An exposition of the Song of Solomon: called Canticles Together with profitable obseruations, collected out of the same. Perused and published by William Gouge, preacher of Gods Word in Black-Friers, London.

CHAP. VIII.

CHVRCH.

VERSE 1

We haue a sister, a little one, and she hath no brests: what shall we doe for our sister in the day that she shall be talked of?

FIfthly, the Church of Solomons time, as maimed and imperfect till the ful∣nesse of the Gentiles should com in, which then were a fewe, and rarely called, and without any ministery of their owne (as it were) brests to giue suck, con∣sulteth with Christ what course to take when the mystery so long kept secret shall bee reucaled and made knowne for their conuersion. How she may behaue her selfe in helping and administring vnto them: what Christ will bee pleased to doe in gi∣uing an encrease and blessing. And thus she doth further testifie her loue to Christ, by her loue vn∣to their common sister. Sister to her, by the seede of the same spirtit whereby they are both begotten vnto God: sister to Christ, by his assuming of the same nature to him.

CHRIST and his CHVRCH both.

VERS. 2.

When a wall is to be built we will build it in a pallace of siluer. When as a gate is to bee fenced, wee will fence it about with boord of Cedre.

Christ and she make answere, telling what they meane to do: that since when that time shal be, it is not possible to containe the Church within the narrow boundes of Ierusalem, which of a particu∣lar Church of the Iewes shall then bee made the Catholicke Church of all the world; a new man∣ner of Citie must bee built: wherefore plucking downe the mid wall of partition, a new wall, and new gates shall bee made to enlarge the Cittie: a new gouernment and discipline, new officers, pa∣stors teachers, &c. to administer it. New, not in substance, which hath alwaies been the same, euen among the Iewes, but newly stablished, be w••ified, and translated to the Gentiles. Neither shall this be any disgrace to the now Ierusalem, euery thing shall bee then so farre more glorious and more ex∣cellent. A house of saints shall bee erected by the preaching of the Gospell, to bee the Pallace of the great King: a stately and magnificent pallace, all of siluer, which is the precious graces of Gods spirit: the Gate, the euer lasting gate of this Pallace, where the King of glory doth come in, the gate of our heart, shall be seeled with faith more precious then Cedre, by which onely wee receiue him and make him ours.

CHVRCH.

VERS. 3.

I being a wall, and my brests as towers, then shall I bee in his e••••es as one that findeth peace.

To this the Church (in the sixt and last place) replyeth that she is so far from enuving this great good vnto her sister, as contrariwise when she (the Church of the Iewes) shall herselfe become of the same society, and by the communion of the Spirit, grow vp with the Gentiles into one Citie embra∣cing Christ, whom so long they shall haue reiected, and making one glorious part, both for gouern∣ment and doctrine of the heauenly Tsion, Ierusa∣lem which is aboue, shee shall then obtaine a great part of her desire, and bee in a manner perfected, not being far from that rest and happinesse which she longeth after, to bee receiued into the perfect communion of her spouse: For these are euery where called the last daies.

CHRIST.

VERS. 4.

Solomon had a vine-yard in a fruit full place; he let out the vine-yard to keepers. Euery one bringeth for the fruit of it a thousand pie∣ces of siluer.

Christ againe sheweth how precious the Church is in his eies, and how much hee doth regard her, for this and all other her excellent parts: and that by a comparison in this wise; There is no King

(saith hee) and take Solomon the wisest, that if hee haue a vineyard in a fruitfull place, is able himselfe to dresse and to manure it, or to take all the fruit, but must be driuen to let it forth to others: And though his tenaunts and farmours pay him a rent for it, yet som part they look, and so reason would, they should keepe vnto themselues.

VERS. 5

My vineyard which I haue, is still before my face. I receiue both that thousand of thine, O Solomon, and also the two hundred peeces of those that keepe the fruit of it.

But I (saith Christ) neyther let out the Church, my vine-yard, nor suffer any part of the profits to goe from mee: for all grow vp into that bodie, whereof I am the head▪ I purse vp all the rent, and that also that Solomons lessees were to haue: So iealous I am of mine inheritance, and haue mine eies alwaies vpon it, being euer present with it, and in the middest of it.

VERS. 6.

O thou, shee that settest in these gardaines, to the fellows which attend vnto thy voice, preach me.

Hereupon he concludeth leauing this comman∣demēt as his last farewel to al the Churches, which are his gardaines wherein hee walketh and maketh his plants to grow, that in season, and out of sea∣son they preach the gospell to all that haue a mind

to attend vnto the wholsome doctrine.

CHVRCH▪

VERS. 7.

Flie to vs my well-beloued, and hee thou like to the r••e or young hart, Othou that dwellest in the mountaines of spices.

She shutteth the booke vp, vndertaking to doe that which he enioyneth: but knowing her owne vnability prayeth him to bee present with her, to giue her strength to doe it from his throne of glo∣ry, which is in the highest heauens, and spedily to accomplish all his promises by his last and glorious comming.

Amen. Euen so come Lord I••svs.