Loves Intercourse Between the Lamb and His Bride, Treatise · Chapter 2 · Verse 9
Verſe. 9. My beloved is like a Roe, or young Hart: behold, he ſtandeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the window, ſhowing himſelf thorow the Latteſſe.
Here is ſet down his more neer approach, than when he was but coming skipping and leaping on the hills; for now, Behold (ſayes the Church) he ſtands behind our wall, &c. But, before ſhe ſhowes this neer approach, we ſee that ſhe compares him to a roe, or a young hart, to ſhow thereby;
1. As a young hart or roe are pleaſant, (being ſo called, Pro. 5. 19.) ſo is Chriſt to a faithfull Soul.
2. As they are moſt loving to their match, (being alſo ſo called in the ſame place,) ſo is Chriſt to his church, Eph. 5. 25.
3. As they are cleerly-ſighted, and quick in hearing, ſo is Chriſt, Rev. 1. 14. Exod. 3. 7.
4. As they are ſwift of foot, ſo is Chriſt in coming for comforting his owne, and for their deliverance.
5. They haunt moſt high and hilly places, as it is ſaid Planitie ſpretâ contendunt ſemper ad alta, ſo Chriſt haunts moſt, yea ever, heavenly diſpoſed ſoules.
6. It is reported that between the Hart and Serpent there is great enmity, and that the Hart finding where the adder or ſerpent is; with his ſnuffing and breath on her, either makes her flee, or killeth her: even ſo is there between Chriſt that ſeed of the woman, and that old ſerpent, whom he makes to flee and overcomes by his word, the breath of his mouth, and thereby conſumes the Vicar of his power, till he aboliſh him by the brightneſs of his coming.
Next, as he is compared to a Roe or Hart in all the former reſpects, ſo to a young Hart; to ſhow, as in youth all naturall properties of ſtrength, agility, ſharp-ſightedneſs and hearing, &c. are in full vigour; ſo all theſe things in Chriſt that are for our comfort are in him in the moſt eminent perfection.
To come now to Chriſts neerer approach, ſtanding behind our wall, whereunto we find, an Ecce, prefixed, which is a note of obſervation or attention, to ſhow us, that therefore we ſhould look to our ſelves, and take heed to our wayes and actions, as having him who is to be our judge not farre off, but neer unto us, even at the dore as it were, and behind our wall, ſtanding there, and as at a window, or thorow a Lettice, ſpying and remarking all our cariage and converſation.
Next, his ſtanding behind our wall, ſignifies either the eſtate wherein he finds us at firſt when he comes unto us, which is a cloſſe dore, as Rev. 3. 20. Or a wall between him and us of a carnall heart till it be opened as Lydia's, or like Jericha's be made to fall downe and yield, by the ſound of Gods word preached. accompanied with the mighty power of the ſpirit, which is ſufficiently able to do this, as we ſee, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5. behind which wall he is ſaid to ſtand Patiently waiting for our converſion. Or elſe this do…h expreſſe, that Chriſt doth not in a full and cleer manner exhibit and ſhow himſelf unto his church in this world, but as one ſtanding behind a wall, looking in at a window, or ſhowing himſelf thorow lattices. Thus Abraham and the Patriarks ſaw him before the Law, Heb. 11. 13. but obſcurely, as one that ſees a thing farre off, and not fully nor cleerly but as a part of a man, and the leaſt part alſo, is ſeen only of him who lookes in at a window, and very obſcurely likewiſe,: when one ſhowes himſelf as thorow a lateſſe.
Thus alſo Moſes and Gods people under the Law ſaw him, but neither fully nor cleerly, but as they ſaw Moſes himſelf when he was availed, and through the obſcure latteſſes of types and figures.
Thus alſo under the Goſpell is he ſeen, although more fully and cleerly than before or under the law, yet but in part only and obſcurely by the eye of faith, as the Apoſtle teſtifies, 1 Cor. 13. 9. 12. ſaying, for we know only in part, and we now ſee through a glaſſe darkly.
Yea when he was amongſt men and in the world, yet (as ſayes John) The world knew him not, Joh. 1. 10, 11. for his deity ſtood behind the wall (as it were) of his humanity, which may be called, our wall, becauſe he took upon him our nature, and became like unto us in all things, ſinne only excepted.
Likewiſe the wall which hinders us from the cleer ſight and knowledge of Chriſt, may juſtly be called our wall, becauſe it is our ignorance and naturall blindneſs, which makes us to ſee (as the Apoſtle ſpeakes) darkly, and as in a glaſſe, which ſhall never be fully taken away, till we ſee him face to face, and as he is, in glory, 1 Cor. 13. 13. as the vaile was never rent till our Saviours death.
Theſe latteſſes alſo through which he ſhowes himſelf, are nothing elſe but the two caſements (as it were) of the holy Scriptures, the new and old Teſtament, the ſearching and knowledge whereof whoſoever ſorbids to Gods people, they defraud them of the ſight of Chriſt by faith and that ſaving knowledge which they ſhould have of Chriſt here, and ſo farre, as in them lyes of that bliſſefull ſight of his face in glory for ever hereafter, and ſo in like manner do thoſe who any wayes, contemne or reſort not unto, theſe bleſſed meanes of grace and knowledge of Chriſt crucified.
Obſervations.
1. If Chriſt be lovely and pleaſant, like a roe or young Hart, let each one pray the Lord that he may be ſo in their eyes, and for this end that he would grant them the eye-ſalve of his ſpirit, and make ſinne loathſome and odious.
2. Seeing he ſtands behind our wall, which is a geſture of patient waiting, as we ſee, Rev. 3. 20. Cant. 5. 2. Then let us welcome and open to him, and abuſe not his long-ſuffering patience, but do as Pſ. 24. 7. and Gen. 24. 31. remove all impediments and invite him to come in.
3. Seeing he is neerer then we are aware, and is looking on us, who is the righteous Iudge of the whole world, then let every one ſo carry himſelfe as being under his alſeeing eye and who is to give to every one according to their works.
4. If but a very little of him be ſeen by us in this life, like one looking forth at a window, and that which we ſee is but very darkly, like one who ſhewes himſelf through a latteſſe. Then let none glory in his greateſt meaſure of knowledge, that he can attain to in this life; but ſtrive to grow therein, and long for that happy day, wherein he ſhall ſee him more fully, and as he is, face to face in glory.
5. Seeing theſe ca…ernents or latteſſes, through which he ſhewes himſelf, are the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament, then let all thoſe who would have a comfortable ſight of Chriſt, either here or hereafcer, reverence and reſort to theſe, as the ordinary means of his manifeſtation.