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VERSE XII. While the King sitteth at his Repast, my Spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
THese words are the speech of the Church, and do set forth the benefit she receiveth from her Beloved, when she sitteth at Repast with him. To sit at Repast, as some say, is to sit round in a Circle, round about compassing a thing; like as when Men sit at a round Table to
refresh themselves at Dinner, or at Break-fast. So that Christ's sitting at Repast, is his sitting in Compass. And the Compass or Circle that he sits in is the Earth, with his Chosen on Earth; so that in all places where his Chosen are, there sitteth Christ at Repast. And when the Bride meeteth the King at Repast, she says, My Spikenard gave the smell thereof.
The Spikenard is a Flower growing in Syria, bitter of tast, but wonderful sweet of smell; and that which comes out of the Flower, giveth also a most excellent scent to a Man's Nose.
Now, as at Banquets, Kings, and other great Persons, did use to come with their sweet Per∣fumes to make a most fragrant scent to their Queens, and others; so doth the Bride here when she meeteth the King at Repast, she is perfumed with the King's Spikenard.
Now by the King here, is meant the Lord Jesus Christ; and by his Repast, the Gospel; and by his Sitting, that wonderful rest and content he taketh, in feeding his People with Knowledge and Understanding; and by the Spikenard, the joyful scent of his own Righ∣teousness and Merits; and the word [while], notes the time when she receiveth this Heavenly Oyl, even when the King sitteth at Repast, that is, when the Gospel is preaching. And she calleth it my Spikenard, because the Righ∣teousness of Christ is hers by imputation; and by sending forth the smell thereof, she meaneth
the perfuming of all those humbled Sinners that come to the Kings Repast.
First then we must diligently observe where the King sitteth at Repast, and also when he sitteth to feed, and what the true scent of the Spikenard is; that we may be in readiness to receive it our selves, and then to open the Box, and pour it out to others, that the whole House may be filled with the Odour thereof.