To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Thy Teeth are like a ••lock of Sheep, that are even shorn, which come up from the washing: whereof every one beare Twins, and none is barren among them.
CHrist goes on in the commendation of his Spouse, and that by propounding some other particu∣lars. In this Verse is introduced her Teeth, compa∣red to a flock, towit, of Sheep, or Ewes, which is here to be understood, because it is not expressed in the Hebrew.
This flock unto which the Teeth of the Spouse are likened, is set forth in fowre particulars.
The first commendations of the teeth is, that they are like a flock of Sheep that are even shorn, that is, that are made even, or equall, of the same size, that stand in good order. The Hebrew word Ketsoboth, turned even, shorne, or, good order, of Ketsab, to cut, to size or make equall (as of one size the Cherubs were made in 1 Kings 6. 25.) it must signifie such an even-nesse, or good order, as followeth in things a like sized and car∣ved. And here (as a Rabbin observeth) it signifi∣eth such a flock of animalls, as are so orderly equall, as if one were cut or sized by another. This is the first praise of these mysticall teeth of the Church, that they are cut of equall height, or of equall bignesse, not one longer then another, which would be unseemly, and an hindrance to the well eating and chewing of her spirituall food. The second commendation followeth.
Sheep that are newly washed are white and cleane, being cleansed by water from filth and dust. As it is a commendation to the teeth to be orderly propor∣tioned and seated, so to be cleare and white as Lambs
going up from the washing. It was a part of Judah's blessing, that his Teeth should be white with milke, Gen. 49. 12. This terme of washing, whereby the Teeth are set out to be cleare, white, and beautious, seems to be taken from the sacramentall washings of the Jewes, and may signifie the purity of that spirituall food, wherewith the Church is fed and nourished: or else the cleannesse of the soule that receives such spi∣rituall food. The third commendation of the teeth followeth.
As fruifull Ewes sometimes bring forth twins of e∣quall bignesse, so the teeth are set in equall ranks one answerable to another. Some of the Rabbins read Mathimoth passively, to avoid tautoligie in the next clause, thus, Every one whereof is twinned, or paired, that is, like as sheep going from the washing by couples, whereby is plainly set forth the equall correspon∣dence of upper and lower teeth, each one orderly an∣swering the other, as cut and sized by couples. This may denote the unity and fellowship of believers, that feed on the spirituall food of Jesus Christ. The Saints are fed and nourished together by the heavenly Man∣na, even as Sheep goe up in couples from the wash∣ing. The fourth and last commendation of these teeth followeth.
None is barren, or, as the word Shacculah, importeth, none amongst them aborts, that is, brings forth before the time, or none is bereaved or robbed of the young, by mis∣carrying, or the like. That which is barren is that which beareth not, as appears in Isaiah 64. 1.
Sing O barren thou that bearest not, &c. but here the word signifieth either miscarrying in the birth, or losse of that which is brought forth, by robberie, death or the like: so this denoteth the stedfastnesse of every tooth in his place, after it is brought forth: as if it were said, there is no tooth wanting in their order and place but even and stedfast, as sheep yeilding twins, and ne∣ver miscarrying: so hath the Church her teeth.
Some understand these teeth, the pastours and tea∣chers of the Church, because they were such as did Cut and divide the word of truth aright unto the people, as the Apostle saith: but I rather understand it of the Chur∣ches judging, discerning, and applying the word of God, to the comfort and nourishing of her owne soul, feeding by faith upon the promises of God. The spiri∣tuall food of the soule is Christ, and therefore is cal∣led, The bread of life, that came downe from heaven, Joh. 6. And the word is called the food of our soules, the A∣postle willeth us, As new borne babes to desire the sincere milke of the word, 1 Pet. 2. 2. And Paul telleth the Co∣rinths, That they were carnall, even babes in Christ, and that he gave them milke to drinke, and not strong meate, 1 Cor. 3. Now by the teeth of the Church is meant that esteeme, discerning and applying of the word of God, that she hath for her owne comfort and nou∣rishment.
Hence Observe.
That the Saints doe comfortably feed on Christ and his word, as on the heavenly food of their soules.
It is said in Psal. 22. 26. The meeke shall eate and be satisfied, and in Psal. 132. 15. the meeke and needy shall have enough. And Luke 1. 53. God filleth the hun∣grie with good things. that is, they shall be satisfied and
filled with the good things of the Gospel. And thus wisedome inviteth the simple, To eate of her bread, and drinke of her wine, Prov. 9. 5. Thus Jesus tels the Jews, that he was the bread of life, Joh. 6. now it is upon Christ, and on the sweet promises, that the soule is nourished; and it is the believer only can feed upon this spirituall food, judging and discerning it aright. So much for the commendation of the Churches teeth. It followeth.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Incidit prae∣cidit, succi∣dit, decur∣tavit.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Gemmus fuit, conge∣minatus est.