3. Again, is our head so golden, and whatsoever excellency we have, is it from our head ? Therefore as the church in the Revelation, ' let us cast all our crowns at his feet,' Rev. iv. 10. Have we crowns of gold ? anything that is excellent within, any grace, any comfort ? Let us lay it down at his feet, for all is firom him. Natural men have golden images of their own. Israel would have golden calves. Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden image, and all must worship it. So in the declining times of the church : they framed golden images, that is, a golden whorish rehgion, gilded, and painted, framed by their own brain, whereunto all must stoop. But the true gold is that we must respect and submit ourselves unto and admire. Others are but golden dreams and images, as Nebuchadnezzar's was. Christ's head is of fine gold.
All must be fine gold that comes from this head. His word is gold, sometimesf purged in the fire. His ordinances gold, in the Scripture * That is, ' apostate.' — Ed, t Qu. ' seven times ?' — Ed,
Cant. V. 10-13.] * his eyes ake as the eyes of doves.' 151
phrase, Ps. xix. 10. The city, the new Jerusalem, which signifies the state of the church in this world, when it shall be refined to the utmost, all is of gold ; the walls of precious stones ; the gates of pearl ; and the pavement of the streets of pure gold, Rev. xxi. 21, to shew the excellency of reforma- tion ; which golden times are yet to come. In the mean time let us go on and wait for them.
' His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.' I think this is but comple- mental, to fill up the other. It is nothing but a commendation of his fresh- ness, a foil to beauty. Therefore not particularly to be stood upon.
' His eyes are as doves' eyes by the rivers of waters,' &c. His eyes are as doves' eyes, and such eyes as are by the rivers of waters ; where they are cleansed and washed with milk that they may be the clearer, and fitly set; neither goggle eyes, nor sunk into the head, but fitly set, as a jewel in a ring ; neither too much in, nor too much out, to set out the comeliness of this part, the eye, which is the glory of the face.
Quest. Why is Christ said to have the eyes of doves 7
Alls. The dove hath many enemies, especially the white dove is a fair mark for the bii-ds of prey. Therefore God hath given that creature a quick sight, that she might discern her enemies. Thus the Scripture helps us to conceive of the quickness of Christ's eye. Rev. v, 6. There are seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God. Here Christ the lamb, hath seven eyes and seven horns. What be these ? Christ hath not only horns of power, as the enemies have horns of violence. — He hath horn against horn ; but seven eyes, that is, a quick sight to see aU the dan- ger the chm-ch is in, and seven eyes. Seven is a word of perfection, that is, he hath many eyes, an accurate sight. He hath not only an eye of pro- vidence over the whole world, but an eye of grace and favour, lively, and lovely in regard of his church. All things are naked and open before his eyes, as it is, Heb. iv. 13. He can see through us, he knows our very hearts and reins, which he must doe:?: officio, because he must be our judge. He that is judge of all had need to have eyes that will pierce through aU. It had need be a quick eye that must judge of the heart and affections. But what may we learn hence ? That we have a Saviour that hath doves' eyes, that is, clear eyes, able to discern.
Use 1. Take it as a point fii'st, of all comfort to the church, that when we have any imputation [that] Ues upon us, that we are thus and thus, Chi'ist hath quick eyes, he knows om- hearts. Thou knowest, saith Peter, Lord, that I love thee, John xxi. 15. In all false imputations, rest in the eyesight of Christ. He knows it is otherwise with us.
Use 2. Then again, in all abasement, know that there is an eye that sees all. He sees with his eye and pities with his heart. As he hath a quick eye, so he hath a tender heart. Though he seems to sleep and to wink, it is but that we may wake him with our prayers ; which when we have done, we shall see that Christ hath seen all this while, and that the violence the enemies of God have ofi'ered to his church, the spouse, hath been in his sight, and that they shall know at length to their cost.
Likewise it is a point of terror to all hypocrites and others, that think to bhndfold Christ again. Can they blindfold him in heaven that hath this sharp eye ? No ; he sees all their courses and projects, what they are and what they tend to ; and as he sees them, so he will spread them all open ere long.