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Ifrael backward to leave Babel. Chap.2. fhould now fing and praise God in their owne countries which they thought unfeasonable to doe in a strange + Pfa.137. land f.

3.4.

Verfe 13.

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The voyce of the turtle is heard in our land.] That is, of Chrift the faithfull fpoufe of his Church, who is mourning in Judea, because he findeth not his Mate (the Church) there.

The figtree putteth forth her greene figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good fmell.] That is, the chiefe of the Fathers and Elders of the people, they fhew themselves forward to countenance the journey, and to prepare for

it.

Arife my love, my faire one, and come *Ver., away. Being twice repeated*, it argueth the people were flacke to leave their ftates, which they had planted themselves in at Babel; and therefore ftood in need of calling on againe and againe.

VerfeTM 14.

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rocke, in the fecret place of the ftaires, let me fee thy countenance, let mee heare thy voyce, for fweet is thy voyce, and thy countenance comely.

Chap.2.

o my

Who foxes to the Church.

dove.] That is, my chaste, inno

cent and faire fpoufe.

That art in the clefts of the rocke, in the fecret place of the ftaires.] That now dost worship me in holes and corners.

Let mee fee thy countenance, let me heare thy voyce.] Let mee fee thee affembled into the face of a Church, in my Sanctuary, let mee there heare thee calling upon mee, finging praise to mee, fpeaking my word.

For fweet is thy woyce, and thy countenance comely.]

First, the voyce of the Church, at one and the fame time.

First, rejoycing in Gods wonderfull mercy.

Secondly, weeping and bewailing,

partly,

First, their owne unworthineffe.

71

a Pla.14.6

1,3.

Secondly, the decayes of the Church, with Jer.

in regard of former times a.
Take us the foxes, the little foxes that
Spoile the vines, for our vines have tender
grapes.] That is, reftraine (the foxes, the
little foxes) the enemies of the Church,
of greater or leffer power; fuch as
were the Samaritans. These spoiled the
E 4

b

vines,

50.4,5.8 Ezra 3. 11.-13.

Verfe is.
Ezra 4

b

2.- 4.

& 5.3. Neh. 4.

3

Heft.3.8,9

72

The foxes of the Church deftroyed. Chap. 2.

c Ezr.4.4.vines, hindered the proceeding of the 5,23,24. building of the Temple, and the peace

of the Church. And therefore Tobiah faid truely of himselfé and his fellowes, that they, as foxes, going upon the weake foundation of the walls of Jerufalem, d Neh 4.3 might easily demolish the famed: Yet these foxes in the end were taken and re

ftrained, First, partly by the Edict of e Ezra 6. Darius e: Secondly, partly by the hanging of Haman and his fonnes, and the deftruction of some other of the Jewes enemies f.

11,13.

f Heb. 7. 10.& 9. 14,16. Verse 16.

* Neh.8.

My beloved is mine and I am his.] The Church enjoyeth familiar and comfortable communion with Chrift, thefe enemies being quelled *

Shee feedeih among the lillies.] That is, among pure and faire Chriftians, all corruptions being weeded out both of ftrange wives 8, of ufury, of right of the Levites maintenance and mini+ Neh. 13. ftration, tand prophanation of the Sab

g Ezt. 10.

Verse 17.

bath.

Untill the day breake, and the shadowes flee away: turne my beloved, and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart, upon the mountaines of Bether.

Turne

Chap.2. Ch.works in instruments of deliverance. 73 Turne my beloved.] That is, returne often to vifit and fuccour me.

As a Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountaines of Bether.] That is,fwiftly and fpeedily, Bether being neere to them on Sam.2 the other fide Jordan; as who fhould fay, 29. Though thou fometime turne from us, yet be not farre, but ready ever and anon to returne and fuccour us.

Untill the day breake, and the shadowes flee away.] That is, till Christ come, and the Ceremoniall shadows vanish.

First, this teacheth us that in all the ufe 1. inftruments of the Churches deliverance, we should fee and difcerne Chrift fpeaking and working in them: See here the Church lookes not at Cyrus fo much, but at Chrift in him. Doe they heare a rumour of a deliverance? It is the voyce of Christ, and it must needs be a strong voyce which Chrift is the author of The wifeft Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they fay it is Chrift, and all the reft yeeld; and the Church fees Christ come skipping: Doth it fee Cyrus about the wals? She fees Chrift there. Doth fhe fee Cyrus fhewing himselfe through the lattice? She fees Chrift there. Doth the

fee

74

Verfe 13.

Chrift in all that befalls the Church. Chap.2.

fee when he is poffeffed there, and makes proclamation to them to goe up againe to Jerufalem? She lookes at it as Chrifts voyce, faying, Arife my love, my fair one, and come away.

So the holy Ghoft teacheth, what favour any doth fhew to the Church, it is Chrift that doth it; fo take it, that if any good befall the Church, it is Chrift that doth it: If any lead into captivity, Nebuchadnezzar, or any other, it is Chrift that leads her into a Wine-cellar: If there be any noife or worke of deliverance, it is Chrift that comes leaping and skipping: So in all the calamities, and in all the bleffings that befall the Church, afcribe *Job 1.21 all to Chrift. The fame hand that gave, the fame hand hath taken away: † God turned the captivity of fob, and God turned againe the captivity of his people. This is a wonderfull ftay to Gods Church, and to every member of it; for man cannot bring it into captivity, and bring it out againe. Mans hand cannot bring hard things upon the Church, nor bring her out againe of them; for if it were in mens hands, or in Satans, or in our owne hands, it would not goe well

& 42.10. † Pfal. 12. 6,11.

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