Three partes of Salomon his Song of Songs, expounded The first part printed before: but now re-printed and enlarged. The second and third partes neuer printed before. All which parts are here expounded and applied for the readers good. By Henoch Clapham.

Lect. XIIII. Sabbaoth of Moneths.

AS sixe dayes brought with them a sabbaticall sea∣uenth day: so the time of sixe moneths brought with it, his Sabbaticall seauenth moneth. The first was the Sabbaot of dayes, this second (as an Ancient well termeth it) is Sabbathum Mensium, the Sabbaot of Moneths. Not so termed be∣cause the seauenth moneth was wholy, but because a great parte of it was to be rested. The first day of this seauenth moneth called Tisri, was the feast of Trumpets. The tenth day was the feast of Reconciliation. The fifteenth day was the feast of Ta∣bernacles, and that continued seauen dayes after: euery which day had his peculiar sacrifice.

[ 1] The feast of Trumpets was a solemne memoriall of the bene∣fites which they had receiued by the vse of that kinde of instru∣ment. By the trumpets of Rammes hornes (a simple meane) it pleased God to shutter downe Ierichoes walls, Iosh. 6. By the two legall siluer trumpets, the congregation was enformed of the times of assembly and departure: secondly, of warre: thirdly, of festiuall solemnities, Numb. 10.1. &c. Wherein were represented these two spirituall things: the Word of God preached, and holy faithfull Prayer. By that blessed word sounded (as Isaiah was commanded in chap. 58.1.) it pleas••th to shutter downe the walls of the false church: to contrite the hard heart, to ouer ••hrow the mightie imaginations of mankinde. The sounding of an in∣strument, was but a weake meanes for ruinating wal's, chasing of the aduersarie: but the arme of Iehouah did accompany such meanes: so, the preaching of Christ crucified, and that by such meane instruments as the Apostles, of it selfe was vnable to con∣quer one soule: but it being the ordinance of God, and so ac∣companied with the powerfull operation of his spirit, it so hath cast downe the Oracle-walls of Idolatrie, broken downe the high imaginations of flesh and blood, expulsed the Romish fa∣miliar Hobgoblins, dispelled the clowdes of golden legendarie

lies. By the sounding of this word we are also taught how to as∣semble, and how to depart about our seuerall aff••ires: the word of God is to be our delight and counsailour. Yea, this same word is to be sounded ouer all our sacrifices and spirituall exulta∣tions, as one sacred ordinance for hallowing all our worship. The trumpets also did represent Prayer, when it is saide, that vppon their sound in warre-time, they should thereby be remembred before their God. And hereupon it is, that we are enioyned to Call vpon him in time of trouble: euen as Salomon (in his de∣dication of the temple) did interceede with the Lord, for hea∣ring Israel, when they should stretch forth their voice vnto God in the time of their straits. And so Hezekiah (stretching the ad∣uersaries letter before him, Isa. 37.) did lift vp his complaint to God, whereupon Iehouahs Angel issued out, and ••lue of his ene∣mies an hundred foure score and fiue thousand.

The feast of reconciliation was an act of humbling the soule [ 2] before God; to whom they could not be reconciled without him that was preached in their sacrifice.

The feast of tabernacles or boothes, put them in minde of [ 3] their flitting estate, while they were in the wildernesse: and is to vs a representation of our mooueable state in this wildernesse of the world. All these things accompany this sabbaticall moneth; the first moneth according to Hebrues ciuill accompt: but from the time of their comming from Aegypt, it became their Seauenth. For then the moneth Abib, called also Nisan, it was made the First, Exod. 12.2. & 13.4.

The Ciuil reckning thus

• 1 Tishri,
• 2 Marchesuan,
• 3 Cisleu,
• 4 Tebet,
• 5 Shebet,
• 6 Adar,
• 7 Abib,
• 8 Ijar,
• 9 Siuan
• 10 Tamuz,
• 11 Ab,
• 12 Aelúl.

The Ecclesiasticall thus.

• 1 Abib,
• 2 Ijar,
• 3 Siuan,
• 4 Tamuz,
• 5 Ab,
• 6 Aelúl,
• 7 Tishri,
• 8 Marches.
• 9 Cisleu,
• 10 Teb.
• 11 Sheb.
• 12 Adar.

The Ciuill First became thus the ecclesiasticall Seauenth, for tea∣ching vs, that All is become anew to the faithfull: who are to rest in him, who was figured by the High-priest entring into the Tem∣ples

Sanctum sanctorum this very seauenth moneth, and in no o∣ther. This seauenth day and seauenth moneth, doe both leade vs to rest in Messiah, in whom we are to Rest, for the Father in him Alone resteth well pleased.

Notes

• Origen in nu∣meros, whome Rabanus follo∣weth.
• Leuit. 23.23 &c. Num. 29 1. &c.
• Psal. 50.15.
• 1. King. 8.
• Their Ciuill accompt be∣gunne in our September, their Eccle∣siasticall in our March.