Ch.7.

non, which looketh toward Damafcus.

5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the haire of thine head like purple, the King is held in the galleries.

6 How fair, and how pleafant art thou, O love, for delights!

7 This thy ftature is like to a palm tree, and thy brests to clusters of grapes.

8 Ifaid, I will goe up to the palme tree, I will take hold of the boughes thereof: now also thy brefts fhall be as clufiers of the vine, and the mell of thy nofe like apples.

9 And the roofe of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved that goeth downe fweetly, caufing the lips of thofe that are afleep to fpeake. 10 I am my beloveds, and his defire istowards me.

II Come, my beloved, let us goe forth inte the field: let us lodge in the villages.

12 Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us fee if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranats bud forth, there will I give thee my loves.

13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

TH His Chapter to the end of the fourth ver.of the eighth Chapter, defcribeth a fourfold eftate of the Iewish

205

205 Severall eftates of the lewish Church.

Iewish Church. When they fhall come to be converted unto the Lord: to wit,

First, as it shall be in gathering and growing up, v.1.5.

Secondly, as it fhall be, growne up to her Stature and Maturity, v.6,7. Thirdly,as it shall be further enlar ged by the acceffe of the Gentiles, Ver. 8.10.

Fourthly, as it fhall multiply and ftretch it felfe into the Country villa. ges, and throughout the Land of Ifracl, v. 11.v.4. of Chap.8.

That in ver. 11. the Church inviteth Chrift, and with him her felfe to have recourfe into the Country Villages, is plaine in the words of the former verfes, which fet forth a threefold eftate of the Shulamite converted, is evident by the Repetition of the verses, ver. 3.7.8. and all with fome difference; and the brefts are so described, ver. 3. and fet forth an unfetled Miniftry, quickly stirring up and downe to gather this Church and the fcattered Members of it.

The feet being fhod fignifies three things. 207 This Church then in gathering, is described by ten parts; Feet, Joynts of Thighes, Navell, Belly, Brefts, Necke, Eyes, Nofe, Head, Haire.

How beautifull are thy feet with fhooes, Verfe 1. O Princes daughter! the joynts of thy thighes are like Lewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

How beautifull are thy feet with fhooes, O Princes daughter!] In her feet fhod with fhooes there is a threefold beauty: for it implyeth

First, her returne out of captivity; as on the contrary, bare feet is a figne of going into Captivity.

Secondly, her challenging and recovery of her laft Inheritance in Ifrael, Ruth 4. 7,8.

Thirdly, her walking in that peace

Ifa.20.2.4.

Deut.25 9.

of conscience which the Gospel pre- Ephe.615. pareth: whereas he that walketh barefoot, either gathereth a thick brawny skin upon the foles of his feet; or if his feet bee more tender, hee pricketh them ever and anon with thornes, or little sharpe ftones as fcruples :a conscience not furnished with true peace,

208 lewes converted,are of great authority.

either waxeth fenfele ffe and brawny, or elfe fcrupulous &anxious:all the three things are beautifull and glorious; as on the contrary, it is a great difturbance and deformity to goe into captivity, to fell and foregoe a mans Inheritance, to walke unquietly and uncomfortably and if it bee beautifull and glorious to returne out of bodily captivity, and to recover the earthly Inheritance; how much more is it together with thefe outward things, to joyne a returne out of fpirituall captivity, and recovery of an everlasting Inheritance, as the lewes fhall doe ar their converfion?

O Princes daughter !] So called, First, because they are born of God, the Prince of Princes.

Secondly, the Lewes converted fhall

Rev. 16,12. be of much glory and authority, even as the Kings of the Earth.

The joynts of thy thighes, &c.] The word fignifies whole bones of the thighes; they for their apt and ready turning in their converfion to God, are like well wrought pretious Iewels,

the

Who to be admitted to the Sacrament. 209

the work of the hand of God, the Spirituall workman of all the works of the Church.

Thy navell, &c. thy belly is like the navell, &c.] The navell and belly are both hidden parts, not confpicuous to them without; and therefore fet forth the two Mysteries, or Sacraments of the Church, Baptifme, and the Lords Supper. The Navell, ferving for the nourishing of the Infant in the wombe, refembleth Baptifme, nourifhing Infants, and new borne babes in the wombe of the Church.

It wanteth not liquor:

First, of the blood of Chrift to juftifie us from fin.

Secondly, of the Spirit of Chrift to fan Яifie and cleanse us from fin.

The belly: to wit, the Lords Supper, is as an heape of wheat, for ftore of excellent, and sweet, and fine nourishment, fet about with lillies; because onely the faithfull pure Chriftians shall bee admitted to partake in that Sacrament.

The Lords Table fhall not bee fet