110

Mat. 10. 11.

Verfe 6.

The faithfull how as lillies. Ch.4. Secondly,the true-hearted or well-affected of the Ifraelites.

These faithfull are here compared to the lillies,

Firft, for their whiteneffe and purity of innocency.

Secondly, for their amiableneffe. Untill the day breake,and the shadowes flee away: I will get mee to the mountaines of Myrrhe, and to the hill of Frankincenfe.

Untill the day breake,and the fhadowes flee away.] That is, untill the light of the Gofpell breake forth, and the shadowes of the Mofaicall Ceremonies vanish. I will get me to the mountains of Myrrhe, and to the hill of Frankincenfe. That is, to the mounts,

Where he fuf

First, of Olivet, Secondly,of Golgotha, Sfered in the Garden, and on the Croffe, and nailed to his Croffe all the fhadowes of the *Col.z. Law, and, in fulfilling them, abolished them.

14.

Joh.19. 39,40.

Luk. 23.

46.

Myrrhe and Frankincense, are wont to be ufed in imbalming,and with fuch like Chrift himfelfe at his death was to have beene imbalmed, if his refurrection had not prevented the women. Befides, the' paffion

Ch.4 Repentance makes finners amiable. paffion of Chrift was a facrifice of a fweer fmelling favour to God,and therefore the place thereof is fitly called the Mountaine of Myrrhe, and hill of Frankincenfe, though otherwife the mountaine of Myrrhe may well be Mount Calvary, or Golgotha, the place of his death; and the hill of Frankincenfe mount Olivet, in regard of his afcenfion into Heaven; yea, even Heaven it felfe, whither he af cended, may be well called the hill of Frankincenfe for fweetneffe.

This firft doth teach us that a Church Ufe 1. may be beautifull in Gods fight,though confifting

Firft, of meane perfons.

Secondly, of fuch as were fometimes notorious offenders, as Publicans and Harlots: and from hence

Fitft, poore people,

Secondly, finners, yea ugly finners are to be exhorted to repentance and feeking after Chrift: It makes them truely amiable inChrifts eies,though otherwife in themselves never fo meane and foule.

From hence alfo poore finners may take comfort, though loaden with the fense of their deformities, they in Chrifts

112 How Ministers should behave themselves.Ch.4

Mat.23.

23.

Chrifts eyes are very beautifull. From hence alfo the Separatifts may learne, that notwithstanding many abufes in their teachers, or others of the Church, as the Scribes and Pharifees whom the people were to heare, yet the Church may be denominated from the better part very faire, as a heape of wheat, though covered over with abundance of chaffe.

Secondly,

this may teach Ministers how to frame themselves to be amiable in Gods fight, (viz.)

Firft, by carrying themselves evenly with their brethren.

Secondly, by cleansing their hearts and lives by the power of Baptifme. Thirdly, by fruitfulnesse,and faithfulneffe in their Miniftery.

Fourthly, by not affecting carnall eloquence, but gracious and deep-dyed powerfull utterance; for fwelling words of humane wifedome make mens preaching feeme to Chrift (as it were) a blubber-lipt Miniftery.

Fifthly, by restraining abuses and offences amongst the people,and ftrengthning and comforting the feeble minded. Sixthly,

Ch.4.The office of Ecclefiafticall Governours. 113 Sixthly, by feeding their people with fincere milke, and not being drie* Pet.2. urfes.

Seventhly, by taking most delight in converfing among lillies, their well-afected people, though feeking alfo to vinne all, and therefore fometimes conerfing with them as the Physicians among the ficke.

Verse 3.

This may teach ecclefiafticall Gover- use 3. ours their office in the former vertues fthe Pomegranate, to repreffe the heat f abuses, the loofeneffe and diftemredneffe of the people, to comfort the eble, and binde up the weake, &c.

Fourthly, this may teach the people ow to approve themselves to Chrift, in Doking after Chrift in knowledge, fimlicity, chastity of Spirit, loathing fuerftitions, and places of bad refort. Afpicis ut veniunt ad candida tecta Comba.

Thou fee'ft how Pigeons take their ight, To houfes that be faire and white. For, what fhould Chriftians doe in thy Taverns, Ale-houfes, Stews,&c. ftrength of faith rooting and buil

114 The ftate of the Primitive Church. Ch.4

Cant.4.

7311

ding themfelves upon Chrift.

Thou art all faire my love, there is no spor in thee.] In thefe words wee have a de fcription of the estate of the Church foone after Chrifts afcenfion, gathered and built up by the Miniftery of the A poftles, which they call the Apoftolicke or primitive Church.

This Church is here fet forth,

First, by her complear beauty, her full faireneffe, ver.7.

Secondly, by Chrifts calling her to behold the calling of the Gentiles,ver.8. Thirdly, by the ravishing beauty of a fifter Church at that time:

1. In one of her eyes.

9.

2. One chaine of her necke.verfe: Fourthly, by her love, which is fet

forth,

1. By the faireneffe of it. 7

2. By the fweetneffe of it a-verfe 10. bove wine,

Fifthly, by the flowingneffe,fweetneffe, and wholfomneffe of her doctrine,v.11. Sixthly, by the fmell of her garments, like that of Lebanon,ver.11.

Thou art faire: The faireneffe of the Church was acknowledged before, bu