110 The faithfull how as lillies. Ch.4. . Secondly, the true-hearted or well-af Mar.10.1. fected of the Ifraelites.. Verse 6. * Col. 2. 14. John 19. 39,40. Luke 23. 46 Thefe faithfull are here compared to the lillies, First, for their whiteneffe and purity of innocency. Secondly, for their amiableneffe.. Untill the day breake, and the fhadowes flee away: I will get mee to the mountaines of Myrrh,and to the bill of Frankincenfe. Untill the day breake, and the fhadowes flee away. That is,untill the light of the Gofpell breake forth, and the fhadowes of the Mofaicall Ceremonies vanish. I will get me to the mountaines of Myrrh, and to the hill of Frankincenfe.] That is, to the Mounts, to k First, of olivet, where hee fufSecondly, of Golgotha,fered in the Garden, and on the Croffe, and nailed to his Croffe all the fhadowes of the Law, and, in fulfilling them, abolished them. Myrrh and Frankincenfe, are wont to be used in imbalming, and with fuch like Christ himselfe at his death was to have beene inbalmed, if his Refurrection had not prevented the women. Befides, the paffion Ch.4. Repentance makes finners amiable. paffion of Chrift was a facrifice of a sweet smelling favour to God, and therefore the place thereof is fitly called the Mountain of Myrrh,and Hill of Frankincense; though otherwise the mountain of Myrrh may well be mount Calvary, or Golgotha, the place of his death: and the hill of Frankincenfe mount Olivet, in regard of his Afcenfion into Heaven; yea, even Heaven it felfe, whither he afcended,may be well called the hill of Frankincense for sweetnesse. IIIV This first doth teach us that a Church ufe 1. may be beautifull in Gods fight, though confifting, First, of meane perfons. Secondly, of fuch as were fometimes notorious offenders, as Publicans and Harlots: and from hence, First, poore people. Secondly,finners, yea, ugly finners are to be exhorted to repentance and feeking after Christ: It makes them truly amiable in Chrifts eyes, though otherwife in themselves never fo meane and foule. j From hence alfo poore finners may take comfort; though loaden with the fense of their deformities, they in Chrifts 112 How Minifters fhould behave themselves.Ch.4. Christs eyes are very eyes are very beautifull. From hence alfo the Separatifts may learne, that notwithstanding many abufes in their Teachers, or others of the Mat.23 Church, as the Scribes and Pharifees whom the people were to heare, yet the Church may be denominated from the better part very faire, as a heape of wheat, though covered over with abundance of chaffe. 23. Secondly, this may teach Minifters how to frame themselves to be amiable in Gods fight, viz. Firft, by carrying themselves evenly with their brethren. Secondly, by cleanfing their hearts and lives by the power of Baptifme. Thirdly, by fruitfulneffe, and faithfulneffe in their Ministery. 2. Fourthly, by not affecting carnall eloquence but gracious and deep-dyed powerfull utterance, for fwelling words of humane wifdome make mens preaching feem to Chrift (as it were) a blubberlipt Miniftery. Fifthly, by reftraining abuses and offences amongst the people, and ftrengthning and comforting the feeble minded. Sixthly, Ch.4. The office of Ecclefiafticall Governours. 113 * fincere milke, and not being drie 1 Pet. 2. nurses. Seventhly, by taking most delight in converfing among lillies, their well-affected people, though feeking alfo to winne all, and therefore fometimes converfing with them as the Phyficians among the ficke. 3. This may teach Ecclefiafticall Gover-ufe nours their office in the former vertues of the Pomegranate, to repreffe the heat of Verfe 3. abufes,the loofenefs and diftemperedneffe of the people, to comfort the feeble, and binde up the weakè, &c. Fourthly, this may teach the people how to approve themselves to Chrift, in looking after Chrift in knowledge, fimplicity, chastity of fpirit, loathing fuperftitions, and places of bad refort. Afpicis ut veniunt ad candida teita Columba. Thou feeft how Pigeons take their flight, To houfes that be faire and white. For, what fhould Chriftians doe in filthy Tavernes, Ale-houses, Stews, &c. in ftrength of faith rooting and buil 114 Cant.4.7, -II. The ftate of the Primitive Church. Ch.4. ding themselves upon Chrift. Thou art all faire my love, there is no pot in thee.] In these words wee have a defcription of the eftate of the Church foon after Chrifts afcenfion, gathered and built up by the Miniftery of the Apoftles, which they call the Apoftolick or primitive Church. This Church is here fet forth, First, by her compleat beauty, her full faireneffe, verf.7. Secondly, by Chrifts calling her to behold the calling of the Gentiles, ver.8. Thirdly, by the ravishing beauty of a fifter Church at that time: 1. In one of her eyes. 3.verf.9. 2. One chaine of her necke. forth, 1. By the faireneffe of it. 2. By the sweetnesse of it a- verf.10. bove wine. Fifthly,by the flowingneffe,fweetneffe, and wholfomneffe of her doctrine, v. 11. Sixthly, by the smell of her garments, like that of Lebanon, ver.11. Thou art faire.] The faireneffe of the Church was acknowledged before, but |