x TheChurch having offended and loſt her beloved by herformer lazineſs,now doubles her diligence,and diſcovers kew earneſtly ſhe was ſet upon the following work. y To particular congregations- See Cant, 6: 1. Iſa. 5.1. zLetus inquire into the ſucceſs of our Latours, what Souls are brought in and buil: up,how they proſptrc and grow in Grace, whether they abound in good Works,&c.s There I will diſcover the linceriry and fervency of my aff:&ions to thee, angl maintain communion with thee in thy holy Ordinances.
I3 The mandrakes b give a {mell,and ar our gates 6 are all manner of pleaſant frairs, new and old 4, which I have laidup for thcee, O my beloved,
_ 6 This Hebrew word is uſed, Gen: 30: 14, 15. and the ſignifica- tion of it is very much doubted&diſputed by Interpreters;ofwhich ſee my Latin Synopſis on that place. But this 15 cectain that the word ſignifies ſweet and pleaſ-nt flowers.and therefore if it be underſtoot of Mandrakes, they were of another ſort than ours, as it is to uns uſual ching forflowers of the ſame kind in teveral Climates to have very differing Naturesand Qualities.c Either 1. Growing thereupon the Walls, or in Gardens,or Orchards, near the door of our dwel- ling-houſe : Or rather 2. Brought thither by diverſe perſons to con« gratulateand adorn.our Nuprials,or laid up for our entertainment, as may be gathered from the nature of the fruits, which. were not only new,and growing, but aJſoold, and laid up, as it here follows. d Fruits of this year, and of the former,that the variery might de- light. Which ſeems to be ſpiritually meant of thevariousfruits and operations of the Spirit, and degrees of Grace in ſeveral Believers. - - noon have been produced by my Miniſtry for thy Service and
OTY+ a
? - o
CHA Þ. VIIL | The Church expreſſ#th herdefire of familiarity with Chriſt, 1. by the enter gainment ſhe'd make him.2,y3. She charges the Daughters of Jeruſalem not to diftrb her beloved, g. A commendation of the Church for ker Faith in. , Chriſt, 5: Sheprayech for full aſſurance of his Lave, her invincible dew fire, 6. Which 15 inſatiable, 7. Thecalling of the Gemiles withcheir intent . + : , Nay and h:r condition,s 13. Chrifts coming prayed fer, 1 4, +Heb:5hez Oo Thar thou wert as my brother 4 that ſucked the ſtev/dnee.. breaſts of my mother 5; when T ſhould find thee dep!ſe me, withoar-c, I would kiſs thee 4, yet FI ſhould not be deſpiſed e. | i Ong a Moſt intimate, and free, and familiar with me, as Brethren and Sitters commonly are» + That came out ofthe ſame womb,aad: ſucked the ſame breaſts,and conſequently were Brother & Siſter by, ' Father and Mother too;for ſuch are moiſt dear to one anorher. See Gen: 53:29« Deut, 13: 6. Heb. Sucking the Breaſts, &c. So ſhe wiſhs+ eth thar he were asa litcle ſucking Brother, with whom ſhe might innocently & inoffenſively delight her ſelf,as Siſters do with ſuch a Brother. TheChurch here expreiſth her paſſionate deſire of a ſtricter. Union,and cloſer Communion with Chriſt than yet ſhe had attain= ed, And in particular,theſe may be the breathings of the ancient Jewiſh Church afcer-Chriſts Incarnation, whereby he was to be their Brother, Rom: $8: 29, Heb: 2;11, 12. and a ſucking infant, cIn the open ſtreets; I might then expreſs my AfffeCtions,. to thee, and kiſs, thee openly without any ſcandal or contempr;, Or,without, i.e. coms forth from the Fathers boſom into the World,Joh. 16, 28.4 I would demonſtrate my Reverence, and Subjecrtion, and Afffection to thee,, of all which kiſſing was a token in thoſe times and places, as hath been oft obſerved 1n diverſe foregoing Texts. - e Then ſhould I nor be aſbamedor cenſured, as if I had done an indecent or immodesſt action,becauſe ſuch Expreſſions of Love are uſual amongſt Perfons ſo nearly and dzarly related, Foe 9 2 I would lead thee, xd bring, theef into my mo- Or, :tos thers houſe g, || 25s would inſtrut me 4:T would cauſe «p,, ,; 1; thee to drink of * ſpiced wine,of che juice of my pome- granate 4, + -* . | ed _ f Wirh joy and trinmph, as the Bridegroom was uſually brought rothe Brides houſe. See Pſal: 45: 15, 16. g Either x, My Morhers in Law, my Hrustands Mother, as the cuirom was, Cen: 24: 56. JTudg. 12: 9. Or 2. My own Mothers; to thew her extraordinary, Reſpect and Afffection rohim. In the myſcical ſeats both come ro one;for the univerſal Church was inſoine ſort both his and her Mos;
5 Q 3 ther,
hap. VIIL. | « ther, þ To wit, how I ſhould behave my ſelf towards thee. Or, where ſbe did inſtru or educate me. i 1 would give thee the beſt en- tertainment which the Houſe affords. My Gifts and Graces ſhould all be employed to ſerve and glorifie thee:
Zh. 2:6, ga * Hisleft hand sheuld be under my
| ieht hand ſhould embrace me &.
= The ſame expreſſions are uſed, cþ. 2, 6, The ſenſe is, He would not deſpiſe me for my forwardneſs in ſhewing my affe&ions to him, as men commonly do in like caſes,but would kindly accept of my Love, and rerurn Love for it,
27: 4 * I charge you, O daughters of Jeruſalem, # that
3-5. ye ſtir not up,nor awake m7 love until he pleaſe 7. Heb.why 1 This verſe is here repeated again from ch, 2» 7. & 3. 5e where ſee the Explication of it. - OOF C * Who 5s this that cometh up from the wilder- - ' leaning upon her beloved »?) I raiſed thee up # mw under the apple-tree p; there thy mother brought thee
forth q;there ſhe brought thee forth :har bare thee.
m Theſe words are repeated from «, 3: 6.0f which ſee the notes This and the next clauſe are the words either; $8, Ofthe £7eruſalem, or the Friends of the Bride and Bridegroom d congratulating this happy conjunCtion:Or 2. Of the
who propoſeth the Queſtion, thar he may give the
following.» Which imp'yes both great freedom&fami- feQion.and a F yu « cp _ _ age be ooms words, he ſpeiketh of himlſe!f in the third Perſon, wore ot in the os Loca. 0 When thou waſt fallen and laid low,and wert dead in treſpaſſes,and in the deprh of miſery, T revived thee: pUnder my own ſhadow; for ſhe had compared him to an apple-tree,and declared, that under the ſhadow of the T'ree ſhe had both delight and fruit, Cant: 2+ 3. which is the ſame thing with this raiſmz up. q Under that Tree.either the Univerlal or the Primitive Church did conceive and bring thee forth. 6 Set me as a ſeal upon thine heart, as a ſeal upon
thine arm r : for love s is ſtrong as death f, jealouſie « ;s + cruel x as the grave : the coals thereof are coals of