An exposition on the whole booke of Solomons song,: commonly called the canticles. Wherein the text is explained and usefull observations raised thereupon. / By John Robotham, preacher of the gospel.

For our Vines have tender grapes.

For, in the Hebrew and, which word is often used instead of for, as in Psal. 60. 13. And in Genesis 12. 19.

Our Vines, or, our Vineyards: By the Vinyard and Vine, is understood the Church of Christ, and the Gospel: The Prophet saith, I will sing to my well-beloved, a song of my beloved, of his Vine-yard, Isa. 5. 1. and the Vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant, &c. chap. 5. 7. But now wee must know, that there are two sorts of Vines, the one of Jerusalem, the other of sodome, as Moses speaketh, For their Vine is the Vine of sodome, and of the Vines of Gomorrah, their grapes are grapes of gaule, their clusters be bitter, their wine is the poyson of Dragons, and the cruell gaule of Aspes, &c.

Deut. 32. 31. Therefore it must not be the Vine of sodome, but the Vine of Jerusalem, which wee are to understand here. This Vine is the Spouse of Christ, and all the faithfull are labourers in the Lords Vine∣yard.

Tender grapes, which doe but begin to bud, and shew themselves, even in the beginnings of the fruits of reli∣gion: Foxes labour to destroy these, as Herod sought to destroy Christ at the beginning of his dayes, and Pha∣raoh the men. Children of Israel at their birth, that so Israel might be no more a Nation. These Foxes there∣fore both great and small, must therefore be taken and destroyed. The words being thus unfolded, let us take notice of these observations.

First, Observe.

That the Spouse of Christ is alwayes troubled with some enemies.

There are alwayes those of greater or lesser power to afflict the Church, there will alway be some San-bal∣lat or Tobiah, or some such to nible at the Vines of Christ of this, the Scripture is full of testimonies.

Secondly, Observe.

That these enemies of the Spouse, are of a devouring nature.

That spoile our Vines, &c. Foxes are hurtfull to the la∣bour of the husband-man. samson being wrongd by the Philistims, tooke three hundred Foxes, and with their tailes set on fire, burnt their corne, with their Vine∣yards and Olives. There have been alwayes false Tea∣chers, as in Moses time, their stood up Jannes and Jam∣bres; and how many of Baals Prophets were there in the time of Elias? and when was the Spouse of Christ free from persecution of tyrannicall Kings and Prin∣ces?

This is then the Churches portion, and therefore not to be wondred at.

Thirdly, Observe.

That Christ doth cherish the least buddings of grace in his Saints.

For our Vines have tender grapes: When a Vine brings forth wild grapes, Christ will take away the hedge of his vineyard, and it shall be eaten up, Isa. 5. 4. But on the contrary, Christ tels us, that every branch that beareth fruit, shall be purged, that it may bring forth more fruit Joh. 15. 1, 2. so that Christ hath great care to pre∣serve young and tender fruit.

Fourthly, Observe.

That such as would by subtiltie and tyrannie destroy the tender plants of Christ are to be restrained. Take us the Foxes.

First, for false Prophets, they are to be discovered, and refused of their errour, and after all, judg'd, and cast out of the Church; he that will deny the doctrine of the Gospell, wee must not receive him, neither bid him God-speed, Joh. 2. 10. But in the end, Christ himselfe will restraine both the Beast and the false Pro∣phet, as in Revel. 19. 20. And the Beast was taken, and with him the false Prophet, that wrought miracles before him, &c. These were both cast alive into a Lake of fire bur∣ning with brimstone. Therefore let all persecuting em∣perours, Kings, and Priests know, that the time will come that Christ will take them and chaine, them up, or else destroy them, and in that he sayes, these shall be taken alive: it notes out unto us, the great and hor∣rible torments, that they shall indure, and that is cal∣led the Lake of fire, to wit, an exquisite torment thereby resembled.