Loves Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride, Treatise · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
Verſe. 7. Tell me (O thou whom my ſoul loveth,) where thou feedeſt? Where thou makeſt thy Flock to reſt at Noone? for why ſhould I be as one that turneth aſide by the flocks of thy Companions?
Having before acknowledged how in her weaker members throw infirmitie and force of perſecution ſhe was driven and drawn to the obſervation of humane ordinances, and neglect of her own calling, in the duties thereof are committed unto her. In theſe words, ſhe turneth her ſpeech againe to her wellbeloved, praying him moſt earneſtly for his direction of her in time-comming, that ſhe may more conſtantly adhere to his truth, and feed only on that green paſture ſpoken of, Pſal. 23. As alſo for his grace and protection that ſhe fail not, nor fall away becauſe of perſecution which is compared to the ſcorching heat of the Sunne at Noon day. And this ſhe does in Allegoricall tearmes borrowed from a ſhepheard and his flock, and therefore ſhe deſires her beloved as the Shepheard of his Sheep, that for direction he will ſhow her where he feeds, and for refreſhing, cooling, and protection, where he cauſeth his Flock to lye down at Noon day, that ſo ſhe turne not aſide (being otherwiſe deſtitute of theſe) from him and his Flock, to the Flocks of others, who are ſeducers, and are here called his Companions.
Theſe words then divide themſelves into a petition and a reaſon; the one ſet down by a pathetick expreſſion, the other by a pithy interrogation. In the petition againe, we have 1. How ſhe ſtyles him to whom ſhe puts up her petition, 2. Whereunto ſhe aſſimilates or compares him; and 3. what are the two things that ſhe petitions from him, to wit, 1. Where he feeds, and 2. Where he makes his Flook to reſt at Noon day.
Firſt then ſhe ſtyles him thus. Oh thou whom [my ſoul] loves, ſhowing thereby the nature of the love which ſhe carries to her Well-beloved, to wit, that it is not a carnall love, but a more ſupernaturall and ſpirituall love, even that which the ſpirituall part of man, or the ſoul carries to him who will be worſhipped in ſpirit and truth, And bleſſed is that Soul which is inflamed therewith.
Secondly, ſhe aſſimilats him to a ſhepheard, as he is frequently ſo called in Scripture, Pſalm. 23. 1. & 80. 1, Ezek. 34. 23. and Matth. 18. 12. with theſe adjections, that good Shepherd, Joh, 10, 11. and the great Shepherd, Heb. 13. 20. and by Peter, the chiefe Shepherd of our Souls, 1 Pet. 5. 4. Who only can call all the ſheep, his Sheep, and is onelyonly and truly Univerſall.
The Reaſons of this aſſimilation are theſe.
1. As a Shepherd knows his Sheep, Joh. 10. 14. ſo doth Chriſt Jeſus his Elect not onelyonly by a generall knowledge as he is omniſcient, but by a ſpeciall knowledge of particular inſpection, and gracious approbation.
2. As a Shepherd puts a marke upon his Sheep whereby they are known to be his: even ſo the Lord Jeſus markes thoſe that are his Elect, as we ſee, Ezek. 9. & Rev. 7. Which mark, is ſpecially his owne image; that as Caeſars Coin was known by his Image and ſuperſcription, ſo hereby they may be in like manner known to be his.
3. As a Shepherd feeds his ſheep, as we ſee in this verſe and Pſ. 23. 3. even ſo doth Chriſt Jeſus feed his ſheep, in the ordinary exerciſe of the miniſtry, as he ſaid to Peter, Feed my ſheep, & by the green paſture of the wholſome food of his word, Ezek. 34. 2.
4. As a Shepherd leads out his ſheep, going before, himſelfe, Joh. 10. 4. and they follow him: even ſo the Lord Jeſus he leads his ſheep by the conduct of his counſell, till he bring them to glory; and goes before them in that holy example of life which he ſhewed on Earth, and left regiſtrate in his Word for our imitation, that we ſhould learn of him to be humble and meek.
5. As the ſhepherd guids his Sheep, ſo he guards and defends them from their ravenous enemies, as we ſee David did from the Lyon and Beare: even ſo does our Saviour Chriſt Jeſus, guard and defend his own elect from all their ſpirituall and ravening enemies, that they prevaile not over them & therefore, Pſ. 84. 11. He is ſaid to be both a Sun & a ſhield unto them: ſo that as David profeſſes, Pſalm. 33. 4. though they ſhould walke through the valley of the ſhadow of death, they need not fear any evill.
6. As the Shepherd ſeeks any of his ſheep who are gone aſtray & ſeems to be loſt, to find & bring the ſame back againe as we ſee in that parable, Matth. 18. 12 & Ezek. 34. 16. So has Chriſt Jeſus come from the Heaven to the earth to ſeek and find out his loſt ſheep; And dayly ſeeks and follows after them in the miniſtry of his Word to reclaime them from their ſinfull and dangerous ſtraying away from him.
7. As a ſhepherd heals the diſeaſed and ſick amongſt his ſheep, and binds up that which is broken amongſt them, as we ſee, Ezek. 34. 4. Even ſo was our Saviour, the Lord Jeſus ſent, as he declares, Iſay. 61. 1. to bind up the broken hearted and proclaime liberty to the captives; and, as he promiſeth, Ezek. 34. 16. He will ſeek that which was loſt, and bring againe that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and ſtrengthen that which was ſick, for he is that Heavenly Phyſitian who is able, to cure all diſeaſes, Pſalm. 103. 3. and more loving then that Samaritan who out of his tender compaſſion towards our wounded ſouls, ſuffered himſelf ſo to be wounded and pierced both in ſoul and body, that of his precious blood a ſoveraigne plaiſter might be made for us to apply by faith to our ſick ſoules.
8. As a ſhepheard tenderly deales with the weake and young, Gen. 33. 11. Even ſo is it ſaid of Chriſt Jeſus, Iſay. 40. 11. That he ſhall gather his Lambs with his arme, and carry them in his boſome, and ſhall gently lead them that are with young, which the Pſalmist expreſles, Pſal. 103. 13. Saying, like as a father pittyeth his children: ſo the Lord pittyeth them that feare him, for he knowes our-frame, and remembreth that we. are but duſt: He layes no more upon them nor they may beare, yea he helps them ſecretly to beare, and wiſely mixes their cup, and makes his grace to be ſufficient for them.
9. As the ſhepheard ſeparates from his flock, the goats, or ſuch as are not his owne; So, ſayes the Lord, Ezek. 34. 17. Behold I judge between cattell and cattell, between the rammes and the Hee-goats: and will ſeparate at the laſt day his own ſheep who heard his voice and followed Him here, from the wicked that are none of His, but petulant goats, ſetting the one at his right hand, unto Eternall life, and the other as his left hand unto eternall deſtruction.
But here is a great difference between other ſhepheards, and this ſhepherd ſpoken of here, for
1. Others may loſe ſome of their ſheep, but not ſo he: therefore ſayes he to his father, Joh. 17. 12. Theſe that thou gaveſt me, I have kept, and none of them is loſt, neither is any one able to take them out of his hand.
2. His ſheep are the workmanſhip of his hands; but other ſhepherds though they feed their ſheep, yet they may not ſay, that they made their ſheep.
3. Other ſhepherds make gaine of their ſheep, and kill ſome of them for their owne food, but no gaine redounds to this ſhepherd by his ſheep, their goodneſſe not extending to him, as David ſayes, Pſal. 16. 2. And for, ſaving of his ſheep from death, he was killed, and gave himſelf to the death for them.
Thirdly, ſhe aſſimilats all the true members of Chriſts church to ſheep, calling them His flock even as our Saviour alſo calles them, his little flock for whom the Father has prepaired a kingdome: which ſtyle of a flock of ſheep, is frequently aſcribed to them in Scripture, Ezek. 34. 2. To remember them, 1. Of their infirmity for their humiliation, Joh. 10. 2. 21. 16. 2 Of their duty for their inſtruction: and, 3. Of the care that is had of them, for their conſolation, 1 Pet. 5. 2.
1. Their infirmity then is this, that like ſheep, they are of themſelves ready and prone to ſtray, as we ſee it told us, Iſay 53. 6. And in that parable, Matth. 18. 12. both by reaſon of externall temptation, and that boſome-enemy which we have of our own corruption, as we ſee in the parable of the prodigall ſonne, and in the examples of Gods deareſt ſaints, as David and Peter, &c, Ezek 34. 6.
1. For admoniſhing them of their duty, 1. Chriſts flock being of ſheep, they are therefore neither of wild beaſts, as Tigers or Lyons, Foxes or Wolves; nor yet are they of uncleane beaſts, as dogs, and ſwine, or the like: but of ſuch as are …amed from all ſuch ferity, and purged from impurity by the power of God and his ſoveraigne grace, yea in a manner metamorphoſed from ſuch like as they were before by nature, as we ſee in the examples of Manaſſeh, Mary Magdalen, and Paul.
2. As ſheep are ſimple, and not like crafty foxes as Cant. 2. 15. and as Chriſt called Herod; ſo are the godly by a Holy ſimplicity and ſincerity, yet mixt with ſerpentime prudence, and are like Nathaniel, Behold a true Iſraelite in whom there is no guile.
3. They are meek and harmleſſe, and ſo are the godly, having learned that Leſſon of their Maſter, and being ready to do good to all, but not to requite evill with evill at the hands of any: this meekneſs and quietneſs of ſpirit, (as Peter tells us) being of great price in the ſight of God, 1. Pet. 3. 4.
4. Sheep are patient in ſuffering; therefore it is ſaid of our Saviour that as a Lamb to the ſlaughter and as a ſheep before her ſhearer is dumb, Iſay. 53. 7. ſo he opened not his mouth. Even ſo are the godly, patient in ſuffering, either Immediatly what is laid upon them for their ſinnes, or tryall by the Hand of God; or what is done unto them mediatly by the Hand of man, as we ſee in the examples of Job, David, Joſeph, Stephen, and others.
5. Sheep as they are patient, ſo they are profitable, both in their lives, and by their death, for mans food and clothing: even ſo are the godly profitable, many wayes, both for their company, as we ſee in Joſephs being in Po…iphars houſe, Jacob in Labans, and if ten righteous had been in Sodom: as alſo by their converſation and holy example, both in word and deed, making their light ſhine before men, that men ſeeing their good works may glorifie God their Heavenly father. And as they are profitable many wayes in their life, ſo are they likewiſe in their holy deaths and comfortable departure, wherein a man may ſee a ſtrange change of the nature of death in them, and a great difference betweene them and the ungodly therein.
6. Sheep are obedient and follow whither the ſhepherd leads them; even ſo, as our Saviour ſhowes, Joh. 10. 4. his ſheep they hear his voice, and they follow Him, making his precepts to be the directory of their life, and his practice their pattern for imitation, as we ſee in Paul, who ſaid to the Corinthians, Follow me as I follow Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11. 1.
7. Sheep after they have fed in greene paſture, they thereafter ruminate and doe chew their cud; even ſo when Chriſts ſheep has read or heard His word, which is that paſture ſpoken of, Pſal. 23. 2. With David, Pſal. 1. and 119. they meditate thereon, apply the ſame, and lay it up in their heart, that they ſinne not againſt God, Pſal. 119. 11.
Laſtly, As great is the care that the good and faithfull ſhepherd has of his ſheep, in feeding guiding and guarding them, reducing the ſtrayers, curing the diſeaſed, caring for the weak, and watching over all, as we ſee in the examples of Jacob, David, and the ſhepherds of Bethleem, Luk. 2. 8. Even ſo, great is the care that Chriſt Jeſus has of his own elect, in doing the like offices towards them for his glory and their good and comfort.
And albeit the ſilly ſheep, (whoſe ſafety ſtands only in the care of the ſhepherd) has many enemies, as Dogs, Foxes, Woolvs, Beares and Lyons, and are killed daily alſo for the uſe of man, yet mightily beyond any other, increaſe: even ſo, although the godly may ſay, as we have it, Rom. 8. 36. We are killed all the day long, and are counted as ſheep for the ſlaughter, yet maugre all their enemies the Lord makes his flock multiply, as Iſrael did under Pharoah's heavieſt preſſure, and the blood of Martyrs to be the ſeed of his Church.
Fourthly, the actions attributed to this ſhepherd in this text are two, 1. feeding as we ſee it attributed to him, Ezek. 34. 23. which he doth, partly externally, meditately, and miniſterially, by the preaching of the word, as he ſaid to Peter, Feed my ſheep: and partly internally, immediately, and as the principall agent; without whoſe concurrence and co-operation Pauls planting, nor Apollos watering, will produce no increaſe.
The next action is cooling, refreſhing, making his Flock to reſt at Noon, in ſome repoſing and ſhadowiſh reſting place, alluding ſo to the manner of Shepherds in hot Countryes who in the heare of the day (which is, moſt at Noontide) lead their Sheep to ſome cooling reſting place, where they might repoſe and refreſh themſelves, and chew their cud; and being ſaved from the vehemencie of the ſcorching Sunne, might with the greater alacrity thereafter returne to their paſture. Even ſo in the very greateſt heat of perſecution, our Saviour Chriſt makes his own to find comfortable refreſhment, ſhelter of preſervation, and ſuch inward reſt of peace of conſcience, and joy in the holy ghoſt, that they may ſay with David in greateſt commotions, My heart is fixed, and cry out with the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 35. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? [For why ſhould I be?]
Followes the reaſon of her petition, wherein we have 1. The manner of the proponing it, to wit, by way of interrogation. 2 What is meant by theſe, whom ſhe calls his companions. 3. What is meant by her turning aſide to the flocks of theſe: the ſubſtance of all which is, the incommodity that will fall out, if he tell her not where he feeds, to wit, that by her frailty and force of temptation, ſhe may be made to decline aſide from the way of truth, and joyne to falſe worſhippes which will be neither to his honour, nor her good.
Firſt then, the manner of the proponing this Reaſon by way of interrogation, is to ſhew, 1. her earneſt deteſtation of any declyning though, never ſo little, from the truth of Chriſt, in time-comming, as Hoſ. 14. 8. Ephraim is brought in, ſaying, What have I to do any more with Idols? who before c. 14. v. 17. ere ſhe was converted, is ſaid to have been joyned or married with ſuch, and which holy indignation is in every one that is truly converted againſt that ſinne they were formerly given to, no leſſe then Amnom deteſted Tamar, 2. This implyes a firme reſolution not to turne afide, as that interrogation, Nehem. 6. 11. Should ſuch a man as I flee?
2. Theſe whom ſhe calls companions, ſhe ſtyles ſo not thereby to aſcribe to them any ſuch dignity in truth, which were blaſphemy, but to ſhew what bold uſurpers hereticks are, and eſpecially that grand Antichriſt, who aſcribes to himſelfe infallibility, that he may be the only great Maſter and teacher of Chriſts Catholick Church on earth, and therefore equalls his doctrines and decretalls in authority, with Canonick Scripture, while as Chriſt, is the only great ſhepherd, and teacher of his Church, and who only has no Companion nor Vicar one earth.
3. By turning ſide to the flocks of theſe, is meant, the ſwarving from the truth and purity thereof, to the ſociety of falſe worſhippers and ſuffering her ſelf to be ſeduced, by ſuch as S. Paul ſpeaks of, who were deceivers, and ſhould enter in after his departure, and draw diſciples after them, as Abſolom made many to follow him in his rebellious courſe, who did ſo in the ſimplicity of their hearts, or as the whole world is ſaid to have been by deceit drawn out of the right way of truth to follow the beaſt.
Obſervations.
1. The Church here in her weaker members being ſenſible of her former errors and having acknowledged the ſame, ſhe now deſires to be ſo directed, and eſtabliſhed by her beloved, that ſhe never deflect nor ſwerve any more from the purity of his worſhip, and for this her direction goes only to him, who is the way and the truth, ſo that we ſee though the godly fall, yet they are not like the wicked who lye and live in ſin, but they riſe againe, by humble acknowledgement, prayer, deteſtation of ſinne and reſolution to eſchew the ſame in all time-comming; all which we ſee in this her practice.
2. Out of her compellation of him, we ſee though through weakneſſe and force of temptation ſhe fell, yet his love never went out of her heart, as we may ſee in Peter, who though he fell foulely, yet he could ſay to Chriſt when he asked him, Loveſt thou me, Lord thou knoweſt that I love thee: ſo that although Satan Fidem concuſſit, amorem tamen non excuſſit, cujus actum et ſi intermiſit, habitum tamen non amiſit, which alſo we may ſee in Davids fall, and others of Gods Saints, whom he has permitted to fall, but never ſuffered to fall away, becauſe of that ſeed of his love, that ſtill notwithſtanding remained in their heart to him, and flowes from this, that his love to us is immutable, and ours to him is an effect of his love to us, O then, labour to keep Gods love evermore.
3. This compellation ſhe uſes now when ſhe goos about prayer to him or invocation, as being a great motive to him to hear, and ground of confidence to her that he would do ſo. Let us try then, if we find the love of God in our hearts, and then we may be aſſured to have the like confidence.
4. Whereas ſhe ſayes, tell me, &c. deſiring to be inſtructed aright, and that by his word only, which is now regiſtrate in Scripture, we ſee, 1. Her humble acknowledgement of her naturall ignorance needing information. And O happy ſoul, who comes to this ſight and acknowledgement of their own wants, and is not like Laodicea, Rev. 3. and 2. for right direction either in faith or manners. Let us go to Chriſt's mouth, opened in holy Scripture, and there ſay to him, Tell me, and give me reſolution.
5. The two things whereof ſhe deſires to be inſtructed, are where he feeds, and makes his Flock to reſt at Noon-day, where we obſerve that the Church depends not only upon Chriſt for food, or wholeſome green paſture, rejecting all humane traditions or doctrines of men, but in the midſt of hotteſt perſecutions, When the Sunne ſcorches ſoreſt, as at Noon-day, to be refreſhed by him: as the Church and her true members has found when tyrants have moſt raged againſt her, which has made them to find ſhelter from the boſome of their enemies, as Moſes from Pharaoh's daughter, and the true prophet from Ahabs Court, and to have ſuch inward rejoycing and couragious reſolution in the very midſt of their ſufferings as the Apoſtles and Martyrs have kythed, that the World have admired the ſame, and themſelves have found their eſtate to be, as is ſaid here, like Sheep after feeding reſting at Noon-day.
6. Chriſts people are here called his Flock, and compared to Sheep, as Joh. 10. and elſewhere. Then if we would know if we belong to this Flock, try if we have the properties of the Sheep formerly ſet down, and then we may be well aſſured of all the comforts and care that can ariſe from a faithfull and loving Shepherd.
7. In the manner of ſetting down the reaſon ſubjoyned, which (as is ſaid) ſhows her deteſtation of turning aſide from Chriſt and his Flock to any other, we are taught, That this is a property of the true members of Chriſts Church, to hate and deteſt ſinne, and the…r the more eaſily we ſhall eſchew the practice thereof, and more hardly be tempted therewith, and that it is a mark of a true penitent eſpecially, to deteſt that ſinne moſt in time-comming wherein they have fallen in times by-gone.
8. Where ſhe ſpeaks of one flock which is Chriſts in reſpect of the unity of faith, but of many flocks of his companions in reſpect of the diverſity of profeſſion one from another unto which flocks, ſhe ſayes, ſhe will not turne aſide, We ſee. 1. that there is but one true Church, and which Chriſt calls but a little flock, but there are many falſe Churches, and ſects of hereſies, mans nature, beſides Satans ſedulity having more power to follow lyes then truth. Therefore ſuch ſhould teach us to beware of ſeduction. and 2. That we ſhould not follow the multitude in ſinning, or turning aſide and ſwerving never ſo little from verity and piety: Neither is the multitude a note of the true Church.
9. Where she craves his inſtruction and aid, implying this to be the danger, if the ſame be not granted her, that she will otherwiſe be eaſily drawn to turne aſide from Chriſt and his truth to error and defection, we learne, If the Lord leave us never ſo little, and aſſiſt us not by his direction and grace, how ſoon and foully we may fall: ſo that when Satan ſeeks to ſift us, it is Chriſt's mediation for us that our Faith fail not; and his Grace which is ſufficient for us, as he ſaid to Paul, that makes us to ſtand.
10. Laſtly, where falſe teachers are called Chriſts Companions, we ſee not only their proud uſurpation and arrogancy (as has been formerly ſaid) in broaching doctrines of their own, and obtruding on Gods Church tanquam ſocii non ſervi, or fellow Maſters, and not faithfull Miniſters, but alſo this shews us their diſſimulation and hypocriſie, giving out themſelves to be ſocii, for and with Chriſt (companion being a terme of friendship and familiarity) while as they are indeed foes and againſt Chriſt, imitating herein Satan, whoſe emiſſaries they are; who when he would bring in greateſt darkneſſe tranſforms himſelfe into an Angel of lighr; or that beaſt and Antichriſt ſpoken of in the Revelations and whoſe ſuppoſts they are, who is ſaid to be horned like the Lamb, but ſpeaks like the Dragon.