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The lewes fhall be terrible,and to whom. 195

the refreshing of themselves and 0. | Ifa.66.10.11 thers.

Terrible as an Army with Banners.] Read Revel. 19.14.21. The Armies of the Jewes fhall bee terrible to the Turkes and Tartars, and to the falfe Prophet then driven from Rome by ten Chriftian Princes, and affociating himselfe to the Turke for fuccour.

I went down into the Garden of Nuts.] The Jewish Synagogues, fo called, because of that voice of hardneffe and blindneffe drawne over their hearts, as it were a hard Nut-fhell over the Kernell.

Ezek.28.

& 39. cha

Rom. 11, 8.10. Cor. 3.

To fee the fruits of the valleys.] Val- 14.15. leyes lying in the shade between two mountaines, bring forth fruit late: fo the Jewes are long before they bring forth fruit unto Chrift.

To fee whether the vine flourished, and the Pomgranates budded.] The Jewes, that for hardneffe of heart, are like a Garden of Nuts; yet when their converfion fhall bee wrought, will bee as Vines and Pomgranates, bring forth fweet and wholefome fruits to the refre

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196 The lewes fhall appeare unexpectedly.

ludg.9.13. refreshing of GOD and Man.

Or ever I was aware, my foule made me like the Charets of Amminadib.] Or fet me upon the Charets of a willing people; not that any thing commeth at unawares to Chrift in his owne perfon; but because to his Minifters,that inbis Name Aball goc into this Garden of Nurs.

The Jewes fhall appeare unexpe &tedly, prepared to embrace Chrifts calling: they fhall finde the Jewes as Charets of willing people, ready to march with them, whetherfoever in Chrifts Name they fhall call; their foule fhould no fooner defire it, but they should bee fet in all readineffe where alfo is intimated the willing readineffe of a willing people among the Ilaj 66.29 Gentiles, to convey the Jewes into 849.2324 their owne Countrie, with Charets, and horses, and Dromedaries.

Ferfe 139

Returne, returne, O Shulamite: re turne, returne, that we may looke upon thee: what will ye fee in the Shulamite ? as it were the company of two armies.

Returne

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The Lewes called, shall march in armies, 197

Returne, returne, O Shulamite, returne.] This call fo often repeated,doth tai 62.67. imply,

First, the earnestheffe of the Minifters that fhall call them.

Secondly,the hafte that they would have them to make in going through with their converfion.

That we may looke upon thee, or behold thee.] It is the defire of the Minifters, and of all the Faithfull, to behold this glorious Church when thee fhall be called.

what will yee fee in the Shulamite ?] But, as it were, the company of two Armies, or the hofte of Mahanaim.

Gen.32.1,2

This is fpoken, either because the Jewes fhall, prefently upon their converfion, marshall, or ranke themselves into Armies against Gog and Magog, ver.10. where she is said to arife terrible as an Army with Banners. Or elfe taking the word properly; the holy Ghost compareth the Jewes to an hofte of Angels, which Iacob faw at Gen.32.1. Mahanaim; as indeed the feeble in Zeci.12.8 that day (hall be valiant as the Angels

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198

How to know a true Church,Ch.6. of God. This Interpretation feemeth to me to be the more likely, because her warlike provifion was before mentioned, ver. 1o. Or otherwife, the holy Ghost may allude to the hofte of Ifraeland Judah, which went to bring up David from Mahanaim to Ierufa lem, after the Ifraelites were brought to see their errors in cafting him off Sam. 19 for Abfalom; So fhall the Jewes at 9.10.143 their converfion, affemble for the establishment of the Kingdome and Throne of Chrift among them, after they fhalbe brought to feetheir foule errours in cafting off Chrift fo unworthily fo long a time.

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The first Ufe of this is for difcerninga different eftate of all Chriftian Churches and Congregations, and triall of our owne parishes. In one of thefe rankes every Congregation is found, either a Queene, a Concubine, a Damofell, or a Dove: If we have freely confented to the entertainment of a faithful! Miniftery, comming to us in the Name of Chrift; if we bring with us to him a fufficient dowry for

Ch. 6. How to know a true Church.

if

his maintenance; If the word of God
Thall be powerfully difpenfed amongst
us, and the opening and fhutting
of the Kingdome of Heaven, and
withall the key of Difcipline bee not
neglected: If our Congregations
bring forth many children to God, par-
takers of the Heavenly Inheritance,
then are our Congregations as chiefe
wives, as Queenes to Jefus Chrift.
But if our Minifters finde not conju-
gall and free acceptance from us ;
we be not willing to provide for them
comfortable and honourable mainte-
nance; If the word be not fo difpen-
fed that the people may finde them-
felves either in good or evill eftates;
Ifour Congregations bring not forth
regenerate Chriftians to partake of
the heavenly Inheritance, then are
they butas Concubines in the fight of
God: If we have yet no Minifters that
wooe us, and befeech us to be recon-
ciled to Chrift; or if they doe, yet we
coily put them off with delayes, or
refuses, then are we Damofels, but nei-
ther Queenes nor Concubines. But if

199

2 Cor. 5.20

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