210 Who to be admitted to the Sacrament. about with weeds, prophane and scandalous finners, but with Lillies, worthy Communicants. Verf.4 Chap 4. venie Thy two brefts (the Teachers of that Church) are like two young Roes: For their agility, skipping up and down to fuckle the converts; implying that the first Ministry of the Jewes, at the converfion of that people fhall rather be as the Evangelifts, bound to no certain place, than as Paftors fixed to any fetled Congregation, which yet outwardly they fhall be. That are twins.] First, for their likeneffe in difpofi tion. Secondly, brotherly equality. Thy necks as a Tower of Ivory: thine eyes like the fifh pooles in Hefbbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim: thy nofe is as the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damafcus. Thy neck is as a tower of Ivory.] The neck (as above) is the faith of the Church, joyning Chrift & his Church together, as the neck doth the head and body. Ch.7. The lewes Repentance. 211 As a tower, for ftrength, of Ivory, for precioufneffe, for which faith is com- 1Pet.i.7. mended. 2 Pet. LI Thine eyes are like the fifh pooles in Hefbbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim.] For the abundance of water, meaning teachers, that they, fhall yeeld even tears of Repentance at their converfion, partly for the great wrong they had done our Saviour, partly to confi- Zech.i.o der the unfpeakable and undeferved ler.3.8.9. kindneffe of God towards them. Thy nofe is like the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damafcus.] There was a double houfe of the forreft of Lebanon, the one in Ierufalem, built by Solomon, fo called by way of refemblance; In which hee put his golden fhields, whence Shibak taking them, is faid to take them out of Ierufalem: of this houfe fpeaketh Ifaiah, Ifa.22.8. There was another house built in the forrest of Lebanon as appeareth by this place, which is faid to looke toward Damafeus, to diftinguish it from the other which is in Ierufalem. Lebanon it felfe stood in the utmost P 2 &50.4. King.7.2 King. 14. 25,26. & 10. 17. Lebanon how fituated. Ch.7. Confines of Ifrael Northward towards Syria and therefore this houfe built in Lebanon is faid to looke toward Damafcus the chiefe City of Syria, Now Lebanon being full of all manner of fweet and fragrant trees, and fhrubs, and fpices; the Tower built in Lebanon must needs be compaffed with the fweet fmelling odours, to the great refreshing and delight of fuch as fhould lodge in it. Hence the nose of this pure Church is compared to this Tower; because they that dwell in this Church fhall bee wonderfully refreshed with the sweet odours of the Miniftry, which is the fweet favour of life unto life: as alfo with the favoury conference of good Chriftians,and their faithfull and godly converfation. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the haire of thine head like purple, the King is held in the galleries. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel. Carmel excelled for fruit, and fulneffe in feeding Cattell, and therefore is reckoned with Lebanon, and Sharon, and Who the head of the Church under Chrift. 213 and Bafban, famous for fertility. Ifai. 33.9. 17 The head of the Church under Chrift &35.2. is the Civill Magiftrate. The meaning 1 Sam.1j. then is, that the Magiftrate of this Church fhall yeeld ftore of found and fweet nourishment to the people, by giving and maintaining free paffage to each holy Ordinance of God, and alfo by wholfome Lawes, and laftly by good example of godly life. The haire of thy head like purple.] The haire; whether it bee the common Chriftians of the Church that hang upon Chrift, or the Officers or Servants that hang upon the Magiftrates of that Church, they are like purple. Firft, not onely died in crimfon blood of Chrift. Secondly, but also of a royall hue, as purple is a princely die; all of them as Princes. The Officers and Exacters fhall bee Peace and Righteoufneffe. These Officers fhall not bafely fharke for bribes, nor exact for fees, nor oppreffe for filthy lucre, nor pick holes in mens eftates to trouble the Ifai.33.24. aid 63. 1. Cant.7.1. Rev.16 12. 214 The duty of good Magiftrates. Ch.7. Cant.1.17 Exck.46. 10, Pfal. 149 6.8.& 9.V. Ifai.49.22. people and enrich themselves; but like purple-clothed Princes, be like their Minifters, and honour both their Minifters and themselves with Peace and Righteoufneffe. The King is held in the Rafters.] For fo the word is turned before,where the Rafters were understood partly of the Temple. Held, is alwaies (to my remembrance) used for holding by conftraint, bound as a Prisoner. The meaning may be then, That the King, or chiefe Magiftrate is bound to bee prefent at the Ordinances of God in the Temple, as any other private Chriftian; which is foretold exprefly of this Church, when the people goe into the Temple, the Prince is commanded to goe in with them, when they goe out, he fhall goe out with them together; he fhall come in with the firft, and go out with the laft: Or what if it imply that their greatest Magiftrates fhall fubmit themselves to bee bound with the cenfures of the Church, according to that where the Pfalmift telleth of binding of Kings |