the rocke, in the ſecret place of the ſtayers,] That now doſt worſhip me in holes and corners.
Let me ſee thy countenance, let me heare thy voyce:] Let mee ſee thee aſſembled into the face of a Church, in my Sanctuary, let me there heare thee calling upon mee, ſinging praiſe to mee, ſpeaking my word.
For ſweet is thy voyce, and thy countenance comely.]
Firſt, the voyce of the Church, at one and the ſame time,
Firſt, rejoycing in Gods wonderfull mercy.
Secondly, weeping and bewailing, partly,
Firſt, their owne unworthineſſe.
Secondly, the decayes of the Church, in regard of former timesaPſa. 14. 6. 1,—3. with Ier. 50. 4, 5. & Ezra 3. 11.—13. Ver. 15..
Take us the foxes, the little foxes that ſpoile the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.] That is, reſtraine (the foxes, the little foxes) the enemies of the Church, of greater or leſſer power;bEzra 4. 2.—4. & 5. 3. Neh. 4. 1.—3. Heſt. 3. 8, 9. ſuch as were the Samaritans. Theſe ſpoiled the vines,cEzr. 4. 4, 5, 23, 24. hindered the proceeding of the building of the Temple, and the peace of the Church. And therefore Tobiah ſaid truely of himſelfe and his fellowes, that they, as foxes, going upon the weake foundation of the walls of Jeruſalem, might eaſily demoliſh the ſamedNeh. 4. 3: Yet theſe foxes in the end were taken and reſtrained, Firſt, partly by the Edict of Darius eEzra 6. 11.—13.: Secondly, partly by the hanging of Haman and his ſons, and the deſtruction of ſome other of the Jewes enemiesfHeb. 7. 10. & 9. 14.—16 Ver. 16..
My beloved is mine and I am his.] The Church enjoyeth familiar and comfortable Communion with Chriſt, theſe enemies being quelled*Neh. 8..
Shee feedeth among the lillies.] That is, among pure and faire Chriſtians, all corruptions being weeded out, both of ſtrange wives*Ezr. 10., of uſury, of right of the Levites maintenance and miniſtration, †Neh 13.and prophanation of the Sabbath.
Untill the day breake, and the ſhadowes flee away:Ver. 17. turne my beloved, and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart, upon the mountaines of Bether.
Turne my beloved.] That is, returne often to viſit and ſuccour me.
As a Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountaines of Bether.] That is, ſwiftly and ſpeedily,*2 Sam. 2. 29. Bether being neere to them on the other ſide Jordan; as who ſhould ſay, Though thou ſometime turne from us, yet be not farre, but ready ever and anon to returne and ſuccour us.
Untill the day breake, and the ſhadowes flee away.] That is, till Chriſt come, and the Ceremoniall ſhadowes vaniſh.
Uſe 1 Firſt, this teacheth us that in all the inſtruments of the Churches deliverance, we ſhould ſee and diſcerne Chriſt ſpeaking and working in them: See here the Church lookes not at Cyrus ſo much, but at Chriſt in him. Doe they heare a rumour of a deliverance? It is the voyce of Chriſt, and it muſt needs be a ſtrong voyce which Chriſt is the author of. The wiſeſt Daniel, Shadrach, Meſhach and Abednego, they ſay it is Chriſt, and all the reſt yeeld; and the Church ſees Chriſt come skipping: Doth it ſee Cyrus about the wals? She ſees Chriſt there. Doth ſhe ſee Cyrus ſhewing himſelfe through the lattice? She ſees Chriſt there. Doth ſhe ſee when he is poſſeſſed there, and makes proclamation to them to goe up againe to Jeruſalem? She looks at it as Chriſts voyce, ſaying,*Ver. 13. Ariſe my love my faire one, and come away.
So the holy Ghoſt teacheth, what favour any doth ſhew to the Church, it is Chriſt that doth it; ſo take it, that if any good befall the Church, it is Chriſt that doth it; If any lead into captivity, Nebuchadnezzar, or any other, it is Chriſt that leads her into a wine Cellar: If there be any noiſe or worke of deliverance, it is Chriſt that comes leaping and skipping: So in all the calamities, and in all the bleſſings that befall the Church, aſcribe all to Chriſt:*Iob 1. 21. & 42. 10. The ſame hand that gave, the ſame hand hath taken away:†Pſal. 12. 6, 11. God turned the captivity of Job, and God turned againe the captivity of his people. This is a wonderfull ſtay to Gods Church, and to every member of it; for man cannot bring it into captivity, and bring it out againe: Mans hand cannot bring hard things upon the Church, nor bring her out againe of them; for if it were in mens hands, or in Sathans, or in our own hands, it would not goe well with us; but being in Chriſts hands alone, it may be a ſtay and a comfort.
Uſe 2 Secondly, this teacheth us, that when the time of the Churches deliverance is come, Chriſt will come quickly and ſpeedily for her deliverance, leaping and skipping as a Roe or a Hart. The winter ſhall not alwaies remain on the Church, no, not when ſhe deſerves a black winter. The patient abiding of the Saints ſhall not alwayes be forgotten. Pſ. 9. 18.Suppoſe God leades his Church into captivity ſeven yeares, yea ſeventy yeares; yet it will not alwayes continue. This may ſerve to comfort us in the diſtreſſes of the Church, at home or abroad; God will not alwayes puniſh with reproach or deſolation, but the time will come theſe will be gone and flee away.
Uſe 3 Thirdly, this lets us ſee the Church profitteth by calamities; ſhee comes out better from them, then ſhee went into them: ſhe entred and went into captivity hating God, defiled with many abominations; ſhe returnes out, My love, my faire one. The Church of God, and the members of it are more lovely in Gods ſight by the hard times that paſſe over them: when this Church had beene ſeventy yeares in captivity, (a hard time it was, yet) they loſt nothing by it▪ they kiſſed his Rod,Ier. 12. 7, 8. and ſought God; and now hee ſtiles them lovely: He loathed them becauſe they loathed him; they were now tried and purified; before they were loathſome, but are now lovely; before hated, but now loved. But ſee what a bleſſed uſe chaſtiſements are of to the Church: how loathſome ſoever wee goe into captivity, when wee defile our ſelves with luſts and ſins, yet when wee have beene throughly humbled with ſome croſſes, how faire come wee out! †Pro. 3. 11My ſonne deſpiſe not the chaſtening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction. And why doth God ſay, Deut. 8. 16. He proved them to doe them good; when hee ſaith, my love, it is more then lovely, it is love, it is love it ſelfe; and faire one is more then faire? So,†Pſ. 119. 71. It is good for mee (ſaith David) that I have beene afflicted: ſo the Church before her affliction was loathſome, foule, hated; but now ſhe is faire and lovely.
Thou art faire oh my love.]
Uſe 4 Fourthly, this lets us ſee, the Churches winter: ſtormes ſhall not alwayes lie upon her, but they ſhall in the end blow over:*Pſ. 125. 3. The rod of the wicked ſhall not reſt upon the lot of the righteous.
Uſe 5 Fifthly, we may ſee that outward comforts are eaſily able to drowne in us a longing after Gods ordinances: the contentment that ſome found in captivity, made them ſtand in need of often calling to returne to Sion.
Uſe 6 Sixthly, wee may learne here that the face of the Church is not alwayes viſible and conſpicuous in the eyes of men, but alwaies in the eyes of God; for they meet under the ſtaires, and worſhip God in holes and corners. And a while after Chriſt ſaith, Why doſt thou lie thus under the ſtaires, and in clifts of rockes, let me ſee thy face, and heare thy voyce. The Church of Rome advanceth her ſelfe that ſhe hath alwayes beene conſpicuous; but this is no true ſigne of a true Church, for the true Church is not alwayes conſpicuous: Though Chriſt alwayes ſees ſome to meet in corners and holes, yet not alwayes in ſolemne aſſemblies. The Dove of Chriſt Jeſus ſometimes makes her reſt in the rockes, and builds under the ſtaires, where Chriſt ſees her, but not publickly.
Uſe 7 Seventhly, ſee here the Church needs not Angels and Saints to mediate for her,Verſe 14. her owne voyce is ſweet and countenance comely in Gods eſtimation:*Ioh. 16. 26, 27. At that day yee ſhall aske in my name; and I ſay not to you that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himſelf loveth you becauſe yee have loved me. Chriſt tels us, hee ſhall have no great need to pray for us, for God himſelfe loveth us, to heare our voyce, and to ſee us; let us then not be afraid to put forth our voyces: labour then for ſuch a ſpirit as to grieve for our ſinnes, and to rejoyce in Gods mercies; for God is pleaſed with that: hee is a true citizen of Sion, that when hee abounds in Gods mercies, yet hee weepes for his ſins; and when he weepes for his ſinnes, yet hee is thankefull for Gods mercies.
Uſe 8 Againe, obſerve, the Church ſhall alwayes be troubled with ſome enemies, Take us the foxes that ſpoile the vines: Verſe 16.There ſhall be ever ſome Sanballat, or Tobiah, or ſome other to be nibbling at the Church of God: wonder not at this, for this will be ſo; but obſerve touching theſe enemies of the Church,
Firſt, they ſhall deale ſubtilly and craftily with her.
Secondly, they may diſturb and hinder her peace and proceedings; but
Thirdly, they ſhall in the end be reſtrained, as in Revel. 19. 20. And the beaſt was taken, and with him the falſe Prophet that wrought miracles before him, &c. Theſe both were caſt alive into a lake of fire burning with brimſtone. Therefore let ſuch foxes know the time will come when Chriſt will either take them, and chaine them, and bind them up, as he did Sanballat, Tobiah, Shether-boznai *Ezra 6. 6, 7.: or elſe hang them up, as hee did Haman and his ſonnes. Let men then take heed that they doe not puſh at the Church, for God will either chaine them up, or hang them out of the way.
Uſe 9 Laſtly, here wee may ſee, when the enemies of the Church are reſtrained or deſtroyed, and corruptions weeded out of it, the Church then enjoyeth ſweet, and ſafe, and full fellowſhip with the Lord Jeſus, and hee with her: Hee gives her pledges of his favour, and ſhe gives him pledges of pure worſhipping him; He feeds them with his ordinances, they him with their ſacrifices. And they that would procure Chriſt this, let them provide for weeding out of their ſinnes; as uſury, wicked marriages, profanations of Gods Sabbaths, &c. Such Churches ſhall be ſweet, and much ſweet ſolace ſhall they enjoy one with another, Chriſt with them, and they with him.