Ch.7.The feet being fhod fignifie 3. things.

and downeto gather this Church and the fcattered Members of it.

This Church then in gathering, is described by ten parts; Feet, Joynts of Thighes, Navell, Belly, Breafts, Necke, Eyes, Nofe, Head, Haire.

205

How beautifull are thy feet with fhooes, O Verse 1. Princes Daughter! the joynts of thy thighes are like Fewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

How beautifull are thy feet with fhoses, O Princes daughter!] In her feet fhod with fhooes there is a three-fold beauty: for it implyeth,

First, her returne out of Captivity, as on the contrary, bare feet is a figne of going into Captivity.

Ifai. 20.

Secondly, her challenging and recove-1-4 ry of her loft Inheritance in Ifrael, Ruth Deut.as. 4. ver.7,8.

Thirdly, her walking in that peace of confcience which the Gofpel prepareth: whereas he that walketh bare-foot, either gathereth a thick brawny skin upon the foles of his feet; or if his feet be more tender, hee pricketh them ever and anon with thornes, or little fharp ftones, as fcruples: a conscience not furnished with

truc

ver.9.

Eph 6.15.

206 Fewes converted are of great authority.Ch.7.

Revel 16

12.

true peace, either waxeth fenfleffe and brawny, or elfe fcrupulous and anxious: all the three things are beautifull and glorious, as on the contrary, it is a great difturbance and deformity to goe into captivity, to fell and foregoe a mans Inheritance, to walke unquietly and ancomfortably and if it be beautifull and glorious to returne out of bodily capti vity, and to recover the earthly Inhe ritance; how much more is it together with thefe outward things, to joyne a returne out of fpirituall captivity, and recovery of an everlasting Inheritance, as the Jewes fhall doe at their converfion!

O Princes Daughter !] So called, Firft, because they are borne of God, the Prince of Princes.

Secondly, the Jewes converted fhall be of much glory and authority, even as the Kings of the Earth.

The joynts of thy thighes,&c.]The word fignifies whole bones of the thighes, they, for their apt and ready turning in their converfion to God, are like wellwrought precious Jewels, the work of the hand of God, the Spirituall work

man

Ch.7.Who to be admitted to the Sacrament. man of all the workes of the Church. Thy navell, &c. thy belly is like the navell, dr.] The navell and belly are both hid den parts, not confpicuous to them without, and therefore fet forth the two Myfteries, or Sacraments of the Church, Baptifme, and the Lords Supper. The Navell, ferving for the nourishing of the Infant in the wombe, refembleth Baptifme, nourishing Infants, and new born babes in the womb of the Church. It wanteth not liquor:

Firft, of the Spirit of Chrift to fanctifie and cleanfe us from fin.

The belly: to wit, the Lords Supper, is as an heap of wheat, for ftore of excellent, and fweet, and fine nourishment, set about with lilies, becaufe onely the faithfull pure Chriftians fhall be admitted to partake in that Sacrament.

The Lords Table fhall not be set about with weeds, profane and fcandalous finners, but with Lilies, worthy Communicants.

Thy two breafts (the Teachers of that Church) are like two young Roes: For their agility, skipping up and down to fuckle the converts; implying that the firft Mi

niftery

207

208

Verse 4.

Chap.4 verfe 4.

Ch.6.

Faith to what compared. niftery of the Jewes, at the converfion of that people fhall rather be as the Evangelifts, bound to no certain place, than as Paftors fixed to any fettled Congregation, which yet outwardly they fhall be.

That are twins.]

First, for their likeneffe in difpofi

tion.

Secondly, brotherly equality.

Thy necke is as a tower of Ivory: thine eyes like the fifh-pooles in Hefhbon; by the gate of Bath-rabbim thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damafcus.

Thy necke is as a tower of Ivory.] The neck (as above) is the faith of the Church, joyning Chrift and his Church together, as the neck doth the head and body.

As a tower, for ftrength; of Ivory, för precioufneffe, for which faith is com

I Pet.1.7. mended.

2 Pet.1.1.

Thine eyes are like the fifb-pooles in Hefhbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim.] For the abundance of water, meaning teachers, that they fhall yeeld even teares of Repentance at their converfion; partly, for

the

Ch.7.

Lebanon how fcituated.

209

Zech.12.

the great wrong they had done our Saviour; partly, to confider the unfpeakable 10. and undeferved kindneffe of God towards Jerem.3. them. 8,-9.&

Thy nofe is like the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damafcus. ] There was a double houfe of the Forrest of Lebanon, the one in Jerufalem, built by Solomon, fo called by way of refemblance: in which hee put his golden fhields, whence Shishak taking them,is faid to take them out of Jerufalem: of this Houfe fpeaketh Ifaiah, Chap.22.ver.8.

There was another Houfe built in the forrest of Lebanon, as appeareth by this place, which is faid to look toward Damafcus, to diftinguish it from the other which is in Jerufalem.

Lebanon it felfe stood in the' utmost Confines of Ifrael, Northwards towards Syria: and therefore this House built in Lebanon is faid to look toward Damafcus, the chiefe City of Syria. Now Lebanon being full of all manner of fweet and fragrant trees, and fhrubs, and fpices; the tower built in Lebanon muft needs be compaffed with the fweet fmelling o dours, to the great refreshing and de

O

light

50.4.

King. 7. 2. & 10.

17.

1 King.14. 25-26.