Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Canticles · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Verſ. 1. O that thou wert as my Brother]
HEb. Who will give thee for a Brother to mee] q. d. Men may give mee many other things, but God alone can give mee thy brother-hood, love, and communion, which I wiſh above all, ſaith the Bride here.Epheſ. 1.3. Spiritual bleſſings in heavenly things in Chriſt are chiefly to bee deſired and indeavoured after. Quaerito primum bona animi, ſaith Philoſophy, Seek firſt the good things of the minde. Quarito primum regnum Dei, ſaith Divinity, Seek yee firſt the Kingdome of God, and his righteouſneſs: and then other things ſhall ſeek you, ſhall bee caſt into the bargain, as it were. Let the Many ſay, Who will ſheir any good? David prefers one caſt of Gods countenance before all the worlds wealth,Aug. de pec. mort. l. 1. c. 11. Pſal. 4.7. Oh that Iſhmael might live in thy ſight, ſaid Abraham, Oh that hee might bee written among the living in Jeruſalem, bee an heir of life truly ſo called, for, Aeterna vita vera vita! The Lord make his face to ſhine upon you, ſaid the Prieſts to the people, Numb. 6. Grace bee to you, and peace, ſaith Paul; what ever elſe be wanting. Covet earneſtly the beſt things, ſaith hee, 1 Cor. 12.13. With all thy getting get underſtanding, ſaith Solomon, Prov. 4.7. Hee deſired wiſdome above wealth: and diſpatcht the Temple in ſeven years ſpace, when as hee was thirteen years ere hee finiſhed his own houſe; as holding it a work of leſs haſte and care. Eliſha begs a double portion: the Spouſe (chap. 2. of this Book) calls for whole flagons: nothing leſs would content her. The Prophet Iſaiah chides men for laying out their mony on that which is not bread,Iſa. 55.1, 2. or but panis lapidoſus, bread made of gravell: And our Saviour bids, labour not for the meat that periſheth, but for the meat that endureth to eternal life, John 6.27. Mors privare poteſt opibus, non operibus: theſe dye not with us, (as Hortenſiu his orations did with him) but follow us to heaven when wee dye, and ſhall be found to praiſe, honour and glory, at that day, 1 Pet. 1.7. Hence the Church ſo earneſtly deſireth here to have more cloſe conjunction and conſociation with Chriſt as a brother: yea, as a moſt natural and kinde-hearted brother, that had ſucked the breaſts of her mother, that had been her collactaneus, and ſo, more inwardly affected toward her, as Joſeph was toward his brother Benjamin, Gen. 43.29, 30, 34. In ſum: ſhee wiſheth that ſhee may feel Chriſt dwelling in her heart: that hee would remove all impediments of their happy conjunction, and haſten the accompliſhment thereof in heaven.
When I ſhould finde thee without (or at the door) I would kiſs thee] As the Bride was wont to do the Bride-groom, receiving and welcoming him with all comely familiarity and ſweetneſs. Kiſs the ſon, and covet his kiſſes, Pſal. 2.12. Cant. 1.2. Bee not aſhamed or afraid to perform all duties of an holy love, and ſound obedience toward him. Hee was not aſhamed of … when wee had never a rag to our backs, Ezek. 16. Hee ſtretcht the ski… … love over us, and ſaid unto us, Live: when hee might well enough have loathed to look on us, ib. verſ. 6.
Yet I ſhould not bee despiſed] Heb. they ſhould not deſpiſe mee. Or if they did, yet they ſhould not diſhearten mee from duty.2 Sam. 6.22. If this bee to be vile, I will be yet more vile, ſaid David to his mocking M…chal. Wee may not ſuffer our ſelves to bee mocked out of our Religion. Barren Michal hath too many ſons, that ſcorn the holy habit and exerciſes; but they ſhall bee plagued, as their mother was with continual fruitleſneſs, they ſhall alſo one day (viz. when they are in hell) behold thoſe with envy, whom now they behold with ſcorn: as the ſcoffers of the old world, from the tops of the mountains that could not ſave them, behold Noahs Ark floating upon the waters. It is as impoſſible to avoid, as neceſſary to contemn the laſh of lewd tongues, whether by bitter ſcoffes or ſcurrilous invectives; as full of ſcorn commonly as the wit of malice can make them. The Church here reſolveth ſo to deport her ſelf, as that none ſhall have cauſe to contemn her: or if they do, bravely to ſlight all contumelies and contempts for her conſcience; taking them as crowns and confirmations of her conformity to Chriſt.
Verſ. 2. I would lead thee and bring thee] With ſolemnity and joy. Shee ſpeaks it twice, as fully reſolved to do it; and hereby to binde her ſelf more ſtraightly to a performnce; I would not onelyonly kiſs thee at the door, but bring thee into the houſe. Many are ſtrict abroad, and in company, but too too looſe at home, and in their own houſes: follow theſe ſtage-players to their crying rooms where they diſ-robe themſelves, and you ſhall ſoon ſee what they are. Heed muſt bee taken, ſay the very Heathen, Aedibus in propriis quae prava aut recta gerantur. Religion admits not of that diſtinction between a good man and a good Governour. If you will be for the publique, bee good in private: bear your own fruit, work in your own hives, reform your own hearts, and houſes, man your own Oars, and make good your own ſtanding. Cato could ſay,Plut. Dio. Gen. Joſh. 24.14. Curam exegeris, non curationem. Bern. that hee could pardon all mens faults but his own: And Auguſtus going about to redreſs ſome abuſes in the State, was upbraided with his own domeſtical diſorders. Abraham had a well ordered family: ſo had Joſhua, David, Pſal. 101. And although his houſe were not ſo with God, yet that was all his deſire, 2 Sam. 23.5. and he well knew that it was the care, not the cure of his charge that hee ſtood charged with. Noah may bring the Lord Chriſt into his houſe, and labour to ſet him up in the hearts of his children, ſpeaking perſwaſively to that purpoſe: But when all's done, God muſt perſwade Japheth, and ſpeak to his heart. Now this the Lord doth, Monendo potius quam minando, docendo quam ducendo. Hence the Church in the next words cryes out,
Thou ſhalt inſtruct mee] For ſo the Text is to be rendred. Thou who art the Arch-Prophet, a Teacher ſent from God, anointed and appointed for the purpoſe to put Divine learning into us, Thou ſhalt inſtruct or learn us. Now, quando Chriſtus magiſter: quam cito deſcitur quod docetur? ſaith Auſtin. Chriſt is a quick teacher; and all his ſcholars are very forwardly.foreign John 6.45. Neſcit tarda molimina gratia Spiritus Sancti, ſaith Ambroſe. Gods people muſt needs be well taught, becauſe they are all taught of God.
I would cauſe thee to drink of ſpiced wine] Such as wee call Ipocras, which, beſides the nature and ſtrength of the wine it ſelf, hath by the mixture of many ſpices with it, great power and pleaſantneſs, to the comforting of the heart, and ſatisfying of the ſmell. And this was the foreign Minerval, recompenſe, that Chriſt ſhould have for teaching her: ſhee reſolveth to teſtifie her thankfulneſs by her obedience: rendring unto him ſuch fruits of faith and holineſs, as ſhould bee ſweetned and ſpicened with his own Spirit in her, and ſhould exceedingly delight him. Contrary to theſe foreign, theſe dainty and goodly fruits, are thoſe naſty and naughty ones,Rev. 18.14. Iſa. 5.4. that (beſides their ſtench) are ſo offenſive to the taſte, that they cannot bee eaten, they are ſo naught, Jer. 24.2. Wicked mens grapes are of gall, and their Wine is venome, Deut. 32.32, 33. both their natures and practices are abominable.
Verſ. 3. His left hand ſhould bee under my head] Or prayer-wiſe, Let his left hand, &c. Conſcious and ſenſible of her own inability, ſhee begs the benefit of both Chriſts hands, and all little enough: his whole power and providence to ſupport and relieve her.
Ʋna eſt in tenui mihi re medicina, Jehova
Cor patrium, os verax, omnipotenſque manus.
See the Note on chap. 2.6.
Verſ. 4. I charge you, O daughters of Jeruſalem] See the Note on chap. 2.7.
Why ſhould you ſtir up] What ſhall you get by it? or what reaſon can yee give for it? But luſt is head-long, and conſiders not what an evill and bitter thing ſin is. Beſides, it ſo blears the underſtanding,Jer. 2.19. that a man ſhall think hee hath reaſon to bee mad, and that there is great ſenſe in ſinning.
Verſ. 5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderneſs] See the Note on chap. 3.6. There are continual aſcenſions in the hearts of Gods people, whiles here. And whereas the men of this world, which have their portion here, (Pſal. 17.14.) animas etiam incarnaverunt, as Bernard complaineth, and are born downward to hell by their own weight; the Saints of God are ever aſpiring, and do groan being burdened; as knowing that whileſt they are at home in the body, (ſuch an home as it is) they are abſent from the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.4, 6.from their heavenly home. Either Egypt was not Moſes his home, or but a miſerable one: and yet in reference to it, hee called his ſon born in Midian, Gerſhom, i. e. a ſtranger there. If hee ſo thought of this Egyptian home, where was nothing but bondage and tyranny, what marvell though the Saints think of that home of theirs above, (and haſten to it in their affections) where is nothing but reſt and bleſſedneſs?
Leaning upon her Beloved] For otherwiſe ſhee could not aſcend, as unable to ſuſtain her ſteps, Jer. 10.23. The Church, as the Vine, is the moſt fruitful, but the weakeſt of all trees, and muſt have a ſupporter: hence ſhee leans upon her Beloved: Brightman. Sunt qui exponunt Delicians.which phraſe, beſide recumbency, denotes a more than ordinary familiarity, qua ſolent amantes inſinus amaſiorum ſc projicere, like as Lovers throw themſelves ſometimes into their ſweet-hearts arms or boſomes. Now thus to lean upon Chriſt, is an act of faith, of the faith of Gods Elect. Others ſeem to lean upon Chriſt, but it is no otherwiſe than as the Apricock which leaneth againſt the walls, but is faſt rooted in the earth. So theſe lean upon Chriſt for Salvation, but are rooted in the world, in pride, filthineſs, &c. and though they make ſome aſſaies, yet like the door upon the hinges, they will not come off. See the folly and confidence of theſe wretched men, (the ſame Hebrew word ſignifies both; and may both waies be taken, Pſal. 49.13.) graphically deſcribed by the Prophet, Mich. 3.11. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the Prieſts thereof teach for hire, and the Prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and ſay, Is not the Lord among us? none evill can come upon us. Theſe men periſh by catching at their own catch, hanging on their own fancy, making a bridge of their own ſhadow: they will not otherwiſe believe but that Chriſt is their ſweet Saviour, and ſo doubt not but they are ſafe, when it is no ſuch matter. They grow aged and crooked with ſuch falſe conceits, and can ſeldome or never bee ſet ſtraight again. Theſe muſt know, that to rely upon Chriſt, is to bee utterly unbottomed of a mans ſelf, and of every creature: and ſo to lean upon Chriſt alone, that if hee fail, thou ſinkeſt; if hee ſet not in, thou art loſt for ever. Papiſts think, that as hee that ſtandeth on two firm branches of a tree is ſurer than hee that ſtandeth upon one: ſo hee that truſteth to Chriſt and his own works too. But it muſt bee conſidered, firſt, that hee which looketh to bee juſtified by the law, is fallen from grace: Chriſt is of no effect unto him, Gal. 5.4. Hee will not mingle his purple-blood with our puddle-ſtuff, his rich robes with our tattered rags, his Eagles feathers with our Pigeons plumes. There can bee but one Sun in heaven (Sol quaſi Solus) and they ſet up ruſh candles to the Sun, that joyn other Saviours to this Sun of righteouſneſs. Secondly, hee that hath one foot on a firm branch, another on a rotten one, ſtands not ſo ſure, as if wholly on that which is ſound: Away then with all ſuch mock-ſtays: See the fruit of creature-confidence, Job 6.17. & 8.15. and know, that no man truſts Chriſt at all, that truſts him not alone. Hee that ſtands with one foot on a rock, and another foot on a quick-ſand, will ſink and periſh as certainly, as hee that ſtandeth with both feet on a quick-ſand. See Pſal. 6.2.2.5, 6.
I raiſed thee up under the Apple-tree, &c.] Here the Bride anſwereth to the Bridegrooms queſtion, Who is this, or What woman is this that cometh up from the Wilderneſs, &c? that goes in a right line to God, leaning on her Beloved? that will not break the hedge of any commandment to avoid any peece of foul way? I am ſhee, ſaith the Church, even the very ſame that raiſed thee up under the apple-tree, &c. viz. by mine earneſt prayers. When thou waſt aſleep under the apple-tree, and I had ſtraightly charged the Damoſels of Jeruſalem not to diſquiet thee by their ſins, yet I took the boldneſs to arouſe thee, and ſay, as Pſal. 44.23. Awake, why ſleepeſt thou, O Lord? ariſe, caſt us not off for ever; and with thoſe drowning Diſciples, Maſter, eareſt thou not that wee periſh? Sometimes (ſaith one) God ſeems to loſe his mercy, and then wee muſt finde it for him, as Iſa. 63.10. ſometimes to ſleep, and then wee muſt waken him, quicken him, Pſal. 40.17. Iſa. 62.7. God will come, but he will have his peoples prayers lead him, Dan. 10.12. I come for thy Word. Chriſt himſelf is the apple-tree here mentioned, as Cant. 2.3. Though there are that interpret it of the Croſs, that tree whereon hee bare our ſins in his own body, 1 Pet. 2.24. Others better, of the tree of offence, the forbidden fruit, Gen. 2. And that when Eve taſted of that fruit (which they here-hence conclude to have been an apple, though the word bee more general, Nux enim pomum dicitur) then, as Chriſts mother, ſhee brought him forth by believing the promiſe there made unto her, that Meſſiah of her ſeed ſhould break the Serpents head. Look how the Virgin Mary conceived Chriſt when ſhee yielded her aſſent: When the Angel ſpake to her, what ſaid ſhee preſently? Be it as thou haſt ſaid, Let it bee even ſo, ſhee yielded her aſſent to the promiſe, that ſhee ſhould conceive a ſon, and ſhee did conceive him: So Eve believed the promiſe of pardon and ſalvation, ſhee ſaw it afar off, was perſwaded of it, and embraced it, Heb. 11.13. and is therefore ſaid here to bear and bring forth Chriſt, yea, to travell of him with ſorrow, as the word ſignifies: for as there is no other birth without pain, ſo neither is the new birth. Thoſe that have paſſed through the narrow womb of repentance, and been born again, will ſay as much, See Iſa. 26.17. If God brake Davids bones, and the Angels back (ſaith one) hee will break thy heart too, if ever hee ſave thee. No ſound heart ever went to heaven as (in another ſenſe) none but ſound could ever come thither. Cor integrum cor ſciſſum. Rent your hearts, &c.
Verſ. 6. Set mee as a ſeal upon thine heart] i. e. Bee thou as a merciful and faithful High-Prieſt in things pertaining to God, Heb. 2.17. with Exod. 28.21, 29. Remember mee for good, and make mention of mee to thy Father. Have mee alſo in pretious eſteem, as great men have the ſignets upon their right hands; and as whatſoever is ſealed with a ſeal, that is excellent in its own kinde, as Iſa. 28.25. hordeum ſignatum, excellent barly. Chriſt wears his people as a ſignet, or as great men wear their jewels, to make him glorious in the eyes of men; neither will hee bee plundered of them by the Churches enemies: to touch them,Zech. 2.8. is to touch the apple of his eye, that tendereſt piece of the tendereſt part. The Proverb is, Oculus & fama non patiuntur jocos, The eye and the good name can bear with no jeſts. As the Saints are in Chriſts heart, ad commoriendum & convivendum, ſo they are alſo upon his arm, ſo that if they do but come and ſay in any danger or difficulty, Awake, awake, put on ſtrength, O arm of the Lord, awake as in the ancient days, &c. Iſa. 51.9. hee will redeem his people with his arm, Pſal. 77.15. yea, with his out-ſtretcht arm, Exod. 6.6. that is, with might and open manifeſtation of his love: hee will awake as one out of ſleep, and like a man that ſhouteth by reaſon of wine, Pſal. 78.65.
For love is ſtrong as death] And yet death is ſo ſtrong, that it paſſeth over all men, Rom. 5.12. and devoureth them as ſheep, Pſal. 49.14. as a rot it over-runneth the whole flock, having for its Motto, Nulli cedo, I yield to none: OnelyOnly love is strong as death, nay, ſtronger. Jonathan would have died for the love of David, David of Abſolom. Arſinoe interpoſed her ſelf between the Murtherers weapons ſent by Ptolomy her brother, to kill her children. Priſcilla and Aquila for St. Pauls life laid down their own necks, Rom. 16.4. Paul was in deaths often for Jeſus ſake. Thoſe primitive Martyrs loved not their lives unto the death, Rev. 12.11. Certatim glorioſa in certamina ruebatur, ſaith Sulpitius, they were prodigal of their deareſt lives, and even ambitious of Martyrdome; that thereby they might ſeal up their entire love to the Lord Jeſus. If every hair of mine head were a man,Act. & Mon. fol. 1438. I would ſuffer death in the opinion and faith that I am now in, ſaid John Ardley Martyr to Biſhop Bonner. Ignis, crux, beſtiarum conflictationes, oſſium diſtractiones, &c. Let mee ſuffer fire, croſs, breaking of my bones, quartering of my members, cruſhing of my body, and all the torments that men or devils can deviſe, ſo I may enjoy my Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſaid holy Ignatius; whoſe Motto was, Amor meus crucifixus, my love was crucified. Love is it ſelf a paſſion, and delights to ſhew it ſelf in ſuffering for the party beloved; yea, though it were to paſs through a thouſand deaths for his ſake. And this is here yielded as a reaſon why the Spouſe firſt awakened Chriſt, and now deſires to bee ſo nearly knit unto him, to bee ſet as a ſeal upon his hand, yea, upon his heart, the love of Chriſt conſtrained her, and lay ſo hard upon her, that ſhe could do no leſs than beg ſuch a boon of him, than covet ſuch a courteſie, as a compenſation of her deareſt love to him. And ſurely to account Chriſt precious as a tree of life, although wee bee faſtned to him as to a ſtake to bee burned, this is love; and this our labour of love cannot be in vain in the Lord.
Jealouſie is cruel as the grave] Or, zeal is hard as hell. This follows well upon the former,Contra Adamant. c. 13. for, Non amat qui non zel…t, ſaith Auguſtine. Zeal is the extream heat of love and other affections for and toward any whom wee eſteem: burning in our love to him, deſire of him, delight in him, indignation againſt any that ſpeak or do ought againſt him. The object of zeal is, either Man, as 2 Cor. 7.7. Coloſſ. 4.17. Baſil venturing himſelf very far for his friend, and by ſome blamed for it, anſwered, Ego aliter amare non didici, I cannot love a man, but I muſt do mine utmoſt for him. Or (Secondly) God, as John 3.17. 2 Cor. 7.11. Rev. 3.19. And here out love will be, and muſt appear to be fervent, deſire eager, delights raviſhing, hopes longing, hatred deadly, anger fierce, fear terrible, grief deep, deeper than thoſe black deeps, (a place ſo called) at the Thames-mouth, whereinto Richard the third cauſed the dead bodies of his two ſmothered Nephews to be caſt,Speed 935. being firſt cloſed up in lead, &c.
The coals thereof are coals of fire] Or, fiery darts that ſet the ſoul all on a light fire, and turn it into a coal or lump of love to Chriſt. The word here uſed is elſewhere taken for fiery thunderbolts, Pſal. 78.48. and for braſs-headed arrows, that gather heat by motion, Pſal. 76.4. alſo for a carbuncle, or burning feaver, Deut. 32.24. The Church had ſaid before, more than once, that ſhee was ſick of love: here ſhee feels her ſelf in a feaver as it were, or as if her liver were ſtruck through with a love-dart, by that spirit of judgement, and of burning, (Iſa. 4.4.) kindling this flame of God, as ſhee calls it here, upon the ha…h of her heart. The word ſignifies the conſuming flame of God: and zeal may be very fitly ſo called; For as it comes from above, even from the father of lights, (as the fire of the Altar did) ſo it tends to him, and ends in him; it carries a man up, as it were, in a fiery Chariot, and conformes his corruptions by the way: It quencheth alſo thoſe fiery darts of the devill, (as the Sun-beams will put out the kitchin fire) and ſets the tongue a work, as the Holy Ghoſt ſet on fire the Apoſtles tongues, Act. 2. (when as wicked mens tongues, full of deadly poyſon, are yet further ſet on fire from hell, Jam. 3.6.) yea, the whole man a work for God and his glory, as Elias with his Zelando zelavi. (hee ſucked in fire with his mothers breaſt, as ſome have legended) St. Paul is mad for God (ſo ſome misjudged him, 2 Cor. 5.13.) as ever hee had once been againſt him, Act. 26.11. Peter was a man made all of fire, walking amongſt ſtubble, ſaith Chryſoſtome. And of one that deſired to know what manner of man Baſil was, it is ſaid, there was preſented in a dream a pillar of fire with this Motto, Talis eſt Baſilius, ſuch an one is Baſil. Such alſo was Savanarola, Farel, Luther, Latimer, that bold Tell-troth; who when hee was demanded the reaſon why there was ſo much preaching, and ſo little practiced, anſwered roundly, deeſt ignis, the flame of God is wanting in mens hearts.
Verſ. 7. Many waters cannot quench love] Water was proved long ſince to be above fire, in that ancient conteſt between thoſe two Nations, about the precedency and precellency of their Gods: the one worſhipping Fire, and the other Water. But though there be Gods many, and Lords many, yet to the Church there is but one Lord; and to him ſhee will go thorow thick and thin, thorow fire and water. Her love to him is ſuch as no good can match it, no evill over-match it: it cannot be quenched with any calamity; nay, it is much kindled by it, as fire in the ſmiths-forge, or as lime that is the hotter, for the water that is caſt upon it. Elias would have water poured on the ſacrifice, (covered therewith) that the power of God might the more appear in the fire from heaven. Semblably Chriſt ſuffers the ſhip of his Church to be covered ſometimes with waves of perſecutions, and afflictions, that the ſtrength of their love to him may bee the more manifeſted, and the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed, Luk. 2.35. It is eaſie to ſwim in a warm bath, and every bird can ſing in a ſummers day, but to ſwim to heaven (as Queen Elizabeth did to her throne) through a ſea of ſorrows, to ſing, (as ſome birds will do in the ſpring) moſt ſweetly, then when it rains moſt ſadly, that's a true trial indeed. Many will imbark themſelves in the Churches cauſe in a calm, that with the Mariners in the Acts, will flee out of the ſhip in a ſtorm. Many will own a proſpering truth, a bleſſing Ark, but hee is an Obed-Edom indeed, that will own a perſecuted, toſſed, baniſhed Ark, an Ark that brings the plague with it. God ſets an high price on their love that ſtick to him in affliction;2 Sam. 15.18 as David did on thoſe men that were with him at Gath (thoſe Cherethites and Pelethites that ſtuck to him when Abſalom was up.) And notwithſtanding their late mutiny at Ziklag, hee takes them to Hebron with him (where hee was to bee crowned) that as they had ſhared with him in his miſery, ſo they might partake of his proſperity. Lo thus likewiſe deals our heavenly David with all his fellow-ſufferers: Hee removes them at length from the aſhes of their forlorn Ziklog, to the Hebron of heaven. And at the general judgement, in that great Amphitheater of Men and Angels, Chriſt will ſtand forth, and ſay, Ye are they that continued with me in my temptations: and I appoint unto you a Kingdome, &c. Luke 22.28, 29.
Neither can the floods drown it] ſurgit hic afflictio, Neh. 1.9. This is not a vain repetition: but ſerves to ſhew, that no perſecution, tribulation, anguiſh, though never ſo grievous,foreign. (though the devil ſhould caſt out of his mouth water enough to carry us down the ſtream, as Rev. 12.15.) ſhall be able to ſeparate the Saints from the love of Chriſt. Rom. 8.35.
If a man would give all the ſubſtance of his houſe, &c.] i. e. To buy this love of me, or to get it from me, I ſhould cry out with Peter, Thy money periſh with thee, or with Luther, Contemptus eſt à me Romanus & favor & furor, I care neither for Romes favour nor fury. When they offered to make him a Cardinal if he would be quiet, hee replied, No not if I might be Pope. And when they conſulted about ſtopping of his mouth with money, one wiſer than the reſt cryed out, Hem! Germana illa beſtia non curat aurum, Alack, that German beaſt cares not for money. Galeacius Caracciolus, His Life by Mr. Craſhaw.that noble Italian Convert, left all for the love of Chriſt, and went to live a poor obſcure life at Geneva. Where, when hee was tempted to revolt for money, hee cried out, Let their mony periſh with them, who eſteem all the gold in the world worth one daies ſociety with Jeſus Chriſt and his holy Spirit. And curſed bee that religion for ever, that by ſuch baits of profit, pleaſure, and preferment, ſeeks to draw men aſide from the way of truth and holineſs. The Papiſts propoſe rewards to ſuch as ſhall relinquiſh the Proteſtant religion, and turn to theirs: as in Ausborough, where they ſay, there is a known price for it, of ten Florens a year. In France, Spec. Europ.where the Clergy have made contributions for the maintenance of runagate Miniſters. Stratagema nunc eſt Pontificum ditare multos ut pii eſſe deſinant, ſaith one that was no ſtranger to them:Joh. Bapt. Gell. dial. 5. It is a cunning trick that the Popes have taken up, to enrich men, that they may rob them of their religion. And though Luther would not ſwallow that hook, yet there are thoſe that will, not a few. Tell men a tale of Utile, promiſe them preferment, and you may perſwade them to any thing. Fac me Pontificem, & ero Chriſtianus, ſaid one Pammachius an Heathen once to the Pope; Make mee a Biſhop, and I'le turn Chriſtian. But, as one ſaid of Papiſts, that they muſt have two converſions ere they come to heaven; one from Popery, and another from prophaneneſs (like as corn muſt be firſt threſhed, and then winnowed) ſo this money-merchant, this preferment-proſelyte might have been a Chriſtian at large, had hee had his deſired Biſhoprick: but Chriſt never favoured any ſuch ſelf-ſeeking followers. See Mat. 8.20. John 6.26. their love hee knows to be no better than meretricious and mercenary. It is a ſad thing that any Auguſtine ſhould have cauſe to complain, Vix diligitur Jeſus propter Jeſum, that ſcarce any man loves Chriſt, but for his rewards; like the mixt multitude, that came up with Iſrael out of Egypt, for a better fortune: Or thoſe Perſians, that in Mordecai's daies, for ſelf-reſpects became Jews. All Gods people ſhould bee like thoſe Medes in Iſaiah, that regarded not ſilver, and as for gold they delighted not in it, chap. 13.17. Chriſts love ſhould bee better to them than wine, Cant. 1.2. and when in exchange for it, the devill doth offer them this worlds good, they ſhould anſwer him as the witch of Endor did Saul, 1 Sam. 28.9. Judg. 9.11.Wherefore laieſt thou a ſnare for my ſoul to cauſe mee to dye? or as the vine and fig-tree in Jonathans Parable, anſwered the reſt of the trees, Should I leave my fatneſs and ſweetneſs, derived unto mee from Chriſt, and ſo go out of Gods bleſſing into the worlds warm Sunne? God forbid that I ſhould part with my patrimony, as Naboth ſaid; take an apple for paradiſe, as Adam did, loſe the love of Chriſt for the worlds blandiſhments, &c.
Verſ. 8. Wee have a little ſiſter] Thou, Lord, and I have ſuch a ſiſter, ſc. the Church of the Gentiles, known to thee, and fore-appointed to converſion, (as James ſpeaketh in that firſt Chriſtian counſell, Act. 15.18.) from the beginning of the world; unknown to mee (more than by hear-ſay from the holy Prophets,1 Pet. 1.10. who prophecied of the grace that ſhould come unto her) but not unloved, or undeſired. Now therefore as a fruit of my true love unto thee (ſuch as no floods of troubles can quench or drench, no earthly commodity can compaſs or buy off) I deſire not onelyonly to deliberate with thee about the enlargement of thy Kingdome by the acceſſion of the elect Gentiles thereunto, but alſo by making (as I may ſay) large and liberal offers, ſet forth my care and ſtudy for their eternal ſalvation. See the like affection in St. Paul toward his country-men the Jews, proceeding from that full aſſurance that hee found in himſelf, Rom. 8.38, 39. with chap. 9.1. And learn wee to pray as earneſtly for their converſion, as they have done for ours; longing after them from the very heart-root in Jeſus Chriſt, as Philipp. 1.8. and turning to the Lord, that they may the ſooner finde compaſſion. It is Hezekiah's reaſon, and a very remarkable one, 2 Chron. 30.9.
And ſhee hath no breaſts] i. e. Shee is not yet Nubilis apta viro, marriageable and fit for Chriſt, to bee preſented as a chaſte Virgin unto him: ſhee wanted ſuch paranymphs as Paul was, to do it for her, 2 Cor. 11.2. Shee had not a ſtabliſhed Miniſtry to nurſe up her children withall. And at this ſame paſs was the old Church at firſt, not onelyonly ſmall, but unſhapen, Ezek. 16.7, 8. A ſociety of men without the preaching of the Word, is like a mother of children without breaſts. All the Churches children muſt ſuck and bee ſatisfied, Iſa. 66.11. they muſt deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, and grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2.2. not like the changeling Luther ſpeaks of, ever ſucking, never batling. Such ſhall be made to know, that their mother hath verbera as well as ubera, rods as well as dugges. Their father will alſo repent him, as once David did of his kindneſs to Nabal; and take up his old complaint, Iſai. 1.2. I have nouriſhed and brought up children, and they have rebelled againſt me. The ox knoweth his owner, &c. the moſt ſalvage creatures will bee at the beck and check of thoſe that feed them: diſobedience therefore (under means of grace eſpecially) is againſt the principles of nature. It is to bee like the horſe and mule, yea, like the young mulet, which hath no ſooner done ſucking her dammes teats, but ſhee turns up her heels, and kicks her.
What ſhall wee do for our ſiſter] Love is not more cogitative than operative: and delights to bee doing for the beloved. I love the Lord, &c. What ſhall I render unto him? I will pay my vows, &c. Pſal. 116. Jonathan will diſrobe and ſtrip himſelf even to his ſword and girdle for David, becauſe hee loved him as his own ſoul, 1 Sam. 18.3, 4. Shechem will do all that can be done for his beloved Dinah. The Macedonians will over-do for their poor brethren: Pauls love to the Jews was like the Ivy; which if it cleave to a ſtone or an old wall, will rather die than forſake it, Rom. 9.3. He tells his Hebrews of their labour of love, Heb. 6. all love is laborious.
In the day when ſhee ſhall bee ſpoken for] Or, wherein ſpeech ſhall he had, concerning her, viz. for an husband for her: how wee may beſt prefer her in marriage. The care of diſpoſing young people to fit yoke-fellows, lay upon their parents, and other kindred. The Church (as an elder-ſiſter) ſhews her ſelf ſolicitous, and propounds the matter to Chriſt, as the onelyonly beſt husband for her, the partition-wall being broken down.
Verſ. 9. If ſhee be a wall, wee will build upon her, &c.] Chriſt anſwers, If ſhe be, as ſhe ought to be, ſtrong and well-grounded in the faith, able to bear a good weight laid upon her, as a wall, pillar, and ground of truth, not ſinking or fainting under the heavieſt burden of theſe light afflictions, which are but for a moment; but patient and perſeverant in the faith unto the death; then will I do all for her that may bee done, to make her happy. This ſpeech is ſomewhat like that of Solomon concerning Adonijah, 1 King. 1.If hee ſhew himſelf a worthy man, &c.
We will build upon her a palace of ſilver] The whole bleſſed Trinity will have an hand in building the Church of the Gentiles upon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner-ſtone,Iſa. 51.16. John 6.44. Eſth. 2.20. God plants the heavens, and laies the foundation of the earth, that hee may ſay to Zion, Thou art my people. None can come to Chriſt except God the Father draw him. Chriſt the ſecond perſon is both Authour and Finiſher of our faith, Heb. 12.2. The Holy Ghoſt is the ſame Spirit of faith in David and Paul, 2 Cor. 4.13. and is received by the hearing of faith, Gal. 3.2. Hee is the God of all grace, 2 Pet. 1.19. antecedent, concomitant, ſubſequent: We have nothing of which any of us can ſay, Mihi ſoli debeo, I am not bound to God for it.
And if ſhee be a door, &c.] As ſhee is the houſe of God, and gate of heaven, Gen. 28.17. If ſhee will open the everlaſting doors to the King of glory, Pſal. 24.7. and open a great door and effectual to his faithful Miniſters, 1 Cor. 16.9. who come to build her for an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eſther 2.22. If ſhee open the gates, that the righteous nation, which keepeth the truth, may enter in, Iſa. 26.2. then will the Lord Chriſt incloſe her,] board her, and beautifie her with fair, ſweet, and ſtrong cedars, as with curious and coſtly weinſcot, which ſhall be monimentum, munimentum, ornamentum, &c. But all this is promiſed upon condition, that ſhee bee a wall and a door, that is, that ſhee receive and retain Chriſt with her; for otherwiſe ſhee can claim nothing. Hee may deſert her without breach of Covenant, as hee did the old Church, and many particular Churches of the New Teſtament now under the Turk for their perfidy and Apoſtaſie. The Church of Rome, though utterly revolted, yet laies ſtrong claim to Chriſt ſtill; and concludes, I ſit as a Queen, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow. Therefore ſhall her plagues come in one day, &c. For, ſtrong is the Lord God who judgeth her, Rev. 18.7, 8. See the Note there. About the year of grace 1414. Theodoricus Urias an Auguſtine-Frier in Germany, ſaid,Jac. Revius de vit. Pontif. pag. 229. that the Church of Rome was (even ſo long ſince) become ex aurea argenteam, ex argentea ferream, ex ferrea terream, ſupereſſe ut in ſtercus abiret, of gold ſilver, of ſilver braſs, of braſs iron, of iron clay: there remains nothing now, but that of clay ſhee become dung, to be ſwept out of doors with the beeſome of deſtruction.
Verſ. 10. I am a wall; and my breaſts like towers] If ſhee be a wall, ſaith Chriſt; I am a wall, ſaith this Church of the Gentiles: I will carefully keep the Doctrine of truth committed unto me, I will ſtand firm in the faith, being founded upon the rock of ages. And whereas lately I was looked upon as breaſtleſs, verſ. 8. Now my breaſts are faſhioned, Ezek. 16.7. yea, they are grown far greater than thoſe of mine elder ſiſters; ſo that they look like towers. The Church of the Gentiles, though little at firſt, and ſcarce conſiderable, yet after Chriſts aſcenſion, was marvelouſly increaſed and multiplied: ſo that ſhee her ſelf ſtood amazed to ſee her children come from far, flying to her as a cloud, moſt ſwiftly; and in ſuch flocks, as if a whole flight of Doves, driven by ſome hawk, or tempeſt, ſhould ſcour into the columbary, and ruſh into the windows, Iſa. 60.8.
Then was I in his eyes as one that found favour] Heb. peace, even as that Jeruſalemy-Shulamite; nothing inferiour to the old Church: yea, before her in this, that ſhee for preſent is fallen off, and through her fall, Salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealouſie, Rom. 11.11. But when God ſhall have united theſe two ſticks, Ezek. 37.19. and made way for thoſe Kings of the Eaſt, Rev. 16.12. then it ſhall be ſaid of Jacob and Iſrael, What hath God wrought! Numb. 23.23.
Verſ. 11. Solomon had a Vineyard in Baal-hamon] So hath Chriſt in a very fruitful hill, Iſa. 5.1. Solomons Vineyard muſt needs be of the beſt: for hee abounded both with wealth and wit, to make it ſo. Hee let it alſo to farm for a very great rent: which ſheweth the fruitfulneſs of it, ſo many vines ſet for ſo many ſilverlings, Iſa. 7.23. But Solomons Vineyard falls far ſhort of Chriſts (wherewith it is here compared in many reſpects.) For as it is nothing ſo fruitful, ſo hee was fain to let it out to Vine-dreſſers. Hee could not dreſs and manure it himſelf, keep it in his own hands, (as his Father David his, 1 Chron. 27.27.) neither could hee take all the fruit; for the tenants alſo muſt live, and reaſon good: If Solomon have a thouſand, the poor labourers may well have two hundred. But I, ſaith Chriſt here, neither let out the Church my Vineyard, but look to it my ſelf, though I have a great deal of pains with it: nor ſuffer any part of the profits to go from mee; So jealous I am of mine inheritance, being ever in the midſt of it.
Verſ. 12. My Vineyard which is mine, &c.] And therefore moſt dear unto mee:Seneca. for ownneſs makes love. Patriam quiſque amat: non quia pulchram, ſed quia ſuam. Every man loves his own things beſt. The Church is Chriſts own by a manifold right; by donation, conqueſt, purchaſe: not with ſilver and gold: but with the deareſt and warmeſt blood in all his heart, 1 Pet. 1.18. No wonder therefore though ſhee be alwaies before him; though hee look carefully to her that coſt him ſo dear; that hee truſt not others with her (as Solomon was forced to do) but whomſoever hee employs about her (for wee are labourers together with God, ſaith the Apoſtle, Yee are Gods husbandry, 1 Cor. 3.9.) himſelf is ever one: Ipſe adeſt & praeeſt, hee is preſent and preſident: Feed my ſheep, ſaid hee to Peter, but do it for mee, as the Syriack Tranſlatour (reſpecting the ſenſe) addes there, John 21.15. Take not unto thee the inſtruments of a fooliſh ſhepheard, Zech. 11.11. that is, forcipes & mulctram, (as an Ancient ſaith) like thoſe that are more intent, attonſioni gregis quam attentioni, fiſco quam Chriſto. Peter muſt not do any of this: much leſs muſt hee Lord it over Gods inheritance, as his pretended ſucceſſors do; with whoſe carcaſſes therefore Chriſt ſhall ſhortly dung his Vineyard, and water the roots of his vines with their blood: Hee muſt look to lip-feeding, and, when himſelf is converted, ſtrengthen his brethren: neither muſt hee intervert or take to himſelf any part of the fruits, as Solomons farmers did. Hee may not ſeek his own things, but the things of Jeſus Chriſt. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but, ſith it is God that gives the increaſe, let God reap all the glory: they ſhall alſo reap in due ſeaſon, if they faint not, if they grow not weary of well-doing, Gal. 6.9. See the Note on verſ. 11.
Verſ. 13. Thou that dwellest in the Gardens] i. e. O thou Church univerſal, that dwelleſt in the particular Churches, frequently called Gardens in this book. The French Proteſtants at Lions called their meeting-houſe, Paradiſe.
The companions hearken to thy voyce] The Angels, (ſo ſome interpret it) learn of the Church, and profit in the knowledge of the manifold wiſdome of God in mans redemption, Epheſ. 3.10. 1 Cor. 11.10. 1 Pet. 1.10. Or rather, thy Fellow-Chriſtians, thine obedient children, that will hearken to their mothers counſell: No ſooner can ſhee ſay, Hear and give ear, bee not proud, for the Lord hath ſpoken it, but they give glory to the Lord their God, as Jer. 13.15, 16. glorifie his Word, Acts 13.48. ſet to their ſeals, John 3.33. diſpute not Chriſts commands, but diſpatch them; Illi garriant, nos credamus, ſaid Auguſtine of hereticks that would not bee ſatisfied. The Philoſophers called the Chriſtians, Credentes, Believers, by way of reproach: becauſe they believed God upon his bare word. Wee believe and know, ſaith Peter, John 6.69. And wee believe and ſpeak, ſaith Paul after David, 2 Cor. 4.13. And wee believe and practice, as Noah, and thoſe other Worthies did, Heb. 11.7. laying faith for a foundation of all their doings and ſufferings in and for the Lord, like as Ezra 6.4. the foundation of the Temple was laid with three rows of great ſtones, and a row of new timber. This is the guiſe of the Churches children; they are ſoon perſwaded to beleeve and obey their mother, whom they look upon as the pillar and ground of truth.
Cauſe mee to hear it] See the Note on chap. 2.14. Tremellius renders it, Fac ut me andiant, Cauſe them to hear mee: deliver nothing to them for truth, but what is conſonant to my Word of truth; let all thy doctrines bear my ſtamp, come forth cum privilegeo, carry mine authority. What ſaid Auſtin to an adverſary (it was Fauſtus the Manichee, I trow) what matter is it, what either thou ſaieſt, or I ſay to this or that point? Audiamus ambo quid dicit Dominus, Let us both hear what God ſaith, and ſit down by it.
Verſ. 14. Make haſte my beloved] Heb. Flee or ſpeed thee away, as Amaziah ſaid to Amos, Go flee thee away into the land of Judah, Amos 7.12. And as a Senatour of Hala in Suevia wrote to Brentius, Fuge, fuge, Brenti, cito citius citiſſime, make all poſſible ſpeed, haſte, haſte, haſte: So the Church is at it here, with her Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly—O mora! Chriſte veni. Thus,Auguſtine. as this Book began with a wiſh, ſo it ends. Tota vita boni Chriſtiani ſunctum deſideriumeſt. The whole life of a good Chriſtian is an holy wiſh. Hee loves, and longs, and looks for Chriſts ſecond appearance: and even ſpends and exhales himſelf in continual ſalleys and egreſſions of affection unto him in the mean while. Hee hath taken ſome turns with Chriſt upon thoſe mountains of ſpices (ſo heaven is called, for its unconceiveable height and ſweetneſs) he hath taſted of the grapes of this celeſtial Canaan: hence he is as eager after it,Plut. in vita. Camilli. as once the Gauls were after Italy, when they had once taſted of the ſweet wine of thoſe grapes that grew there. The old character of Gods people, was, they waited for the conſolation of Iſrael, Chriſts firſt comming;foreign Vide Iſa. 16.5. Septu. Now they long as much for his ſecond, as the eſpouſed maid doth after the marriage, as the Apprentice for his freedom, the captive for his ranſom, the traveller for his Inn, the mariner for the haven, &c. looking for, and haſting the coming of that day of God, 2 Pet. 3.12.
Soli Deo gloria in aeternum.
FINIS.