Ch.7. Comforts from Baptisme. thine Infancy thou waft admitted into 215 John 6. 55. Fifthly, in the Lords Supper, fee what ufe s. plenty of excellent, found, and fweet nourishment is offered to us, even an heap of wheat: Chrifts flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. There is al-fufficient nourishment for an hungry foule; this ferveth to quicken our appetite to this heavenly banquet. Sixthly, obferve what manner of per-ufe 6. fons fhould be admitted to the Lords Table, and how wee fhould prepare our felves thereto. This heap of wheat is not to be fet about with ftinking weeds, but with faire lilies: Cleanfe our felves then from all fcandalous finnes, yea, and from all fecret finnes, to our best endeavours, fo fhall wee be fet about 0 4 this 216 Minifters must not be dry Nurfes. Ch.7. this heape of wheat, the Lords Table. Seventhly, note that Ministers, to be like Roes,skipping up and downto gather and fuckle the children of the Church, is fitter for a Church in gathering, than convenient in a Church conftituted; for then the breafts hang in their place like clusters of Grapes upon the branches of the Vine, v.7,8. But they must be breasts giving fuck, not dry nurses; that is their duty in every estate of the Church. Or, if their people be grown up in Chrift to fitneffe for ftrong meat, then they to be full in a stronger liquor than milke,as cluall fters of Grapes, full of wines. • Eighthly, fee the beauty and commendation of three cardinall graces : Firft, Faith, to be First, strong. Secondly, precious, applying the precious promises, and making us rich with them gio th Secondly, Repentance to abound in brokenneffe of spirit through godly forrow, melting into abundance of teares, or other affections futable thereto. Thirdly, Obedience, to be Secondly, Ch.7.Magiftrates ought to give good example. 217 Secondly, and that with all manner of fweet fruits and good, that all that converse with us may fmell a fweet favour from our converfation. Ninthly, marke here a leffon for Magiftrates, to be as Carmell, yeelding fome fweet and plentifull nourishment to the people. ufe 9. First, by procuring free paffage to Gods Ordinances, whence Jehofophat's Chr.1.7. Nobles are faid to teach. Secondly, by making wholesome Lawes. Thirdly, by giving good example of life, to have no Officers hanging about them of bafe demeanour, exacters, promotors, contentious perfons, but fuch as may execute it themselves and their Minifters, and for publick Ordinances of Gods worship; it is no difparagement to Magiftrates to behave themselves reverendly in them, and to submit themselves unto them as unto Chrift. &7.9. Tenthly, from this compleat defcri- ufe 10. ption of the beauty of the Church in all her parts; obferve, First, that the Church was never fo compleatly beautifull in all her parts, as 218 Rome's falfe boafting of her workes. Ch.7. it fhall be when the Jewes are called. The Apoftolique Primitive Church, though all faire, yet wanted this head-like Carmel, a Chriftian Magistrate, yea and fome 1 Cor.11. purity of the Sacrament. 20 Secondly,in that he beginneth this defcription from the feet, and fo afcendeth to the head in order: It may feeme the calling of the Jewes fhall begin at first, rather with fome of the loweft people, and fo afcend higher and higher to more eminent perfons. Thirdly, in that the Church neither here (where fo many of her members are fet forth) nor in all this Song is defcribed, by the beauty of her hands, or fingers, wee must not gather that therefore this Church will be barren of good works, God forbid, but rather conceive, Chrift concealeth the mention of her hands to wit, her works, partly, First, because the Harlot of Rome fo delighteth fo much to boast of her hands, of her workes, which indeed fhee wants: Chrift had rather his Church should abound in good workes in filence, than boaft of them, especially when they are wanting. Secondly, Ch.7. The eftate of the Fewish Church in perf. 219 Secondly, because it is be alone (and not wee) that worketh all our workes for us. Cantic. 7. verf.6. verf. 4. of 8.Chap. Ifa.26.12. How faire, &c. In thefe verfes the holy Ghoft goes on to describe the second eftate of the Jewes Church, as is fpoken above, Chap.7. ver. 1. in ver.6,7. as grown up to her full ftature and maturity. For first,beauty is not observed till full growth; now here her beauty is admired, verse 6. Secondly, her ftature is expreffely mentioned to be a Palme tree, ver.7. Thirdly,her breafts are here mentioned againe, ver. 7. fhew that he fpeaketh not of the fame eftate of the Church as afore. Befides,the breafts yeelding wine in stead of milke, it is a figne the Church fhall then be grown to more maturity and fitneffe to be fed with ftronger meat. The Church ofthe Jewes then come to her fuller growth is here defcribed, Firft, by her beauty, which is admirable, How faire! and joyned with pleafure, How pleasant art thou! especially for publick worship fo defcribed, ver.6. Secondly, Hof. 14.8. Joh. 15.5. |