15.10.

ure 4.

126 When we may leave a Church.

Ch.4. Joh.14.12. | it, and promised it freely aforehand :

How farre was hee from a Spirit of envie and emulation, though indeed all their fuccesfe was by his grace and blessing, as Paul said , * By the grace of God I am that I am . The contrary Spirit of emulation hindereth Churches from taking that which is their own from one another.

Fourthly, hence we learn in what cases one Church-may step from another, to wit :) lt

: bs · First, when Christ leaveth a Church, and goeth away with us from it'; Come with me from Lebanon (my spouse,) with me : So when Christ leaves and forfakes a Church, wee may leave it and goe out with him. ?! I nar). . Secondly, when a Church is become an universall spotted Leopard, and a cru

ell Lion, blafpheming and perfecuting *A&.19.9. the Gospell of Christ, as

| Thefe things were found in Rome, from whence wee departed not in England, (blessed be the Lord) from whom the Separatists would have us to depart: But Christ ftill vouchsafes to be with us,converting soules, feeding his lambes, hearing our prayers 3 wee may also worship

*

& 13.50, 51.

Chil. How so knit Chrifts heart to susu

127 Christ in trueth without feare of dawes, ea with acceptance. When Christ goes, at all his faithfull spoufes goe with him vhen there are dens of Lions, andmen annot keep the profession of Christ, ut fall into their mouches, then it is ime to goe: But are there these causes IOW Doth not Chrift dwell herein the implicity of his ordinances : As long as Christ is here in England, let us not goe way: but fay, as Peter and * Fohn, »Lord, *Job.6.68. o whom shall we go ? thou hast the words of terBall life. As long as Christ is pleased o feed us, to drop milke and honey into pur soules, let us nor depart. : 37

Fifthly, this may teach us how to knit use s. che heart of Christ to us in ravithing affection,by cleaving to Christ with fetled purpose *, by abounding in helpfalneffe * A&.11. to the Saints, by procuring and keeping 23. faithfull shepherds, by burthening the Church nor with many chaines of lawes, Verse9. but onely with few, and chofe neceffary: all these are formerly mentioned in the Church of Antioch. As ever we desire to have the Lord Jesus Christ to love rus, let us grow in knowledge, faith, and all saving graces of his Spirit, and hereby

shew

128

ure 7.

How Ministers may become amiable. Ch.4. shew our love to him, and then we shall

finde: Christ ravished with our love. use 6.

Sixthly, this doch teach us what kind Verse 10. of love Christ acknowledgeth and em

bráceth ; to wit, faire ; strong, sweet, cheerfull;in an enlarging ourselves to the reliefe of his poore Saints.

Seventhly, this doth teach Ministers

how to make their Ministery amiableto Verse 11. Chirist, (not to preach once a moneth, or

quarterly , by the preaching of the Law, but) to be full as the honey-combe dropping out of it felfe, to preach sweet DoCtrine as honey, and wholesome as milke, for the nourishment of Christ's lambs.

The Pastors and Ministers of the Primitive Church did this without help of Universities; what a shame then is this for us to come short of them in such abundance of outward helps and meanes? Wouldest thou be a faithfull Minister? let thy Doctrine drop as honey , preach

willingly,freely, sweetly, comfortably. use 8. Lastly, this may

learne and stirre up Christians so to walke, and so to furnish our selves with inward graces, and with outward commendable carriage, as may yeeld a sweet favour and smell to God

and

13,14.

Ch.4.The Church under the 10. Perfecutions. 129 and man; that it may be like the smell of Lebanon, that men

may

smell a sweet favour that come neere them : let our hearts be inwardly furnished with the graces of God as with sweet oyntments; and our outward garments, our outward conversation so directed with honesty, integrity, humility, meeknesse and love; &c. that our names be not dishonoured, much leffe God by our meanes. Caft we afide stinking drunkennesse, whoredome, malice, covetousnefle, &c. And

Rom. 13. thus doing wee shall take away

all' offence; fo doing, Christ shall look at us às his faire spouse, and say, Thou are all faire my love, ver.7.

A garden inclosed is very fifter, my spouse.j

After the Church gathered by the Ministery of the Apostles,next followeth that under the ten persecutions, which is here described,

First, by her restraint, verfe 13:
Secondly, by her privacy, verse 14.

Thirdly, by her fruitfulnesse; refreshing and watering others, verse 15.

Fourthly, by her prayer in this estače : wherein confider,

1. The

Cant.

4. 12. to cha gozo

I

:30

The Churcb bow a Garden. Ch.4. 1. The Petitions ; which are three,

First, for the arising of the winde, and coming into the South, ver.16.

Secondly, for favourable blasts of it, and that for this end, the flowing forth of her spices.

Thirdly, that Christ would come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits, verfe 16.

2. Christs answer thereunto :
First, he cometh into his garden.

Secondly, he gathereth and enjoyeth the fruits of ir.

Thirdly, he fils his Churches friends with a large measure of plenty, Chap. 5.1.

A garden : ] The Church is here fo called, as verse 13. an orchard; or as it is in the originall, a Paradise, as if this were the garden of Eden. All the world is as a wildernesse, or at least a wilde field; onely, the Church is Gods garden or orchard, in these three respects :

First, as the garden of Paradise was the habitation of Adam in the estate of innocency, so is the Church of all those who are renewed into innocency.

Secondly, as in that garden were all manner of pleasant and wholesome

herbs

erle 12.