Page images
PDF
EPUB

The ftate of the Churches little Sifter. 245 elder Sifters; to wit, of the Jewish Churches, and of that Church comming up out of the Wilderneffe, what they fhall doe for her when she shall be fpoken of, ver. 8.

Secondly, by a refolution what they fhall doe for her, futable to what her condition (as they fhall finde her) fhall require, ver.9.

Thirdly, a fatisfaction given by this little Sister, to the elder, how her eftate ftandeth,together with the caufe thereof, Gods favour, that they may the better know what courses to take for her, ver. 1o.

The eftate of the whole Church, as it fhall ftand after the converfion of the Jewes, and of thofe other Churches is fet forth

First, from Chrifts care for thein, expreffed,

First,in his watchfulneffe over them in his owne perfon, which he amplifies by the leffe care which Solomon had of his vineyard, committing the keeping of it to others, ver. 11,12. Secondly, in his charge to the Church,

R 3

246 Christs care wherein it appeares Ch..

Ezek.47.

1.9.

Church, that he may heare her companions hearkening unto her, ver. 13. Secondly, by the Churches prayer unto Chrift, that he may haften the tranflating of them into heaven in the end of the world, ver. 14.

who is this that commeth &c.] Who thefe Churches fhould be that re maine to be called after the converfion of the Jewes and Gentiles, we cannot conceive any more fitly than the Churches of Allyria; fecondly, of Egypt,of which we read Ifa.19.23.25. When a Church fhall bee elected among the Jewes, fignified by Ezekiels goodly Temple, the water of Gods Spirit fhall flow from thence Eastward, goe downe into the Defert, and from thence fpread themselves farre and neere.

This Defert, or Wilderneffe Eaft? ward from tudah, is the Wilderneffe of Arabia, whither Spirituall graces fhall be conveyed by fome comming from Ierufalem, and from thence they fhall bee further carried into the Eaft Countries, to the gathering, and con: verfion

What Churches come in after the lewes. 247 verfion of the Allyrians and others: Whence it is, that Church arifing from the Wilderneffe of Arabia, is faid to leane upon her beloved in an Arabian word;as when the holy Ghost was to fpeak of the Babylonian Captivity (or Winter) being paft, he ufeth the Babylonian or Caldean word. So Cant.2.11. then, when the Churches of Iudea fhall fee fuch a goodly Church fpring from fmall helpe, out of the Wilderneffe of Arabia, beyond their expectation, they fhall fay of her, who is this that commeth out of the wilderneffe, leaning upon her beloved? trusting by faith on him, and thereby attaining and enjoying fellowship with him: for to leane is put as an act of faith or trufting and the gefture implieth familiar Iohn 13. love *.

*

[ocr errors]

*Prov.2.5.

2.82420.

I raised thee under an apple tree.] Chrift, or the Church of the Jewes by his power raifed up his Church by the meanes of fome inferior Magiftrate, resembled here by an Apple tree, as before*: For though bee was Cant. 2.3. not to high and mighty as the Cedars

248

Leaning an act of faith.

[ocr errors]

of Lebanon, or the Okes of Baskan; yet eminent he was, and his shadow good, and his fruit cordiall and comfortable.

And the meanes of the gathering of this Church, being at firft but an inferiour Magiftrate; the Church had more need and use of faith to leane upon her beloved, when foveraigne authority did not countenance the worke.

There thy mother brought thee forth.] To wit, the Mother-Church of the Jewes, orthe Catholique,which is the Gal.4. 26. Mother of us all. Verf. 6.

Set me as a feale upon thy heart, as afeale upon thine arme, for love is strong as death, jealoufie is cruell as the grave; the coales thereof are coales of fire which bath a moft vehement flame.

Set me as a feale upon the heart, as a feale upon thine arme.] That is, let me be deep engraven as a feale is into thine heart, or affection, and as a feale on thine arme, let me be continually in thy fight and remembrance. And because the heart is the feat of the

•How love as strong as death. 249 will,and the arme of ftrength,therefore fhe defireth his deep affection and mighty ftrength and power alwaies to be prefent with her for her comfort and peace.

[ocr errors]

For love is strong as death.] Death fheweth his ftrength,

First, in fubduing all forts of people high and low, young and old.

Secondly, accepting no compaffion, nor yeelding to any oppofition, but going through with his worke; fuch strength of love shal this Church fhew to Chrift, fubduing all before her to the obedience of Chrift, and not fuffering any impediment to detaine her from him.

Tealoufie is cruell as the grave.] Jealoufie is a mixt affection of zeale or fervent love, and carries at any corrivalls, arage with wrath against them: So fervent then fhall the zealous love of this Church be to Chrift, that she may not endure any fuch things as fhall fteale away the peoples hearts from Chrift, or alienate or leflen his affe&ion to her, but as the grave,

« PreviousContinue »