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48 Chrift delights in pure ordinances. Chap.i. fpring of her flourishing, when it began to wax greene, not in the winter feafon of her dirtie pollutions; and before, the chaft eyes of the Dove recorded, abhorring uncleanneffe, not the eyes full of adultery, bringing fpirituall pollutions in to the Church: when there is any. Superftitious worship,there it is overspread with winter, but when it is purged, then is the bed greene; when Gods ordinances are kept pure, there Chrift delighteth to be.

2 Pet 2.

14.

ufe 4.

Plin. lib. 13.cap.5.

16, 41.

Ioh.2.19,

21.

Eleventhly, it is an ornament of the Church to restore her with beames of Cedar and her walls, or galleries with Firre: Cedar is famous for durableneffe, enduring even to eternity, faith Pliny: Firre is acceptable for his sweetneffe, and while hee groweth, for his heighth, ftraightneffe and perpetuall greenneffe: Solomons houfe or Temple was of olda lively type, partly of be

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First, of the humane body of Chrift, the Temple of the deity.

Secondly, of the mysticall body of Col.2.9. Chrift his Church or congregation, I Cor.3. I 1 Cor. 3.16. Chrifts humane body never 16.& 6. decayeth, and therefore needeth no re

9.

pairing,

Ch.1. A decayed Church how to be repaired. 49 pairing, His myfticall body the Church, if it fall into decay through corruption of doctrine or worship, it may be most fitly repaired,

Firft, by laying in the walls of the Church fuch folid and eternall truths of God, as may hold up the walls of the building.

Thus Luther restored the Church by Luther. laying this beame of Cedar, the doctrine of free juftification by Christ.

Secondly, by fetting up fuch worship and workes for the people to walke in, as are truely fweet and amiable in Gods fight, fpringing from fresh and greene fincerity, growing up to the heavens, thefe are like galleries of firre, whereas vowes of perfection, and workes of fupererogation, and all other reliques and ragges of Poperie, are no better then rotten and moth-eaten wood, fit fewell for the fire.

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Am the rofe of Sharon, and the lilly of the

I vallies.

2 As the lilly among thornes, is fo my love among the daughters.

3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, fa is my beloved among the fons, I fate downe under his fhadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

4 He brought me to the banquetting house, and his banner over me was love.

5 Stay mee with flaggons, comfort me with apples for I am ficke of love.

6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

7 I charge you, O yee daughters of Jerusalem,

by

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by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, that yee ftirre not up. nor awake my love till he pleafe.

8 The voice of my beloved, behold hee commeth leaping upon the mountaines, skipping upon the hils.

9 My beloved is like a Roe or a young Hart: bebold, bee ftandeth behind our wall, hee looketh forth at the window, fhewing himselfe through the Lattice.

10 My beloved fpake, and faid unto me, Rife up my love, my faire one, and come away.

11 For loe, the winter is paft, the raine is over and gone.

12 The flowers appeare on the earth, the time of the finging of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

13 The figtree putteth forth her greene figs,and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arife my love, my faire one, and come away.

14 0 my dove! that art in the clefts of the rocke, in the fecret place of the ftaires, let mee fee thy countenance, let me heare thy voice, for fweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that Spoile the vines, for our vines have tender grapes. 16 My beloved is mine, and I am his : hee feedeth among the lillies.

17 Untill the day breake, and the shadowes flee away: turne my beloved, and be thou like a Roe, or a young Hart, upon the mountaines of Bether.

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51

52

2 Kin.23.

Chrift how a Rofe.

THE EXPLANATION.

Ch.2.

Cant. 2. verfe 1. I am the rofe of Sharon, and the lilly of the vallies.

TH

'He eftate of the Church from F fiahs repaire of the Temple, (in the last verse of the last chapter) is described here,

First, before the captivity, verfe 1. 2. under the last dayes of Iofiah, Ichohahaz, 30,34.and Iehojakim, Iehojachin and Zedechiah. Secondly, in the captivity,

24.6,17.

1. At home, the remnant,verse 3. 2. Abroad,in Babylon, verfe 4.-7. Thirdly, in the end,after the captivity, where is defcribed,

1. Her calling out of captivity, to returne and worship in Jerufalem, verse 8.-13.

Secondly, her estate at Jerufalem till the dayes of the Maccabees, verfe 14.

-17.

I am the rofe, ] The rofe is firft, lovely for beauty.

Secondly, fweet for fmell, comforting both heart and braine.

Thirdly, wholefome for use and medicinable.

of

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