140

Use 2.

Ufe 3.

Prayers the Churches weapons. Ch.5. Secondly,this lets us fee, all the goodly fituations of the earth are but dunghils and defarts, in-comparison of the Church; the Church is a garden, and in it are fountaines of living waters for every thirsty foule.

Thirdly,though the Church be fometimes in open view of all, as a City fet Mat. 5.14. on a hill, yet it is fometimes alfo otherwife, inclosed, shut up, fealed.

use 4.

ufe 5.

ufe 6.

7.

Fourthly, when the Church is fhut up in corners and conventicles, the members of it hatch not treasons, fchifmes, factions, but ftill remaineth as a garden, orchard, fountaine, yeelding fweet waters, favoury and wholefome fruits.

Fifthly, fee the wonderfull ufe of afflictions and perfecutions to theChurch; what favoury, and wholefome and precious graces are thereby exercised; yea, how mightily doth the Church then spread when it is most restrained?

Sixthly, fee then what the weapons of the Church were against their perfecu tors; not daggers, dags,powder, piftols, rebellions, treafons, &c. but prayers for more seasonable times.

Seventhly, we are to be stirred

up to

pray,

Ch.5.The Churches ftate after Conftantine.141 pray, that God would now ftirre up a wholefome Northwinde, to blow favourably upon the Churches beyond the feas, and strongly against their enemies.

Eighthly,this may teach us whileft we enjoy at home these faire blasts, not to ftreame forth the unfavoury corruptions of our owne fpirits, but the fweet graces of God; elfe wee abuse these sweet portunities we doe enjoy.

op

ufe 8.

Laftly, it is a time of much rejoycing ufe 9. when God stirreth up Kings and Princes to come into the fellowship of the Church, and to partake of Gods ordinances in the fame.

I fleepe, but my heart waketh, it is the voyce of my beloved that knocketh, Saying, &c.]

Now followeth the defcription of the eftate of the Church from Conftantines time to the time of reftoring of the Gofpell, and reforming of the Church by the Miniftery of Luther, and other late Divines.

After that Conftantine had largely endowed the Church with peace, and wealth, and honour; it fell into an estate

of

Cant. 5.

ver. 2. to

chap. 6.

ver. 4.

142

The Churches fecurity defcribed. Ch.5.

of carnall fecurity; which carnall security is defcribed,

First, by a comparison, resembling it to fleepe, which fleepe of hers is amplified by the divers conditions, yet my heart waketh.

Secondly, by the carriage of Chrift towards her in this her fleepe; where obferve,

1. The meanes hee useth to awake and stirre her up: which were, First, calling to her and knocking, as verfe 2.

Secondly, putting in his hand by the hole of the doore, verfe 4.

2. The fucceffe of those meanes, or the refpect fhe gave to them, or the ufe she made of them; which was double, First, his calling and knocking fhee neglecteth wholly, upon very flight pretences and excuses, verfe 3.

Secondly, his putting in his hand by the hole of the doore,

1. She is affected with it, My bowels were moved for him, verse 4.

2. She upon it fought him: which is further fet forth,

First, By the degrees of her feeking 1. She

him:

Ch.5. How the Church feekes Chrift.

1. She arose to open to him, verfe 5. 2. Her hands and fingers dropped Myrrhe upon the handles of the locke, verse 5.

3. She opened to her beloved, ver.6. Secondly, by the fruits or fucceffe of her feeking, where is interpreted the fruit or fucceffe of these two degrees of her seeking, in regard,

1 Of Christ, hee was gone, hee had withdrawne himselfe, &c. verfe 6.

2. Of the watchmen, of whom she asketh not for her beloved; but they finding her feeking Christ, they First, fmote her.

Secondly, wounded her.

Thirdly, tooke away her vaile from her, verfe 7.

Fourthly, fhe, not difcouraged with this bad dealing and hard ufage of the watchmen, added a fourth degree in her seeking of Chrift; fhee chargeth the daughters of Jerufalem to move Chrift for her, verfe 8. The fucceffe or fruit whereof is added, for upon this charge,

1. The daughters of Jerufalem are ftirred and occafioned to enquire of her, who Chrift is, verfe 9.

144 In peace Gods worship neglected. Ch.5.

Verse 2.

2. She by their enquiry is occafioned to describe him,

First, by his colours,verfe 10. Secondly, by his eminency,verfe 10. Thirdly, by his feverall members and parts, verfe 11,-16.

16.

Fourthly, by his amiableneffe, verse

3. The daughters of Jerufalem by this her description of him, are stirred up to affect him, and to promise their fellowship in feeking of him with her, Chap.6.1.

I fleepe:] The Church furfeiting with abundance of profperity in Conftantines time, neglected the purity and power both of doctrine and worship, and received corruptions; of which were prayers to Saints, building of Temples to them, Superftitious regard of their reliques, Images, and their worship, Ceremonies annexed to their facraments, choyce of meats,affecting and applauding Monkish life, Purgatory, &c.

My heart waketh:] The Church was ftill awake,

First, to hearty devotion, according to their knowledge, and beyond it.

Secondly,