200

How to know a true Church.Ch.6.

we finde all the properties of Queenes belonging to us, and withall, finde a love and care to keepe our felves chafte to Chrift, and innocentto min, and undefiled, and unfpotted, both of the World and of Rome; then are we Doves to Chrift Jefus, choyceft children of the true Catholique Church.

A fecond Ufe is for a difcerning of a different eftate of all Chriftian fouls, and triall of our owne eftates before God; if our hearts have never yet beene called and knocked at by the lively word of Gods Ordinances, or if we have coily put off our Repentance to this day, or refuse to hearken to Chrift, then are we Damofels. Ifwe bring forth feed of Righteoufneffe to Christ, by reason we are under the government of fuch who will require it, and well may command it of us, we are but as Concubines. But if we freely condefcend to receive and embrace Chrift into our hearts with entire conjugall affection, and give up our felves to him to bring forth the fruits

of

How to try whether we be Spouses.

201

of his Spirit, and are enabled to go-
verne our felves and families after his
will, then are we Royall Spoufes unto
Chrift Jefus And if beyond this we
grow up to a holy jealoufie againft our
felves, and keepe our felves to Chrift
chafte, innocent, and undefiled, and
endeavour to cleanse our selves from all
filbines of flesh and fpirit; then are we 2 Cor.7.1.
as Doves unto Jefus Chrift.

A third Ufe to direct and inftru& Vse 3.
Minifters and people how to approve
themselves and their Congregations
in best fort unto Chrift. Let not Mi-
nifters thrust themselves upon their
people against their confents, but let
their people freely accept them, and
comfortably maintaine them: Let the
Minifters bee faithfull in difpenfing
Gods Ordinances, and the people obe-
dient, to give up themselves to Chrift
and his truth, till both grow up to
heavenly and holy purity of worship
and life; fo fhall our Congregations
bee as Queenes and Doves to Jefus
Christ.

t

202

Use 4.

Innocency not disgracefull. Ch.6. A fourth use may be to encourage men to wayes of fpotleffe Innocency; they are not difgracefull, but bleffed of the Faithfull,and praised,even of them that are without.

Fifthly, to reprove the children of the feparation, who reproach the Church in ftead of bleffing,or praifing them.

Sixchly, this may teach us to exUfe 6. pect a powerfull and glorious calling of the Jewes in all the particulars before defcribed fay, they bee now, as Gideons Fleece, dry; when the Gentiles are moyftned with heavenly dew, they fhall againe be moyftened, when we thall feeme dry in comparison of them. Though Leah ftep firft into Iacobs Bed, and fo the leffe comely Church of the Gentiles into the fellowship with Chrift; yet the Church of the lewes, as beautifull as Rachel, fhall in the end finde fellowship with Christ.

The glory of their calling appeares in the Text, because the holy Ghoft defcribes her by comparisons, not fetched

The glory and power of the Lewes calling. 203 fetched from earthly flowers, or metals, or jewels; but from heavenly lights, the Morning, Moone, Sunne.

It appeareth further in their unexpected and free readineffe to embrace Chrift.

The power of their calling appears in their earneftneffe,and zeale of their Miniftry in breaking the hard fhell of their hearts wherewith they were formerly inclosed. ver.11.In stirring them up to fight manfully, and terribly Gods battels against the enimies of the Church, ver.13.

The Lord fpeedily haften the comming of this Shulamite, that we may behold her, Amen.

THE

НЯ

THE TEXT.

CHAP. 7.

Ow beautifull are thy feet with shooes, O Princes daughter the joynts of thy thighes are like Jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

2 Thy navell is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat, fet about with lillies.

3 Thy two brefts are like two young Roes that

are twins.

4 Thy neckeis as a tower of Ivory: thine eyes like the fish pooles in Hefhbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebs