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Ch.7.Efficacy of Do.ftirs up drowfie fpirits.

Before, when this Church confifted of her owne people, her smell was as that of Lebanon, ver.4. and now by the acceffe of the Gentiles it fhall not be corrupt. Indeed when the Ifraelites came out of Egypt, the mingled of the Gentiles with them, drew them away to murmuring and lufting; for this compare Exodus 12. 38. with Numb.11.4. But no fuch contagion fhall accrue to this Church by the mingling of the Gentiles with them.

And the roofe of thy mouth like the best wines, for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, caufing the lips of those that are asleep to Speak.

And the roofe of thy mouth like the best wines. Hebr. Like good wine, going to my beloved most straightly and rightly. That is, the Doctrine of the Church fhall be as ever any moft sweet and powerfull, and comfortable, and generous wine, it fhall ever goe, or tend directly to Christ, alwaies aiming at the preaching of him.

To goe rightly, or ftraightly, implyeth the ftrength and generoufneffe of wine, when it fparkleth upward in the cup, as Proverb.23.31. which here expreffeth the lively vigour of the Churches Doctrine,

225

Verfe 9.

226

Efficacy of Do ftirs up drowfie fpirits.Ch.7.

in her preaching of Chrift, causing the lips of those that are afleep to speak. Such fhall be the sweet and powerfull efficacy of the Doctrine of the Church then, as fhall cause the fleepy and drowfie profeffors, whether amongst us Gentiles,or amongst the Jewes, to open their mouthes and fpeak plentifully to Gods praife. When the Apostles fpake (the wonderfull works of God) in ftrange tongues, fome of the people thought them to be full of new A&.2. 11, wine, but they were deceived, and were willing fo to account of them in mockery. But these people shall be full of new wine of the Spirit and Word of God, to open their mouthes to speak as the Apoftles did, the wonderfull workes of God. I am my beloveds, and his defire is towards

13.

Verse 10.

mee.

This profeffion of the Church, that fhe is her beloveds, argueth,

First, her familiar fellowship with Christ.

Secondly, her faith, or confidence of her interest in him, or his in her. Thirdly, her open profeffion of the

fame.

That his defire is towards her, argueth

the

Ch.7. Chrifts ftrong love to his Church.

227

the strength of his affection toward her, and it is the fame word used *, which Gen.3.16. there implyeth two things:

First, the strength of their affection

to their husband, and their elder brother.

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& 4.7.

Secondly, the fubordination and dependance thereof upon their will: the former is here alfo meant, the latter doth not stand with the Soveraignty and Headfhip of Christ over his Church: Unleffe Ephef.5. thus farre, to intimate Chrifts tender re- 2324. gard of the will and defire of his Church; as hee would be as unwilling to deny them,as loving husbands be to deny their wives any thing.

Come my beloved, let us go forth into Verfe 11. the field: let us lodge in the villages.

In these words, the Church inviteth Chrift to vifit the Country villages about her, implying,

Firft, her prayers to Chrift, that with her he might lodge there, plant and fet Churches there.

Secondly, her care to take and obferve all opportunities to advance fuch a work. Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us Ver.12. fee if the vine flourish, whether the tender

P 2

grape

228 The faithfull fhew their affection to Chrift.Ch.7.

Verse 1 2.

Joh.21. 15.

Verse 13.

Gen.30.

14:

grape appeare, and the pomegranats bud forth,
there will I give thee my loves.

Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us
fee if the vine flourish.] Meaning if any op-
portunity fhould offer it felfe,to plant Re-
ligion amongst them; then Chrift and
fhee might be forward to further the
fame.

Thirdly, her promise to Chrift to employ her best endeavours to such a service.

There will I give thee my loves.] The love of the Church to Chrift is especially feen in feeding his Lambes and Sheep: She therefore offereth to Chrift free ufe of her dearest and best affections to fet forward fuch a work.

Fourthly, her difcerning of fome good beginning of fuch a work.

The Mandrakes give a fmell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

The Mandrakes give a fmell.] Which is a Country field herb, yet amiable, which argueth fome fruits to be gathered in the Country.

And at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits,

1

Ch.7.The Chur, willing to employ all for Chrift. 229 fruits, new and old.] And therefore, out of the abundance of her owne store, she can fupply the Country with all fit helps, to her further gathering and establishment. Which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.] She profeffeth her defire to employ all her store to Christs advantage, and therefore abounding with Minifters, and other fit Officers for gathering and establishing the Country Churches about her, the expreffeth her readineffe to bring them out to his fervice and ufe, as if they were fome good houfhold provifion, laid up by her for fuch aufe. The acceffe of the whole Land of Ifrael to the City is profitable. The Land shall be called Beulah, as well as the City Hephzibah, ver. 10. A Caufey is caft up for a mutuall recourfe of Country to City.

Ifai.62.4.

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