Ch.6. The Church when like Jerusalem. 175 nued in the Temple of ferufalem. But So. lomon here fpeaketh of Tirzah while fhee reteined her beauty: And indeed the reformed Churches were in this like unto Tirzah; at firft in difgrace and obloquie for their feparation from Rome, and rebellion against the Emperour and other Princes; and yet never the leffe beautifull, because this separation was from God,in regard of Idolatries of the Church of Rome, greater then thofe of Solomon.

at

Thus the Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hafsia were profcribed as rebels against the Emperour, and yet their cause was beautifull and good. The faithfull that time in England were burned in King Henry the eighth's dayes, as Hereticks, and refractory Subjects or Rebels, yet beautifull in Gods fight.

Comely as Ferufalem. ] In proceffe of time the Church wore out the fufpition and difgrace of herefie,and feparation and rebellion, and was countenanced and adorned by Royall Lawes in the daies of King Edward the fixth, and by Lawes of the Empire tolerating the Proteftant Princes,fo that the Church feemed as ferufalem, the ftate of Princes, the true

Church

176

3-5.

What meant by Eyes. Ch.6.

Pfal.12.2, Church of God, & at unity also within it felfe, wherein the comelineffe confifted: for, as Jerufalem had been three Cities, Zion,Salem, Millo,and all three were knit together into one Jerufalem : fo the three differences between Lutherans & Calvinifts in doctrine and difcipline at Geneva, were all compacted together in brotherly love,in their harmony of confeffions.

Terrible as an army with banners.] The Church was beautifull as Tirzah in King Henry the eighths time, comely as feru falem in King Edward the fixths time,terrible as an army with banners in Queen Elifabeths time,when the Proteftant Princes grew formidable to the Emperour, England and the low Countries to the Spaniard & Pope How terrible was that overthrow which the Spaniard in 88.receiv'd? Verse 5. Turn away thine eies,&c.] The eies, as *chap.4.9. above*,of the Church affembled,are the minifters, or the members confidered apart; as firft, knowledge; fecondly, faith: In both refpects the eies of the Church were wonderfull amiable: so that Christ fpeaketh affectionatly to the Church after the manner of Lovers, ravished with the beauty of their Spouses.

Turne

Ch.6. Who the Churches eyes. Turne away thine eyes, for they have overcome me.]

first age

177

tyr.

What worthy Minifters did that of the Reformed Churches yeeld as Luther, Calvin, Martin Bu- Peter Marcer, Cranmer, Hooper, Ridley, Latymer, &c. What a wonderfull measure of heavenly light did they of a fudden bring into the Church? and that out of the middeft of darkneffe and Popery; from whence it was, that the knowledge and faith of the Faithfull then was wonderfully enlarged far beyond the ignorance of former times.

The eyes of the Faithfull in Chrifts Chap.4.1 time lay under their locks, as hindered from sleere fight by many errors; but the eyes of the Faithfull, now feeing the truth much more plainly, are not hindered by fuch locks hanging over them: How cleere was their faith,that having feene him which was invifible, feared not the fierceneffe of their Kings and Princes, but endured patiently fiery Perfecutions, and bloody Maffacres?

Thy haire is like a flock of Goats.
N

Th

Heb 11.27.

Ver. 5.7+

178 How the Primit. & reformed Chu.differ

Chap. 4.

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep which goe up from washing.

As a piece of Pomgranat are thy temples within thy locks.

The eftate of common Chriftians fet out by the haire, and of the Minifters fet out by the teeth, and of the Church Governours fet forth by the piece of Pomgranat, was the fame in the Church reformed, as in the Primitive Church, where the defcription of thefe parts is ufed, and here repeated onely with this difference: The teeth are not fo even cut in reformed Churches as in Chrifts time; fome of them exceed their Brethren in Autho(rity and Jurifdiction, whereas thofe were framed to more brotherly love in Chrifts time; whence the teeth they are faid to bee even cut, which in these teeth is here left out; yet both the Minifters of higher and lower ranke, were as fheepe flocking and conforting together, washed with the Laver of Regeneration, fruitfull and powerfull in their Miniftry, and therefore are here defcribed, as a flock

of

The Church how visible before Luther. 179 of thee pe come up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and none Ver.6. is barren among them.

First, we may here learn to behold a different eftate of the Church. Sometimes it is in a Garden; fundry Chriftians gathered together into beds and knots, and growing up into good order together, delighting and refreshing both God and man with the favor of their sweetneffe: fuch was, and is the eftate of the Church reformed. Sometimes againe, the members of the Church scattered abroad in the wilde fields, feeking where they may finde Chrift, as in the former Chapter.

The Church is here vifible, as in a Garden, in fome of their eminent and principall members. If then the Papifts aske, where was the Church vifible before Luther? The answer is, it was vifible, not in open Congregations indeed, as it were Gardens; but in fundry members of the Church, as Sweet fpices and flowers, growing here and there, whom the Popes and their Inftruments, like wilde Boares fought N &

The how vifi. ble before

Church

Luther.