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Ch.8.The Church of Egypt why a little Sifter. people growing up & coming on in Egypt, they are folicitous what course to take for them for their growth and establishment. A little fifter.] In comparison of the Ifa.19.18. Jewes or Affyrians, for but five Cities in the Land of Egypt peak the language of Canaan, and one of them shall be called the City of deftruction.

And he hath no breaks.] No Minifters to give to them the fincere milk of the Word or the meanes of confolation in their oppreffions and diftreffes.

In the day when free shall be spoken for.] When the fulneffe of time fhall come, that the fhall grow up to fuch a multitude of Profeffors, as may be fit to have a fettled Church established amongst them; for there is a company grown up to be a fit Spoufe for Christ. When there are fo many good Chriftians as may conftitute a well ordered Church.

Iffhe be a wall, we will build upon her apalace of filver: and if she be a doore, wee will enclofe her with boards of Cedar.

If he be a wall, we will build.] That is, if she have a Chriftian Magiftracy; for the Magiftrate is a wall.

First, high, to keep out invafions of
Q3 enemies;

1 Pet.2.2.

Ifa.9.20.

Verfe 9.

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The Church of Egypt why a little Sifter.Ch.8. enemies, even fo doth he keep our forain evills from breaking in upon his people. Secondly, clofe to keep in his people within bounds from breaking out into diforder.

Plin.lib.13.

cap.5.

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Thirdly, firme, whereon to reare (if occafion be) a filver Palace, whereon to lay the frame of a good motion,or course to be taken for publick good.

Fourthly, a wall of partition, to divide between right and wrong, to give every man his owne.

Wee will build upon her a filver palace.] Wee will make her garment honourable and wealthy.

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If the be a doore.] That is, if he have faithfull Minifters, which as a door open the way to Chrift, that the people may goe in and out, and find pafture in him: Wee will inclofe her with boards of Cedar.] Cedar is a timber that will neither rot,nor breed worms,and fo will endure alwaies; whence it was that the Heathen made their Simulachra deorum, Images of their gods of this wood, to make them feeme eternall. These Sifter-Churches then promife, that if their little Sister of E8pt have any faithfull Minifters, they

Ch.8.Chrift will himself care for his Church. will provide for their fafety and peace, that they be not discouraged, nor difturbed in their function.

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I am a wall, and my breafts like towers:then Verle 10. was I in his eyes as one that found favour.

The little fifter of Egypt refolveth her fifters, that fhe wants neither Chriftian Magiftrates, nor faithfull Minifters; fo full of wholesome Doctrine, as that her breafts fwell like towers; which yet shee acknowledgeth to be a fingular mercy and favour of Chrift, and afcribeth all her ftore to his praife: Then was I as one that found favour in his eyes.

Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-Ha- Verse 11. men: A place fo fruitfull, that for excellency it was called the Lord of a multitude, or the owner of great encrease, Hee let out the vineyard to keepers, who paid him a great rent, even thoufands for the fruit of it, and yet had a good portion, certaine hundreds for their own paines.

My vineyard which is mine, is before me: Verle 12. thou (O Solomon) must have a thousand, and thofe that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred.

To wit, I let not out my vineyard to

Q.4 others,

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*Ifa.27.1,

-3. Verse 13.

The Catholick Church where it dwells.Ch.8.

let

others, but I kept it my felfe alwaies; Solomon take his thoufands for his fruits of his vineyard, and the Reapers their hundreds, I will not fo doe, but take all the paines to keep my vineyard, and reap all the gaines of the fruits thereof to my felfe. The meaning is, when Chrift hath gathered all thefe Churches of the Jews, Affyrians, Egyptians, and neighbourNations, he will then keep his Church with his mighty power,that neither Dragons, nor wilde Bores, nor Foxes fhall hereafter root it up,or make havock of it, as in time paft they have done: This is exprefly foretold, and fhall come to paffe after the deftruction of Leviathan the great Turke*.

Thou that dwelleft in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice, cause me to heare it.

Thou that dwelleft in the gardens.] The Participle being of the Feminine gender, fheweth that it is the Church not Chrift that is here fpoken to, who is faid to dwell in the garden, to wit, in the particular Churches, as the fea dwelleth in each particular Countrey fea; the German fea, the Spanish fea, the Baltick fea, &c. So

Ch.8.The Catholick Church where it dwells. &c. So the Catholick Church is divided into particular Churches, or the Jewish Mother Church dwelleth by her authority and directions in all other Churches.

The companions hearkning to thy word (or voice) cause me to heare it.] So the words in the originall which implyeth either that Church would have the Mother Church of the Jews take care of all other Christian Churches, and give directions unto them, and yet not as unto her handmaids,but as to her companions; or elfe if the words be read according to the tranflation, The companions hearken to thy voice, caufe me to heare it: They imply, that after the calling of thefe Churches, this fhall be their conftant eftate to the worlds end, as they shall all

First, embrace one another as companions, not claiming Romish Supremacy. Secondly, hearken to the voice and directions of the Mother Church, (in Sololomons daies for wifedome to him.) Thirdly, continue in calling upon the Name of Chrift without diffipation and interruption to the end.

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Make hafte, my beloved, and be thou like to Verfe 14. a Roe,or to a young Hart upon the mountain of

pices.

This

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