Ch.4.

The Apostles all equall.

The fheepe whereto these teeth are likened, are fet forth,

First, by their even-fhorneneffe. Secondly, by their cleanneffe, comming up from the washing.

Thirdly, by their fruitfulneffe,Every one bringeth forth twins,none barren. First, even fet, none gaping out. Secondly, white and cleane. Thirdly, each anfwering to his fellow in the other jaw, none wanting, as it is a praise to the teeth to be. The teeth are Tuch as chew the meat, and prepare it for the reft of the body; fuch in that Church were the Apostles, whom our Saviour calls a little flocke*: they were all,

First, even fet, and even fhorne, none burfting out beyond his fellowes: Peters fupremacy ftretched not beyond the reft of the Apostles t.

The teeth of innocent fheepe are even fet: They that have tufhes longer then the other teeth are hurtfull and ravenous beafts, as Dogs, Bears, Lions, &c. Ten of the Apoftles difdained the motion of

fupremacy.

Secondly, came up from Johns baptifme, and therefore when Fudas fell a

way

22.

106 The nature of the Apostles doctrine. Ch.4.

away, they muft needs fupply his place A&.1.21. out of the number of fuch as had continued with them from Johns baptifme. Secondly, they were futable each one to his fellow, and therefore the feventy *Luk. 10. were fent out by couples

I.

*

But efpecially they were fruitfull in bringing home many lambs to Chrift; & hence the feventy returned with joy to *Luk. 10. Chrift *; and Sathan is faid to fall downe 17,18. from heaven before them like lightning.

Verse 3.

7.

Thy lips are like a thread of Scarlet, and thy fpeech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy lockes.

Thy lips are like a thread of Scarlet, and thy fpeech is comely.] Both fignifying the delivery or utterance of the Doctrine of the Church at that time, which was

First, as a thread flender (tenui filo,) not plump or fwelling with humane eloquence, but favouring of Fisher-like tenuitie and fimplicitie.

Secondly, as a thread of Scarlet; for as Scarlet or Purple is a princely and royall weare, fo their Doctrine was,

*Mat. 1o. Firft,touchingthe kingdom of heaven*. Secondly, though tender, yet deeply dyed in graine with royall Majefty and authority

Ch.4. Minifters how like Pomegranates. 107 authority of the Spirit of God. Thy temples are like a piece of a Pomegranate within thy Lockes.] Temples of the head are they by which the whole body watcheth or refteth; they are fuch therefore as watch over the body,and for it. The Pomegranate was of much ufe in the old Tabernacle and Temple: *Aa- * Exod. rons coat was hanged with Pomegra- 28.34. nates and Bels; Bels for found of do&trine and prayer, Pomegranates for reftraining and healing the distempers and difeafes of the people, Pomegranates are commended by Fernelius

* Fernel.p.

First,for repreffing the heat of Choler. 26. Secondly, the malignity, rottenneffe and agrimony of feavers.

Method.

Thirdly, the loofeneffe of the belly. Secondly, for comforting and ftrengthning the ftomacke and bowels, to the keeping backe all fainting t. This +Fernelius office the Ecclefiafticall governours of medend. the Church doe performe to it; they re-lib.5.cap.3. preffe the heat of fallings out among brethren, the notorious abufes,the loofeneffe, or diftempredneffe of the people; they comfort the feeble, and binde up the weake, and are therefore fitly refembled

by

108

Mat.18. 15,17.

ti Cor.

5,1.-6.

Faith is ftrong in Chrift.

Ch.4.

[by Pomegranates, yea by a piece of a Pomegranate: for it is not the whole body of the Pomegranate that doth this; but it, broken in pieces, by his juice and rinde is medicinable.

:

; yet

Within thy lockes:] Because though Christ established Difcipline, and delivered it to the Church in his time* it was not difplayed, nor fhewed it felfe in open execution till after his refurrecti on f. Verfe 4. Thy neck is like the tower of David,&c.] The necke is that part that joyneth head and body together; now that which joyneth Chrift and his Church together, is our faith which faith in fome of the members of that Church in Chrifts time, was obferved to be strong and *Mat. 8. great, and therefore is here fitly com10. & 15. pared to the tower of David, for an Ar*Neh.9. mory, (whereof we read) * whereon there banged a thoufand bucklers, all fields of mighty men. It feemes Davids mighty men hanged up their fhields in this Armory against times of warre; and fo in like manner all the Worthies of Ifrael; all the faithfull before Chrift, hanged their fhields of faith upon Christ, in

28.

25,26.

whom

Ch.4 The Apostles how like Roes.

whom the faith of his Church was as a

109

ftrong Armory t. Faith is not fo much +Heb.11. a tower of strength in it felfe, as in Christ 13. whom it apprehendeth.

Thy two breafts are like two young Roes Verse 5. that are twinnes, which feed among the

lillies.

Thy two breafts are like two young Roes that are twins.] The breafts give milke: now the breafts that give milke to the Church,the fincere* milke of the word,* 2 Pet.2. are the Minifters, which in the Church 2. of Christs time were firft the Apostles, fecondly, the feventy: and are therefore here called two breafts,and both as Roes, because not tyed to any certaine place within all the people of the Jewes; for Roes ftay not long in a place: And both as twins, because of equall commiffion, being both fent alike to the whole houfe of Ifrael, though,after the Refurrection, the Apoftles commiffion was enlarged further then that of the seventy.

Which feed among the lillies.] For they were fent not onely among the Gentiles. or Samaritans, but amongft,

First, the loft fheepe of the houfe of Ifrael.

Secondly,

Mat.