Ch.8.Minifters to apply themselves to the people. 235 when Satan fhewed it to him, and yet | *Mat-4.8, not admire it, yea, condemne it for vani- 9. as it is, but a well ordered Church, Eccl.1.2, and ready, he admireth.

ty,

Thirdly, here learn the more ftraight and fincere, the more patient and meek, the more faithfull, the more fruitfull in all holy obedience, &c. the more doe we attaine to a Palm-tree, like full stature of Christianity.

Luk.4.5,6

14. & 2.

11,15,17

ufe 3

19,22,26.

Fourthly, it may learne and direct Mi- ufe 4 nifters to apply themselves to the estate of their people: If they be babes in Chrift, to be as breafts of milke to fuckle them: If they be grown to ripe yeares, to be as clusters of grapes to refresh them with ftronger liquor, be ready to poure out fweet and comfortable liquor, but fee fome good calling to preffing you to it, let all your Doctrine direct to Christ, and dispense it with fuch powerfull efficacy of the Spirit, that the drowfie fluggard may be raised up to fome fruitfulneffe, and more holy walking towards God.

Fifthly, this may teach townes well ufe s. provided for, to lend their best care and help for the edifying and calling home of Country

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ufe 6.

ufe 7.

ufe 8.

Life 9.

Forward profeßion fhall be no difgrace.Ch.8. Country villages: Grudge not then at their ready refort to the gate of your Affemblies, but rather encourage them, that they may be partakers with them.

Sixthly, this lets us fee, that time shall come when forward profeffion fhall be no difgrace; yea, men fhall kiffe Christ openly, and shall not be despised. Seventhly, the malignity of our Anceftors against Christ and his Gospel, must provoke us to more embracing of him, and more fubjection to him.

Fighthly, we may here fee that a faithfull Miniftery, and godly Magiftracy is a pledge of Christs tender love, and kinde embracing of the Church.

Ninthly, we are hence to take notice, that when a Church enjoyeth many gracious and sweet bleffings from Christ, it is good for her to fee it and acknowledge it,and to be carefull that all her Members may fo walk, as their happineffe be not interrupted.In the fourth verfe the charge runneth thus, That yee stirre not up, &c. But in the Hebr. Why should you stirre up, &c. As who fhould fay, when all things are throughly and fully reformed and fetled: Why should you goe about any

Innovation?

Ch.8.The Ch.eftate rifing out of the Wilder. Innovation? This manner of charge was never uttered before,Cant.2. ver.7. to the end.

(Who is this that cometh up from the Wilderneffe, leaning upon her beloved?) I raised thee up under the apple-tree there thy mother brought thee forth, there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

Who is this that cometh up from the Wilderneffe] In these words the holy Ghost fetteth out the calling and estate of two other Churches after the calling of the Jewes:

First, the one arifing out of the Wilderneffe, ver.5,7.

Secondly, the other a little fifter, ver. 8,10. together with the eftate of the whole Church, as it hall then ftand,from that time to the end of the world, verse

II, 14.

This Church coming up from the Wilderneffe is difcribed,

First, by the unexpectedneffe of her arifing, together with the admiration of the Jewish Churches there, ver.5. Who is this that cometh up out of the Wildernesse? Secondly, by the place of her arifing, the Wilderneffe.

Thirdly,

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The Ch.eftate rifing out of the Wilder. Ch.8. Thirdly, by her familiar fellowship with Chrift, joyned with her confidence on him, leaning upon her beloved.

Fourthly, by the meanes of the gathering and raifing of this Church, Iraifed thee up under an apple-tree, &c. ver.5.

Fifthly, by her earnest defire of his deep affection to her, and continuall remembrance of her, Set me as a feale upon thine heart, as a feale upon thine arme,ver.6. which petition of hers is urged by a motive, taken from the ftrength and depth of her affection to him, which fhe proverh,

First, by comparing her affection as equall to three things most strong, First, Death.

Secondly, to the Grave.

Thirdly, to vehement flames of fire, verfe 6.

Secondly, by comparing it to two things as leffe than her affection, though they be alfo of great force,

First, to many waters, which cannot quench her affection of love.

Secondly, to the whole fubftance of any mans house, which would be contemned if it were offered to withdraw her from Chrift,ver.7. The

Ch.8.The eftate of the Churches little Sifter.
The calling and estate of the other
Church, the little fifter, is described by
three paffages,

Firft, by the confultation of the elder Sifters; to wit, of the Jewish Churches, and of that Church coming up out of the Wilderneffe, what they fhall doe for her when she shall be spoken of, ver 8.

Secondly, by a refolution what they fhall do for her, futable to what her condition (as they fhall finde her) fhall require, ver.9.

Thirdly, a fatisfaction given by this little fifter, to the elder, how her eftate ftandeth, together with the cause thereof, Gods favour, that they may the better know what courfes to take for her, v. 10.

The estate of the whole Church, as it fhall ftand after the converfion of the Jewes, and ofthofe other Churches is fet forth;

First, from Chrifts care for them, expreffed,

First, in his watchfulneffe over them in his owne perfon, which he amplifies by the leffe care which Solomon had of his vineyard, committing the keeping of it to others, ver.11,12% Secondly,

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