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Ch.4. What meant by the Northwinde. · 135 then dryed up, but plentifully ftored J. with the graces of the fpirit, Streames from Lebanon: The Churches were stored with fuch graces of the Spirit, as ftreamed and iffued out from the mountaines of Ifrael, the writings of the Prophets and Apostles.

Awake, or arife, o Northwind, &c.] The Verfe 16. Churches defire that a winde might arise in the North, and come into the South: to wit, that Constantine, born in York, would come into the foutherne parts,and take the Empire upon him, (and blow upon my garden) driving away the blafts of Eafterly perfecutions, and breath favourably and wholefomly upon the Church, cooling the tempeftuous heats of the perfecutions which the Church endured. The Church prayeth not the South to come, but the North to come into the South, elfe

First, the word blow, if it had reference to both winds, fhould have been of the plurall number.

Secondly, Northwinde and Southwinde blowing together, would interrupt and croffe one another by their contrariety.

14

That

136

Verse 16.

What meant by Spices of the Garden. Ch. 4.

That the fpices thereof may flow forth :] That the Gofpell and Ordinances. of Chrift and the graces of his children, which were there reftrained from their free manifeftation by the perfecutions, might have free paffage.

Let my

beloved come into his garden, and eat of his pleafant fruits.] Let Conftantine come to them, and partake of the benefits of the Churches ferviceable graces to God and him.

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Ch.5.

THE

CANTICLES,

OR

SONG OF SONGS
opened and explained.

THE TEXT.

CHAP. 5.

I Am come into my garden, my fifter, my spouse, I have gathered my Myrrh with my fpice, I have eaten my honey-combe with my boney, I have drunk my wine with my milke: eate, O friends, drinke, yea drinke abundantly, O beloved

2 I fleep, but my heart waketh, it is the voyce of my beloved that knocketb, faying, Open to mee my fifter, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my lockes with the drops of the night.

3 I have put off my coat, how fhall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how fball I defile them? 4 My beloved put in bis hand by the hole of the doore, and my bowels were moved for him. 5 Irofe up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped

137

138

The Song of Songs.

Ch.5.

dropped with Myrrh, and my fingers with sweet Smelling Myrrh, upon the handles of the locke.

6 I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had with-drawn himselfe, and was gone: my foule failed when he fpake: I fought him, but I could not find bim; I called him, but be gave me no answer.

7

The watchmen that went about the city found me, they fmote me, they wounded me, the keepers of the wals took away my vaile from me.

8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerufalem, if ye find my beloved, that yee tell him, that I am fick of love.

9 What is thy beloved more then another beloved, O thon fairest among women? What is thy beloved more then another beloved, that thou doft charge us?

10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefeft among ten thousand.

In His head is as the most fine gold,his lockes are bufby and black as a Raven.

12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of water, washed with milke, and fitly fet.

13 His cheekes are as a bed of fpices, as sweet flowers his lips like lillies, dropping sweet smelling Myrrh.

14. His hands are as gold rings fet with the Beryl: his belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires

15 His legs are as pillars of marble, fet upon fockets of fine gold, his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars

4

16 His mouth is most fweet, yea, he is altoge

ther

Ch.5. Motives to thankefulnesse.

ther lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

THE EXPLANATION.

Cant.5.verfe 1. I am come into my garden, my fifter, my spouse, I have gathered my Myrrh with my spice, I have eaten my honeycombe with my honey, I have drunke my wine, with my milke: eate, O friends, drinke, yea drinke abundantly, O beloved.]

139

Chap.5.

verfc 1.

Conftantine came into the Church, enjoyed the fellowship of it, did partake in all the parts of it, yea and richly endowed it; fo that the Church and all her friends did eat and drinke, yea and did drink abundantly of wealth, preferments, &c. whence it was that he fell in- Ch.4.12. to a deep fleep.

First, this ferves to stirre us up to use 1. thankefulnesse and fruitfulnesse to God, who hath planted us not in the wilderneffe of the world, but in the garden of his Church. If wee, now tranfgreffe as Adam did, eating of the forbidden fruits,*Gen.3.6, God will take his garden from us, and 11,12,24. cast us out of it.

Secondly,

& 2.17.

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