Loves Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride, Treatise · Chapter 1 · Verse 16
Verſe. 16. Behold thou art fair my beloved, yea pleaſam; alſo our bed is greene.
Here the church returneth the praiſe of beauty to him who had in the former verſe aſcribed it to her, as if ſhe would ſay, that he is rather only worthy ſo to be called, being ſo, 1. Originally and from himſelf, 2. Effentially, whoſe effence, is holineſs, 3. Perfectly, without any defect and, 4. Unchangably, from eternity to eternity: and, 5. Eminently above all without match, and infinitly beyond all without any meaſure.
Next, not contented to call him fair, ſhe calls him alſo pleaſant or comly, as having ſeemly proportion with the brightneſs of colour, which makes up the perfection of beauty, which perfection our Saviour has, 1. In reſpect of his divine nature, in that regard being beauty and holineſs it ſelf, 2. In reſpect of his Humane nature, Pſ. 45. 2. as faireſt amongſt men, 3. In reſpect of his perfect Innocence without all ſpot, 4. In regard of infuſed graces without any meaſure on earth; and, 5. In reſpect of the fulneſs of glory above all creature, which he has in the heavens, unto which praiſe he prefixes an Ecce, to ſhow that this his beauty is ſuch as it invites in a manner all men and creatures to behold the ſame.
Therafter ſhe ſubjoynes the praiſe of his Bed next to his Perſon, where we have to conſider. 1. What It is, and conſequently what ſhe is, 2. Whoſe it is; and, 3. Of what quality it is.
Firſt then, the bed between the bride and bridgroom is the place of procreation, and whereby is ſhown, that although the Church be a pure Virgin, yet ſhe is alſo a mother, (as the virgin Mary was both) and, as ſhe is expreſly called. Gal. 4. 26. and deſcribed ſo to be, Rev. 12. 2. …ringing forth children to her Heavenly husband procreated by the Immortall ſeed of his Word, and nouriſhed upon her breaſts of the new and old teſtament by that ſincere milk of the word, whereof Peter ſpeaks, unto eternall life.
2. This bed is called by her, (our bed) ſignifying thereby, that by her communion with Chriſt ſhe became fruitfull, both in progeny of children by the new birth of regeneration, and by the practice of good works and fruits of ſanctification. As alſo that in the forenamed work of ſpirituall procreation, with her externall Miniſtry, the Lord muſt ever concurre and co-operate by his divine Efficacy; for Paul plants and Apollos waters, but the Lord gives the increaſs, as we may ſee, Act. 16. 14.
3. The quality of this bed is this, that it is called, greene whereby is ſignified the flouriſhing in all ages, and ever freſh ſpringing up of theſe goodly olive plants, and children, ſpoken of both by the Pſalmist Pſ. 92. 13. and Prophet, Iſay. 61. 4. which ſhe bringeth forth to her Heavenly husband, of whom ſhe may ſay, as Leah ſaid of Gad, in every age, that a troop cometh; and of whom alſo it may be ſpoken as, Pſ. 92: 14. That ſhe ſhall ſtill bring forth fruit in her old age to the worlds end, and ſhalbe fat and flouriſhing.
Obſervations.
1. Here we ſee the Churches Retribution of praiſe to him of Heavenly beauty, to whom only and moſt properly the praiſe thereof is due, and this ſhe does in token of true thankfulneſs: which for every gift and aſſurance of Gods favour we ſhould not ceaſe in like manner to offer to him daily to whom the ſame is due.
2. We ſee that this bed of Chriſt and his bride is ever green, and ſhal be to the worlds end: like Moſes buſh, fruitfull in all ages and therefore ſhall never fade, nor the ports of Hell ſhall never prevaile againſt it, to hinder the birth of that man-child, Rev. 12. or production of thoſe who are endued with Maſculine ſtrength, to reſiſt Satan and ſtand for the truth.