Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Canticles · Chapter 5

Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan · Canticles · Chapter 5

p. 363CHAP. V. Verſ. 1. I am come into my Garden.]

SO ready is the Lord Chriſt to fulfill the deſires of them that fear him, Sometimes hee not onelyonly grants their prayer,Pſal. 145.19.Ps 145:19 but fulfills p. 364their counſel,Confeſſ. l. 5. c. 1. Pſal. 20.4. fits his mercy ad cardinem deſiderii, as Auſtin hath it, lets it be to his, even as they will. Or if he croſs them in the very thing they crave, they are ſure of a better: their prayers they ſhall have out either in money, or moneys worth. Chriſt, though he be a God that hideth himſelf, yet hee ſcorns to ſay unto the ſeed of Jacob, Seek yee mee in vain, Iſaiah 45.15, 19. that's enough for the Heathen Idols, verſ. 16, 18. Hee is not like Baal, who purſuing his enemies, could not hear his friends: or as Diana, that being preſent at Alexanders birth, could not at the ſame time reſcue her Epheſian Temple from the fire.Non vacat exiguis, &c. Hee is not like Jupiter, whom the Cretians painted without ears, as not being at leiſure to attend ſmall matters: and whom Lucian the Atheiſt feigneth to look down from heaven through certain creviſſes or chincks, at certain times: at which time, if Petitioners chance to pray unto him, they may have audience, otherwiſe not. No, no: the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are always open to their prayers, Pſal. 34.15. Flectitur iratus voce rogante Deus. Baſil compares prayer to a chayn, the one end whereof is linked to Gods ear, and the other to mans tongue. Sozomen ſaith of Apollonius, that hee never asked any thing of God in all his life that hee obtained not. And another ſaith of Luther, Iſte vir potuit apud Deum quod voluit. That man could do what hee would with God; it was but ask and have, with him.

I have gathered my myrrhe with my ſpice] i.e. I have highly accepted of thy graces and good works: theſe are to bee gathered onelyonly in Chriſts Garden. Hedge-fruits and wilde-hearbs, or rather weeds, are every where almoſt to bee had. Moral vertues may bee found in a Cato, who was homo virtuti ſimilimus, a man as like vertue as may be, ſaith Velleius: And he addes (but I am not bound to beleeve him) Qui nunquam recte fecit, ut facere videretur, ſed quia aliter facere non poterat, vell. lib. 2.that Cato never did well that hee might ſeem to do ſo, but becauſe hee could not do otherwiſe than well: But why then (might a man have asked the Hiſtorian) did your ſo highly extolled Cato take up the trade of griping uſury? Why did he ſo ſhamefully proſtitute his wife, ſo cowardly kill himſelf? Was it not becauſe he lived in the wilde Worlds waſte, and grew not in the Churches garden, hence his fruits were not genuine? his moral vertues are but ſhining ſinnes, beautiful abominations, a ſmoother way to hell. Civil honeſt men are but Wolves chained up, tame Devils, Swine in a fair meadow, &c. Operam praeſtant, natura fera est, (as the Civil Law ſaith of thoſe mixt Beaſts, Elephants and Camels) they do the work of tame Beaſts, yet have the nature of wilde ones. They are cryed up for ſingularly honeſt as ever lived, by ſuch as are ſtrangers to the power of Godlineſs, and aliens from the Common-wealth of Iſrael; like as in Samaria's famine, a cab of Doves dung was ſold at a great rate, and an aſſes head at four pound. But Chriſt, and ſuch as have the minde of Chriſt, are otherwiſe minded: they look upon an unregenerate man, though ſober, juſt, chaſte, liberal, &c. as a vile perſon; Pſal. 15.4.Ps 15:4and upon all their ſpecious works, as dead works: when as (contrarily) they honour them that fear the Lord, and ſet an high price (as Chriſt here doth) upon their good parts and practices. Myrrhe and ſpices, or aromatical fruits, are but dark ſhadows and repreſentations of them.

I have eaten mine hony-comb with mine hony] As it were cruſt and crumb together: not rejecting my peoples ſervices for the infirmities I finde cleaving unto them, but accepting what is good therein, and bearing with the reſt, I take all well a worth, and am as much delighted therewith, as any man is in eating of hony; whereof hee is ſo greedy, that withall hee devours the comb too ſometimes.Mr. Dudley Fenner. Chriſt feedeth (ſaith an Expoſitour here) upon all the fruits of his garden, hee ſo much delighteth in it, as hee eateth not onelyonly the hony, as it were the moſt excellent duties or works of the Church, (ſee Heb. 13.15, 16, 21.) but alſo the hony-comb as it were the baſer ſervices and fruits of his Spirit, of leaſt account: that hee receiveth of all ſorts moſt ſweetly mingled together, both the common and daily fruits of godlineſs, underſtood in milk, and the more rare of greater price, as ſolemn faſts and feaſts, ſignified p. 365by wine: both which hee drinketh together, that is, accepteth of them all.

Eat, O friends] That is, O you holy Angels, (ſaith the former Interpreter) which as my Nobles, accompany mee the King of Glory in Heaven, and have ſome communion with me in the gifts I beſtow on you. Mr. Diodate alſo thinks the ſame: But I rather encline to thoſe that by Chriſts friends here underſtand thoſe earthly Angels, the Saints, (ſee John 15.14. Iſa. 41.8. Jam. 2.23. whom hee cheareth up and encourageth to fall to it luſtily, and by a ſancta crapula (as Luther calls an holy gluttony) to lay on, to feed hard, and to fetch hearty draughts, till they bee even drunk with loves, (as the Hebrew here hath it) being raviſhed in the love of God, where they are ſure to finde it (as in hony-pots) the deeper, the ſweeter. Such as ſo eat, are called Chriſts friends, (by a ſpecialty) and ſuch as ſo drink, his beloved, as Gregory here well obſerveth: and they onelyonly do thus that hear the Word with delight, turn it in ſuccum & ſanguinem, concoct it, incorporate it, as it were, into their ſouls, and are ſo deeply affected with it, that like drunken men, they forget and let go all things elſe, that they may retain and practice it. Theſe are not drunk with wine, wherein is exceſs, but filled with the Holy Ghoſt, Epheſ. 5.16.

Verſ. 2. I ſleep, but my heart waketh] It was no ſound ſleep that ſhe took: Shee did not ſhort aloud in the Cradle of ſecurity (as thoſe do whom the Devil hath caſt into a deep Lethargy) but napped and nodded a little, and that by candle-light too, as thoſe wiſe Virgins did, Matth. 25.5. Shee ſlept with open eyes as the Lion doth: ſhee ſlept but half-ſleep: the Spirit was willing to wake, but the fleſh was weak and overwayed it, as it fared with thoſe ſleepy Diſciples, Matth. 26.41. Fain would this fleſh make ſtrange of that which the Spirit doth embrace. O Lord, how loth is this loitering ſluggard to paſs forth into Gods path, ſaid Mr. Sanders in a letter to his wife,Act. & Mon. fol. 1359. a little afore his death, with much more, to like purpoſe? As in the ſtate of Nature, men cared not for grace, but thought themſelves well enough, and wiſe enough without: ſo in the ſtate of Grace, they are not ſo carefull as they ſhould. Heaven muſt bee brought to them, they will ſcarce go ſeek it, 1 Pet. 1.13. And as the ſeven tribes are juſtly taxed by Joſhua for their negligence and ſloth in not ſeeking ſpeedily to poſſeſs the Land God had offered them, Joſh. 18.2. So may the moſt of Gods people be juſtly rebuked for grievous ſecurity about the heavenly Canaan. They content themſelves with a bare title, or hang in ſuſpenſe, and ſtrive not to full aſſurance: they follow Chriſt, but it is (as the people followed Saul) trembling: they are ſtill troubled with this doubt, or that fear, and all becauſe they are loth to be at the pains of working out their ſalvation, Phil. 2.12. Something is left undone, and their conſcience tells them ſo. Either they are lazy, and let fall the watch of the Lord, neglecting duty, or elſe they loſe themſelves in a wilderneſs of duties, by reſting in them, and by making the means their Mediatours, or by pleaſing themſelves (with the Church here) in unlawful liberties, after that they have pleaſed the Lord in lawful duties. The fleſh muſt bee gratified, and ſuch a luſt fulfilled. A little more ſleep, a little more ſlumber in Jezabels bed, (as Mr. Bradford was wont to phraſe it) Solomon muſt have his wine,Act. & Mon. and yet think to retain his wiſdome, Eccleſ. 2.3. Samſon muſt fetch a nap on Dalilahs knees, till God, by his Philiſtims, ſend our ſummons for ſleepers, wake them in a fright, cure ſecurity by ſorrow, as Phyſicians uſe to cure a Lethargy by caſting the Patient into a Burning Feaver. Cold diſeaſes muſt have hot and ſharp remedies: The Church here found it ſo. And did not David, when hee had ſinned away his inward peace, and wiped off, as it were,Pſal. 51.Ps 51 all his comfortables?

It is the voyce of my beloved that knocketh] Shee was not ſo faſt aſleep, but that the hidden man of the heart (as St. Peter calls him, 1 Ep. 3.4.) was awake, and his ears arrect and attent, ſo that ſhee ſoon heard the firſt call, or knock of Chriſt; whoſe care was to arrouſe her, that though ſhee ſlept a p. 366while through infirmity of the fleſh, yet ſhee might not ſleep the ſleep of death, Pſal. 13.3. dye in her ſins, as thoſe Jews did, John 8.21. In the ſweating ſickneſs (that reigned for many years together in this Kingdome) thoſe that were ſuffered to ſleep (as all in that caſe were apt to do) they died within a few hours. The beſt office therefore that any one could do them, was, To keep them waking, though againſt their wills. Sembably our Saviour, ſolicitous of his Churches welfare, and knowing her preſent danger, comes calling and clapping at the door other heart, and ſweetly wooes admiſſion and entertainment: but miſſeth of it. Hee knocketh and bounceth by the hammer of his Word, and by the hand of his Spirit, (ſee Revel. 3.20. with 2 Pet. 1.13.) and if the Word work not on his people, they ſhall hear the rod, and who hath appointed it, Mic. 6.9. that they may by ſome means bee brought to ſummon the ſobriety of their ſenſes before their own judgements; and ſeeing their danger, to go forth and ſhake themſelves, as Sampſon did, Judg. 16.

Open to mee, my Siſter, my Love, &c.] What irreſiſtible Rhetorick is here? what paſſionate and moſt pithy perſwaſions! Ipſa Suada, credo, ſi loqui poſſet, non potuiſſet foreign, ubi quot verba tot tela, quae ſponſae animum percellant, fodicent, lancinent, ſhee was not ſo dead aſleep, but that ſhee could hear at firſt, and tell every tittle that he ſaid. And this ſhe doth here very finely, and to the full; that ſhee may aggravate againſt her ſelf the foulneſs of her fact in refuſing ſo ſweet an offer, in turning her back upon ſo bleſſed and ſo bleeding an embracement: the tearms and titles hee here giveth her, are expounded before. Ʋndefiled or perfect hee calleth her, for her Dove-like ſimplicity, purity, and integrity.

For mine head is filled with dew] i. e. I have ſuffered much for thy ſake, and waited thy leiſure a long while: and muſt I now go look my lodging? Doeſt thou thus requite (repulſe) thy Lord, O thou fooliſh woman and unwiſe? Is this thy kindneſs to thy friend?Jer. 13.27.Jer 13:27 Wo unto thee, O Jeruſalem: wilt thou not bee made clean? when ſhall it once bee? It is the ingratitude that makes the Saints ſinnes ſo hainous; which otherwiſe would bee far leſs than other mens; ſith his temptations are ſtronger, and his reſiſtance is greater. Oh when Gods grace ſhall come ſuing to us, nay kneeling to us; when Chriſt ſhall come with Hat in hand, and ſtand bare-headed, as here, and that in foul weather too, begging acceptance, and beſeeching us to be reconciled, and we will not, what an inexcuſible fault is this!

Verſ. 3. I have put off my Coat] Thus the fleſh ſhews itſelf, not onelyonly weak, but wayward, treacherous, and tyrannical; rebell it doth in the beſt, and reign it would, if it might bee ſuffered. This bramble would fain bee playing Rex, and doth ſo other-whiles, till hee be well buffeted (as St. Paul ſerved it, 1 Cor. 9.27.) and brought it into ſubjection. But what a ſilly excuſe maketh the Church here for her ſelf? Trouble mee not, for I am in bed, as hee ſaid to his friend, Luk. 11.7. My cloathes are off, my feet are waſhed, and I am compoſed to a ſettled reſt. But are you ſo? (might Chriſt have regeſted.) And is that the part and poſture of a vigilant Chriſtian? Might it not better have beſeemed you to have had your loyns girt up, your lamp in your hand, and your ſelf to have waited for your Lords return, that when hee came and knocked, you might have opened unto him immediately, Luk. 12.35, 36? Or, being got to bed, muſt you needs mend one fault with another? Is it ſuch a pains to ſtart up again and let in ſuch a gueſt, as comes not to take any thing from you, but to enrich you much more than once the Ark did Obed-Edom? And in this ſenſe ſome take thoſe words in the former verſe, for mine head is filled with dew, &c. as if Chriſt came unto her, full of the dew of bleſſings to enrich her. Sure it is, that Chriſt is no beggerly or niggardly gueſt. His reward is with him: hee brings better commodities than Abrahams ſervants did to Laban, or the Queen of Sheba to Solomon, even pureſt gold, whiteſt rayment, ſoveraign eye-ſalve, any thing, every thing, that heart can wiſh, or need require, Revel. 3.17, 19. How unworthily therefore deal p. 367they, and how ill do they provide for themſelves, that either deny or delay to entertain him, when either by the motions of his Spirit, by the words of his mouth, or by the works of his hands, he knocks at the doors of their hearts, and would come in to them? How do they make void or reject the counſel of God againſt themſelves, with thoſe unhappy Lawyers, Luk. 7.30. being ingrati gratiae Dei, as Ambroſe ſpeaketh, and judging themſelves unworthy of ever-laſting life, with thoſe perverſe Jews, Acts 13.46? Who can ſay it is otherwiſe than righteous, that Chriſt ſhould regeſt one day upon ſuch ungrateful Gadarens, Depart from mee yee wicked? that ſuch as ſay to him, as Felix did once to Paul, Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient ſeaſon I will call for thee (Acts 24.26.) ſhould hear from him, Get you to the Gods whom yee have choſen, for I will not help you, &c. and that thoſe that would not obey this ſweet precept, Open to mee, &c. Come down Zachaeus, Luke 19.5.Luke 19:5for to day I muſt abide at thy houſe, &c. ſhould have no other left to obey, but that dreadful, Go yee curſed, &c. The Church here did but luſt a while and linger, when ſhee ſhould have been up and about, and ſhee ſoon rued it deerly, bewailed it bitterly. Now what was it that ſhe did? Did ſhee rate Chriſt for comming at ſuch unſeaſonable hours? did ſhee anſwer him curriſhly, or drive him from her door? No ſurely, but onelyonly pleads excuſe, and pretends inconvenience: Shee had put off her cloathes, waſht her feet, &c. A great chare ſhee had done: and it would have undone her, doubtleſs, to have dreſſed her again, and ſet her fair feet on the foul ground. There is none ſo wiſe as the ſluggard, Prov. 26.16. Hee hath got together a great many excuſes, which hee thinks will go for wiſdome: becauſe by them hee thinks to ſleep in a whole skin. Sinne and ſhifting came into the world together. But what ſaith the Apoſtle? Surely his counſel is moſt excellent, and worthy of all acceptation, Heb. 12.25. See that yee refuſe not him that ſpeaketh, ſc: by his Blood, Word, Sacraments, motions of his Spirit, Mercies, &c. Look to it, (as the Greek hath it) that yee refuſe not, foreignGr: that yee ſhift him not off by frivolous pretences, and idle excuſes, as thoſe recuſant gueſts did, Mat. 22.5. as Moſes would have done, Exod. 3.11, 14. & 4.1, 10. and Jeremiah, c. 1.6. So again Heb. 2.3. How ſhall wee eſcape if wee neglect ſo great ſalvation? Hee ſaith not, if wee reject, renounce, perſecute, but if wee neglect, let ſlip, undervalue, &c. If when God ſends forth his mercy, and his truth, Pſal. 57.3. and looks that wee ſhould ſend a Lamb to that Lamb of God the Ruler of the land, Iſa. 16.1. wee ſend meſſages after him, ſaying, Wee will not have this man to rule over us, Luk. 19.14. Wee break his cords, thoſe cords of love, Hoſ. 11.4. and kick againſt his bowels; and inſtead of ſerving him, make him to ſerve with our ſins, and even weary him with our iniquities, Iſa. 43.24. How ſhall wee eſcape? What hill ſhall hide us? What will yee do in the end thereof?

Verſ. 4. My Beloved put in his hand by the hole] Or,Dimiſſit manu… a foramine. He let fall his hand from the hole, where hee was lifting at the latch, or ſee…ing to put by the bar: hee took it ſo unkindly to bee ſo ill anſwered, that hee …parted in diſpleaſure, and would bee no further troubleſome. Sleep on no… (quoth hee, as Mark 14.41.) and take your reſt. Hee that will hear, let him …ar, foreign. De Pomp…io Romano ap. Plutarch.and he that hath a minde to forbear, let him forbear, Ezek. 3.27. but at his own peril, the beſt that can come of it, is repentance, that fair and happy daughter of an ugly and odious mother. Delicatares eſt Spiritus Dei, ſaith one, The …pirit of God is a delicate thing; and hee that grieves that holy thing whereby …ee is ſealed, by giving way to a ſpirit of ſloth and ſlumber, may loſe his joy of faith, and go mourning to his grave. And although with much a do he ma… get aſſurance of pardon, yet his conſcience will be ſtill trembling, as Davids, Pſal. 51. till God at length ſpeak further peace: Even as the water of the Sea, after a ſtorm, is not preſently ſtill, but moves and trembles a good while after the ſtorm is over. Take heed therefore: Cavebis autem ſi pavebis, Rom. 11.21. But to take the words as they are here tranſlated, My Beloved put in his hand by the hole, that is, hee touched mine heart by his holy Spirit: and p. 368notwithſtanding my diſcourteous dealing with him, left a ſweet remembrance of himſelf behind him. As hee would not away, but continued ſtill knocking till hee had an anſwer, ſo, though the anſwer pleaſed him not, yet hee called not for his love-tokens back again, hee caſt her not off, as Ahaſhuerus did Vaſhti, (no, hee hates putting away, Mal. 2.16.) but as the Sun with his bright beams follows the paſſenger that hath turned his back upon it: So deals Chriſt by his back-ſliding people,Pſal. 23.6. Jonah 2.8.Ps 23:6Jonah 2:8 Jer. 3.22. (Surely goodneſs and mercy ſhall follow mee all the daies of my life, ſaith David, follow mee though I forſake mine own mercies, ſaith Jonah.) And as the ſame Sun-beams do convey the heat and influence thereof to the earth, thereby calling out the herbs and flowers, and healing thoſe deformities that winter had brought upon it: So doth Chriſt that Sun of Righteouſneſs, ariſe (to his ſervants that are benighted with ſin and ſorrow) with healing in his wings, that is, with the gratious influence of his holy Spirit, conveying the vertues of his blood to their conſciences, and cauſing them, as by a new ſpring of holy deſires and endeavours, to reflouriſh, Phil. 4.10.

And my Bowels were moved for him] They rumbled, tumultuated, and made a humming noiſe, as the Hebrew hath it. She means, that ſhee had no reſt in her Spirit, her heart (that chiefeſt of the bowels, or inwards) did even quake and ake within her; her thoughts afflicted her, ſhee was greatly diſquieted, and all for him, for the unkindneſs ſhee had offered him, or concerning him, or over him, as thoſe Penitentiaries in Zachary, that looked upon him whom they had pierced, and (by an inſtinct of the Spirit of grace powred plentifully upon them) mourned for him, or over him, till their hearts became a very Hadadrimmon, foreign.and fell aſunder in their boſomes like drops of water; and all for the indignities and injuries they had done to Chriſt. This is a ſorrow according to God, or, as God would have it, 1 Cor. 7.9. this is a repentance never to bee repented of, verſ. 10. This is that Rain-bow, which if God ſee ſhining in our hearts, hee will remember his holy Covenant. The Church here for inſtance. That ſhee ſorrowed after a godly ſort appears by thoſe ſeven ſigns ſet down, 2 Cor. 7.11. and here in this Chapter exemplified and evidenced. I ſleep, there's Indignation, but my heart waketh, there's Apology, or clearing herſelf. I aroſe to open, there is study, or carefulneſs and diligence. My ſoul failed when hee ſpake, there is her Zeal. I called on him, I ſought him, there's her vehement deſire. The Watchmen found mee, they ſmote mee, they unveiled …ee, there's her ſelf-revenge, whiles ſhee ſhrank not for any danger, but bearing patiently the Lords indignation, becauſe ſhee had ſinned againſt him, ſhee followed him through thick and thin, in the night, among the watch, &c. followed him hot-foot, and would not reſt till ſhee had recovered him. Lo this is the guiſe of a godly heart: it runs into ſinne ſometimes, but riſeth again ſoon after by repentance: it is at as much unreſt till reconciled to God, as hee that hath broke a bone, till it be well ſet again. When as a prophane Eſau can ſell his birth-right,Hac congerie impaenitentia Eſaui deſcribitur. Piſcat. (and with it his title to heaven) and when hee hath ſo done, hee can eat, and drink, and riſe up, and go his way without any the leaſt remorſe or regret, Ge…. 25.34. Wicked men grow worſe and worſe, ſaith the Apoſtle: and take long ſtrides towards hell, as if they feared it would bee full ere they …ome there. Some ſeek to out-ſin one another, like unhappy boys, that ſtr…ve who ſhall go furtheſt in the dirt: Noluit ſolita peccare, ſaith Seneca: et pudet non eſſe impudentes, ſaith Auſtin; Sin hath woaded an impuden… …n their faces: their ſpot is not the ſpot of Gods children, Deut. 32.….

Verſ. 5. I roſe up to open to my Beloved] This was repentance from ſinne, as that in the former verſe was repentance for ſinne. To repent; and yet to lye ſtill in ſinne, is to repent with a contradiction, ſaith Tertullian; Optima et aptiſſima paenitentia eſt nova vita, ſaith Luther. A new life is the beſt repentance. Up gets the Church, when once ſoundly ſenſible of her ſinne: and leaving her bed of carnal ſecurity, makes after Chriſt with all her might, p. 369with a redoubled diligence; to make ſome amends for her former negligence. Nunquam ſero, ſi ſerio. Late though it were ere ſhee ſtarted and ſtirred, yet better late than not at all. Wee are too much after-witted, for moſt part, Poſtmaſters, Epimetheuſſes: wee ſee not our folly (but cry with him, In craſtinum ſeria) till wee have ſmarted for it, and then wiſh, O mihi praeteritos, &c.

And my hands drop with myrrhe] That is, with the teſtimonies of his ſweetneſs left behinde him on the lock-handles, the better to allure her to his love. Philip Beroaldus, and many others,In Apul…um, lib. 2. M. Leſ. tell us of a very precious unguent Cinnamimum, becauſe made of Cinnamon and other ſweet odours; whoſe chief commendation is, that the very ſmell thereof, (if a man carries it about him) draws any woman, though paſſing by, and minding other things, to draw nigh to him. What truth is in this relation, I know not: but ſure it is, that the ſmell of the Goſpell, and thoſe ſpiritual bleſſings which the preſence of Chriſt had left behinde it, did notably attract and draw after him the Churches affections. Goodneſs is of it ſelf attractive:Velut aliqui volunt foreign quaſi foreign. Sic foreign quaſi foreign. The Greeks call it foreign from foreign, and foreign from foreign: becauſe it doth as it were, invite and call to it; and every man is willing to run after it. Chriſt puts a ſecret inſtinct into his people to do ſo; like as nature hath put an inſtinct into the Bee, the Stork, and other creatures. And as the needle in a Sundial that hath been touched with an adamant, though it may bee forced this way, and that way, yet it reſts not till it look toward the North-pole: So the ſoul that hath aliquid Christi in it, that hath been once hand-faſted to Chriſt by a lively faith, though for a ſeaſon it may,Jam. 1.14. 2 Pet. 3.17.Jas 1:142 Pet 3:17 by the malice of Satan working with corruption, ſuffer ſome decays of her firſt love, be drawn aſide by ſome luſt, and enticed ſo as to fall from former ſtedfaſtneſs; yet after a while her thoughts will work, and the ſweet remembrance that Chriſt hath left behinde him, will make her to ſay, I will go and return to my first husband, Hoſ. 2 7.Hos 2:7for then it was better with mee th…n now.

Verſ. 6. I opened to my Beloved, but my Beloved had with-drawn himſelf and was gone] Or, Hee was gone, hee was gone; a paſſionate complaint for his departure; which lay ſo much the heavier upon her ſpirit, becauſe by her unworthy uſage of him, ſhee had fooliſhly occaſioned it. Fools, becauſe of their tranſgreſſion and becauſe of their iniquity are afflicted: And when affliction comes with a ſting in the tail, it is very grievous.Pſal. 107.17, 19, 20.Ps 107:17Ps 107:19Ps 107:20 But then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble: he ſaveth them out of their diſtreſs; He ſendeth his word and healeth them, he ſendeth for them by his Spirit, and brings them back again into his own boſome, that his baniſhed be not expelled from him (2 Sam. 14.14.) though to themſelves and others, they may for preſent ſeem to bee as water ſpilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. Thoſe fragrant foot-ſteps and heart-attracting ſtamps of his favour, that ſweet ſmelling Myrrhe, mentioned in the former verſe, had ſo eneagered and edged her affections, that ſhee could not reſt till ſhee had recovered him. Shee opened unto her beloved, and, preſuming upon his patience,Heu rara hora, & parva mora. Dern. was in good hope to have had him at hand: But patientia laeſa fit furor, Chriſt will not always bear with our evil manners, but hide his face from us, like as we have behaved our ſelves evil in our doings, Micah 3.5. And whereas ſpiritual deſertions are of three ſorts, 1 Cautional, for preventing of ſinne, as Pauls ſeems to be. 2 Probational, for trial and exerciſe of grace, as Jobs. 3 Penal, for chaſtiſement of ſpiritual ſloth and ſluggiſhneſs, as here in the Church; this laſt is farre the heavieſt.

My ſoul failed when hee spake] Or, becauſe of his ſpeech, that ſweet ſpeech of his when hee ſo paſſionately wooed her, ver. 2. Then hee could have no audience nor admittance, now if he would but offer himſelf, hee might bee ſure of both. The word ſpoken doth not always preſently take effect in the hearers, but lies long as the ſeed under a clod, till Chriſt the good husbandman, come with ſome temptation, as with his clotting-beetle, and give it room to riſe. Then as the water caſts up her dead after a time, ſo p. 370do their memories caſt up that which ſeemed buried therein, by the help of the Holy Ghoſt their remembrancer: John 14.26. John 2.22. The new birth of ſome, (the recovery of others out of their relapſes) is like the birth of the Elephant, fourteen years after the ſeed is inſerted into the womb. Peter remembred Chriſts words, and repented, Mat. 26.75. If wee remember not what hath been preached unto us, all is loſt, 1 Cor. 15.2. If we leak, foreign.and let ſlip, actum eſt de nobis, Heb. 2.1. If we keep the Word, the Word will keep us, Prov. 6.22.

I ſought him] So ſoon as recovered out of my ſwoon, I ſet to ſeek him; The Church went not to bed again, to ſleep as before, neither ſtays ſhe longer within, than to caſt her veyl or her ſcarf over her head, without any further dreſs, abroad ſhee gets to ſeek him whom her ſoul loveth. She ſought him by ſerious and ſet meditation of the word and promiſes, but after all that royl and travell ſhee took therein, ſhee found him not. This is the greateſt grief that can befall a good heart in this preſent world: it is to ſuch little better than hell it ſelf. Thou hiddeſt thy face and I was troubled, ſaith David, Pſal. 30.8. Non fruſtra praedicant meptes hominum nitere liquido die, coactanube flacceſcere, ſaith Symmachus. Mens mindes are either clear or cloudy, as the weather is: but more truly, good mens mindes are as Gods countenance is. It is with the godly in deſertion, as with vapours drawn up by the Sun; which when the extracting force of the Sun leaves them, fall down again to the earth. And as in an Eclipſe of the Sun, there is a drooping in the whole frame of nature: ſo it is with the Saints, when Chriſt withdraws himſelf. Hell it ſelf is ſaid to bee a ſeparation from his preſence: the pain of loſs there is worſe than the pain of ſenſe: the tears of hell are not ſufficient to bewail the loſs of heaven.Bern. Laetemur igitur in Domino, ſed caveamus a recidivo.

I called him, but hee gave mee no anſwer] And it was but juſt: for ſhee had dealt ſo by him, ver. 2. Chriſt loves to retaliate. Such a proportion many times one may ſee between ſins and puniſhments, that you may ſay, ſuch a ſin brought forth this affliction, it is ſo like the father. Howbeit, his ear is not heavy that hee cannot hear: but your iniquities have hid his face from you that hee will not hear, Iſa. 59.1, 2. And this the Saints take (as well they may) for a ſore affliction, Lam. 3.8. when to all other their miſeries, hee addeth this, that hee will not come at them, that hee caſteth out their prayers, that hee deals by them as the Lionneſs doth by her young ones, which ſhee ſeems ſometimes to leave, till they have almoſt killed themſelves with roaring. This is to make them more carefull another time. None look at the Sunne but when it is in the eclipſe: Neither prize we (for moſt part) Gods loving countenance, till we have loſt it. In this caſe the courſe is, to ſet up a loud cry after him, as Micah did after his Gods, Judg. 18.23. Or rather as the Church here doth after her beloved, in many ſtrong cries and bitter tears, continuing inſtant in prayer,foreign. Rom. 12.12. The Greek word imports a metaphor from hunting dogges, that give not over the game, till they have got it. For incouragement; See the happy ſucceſs the Church here had: and further, take that ſaying of Brentius, Etiamſi fides tuae nec lucem hominibus, nec calorem cordi tuo afferat, tamen non abjicit Chriſtus, modo incrementum ores, i. e. Although thy faith, as ſmoaking flax, yield neither light to others, nor heat to thine own heart, yet Chriſt will not caſt thee off, ſo thou pray for more, and follow thy work cloſe, till thou have gotten it.

Verſ. 7. The Watch-men that went about the City, &c.] See the Note on Chap. 3.3. The Miniſters that walk the round, that watch for mens ſouls, Heb. 13.17. Iſa. 61.6. that know how to time a word, Iſa. 51.4. theſe ſmote her with the tongue, they buffeted her by juſt and ſharp reproofs for her negligence, they unveiled her for being abroad at that time of night (which ſhe needed not to have been, but for her own ſlothfulneſs) they dealt little better with her, than as if ſhee had been ſome light and lewd woman: and all p. 371this they might well do out of zeal to God, and godly jealouſie for her ſouls good; Unleſs it were that Hypocriſie of jealouſie exerciſed by the falſe Apoſtles over the Galatians, Chap. 4.17. Not Paſtours, but Impoſtours; not Over-ſeers, Non Epiſcopi, ſed Apoſcopi.but By-ſeers; potius graſſatores; quam cuſtodes, homonym…s tamen ſic dicti, out-throats rather than Keepers, wicked men taking upon them to bee Watch-men, Church-officers in name, but Church-robbers in deed. Such were thoſe, Iſa. 66.5. that hated and caſt out the true worſhippers, under a pretence of, Let the Lord bee glorified. Such an one was Diotrephes, that prating prelate,foreign, that villanouſly intreated Gods faithful people, 3 John 9.10. And ſuch is that Man of ſinne, that Antichriſt of Rome, who, for ſo many hundred years together, hath ſmitten with the fiſt of wickedneſs, hath wounded and drawn blood from Chriſts deareſt Spouſe, and deſpoiled her of her veyl: that is, laboured to diſpriviledge her, and deprive her of that purity and ſoundneſs of Doctrine that hee hath committed unto her, as a means to hold her in the duty of all holy obedience and ſubjection unto him. 1 Cor. 11.5, 6, 10. Of theſe falſe friends, and deadly enemies, the Church here heavily complains, and might well have proceeded againſt them, as thoſe ſix Martyrs, burnt by Harpsfield, Archdeacon of Canterbury, when Queen Mary lay a dying. One of thoſe ſix that were then burnt (and thoſe were the laſt) John Cornford (ſtirred with a vehement zeal of God when they were excommunicated) pronounced ſentence of excommunication againſt all Papiſts in theſe words: In the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and by the power of his holy Spirit, and authority of his holy Catholick and Apoſtolick Church, wee do give here into the hands of Satan, to bee deſtroyed, the bodies of all thoſe blaſphemers and hereticks that do maintain any errour againſt his moſt holy Word,Act. & Mon. fol. 1862. or do condemn his moſt holy truth for hereſie, to the maintenance of any falſe Church, or feigned religion: ſo that by this thy moſt juſt judgement, (O moſt mighty God) againſt thine adverſaries, thy true religion may bee known, to thy great glory, and our comfort, and the edifying of all our Nation: Good Lord, ſo bee it.

Verſ. 8. I charge you, O daughters of Jeruſalem] Being evill intreated by her enemies, ſhee turns her to her friends; thoſe damſels, or daughters of Jeruſalem: (See chap. 2.7. & 3.5.) ſo the Lord Chriſt being tired out with the untractableneſs of his untoward hearers, turns him to his Father, Mat. 11.25, 26. Kings, as they have their cares and cumbers above other men, ſo they had of old their friends (by a ſpecialty, as Huſhai was Davids friend, 2 Sam. 15.37.) to whom they might eaſe themſelves, and take ſweet counſell, Pſal. 55.14. The ſervants of God are Princes in all lands: Pſal. 45.Ps 45and as they have their croſſes not a few, ſo their comforts, in and by the communion of Saints. The very opening of their grievances one to another doth many times eaſe them: as the very opening of a vein cools the blood: Their mutual prayers one with and for another prevail much, if they bee fervent,foreign. Jam. 5.26. Prov. 27.17.Jas 5:26Prov 27:17 or thorough-well wrought; as in this caſe they likely will be; for as Iron whe…s Iron, ſo doth the face of a man his friend. And as ferrum poteſt quod anrum non poteſt, Iron can do that ſometimes that Gold cannot (An Iron-key may open a cheſt wherein Gold is laid up) ſo a meaner mans prayer may bee more effectual ſometimes than a better mans, for himſelf. His own key may be ruſty, or out of order, and another mans do it better. Hence the Church is ſo importunate with the daughters of Jeruſalem (who were far behinde her in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as appears by that which follows) to commend her and her miſery to Chriſt, to tell him (where ever they meet with him) Behold, ſhee whom thou loveſt is ſick, thy Church (in whom thy love is concentrate, as it were, and gathered to an head) doth even languiſh with love, and is in ill caſe. Tell him, ſaith ſhee, What ſhall yee tell him? as the Hebrew hath it. An earneſt and paſſionate kinde of ſpeech (ſomewhat like that in Hoſea, Give them O Lord, Hoſ. 9.14.Hos 9:14What wilt thou give them?) as if ſhee ſhould ſay, would you know what p. 372you ſhould tell him? even that which followeth, that I am ſick of love. See chap. 2.5.

Verſ. 9. What is thy beloved more than another beloved] This capital queſtion is here doubled for the more vehemency; as alſo for the ſtrangeneſs of the matter, wherein they deſire much to bee better informed; and the rather, becauſe ſhee ſo ſtraightly chargeth, or rather ſweareth them. Something they muſt needs think was in it more than ordinary: ſith good people do not uſe to bee hot in a cold matter. But as in the Revelation, whenſoever heaven opened, ſome ſingular thing enſued: So when the Saints bee ſo ſerious in a buſineſs, ſure it is of very great concernment: Great matters are carried with great movings: as, for the diviſions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart, Judg 5.15, 16Judg 5:15Judg 5:16great impreſſions, great ſearchings. It is a common ſaying, Admiratio peperit Philoſophiam, Wonderment at the works of God, ſet men a work to enquire into the natural cauſes of them. Semblably theſe damſells of Jeruſalem, friends to the Church, little knowing the love of the Spouſe to Chriſt (which paſſed their knowledge) and yet willing to comprehend with all Saints the ſeveral dimenſions thereof;Eph. 3.18, 19Eph 3:18Eph 3:19 firſt, they acknowledge her, amidſt all her miſeries, to be the faireſt among women] (See chap. 1.8.) as gold is gold, though found in the dirt, or caſt into the furnace; and ſtars have their glory, though we ſee them ſometimes in a puddle, in the bottom of a well, nay, in a ſtinking ditch. Secondly, they propound to her two moſt profitable queſtions: The one concerning his perſon, Whereof wee have here a very lively and lofty deſcription, both generally, and in his parts. The other concerning the place of his abode, and where hee may be had, chap. 6.1. to the which ſhe makes anſwer, verſ. 2. and ſo her faith begins to revive, verſ. 3. which was the bleſſed effect of this their gracious communication. Conference in all arts and ſciences is a courſe of incredible profiting. Eſt aliquid quod ex magno viro vel tacente proficias, the very ſight,Prov. 31.26. Prov. 20.5.Prov 31:26Prov 20:5 nay, thought of a good man oft doth good: how much more when hee openeth his mouth with wiſdome, and in his tongue is the Law of kindneſs? And ſurely it is a fine art to bee able to pierce a man, that is like a veſſell full of wine, and to ſet him a running. Elihu would ſpeak that hee might bee refreſht, Job 32. It would bee an eaſe to him, it would bee a great benefit to others: as the mother is in pain, till the childe hath ſuckt, and the childe not at quiet till hee hath done ſo. Fooliſh and unlearned queſtions about thoſe things whereof wee can neither have proof nor profit, wee are bound to avoid, 2 Tim. 2.23. knowing that they do gender ſtrifes, and breed crudities, fill men with winde, and make them queſtion-ſick, 1 Tim. 6.4. But profitable queſtions are frequently to bee propounded with a deſire to learn, and reſolution to practice: as the Virgin Mary demanded of the Angel, Luk. 1.34. the Diſciples of our Saviour, John 16.17, 19. &c. and hee reſolved them: which hee refuſed to do for the Jews, that asked him the ſame queſtion, John 7.35, 36. becauſe not with the ſame mind and deſire. So that frollick ſelf-ſeeker, with his fair offer of following Chriſt, was rejected: when thoſe that had more honeſt aims and ends, heard, Come and ſee, Mat. 8.19, 20. John 1.46. Theſe daughters of Jeruſalem do not therefore ask, becauſe they were utterly ignorant of Chriſt: but 1 That they might hear the Church what ſhee had to ſay of him, as they that love Chriſt, love to hear talk of him; his very name is mel…in ore, melos in aure, &c. 2 That by her diſcourſe they might better their knowledge: for the very Angells know not ſo much of this myſtery, but they would know more, and do therefore curiouſly pry into it, 1 Pet. 1.12. Yea, to theſe very Principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known by the Church the manifold wiſdome of God, in contriving mans ſalvation by Chriſt: they cannot but ſee an abundance of curious variety in this divine wiſdome:foreign. ſuch as is to be ſeen in the beſt pictures or textures, as the Apoſtles word importeth, Eph. 3.10.

Verſ. 10. My Beloved is white and ruddy, &c.] Love lacks no Rhetorick p. 373to lay forth the thing beloved in livelieſt colours; White and ruddy, What can bee more laudable and lovely? What can come nearer to a perfect ſymmetry, to a ſound and ſure conſtitution and complexion? Sure it is, that theſe two being comelily mixed, do make the moſt beautifull or orient look or colour; (ſee the Prophets deſcription of the Nazarites, Lam. 4.7.) And note (ſaith an Expoſitour) that the Holy Ghoſt joyneth both theſe together: the whiteneſs making the ruddineſs more freſh and fair, and the ruddineſs diſcerning the whiteneſs from paleneſs of face, or phlegmatick complexion. Sed ſunt in his myſteria inveſtiganda (ſaith another) ita que candor refert divinam Chriſti naturam, rubor humanam. White and red may ſignifie Chriſts God-head and Man-hood. God is called the Ancient of days, Dan. 9.7. his head and his hairs are white like wool, as white as ſnow, Rev. 1.14. Man had his name Adam of the red earth, out of which hee was taken, Gen. 2.7. Chriſt alſo, the ſecond Adam, became red with his own blood, whereby hee purchaſed the Church, Act. 10.28▪ (a bloody Spouſe ſhee was unto him) and paved for her a new and lively way into the moſt holy place, Heb. 10.20. Upon the battlements whereof hee hangs out ſtill, (as once that war-like Scythian did) a white flag of grace and mercy to penitent perſons, that humble themſelves at his feet for favour: but a red flag of juſtice and ſeverity to thoſe his enemies, that will not have him to rule over them: in token whereof his rayment is ſaid to be red, Iſa. 63.1, 2, 3. his veſture dipt in blood, Rev. 19.13.

The chiefeſt among ten thouſand] Heb. vexillatus praedecem millibus, that is, famous and conſpicuous among and above many, as Saul was higher than the people by the head and ſhoulders, as the Hachmonite was the chief of Davids mighties, 1 Chron. 11.11. Or the ſtandard-bearer of ten thouſand. Now the goodlieſt, and withall the ableſt men uſe to carry the banner or ſtandard. Chriſt ſtandeth for an enſign of the people, Iſa. 11.10. and hath ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtanding before him, following him whereſoever he goeth, Rev. 7.9, 14. and ſinging, We will rejoyce in thy ſalvation, and in the name of our God, vexillabimus, wee will ſet up our banner, Pſal. 20.6. The Churches deſign here is to hold out Chriſt as altogether matchleſs and incomparable, that there is none like him in the earth, (as God ſaid of Job, chap. 1.8.) to teach us to eſteem him, as the people did David, more worth than ten thouſand others, 2 Sam. 18.3. to ſet him upon the chief chariot, and to give him the ſole command of all, as Pharaoh dealt by Joſeph. And as the Sun, Moon, and eleven ſtars in Joſephs viſion did obeyſance to him: ſo let our ſouls, bodies, all our temporal, natural, moral, and ſpiritual abilities be ſubject and ſerviceable to Chriſt; who, if hee be the chiefeſt of ten thouſand, ought to have as much love as ten thouſand hearts put into one, could hold.

Verſ. 11. His head is as the moſt fine gold] Here ſhee begins her particular praiſe of his ſeveral parts: and here ſhee may ſeem to ſpeak with the tongues of men and of Angels; performing (as Lovers uſe to do) that for him, that hee had done for her before, chap. 4.1, 2, 3, 4, &c. though all ſhe could ſay falleth far ſhort of him; and well ſhee might ſay after all, as Nazianzen ſometime ſaid of Baſil, There wants but his own tongue to commend him with. Loquimur de Deo non quantum debemus, ſed quantum poſſumus. In ſpeaking of Chriſts excellencies men may ſpeak what they can, they cannot poſſibly ſpeak ſo much as they ought, they cannot hyperbolize. If any ſhall think the Church doth here, hee muſt needs bee of thoſe that either know him not, or are not able to judge aright of his worth,Tull. de Orator. as once Cicero ſaid of Craſſus and Antonius the Oratours. Nuſquam Origines non ardet, ſed nuſquam eſt ardentior, &c. ſaith Eraſmus. Origen is never but earneſt,Eraſ. in praef. ad Orig. opera. howbeit hee is never more earneſt, than when hee diſcourſeth of Chriſt: in other things hee may ſeem to excell others, but in this hee excelleth himſelf. The ſame wee may well ſay of the Church in this place, in ſetting forth the ſurpaſſing purity and perfection of her Spouſe: Quem manibus propriis finxit p. 374cordata Minerva. And firſt ſhee makes his head to bee of the fineſt and firmeſt gold, Feſs-gold, ſo the Arabick, from the Hebrew, calleth it: and the land of Feſs ſeemeth to bee named of ſuch gold there. Davids Michtam or Golden Pſalm comes from one of the words here uſed. For in the Original thus it is,Or he is the gold of gold, as Athens was the Greece of Greece. His head is moſt gliſtering gold, yea, moſt ſolid gold. That is, his deity which dwells in him, is moſt pure and glorious, (for the head of Chriſt is God, 1 Cor. 11.3.) and that fulneſs of grace which is communicated to his humane nature, is wondrouſly beautiful: and ſo ſets it forth, as black curled locks do a freſh countenance.

Spectandus nigris oculis, nigro que capillo eſt.

Ver. 12. His eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the rivers of water, &c.] i. e. they are full of all innocency, ſingleneſs, and chaſtity: See the Notes on chap. 1.15. & 4.1. where Chriſt had attributed the very ſame to the Church, who is his image and glory, as the woman is of the man, 1 Cor. 11.7. the very looking-glaſs of his dignity, and reflex of his comelineſs. His eyes are elſewhere ſaid to bee as a flame of fire, ſharp and terrible, ſuch as pierce into the inward parts,Rev. 1.14. Dan. 10.6.Rev 1:14Dan 10:6 and need no outward light. Here they are as the eyes of Doves, caſting an amiable, gracious, joyfull, and comfortable look upon his Church. As, his eyes behold, his eye-lids try the children of men (the one points out his knowledge, the other his critical deſcant) Pſal. 11.4. So hee caſteth an eye of ſingular providence and tender affection upon his afflicted people, I have ſeen, I have ſeen, ſaith hee, the ſufferings of my people. I know their ſorrows, and am come down to deliver them; His eye affects his heart, Exod. 3.7, 8.Exod 3:7Exod 3:8and his heart ſets his hand awork for their ſuccour and ſafety. Ezek. 1.8. wee read of faces, eyes, wings, hands, &c. all to expreſs the ſufficiency of Gods providence for all means of help. See Pſal. 33.18, 19. & 34.16. The Church is like the land of Canaan, which is ſaid to be a land which the Lord careth for: the eyes of the Lord are alwaies upon it, &c. Deut. 11.11. Hee ſeeth that lovelineſs in her, that hee overlooks all, as it were, to look upon her: hee beholds that worth in her, that the buzzards of the world cannot ken. Therefore the world knows us not, reſpects us not, becauſe it knew not him, 1 John 3.1. ſaw no ſuch beauty, that they ſhould deſire him, Iſa. 53.2. Nicoſtratus in Elian, himſelf being a cunning Artiſan, finding a curious piece of work, and being wondred at by one, and asked by one what pleaſure hee could take to ſtand gazing as hee did on the picture? anſwered, Hadſt thou mine eyes, thou wouldſt not wonder, but rather bee raviſhed as I am at the inimitable art of this piece. Semblably, had men thoſe dove-like ſingle eyes that Chriſt and his people have, waſhed in milk, that is, in milk-white waters, cleanſed from the duſt of ſinful prejudice, and fitly ſet, as a precious ſtone in the foyl of a ring, or as the precious filling-ſtones in the holy Ephod, Exod. 25.7. they would kiſs the Sonne, and admire his Spouſe. Whereas for want of Spiritual eyes, the Northern proverb is verified, unkent, unkiſt, unknown, unreſpected.

Verſ. 13. His cheeks are as a bed of ſpices] i. e. comely and pleaſant to the ſight, ſweet alſo to the ſmell; areolis ſimiles aromatum plenis: flouriſhing with a goodly, comely, freſh, and ſweet beard; ſo declaring his face not onelyonly to be gracious and amiable, but alſo full of gravity, glory, and majeſty. There are that would have all theſe things to bee taken literally of Chriſts natural body: and that here is ſet down his Proſopography: But this was written long before Chriſt was incarnate; and therefore it muſt needs be meant in a metaphorical and allegorical ſenſe, hard to bee explained. Ego quid de ſingulis ſtatuam fateor me neſcire, ſaith a learned Interpreter. Allegorically to handle all theſe is not in my purpoſe or power, ſaith another: ſith the graces of Chriſt, as they cannot well bee expreſſed, ſo, by reaſon of our weakneſs, they cannot better bee declared. The drift of the holy Ghoſt is to paint out unto us the ſpiritual and heavenly love of his Church to Chriſt, who doth p. 375not, nor cannot ſatisfie her ſelf with any words, or compariſons of this kind. And ſecondly, to ſtir up our heartieſt and livelieſt affections to him, that hath ſuch a world of worth and wealth in him. As the worth and value of many peeces of ſilver is in one peece of gold, ſo all the petty excellencies ſcattered abroad in the creatures are united in Chriſt; yea all the whole volume of perfections which is ſpread thorow Heaven and Earth, is epitomized in him: why do wee not then make out to him, and deſpiſe all for him with Paul? Why do wee not with David chide our ſelves and others for loving vanity, Pſal. 4.2.Ps 4:2and ſeeking after leaſing? How long wilt thou go about, O backſliding daughter, Iſa. 7.14.Isa 7:14and fetch a compaſs? knoweſt thou not that the Lord hath created a new thing in the Earth? a woman ſhall compaſs a man, Jer. 31.22. that is, a Virgin ſhall conceive and bear a Son, even the Man Chriſt Jeſus, in whom it pleaſed the Father that there ſhould dwell all fulneſs, Col. 1.19. Make wee therefore ſtraight paths for our feet, Heb. 12.13. Let us go ſpeedily to Chriſt, Zech. 8.21. as Bees do to a Meddow full of flowers: as Merchants do to the Indies that are full of fruits and ſpices; that wee may return from him, full fraught with treaſures of truth and grace.

His lips like Lillies, dropping ſweet-ſmelling myrrhe] i. e. His word and doctrine is white, ſweet, pleaſant, far-ſpreading as Lillies; ſweet to the ſmell, and yet bitter to the taſte as myrrhe, no way pleaſing to the fleſh which it mortifieth, calling upon men to repent, reform, walk by rule, ſtrive to enter in at the ſtraight gate, reſiſt unto blood, ſtriving againſt ſin. Theſe things are good and profitable to men (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks in another caſe, (Tit. 3.8.) but they naturally care not to hear of them. Drop not yee, ſay they, (wee like not your Lillies dropping myrrhe and nitre) Let thoſe drop or propheſie, Micah 2.6.Mic 2:6that preach pleaſing things; Wee like your Lillies, but care not for your Myrrhe: or if wee ſmell it, wee like not to taſte of it, becauſe little toothſome, however it may bee wholeſome.

Verſ. 14. His hands are as gold Rings ſet with the Beril] Or Chryſolite. Heb. Tarſhiſh, whence our word Turkeis (as it may ſeem) a precious ſtone, of colour blew like the Skie, or (as others ſay) green like the Sea: Aſher was graven upon this ſtone, who dwelt near the Sea, Exod. 28.20. Some write, that in former times this ſtone was moſt uſually ſet in ſuch Rings as Lovers did uſe to give one to another, or in Marriage-Rings; becauſe of the power that was thought to bee in it to procure and continue love and liking one of them towards another. Whatſoever ſtone it is, whether a Beril, Chryſolite, Carbuncle, Hyacinth, Onyx (for all theſe waies it is rendred) the Churches meaning is, that all the works of Chriſt, whether in the ſtate of Humiliation, or of Exaltation (for redemption wee have by his Abaſement, application of it by his Advancement) are moſt rare, dear, precious, and glorious, as numbers of Rings filled with all manner of coſtly ſtones: they are acceptable and honourable before God and man. And like as great men are known by their Rings, and rich Jewels, ſo is Chriſt by his Saints, the work of his hands, Iſa. 64.8.

His belly is as bright Ivory, overlaid with Sapphires] Heb. His bowels, in the dual; meaning his breaſt and belly, and there, the heart and lights, thoſe ſeats of the will and affections; here, the liver, ſtomach, entrails, which ſerve for nutrition and generation. By all this wee may well underſtand Chriſts inward affections outwardly manifeſted. Theſe are true and ſincere, as bright and white Ivory; they are alſo hearty and heavenly as Sapphires: various alſo and manifold, ſicut Sapphiri caeruleae ſunt, His bowels yearn toward his afflicted people, his heart is turned within him, his repentings are kindled together, Hoſ. 11.8, ſo the Poet, Ingemuit miſerans graviter, dextram que tetendit.Virg.

Verſ. 15. His leggs are as pillars of marble] A ſign of Chriſts firmneſs in his Kingdome, works, word, and government (ſaith a learned Expoſitour) and p. 376of his ſtrength to trample upon his enemies, as alſo of his united power to accompliſh the courſe of his three-fold office. Pillars both bear up the building, and beautifie it: neither can any thing be more ſure and ſolid than theſe, if ſet upon a firm foundation. The Pillars here mentioned are ſaid to bee ſet upon fine gold, that is, upon a foundation both fine, and firm, for gold hardly ruſteth or cankereth: whence it was (likely) that Tithonus and his Son Memnon, when they built the City of Suſa in Perſia, they joyned the ſtones together with gold, as Caſſiodorus writeth: Chriſts power is founded upon his divine Nature; and this is the Rock upon which the Church is built, and whereby it is ſet in ſafety from all miſeries and moleſtations ſatanical or ſecular. The gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt her. Chriſt and the Father are one; Pſal. 89.19.Ps 89:19therefore none ſhall take her out of his hands. God hath laid help upon one that is mighty, even upon Emanuel the mighty ſtrong God, as hee is called, Iſa. 9.6. declared to bee the Son of God with power according to the ſpirit of holineſs, by the reſurrection from the dead, Rom. 1.4. that your Faith and hope might bee in God,foreign. Prorſus, perpotuo, perfecte. 1 Pet. 1.21. Truſt perfectly therefore to, or hope to the end, for the grace that is to bee brought unto you at the Revelation of Jeſus: ſith hee is able to ſave them to the uttermoſt that come unto God by him, 1 Pet. 1.13. Heb. 7.25.

His countenance is as Lebanon] His aſpect, his look or general view, i. e. Whatſoever of himſelf Chriſt is pleaſed to manifeſt and lay open unto us is pleaſant and delightful, goodly and glorious, excellent and eximious, choice as the Cedars, that are choſen before other trees; and why, ſee the Note on chap. 1.17.

Verſ. 16. His mouth is moſt ſweet] Heb. His palat, (that is, his word and promiſes, which are as it were the breath of Chriſts mouth) is all ſweet. This ſhee had celebrated before, verſ. 13. but, as not ſatisfied therewith, ſhee repeats it, and rolls it again as ſugar under her tongue. Shee doubles this commendation, to ſhew, that that is the chief lovely thing in Chriſt, his Word; this fruit ſhee had found ſweet unto her palat, chap. 2.3. and ſhee ſpareth not to ſet it forth, as here, the ſecond time, Mallemus carere, &c. Wee had rather bee without Fire, Water, Bread, Sun, Air, &c. (ſaith a Dutch Divine) than that one ſweet ſentence of our bleſſed Saviour, Come unto mee all yee that are weary, &c.

Yea hee is altogether lovely] Totus totus deſiderabilis, wholly amiable: every whit of him to bee deſired. Moſes thought him ſo, when hee preferred the reproach of Chriſt, the worſt part of him, the heavieſt peece of his croſs, before all the treaſures in Egypt, that Magazin of the world, Heb. 11.26. Thoſe of this world ſee no ſuch excellency and deſireableneſs in Chriſt, and his waies, (Pſal. 22.7.) nor can do, till ſoundly ſhaken, Hag. 2.7. I will ſhake all Nations, and then the deſire of all Nations, that is Chriſt, ſhall come with ſtirring affections, ſaying, as Iſa. 26.9. with my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night: yea with my ſpirit within mee will I ſeek thee early. Loe this is the voice of every true childe of the Church; and theſe deſires of the righteous ſhall bee ſatisfied, Prov. 10.24.

This is my Beloved, &c.] q.d. You may ſee I have cauſe to ſeek after him; neither can you do better than to do likewiſe: howſoever, when you ſee him, do my errand to him, as verſ. 7. And here wee have moſt excellent Rhetorick, which in the beginning of a ſpeech, requires foreign, milder affections: in the end of it, foreign, ſtronger paſſions, that may leaved deepeſt impreſſions.