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Ch.5. Frederick the II. wherein famous.

afterwards they were overcome and scattered further into many places of Chriftendome. So in regard of these troups of many thoufands, Chrift is here called the fandard-bearer, as the word fignifieth, or the choyce of ten thousand. Againe, at that time Chrift may be faid to be white and ruddy in regard of his members, who were then white with innocency of life, yet ruddy,enduring perfecution.

His head is as the most fine gold, bis lockes are bafbie, and black as a raven.

His head is as the most fine gold.] Christ comes now to be defcribed in his members more particularly: This head of gold Chrift fhewed on the earth in the perfon of Frederick, the fecond Emperour of Rome,a Prince of much purity and worth, as an head of the Church of fine gold: Hee contended with many Popes about the headship of the Church, advanced the headship of Chrift and of himselfe, his Vicegerents, above the counterfeit head of the Popes Supremacy. He wra ftled for Christ against them with much difficulty, yet prevailed, fo that even in the Popish schools, his election of God was agreed and condefcended unto by fundry.

His

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Verfe 12.

What meant by Dovės eyes.

Ch.5.

His locks are bufhie,or curled,and black as a raven.] Curled black haire is a figne of heat and courage, and wit in him that it groweth upon: fuch was the Emperour himself,and fuch were the common Chriftians of that age that did depend upon their Emperour, they stuck close to him: learned men with wit, more then former ages had yeelded,and fouldiers with courage maintained his person and cause.

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

Doves, diving in rivers of waters, dive their bellies deep into the waters ; fo that their eyes looke close and narrowly upon it.

Firft,the eyes are here fet forth by their care of the Church; hee is not fo farre off removed from it, that he had need of the Pope to be his visible Vicar to look to it.

Secondly, by their milde innocency, implyed, in that they are doves eyes and washed with milke; whereas the Popes eyes were as hawkes eyes, looking eagerly after the prey.

Thirdly, by their fit ftanding, so as they may well looke to the whole body; whereas

Ch.5. The doctrine of the Church like myrrh. 157 whereas the Popes eyes cannot poffibly watch to looke well to the estate of the Church fo far off him.

To this purpose tended the doctrine of the faithful Divines in the following age, fuch as Michael Cefenus, Petrus de Carba nia, Iohannes de Poliaco, and fuch as followed them.

His cheekes are as a bed of spices, as fweet Ver. 13. flowers: his lips like lillies, dropping fweet Smelling Myrrh.

His cheeks are as a bed of spices.]

Cheekes imply the outward face of the faithfull Church, for the cheeks are a place most confpicuous, which fhewes that the faithfull of those times were as beds of fpices and fweet flowers, to wit, not gathered into any set garden, as afterwards in Luthers time,* but scattered here *Cha.6.2. and there, yet of fweet and precious favour in the noftrils of Chrift: yea, one Nicholaus de Bibrath, living about that time, compareth Faith and Piety in the Church to fpice rare and deare.

His lips like lillies, dropping (weet smelling myrrh.] The doctrine of the Church. at thofe times was fuch, as like myrrh, served to preserve the faithfull from putrefaction,

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Ch.5.

What meant by the Churches trefaction,according to that, That which ye have already, bold faft till I come. In the Primitive Apoftolique Church her lips dropped like an honey-combe, being of ftrong sweet relish to delight and nourish to full growth: † But the lips of this Church drop rather myrrh then honey; they rather preferved fome truth of grace then yeelded any abundant nourishment to procure increafe to the Church.

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

His hands are as gold rings fet with the Berill.] Hands are inftruments of action their being fet with gold rings implyeth their purity and dignity: The Berill cleareth moisture and dimme fight: Francif cus Rudis, de Goma. libr. 2. cap. 8. All these fhew that the Miniftery of the Gofpell fhould bethen more powerfull; and indeed God, about that time, Anno 1300. ftirred up Dantes, Marcillius, Potavinus, Ocham, Gregorius Ariminenfis, Petrarchus, Wickliffe, and many more, whofe Miniftry brought on fo many, that fome have counted it the first resurrection; yea, the Magiftrates of that time, Ludovicus Bava

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rus the Emperour, Philip of France, Edward the third of England, ftood out in many things against the Pope, as those whofe hands had got more strength, and better felt their owne worth, and whose eyes were cleered to fee more light then their predeceffours.

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His belly as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires.] The belly is an hidden part of the body, yet fuch from which the rest is nourished; which fitly resembleth the Sacraments here,as alfoCh.7.2.which being hid from those that are without, yet nourifh the whole body,as an heap of wheat. The doctrine of the Sacraments, and the pure administration of the fame, was at this time restored by Iohn Wickliff,& embraced by his followers,though condemned in the Councell of Constance. These Sacraments are faid to be overlaid with Saphires, whofe property is to ftrengthen and cherish the principall folid parts,*because of the efficacy of the Sacraments Deginus truly taught and adminiftred, to strengthen and quicken Gods graces in us.

* Rucus

1.1.

сар.2.

His legs are as pillars of marble, fet upon Ver.15. fackets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

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