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Ch.3.Fearfull Chriftians not to be difcouraged.95
which will not bee good for it.
Secondly, in regard of fearefull Chri-
ftians, for they will start away; many
are willing to come into the Church,but
if the profeffion of Chrift be trouble-
fome and hot, they will not abide it :
therefore this charge is needfull that we
may walke holily, that Christ be not
ftirred up, nor these fearefull Christians
difcouraged. See this handled, Chap.z.
verfe 7.

Thus farre the first part,in the time
of the Maccabees: Now

Secondly of the eftate of the Church in
John Baptift's time.

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Verfe 6.

This is firft to fhew us, that God can Ufe 1. raise up a Church even in the wilderneffe, to the admiration of obfervers:and fo hee can raise up our neighbour Churches, now brought to a wilderneffe, This may comfort us in regard of them; for though they be now defolate, yet we may hope a time will come when they fhall rife againe.

Secondly,fee here is a part of the duty use 2. of ancient Chriftians, not to maligne the graces of God in thofe that come after

ther, but to admire them*, Who is it * Verle 6.

that

96 What graces requifite in a Minifter. Ch.3. that commeth out of the wilderneffe like pillars of fmoake, perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankincenfe, &c.

ufe 3.

10.-14.

Thirdly, this fhewes what gifts and graces are moft requifite in a Minifter, and doe moft adorne him, even zeale in his Miniftery, and fervency in prayer, and all forts of sweet graces to feafon Verse 6. and direct all forts of his people in their *Luke 3. feverall callings, as fohn did, when the people came and faid, What shall we doe? He answered and faid, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, &c. So John was perfumed with graces for all men: for men must not come into the Miniftery with judgement and learning alone, for these may come from nature; but they must come perfumed with graces, to keepe themselves and others from putrefaction; yea, they must labour for thofe graces which will give a ftrong fent to fave themselves and others.

ufe 4

Fourthly, this fhewes us the manhood and Godhead of Chrift; Chrifts humane nature is the Temple, or bed wherein the Godhead refteth bodily, and the Godhead made this Temple or Verfe 7,9. bed for himfelfe, no earthly father for Fifthly,

him.

Ch.3. All things needfull in Chrift. Fifthly, fee here the protection and gardiance the Angels give to Chrift, and in him to the Church and all his members, verfe 7,8.

97.

ufe 5. Pfal.91. Pfal.34.7.

II, 12.

2 Kin.. 16,17.

Heb.1.14.
Rev.5.11.

& 7. 11. ufe 6.

Sixthly, wee may here fee in Chrift whatfoever is behoovefull for all our falvations. In regard of his Prieftly office hee is pure as filver, to cleanse our impurity, and to abide the fire: In regard of his Propheticall office hee is precious as gold, to enrich our poverty: In regard of his Royall and Kingly office he is glorious as purple,and cloathed Verfe 10. with it, to advance our baseneffe : His heart,or middeft,is even paved with love of us: His heart is an hearth (for fo the word fignifieth) whereon the fire of his love towards us burneth continually; let us then love the Lord Jefus againe, and teceive the feeds and fruits of his grace, and then fhall we fee his heart flaming with love to us : and then whatsoever befals, bloudfhed, warre, captivity, &c. all comes from love; his whole heart is paved with love.

Seventhly, let us take up our ufe 7. thoughts and meditations about Chrift; let us goe forth and behold him; let his

H

abundant

Ufe 8.

98 We must give our felves to Chrift. Ch.3. abundant graces fill our empty foules. Eighthly, if thou beeft a daughter of Sion, thou art contracted to Christ, and know it by this, Doft thou read his letters: art thou delighted with them? and doft thou rejoyce to fpeake to him again by prayer? If thou doft,it may be the joy of thy heart, for thy eftate is good.

ufe 9.

Laftly, this doth exhort us all to give up our felves as fpoufes to Chrift, and that with all gladneffe of heart, fince he is affected to us, who yet hath nothing from us but debts and beggery: and they that doe give themselves up to Christ, need not feare wanting comfort; for no fpoules fhall finde fuch comfort as they. Shall he be glad to have us,a company of beggars; yea, as I may fay,a company of deaths? and was it the gladneffe of his heart to be efpoused to us, which was when his Father contracted him to us, and fhall we think it a day of deading to fet our feet into Chrifts bed? Al the merchants cannot fet forth our excellency, when he fhall pay all our debts,and adom us with all his graces, therefore let us go forth,and bring him home to us, we fhall then finde him comfortable to us in the day of efpoufals. THE

Ch.4.

*****

B

THE
CANTICLES,

OR

SONG OF SONGS

opened and explained.

THE TEXT.

CHAP. 4.

Ehold thou art faire my love, behold, thou art faire, thou haft doves eyes within thy leckes:thy haire is as a flock of goats that appear from mount Gilead.

2 Thy teeth are like a flocke of sheepe that are even fhorne, which came up from the washing: whereof every one beare twins,and none is barren among them.

3 Thy lips are like a thread of fcarlet and thy Speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy lockes.

4 Thy necke is like to the tower of David,buil ded for an armory, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

5 Thy two breafts are like two young Roes,that

H 2

are

99

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