Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 6 · the Song of Solomon · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
I Am the Rose of Sharon, as the Lilly of the vallies; Gregory, for the rose of Vers. 1. The Bridegroomes third speech. Gregory. Cald. Paraph.Sharon, hath, the flower of the field, and takes this as spoken by Christ; but the Chaldee Paraphrast wil have the Church to goe on speaking in this verse, and Christ in the next, and this Ainsworth followeth, I subscribe to Gregory, because the humility of the faithfull is such, that she never praiseth her selfe without saying something of her own foulenesse, as vers. 5. and it is commanded, let another praise thee, not thine owne lips; he calleth himselfe the flower, or chiefe flower of the field, which is the Rose, because most sweet, and fragrant, by reason of the fulnesse of grace in him, and the Lilly for his beauty to make us in love with him, as the Church before compared him to a bundle of Myrrhe, and to a cluster of Camphire, and said, Thou art faire and pleasant; but Sharon was a proper name 1 Chron. 27. 29.of a place, where Davids flocks or Heards were fed, being a plain, neare unto which was a valley of Lillies, the Roses in the one, and the Lillies in the other, being the fairest that were, because it was moist and fat ground, and foreign signifieth a field, or fat soyle. And to the rose doth our Lord compare himselfe also, because of the prickles of the Rose-bush upon which it groweth, and flourisheth; so he being amongst Col. 2. 14.the prickes of the Crowne of Thornes, and sharp nailes, piercing his hands and feet, flourished and triumphed, then drawing all men unto him, as he had before said. And to the Lilly of the Vallies, for the humility of his Mother, according to that in her Magnificat, He hath regarded the lowlinesse of his hand-maiden, because vallies are low.
As the Lilly among the thornes so is my love amongst the daughters. Here Vers. 2.Christ further commendeth his Spouse, by comparing her with other Daughters, that is the unbeleeving, and Hereticall Congregations, she is as the Lilly for whitenesse, through his beauty, by faith communicated unto her, and the graces of his Spirit in her; they as thornes, the fruits of Gods curse upon the earth, being of Gen. 3.harsh and pricking conditions; now, Thornes and Briars are for the fire, so are they for the fire of Hell; Thornes prick, and pierce, and fetch bloud of those that are amongst them, so it is hereby meant, that the wicked Jewes, and Gentiles, and Hereticks, should persecute, and shed the bloud of the faithfull. The Lilly hath no Note. prickes thus to doe, no more hath the true Church of God, for religions sake, although they erre, to cut off any; and therefore hereby the Roman Catholicks notoriously shew themselves to be as thornes, but they of the reformed religion to be as the Lilly, and so to be glorious; as it is said of the Lilly, that Salomon in all his royall apparrell was not so glorious.
Of the true Churches blossoming as a rose, see Esa. 35. 1. and as the Lilly, Hos. 14 5. of wicked persecutors compared to thornes, Numb. 33. 55. They shall be goads in your sides, and thornes in your eyes; and Ezek. 28, 24. There shall be no more a pricking briar, or thorne to the house of Israel; for his calling wicked peoples daughters, it is a common phrase, The daughter of Babylon, the daughter of Palestine, &c.
As the Apple-tree amongst the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sonnes, I sate downe under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was Vers. 3. The Brides fourth speech.sweet to my taste. Here the Spouse goeth on againe in praising Christ, the Apple-tree beareth pleasant fruit, but the trees of the wood not; wouldest thou then come to a tree bearing fruit sweet to the taste, come to Christ, and eate, and live, and be delighted with true delight, that never fadeth, come not, but goe to other trees, and finde either none, or soure and killing fruit; That is, be drawne by wicked men, or Hereticks, who promise fruit, and more pleasure, and thou shalt be frustrated of thy desire, for they yeeld none, but if it be pleasant to the carnall Note. taste for a time, it soone proveth distastfull, and mortiferous. But the fiuit of this Apple-tree feedeth with hope, and joy, and love, meeknesse, peace, and patience, against which there is no Law; I sate downe under his shadow, under this tree is shadow, when the heat of persecution ariseth, delighting the soule even in the Gal 5. 22.midst of fiery flames; of such a shadow by a cloud Esay speaketh, saying, I will create over every tabernacle a cloud by day, &c.Esa. 4. 6. Vers. 4. Gregor.
He brought me into the Banqueting-house, and his banner over me was love. For Banqueting-house, Gregory hath, Cellar of Wine, expounding it of the holy Scriptures, and the mysticall things concerning our salvation therein set forth, into which we are brought, when to the understanding of these secrets. Justus understands Justus Orgel.this as a Prophesie, which was fulfilled, Act. 1. & 2: when the Apostles, and the rest of the faithfull were brought together into one place, it being made unto them, as a Counceller, for the joy which they had by the coming downe of the Holy Ghost upon them, and filling them with knowledge and ability to utter in all tongues the wonderfull things of God. He hath ordained love upon, or over me; so the vulgar, for these words, his banner over me was love, but the Hebr. word is foreign a banner, the meaning is all one, the Banner or Ensigne of the Church is, Love, or Love is the grace which he hath ordained to manifest his Church by, as he saith, Hereby shall men know that yee are my Disciples, if yee love one another; but for Banqueting-house, Hebr. is, house of wine, to which effect it was Ioh. 14.spoken before.
And the Wine-cellar is spoken of next, after the fruit of the Apple-tree, which is sweet, because Christ is to his Spouse not only sweet, but chearing, and making glad the heart, like wine, when she is sorrowfull and heavie, so that hereby is implyed more need that the Church should have of refreshing from Christ, the heat Prov. 31.of persecution increasing, and a supply to be made accordingly.
And now it is also a comfort to heare of his Binner, or Standard over her, under which she fighting against sinne, the world, and the Devill, shall be sure to overcome, and that only through his love on our parts, altogether undeserved, out of which he saith, In the world yee shall have trouble, but be of good comfort, I have overcome the world: Thus Ainsworth. And of his love the Lord saith, or it is said of him, he loved his owne, unto the end he loved them; to shew, Joh. 13. 1.that this Standard alwayes stands for their defence, and is never taken downe.
Stay me with flaggons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love; this Vers. 5.is the voyce of a poore soule, sick for want of the sence of the comfort of Christs love, and now ready to swoone away; for as in this case some comfortable and reviving thing is with all carnestnesse called for speedily, so she desireth comfort from the Ministers of the Word, by the wine and apples before spoken of; That Note. is, comfortable and chearing promises of the Word, whereby although she be brought never so low, she may be raised up to life againe; and therefore the word, stay me, is a plurall, as if she had said, O friends, stay yee me.
And hereby we are directed in time of distresse in our mindes, what to doe, viz. to desire spirituall comfort from spirituall Pastors, and Pastors in this case are not to shew themselves difficult towards them that seek unto them for it.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth imbrace me. The Vers. 6.faithfull soule having called for comfort in her perplexity, ver. 5. now to shew the effect that shall follow upon thus doing, declareth to all men, that she had comfort from her Husband Christ, both by his left hand being put under her head; that is, from his passions, and infirmities of his humane nature, which he tooke upon him, and suffered; and by his right hand imbracing her, That is the power of his Divinity making his Passions meritorious, and effectually speaking comfort unto her, to the free…ng of her from all her feares and troubles. Even as she, that hath a loving husband, if he seeth her to faint, and ready to dye, for want of his expressions of love towards her, if he presently imbraceth her with one hand, and holdeth her head Note. with the other, being much weakned through her sad apprehensions of his dislike, is recreated and revived againe; for by the right hand, power and streagth is commonly set forth, and by the left, weaknesse, and infirmity, but by both together, all that one is able to doe for another in distresse; whence note, that it is not in vaine for the distressed in minde to seeke to Gods Ministers for comfort, but a speedy way to attaine unto it, yet it lyeth not in any of them to make their instructions and consolations thus effectuall, but in Christ Jesus alone.
Gregory by the left hand, understands comforts temporall, and the right, eternall, Gregor.and these are said to be under the head, because the heart, the principall part of man, which the head is, hath them, as it were, under, in her estimation, but eternal above all those of this world.
And this is confirmed by Justus, saying that Salomon saith of wisdome, Shee Justus Orgel.hath on, her right hand long life, and on her left riches, and honour; and what are riches, and honour, but things temporal? which the faithfull under-value, and long life, but life for evermore? as in the Psalmes is further expressed; He asked life of thee, and thou gavest him long life, even for evermore.
But I rather preferre the Exposition before going, which is Ainsworths, because Ainsworth.spirituall comforts only are here spoken of, as which alone can comfort the distressed soule, but I take it not as he doth, for a Petition, but a Declaration, as is aforesaid, and thus it agreeth best with the Hebrew being verbatim; his left hand under my head, and his right hand shall sustaine me; so that it is declared, what was now done, and further expected to be done, by a sure and certaine faith. It may also be considered, whether it be not meant, I have already a little comfort, after my seeking to Christs Ministers, as before was said, and am nothing doubtfull, but that I shall have his Spirit coming into my heart more powerfully, and bringing me plenary comfort, because that although by the right hand is often set forth power, yet by the left weaknesse never, and both hands are not here spoken of together but first, the left as present, then the right in future.
I charge you (O yee daughters of Jerusalem) by the Roes, and the Hindes Vers. 7.of the field, that yee stirre not up, nor awake my Love, till he pleaseth. The soule having met with comfort after her being in perplexity, now is very carefull, that this comfort and quiet thus attained, be by no meanes disturbed againe, and therefore she layeth a charge under an Oath upon the daughters of Jerusalem, by the Hindes, and the Roes; That is, calling the Hindes and Roes of the field to witnesse against them, as both Moses sometime called heaven and earth to record, against the people of Israel, and Isaiah said, Heare (O Heavens) and hearken (O Earth) And the Hindes and Roes rather then other Beasts of the field are Esa. 1.mentioned, because their love is singular towards one another, as hath been shewed before upon Proverbs, where the Husband is bidden to let his wife be to him Prov. 5. 19.as the Hinde, so loving, and the pleasant Roe.
By daughters of Jerusalem, understand the soules of the faithfull; That is, of all that professe the faith of Christ, these are all here adjured (for so the vulgar renders it, and that rightly, because the word rendred) I charge you, cometh from foreign an Oath, or swearing, not to stirre, or wake Christ; That is, by their sinnes not to provoke him, to the disturbance of the peace before mentioned, coming by his left hand, under the head and so forth. And if it be thus understood, it is the voyce of one faithfull soule after trouble in minde, injoying rest by Christ, unto others having part in this rest also, deeply charging them to take heed of doing any thing, whereby this rest may be broken off, and that this may appeare more clearly, it is to be noted, that the word rendred my love, is Hebr. the love, awake not the love, untill it pleaseth; That is, untill it pleaseth him to lye no longer thus with his left hand under my head, and his right hand imbracing me, and that will be never, if he be not stirred by our sinnes, but the love and rest in him, which I and you injoy, shal be everlasting.
Gregory, and Justus, and other Ancients following the vulgar, Awake not my love, untill she pleaseth, understandeth this, as spoken by Christ, who having Gregory. Justus Orgel.imbraced a soule in the armes of his mercy, and given her joy in Divine contemplations, and being sequestred from imployment amongst others, chargeth them, although they earnestly desire such a mans coming amongst them for their Spirituall good, yet to permit him to goe on in this his sequestered course of life, untill that he will voluntarily breake off, and apply himselfe by his gifts, to serve publickly the necessities of others; and by the daughters of Jerusalem, he will have effeminate Christians meant, who are not worthy the name of men, because they thinke the contemplative life too austere for them, or for any other man, doing therefore what they can to pull such, as are denoted unto it, here-from. Thus Gregory.
Justus understandeth it, of the counsels given by Christ, and his Apostles about chastity, and voluntary poverty, and not urging any man hereunto, but permitting every one to doe in regard of these what he pleaseth; but the last word foreign is a Masculine, and therefore it cannot be rendred by she, but he, and so the sence given hereupon falleth, and the first standeth firme, the Church continueth Note. still speaking of Christ, as carefull to continue her rest begun in him alwayes without interruption, which should be the care of us all, and therefore to fly sinne. whereby alone this rest is broken, otherwise the Roes, and the Hindes of the field shall rise up against us, and condemne us, for our injury about that love and peace, Of the love of the Hinde and Roe, see upon Prov. 5. 19. Vers. 8.whereupon all our felicity dependeth, when as they are so tender of their love towards one another, to preserve and continue in it all their dayes.
The voyce of my beloved, behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountaines, and skipping upon the hills. After the comfort coming to the faithful soul by Christ, by that which he did with his hands, both the left and the right, now followeth the comfort which she taketh in his voyce, that is, his Word preached, and therefore according to that which is here said, leaping upon the Mountaines, it is elsewhere Prophesied; How beautifull upon the Mountaines are the feet of those, that bring glad tidings of peace! and he is said to come leaping, when the Gospel is preached, for the celerity of the Gospels going forth into all Countries, and Nations, Nahum, 1. 15. Esa. 52. 7.as the Hinde and Roe, whereunto he is compared, vers. 9. goeth not, but leapeth, and skippeth, and so riddeth the ground away faster then Beasts that goe, or run, and the word foreign upon, may also be rendred over, he leapeth over Mountaines, as over plaine places, no obstacle or let in the way, by the hottest persecution, can hinder him from going on in his Gospel. And as his voyce is spoken of here, to set forth his Word preached, so Esa. 40. The voyce of the Cryer in the wildernesse, and Joh. 10. My sheep heare my voyce, &c.
And oppositions made against the Word, are well set forth by Mountaines, because men travelling upon the way, when they come at some high and steep Mountaines, they are invincible impediments unto them, to stay them from going further, but if one had this faculty of leaping over them, they would be no let, or impediment unto him, and this faculty it is shewed Christ should have at his going forth by his Word.
My Wel-beloved is like unto a Roe, or a young Hart, behold, he standeth Vers. 9.behinde our wall, he looketh out at a window, shewing himselfe through the Lattice. Here is a reason why Christ was before spoken of, as leaping over the Mountaines, the Hinde or Hart useth to doe so, and he is herein like a young Hart or Roe; He stands behinde our wall, saith Gregory, when he hid his Divinity Gregor.in our Humane nature, by taking flesh of the Virgin Mary, and looked out at a window through a Lattice, when he was partly seene as man, and partly unseen, That is, as God; and he expoundeth that before going of his leaping, of his descending from heaven to earth in his Incarnation.
Ainsworth hath either this, as touching our wall, or his nearer approaches to us Ainsw.by degrees, then when he was first seene leaping upon the Mountaines, and his looking in at a window, and through the Lattice, was his shining in here, as the Sunne arising in the morning, and by looking in at the window inlightening the house; So Christ stood first, as it were, behind our wall of partition, when he was set forth only under darke types; and figures of the Law; he looked in at the window, when the sunne-shine of the Gospel arose, but through the Lattice, when revealing himselfe in many mysteries to his people, he yet concealeth himselfe in 1 Cor. i3▪some; for we know, and see but in part.
And looking through the window also, intimateth his seeing of us, both to observe our doings, whether good or evil, and to protect his Church; as God is said to have looked upon the Hoasts of Israel, pursued by Pharaohs, and as a man looking out at a window, through a Lattice, is scarce seene of those without, but he Note. seeth all things; so although we see not Christ ready to protect us in danger, yet he seeth us, and the secretest plottings of our enemies, to disappoint them of their purposes, and to deliver his out of dangers, that we may both stand in awe of him in all places, and doing so, be confident of his protection at all times, against all that machinate mischiefe against us. Of looking out at a window and seeing, although unseene, see Prov. 7. I looked out at my window, &c.
My Beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up my love, my faire one, and Vers. 10.come away; Hebr. for rise up, is, rise for thy selfe, and for (come away) come for thy selfe; That is, saith Ainsworth, Rise, and come for thy owne benefit. Ainsw.Or, it may be thus understood, whatsoever others doe, continuing, when they heare my Word, in sinne, or infidelity, doe thou for thy part arise, and come to me; looke not at the most, to be drawne by their example, to the doing of evil, to sinne against thy owne soule, by sitting, or lying still in the state of Nature, as they doe; but enter in at the streight gate, and walke in the narrow way, which a few only finde, the most going in the broad way, notwithstanding their hearing of my voyce, for that leadeth to death; but to enter thus into the narrow way, by beleeving, Matth. 7. 14.and obeying me, is to come into the way of life.
Here then the Church telleth, to what effect Christ speaketh in his Word, viz. to move every soule that would be saved, not to sit, or lye still in sinne or unbeliefe, but to rise by repentance, and turning from sinne, and to come to him by beleeving; so that this is the same in effect with that, Matth. 11. 28. Come to me, all yee that are weary, and heavie laden, &c. and of the soule that doth so, he saith, My love, my faire one; That is, through the beauty and bright lustre of Grace, where-with thou art now instantly indued, one that I cannot but dearly love, according to that of the Apostle, Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up Ephes. 5. 14.from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. But what soule soever being thus called suteth still, preferring yet to live in sinne, she is black, and foule, and to Christ Note. abominable.
For loe, the winter is past, the raine is over, and gone; The flowers appeare Vers. 11. Vers. 12.in the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voyce of the turtle is heard in our Land. Here the Church sheweth, how the Lord went on to move her to come, by telling of the opportunity now being under the Gospel, which is described as the spring-time; therefore by the winter, Gregory understandeth the time of the ceremoniall Law, which was as a winter, dead, and without fruit, and Gregor.raine, filling the earth wi…h cold water, for so by the Law cometh death and condemnation, for which the Apostle calleth it, the ministry of condemnation, and 2 Cor. 3.they were subject to Ordinances of divers washings, wherein yet there was but cold comfort, they being not to the cleansing from sinne, but only of legall uncle annesse, for the very bloud of Bulls and Goates offered in sacrifice could doe no Heb. 10.more.
But the time of the Gospel is the Spring-time, as Christ having suffered death for our sinnes, rose in the spring the monethmonth of Abib answering in part to March, and in part to April; and now flowers appeare, grasse groweth green, and through the pleasantnesse hereof the Birds sing and the Turtle, gone in winter, cometh againe, Jer. 8.and uttereth her voyce; and therefore if ever thou wilt come (my love) come now, and delay not, this is the best time to travell in; in winter, for the raine, and cold, and shortnesse of the dayes, it being almost a continuall night in some places, thou couldest not, and if thou delayest a while thou shalt not be able, for the scorching heat of summer burning up all things, as in the torrid Zoane, and changing the very face into black, as the Aethiopians; for so he that delayeth his comming now, shall become more and more black through sinnes increasing, and is daily in danger, not of being scorched only, but burnt by the flaming fire in which Christ shall come, to render vengeance to all that know not God. (Flowers appeare.) 2 Thes. 1. 8.Ainsworth by winter, understands troublous times, as those of Antichrist; or troubles of minde, and by the Flowers appearing, Graces, abounding in the Ainsworth.Church under the Gospel, some having the gift of Prophecying, some of speaking with Tongues, some of Interpretation, and some of Healing, all of knowledge and Rom. 12.faith, and some of faith to worke Miracles. Thus, it was promised according to this Allegory, I srael shall blossome, and bud, and fill the earth with fruit, and they of the City shall flourish like grasse of the earth. And as to Pharaohs Esa. 27. 6. Psal. 72. 26. Gen. 40.Butler, the lifting up of his head was shewed by a Vine, springing, and bearing bunches of Grapes, which he dreamed that he wrung into Pharaohs Cup; o by Flowers appearing here, the restitution of man by Christ to Gods favour is set forth, which is, when by his Spirit Graces are wrought, and appeare … him.
By the Birds singing, understand the Saints thus indued with manisold graces rejoycing, and praising God, for the comfort which they finde, and feele by beleeving, and the spirits en…ring into them. Of this Esay prophesieth, saying, They hall sing for the ma…esty of the Lord, from the uttermost parts of the earth have Esa. 24. 15. Ephes. 5. 19.we heard Songs, glory to the righteous. And the Apostle biddeth. Sing to your selves in Hymnes, and Psalmes, and Spirituall songs. By the Turtle uttering her voyce, the whole Congregation of the faithfull is set forth together, praising God out of pure and chaste mindes; or by the Turtle, understand the Holy Ghost inspiring men extraordinarily, to utter the wonderfull things of God, because the Spirit appeared in the likenesse of a Dove; so Ainsworth. But the Church is also set forth by a Dove. vers. 14. and as she is compared to B…rds for her many members, so to a Turtle for her unity, being as one pure, and spotlesse Virgin, keeping her alwayes to her one husband Christ. And whereas he understandeth troubles in Antichrists time by winter, or inward troubles of the minde, the first cannot be meant, because Antichrist cometh many yeares after Christ, and this is spoken not only of the time following after that, but chiefly of the time of the first preaching of the Gospel. Againe, how can it be understood either of trouble by persecution, when as Christ saith, In the world yee shall have trouble, but be of good comfort, I have overcome the world; or of inward trouble through temptation, when as into this he entereth, that cometh to Christ, all things before being in quiet, whilst the strong man armed keepes the house; by winter therefore none of these, but the Law ceremoniall is to be understood, as hath been already said.
The fig-tree putteth forth her green figges, the Vines, and the tender Grape give a good small, arise my l…ve, &c. Here the spring of the Gospel is further set Vers. 13.forth by other similitudes, shewing that it is Spring-time, for so Christ saith, When Luk. 13. 8. Esa. 5.the fig-tree putteth forth, yee know that the summer is neare; and the Church is as a Fig-tree, and as a Vine, or Vine-yard, and she springeth, and giveth a good smell when the Gospel is preached, according to that of the Apostle, We are to 2 Cor. 2. 15. Hos. 9. 10.God a sweet smelling savour, &c. and to Grapes and Figges is Israel, compared by the Prophet, saying, I found your fathers as grapes in the Wildernesse, and as the first ripe figges.
(O my Dove) thou art in the clefts of the rockes, and in the secret places of Vers. 14. The Bridegrooms fourth speech.the staires, let me see thy countenance, let me heare thy voyce, for sweet is thy voyce, and thy countenance comely. Here Christ speaketh to the Church, and he compareth her to a Dove for her harmlesnesse, and simplicity, being without a Gall, cleane feeding, and a cleane Bird, which was offered in sacrifice, see Mat. 10. 16. Of the Doves being in the clefts of a rock, see Jerem. 48. 18. Be like the Dove, that makes her nest in the sides of the holes mouth; it is alluded to that, which was done by Elijah, whom God put in a cleft of a focke, whilst he 1 King. 19. 13.passed, for his safety, when he feared, or might feare the approach of so terrible a Majesty. Here it is said, Thou art in the clests of the rocke; That is, in greatest safety, so that thou needest not to be afraid, for this rock is Christ, and so is the secret place next spoken of, Psal. 32. 7. 61. 5. 91. 1. and this is used as an argument Mat. 16. 18. 1 Cor. 11.to perswade her, to come without all feare unto him, he being to her, as the rocke to the Dove, in this her arising and coming away.
But what is meant by the secrets of the staires? In this case it is alluded to Jacobs Gen. 28Ladder, the top whereof reached up to Heaven, whereby the Angels ascended, and descended, these staires are the degrees of Graces, by which the faithful ascend up to Heaven, for they are not one, but many; Faith, Hope, Love, Meeknesse, Gal. 5. 22Temperance, Patience, Joy, yea even in suffering; and the highest pitch of Grace is not at the first attained to, but we ascend towards it by steps, or degrees, as upon staires, according to which it is said of the Saints, that they passe from strength to strength, till they, every one of them appeares before God in Zion.Psal. 50.
Thy voyce is sweet; this is spoken in answering to that, ver. 5, 6, 7. where the Church uttereth a lamentable voyce, saying, Stay yee me with Flaggons, &c. and then speakes comfortably againe, His left hand is under my head, &c. his right hand imbracing me; after which, she chargeth the daughters not to disturbe this love by sinning. Now Christ sheweth, how acceptable and delighting all this is to him, praying in trouble of minde; prayer is as sweet incense, praising God upon Psal. 50. 15having any comfort, for thus God is glorified.
Lastly preaching, to stop the course of sinning, of the sweetnesse of which see before. Thy countenance is comely, let me therefore see thee coming to me, as thou hast been already invited, by the name of my faire one.
Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes that spoyle the Vines, for our Vines have Vers. 15. Gregor.tender grapes. Gregory, whom I omitted upon vers. 14. more particularly by the clefts of the rock, understands the places pierced by Nailes in Christs hands, and feet, by the secrets of the staires, rendred by the vulgar, the cavernes of the wall, the place of his side pierced by the speares; herein the soule is hidden, and made not to feare, when meditating upon these his passions, she armes her selfe with faith, and patience, constantly to suffer any thing for him againe. Now for the present words, both he, and all others agree, that by the Foxes, which are called little, but aid to spoyle the Vines, Hereticks are to be understood, which spoyle the Churches of Christ by their Hereticall Doctrine, for in subtlety and dissimulation they are like unto Foxes, and sometimes they are also compared to Wolves in sheeps cloathing; they are taken, when confuted by plaine evidence of the Word, Matth. 7.and digged out of their holes, when put from darke passages of Scripture, whereupon they found their Hereticall Doctrines; therefore to them that preach the Word, and are learned, this charge is given by Christ.
It is not our only imployment to preach, and instruct, and exhort, and reprove, but also to convince gaine-sayers, and stop their mouthes, by shewing the falsness 2 Tim. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 3. Tit. 1. 11.of their Doctrine, as Timothy was by Paul required to doe, and Titus likewise; and therefore it is the part and duty of Christian Magistrates to take order, that such Foxes be not let goe at liberty, but being discovered who they be, first to restraine Note. them under a great penalty, from teaching either in Church, Chappell, or private House, and then to compell them to heare their errours by the learned confuted; which being done, if they persist still in this wicked way, and recant not, to chase them out of the Land, as dangerous Foxes, or Wolves, to the flocke of Christs sheep, whom to preserve should be the chiefe care of Magistrates, and Ministers, and not of Ministers only, who can doe no more, but as their Shepheard with his Dogge, scare them away by barking, therefore it is their parts after this to rid the Land of them, much more then it was once done here by a King of England, to rid this Land of Wolves; and these Foxes are called little, because for the most part they be not great, but poore, and obscure, arising Ex fece populi. Which spoile our vines; That is, corrupt whole Churches, where it is to be noted, that to be infected with Heresie, is to be spoyled. And he saith, our Vines have tender Grapes; That is, our Churches have weake and tender Christians, easie by their subtleties to be drawne to errour, for the strong are not in danger, but the weake in knowledge, and children this way. Pierius expounding it, saith; That by little Foxes evil cogitations are set forth, which must be suppressed, whilst they are little, in the very beginning, otherwise they marre the Vine; That is, the heart wherein they lurke.
My beloved is mine, and I am his, he feedeth amongst the Lillies. Here Vers. 16. The Brides fifth speech. Ephes. 5. 30.the Church againe speaketh, comforting her selfe in this, that she had such a beloved, as Christ is, uniting her unto himselfe by a spirituall Marriage, and so making her one with himselfe, flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, for herein shee hath joy that cannot be expressed, and upon this she breaketh out into these words; My beloved is mine, and I am his; for his feeding amongst the Lillies, the Lord had before compared his Church to a Lilly amongst the thornes, now she joyeth in Verse 2.this, that he is continually present in her Assemblies, sitting, and eating, and drinking, as it were, amongst them in that most holy feast of his Supper. Ainsworth understandeth Ainsw.his feeding, of his feeding of his flock amongst the Lillies, that is, the flowers of the Scriptures.
Till the day breake, and the shadowes fly away, turne (my beloved) and be Vers. 17.like the Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountaines of Bether. Of the Roe, and Hart, to which Christ is compared, see before, ver. 9. Here the Church desireth him to be so to her; That is, to come leaping to her help, in time of danger by persecution, or of trouble by temptations, and in thus doing not to cease, till the day appeareth, and the shadowes fly away; That is, till the night of trouble and adversity be past, the day, or time of deliverance from all troubles coming, which shall be at Christs second coming.
And like unto this Peter speaketh, till the day dawne, &c. but this is spoken of 2 Pet. 1. 19.illumination by the Spirit, and Sanctification, which is before that day; and by the Hinde and Roe, Christs manifestation of his love and joy is understood, as in Rom. 5. 11, &c. Of the mountains it was spoken also, ver. 8. here only the name Bether, signifying division, is further added, and it was a mountain neare Jordan, where such Cattell fed, so called, because here by that river the Land of Canaan was divided, or rather for the dividing of Jordan, for Israel to passe over.
For the Mountaines of Bether, the Vulgar hath it, of Bethel, but Hebrew it is Bether; Gregory expounds this of Christs returning at the Day of Judgement, Gregor.like a Roe, or young Hart; That is, in the same forme of a man that he tooke of the Virgin Mary. But because it is not said, when the day ariseth, but, till the day breake, denoting the time wherein the Church desireth him to doe thus, that agreeth not, and therefore I rest in the former exposition. And the mountaines of Bether are particularly spoken of, because that by them the children of Israel entred into the Land of Canaan, when they came over Jordan, and vanquished all their enemies: and so the meaning is, Returne to thy Church in adversity, by vanquishing all Persecutors, thus turning her night of troubles into a day of deliverance, so as that it may appeare to be an act done by thy mighty hand, and stretched-out arme. And as the Church prayeth, so it hath, and shall be done from Note. time to time; she may be for a time in the shadow of death, but she shall bee timely delivered, and not lye in perpetuall darknesse, but her light shall breake forth as the noon day, and the care which Christ hath over her shall appeare to all men.