Ch.3. Fearfull Chriftians not to be difcouraged. 95 which will not be good for it. Secondly, in regard of fearefull Chriftians, for they will start away; many are willing to come into the Church, but if the profeffion of Chrift be troublefome and hot, they will not abide it: therefore this charge is needfull that wee may walke holily, that Chrift be not ftirred up, nor thefe fearfull Chriftians difcouraged. See this handled, chap.2. verfe 7. Thus farre the first part, in the time This is firft to fhew us, that God can raife up a Church even in the wilderneffe,to the admiration of observers : and fo hee can raife up our neighbour Churches, now brought to a wilderneffe. This may comfort us in regard of them; for though they be now defolate, yet we may hope a time will come when they fhall rife againe. ufer. Verfe 6. Secondly, fee here is a part of the duty ufe 2. of ancient Chriftians, not to maligne the graces of God in thofe that come after them, but to admire them, who is it verfe 6. that 96 ufe 3. Verse 6. * Luke 3. What graces requifite in a Minifter. Ch.3. that cometh out of the wildernesse like pillars of Smoake, perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincenfe, &c. Thirdly, this fhewes what gifts and graces are most requifite in a Minister, and doe most adorne him, even zeale in his Miniftery, and fervency in prayer, and all forts of fweet graces to season and direct all forts of his people in their feverall callings,as Fohn did, when the 10-14 people came and faid, What shall we doe? He answered and faid, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, &c. So John was perfumed with graces for all men: for men muft not come into the Miniftery with judgement and learning alone, for these may come from nature; but they must come perfumed with graces, to keep themselves and others from putrefaction; yea, they muft labour for thofe graces which will give a strong fent to fave themselves and others. Life 4 Fourthly, this fhewes us the Manhood and Godhead of Chrift; Chrifts humane nature is the temple, or bed wherein the Godhead refteth bodily; and the Godhead made this temple or bed for himVerle 7,9. felfe, no earthly father for him. Fifthly, Ch.3. All things needfull in Christ. 97 Pfal 91. 11, 13. Fifthly, fee here the protection and uses. gardiance the Angels give to Chrift, and in him to the Church and all his mem-Pfal.34.7. bers, ver. 7,8. 2 King. 6. 16,17. Heb.1.14. ufe 6. Verse 10. Sixthly, wee may here fee in Chrift whatsoever is behoovefull for all our Rev.5.11. &7.11. falvations. In regard of his Prieftly office hee is pure as filver, to cleanse our impurity, and to abide the fire: In regard of his Propheticall office hee is precious as gold, to enrich our poverty: In regard of his Royall and Kingly of fice, he is glorious as purple,and cloathed with it, to advance our bafeneffe: His heart, or middeft,is even paved with lov of us: His heart is an hearth (for fo the word fignifieth) whereon the fire of his love towards us burneth continually; let us then love the Lord Jefus againe, and receive the feeds and fruits of his grace, and then shall wee fee his heart flaming with love to us: and then whatsoever befalls, bloudfhed, warre, captivity, &c. all comes from love; his whole heart is paved with love. Seventhly, let us take up our ufe 7. thoughts and meditations about Christ, let us goe forth and behold him; let his G abundant 98 ufe 8. ufe 9. We must give our felves to Chrift. Ch.3. abundant graces fill our empty foules. Eighthly, if thou beeft a daughter of Sion, thou art contracted to Chrift; and know it by this, Doft thou read his letters? art thou delighted with them? and doft thou rejoyce to fpeake to him againe by prayer? If thou doft,it may be the joy of thy heart, for thy eftate is good. Laftly, this doth exhort us all to give up our felves as fpouses to Chrift,and that with all gladneffe of heart, fince he is affected to us, who yet hath nothing from us but debts and beggery: and they that do give themselves up to Chrift,need not fear wanting comfort; for no spouses fhall finde fuch comfort as they. Shall hee be glad to have us, a company of beggers: yea, as I may fay, a company of deaths? And was it the gladnefs of his heart to be efpoufed to us, which was when his Father contracted him to us, and fhall wee think it a day of deading to fet our feet into Chrifts bed? All the merchants cannot fet forth our excellency, when hee shall pay all our debts,and adorn us with all his graces, therefore let us go forth,and bring him home to us, wee fhall then finde him comfortable to us irrthe day of efpoufals. THE Ch.4. B THE CANTICLES, OR SONG OF SONGS opened and explained. THE TEXT. СНАР. 4 Ebold, thou art faire my love, behold, thou art faire, thou hast doves eyes within thy lockes: thy haire is as a flock of goats, that appeare from mount Gilead. 2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even fborn,which came up from the washing: whereof every one beare twins, and none is barren among them. 3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy Speech is comely:thy temples are like a piece of apome granate within thy locks. 4 Thy neck is like to the tower of David, builded for an armory, whereon there bang a thousand buck lers, all fields of mighty men.. 5 Thy two breasts are like two young Roes, that are twins, which feed among the lillies. 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