Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Canticles · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Verſ. 1. I am the Roſe of Sharon]
THe Greek renders it, the flower of the field, that grows without mans labour, having Heaven for its Father, Earth for its Mother. So had Chriſt, made of a woman, manifeſted in the fleſh, without Father as man, without Mother as God, Heb. 7.3. And Heb. 9.11. The Tabernacle of Chriſts humane Nature (ſo called, becauſe therein the fulneſs of the Godhead dwelt bodily, Col. 2.9.) was not made with hands, that is, not by mans help; it was not of this building by the power of Nature. But as matter in the beginning of time was taken from man to make a woman, ſo matter in the fulneſs of time was taken from Woman to make the Man Chriſt Jeſus: And as Eve was a true Woman without woman, ſo Chriſt was a true Man without man. Hee is called, filius hominis, but it is onelyonly of the feminine gender. Hee is the flower of the field, as here, the Stone cut out without hands, Dan. 2.45. the Phoenix that hath no Parents, the Pearl that is not made through any earthly copulation, but is begotten of the dew of Heaven. For as Pearls are bred in ſhell-fiſhes of a celeſtial humour, ſo was Chriſt, by heavenly influence, in the Virgins womb. But let us weigh the words as they are commonly rendred: Sharon was a moſt fruitful place ſituate under the hill Libanon, 1 Chron. 27.29. coupled with Carmel for excellency, Iſa. 35.2. not more a field than a fold for flocks, Iſa. 65.10. To a Roſe (that Queen of flowers) here growing doth the Lord Chriſt fitly compare himſelf. This flower delights in ſhadowy places (and thence borroweth its name in the Original) it is orient of hiew,Habaſteleth. cold of complexion, but paſſing redolent, and of comfortable condition. Such a Flower is Jeſus (ſaith an Expoſitour here) moſt delighted in temperate places, for hiew white and ruddy, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand,Clapham. a cooler to the conſcience, but paſſing ſavoury, and comfortable to the diſtreſſed Patient.
And the Lilly of the Vallyes] Or, low places, which are moſt fat and fertile. Chriſt is both Roſe and Lilly, which two put together make a gallant ſhew, and beautifie the boſomes of thoſe that bear them; but nothing like as Chriſt doth thoſe that have him dwelling in their hearts by Faith. Theſe flowers do ſoon fade, and loſe both beauty and ſweetneſs: but ſo doth not Chriſt or his comforts. Tam recens mihi nunc Chriſtus eſt, ac ſi hac hora fudiſſet ſanguinem, ſaith Luther, Chriſt is as freſh to mee now, as if hee had ſhed his blood this very hour. Hee purpoſely compareth himſelf to a Vine, to a door, to bread, and many other excellent and neceſſary creatures, every where obvious, that therein (as in ſo many optick glaſſes) wee may ſee him, and bee transformed into him. For this it is alſo, that hee here commends himſelf, not out of arrogancy or vain affectation of popular applauſe, but for our ſakes doubtleſs, that wee may take notice of his excellencies, and love him in ſincerity. The Spouſe alſo praiſeth her ſelf ſometimes, not out of pride of her parts, but to ſhew her thankfulneſs to Chriſt, from whom ſhee had them.
Verſ. 2. As the Lilly among the Thorns] The Lilly is white, pure and pleaſant,Shoſ…nah. having ſix leaves (and thence its name in Hebrew) and ſeven golden-coloured grains within it. The forty fifth Pſalm (of like argument with this Song) is dedicated to him that excelleth upon Shoſhannim, or upon this ſixleaved flower the Lilly. Moreover the chief City of Perſia was called Shuſhan, from the multitude of Lillies growing there.Schindler. Caſſidor. lib. 7. v…r. Ep. 15. Here Alexander found fifty thouſand Talents of gold; the very ſtones of it are ſaid to have been joyned together with Gold. The Church is far richer, and fuller of beauty and bravery; but beſet with thorns, ſuch as Abimelech was, a right bramble indeed, that grew in the baſe hedge-row of a Concubine, and ſcratcht and drew blood to purpoſe: wicked men are called Briers, Micah 7.4. thorns twiſted and folded, Nahum 1.10. that hurt the earth, and thoſe that handle them. Indeed they cannot bee taken with hands, but the man that ſhall touch them muſt bee fenced with Iron, and the ſtaff of a ſpear. But God ſhall thruſt them all away, ſeal. into hell, and they ſhall bee utterly burnt with fire in the ſame place, 2 Sam. 23.6, 7. In the mean ſpace, who will ſet the briers and thorns againſt mee in battel, ſaith the Lord Chriſt (being jealous for his Spouſe with a great jealouſie, Zach. 1.14.) who dare do it? I would march againſt them, I would burn them together, Iſa. 27.4. Sin or Sinai, a thorny place in the deſert, where it rained down Quails and Manna from Heaven, was a type of the Church, flouriſhing in the midſt of her enemies, like a Lilly among thorns.
So is my Love amongſt the Daughters] i. e. falſe Siſters, quae dicuntur ſpinae propter malignitatem morum; Aug. Epiſt. 48.dicuntur filiae, propter communionem ſacramentorum, ſaith Auguſtine: theſe are called thorns for the malignity of their manners, and Daughters for their profeſſion and outward priviledges. Theſe prick, ſting, and nettle the Church; they cannot but do their nature, till God take an order with them,Matth. 13. till hee binde them in bundles, and caſt them into the furnace. But as the Lilly is freſh and beautiful, and looks pleaſantly (even that wilde Lilly that wee call Wood-binde) though among thorns: ſo ſhould wee amidſt trouble. God hedgeth us about with theſe briars, that hee may keep us within compaſs:Auguſt. hee pricks us with theſe thorns, that hee may let out our ill humours, O felices tribulos tribulationum! O happy thorns of tribulation, that open a vein for ſin to guſh out at! Bee not weary, my ſon, of Gods correction, ſaith Solomon, Prov. 3.11. Ne ejus caſtigationes ut ſpinas quaſdam exiſtimes tibi moleſtas, ſo Kabvenaki renders and expounds that text. Feel not Gods corrections troubleſome to thee, as thorns in thine eyes, or prickles in thy ſides. Eſpecially ſince, as Gideon, by threſhing thoſe churls of Succoth, with thorns and briars of the wilderneſs,Judg. 8.16. taught them better behaviour, ſo deals God by his people: his Houſe of correction is his School of inſtruction, Pſalm 94.12. (See my Love-tokens, pag. 144, 145, &c.) God ſets theſe thorns, as hee did thoſe four horns, Zach. 1. to afflict his people which way ſoever they fled.Zach. 1.19, 20, 21 Howbeit when they had puſhed them to the Lord, there were four Carpenters ſet a work to cut them ſhort enough, for ever doing any further hurt.
Verſ. 3. As the Apple-tree among the trees, &c.] Among wilde trees, moſs-begrown trees, trees that bring not forth meat for men, but maſt for Hoggs. Such is every natural man, Rom. 11.24. Ephraim is an empty Vine, hee beareth fruit to himſelf, Hoſ. 10.1. paltry-hedge-fruit. Oaks bring forth Apples, ſuch as they are, and Acorns. But what ſaith our Saviour, John 15.2. Every branch in mee that beareth not fruit, hee taketh away, and without mee yee can do nothing, verſ. 5. That is a true ſaying (though Spiera the Poſtiller cenſure it for a cruel ſentence) Omnis vita infid elium peccatum eſt, Aug. De. vera innocen. cap. 56& nihil bonum ſine ſummo bono, The whole life of an unbeleever is ſin: neither is there any thing good without Chriſt the chiefeſt good. Here hee is fitly compared by the Church to an Apple-tree, which yeelds both ſhade and food to the weary and hungry traveller; furniſheth him with whatſoever heart can wiſh, or need require. Chriſt is cornucopia, an Univerſal Good, All-ſufficient and ſatisfactory, proportionable, and every way fitting to our neceſſities: It is not with Chriſt, as with Iſaac, that had but one bleſſing: for in him are hid all the treaſures of wiſdome, and whatſoever worth, Col. 2.3. So that as a friend of Cyrus in Xenophon being asked where his treaſure was, anſwered, foreign, where Cyrus is my friend: ſo may a Chriſtian better anſwer to the like queſtion, foreign, where the Lord Chriſt is my friend:Bern. For as ſine Deo omnis copia est egeſtas, without Chriſt all plenty is ſcarcity; ſo with him there can bee no want of any thing that is good. In the fulneſs of his ſufficiency hee is in want, ſaith Job of a wicked man. Contrariwiſe the godly, in the fulneſs of his want, is in an All-ſufficiency; becauſe hee is in Chriſt,Col. 3. who hath filled foreign, the neuter gender, not onelyonly all the hearts of his people, but All things; hee hath filled up that emptineſs that was before in the creature, and made it ſatisfactory.
I ſate down under his ſhadow with great delight] Heb. I delighted and ſate down. The Church being ſcortcht with troubles without, and terrours within, ran to Chriſt for ſhelter, and found ſingular comfort, Pſal. 91.1. Iſa. 25.4. Tua praeſentia, Domine, Laurentio ipſam craticulam dulcem fecit, ſaith an Antient; Philip Lantgrave of Heſſe, being a long time priſoner under Charls the fifth, was demanded what upheld him all that time? Reſpondit, divinas Martyrum conſolationes ſe ſenſiſſe, hee anſwered, that Chriſt came in to him with ſuch cordials, as kept up his ſpirits above beleef. There bee divine comforts that are felt by the ſuffering Saints, that others taſte not of, nor themſelves neither at other times. When the childe is ſick, out come the conſerves and ſweet-meats: Never ſits hee ſo much on his Mothers lap, and in her boſome, as then.
And his fruit was ſweet to my taſte] i. e. His word and promiſes, which I rolled as Sugar under my tongue, and ſucked therehence more ſweetneſs than Sampſon did from his hony-comb, Pſal. 19.10. & 119.103. Jer. 15.16. Luther ſaid, hee would not live in paradiſe,Tom. 4. Oper. Lat. if hee might without the Word, at cum verbo etiam in inferno facile eſt vivere, ſaith hee, but with the Word hee could live even in Hell it ſelf. True it is, that thoſe that have not the Spouſes palate, finde no ſuch ſweetneſs in Chriſt or his promiſes. Moſt men are ſo full gorged with the Devils dainties, ſo ſurfeited with ſins ſweetmeats, that they finde no more reliſh in the good Word of God,Multi in terris manducant quod apud inferos digerunt. Aug. than in the white of an Egge, or in a dry chip. Theſe feed upon that now, that they muſt (without repentance) digeſt in Hell, there will bee bitterneſs in the end. Whereas they that, by ſucking thoſe full-ſtrutting breaſts of conſolation, the promiſes, have taſted and ſeen how good the Lord Chriſt is, as their ſouls are ſatisfied with fat things, full of marrow, with the very beſt of the beſt, Iſa. 25.6. ſo hee ſhall make them to drink abundantly of the river of his pleaſures, Pſal. 36.9. hee ſhall take them into his Wine-…eller, and fill them with gladneſs.
Verſ. 4. Hee brought mee to the banquetting-houſe] Heb. to the houſe of Wine, where hee giveth mee that which is better than Apple-drink, as verſ. 3. As the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.5. The lower that ebb, the higher this tide: as is to bee ſeen in the Martyrs, who went as merrily to die, as ever they did to dine; ſang in the flames, and felt no more pain, than if they had lain upon beds of Roſes. This their perſecutors counted ſtupidity and vain-glory: but they knew not the power of the Spirit, and the force of Faith: as Mr. Philpot told ſcoffing Morgan, who coming to confer with him, asked him, How know you that you have the Spirit of God? Mr. Philpot anſwered, By the Faith of Chriſt which is in mee. All by Faith (quoth Morgan) do yee ſo? I ween it bee the ſpirit of the buttery which your fellows have had that have been burned before you, who were drunk the night before they went to their death,Act. and Mon. fol. 1653. and I ween went drunk unto it. Whereunto Philpot replied, It appears by your communication, that you are better acquainted with the ſpirit of the buttery, than of God. Meethink you are liker a ſcoffer in a Play, than a reaſonable Doctor to inſtruct one. Thou haſt the ſpirit of illuſion and ſophiſtry, which is not able to countervail the Spirit of truth. Thou art but an Aſs in the things of God, &c. God ſhall ſurely rain fire and brimſtone upon ſuch ſcorners of his Word, and blaſphemers of his people as thou art. The like ſenſure was paſſed upon Nicholas Burton, Martyr in Spain, who becauſe hee went chearfully to the ſtake, and embraced death with all gladneſs and patience,Ibid. 1866. his tormentours and enemies ſaid, that the Devil had his ſoul, before hee came to the fire, and therefore his ſenſe of feeling was paſt. Theſe carnal creatures meddle not with the true Chriſtians joy, neither know they the privy armour of proof (the joy of Faith) that hee hath as an aes triplex about his heart, making him inſuperable, and more than a Conquerour. Rom. 8.35.True grace hath a fortifying comforting virtue, which the world knows not of: like as true gold comforts and ſtrengthens the heart, that Alchymy gold doth not. And as a man that by good fare, and plenty of the beſt Wines hath his bones filled with marrow, and his veins with good blood, and a freſh ſpring of ſpirits, can endure to go with leſs cloathes than another; becauſe hee is well li…ed within: So it is with a heart, that by oft feaſting with Chriſt in his Ordinances, and by much reading and ruminating upon the Scriptures (called here the Banquetting-houſe, or Wine-celler, as moſt are of opinion) hath got a great deal of joy and peace: ſuch an one will go thorow troubles, and make nothing of them, yea though outward comforts utterly fail, Hab. 3.17.
Rom. 5.15.And his banner over mee was love] As a Standard erected, as a banner diſplayed, ſo was the love of Chriſt ſhed abroad in her heart by the Holy Ghoſt: who had alſo (as a fruit of his love) ſet up a Standard in her againſt ſtrong temptations and corruptions, Iſa. 59.19. and thereby aſſured her of his ſpecial preſence: like as where the colours are, there is the Captain, where the Standard, there the King. The wicked alſo have their banners of luſt, covetouſneſs, ambition, malice, under which they fight (as the Dragon and his viperous brood, Rev. 12.7.) againſt Chriſt and his people: but they may read their deſtiny, Iſa. 8.9, 10. Aſſociate your ſelves, O yee people! ſtand to your arms, repair to your colours, &c. yet yee ſhall bee broken in peeces, gird your ſelves, and yee ſhall bee broken in peeces, &c. Take counſel together, and it ſhall come to nought, &c. for God is with us, Immanuel is our General: And how many do you reckon him for? (as Antigonus once ſaid to his ſouldiers, that feared their enemies numbers.) Surely if Chriſt bee for us (and hee is never from us, Matth. 28.20. but as Xerxes was wont to do, hee pitcheth his tent, and ſets up his Standard in the midſt of his people, as once in the wilderneſs) who can bee againſt us? Rom. 8.31. And though many bee, yet No weapon that is formed againſt the Church ſhall proſper, (how ſhould it, fith ſhee hath ſuch a Champion as Chriſt, who is in love with her, and will take her part, fight her quarrel?) and every tongue that ſhall riſe againſt thee in judgement, thou ſhalt condemn, Iſa. 54.17. As the ecclipſed Moon, by keeping her motion, wades out of the ſhadow, and recovers her ſplendour: So it ſhall bee with the Spouſe. Yea ſhee ſhall bee able to anſwer thoſe that reproach and caſt dirt upon her, for her keeping cloſe to Chriſts colours, and ſuffering hardſhip for him: as the Emperour Adrian did the Poet Florus, who ſate on an Ale-bench and ſang,
Nolo ego Caeſar eſſe
Ambulare per Britannos
Rigidas pati pruinas, &c.
The witty Emperour replied upon him, aſſoon as hee heard of it,Melanchthon. in Chron. Carion.
Nolo ego Florus eſſe
Ambulare per tabernas;
Latitare per popinas,
Pulices pati rotundos.
Verſ. 5. Stay mee with flaggons] Not with cups or bowls onelyonly, but with flaggons, larger meaſures of that Wine that was ſet before her in Chriſts Wine-houſe. Comfort mee with Apples, ſuch as fall from Chriſts Apple-tree, ſpoken of in the former verſe, the precious mellifluous promiſes, which are ſweet like the Apples of the Garden of Eden, as the Chaldee here hath it. Boulſter mee up with theſe: for I am even ſinking and ſwooning with an exceſs of love, with an exuberancy of ſpiritual joy in God my Saviour, ſuch as I can hardly ſtand under. Stay mee therefore (ſaith ſhee to the Miniſters,Poly. hiſt. cap. 56. Smells are applied to the noſtrils of them that faint. thoſe pillars to ſupport the weak, Gal. 2.9. and to comfort the feeble minded, 1 Theſ. 5.14.) Stay mee, or ſuſtain mee with flaggons, comfort mee with Apples. (Solinus tells of ſome near the River Ganges, that live odore pomorum ſylveſtrium, by the ſmell of Forreſt Apples, which is ſomewhat ſtrange.)
For I am ſick of love] Surprized with a love-qualm, as an honeſt Virgin may bee, meeting her Love unawares, enjoying him in the fulneſs of joy, and fearing the loſs of his company for a long ſeaſon.Lomb. Se…t. lib. 3. distine. 34. Vide Auguſt. Epiſt. 121. ad Hoxor…. This is timor amicalis, which Lombard thus deſcribeth, ne offendamus quem diligimus, & ne ab eo ſeparemur, The fear of love is, leſt wee ſhould offend him whom our ſoul loveth, and ſo cauſe him to withdraw. Hic timor tranſit in charitatem, ſaith Gregory, This fear paſſeth into love, and overwhelms the ſpirit ſometimes. This was it that made Jacob, when hee ſaw nothing but viſions of love and mercy, cry out, How dreadful is this place! This made that mixture of paſſions in thoſe good women, that coming to look Chriſt,Goſr. in Vit. Bern. departed from the grave with fear and great joy. From this cauſe it was that Bernard, for a certain time after his converſion, remained as it were deprived of his ſenſes by the exceſſive conſolations hee had from God. Cyprian writes to his friend Donatus, that before his converſion, hee thought it impoſſible to finde ſuch raptures and raviſhments, as now hee did in a Chriſtian courſe.Epiſt. l. 1. Confeſſ. l. 6. c. 22. Hee begins his Epiſtle thus, Accipe quod ſentitur antequam diſcitur, &c. Auguſtine ſaith the like of himſelf: What unconceiveable and unutterable extaſies of joy then may wee well think there is in Heaven, where the Lord Chriſt perpetually, and without intermiſſion, manifeſteth the moſt glorious and viſible ſigns of his preſence, and ſeals of his love? Hee pours forth all plenteous demonſtrations of his goodneſs, to his Saints, and gives them eyes to ſee it, minds to conceive it: and then fills them with exceeding fulneſs of love to him again, ſo that they ſwim in pleaſure, and are even overwhelmed with joy: a joy too big to enter into them, they muſt enter into it, Mat. 25.21. Oh pray! pray with that great Apoſtle that had been in Heaven, and ſeen that which eye never ſaw. that the eyes of your underſtanding being enlightened, Verbis exprimi non poteſt, experimento opus eſt. Chryſ.you may know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints, Epheſ. 1.18. & 3.19. A glory fitter to bee beleeved, than poſſible to bee diſcourſed. An exceeding exceſſive eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4.17. Such a weight, as if the body were not upheld by the power of God, it were impoſſible but it ſhould faint under it. How ready are our ſpirits to expire here, when any extraordinary unexpected comfort befalls us? The Church is ſick of love. Jacobs heart fainted when hee heard of Joſephs life and honour in Egypt. The Queen of Sheba was aſtonied at Solomons wiſdome and magnificence, ſo that ſhee had no ſpirit more in her. Viſcount Liſley in Henry the Eighths time died for joy of an unexpected pardon. What then may wee think of thoſe in Heaven? and ſhould not wee haſten in our affections to that happy place? Oh do but think (ſaith one) though it far paſs the reach of any mortal thought) what an infinite inexplicable happineſs it will bee, to look for ever upon the glorious body of Chriſt, ſhining with incomprehenſible beauty, far above the brighteſt Cherub; and to conſider, that even every vein of that bleſſed body bled to bring thee to Heaven! Think of it, I ſay, and then exhale thy ſelf in continual ſallies, as it were, of moſt earneſt deſires to bee diſſolved, and to bee with Chriſt, which is far the better, Phil. 1.23. As in the mean while, let thy ſoul ſweetly converſe with him in all his holy Ordinances, but eſpecially at his Holy Table, where hee ſaith unto thee, as once to Thomas, Reach hither thy hand, and thruſt it into my ſide, and bee not faithleſs, but beleeving. Let thy ſoul alſo there reciprocate and ſay, My Lord and my God! Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and in Earth,Pſa. 73.25 none in compariſon of thee! Rabboni, Come quickly.
Verſ. 6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace mee] As if ſhee ſhould have ſaid, I called unto you my friends to relieve and raiſe mee falling into a ſpiritual ſwoon, but behold the conſolation that is in Chriſt, Phil. 2.1, 2the comfort of love, the fellowſhip of the Spirit, the bowels and mercies of my dear Husband: hee hath fulfilled my joy, hee hath prevented your help, or at leaſt hee hath wrought together with the means, and made it ſucceſſeful. You have ſtayed mee with flaggons,Pſal. 23.2 but hee hath reſtored my ſoul: You have bolſtered mee up with Apples, but when that would not do, hee hath put his left hand under my head, as a pillow to reſt upon, and with his right hand hee hath embraced mee; as a loving Husband cheriſheth his ſick wife; and doth her all the help hee can, Epheſ. 5.29. The whole virtue and power of the Miniſtry cometh from Chriſt. They do their worthy indeavour to ſtay and under-prop our Faith: but that notwithſtanding wee ſhall ſoon fall to the ground, if Chriſt put not to both his hands to keep us up. Wee ſtand in need of whole Chriſt: and having him to ſupport us, wee cannot fall finally, becauſe fall wee never ſo low, wee ſhall ariſe, for the Lord puts under his hand, Pſal. 37.24. his goodneſs is lower than wee can fall: hee circleth his Saints with amiable embracements, and none can pull them out of his hands. Jacob under-bare Rachel till ſhee died upon him, died on his hand, Gen. 48.7. The good Shunamite held her Son till hee died on her lap. But the love-ſick Church,Rom. 14.8 whether ſhee lives or dies, ſhee is the Lords: and who ſo liveth and beleeveth on him, cannot die eternally. But as when Chriſt himſelf died, though ſoul and body were ſundred for a ſeaſon, yet neither of them were ſundred from the Godhead whereunto they were perſonally united. So is it here: death may ſeparate ſoul and body, but cannot ſeparate either of them from Chriſt. And as Chriſt being raiſed from the dead, dies no more:Rom. 6.9. Col. 3.1 ſo neither doth any one that is riſen with him. Chriſt may as eaſily die at the right hand of his heavenly Father, as in the heart of a true Beleever.
Verſ. 7. I charge you, O yee daughters of Jeruſalem] A vehement obteſtation, (or rather an adjuration, I charge you, and that by an Oath) taken from the manner of Country-ſpeech. For in this whole Chapter the Allegory is ſo ſet, as if the feaſt or meeting were made and repreſented in a Country-houſe or Village. Theſe Daughters of Jeruſalem therefore, the particular Congregations, and all faithful men and women, (as Luk. 23.28.) are ſtraightly charged, and as it were in conſcience bound by the Church, the Mother of us all, Gal. 4.26. not to diſeaſe or offend (much or little) her Well-beloved Spouſe, that reſteth in her love, Zeph. 3.17. and taketh pleaſure in the proſperity of his Servants, Pſal. 35.27. until hee pleaſe, that is, not at all: for hee is not a God that taketh pleaſure in wickedneſs, Pſal. 5.4. his holy Spirit is grieved by it, Epheſ. 4.30. Or, until hee pleaſe, that is, till hee waken of his own accord: bee not over-haſty with him for help, but hold out faith and patience, let him take his own time, For hee is a God of Judgement, Iſa. 30.18and waiteth to bee gracious. If through impatience and unbeleef you ſet him a day, or ſend for him by a Poſt, hee will firſt chide you before hee chide the waves that afflict you, as hee dealt by his Diſciples that wakened him ere hee was willing, Mark 4.37.40. Thoſe that are ſuddenly rouſed out of a deep and ſweet ſleep, are apt to bee angry with thoſe that have done it. Great heed muſt bee taken by our ſelves, and Gods charge laid upon others, that nothing be ſpoken or done amiſs againſt the God of Heaven, Dan. 3.39. Their ſorrows ſhall bee multiplied that haſten after another God, Pſal. 16.4. The Lord ſhall trouble thee, thou troubler of Iſrael, 1 Cor. 10.22.Joſh. 7.25. Do yee provoke the Lord to wrath? are yee ſtronger than hee? will yee needs try a fall with him? Pſal. 18.26. Hath ever any yet waxed fierce againſt God and proſpered? Job 9.4. Surely as Ulyſſes his companions told him when hee would needs provoke Polydamas, ſo may wee ſay much more to thoſe that incenſe the Lord to diſpleaſure.
foreign;
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 10.Had men the feet of Roes and Hindes of the field, they could not out-run his wrath, witneſs Jonah. Or if they could, yet the Roes and Hindes, thoſe loving creatures, (Prov. 5.19.) would bee ſwift witneſſes againſt them for their baſeneſs and diſloyalty, ſith they do ſuch things as thoſe poor creatures would not; ſee Deut. 30.19. Iſa. 1.2. Bee thou inſtructed therefore, Oh Jeruſalem, leſt Chriſts ſoul bee diſ-joynted from thee, leſt (as well as hee loves thee now) hee make thee deſolate, a land not inhabited, Jer. 6.8. Let him bee that Love of thine (as ſhee here emphatically calls him) that taketh up thy whole heart, ſoul and ſtrength,foreign with a love, not onelyonly of Deſire, but of Complacency, with a God-like love. True it is, that wee cannot, neither are wee bound to love God, in quantum est diligibilis, ſo much as hee is loveable (for ſo God onelyonly can love himſelf) but wee muſt love nihil ſupra, aeque, or contra, nothing more, or ſo well, or againſt God. Other perſons wee may love with his allowance, but it muſt bee in him, and for him, as our friends in the Lord, our foes for the Lord: Other things wee may alſo love, but no otherwiſe than as they convey love to us from Chriſt, and may bee means of drawing up our affections unto Chriſt. This true love will keep us from doing any thing wilfully that may diſeaſe or diſpleaſe him: it will alſo conſtrain the Daughters of Jeruſalem to abide with the Roes, and with the Hindes of the field, (ſo ſome read this Text) as Rachel did by her Fathers Herds, to glorifie Chriſt in ſome honeſt and lawful vocation, and not to vex him by idleneſs, and unprofitableneſs: ſith as puniſhment hath an impulſive, ſo love hath a compulſive faculty, 2 Cor. 5.14.
Verſ. 8. The voice of my Beloved! Behold!] An abrupt paſſage, proceeding from a pang of love, whereof ſhee was even ſick: and now lay languiſhing as it were, at Hopes Hoſpital, lingering and liſtening, hankering and kearkening after her beloved. Of the ear wee uſe to ſay, that it is firſt awake in a morning: Call one that is aſleep by his name, and hee will ſoon hear and ſtart up. Chriſt calls all his ſheep by their name, John 10.3. and they know his voice, verſ. 4. (ſo well are they verſed in his Word, and ſo habitually are their ſenſes exerciſed, Heb. 5.14.) yea they know his paſe, for Behold hee cometh] viz. to make his abode with mee, according to his promiſe, John 14.23. to fulfil with his hand what hee had ſpoken with his mouth, as Solomon phraſeth it in his prayer, 1 King. 8.15. Chriſt ſends his voice as another John Baptiſt, a forerunner, and this no ſooner ſounds in the ear, and ſinks into the heart, than himſelf is at hand to ſpeak comfort to the conſcience, Pſal. 51.8. Hee thinks long of the time till it were done, as the Mothers breaſt akes, when it is time the childe had ſuck.
Hee comes leaping upon the Mountains, skipping upon the Hills] Look how the jealous Eagle, when ſhee flieth higheſt of all from her neſt, and ſeems to ſeat her ſelf among the clouds, yet ſtill ſhe caſts an eye to her neſt where are her young ones; and if ſhee ſee any come near to offend, preſently ſhee ſpeeds to their help and reſcue: So doth the Lord Chriſt deal by his beloved Spouſe. Neither mountains, nor hills ſhall hinder his coming: neither the ſins of his people, nor the worlds oppoſition. As for the former, Chriſt blots out the thick cloud, as well as the cloud, Iſa. 44.22. that is, enormities as well as infirmities. Hee caſts all the ſins of his Saints into the bottom of the Sea, which can as eaſily cover mountains, as mole-hills. And for the ſecond, Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey (meaning, than all the Churches enemies▪ called for their ravenouſneſs, mountains of Lions and Leopards, Cant. 4.8.) The ſtout-hearted are ſpoiled, &c. Pſal. 76.4, 5. And who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou ſhalt become a plain, Zech. 4.7. And whereas mans ſoul hath naturally many mountains of pride and prophaneneſs in it (there is that Leviathan, Pſal. 104.26and creeping things innumerable, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith of the Sea.) And for his body there is not a vein in it that would not ſwell to the bigneſs of the higheſt hill to make reſiſtance to the work of grace; every ſuch mountain and hill is made low before the Lord Chriſt, Iſa. 40.4. and every high thing caſt down, that exalts it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, 2 Cor. 10. Hee comes with authority, and reigns over all impediments.
Verſ. 9. My Beloved is like a Roe, or a young Hart] Viz. For ſweetneſs and ſwiftneſs, as in the former verſe. His help ſeems long, becauſe wee are ſhort. In the opportunity of time hee will not bee wanting to thoſe that wait for him. The Lion ſeems to leave her young ones till they have almoſt killed themſelves with roaring and howling; but at laſt ſhee relieves them: and hereby they become the more couragious. God ſeems to forget his people ſometimes, but it is that they may the better remember themſelves, and reminde him. Hee ſeems, as here to have taken a long journey, and to bee at a great diſtance from them, when as indeed hee is as near us, as once hee was to Mary Magdalen after his Reſurrection, but ſhee was ſo bleared ſhee could not ſee him. If hee at any time abſent himſelf for trial of our Faith and love to him, and to let us know how ill wee can bee without him, yet hee is no further off, than behinde ſome wall or ſcreen. Or if hee get out of doors from us, yet hee looks in at the window to ſee how wee take it, and ſoon after ſhews himſelf thorow the Latteſs, that wee may not altogether deſpond or deſpair of his return.foreign Apparuit inſtar floris exoricutis. Yea hee flouriſheth or bloſſometh thorow the Latteſſes, like ſome flower or fruit-tree that growing under or near unto a window, ſends in a ſweet ſent into the room, or perhaps ſome pleaſant branches: to teach, that Chriſt cometh not to his without profit, and comfort to their ſouls.
Verſ. 10. My Beloved ſpake and ſaid] Heb. Anſwered and ſaid. Shee had ſighed out, belike, ſome ſuch requeſt unto her Beloved, as David did, Pſal. 30.19. Return O Lord, how long! Lovers hours are full of eternity. Hee replieth, Even now my Love, behold here I am for thy help. Now will I riſe, now will I bee exalted, Iſa. 33.10.now will I lift up my ſelf. Riſe thou therefore out of the aſhes wherewith thou haſt been covered, Lam. 3.16. and come away to a better condition. Or, Riſe out of ſin, wherein by nature thou ſitteſt, Luk. 1.79. Stand up from the dead, come away to Chriſt, and hee ſhall give thee light, Epheſ. 5.14. Come, for the Maſter calleth, as they ſaid to blinde Bartimeus, Mark 10.49. Come, for it is high time to come: ſith now is our ſalvation nearer, than when we beleeved. The night is far ſpent, the day is at hand, &c. Rom. 13.11, 12. The winter is paſt, the flowers appear, &c. Up therefore, and come with mee to my Country-houſe, as it were, to take the pleaſure of the Spring-tide. In Heaven there is a perpetual Spring: and here the Saints have hanſel of heaven, thoſe firſt-fruits of the ſpirit, even as many as are holy Brethren, partakers of this heavenly calling, Heb. 3.1.
Verſ. 11. For loe the winter is paſt, the Rain is over and gone] In winter, the clouds commonly return after the Rain, Eccleſ. 12.2. A ſhowre or two doth not clear the air; but though it rain much, yet the sky is ſtill over-caſt with clouds; and as one ſhowre is unburthened, another is brewed. Loe ſuch is the doleful and diſmal condition of ſuch as are not effectually called by Chriſt. Omnis illis dies hybornus eſt, it is ever winter with them; no ſpring of grace, no Sun-ſhine of ſound comfort. It is with ſuch, as it was with Paul and his fellow-ſailers, Act. 27.20. when as neither Sun, nor Stars in many daies appeared, and no ſmall tempeſt lay on them: all hope that they ſhall bee ſaved was then taken away. All the hope is, that God who by all his all-quickening voice, raiſeth the dead, and calleth things that are not, as if they were, Rom. 4.17. that calleth thoſe his people, that were not his people, and her Beloved, which was not Beloved, Rom. 9.25. Together with his voice, there goeth forth a power, as Luk. 5.17. as when hee bade Lazarus come forth, hee made him riſe and come away, ſo here. Of carnal, Chriſt makes us a people created again, Pſal. 102.18. Epheſ. 2.10. of a wilde Aſſe Colt hee makes a man, Job 11.12. and of an hollow perſon (as empty and void of heart, as the hollow of a tree is of ſubſtance) hee makes a ſolid Chriſtian, fit to bee ſet in the heavenly building. This is as great a work, as the making of a world with a word: God plants the Heavens, and laies the foundation of the Earth, that hee may ſay to Zion, Thou art my people, Iſa. 51.16. Hence Chriſt is called the beginning of the Creation of God, Rev. 3.14. And the Apoſtle, Rom. 5.10. argues from Vocation to Glorification, as the leſſer.
Verſ. 12. The flowers appear on the Earth] Here wee have a moſt dainty deſcription of the Spring or prime time (as the French call it) far ſurpaſſing that of Horace, and the reſt of the Poets, Prim-tempe▪who yet have ſhewed themſelves very witty that way. For the ſenſe; by flowers (made rather to ſmell to, than to feed upon) are underſtood (ſaith an Interpreter) the firſt-fruits of the Spirit, whereby the Elect give a pleaſant ſmell: and therein lyeth ſweetneſs of ſpeech, and words going before works, even as flowers before fruits. For the which cauſe, as the Apoſtle exhorteth that our ſpeech bee gracious alwaies, miniſtring Edification to the hearer, Col. 4.6. ſo the Prophet calls it a pure language, which the Lord will give to as many as love him, as are called according to his purpoſe. Zeph. 3.9.
The time of the ſinging of birds is come] Hic autem garritus avium plurimum facit ad veris commendationem, this chirping of birds makes much to the Springs commendation, ſaith …nebrard. How melodiouſly ſing the Miniſters of the Goſpel, whiles they a… unto Gods people, as a very lovely ſong of one that hath a pleaſant voice … Ezek. 33.32. It is mel in ore, melos in aure, to the Elect, as it was to Auſtin, who coming to hear Ambroſe, had his ears tickled, his heart touched; ſo had that unlearned Corinthian, 1 Cor. 14.25. and the whole City of Samaria, wherein there was great joy at the receiving of the Goſpel,Luk. 2.10. Act. 8.8. Behold wee bring you good tidings of great joy to all people, ſaid thoſe Angels to the Shepherds that ſang Chriſt into the world: and from whom the preaching of the Goſpel was afterwards taken and given to the Miniſters, whoſe proper office it is to publiſh peace, to bring good tidings of good, Thy Watchmen ſhall lift up the voice, with the voice together ſhall they ſing, &c. Iſa. 52.7, 8. If they do otherwiſe to any, if they ſing doleful accents to guilty perſons, if the voice of theſe Goſpel birds, bee to ſuch, like that of Abijah to Jeroboams wife, I am ſent to thee with heavy tidings, 1 King. 24.6.they may thank themſelves. To fall out with the Miniſter is as great folly, as if ſome fond people ſhould accuſe the Herald or the Trumpet as the cauſe of their war; Or as if ſome ignorant peaſant when hee ſees his fowls bathing in his pond, ſhould cry out of them as the cauſes of ſoul weather. What do faithful Miniſters do more? (what can they do leſs, if they will be true to their ſouls?) than tax mens ſins, fore-tell their judgements? This when they do, it is diverſly taken: Ravenous and unclean birds, like the Ravens of Arabia, See Ezek. 7.16 Iſidor.ſcriech …orribly, ſcratch terribly: Turtles and Doves (whoſe voice is here ſaid to be heard in the Land when other birds are ſweetly ſinging) come in with a mournful tone mixt with a groaning ſadneſs (whence alſo the Turtle hath its name, ſcil. a ſomo quem edit per onomatopoeiam) and may well ſerve to ſet forth the unutterable groans of gracious ſpirits, grieving for their ſins, mourning bitterly over Chriſt crucified before their eyes,Zach. 12.10 Gal. 3.1 and evidently ſet forth by their faithful Miniſters (ſo that they need no other crucifix to draw tears from them) tabring upon their breasts with the voice of Doves, Nah. 2.7. Yea ſmiting upon their breaſts with the penitent Publican, and ſaying, or rather ſighing out each for himſelf, Lord bee merciful to mee a ſinner. And here aſſert ſolatium lugentibus ſuſpiriorum ſocietas. Baſi….It is an heavenly hearing when a Church-full of good people, wrought upon by their godly Preachers, ſend up a volly of ſighs to God: and as Hindes by calving, ſo they by weeping caſt out their ſorrows, Job 39.3. ſuch as ſhew their hearts to bee as ſo many Hadadrimmons. Aug. in Pſa. 10Auſtin perſwades a Preacher ſo long to inſiſt upon ſome needful point, until by the groans and looks of his hearers, hee perceive that they underſtand it, and are affected with it. Such hearers Paul had at Athens, that wept as hee did, Act. 20.37. but this is but few mens happineſs. Turtles are rare birds in our Land.
Verſ. 13. The Fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes, &c.] Theſe two trees put forth their fruits firſt; when other trees for moſt part,Poſt flores fructus, &c. Lib. 17. cap. 13 put forth firſt flowers, and then fruits in their ſeaſon. Pliny numbers the Fig-tree among the trees of quick Nature. And our Saviour, Luk. 21.29, 30. makes the ſhooting forth of the Fig-tree to bee a ſign of Summers approaching. When himſelf came hungry to that Fig-tree, Matth. 21.19. hee thought to have found ſomething on it more than leaves onelyonly; for though the time of Figs was not yet, (that is, of ripe Figs) Mark 11.13. yet groſſuli, green Figs at leaſt hee looked for, thoſe untimely Figs that ſhee caſteth when ſhee is ſhaken of a mighty wind,foreign groſſus. Hinc ficus, & fig. Hinc puto Bethphage dictam quaſi locum groſſorum. Mercer. Unde pomum decerpſeris alterum protuberat. Rev. 6.13. his hunger would have made ſomewhat of them. It was at Bethphage (that houſe of green Figs, as the word ſignifieth) or near unto it, that hee curſed this barren Fig-tree, Mark 11.1, 13. and therefore curſed it, becauſe it anſwered not his expectation. It behoves us therefore not onelyonly to make a flouriſh of goodly words (with Naphtali) but to bee fruitful boughs (with Joſeph) being filled with the fruits of Righteouſneſs, which are by Jeſus Chriſt unto the glory and praiſe of God, Phil. 1.11. Joſeph is a fruitful bough, Gen. 49.22. that is, of the Vine, ſaith the Chaldee Paraphraſt there. But it may bee Jacob meant it of the Aegyptian Fig-tree,Uno anno ſepties fructus ſufficit. whereof Solinus reporteth, that it beareth fruit ſeven times a year: pull off one Fig, and another preſently puts forth. Now if the Fig-tree ſlack not her duty, but laboureth quickly to bring forth her firſt-fruit, that ſo again and again ſhee may bee more fruitful: how much more ſhould wee haſten the fruits of holineſs, break off our ſins, and bee abrupt in our repentance, Dan. 4.27. cut the cart-ropes of vanity, and caſt away the deeds of darkneſs, Rom. 13.12. bring forth fruits meet for repentance, parallel to it, and tantamount: ſuch as were to bee ſeen in the penitent theef, that ſuffered with our Saviour? Aarons Rod was not ſooner changed from a withered ſtick into a flouriſhing tree, than hee was from a barren malefactor into a fruitful profeſſor; for ſee what a deal of fruit hee bears in an inſtant: hee confeſſeth his own ſin, rebuketh his companion, giveth a good teſtimony unto Chriſt, and praies that Chriſt would remember him when he came into his Kingdome. This incouragement among many other wee have, that Chriſt will bleſs our very budds, Iſa. 44.3. (ſee the Geneva Tranſlation) hee will taſte of our green Figs,Un… minutula. R. David. of our tender Grapes, which, if not yet of a good taſte, yet becauſe they give a good ſmell, as this Text hath it, they are well reſented; Chriſt when hee comes into his garden, takes all hee findes well aworth: Hee gathereth his myrrhe with his ſpice, hee eats not onelyonly of his hony, but of his hony-comb, and drinks not onelyonly of his Wine, but of his Milk, Cant. 5.1.
Verſ. 14. Oh my Dove! that art in the clefts of the Rock] The Dove is meek, mournful, ſimple, ſociable, fearful, beautiful, faithful to her mate, fruitful, neat, ſo is the Church. And becauſe the Dove is ſought after by birds of prey, therefore ſhee builds in ſtrong and ſteep places, in clefts of Rocks, in the ſides of the holes mouth, as Jeremy hath it, chap. 48.28. The Church alſo is forced many times to flie into the wilderneſſe, Rev. 12. into the further parts of the world, and hide it ſelf in corners, to avoid perſecution. So many, ſo mighty, and ſo malicious are the Churches enemies, that ſhee dare ſcarce peep out, or appear abroad, with the Dove, but ſhee is in danger to become Hawks-meat. Hence Hilary ſaith of the Primitive Chriſtians, that they were not to bee ſought in tectis & exteriori pompa, in Palaces and outward pomp, but rather in deſerts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth, as the Apoſtle alſo hath it, Heb. 11.38. Concerning the Chriſtian Congregation in Queen Maries time, ſaith Mr. Fox, there were ſometimes forty, ſometimes an hundred, ſometimes two hundred came together, as they could, in ſome private place in London, Act. & Mon. fol. 1881.for mutual edification. They are utterly out therefore, that hold that the true Church muſt bee evermore glorious and conſpicuous for her outward ſplendour. Shee is eft-ſoons like the Moon in her ecclipſe, which appeareth dark toward the earth, but is bright and radiant in that part which looks toward Heaven. The Papiſts would have this Moon alwaies in the full. And if ſhee ſhew but little light to us, or bee ecclipſed, they will not yeeld, ſhee is the Moon. And yet (except it bee in the ecclipſe) Aſtronomers demonſtrate that the Moon hath at all times as much light, as in the full: But oftentimes a great part of the bright ſide is turned to Heaven, and a leſſer part to the earth. And ſo the Church is ever conſpicuous to Gods eye, though it appear not alwaies to ours.
In the ſecret places of the ſtairs] Whither thou art retired, as for ſecurity, ſo for ſecrecy, that thou mayeſt the more freely, and without ſuſpition of hypocriſie, pour out thy heart before mee, and ſeek my protection. Or, where thou lyeſt cloſe out of modeſty, or conſcience of infirmity; not daring to ſhew thy face.
Shew mee thy face] Or, Let mee ſee thy countenances, leave none of thy particular Congregations or Members behinde thee, but preſent your ſelves before the Lord, come boldly to the Throne of Grace, Heb. 4.16. in full aſſurance of Faith, Heb. 10.22. Quid enim per faciem niſi fidem qua â Deo cognoſcimur, ſaith Gregory upon this Text.Heb. 11.6 What can wee underſtand by the face but Faith, ſith by it wee are known of God, and without it, it is impoſſible to pleaſe God: For hee that cometh to God, (that ſhews his face before the King Eternal, Immortal, Inviſible, &c. 1 Tim. 1.17. muſt come in his beſt) muſt beleeve that hee is (ſcil. Optimus Maximus) and more particularly, that hee is a rewarder of all that diligently ſeek him, that ſeek him out, as the Greek hath it, viz. that fetch him out of his retiring-room, as the Syropheniſſe by the force of her Faith did, Mark 7.24. and as the Spouſe here would never give him over, till ſhee had recovered him out of the Country, and drawn from him this ſweeteſt invitation to go along with him, and incitation to make bold with him.
Let mee hear thy voice] In holy exerciſes, preaching, prayer, conference, &c. See here how the Lord Chriſt wooes attendance, ſolicits ſuters. The Father ſeeketh ſuch to worſhip him, John 4.24. Hitherto yee have asked mee nothing, ſaith the Son, nothing to what you might have done, and ſhould do well to do hereafter, Ask, that your joy may bee full. John 16.24Pray that yee may joy: draw waters with joy out of this well-ſpring of Salvation. Ply the Throne of Grace, follow your work cloſe. It was more troubleſome to Severus the Emperour (to Chriſt you may bee ſure it is) to bee asked nothing of his Courtiers, than to grant them much. Ask, and you ſhall have, ſaith Chriſt. And is not hee worthily miſerable, that will not make himſelf happy by asking?
Sweet is thy voice] Becauſe uttered by the Spirit of grace and ſupplication, whoſe very breath prayer is, and without whom prayer is no better than a ſounding braſs, or tinckling cymbal.
And thy countenance is comely] ſcil. By reaſon of the Image of God repaired in thee, clearly ſhining in thy heart and life: This renders thee comely indeed, ſo that I am the better to ſee thy face, and to hear thy voice. To Lovers nothing can bee more pleaſing than mutual converſe and conference.
Verſ. 15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes] i. e. The Hereticks and Schiſmaticks. For as Fox-cubbs will bee Foxes one day, and of little will become great: ſo Schiſmaticks, if not timely taken, will turn Hereticks. Whence it is that the Apoſtle 1 Cor. 11.18, 19. having ſaid, I hear that there bee diviſions or Schiſms among you, hee preſently ſubjoyns, For there muſt bee alſo Hereſies among you (God having ſo fore-appointed and foretold it) that they which are approved may bee made manifeſt among you. Now theſe Hereticks and Schiſmaticks are fitly called Foxes, both here, and Ezek. 13.4. (Herod is alſo called a Fox, Luk. 13.32. as being a Sect-Maſter, Mat. 22.16. and as it is thought, to ſtill the noiſe of his conſcience, a Sadducee) firſt for their craft, ſecondly, for their cruelty. Foxes are famous for their craftineſs even to a Proverb (As ſubtle as a Fox, Perſius.Aſtutam vapido ſervans ſub pectore vulpem.)
They are paſſing cunning to deceive thoſe that hunt them; feigning themſelves ſimple, when there is nothing more ſubtle, and looking pittifully, when taken in a ſnare, but it is onelyonly that they may get out: there is no truſting to their looks, for Vulpes pellem mutat, non naturam, ſaith the Proverb, the Fox may alter his countenance, but not his condition. And for cruelty, beſides the hurt Foxes do among Lambs and Fowls (for, lacking meat, they feign themſelves dead: and ſo the birds haſting down as to a carkaſe, volucres rapiunt & devorant, Iſidor. Etym. lib. 12.1.ſaith Iſidore, they ſeize upon the birds, and devour them) they are noted here to mar the Vineyards, Vulpes vitibus maximè nocivae, ſaith one. And for Grapes, the Fox loves them exceedingly, yea though they bee but tender, and unripe. Hence the Latines call him Legulus, a Gatherer, namely, of Grapes; and wee ironically ſay of a man, The Fox loves no Grapes, hee will not eat them, but it is becauſe hee cannot get them: howbeit, by his leering one may know hee loves them. Hereticks and Schiſmaticks are therefore to bee taken by the Vine-dreſſers, that is, detected, refuted,1 Tim. 1.20. and if need bee, delivered up to Satan by the Miniſters, chaſed out of the Vineyard, and purſued to death, if incorrigible, by the Magiſtrate, as Jehu dealt by the Baalites, and after him Joſiah. The ſword is put into their hands for ſuch a purpoſe, Rom. 13.4. and our Saviour with a civil whip expelled thoſe Church-Foxes, the Mony-merchants, giving therein a taſte of that civil authority which hee naturally derived from David, as one obſerveth. The Apoſtles being convented before civil authority about matters of Religion, never pleaded, You have no power to meddle with us in theſe things that belong to Jeſus Chriſt. No: their plea was only the juſtneſs of their cauſe, their obedience to God, &c. This, Hereticks can never make good. Well they may pretend that they ſuffer for righteouſneſs ſake, and ſtile themſelves, as the Swenck feldians did, The confeſſours of the glory of Chriſt. Well they may cry out as that Heretick Dioſcorus did in the Council of Chalcedon, I am caſt out with the Fathers, I defend the doctrine of the Fathers, I tranſgreſs them not in any point. Well they may ſeem to bee ambitious of wearing a Tiburn-tippe… (as Campian) and cry out with Gentilis the Antitrinitarian,Se pro gloria Altiſſimi Dei pati. that hee ſuffered death for the glory of the moſt High God. Hee that hateth, diſſembleth with his lips (ſaith Solomon of ſuch ſubtle Foxes) and layeth up deceit within him: When hee ſpeaketh fair, beleeve him not; for there are ſeven abominations in his heart, Prov. 26.24, 25. Hereticks are notably cunning, and no leſs cruel, as the Arians and Donaetiſts were of old, the Papiſts, Matth. 8.Socinians, and others of the ſame bran at this day. Theſe Foxes have holes; they cunningly creep, or ſhoot themſelves into houſes by their pithanology and counterfeit humility, they lead captive ſilly women, and, by them,2 Tim. 3.6 their husbands: they take them priſoners (as the word ſignifies) and then make prize of them, 2 Pet. 2.3. they bring them into bondage, and devour them, as St. Paul ſaith of thoſe deceitful workers, the Foxes of his time, 2 Cor. 11.13, 20. they fraudulently foiſt in falſe doctrines, 2 Pet. 2.1. Hereſies of perdition, and ſo corrupt the Vineyard, as the Maſter of the Vineyard complains, Jer. 12.10. ſhipwrack the Faith, 1 Tim. 1.19. ſubvert whole houſes, Tit. 1.11. and are therefore to bee taken, or clubd down as Peſts, and common miſchiefs to mankind; to the younger ſort eſpecially, thoſe tender Grapes, which they chiefly covet, and catch at. And here in hunting of theſe cruel crafties, that counſel would bee taken that Saul gave the Ziphites concerning an innocent man, that deſerved it not: Go, I pray you, prepare yee, and know, 1 Sam. 23.22, 23and ſee his place where his haunt is, and who hath ſeen him there: for it is told mee, that hee dealeth very ſubtilly. See therefore and take knowledge of all the lurking places where hee hideth himſelf, &c.
Verſ. 16. My Beloved is mine, and I am his] Hitherto the Church hath related Chriſts words to her ſelf, and others. Now ſhee ſhuts up the whole diſcourſe with praiſe of Chriſt, here, and prayer to him, verſ. 17. In praiſing him, ſhee preacheth her own bleſſedneſs in that ſpiritual Union, that myſtical marriage that is betwixt them, My Beloved is mine, &c. q. d. I am ſure hee is mine, and I can boldly ſpeak it. Many lay claim to him, which have no ſhare in him: they deeply affirm of him, but have no manner of right to him, their faith is but fancy, their confidence preſumption; they are like that mad-man of Athens, that claimed every rich ſhip that came to ſhore, when as hee had no part in any; or Haman, who hearing that the King would honour a man, concluded (but falſely) that himſelf was the man. Like Idolatrous Micah, they conceit that God will bleſs them for the Levites ſake, Judg. 17.13. which was no ſuch matter. And like Siſera, they dream of a Kingdome, when as Jaels nail is nearer their Temples than a Crown. The condition of ſuch ſelf-ſoothers, and ſelf-ſeekers is nothing different from his, that dreaming, upon a ſteep place, of ſome great happineſs befallen him, ſtarts ſuddenly for joy, and falling down with the ſtart, breaks his neck at the bottom. The true beleever is upon a far better ground, his faith is unfeigned, his hope is unfailable. Hee knows whom hee hath truſted, hee knows and beleeves the love that God hath to him, 1 John 4.16. hee hath gotten a full gripe of Chriſt, and is ſure that neither death nor life, &c. ſhall ſeparate him from Chriſt. Hee hath comprehended him, or rather is comprehended of him, Phil. 3.12. Chriſt hath laid hold on him by his Spirit, and hee hath laid hold on Chriſt by Faith, the property whereof is to put on cloſe to Chriſt, and Chriſt to him: yea to unite us to Chriſt, ſo that hee that is joyned to the Lord, is one ſpirit, 1 Cor. 6.17. as truly one, as thoſe members are one body which have the ſame ſoul; or as man and wife are one fleſh: as they two are one matrimonial fleſh, ſo Chriſt and his people are one myſtical Chriſt, 1 Cor. 12.12. Well therefore may the Church here glorifie Chriſt, and glory in her own happineſs by him, ſaying, My Beloved is mine, and I am ſure of it, and cannot bee deceived; for I am his: all that I am is his, I have made a total reſignation of my whole ſelf unto him, and have put him in full poſſeſſion of all. I am crucified with Chriſt: Nevertheleſs I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in mee, Gal. 2.20. Chriſt is All-ſufficient to mee, and I am altogether his. His is as a Covenant of mercy, mine of obedience. Wherein I do as it were by Indenture, with higheſt eſtimations, moſt vigorous affections, and utmoſt indeavours, beſtow my ſelf upon him: and I accept of whole Chriſt in all his offices and efficacies.
Hee feedeth among the Lillies] Before ſhee was to ſeek, and goes to Chriſt to bee reſolved where hee fed, Chap. 1.7. Now, after more intimate communion with him, ſhee is able to reſolve herſelf and others where hee feeds his flock, viz. among the Lillies, that is, in ſweet and ſoft paſtures, Pſal. 23.2. in thoſe Mountains of ſpices, Cant. 8.14. thoſe bounties of holineſs, the glorious Ordinances, wherein Chriſt feeds his people, and feaſts them daily and daintily, pleaſantly and plentifully with the beſt of the beſt, fat things full of marrow, Wine on the Lees well refined, Iſa. 25.6. to the gladding of their hearts, and greatning of their Faith, ſo that they grow up as the Lillies, Hoſ. 14.5. as the Calves of the ſtall, as the willows by the water-courſes, Iſa. 44.4. And as Lillies are not more beautiful than fertile, Una radice quinquagenos ſaepe emittente bulbos, Plin.yea the dropping of the Lilly will cauſe and beget more Lillies: ſo the Lilly-white Saints will bee working upon others, and bringing them to Chriſt, as Andrew did Peter, and Philip Nathaniel, John 1.41, 45. True goodneſs is generative, Charity is no churl, &c.
Verſ. 17. Until the day break, and the ſhadows flee away] Until that day dawn, that laſt and glorious day, when Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhall appear, and chaſe away the ſhadows of ſin and miſery, wherewith I am here benighted.
Umbra terrae noctem facit. Iſidor. Etym. lib. 5. cap. 13.Turn about my Beloved] And though thou leave mee for a time (as thou art a God that hideſt thy ſelf, Iſa. 45.15.) yet never forſake mee, but let thine heart bee ever upon mee, and thine hand ready to help at a dead lift.
Yea bee thou like a Roe or a young Hart] Come ſweetly and ſeaſonably to my relief and ſuccour. To ſet thee a time, were to ſet the Sun by my Dial. But when thine own time is come,2 Sam. 2.29. their come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, bee as nimble as a Roe or young Hart upon the Mountains of Bether, called elſewhere Bithron beyond Jordan: which mountains were much haunted by Hunters. Mountains of diviſion, ſome render it, and one deſcants thus: The Spouſe of Chriſt in that heavenly Marriage-Song calleth him a young Hart on the Mountains of Diviſion.D. Hall Epiſt. 5. dec. 3. Tell mee then whither will you go for truth, if you will allow no truth, but where there is no diviſion?