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Oked the breffs of my mother! when I

That thouwert as my brother that fuc

fhold finde thee out, I would kisse thee, yet I fhould not be defpifed.

2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mothers houfe, who would instruct me: would cause thee to drinke of fpiced wine of the juyce of my pomegranat.

His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand fhould embrace me.

4 Icharge you, O daughters of Jerufalem, that ye ftir not up, nor awake my love untill bee please, 5. (Who

235

226

Ch. 8.

s (who is this that commeth up from the Wilderneffe, leaning upon her beloved?) Iraifed thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth, there she brought thee forth

that bare thee.

6 Set me as a feale upon thy heart, as a feale apon thine arme: for love is as ftrong as death, icaloufie is cruell as the grave; the coales thereof are coales of fire,which hath a most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the fubitance of his houfe for love, it would at. terly be contemned.

8 we have a little fifter, and fhee hath no breafts, what fhall we doe for our fister, in the day when she shall be spoken for?

9 If he be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of filver and if she be a doore, we will inclofe her with boards of Cedar.

10 Iama wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon, he let out the vineyard unto Keepers: every one for the fruit thereof, was to bring a thousand pie ces of filver.

12 My vineyard which is mine, is before me: thou (O Solomon) must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred. 13 Thou that dwelleft in the gardens, the panions hearken to thy voice, cause me to

treit.

14 Make

Ch. 8. The converted lewes wish.

14 Make baste my beloved, and be thou like to a Roe, or to a young Hart upon the mountaine of spices.

HE Church of the Jewes, both

THE

237

in City and Country thus gathered, doe here expreffe her ardent affection to Chrift, and due respect of him,which the old Synagogue fhewed towards her whilft he was converfant amongst them in the flefh. (Since faith fhe) Ŏ that thou wert as my brother, &c. Christ was made our Brother by taking our Nature upon him at his Incarnation, and then hee fucked the breafts of the Church, attending to the Ministry of tobe, and other Jewish Teachers: fhe therefore to fhew her affection, defireth that he were now amongst them converfant in their ftreets againe in bodily prefence, thee would not doe then as the old Synagogue did, be ashamed of him,or come to him by night; but she would kisse him, and embrace him in the open ftreets, and yet no man should then defpife her for her fo doing, as they Ioh 4. did; but every one should encourage 49

her

238 Chrifts left hand and right what. Ch.7.

28,29.

her in her obfequioufneffe to him:

Luke 4 She would not reject him, and thruft him out of the Synagogue, as her old Ancestors had done; but if the found him without, fhe would lead him, and invite him into their Synagogue, or Temple, there to inftruct her," and teach her the will of her father; fhee would not give him gall to eat, and Vinegar to drink, as her forefathers had done; but she would cause him to drink of the beft delicate spiced wine, and the juice of her Pomegranat.

Mat.27.34

Verse 3.

Ezek.34.

23,24,25.

His left hand should bee under my. bead, and his right hand should embrace mee.]

The deft hand of Chrift is the Christian Magiftrate, which fhall in thofe daies fupport and advance the Church, and hold up her head. His right hand is the faithfull MiDan.7.37. nifters, which fhall fpeake comfor table things to her heart, and fe embrace her, Ifa. 62. for this alfo fee,* I charge you, O daughters of Ierufalem, *Cant. 2. that you ftir not up,nor awake my love untill be please.

6.

The

Our duty to pray for Lewes Converfion. 239 The Church enjoying these great mercies and bleffings from Chrift, chargeth all her daughters, members, to walk fo thankfully, and fruitfully towards God, and lovingly and helpfully one towards another, and fo circumspectly, and inoffenfively to them which are without, that no occafion be given of their alteration of their happy eftate. When the Church gave this charge before, it was in regard of the Roes and Hindes of the field; fearefull Chriftians comming on towards Religion, willing to flocke, and feed, and converfe with the fheepe, yet ready to start and flee away upon any feare of danger of perfecution; but now no regard is had of these fearfull ones; for they that shall then remaine fearefull, when the Church shall en- Ifai. 65.25. joy fo great light and fafety, they fhall bee quite excluded from converfing with the Church.

Forufe, we may here learne

1

Chap.2. Chap.3. verses.

verse 7.

Firft, fince the Church of the Jewes Ufe 1. fhall attaine to fo great beauty, it ought to kindle our defire to pray

earneftly

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