The Catholique Church where it dwells, 255 Towit, I let not out my vineyard to others, but I kept it my felfe alwaies; let Solomon take his thousands for his fruits of his vineyard, and the Reapers their hundreds; I will not fo doe, but take all the paines to keep my vineyard, and reap all the gaines of the fruits thereof to my felfe. The meaning is, when Chrift hath gathered all these Churches of the Jewes, Affyrians, Egyptians, and neighbourNations, hee will then keepe his. Church with his mighty power, that neither Dragons, nor wilde Bores, nor Foxes fhall bereafter root it up, or make havock of it, as in time past they have done: This is exprefly foretold, and thall come to paffe after the deftruction of Leviathan the great Turke *.

*lla.27·1.3

Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the Verse 13. companions hearken to thy voyce, cause me to heare it.

Thou that dwelleft in the gardens.] The Participle being of the Feminine Gender,fheweth that it is the Church, not Chrift that is here fpoken to,

who

256 The Catholique Church, where it dwells.

who is faid to dwell in the garden; to wit, in the particular Churches, as the fea dwelleth in each particular Countrey fea, the German fea, the Spanish fea, the Balticke fea, &c. So the Catholique Church is divided into particular Churches, or the Jewish Mother Church dwelleth by her authority and directions in all other Churches. The companions bearkning to thy word (or voice) caufe me to heare it.] So the words in the originall which implyeth either that Church would have the Mother Church of the Jewes take care of all other Chriftian Churches, and give directions unto them, and yet not as unto her handmaids, but as to her companions; or else if the words be read according to the tranflation, The companions hearken to iby voice, cause me to heare it: They imply, that after the calling of thefe Churches, this fhall bee their conftant eftate to the worlds end, they fhall all

Firft, embrace one another as companions, not claiming Romish Supfe

macy.

Secondly,

Gentiles not cast off at the lewes calling. 257 Secondly, hearken to the voice and directions of the Mother Church, (in Solomons daies for wifdome to him.) Thirdly, continue in calling upon the Name of Chrift without diffipation and interruption to the end.

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

This is the prayer of all the Churches; Now that all things are accomplifhed,the which Prophets and Apoftles have foretold, that Chrift would haften his laft comming as fwiftly and quickly, as the fwifteft of the creatures, the Roe, or young Hart, to take them up with himfelfe into the higheft Heavens of the Mountaines of fpices, where are all manner of fpices, where are all manner of fweet and fragrant and pleafant things, even fulneffe of joy at Gods right hand for evermore. Thus is the end of the Revelations, The Spirit and the Bride, and every faithfull foule faith in like fenfe, come Lord Iefus, come quickly.

Pfal.16.11.

Rev.22.17.

20.

The ufe of this is, firft, to teach us Ufex.

258 Gentiles not caft off at the Lewes calling.

19,20

Rom: 11

that the Nations of the Gentiles (hall not be cast off from the fellowship of the Church, when the Jewes are called, as the Jewes were out of the Church, that the Gentiles might bee *Rom. 11. grafted in; but even after their calling, new Churches of the Gentiles fhall bee brought in ; yea, their converfion fhall bring from the dead into the world: what fball the receiving of ver. 12.15. them be, but life from the dead? yea, the Revel. 21. Gentiles fball bring their glory to it, yea, the curfed Canaanite fhall not be excluded from partaking in this blef*Ezek. 16. fing*. How much more may we hope 55.60.61. then that thefe Churches of Chriftendome,which have fuffered fo much with Chrift, and for him, under the Dragon, and the Beast, and the Turk, fhall partake with the glory of thefe Churches of the Jewes when the time fhall come.

ver, 24.

Secondly, this doth teach us how to attaine fellowship and holy familiarity with Chrift, even by faith, leaning upon him as our beloved; infidelity and doubting hinder our fweet communion

Faith gives communion with Chrift. 259 communion with Chrift, labour wee therefore to abandon it from us.

Thirdly, we may here fee the duty Use 3. of inferiour Magiftrates what it is, even to see that the Church be raised up under them, how much more to countenance and protect it with their fhadow and to comfort it with the

fruit of their fweet and wholefomé lawes and examples.

Fourthly, this may ferve for tryall Ufe 4of the goodneffe of our affections to Chrift; if we thirft after his deepe affection to us, and continuall remembrance of us, if wee labour to fubdue our felves and all ours to him, if wee jealously warre against all that which might impaire our love to him, if wee burne up all our impediments, if no afflictions can difcourage us from him, if no profperity can fhake our intire defires after him,we are then wel affected to him as this Church is: If we defire to have fuch deep place in Chrifts heart,it is a plain figne Chrift hath a deep place in our hearts.