Ch.6. Wealth occafions the Churches fleep. 165

THE EXPLANATION.

Cant.6.1.Whither is thy beloved gone? O thou fairest among women, whither is thy beloved turned afide? that we may seeke him with thee.]

The Churches affectionate defcribing Chap. 6. and praifing Chrift, ftirred up many verfe 1. then to looke after Religion and Refor

mation.

Firft, we may here fee the danger of ufe 1. furfetting the Church with wealth and pleasures and honour. Conftantine had in the first verse enebriated the Church with wealth and honour, and hereupon the Church falleth into a long fleepe, which shee fhook not wholly off for many ages. No wonder then of that speech heard from heaven, Hodiè venenum concidit in Ecclefiam: Now is poyfon powred or fallen into the Church.

Secondly, this may let as fee that they use 2. have not the fpirit of the Church of Chrift,that when they heare many voices in Religion carried fundry waies,know not whom to follow, cannot difcerne which M3

is

166 Want of watchfulneffe dangerous. Ch.6.

ufe 3..

ufe 4.

ufe 5.

is the true voice of Chrift among them: This Church here could difcernethe voice of Chrift even in her fleepe, how much more easily if shee had been well awake?

Thirdly, this is to exhort both Minifters and other faithfull Chriftians to watchfulneffe, left otherwise corruption in doctrine and worship grow amongst the people, till the locks of Chrift bee wholly dabled with fuperftitions;the locks of Chrift,to wit,the common Chriftians.

Fourthly, this may teach us to know that they provide not well for the direction of their owne judgements,that depend upon the voice of the ancient Churches for their chiefe patterne and guidance in doctrine and worship:who would build upon the words of a man(though otherwise a good man) when hee is halfe afleepe? Fifthly, hence we may discern it is better the Church fhould open to Chrift,appearing before him in the naked fimplicity of his worship, then to cover our felves and his worship with the blankets and inventions of men's weaving, which will but lull the Church afleepe in drowfie perfor mances of perfunctory worship,and cause Chrift to withdraw himselfe from us.

Sixthly,

Ch.6. Perfecutions inflame our affections.

167

Sixthly,this may teach us to know,to our Use 6.
fhame and griefe, that our drowfie hearts
will neglect to open to Chrift upon his
calling and knocking,unleffe he be pleased
to put the finger of his fpirit into our
hearts, to open an entrance for himselfe.

Seventhly, the faithfull must not won-
der, if, opening their hearts to Chrift and
feeking after him, fometimes they finde
him not;
for it was fo with the Church
here, and hath beene so with the faithfull
in all ages: We neglecting to receive him
when he offereth himselfe, wee must not
wonder if for a time he neglect us.

ufe 7.

Ufe 8.

Eighthly, we may from hence learn that badMinifters wil fooner bear with any dif order in people,then serious seeking after Chrift,and after the purity of ordinances. Ninthly, we may here fee perfecutions ufe 9. alienate the affections of the faithfull, but inflame them to more ardency & carnest pursuite after Chrift, as this Church did. Tenthly, it may be known the Church ufe 10. hath lyen in a deep fleep, when common Chriftians can more acknowledge the Church then Chrift himselfe, when they can see her to be the fairest among women, but know not any eminent worth in Chrift. M4

Eleventhly,

1

168 Faithfull Chriftians before Luther. Ch.6.

ufe II.

Ufe 12.

use 13.

Use 14.

ufe 15.

Eleventhly,the eftate of many Churches, in many ages, maketh but one bodie of Chrift; in every of which Chrift manifefteth himselfe, in fome members more eminently then in others.

Twelvethly, Chrift had his faithfull people and members in the world before Luther was borne ; yea,he shewed himself glorious in fundry of them, in the darkest times of Popery.

Thirteenthly,in Chrift its well knowne there is nothing but what is lovely and defirable; even perfecutions for his fake are lovely and glorious.

Fourteenthly, it is no comfort, or but fmall, to know Chrift to bee every way precious and excellent, unleffe wee can alfo fay, hee is ours: This is my beloved, this is my friend, o yee daughters of Jeru Salem.

Fifteenthly, the affectionate faithfull preaching and fetting forth of Chrift, ftir reth up in others a faving knowledge of Christ, and hearty affection to him. The Church here defcribeth Chrift affectio nately and faithfully, fpeaketh of him as her owne; whence the daughters of Jeru falem are converted and stirred up to feeke after him.

Laftly

Ch.6. The ftate of the Church reformed. 169

Lastly, hearts truely touched with fin- Use 16. cere defire after Christ, chose rather to feeke him in the Church, in the fellowfhip of the Church, then by wayes of feparation, as this Church did:Whither is thy beloved turned afide? that wee may seeke him with thee.

Cant.6.

My beloved is gone into his garden. ] The holy Ghost in these words defcend- | 2−9. eth to fet forth the state ofthe Church reformed by the Ministry of Luther, and other late Divines,as in the verfe following the calling of the Jewes.

This reformed Church is diverfly defcribed:

First, by Christs vifitation of her, together with the ends thereof:

1 To feede in the gardens.

2 To gather lillies, verfe 2.

Secondly, by her mutuall fellowship with Chrift, verfe 3.

Thirdly,by her degrees of rifing:wherin fhee is likened to be, verfe 4. I As Tirzah.

2 As Jerufalem.

3

As an army with Banners.
Fourthly, by her members,ver. 5,6,7.
I Eyes.

2 Haire