4. Again, this creature is of a iieatf disposition. It will not lodge where it shall be troubled with stench, and annoyed that way ; and likewise feeds neatly on pure grain ; not upon carrion, as you see in the ark, when the raven was sent out it lights upon carrion, of which there was then plenty, and therefore never came into the ark again, Gen. viii. 7. But the dove, when she went out, would not light upon carrion or dead things ; and so finding no fit food, came back again to the ark. So the Christian soul in this respect is like a dove, that will not feed upon worldly carrion, or sinful pleasures, but upon Christ and spiritual things. The soul of a carnal and a natural man useth to feed upon dust, earth and earthly things. When the soul of a true Chi'istian, that hath the taste of grace, feeds neatly, it will not feed on that which is base and earthly, but upon heavenly and spiritual things.
5. It is gregaria avis, a bird that loves communion and fellowship, as the prophet speaks, ' Who are those that flock to the windows as doves,' Isa. Lx. 8 ; for so they use to flock to their houses by companies. So the chil- dren of God love the communion and fellowship one of another, and keep severed from the world as soon as ever they are separated from it, delight- ing in all those of the same nature. Doves will consort with doves, Chi-is- tians with Christians, and none else. They can relish no other company. These and such like properties may profitably be considered of the dove. The much standing upon these were to wrong the intendment J of the Spirit of God ; to neglect them altogether were as much. Therefore we have touched upon some properties only.
II. Now, for the sufferings of the church it is Hke a dove in this. T/w dove u molested hg cdl the birds of preg, it being the common prey of all other ravenous birds. So the poor church of God is persecuted and molested. ' Oh that I had wings like a dove,' &c., saith holy David, Ps. Iv. 6. It is an old speech, and is for ever true, that crows and such, escape better than doves. The punishment that rLould light on ravens, oft- times it lights on doves. Thus God's dove, God s church, is used. But what defence hath God's poor church ? V/hy, no defence. But, First, flight, even as the dove hath nothing but flight. It hath no talons to wound, but it hath flight. So we are to fly to God as to our mountain ; fly to the ark, that God may take us in. The church of God * That is, 'courtezans.' — G. f That is, 'cleanly.' — G. X That is, 'design.' — G.
Cant. V. 2, 3.] ' my trNDEFiLED.' 81
hath no other refiige but to be housed in God and Christ, Prov. xviii. 10. He is our ark.
Secondly, and to mourn ; as Hezekiah saith of himself, ' He mourned as a dove, and chattered like a crane,' Isa. xxxviii. 14. The state of the church of God is like the turtle's, to mourn in all afflictions, desertions, and molestations of wicked men ; to mourn to God, who hears the be- moanings of his own Spirit in them. And woe to all other birds, the birds of prey, when the turtles do mourn because of their cruelty. It is a presage of ruin to them, when they force the turtle to sorrow and mourning.
Thirdly, And then, thirdly, they have another refuge besides flight and mourning, which is to build high from vennin that would otherwise molest them. Instinct teacheth them thus to escape their enemies by building high, and so to secure themselves. So there is in God's children a gracious instinct put, an antipathy to the enemies of it ; which tends to their safety, in that they mingle not themselves with them. And likewise God breeds in them a familiarity with himself, and stirs them to build in him as on a rock, to be safe in him.
Objec. But you will object. If the church of God be his dove, why is it so with it as it is, that God should suifer his love, and his dove, and his turtle thus as it were to be preyed upon ? ' Give not the soul of the turtle to the beasts,' saith the psalmist, Ps. Ixxiv. 19. If the church were God's dove, he would esteem more of it than he doth, and not suffer it to be persecuted thus ?
Ans. God never forsakes his dove, but is an ark for it to fly to, a rock for it to build on. The dove hath always a refuge in God and in Christ in the worst times. You have a notable place for this, ' Though you have lien among the pots,' that is, smeared and sullied, ' yet they shall be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as the snow in Salmon,' Ps. Ixviii. 13, 14. So though the chui-ch of God lies among the pots awhile, all smeared, and soiled, and sullied with the ill-usage of the world, yet as long as it keeps itself a dove, unspotted of the filth of the world and sin (though it be smeared with the ill-usage thereof), we see what God pro- miseth here, ' yet shall they be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.* So God will bring forth his dove i;\'ith glory out of all these abasements at length. So much for the title of dove. It follows,