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34.

ufe 7.

Who beautifull in Chrifts eyes. Chr But he penned it after his fall,to affure us the more of his falvation, which fome make doubt of.

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Seventhly this fhewes us fuch foules are the fairest and most beautifull in Christs eyes (as not refting in the commandements of governments touching matter of Religion,but)doe feeke for the true Church and pure worship of God, and follow it, though with neglect of * 2 Chro. their fuburbs and poffeffions, Chrift 13.14.16. calleth thofe the fairest among women *Mat.19. who here enquire after him,and fell * all to follow him fo these that want means of falvation at home, are defirous to feeke after them, and where they finde them, there they goe, and part with any thing to enjoy the purity of Gods worship and ordinances; thefe in Gods account are the worthieft Chriftians.

21,27.

Luke 18.

22,28.

Mar.10.

21,28.

ufe 8.

I Kin. 18.

l Eighthly, here is fhewed two marks of the true Church of God, doe any doubt whether God be God or Baal,and doe halt betweene two opinions, not knowing whether to joyne with Rome Verfe 8. or England? Goe then out by the footfteps of the flocks where the faithfull hearing Chrifts voice refort, and will not

21.

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Ch.1. The Church for fakes God,and he her. heare any voyce but Chrifts, follow thofe: now times are fuch (bleffed be God) as every one may finde out where the Church is; but in the cafe of blackneffe and darkneffe, enquire then

Firft, for fuch as will heare no voyce but Chrifts, and follow then the footfteps of the flocke: fee where they feed, there joyne your felves.

Secondly, where you finde faithfull ministers Priests, as Aarons fonnes, and Levites anointed with heavenly graces: Thither carry your kids, there plant your families to bee fed under fuch fhepheards.

35

Verse 9.

Laftly, wee may fee here when the use 9. Church neglects Gods fervice, God gives her up to the fervice of forraine Princes, to draw as horfes in Pharaoh chariots And yet being humbled for this, God will have mercy on her, and fo difpofe of it, that her fervice fhall not be bafe, for God will make them to draw his yoke, though they draw it in the yoke of forraine Princes, as Rehoboam and his people did f

f 2 Chro.:

12. 2, 4,

8,9.

Thy checks are comely with rowes of jewels, the eftate of the Church is here defcribed, to end.

D 2

Ver. 10.

36

12.

What meant by cheekes. Chap.1° defcribed, as it was in the dayes of Abijam, in these words,Thy checks are come ly with Jewels, and as it was in the dayes of Afa, both in the fame words, and in the words following to the end of the eleventh verse.

Thy cheeks, that is the outward face of the Church are comely with rowes of Jewels; that is with keeping their right place, and order, and manner of Gods owne ordinances.

This Abijam proclaimeth himselfe to g 2 Chro. all the house of Ifrael; g But as for us 13.10,11, (faith he) the Lord is our God, wee have not for faken him, the Priests which minifter unto the Lord are the fonnes of Aaron; and the Levites wait upon that bufineffe, and they burne unto the Lord every morning and every evening burnt facrifices and fweet incenfe : the Shew bread also they fet in order upon the pure table.

Ver. 8,9.

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It was not fo with the House of Ifrael, *though Abijahs heart was not fo h1 King right as Davids; b yet the outward face of the Church, her cheeks (as it were) were comely with the orderly keeping and obferving the ordinances of God: yea and comely alfo was the face of the

x5.3.

Church

Chap.1. The benefit of wholefome Lawes. 37 Church, looking up to God in diftreffe,

i which moved him to deliver you from 2 Chro. Feroboam.

Thy necke with chaines of Gold.]

13.12,18.

Ver. 10.

Chaines of gold are wholfome lawes, binding like chaines, to keep the worship of God and true Religion pure as gold; fuch Lawes are called chaines:k This k Pf.1496 was done in the dayes of Afa, when hee 8. removed the Altars of the ftrange gods, pulling downe the high places, breaking the Images, and cutting downe the groves; commanded Judah to feeke the Lord God of their fathers,and the people willingly fubmitted themselves to enter into a covenant or law, that upon paine of death all the people fhould feeke the Lord onely.

Wee will make thee.] This fheweth the forwardneffe of the people to joyne with Afa in reforming Religion, and adorning the Church,as is recorded m.

1 2 Chro.

14. 2,3142 5.& 15.

12.-15.

Ver. 11.

m 2 Chro.

10, -16.

Ver. II.

Borders of gold:] That is the borders 15 of the kingdome, pure as gold by clenfing and putting away all the Idols out of all quarters of Judah, yea and of Benjamin also, and mount Ephraim, the very skirts, and frontiers, and borders of the n 2 Chro. kingdomen. D 3 Studs 15.8.

17.7.

u 2 Chro,

40 Chrift as Camphire to his Church. Chap. therefore themselves laid to teach in the 2 Chro. cities of Judah. Thus thefe Princes were as a bundle of Myrthe amongst the Priefts and the Levites, to decide all controverfies amongst the people, both in matters concerning God and the King, to preferve the people, and one another free from corruption in all mat ters, whether of Religion or civil Jubice.u Yea, and Fehoshaphat himfelfe reprefenting Chrift the Churches wellbeloved upon earth, he refted in the bofome of the Church as a bundle of Myrrhe, fweet, and strongly preferving the people from corruption from Beersheba to mount Ephraim hee went about, throughout all the people to bring them backe againe to the purity of Gods wor, fhip.*

19.5. 12.

* 2 Chro. 19.394. Ver. 14.

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As a cluster of Camphire.] Camphire is a fhrub for fmell like unto Spikenard, wafting the obstruction of the fpleene, and by the very fmell of it making men vegeftiores, and firmiores, more lively and more ftrong yea, and available alfo aa.18.gainst the bitcing of ferpents: fuch was

Plin.lib.

Chrift to his Church, when the chil

on, dren of Moab, and Ammon, and mount

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