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Christ maketh mention of going downe unto her; he speaketh of a time past, even that time which is mentioned in the former Chapter, when he found her a sleep. The Spouse is called a Garden, I went downe to the Garden. And here it is Translated, The Garden of Nuts, being generally so taken by the He∣brew Rabbies. The word Egoz is not found in all the
Scripture, but in this place. We may take it for those aromaticall Trees and fruits (such as Christs Gardens are planted with, Chap. 4. 12, 13.) and so it's to be understood of that fruit which we call Nut∣megs, and the like.
Or, we may take the words thus, I came downe to the faire dressed Garden. For Egoz which is taken to be the Nut, may be derived of Gazaz, which signifieth to cut, or sheare. And so it seemeth most fit to take it thus, and it rather standeth both with the etimology of the Hebrew word, and also most agreeable to the circumstance of the place, because afterwards he men∣tioneth Vines. Pomegranates, and such like, with which men are wont to plant their Gardens, and not so commonly with Nut Trees, which are not so much of account and estimation. And so I say we may take it, I went downe into the dressed Garden, for by this speech may be understood all the cost and labour which the Lord bestowed upon his Vineyard, by planting, watering, dressing, and bestowing all man∣ner of labour and cost upon it, that it might be fruit∣full: In this the Lord shewed that he did not out of loathsomnesse and wrath desert from his Spouse, but rather of a very earnest desire that he had to finish the heavenly marriage betweene them, and therefore he comes down to make her as a well-dressed Garden.
Hence Observe,
That Christ doth not withdraw from his Spouse in ever∣lasting displeasure, but rather to manifest his everlasting love unto her. Hence it is that Christ saith here, I am come downe into my Garden, he speaketh according to the manner of men, who in the Summer time come to
see their workes thrive and prosper: so that it is as much, as if Christ had said, Thou shouldst not have been dismaid (O my Spouse) that I departed from thee, for therein I deale but with thee, as good Gardeners and Vine-dressers deale with Orchards, gardens, and vineyards, who comming (perhaps before the time of fruit) to looke for fruit, and finding none depart, not for ever, but till another convenient season, when they may receive fruit. So that Christ will not lose his la∣labour and cost bestowed upon his Spouse, ow∣ners of their gardens and orchards: but he will come expecting fruit, and making fruitfull, as the follow∣ing words doe farther hold forth, where wee have the end of Christs going downe to his garden; to wit: