Loves Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride, Treatise · Chapter 2 · Verse 2
Verſe. 2. As a Lilly among thornes, ſo is my love among the daughters.
1. Here he ſets out the praiſe of his Church, where we have, 1. How he calles her, 2. Whereto he compares her, and her preſent condition, Firſt then he calles her His love, whereof we have ſpoken, v. 9. of the 1. Chapter. Next he ſayes, among the daughters, by which is meant the whole corrupt race of mankind that are daughters all to one father, the firſt Adam; and by nature ſhe was no better then the reſt of theſe daughters, of whom ſhe was one, as we ſee, Ezek. 16. And is made to differ from them only by free love and grace, without any motive or merit on her part, that thereby looking on the reſt of her ſiſters, and in what a baſe and wretched … ſtate ſhe was by nature like unto them, ſhe may learne to be humble, and conſidering alſo ſuch a high preferment (like Ester who was a poore Orphant captive) whereto ſhe is advanced from ſo baſe a condition as may be ſeen alſo in that place of Ezekiel, ſhe may never be unthankfull to ſo gracious a husband.
2. Followes after, the ſtyle he gives her, whereto he compares her, which is to a Lilly among thornes. She is then compared to a Lilly, 1. For her conformity to her head, called ſo, v. 1. Eſpecially in theſe properties, to wit, holineſs or purity, Rev. 7. 9. 14. and 2. In meekneſs and mercy, or charity, his members not being unſuteable, like thoſe of Nebuchadnezars Image, unto the head thereof. 2. To ſhow that as the Lords clothes the Lillies of the field, ſo does he care for his Church and clothes her with his righteouſneſs and garment of Sanctification.
It is to be remarked alſo, that he ſpeakes but of one Lilly, but many thorns; not only thereby to ſhow the unity of his Church, though being many members, yet making up but one myſticall body, but alſo the paucity of the godly in reſpect of the wicked; for which cauſe our Saviour ſayes that many are called but few choſen, and that his flock is but a little flock.
3. Thirdly, this Lilly is ſaid to be among thorns, whereby is ſhowne unto us, 1. Not only her preſent condition on earth, but likewiſe, 2. Her excellency beyond all other ſocieties, as farre as a pleaſant and fragrant Lilly excelles baſe and hurtfull thorns, whereunto we find the wicked frequently compared in Scripture, Ezek. 28. 24. Iſay. 9. 18. 19. and 10. 17.
1. Becauſe of their preſent condition, how happy ſoever ſeeming to the world, yet they are but a curſed brood of the earth, as thorns are ſaid to be, Gen. 3. 18.
2. Becauſe of their perſonall diſpoſition, 1. In reſpect of themſelves, as thorns are ſhelters to ſerpents and other vermine; ſo are their hearts a ſheltering or neſtling to Satan and all wickedneſs. 2. In reſpect of others, as thorns pricks and hurts, ſo they prick and moleſt the godly; partly, by their ill life, as Pſal. 119. 136. and 2. Pet. 2. 7. And partly by their perſecutions, being like the Gananit, Joſ. 23. 17.
3. Becauſe of their future expectation, like thorns, to be burnt in Eternall fire, as fewell thereof, Pſ. 58. 9.
Obſervations.
1. Seeing Chriſt ſhowes that his Church is like a Lilly, let every one therefore try himſelf, if he be a true member thereof by the conformity of holineſs, humility and meekneſs which he ſhould have with his head who is ſo likewiſe likened, v. 1. Which if he have not, but be impure and filthy like dogs and ſwine he is none of Chriſts flock at all.
2. Seeing her eſtate here on earth, is among thorns, and mixt with the wicked, as the good ſeed and tares in the field, till the day of Reaping come, or as wheat and chaffe till the day of winnowing come, &c. Therefore, 1. We ſhould walk the more warily and watchfully, that we be not hurt by their evill example, and being compaſt with ſuch, 1. with watching joyne prayer that we enter not into temptation, 2. We ſhould the leſſe feare, but rejoyce at the coming of death and welcome the ſame, that rids us altogether of ſuch grieving and moleſting thorns, as to David were the Tents of Kedar, and to Rebecca were the daughters of Heth.
3. We ſee the Lords protection of his Church wonderfully, that notwithſtanding ſhe is compaſt about with ſo many hard and prickling thorns, yet ſhe is made like a ſoft and tender Lilly to grow up amongſt the midſt of them ſafely; as Iſrael multiplied in Egypt notwithſtanding of Pharaoh's cruelty; the buſh continued greene notwithſtanding of the fire that Moſes ſaw in it; and many thouſands were joyned to the Church after Chriſts aſcenſion, notwithſtanding of Herods and the Jewiſh, or others their perſecution.
4. We ſee what ſhould be the conſtant diſpoſition of the godly, notwithſtanding that they be among thorns, which is to continue holy like the white Lilly, and not be drawn away by the wicked to be thorns like them, or change their nature thereby (as it were) or to be like the fiſhes who are freſh though they be in the ſalt Sea, as Noah did, and Lot, Joſeph, Obadiah, the 3. children, Daniel, and others, who neither for ill example, nor hardeſt affliction, left their integrity, but, with Job, continued conſtant.