! This and the following clauſes are here alledged as evidences of the Spring-time, which, in the myſtical and principal ſenſe, ſeems ro {ignific the day of Grace,or the glad tidings of Salvation propo- ſ:d to Sinners in the time of the Law, by Types, and Shadows,and Promiſes, but much more clearly and fully in the Goſpel, and all the diſcoveries and communications of Gods Grace to Mankind in Holy Ordinances, in the Gifts, and Graces, and Comforts of the Holy Spirit, vouchſafed unto, and appearing in Believers, as Buds and Bloſſoms do in the Spring time. » When Birds ſing moſt freely and ſweetly,as they do in the Spring. Or, as the ancient Tranſla» tors render it, of cutting or cropping, not Trees, which agrees not with thar ſealon, but the flowers laſt mentioned; for Notegays, or other uſes. » Which changeth its place according to the feaſon,as
3s obſerved, Fer. 8. 7. and by all other Writers, whe affirm that it
diſappears in Winter, and appears in the Spring,as ſome other Birds 2]ſo do; but this ſeems particularly to be mentioned, becauſe irdoth not only give notice of the Spring,bur alſo doth aptly repreſentthe Spirit of God, which even the Chaldee Paraphraſt underſtands by This Turtle, which appeared in the ſhape of a Dove, and which worketh a Dove-like Meekneſs, and Chaſtity, and Faithfulneſs jn Believers. 0 In Immanuels Land, as Canaan 15 Called, 1s. 8, 8. in
the Church.
13 The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs p, and the vines, ith the tender grape, give a good imell q. Ariſe my love, my fair one, and come away r.
the time of
'l4
I CL Chap. ml
; Until the morning of that great 2rd bleſſed day of the general ia Reſurrettion and Judgment, when all the ſhadows, nor only of Tg- norance, and Sin, and Calamity, but even ofall Ordinances, and outward Adminiſtrations, ſhal ceaſe, and make way for the imme= diate enjoyment of my Beloved. And this clauſe may be joined ei- ther 1. With the foregoing words,and ſo the ſenſe is,Chriſt doth and will abide with his Church as long as this Life and. World laſts ; which agrees with Chriſts Promiſes of being with his Church to the end of the World, Mat. 28, 20. But neither that nor this place im- ply that Chriſt willthen forſake his Pedplez but only ſecures Gods People againſt that which was the chief, if not only. matter of their fear, to wir, leſt Chriſt ſhould leave them,and caſt them off in this Life, which ifhedid not, they were aſſured that hereafter, they ſhould be ever with the Lord, 1 Theſe 4. 17. for it is well known and hath been oft obſerved already, that rhe word, unti/, doth not always exclude the time to come Or 2. With the following words. Turn thou my Beloved until the day break, &e. k Return to me. For although Chriſt had come to her, and ſhe had gladly received and embraced him, yet he was gone again, as is here implyed, and evi- dently appears from the next following verſe. Which ſudden change 1s very agreeable bothro the nature and method of ſuch dramatical | Writings, and amatorious Tranſattions, and to the ſtate of Gods | People in this World, where they are ſubje& ro frequent changes , and vicifſitudes of Chriſts withdrawing from them, and returning to ' to them again. /In ſwiftneſs;make haſte to help me, forT am read 'ro faint. » A placein the Land of Promiſe, poſſibly the ſame called ; Bithron, 2 Sam, 2. 29. Where it ſeems thoſe Creatures were in great abundance, or where they were commonly bunted, and ſo being purſued, they made all poſſible haſre to eſcape.
CHAP. Il
p Which it thooteth forth as ſoon as it Goth Leaves, in the Springs time, Matth. 24. 32. q Which, though not ſtrong,is pleaſant and grateful, and given by it in the progreſs of the Spring. r Theſe words are here repeated, to ſhew both the Churches infirmity, and indiſpoſition, which neeJs ſo many Calls and 4-guments to preſs fo neceſlary and advyantagious a Duty; and Chriſts tender compaſſion, to her weakneſs,and fervent deſire of converſe with here
14 O my dove 5s, that art in the clefts of therock f,in the {ecret places of the * ſtairs «, let me ſee thy countenance x, * let me hear thy voice y;for ſweet :s thy voice,and thy countenance zscomely z.
s So r1e Church is called, partly for her Dove-like Temper and Diſpoſition, becauſe ſhe is chaſte, and mild, and harmleſs,&'c. and partly for her Doveelike Condirion, becauſe ſhe 1s weak, and expo= ſed to Perſecution, and givento Mourning, as Doves are, 1/3. 38. 14, and 59. 11. Exzek: 7. 16: and ſubject to many Fears, and there- fore forced to hide her ſelf in Rocks, as it follows, £ Where ſhe hid her ſelf, either 1. For fear of her Enemies, whom to avoid ſhe puts her ſelf inro the ProreQion of the Almighty. Or 2; Our of Modeſty, and an humble ſenſe of her own Detormities, and Infir- mities, which makes her endeavour to hide her felf even from her Beloved; as aſhamed to appear in his preſence, which is frequently the caſe of Gods People,efpecially after falls into fin.And this fenſe ſeems to be favoured by the following words,in which Chriſt reliev. eth her aga:nit tuch diſcouraging thoughts. = In the holes of crage gy and broken Rocks which retemble ftaits. So r1eſame thing 1s here repeated in other words.x Be not afraid nor aſhame ''to appear before me,come boldly into my preſence,and acquaint thy ſelf with me. y Thy Prayers and Praiſes. z Tiy Perſon and Services are ac- cepted by me, and are amiable in my tight.
i5 Takes us b * the foxes c, the little foxes d, that ſpoil the vines e: for our vines have tender grapesf.