Zions ioy in her King, comming in his glory. Wherein, the estate of the poore distressed Church of the Gentiles (travailing in the wildernesse towards the new Jerusalem of the Jewes) in her utmost extremities, and height of her joyes, is lively delineated; in some mediations upon that propheticall Psalme 102. wherein the sense is opened, and many difficult places of Scripture inlightned by a harmony, and consent of the Scriptures. Delightfull and profitable to be read in these times of the Churches troubles, and much longed for restauration and deliverance. / By Finiens Canus Vove. Compiled in exile, and lately now revised and somewhat augmented as the weight of the subject and the revolution of the times required. It is ordered this three and twentieth day of January, 1642 by the Committee of the Commons House of Parliament concerning printing, that this booke intituled Zions joy in her King, comming in his glory, be printed. John White.

The first whereof is, A glorious liberty.

VVHen the Lord Jesus comes in his Church and king∣dome appearing in his glory, he proclaimes libertie to the captives, Isa. 61. 1. to the prisoners of hope, Zach. 9. 12. Isa. 49. 9. to all that were in setters and chaines, and stinking dungeons, as

sonnes of death, as the Church complaines, Vers. 21. of this Psalme, all sonnes of death under Antichrists tyranny, and the Iewes under sentence of death for the rejecting of Christ so long, here is a generall gaole delivery of Iewes and Gentiles, their chaines shall be broken, their bands loosed, their fasts turned into feasts with great joy and melody, Zach. 8. 19.

The gates of this new Church stand open continually, Apoc. 21. 25. to give libertie and entrance into Christs kingdome unto all the elect; and a generall pardon proclaymed to all that have stood out, and are now comming in into Christs kingdome, Apoc. 22. 17. to drinke of the water of life freely, Christs well of life stands now open to all thirsty drinkers; the poorest, languish∣ing, weary soule, shall be most welcome, their want shall magni∣fie his fulnesse, his great delight to ease and helpe, and refresh all fainting spirits: for he is, fons semper ebulliens, an ever and o∣verflowing fountaine, never exhausted or yet diminished, if there were a thousand worlds for drinkers, there is enough for all, none need to grudge anothers drinking, and enough remay∣ning.

Sumit unus, sumunt mille, Quantum ipsi, tantum ille, Neque sumptus consumitur.

The second is a healing glory, after liberty out of long captivitie.

VVHen the Lord Jesus, this Sunne of righteousnesse ari∣ses and appeares in his glory to build his Zion, to set up his kingdome, he comes with healing under his wings, Mal. 4. 2. of all his Churches distempers, so that the Saints shall grow as Calves of the stall or Calfe fatlings under the Cow, growing exceedingly and suddenly, having the dugge continually at plea∣sure; sure then they shall faint no more, Mal. 4. 2. his fruit is for meate, his leaves for medicine for the healing of the Nations, Apoc. 22. 2. and cap. 2. 7. hee will heale all the Churches backsli∣dings, Ier. 3. 22. all her infirmities, Hos. 6. 1.

All the rebellions of a stiffe-necked people, Hos. 14. 4. hee will heale all her diseases inward and outward, which the Church here complaines of in this Psalme, all the scarres, wrinckles, and withered skin, through course diet and unwholsome food, of ashes as bread, and teares for drinke, he will heale her consump∣tion she complaines of, and she shall sing as in the dayes of her

youth, Hos. 2. 15. her flesh shall grow as a childs flesh, and no spot or wrinckle in it; she that complained of her Jehovahs hiding of his face shall see his face with joy, Iob 33. 25. she shall revive as the Corne, flourish as the Vine, Hos. 14. 7. she that looked blacke and ugly, as the Owle of the desart, as the Heath of the wilder∣nesse, shall flourish as the Rose, Isa. 35. 1. as the Rose of Sharon, and Lillies of the valleyes, Cant. 2. 1. her withered cheekes shall be white and ruddy, faire and pleasant as a Love for delights, Cant. 7. 6. her eyes that were growne swelled and dimme with con∣tinuall weeping and watching, as the Sparrow on the house top alone, shall be like Doves eyes, Cant. 4. 1. piercing bright and love∣ly to see her king in his glory.

She that drunke her full cups of teares, shall bee stayed with flaggons, Cant. 2. 5. of new wine of the Kings wine Cellar, Cant. 2. 4. shall drinke of the waters of life that flow out of the Kings Palace, Ezek. 47. 1. her bones that she complayned were burnt as an hearth, scorched with fiery tryalls, shall flourish as the herbe, Isa. 66. 14. shall now be full of marrow and fatnesse, when she shall thinke on her beloved in her night-watches, Psal. 63. 5. her meditation which before was of her sore troubles, deepe mu∣sings, serious thoughts in the silent night of her weary night∣watches in his long absence, shall now be sweet, O how sweet the thoughts of him! Psal. 104. 34. she that was smitten at heart and withered as the hearbe strucke with lightning, in the sense of the indignation of her Jehovah, shall have coole refresh∣ing waters flowing from under the threshold of the Sanctuary, Ezek. 47. 1. and the dew of her youth, Psal. 110. 4. to revive her, and make her fresh and greene, fat and flourishing, Psal. 92. 14. as the Laurell tree, which Pliny saith is not strucke with lightning or blasted; she shall have oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of hea∣vinesse, Isa. 61. 3. shee that was driven into the Wildernesse and forsaken of friends, shall bee brought into the Princes Cham∣bers, Cant. 1. 4. she that poured forth her sore complaints as a vessell bursting for vent, shall now poure out her spirit in high prayses, most sweetly, melodiously, now no note so sweet as Jah my Song. O Jah my Song. She that was clad in sackcloth, shall now be deckt with garments wrought with needle, Psal. 45. 14. Isa. 61. 10. She who was a stranger to her acquaintance shall now have honourable attendants and be brought home, &c. brought home to the Kings presence in his Ivory palaces, Psal. 45. 8. for

her shame she shall have double recompence, everlasting joy shall be unto her, Isa. 61. 7. for her Jehovah comes to take away all iniquity from Jacob, Rom. 11. 26. makes all sound and whole, no cure or medicine like to this of this skilfull Chirurgion, and wise Physitian: I will restore health to thee and heale thy wounds; Jer. 30. 17. Psal. 103. 3.

The third glory is of brightnesse and beauty.

AS after liberty of Captives, followes healing of all disea∣ses, so after healing a perfect cure, followes brightnesse and beautie, to make the Church comely and lovely in Christs eyes, all this he workes by his appearing in his glory.

And when the Lord Iesus thus arises in his glory, then shall she also arise and shine, Isa. 60. 1. then he cries to her, Arise O Zion, put on garments of beauty, Isa. 52. 1. this shining signifies in∣ward and outward splendour, in a flourishing condition in the world, and therefore saith the Lord to her from his arising, Arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee; the nations shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightnesse of thy rising, they shall bring gold and incense, and shew forth the prayses of the Lord, Isa. 60. 1. 3. 6. compared with Apoc. 21. 24. The light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sunne, and the light of the Sunne seven fold as the light of se∣ven dayes, Isa. 30. 26. All shall be taught of God that are within this holy Citie of God, Isa. 54. 13. the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea, Isa. 11. 9. Hab. 2. 14. A brightnesse of glory of Christ shall cast rayes of lustre all over the knowne inhabited world. Here shall bee no cloudy braind humanists, who in these dayes of ours, darken Gods Counsells with humane knowledge, Iob 38. 2. and frame all things in the Church and worship of God, according to an Idea of their owne braines, yea Idolize their owne inventions: for the whole earth shall shine with his glory, Ezek. 43. 2, 3. And as great brightnesse of knowledge, so there shall be great glory in holinesse, beauties of holinesse, Psal. 110. 4. upon all the ves∣sells in Jerusalem, Zach. 14. 20. that is, upon all the pure ordi∣nances, yea great holinesse of conversation too, in mens ordi∣nary callings, Holinesse writ upon the horse bridles, No un∣cleane thing shall enter into the new Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. 27. Isa. 57. 1. the false Prophet and uncleane spirit shall depart out of

the land, and the Canaanite shall be no more in the house of the Lord, Zach. 13. 2. and 14. and the false prophets shall no more weare a rough garment to deceive, Zach. 13. 4. no Canonicall coates there. The Church shall bee very glorious within (in glorious inward graces) so also outwardly in glorious orna∣ments of all pure ordinances, officers and offices; her cloathing is of broydered gold, glistering in the eyes of all the world, to their amazement and wondering, she shall bee brought to the King in rayment of needleworke, with her virgins and compa∣nions, Psal. 45. 13, 14. she shall be deckt with shining ornaments, golden ordinances, golden worship, and a golden and bright shining discipline, answerable to her bright light of doctrine, she shall be so compleatly accomplished with all inward and out∣ward beautie, as the King her Bridegroome shall exceedingly de∣light in her beautie, Psal. 45. 11. beautifull as Tirzah (a pleasant place where Princes dwelt, 1 King. 14. 17. and cap. 15. 27. 33. and 16. 6. 23.) Comely as Jerusalem, Cant. 6. 4. (the chiefe Citie where the Tribes all resort, which made it beautifull, Psal. 122. 3. as the Hall or Court of Solomon, Cant. 1. 5. for glory, peace and safetie; in summe, she shall now be faire and delightfull, and no spot in her, Cant. 4. 7. and 2. 14. bright as the morning, faire as the Moone, cleare as the Sunne, terrible as an army with banners, Cant. 6. 10. Such a brightnesse of this new Church, as like the morning moone pleasant in its first beginning, proceeding still to more glorious brightnesse and terrour to the enemies, in her grouth and riper age like the Sunne in brightnesse, a pleasant sight saith Brightman in Cant. 6. 10. Come Lord Jesus (saith hee) and bring in the gathering of our dispersed brethren the Jewes, that all flesh may know thee to be the Lord.

Yea the Lord Jesus discovers in the Scriptures such brightnesse of glory wherewith he will decke and adorne this new Church of the Jewes, in such variety of similitudes as may any way bee set forth to humane capacitie, I will lay thy stones with beau∣tifull colours (of glistering stones of divers colours, and all man∣ner of pretious stones, 1 Chron. 29. 2.) and thy foundations with Saphirs, and I will make thy windowes of Agates, thy gates of Carbuncles, and thy borders of pleasant stones, Isa. 54. 11. all which sets out the glory of this building of Zion from the Lord Jesus his appearing in his glory; he will make it a glorious stru∣cture, as is set forth Revel. 21. 1, 2. in the glory of the new Ierusa∣lem,

descending from God out of heaven, having the glory of God and her brightnesse as a stone most pretious, as the Jasper stone, shining as Crystall, and the whole building of Jasper, shi∣ning as Crystall, like the heavens brightnesse without clouds ve∣ry transparent, and of a refreshing delight and brightnesse as of a pretious stone that strives with the Sunne for brightnesse and is not diminished but increased by the Sunne beames, shewes the brightnesse of the Church in worship and ordinances, cleare of all clouds of false doctrines, and not duskish or muddy with mens inventions. And the wall of this Citie the new Ierusalem is built of Jasper, Apoc. 21. 18. bright and cleare, and also firme and impregnable, as a wall of Adamant glistering with the Diamond, signifies the puritie of discipline and safety of the Saints under Christs government. And the Citie it selfe and the streets there∣of is of pure gold, like to cleare glasse, that is, the matter of this new Church is made of and built of, is pure and holy, Saints by calling, 1 Cor. 1. 2. lively stones for making up of this building, 1 Pet. 2. 5. tryed metall in the furnace of long and hot fiery trialls, such as no fire could consume or floods of waters make duskie with mud and filth of Idolatry and superstition, of mens inven∣tions, no way loosing their lustre and brightnesse, as gold which wastes not nor rusts not, admits of no corruption or change in the worst times, such spirituall materialls for the building of Zion as shall be beautifull in Christs eyes, and in a sort be perpe∣tuall in lustre and excellencie untill she be translated to glory in eternitie. This golden lustre is also said to be as cleare as glasse, through shining with brightnesse, that all men may clearely see the graces and favour of God, and even God himselfe shining in the Saints, and so are the very streets of this holy Citie where the Saints converse of the same golden brightnesse of life and conversation in all their dealings, without such fraud & circum∣ventions as now the world is full of. And the foundations of the wall of this Citie were twelve foundations, and in them the names of the Lambes twelve Apostles, that is, the doctrine of the twelve Apostles; it is the wall, not the Citie that hath this foundation of her stabilitie, Christ himselfe is foundation of the Citie, 1 Cor. 3. 11. this doctrine of the twelve Apostles is also meant of the doctrine of the faithfull pastors, and teachers, as the off-spring of the Apostles succeeding them in their holy functions in splendour and brightnesse of light and graces and

gifts of Christ, wherewith the Church officers shall shine above others▪ and this is the same meaning of that mentioned before.

The twelve severall foundations of twelve severall stones bright and pretious, sets forth the variety of gifts and graces there of all sorts needfull for the Church, as knowledge and candid clearnesse of judgement, fiery brightnesse of zeale, accom∣panying light and knowledge, others setting forth the delight in mens mindes in the knowledge of divine things, the sweet humanitie of mens dispositions, ingenuously embracing and walking in the light, great Majestie mixed with gentlenesse and meeknesse, to keepe all within compasse, and make up the Churches Communion in happines in the injoying of the Lord Jesus in his worship and ordinances.

Of the gates of pearle and further glory of this new Church, see learned Brightman upon Apoc. 21. and the gates of this holy Citie standing open night and day, continually to receive in all that belong to the election of grace both of Jewes, Gentiles and heathen, with their glory and riches to serve the Church for propagation and spreading of Christs Kingdome, according to Isa. 60. 11. 16. so as the Church shall not want any flourishing of temporall blessings, as well as spirituall, to compleat Christs kingdome and make it glorious.

This is the Bride, the Lambes wife, the new Jerusalem of the Jewes comming downe from God, full of heaven-like glistering glory, Apoc. 21. 2. prepared for the Bridegroome the chiefe of ten thousands, and therefore she must be glorious! this now bride, new Jerusalem cannot bee meant of heavens state of the Church which shall be triumphant for ever, for that shall not descend, but the Church shall ascend to it at the last end of the world, as appeares, Iob. 14. 3. and cap. 17. 24. and 1 Thes. 4. 17. and therefore it must be meant of the glorious sta•••• of the Church on earth, prepared and trimmed as a Bride to meete her hus∣band in brightnesse of glory, as Isa. 62. 1. 2. when the Lord Jesus shall decke and adorne her with all her ornaments of pure and pretious ordinances in great glory and brightnesse as was never yet seene in the world, in such brightnesse and beautie as may make the King delight in her. And then followes the marriage of the Lambe, but before the marriage he also provides a new name for his glorious bride, Isa. 62. 3. thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord hath spoken; Thou shalt be a

Crowne of glory and a Diadem of beauty in the hand of thy God. The Church the new bride is set forth here by the most excellent and delightfull things in the world, as a Princes Dia∣dem beset with Diamonds and sparkling stones, which kings hold in their hands, protect with all their power, and hold out to the admiration of others to satisfie their eyes with delight in looking upon it, but this glory is such as can never be enough beheld and delighted in.

But above all the rest this new name the Bridegroome pre∣pares for this new bride, this new Church of the Jewes, is a thing remarkeable.

It seemes he will let her want nothing to make her stately as becomes the Bride, the Spouse of such a husband, so great a po∣ten••••••e, and that is a new name out of his owne mouth; a new name which the mouth of her Jehovah shall name, she shall now forget the shame of her youth, and reproach of her widow∣hood, Isa. 54. 4. she shall be no more called forsaken, (as Hos. 1. 10.) nor shall thy land bee any more called desolate, but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, (my delight) or love for delights, Cant. 7. 6. & thy land Beulah (or marryed) for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married, for as the Bridegroome rejoy∣ceth over the Bride, so shal thy God rejoyce over thee, Isa. 62. 2. to 6

And as he gives her a new name, so he puts a new name of himselfe her Bridegroome, into her mouth at this new marriage, he will tip her tongue to a higher straine then before, teaches her a new kinde of language different from that she used in her former wandrings after many lovers, many Idolaters and Ido∣latries in time of her divorcement; she must now forget her fa∣thers house, the Mosaicall shadowes, and all the fashions of it, Psal. 45. 10. and the names of her Idolls shall be no more in re∣membrance, Zach. 13. 2. 3. 5. and 14. 21. And it shall be in that day saith Jehovah, that thou shalt call me Ishai, that is, my husband, and shalt call me no more Baali, that is, my Lord, Hos. 2. 16. or my master, a name appropriated to her Idolls, now there shall be nothing but tokens and titles of love and tearmes of marriage in an everlasting covenant shall never be forgotten or yet dissol∣ved or broken againe, Cant. 8. 6. 7. Now the Lord Jesus lookes upon his new Church, his new Bride most amiably and sweetly delighted; Now my delight saith he, now my husband for ever saith she, for as the Bridegroome rejoyceth over the Bride, so

shall thy God rejoyce over thee, Isa. 62. 5. And I will marry thee unto me for ever, in righteousnesse, in judgement, in loving kind∣nesse and in mercy, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy, Hos. 2. 19. 25.

Now shall the marriage of the Lambe be, Apoc. 19. 6, 7. And I heard, saith John, like the voyce of a great multitude, and as the voyce of many waters, and as the voyce of mighty thundrings, saying Hallelu-jah, for the Lord that God our Almighty one hath begun to reigne, or begun his kingdome, as Beza reades it; Let us be glad and rejoyce, & give glory to him, for the marriage of the Lambe is come, and his wife hath made her selfe ready, i. e. by putting on her ornaments, her wedding garments, the Bridegroome hath not onely given her freely of his free grace and love, but also given her the power to lay hold on, and to array and decke her selfe in fine linnen, white and pure, which is the righteousnesse of the Saints, Apoc. 19. 8. these are the beau∣tifull garments Christ calls upon her to put on, to make her love∣ly in his eyes, Isa. 52. 1. called also garments of salvation, Isa. 61. 10. delightfull for her to behold and rejoyce in, and to make her stately with ornaments and jewells, beseeming the state and magnificence of the Bride of so great a King, who hath won∣derfully wrought out her deliverance out of the dust of a low condition; now is the marriage of the Lambe come, first of the Jewes, then of other nations, as Aegypt, Ashur, Tyre, Ethiopia, Cili∣cia and the remote regions of the world, whom Brightman on Cant. 8. 5. 8. calleth the second sister or Spouse of a new gathe∣ring into the Church of the Jewes. This marriage is full of di∣vine Emphasis, setting forth the marriage of the heathen Na∣tions after the marriage of the antient Spouse of the Jewes, and so of all nations, tongues and languages that belong to the electi∣on of grace, and be written in the Lambes booke of life, as Psal. 87. 4. and 45. 9. 12. these severall voyces set out the joy and ac∣clamation that shall be in and among all sorts of people higher and lower in the Churches of the Gentiles at the first beginning of Christs kingdome; great joy shall be in the Gentile Churches at the comming in of our elder brethren the Jewes, the naturall branches of our sweet vine we live in and feed upon, our fat and full and fruitfull Olive, when they come in to walke with us in the light of the Lord, and flocke together to his holy Mountaine, as Doves to the windowes, Isa. 60. 8. the first marriage of the

Gentiles was honourable, and a joyfull feast, Matth. 22. 2. but yet many were called to it, and but few chosen, Vers. 14. but this marriage is more highly honoured; for all that are called to this marriage supper of the Lambe are blessed, Apoc 19. 9. and he said these words of God are true, let men take heed of calling them ••antasies or fables, though strange in mens eyes, not so in his, Zach. 8. 6.

This new Church of the Jewes is the Bride, the Lambes wife whom John was taken up into a high mountaine to view, to wit that great City the new Jerusalem comming downe from God out of heaven, Apoc. 21. 9. as a Bride prepared and adorned for her husband, Ver••. 2. which John is called to behold againe a second time after the first sight of her, as never enough to be delighted in, to behold the walls of Jasper, the foundations of pretious stones, of severall vertues and glorious lustre, the building and Citie it selfe of fine tried Gold, the walkes and streets of Gold, and all the forme and fashions of this Citie, this house of the Kings Palace, and all the brave order and government of this never enough admired beautifull structure, as the curious work∣manship of the Prince of all arts, who now will make it his de∣light, his rest, and his rest shall be glorious, Isa. 11. 10.

Such a like sight of the glory of this stately Bride this new Church of the new Jerusalem of the Jewes, wee are called up∣on to behold in that Propheticall Psalme of Christs king∣dome, Psalme 48. throughout, as wee observed before, to bee a type of this new Church of the Jewes. So stately a building as when Kings were assembled, they wondered and were trou∣bled and hasted away, feare tooke hold on them and paine as of a woman in travaile; and why? Because God is knowne in her Palaces for a refuge, they might well assemble together, with no want of will to assault it, but they hast away and dare not attempt it, but goe away wondering at her glory as men astonished. The Psalme is full of delighfull meditations of the glory of the new Church, this stately Bride the Lambes wife; the holy Spirit calls unto us to walke about Zion, tell her towers and observe her bulwarkes, that we may tell it to the generation following.

Thus also was Ezekiell taken up in a vision into a high moun∣taine to view all the fashions, frame and dimensions of the house of the Lord, that shall be in the later dayes in this new Jerusalem;

all the springs of the Saints joyes, and high delights are in her, the mountaine of the Lords holinesse, Psal. 87. ult. All my Springs are in thee, words of wonderfull Emphasis, where∣with the Psalmist shuts up that Psalme with a sweete Epiphone∣ma of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 straine of joy in the beholding of this new Chur∣ches glory, as if he wanted words to expresse it fully. They must be the Saints, and also such of the Saints as are often in the mount with Christ, Moses-like importuning him to shew him his glory, to whom the Lord Jesus will give a sight of his last marriage glory with his old beloved Spouse; they must be lively stones, fitting to be members and Citizens of this holy City, polishing daily, and waxing brighter and brighter in light and life of Christ, they shall see this goodly Land▪ afarre off, Isa. 33. 17. There shall be many Johns (saith bright Brightman) who in the latter dayes, shall leave all their owne possessions, & habitations, to take a full & delightful view of this holy City, not in a superstitious manner, as pilgrims use to goe to the ru∣inous materiall Jerusalem, now under the guilt of the blood of Christ, and so a sad spectacle to behold, untill it be renewed and made new.

Thus have we had a little view of this stately Bride, the Lambs wife, decked and adorned for the marriage of the Lambe, those who desire and delight in a more full view of her beauty and glory, read Master Brightman upon Apoc. 21.

In the next place this marriage of the Lambe, wants not its so∣lemnities, sutable to this our royall Solomons espousals, there shall be ravishing Musicke, and the Marriage song with great de∣light and melody.

First, the sweet musicke is great delight in the Bridegroomes voyce, John 3. 29. wherewith the Bride and her traine and at∣tendants shall be exceedingly joyed and ravished, Cant. 2. 12. and Cant. 8. 13. The companions (or Virgins the Brides attendants) hearken to thy voyce, O cause me to heare it (saith the Bride) as never enough to be heard againe and againe, because of her great delight in it.

The voyce of the Bride, Isa. 61. 10. shall be most sweete in the eares of all her attendants. I will wholly delight in Jehovah, and my spirit shall exceedingly joy in my God: and all the other particular Churches shall joyne with the Bride in this sweete

voyce, from henceforth perpetually sounding out their delight in the sincere worship and faith of Christ, Cant. 8. 13.

Secondly, The marriage Song is sung of the Bridegroomes friends, Joh. 3. 29. his paranymphes, who have furthered this new Marriage, and the comming home of the ancient Spouse the Jewes: these Bridegroomes friends, who sing this wedding song, are the pure Churches of the Gentiles, that have follow∣ed the Lambe through great tribulations, and stucke close to Christ in the sharpest tryalls and sorest troubles, who have not beene defiled with the filthy pollutions of the whorish Woman, Apoc. 14. 1. nor lacquyed after the times, but kept the word of his patience, and have had a deare love to the Lambe, Cant. 1. 2. these Bridegroomes friends are they that be come out of great tribulations, companions with Christ in his sufferings, shall be brought into the Kings presence, into the Bride chambers, Cant. 1. 4. and be the chiefe singers of this nuptiall Song, with hearts boyling within them for vent, full of heavenly and high medi∣tations of the excellencies of the Bridegroome and Bride, with high praises and commendations, wherein her tongue runnes swiftly, as the pen of a swift Writer, with a voyce tuned sweet∣ly, as the Nightingale, to quaver out her severall straines of joyes, in praises of Christ and his kingdome, Psal. 45. 1, 2.

This Marriage Song we finde clearely written before-hand, by the spirit of God, the divine penmans skilfull hand, Psal. 45. a type of our Royal Solomons espousals, & must be fulfilled what∣soever is written of him in the Law and Prophets, and in the Psalmes, Luke 24. 44. And by the Judgment of the learned, this Psalme is a Propheticall song of the Marriage of Christ and his Church, and then it must be surely belonging to this last mar∣riage, as the things following will show, as the daughter of Tyre bringing presents, verse 12. and of the children of this marryed Bride, who shall be Princes in all the Earth, which sets forth the spreading of Christs kingdome in all the world, and subjecting the rich Nations to his obedience, which was ne∣ver yet fulfilled in the Marriage with us poore Gentiles, who have yet seene little of his kingdome and conquests, but rather suffering and subjection under Princes and rich Nations. So then, this Psalme is cleare to be belonging to the time of Christs visible kingdome and marriage of the Lambe. And so we come to some observations from the Psalme it selfe, Psalm. 45. 1.

To the chiefe Musitian upon the Lillies, saith Calvin, upon Sh••shannim saith Ainsworth, that is, sixe stringed instruments, or sixe leaved flowers, that is, the Lillies, Cant. 2. 16. signifies the faire flourishing graces that grow in the Church and Com∣munion of the Saints, by the watering of the Scriptures, and sweet breathings of the Spirit of Christ, unto which the Church compares her selfe, Cant. 2. 1, 2. for beautifull and lovely is the Lilly, Solomon in all his glory was not like one of these, Matth. 6. 29. and therefore of some is translated agreeing with our last translation, a song of Loves, Tremelius renders it a Song of the beloved Virgins, Bridegroomes friends, or Bride-maydes, who solemnize this Divine and mysticall Wedding. This divine Love-song is committed to the Sonnes of Core, sons of a wick∣ed Father, who perished with Dathan and Abiram, yet these sons devout and godly men, endowed with excellent gifts, and cal∣led to a holy Office, to be the chiefe singers, in the Temple, 1 Chro. 26. And in as much as it is called a Song for instruction, it shews us that much is to be learned in it; and from the stately stile of the Song, Calvin observes, that this is no ordinary matter, the Holy Ghost (saith he) useth not to puffe up mens cheekes with a vaine sound, but with some high and mysticall matter excel∣lently, which hath not beene heard of.

The common interpretation of this Song, hath beene long in the Church applyed to Solomons marriage with Pharaohs daugh∣ter, set forth in allegoricall phrases, as in the type of Christ and his Church; but that sense, first, fals too short of the ayme of the Spirit: secondly, there was no one thing in that marriage of Solomon, that can hold ground in the Mystery of the type, which Paul applies to Christ, Heb. 1. 8, 9. and so reaches unto Christ, as principally pertaining to him: and if to Christ, to what time of Christ, but this marryage of the Lambe and glo∣ry in his Kingdome, which is yet to come, as before?

And so these Paranymphs or Bridegroomes friends, beginne the first straine of their Song in high exalted termes of praise, and commendation of the Bridegroome, verse 2. his person and lovely beauty, and then his eloquence, and then of his actions and Kingly vertues, and graces; then of the glory of his Throne and Kingdome, and the beauty and glory of the new Church, and high commendations of the Bride.

The first straine is of the Bridegroomes person, Thou art fair∣er

then the children of Men, full of lovely beauty, above all the Sonnes of Adam, the chiefe of ten thousands, Cant. 5. 10. his lookes are lovely, and most worthy of the Brides most choyce and best affections, his worth, noble disposition, and Kingly vertues shine forth in his very countenance. And in this faire and lovely beauty of his, faire, white, and ruddy, Cant. 5. 10. above all sonnes of men, the Paranymphes, with ravishing de∣light behold, and also sweetly sing out the high praise of his pure innocence in himselfe, his righteousnesse and free mercy, and pure love to his Saints, shining in his pure whitenesse; and whereas, to make up this fairenesse and beauty, there is a mix∣ture of ruddinesse, wherein the Church beholds and sings out the praise of his Justice, and vengeance now executed upon all her enemies, and his wrath and angry countenance now remo∣ved and ended in their overthrow, Isa. 10. 25. So as now they set him out highly, in all lovely, pleasant, and ravishing beau∣ty, to allure the Bride, the new Church of the Jewes to set her full delight upon this lovely Bridegroome her King, as in an extasie, assuring her by all these insinuations, she shall find much more in him, then can be expressed.

In the next straine of this Song, they sing out highly his de∣lightfull language and eloquence. Grace is powred into thy lips. The gracious words that come out of his mouth full of admiration, Luke 4. 22. wherewith his lippes drop downe pure Myrrhe, Cant. 5. 13. Sweet and delightfull to allure the Bride to his obedience, who will let her want nothing may accrew to her happinesse, for he is one whom the Father hath blessed, and that for ever, and in whom all fulnesse dwels, and of this the Bridegroomes friends assure the Bride, from their experience of the kisses of his mouth, and savour of his ointments, Cant. 1. of all refreshing soule-fatting graces, they have found in him a∣bundantly, and dayly fresh and springing in this sweet and fat Olive tree, by long experience of 1600. yeares and more, rejoy∣cing and alluring this new Bride to taste of their delicates that grow and blossome in his Garden, from the word of his mouth, and sweet breathings of his Spirit.

Their next commendation is of his triumphant riding, sets out the remembrance of his victories, and valiant acts, ver. 3, 4, 5. the glory and stability of his Throne and Kingdome, his government with great Majesty, Justice, and equity, in great

state and princely magnificence, above all the glory of all the Potentates in the world, verse 6, 7. See Psal. 2. 6. and Psal. 89. 28. The delight the Saints finde in his sweet smelling garments, garments of righteousnesse, garments of salvation, whereby he hath wrought his Churches wonderfull deliverance, wherein he himselfe is glad, and the Church much delighted, smelling sweetly, as of Aloes and Cassia, (whereof the Incense was made Exod. 30. 21.) signifying his mediation, and intercession and offerings of his blood and prayers, shall now smell sweetly in the pure Churches, here set out in a stately Portraiture as of I∣vory Palaces, when this great King comes forth to his Bride, in his royall Robes, whereby he hath both wrought her salva∣tion and great deliverance, wherein he is glad and much deligh∣ted in his great workes, and which must needs engage the Brides affections dearely to him, this we find, ver. 8.

Thus of the high praise of the Bridegroome.

The next straine of their song is of the glory and magnifi∣cence of the Bride, sutable to the state of such a Bridegroom, and that we find from verse 9. to the end.

The first glory of the Bride in her Royall attendants, Kings Daughters of heathen Nations, new Converts, shall helpe to so∣lemnise this great Marriage. Next in the placing of the Bride at the Kings right hand, the place of greatest honour, 1 King. 2. 19. 3. in her attire very stately, of Gold of Ophire, or India, gay and glistering in glory of her ornaments of all pure ordi∣nances, verse 9. The glorious Mysteries of Christs kingdome, are set forth to us in various similitudes and figures of earthly things, to helpe our weake capacities, as when we read of Ivory palaces, Gold, sweet perfumes, pretious stones, and sweet sa∣vouring oyntments, they set forth the glory and abundant va∣riety of gifts and graces, and beautifull worship and government, wherewith the Lord Jesus dignifies and adornes his Church.

These paranymphs ver. 10, 11, 12. seeme to let their voyce fall a little, of their commendations of the Bride, and direct some speeches, or exhortations to her. Hearken O Daughter, (meaning the Bride, the Lambes wife, the new Jerusalem, as Ainsworth expounds it) and consider, and be content to for∣get thy Fathers house, and all the fashions of it, all the houses of Idols, corruptions, Jewish superstitions▪ rites, and shadowes of Mosaicall worship, now a blind Religion and vanished, and

looke upon and cleave to thy Bridegroome, in whom all these are fulfilled, as a Bride must leave all, friends and Fathers house, and cleave to her husband, Gen. 4. 24. Matth. 10. 37. Hearken now and encline thine eare and cleave to him, and then will he delight in thy beauty, Cant. 2. 14. and Cant. 6. 4. and thou shalt be honoured of all rich and wealthy Nations, the daughter of Tyre shall bring presents, and rich people shall intreate thy favour and promote thy welfare: Tyre here is brought in by a Synech∣doche for many wealthy Nations, for Tyre was the most rich and flourishing State in the world in those dayes, as Ezek. 27. Isa. 23. 8. and 60. 1. 11. Apoc. 21. 24. 26.

Then these Bridegroomes friends, verse 13. seeme to raise their voyces againe in a high straine of praise of the Bride, of her in∣ward beauty, and outward glory and magnificence, The Kings Daughter is all glorious within, with inward graces, Ephes. 3. 16. and her outward cloathing with rich and costly ornaments of pure ordinances, glistering in the eyes of all the world; her cloathing is of wrought or broydered Gold, adorned and beset with Jewels and pretious stones, Isa. 61. 10, 11. and chap. 54. 11, 12. shewes her excellent fruites of her inward graces, shining before men, full of delight and great variety, Matth. 5. 16.

The Bride thus stately decked shall be brought forth to the King the Bridegroome in great state and magnificence, set forth againe in another stately habit, beseeming the state of so great a King in rayment of needle-worke, or garments of Phrygia, cu∣riously broydered with severall colours wrought with needle, signifies the same variety of gifts and graces, set forth before in other similitudes, as Ezek. 16. 10. to 14. and to augment her state she is brought forth with her Virgins and Bride Maydes, or com∣panions to the greater solemnising of this great and divine wed∣ding with great joy and rejoycing: these Virgins and compani∣ons of the Bride are the converts of the heathen Nations that shall attend on this glorious Bride, and come flocking into Christs kingdome, as Cant. 6. 8. and this we have verse 14. of this 45. Psalme, and verse 15. we finde the Bride brought home with all her state and troopes of attendants, with great joy and gladnesse, into the Kings palace, the stately structure in the new Jerusalem, the Tabernacle of God with men, Apoc. 21. dwel∣ling in the midst of them. And not onely into the Kings palace, but she shall be brought into the Kings Chambers, Cant. 1. 4. of

his presence, of secret delights, hid from the world, and the safest and quietest roome in his palace, as Isa. 26. 20. and into the beds of Spices, Cant. 6. 1. where the immortall seed of the word is sowne, and becomes very spreading and fruitfull, Matth. 13. 23. whereby multitudes of soules are begot to God, to the spreading and flourishing of Christs kingdome, as in the next verse, v. 16. Instead of thy Fathers shall thy children be, who shall be Princes in all the earth; loe here a rich reward of her forsaking her Fathers house and fashions there, she shall have an honourable spreading off-spring, to the ends of the earth; new Converts of all Nations, and farre remote Countries that shall be as Kings and Princes, having great dominion in all the earth: in summe, rule the whole world, with excellent glory in princely vertues, and eminent graces, and greatnesse of num∣ber, as the stars of heaven for multitude, Gen. 22. 17. farre transcen∣ding all her forefathers, in any age of the world.

And so verse 17. and last, those Bridegroomes friends shut up this delightfull Song, with a perfumed remembrance, and re∣nowne, this glorious Bride shall henceforth obtaine in all Na∣tions, throughout all ages and Generations for ever, that is, to the worlds end. Which no way agrees with Solomons Bride, or yet himselfe, who rather deserved to have his memory and name blotted out for his strange wives and Idolatry, nor did ever his posterity so spread in renowne through all the earth, but on the contrary, his son by following ill counsels, lost ten parts of his kingdome. So that from the beginning to the end, we may clear∣ly see this triumphant Marriage Song to belong to Christs king∣dome and last Marriages of the Jewes and heathen.

The fourth glory of the Church.

ANd thus we have seene a little into the third glory of the Church, in brightnesse & beauty, and Marriage of the Lamb. From whence we are againe led by a divine manuduction, to looke into her fourth glory, in fruitfulnesse and great increase and spreading in the world.

When the Lord Jesus cals up his Zion, out of the dust of a low condition, and bids her arise and sing, Isa. 26. 19. as in the dayes of her youth, when she came out of the Land of Aegypt, Hosea 2. 15. with great joy and gladnesse, her dew shall be as the dew of

herbes, which makes them fresh and green and flourishing, by the doctrine of the holy word distilling from heaven, as dew upon the earth to make it fruitfull▪ Deut. 32. 1. and send forth a sweete smell as Lebanon, Hos. 14. 5, 6. clearely meant of Christs kingdom spreading and flourishing, as the Lilly, and as the Rose, Isa. 35. 1. Israel shall blossome, and bud, and fill the face of the earth with fruit, Isa. 27. 6.

This fruitfulnesse and encrease of the Church shal be very won∣derfull, as every thing in this new Jerusalem, this new Church shall be full of admiration and wonderment to the whole world. Such an encrease as the Country shall be too narrow for them, I∣sa. 49. 17. to the end, but the Lord shall enlarge their borders, and make them overspread many Countries, when the Lord Jesus shall set up his holy mountaine in the top of the mountaines, and exalt it above the hils, above all former glory of all higher and lower authority, all Nations shall flow into his kingdome like an inundation irresistible, Isa. 2. 2. they shall come flocking as Doves to the windows, Isa. 60. 8. then indeed shall the kingdome of heaven suffer violence, Mat. 11. 12. the new convert shall come willingly in the day of Christs power, like an Army in ho∣ly beauty, flocking to the Gospels brightnesse, as Doves to the windows; from the wombe of the morning, she shall have the dew of her youth, Psal. 110. As the breaking out of the light of the morning, from betweene the clouds, like the opening of the wombe, sends out a sweet and fertile dew that waters the earth, and makes it fruitfull, so shall it be in the day of Christs power, the Church shall be very fruitfull, both in growth of Graces and encrease, and multitudes of beleevers, from heavens divine wate∣ring, there shall be greene pastures continually, no Winter or withering any more: Basan was a fruitfull hill, but mount Zion farre excels it, it is the hill of delights; Sharon was a fruitfull Valley, but the greene pastures here farre exceed them: for here the Mountaines drop downe new Wine, the hils flow with Milke, and the Rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a spring shall come out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the Valley of Shittim, Joel 3. 18. The Valleyes shall be full of Springs, Isa. 41. 18. and covered with corne, they shout for joy and sing, Psal. 65. 13.

The Churches fruitfulnesse shall be accompanyed with the fruitfulnesse of the Land also: For the Lord will settle this new

people of the Jewes in their oldest estate; and not so onely, but he will doe better unto them then at the beginning, Ezek. 36. 8. 11. to 16. 35, 36.

Of this fruitfulnesse of the Country above former times, see also, Ezek. 34. 25. 26. Isa. 49. Zach. 8. 4, 5. and 14. 10.

But the Churches encrease and flourishing is the maine thing we looke upon, the number of beleevers shall be innumerable as the drops of dew upon herbes and trees, multitudes of all nati∣ons, tongues and languages under heaven shall bee partakers of this dew, and divine watering of the Lord Jesus from the mor∣ning of the day of his power, it shall be said of Rahab (that is, Aegypt) and Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia, that they were borne in Zion, Psal. 87. 3. and become her sonnes and children from this wombe of the morning.

Avaunt yee Prelates and all your bastard sons of the Church, if yee be not borne here, yee shall be excluded, none of your un∣cleane frye, bastardly brood, for all your pure Lawne sleeves, and Linnen garments shall enter here in the new Jerusalem, Isa. 52. 1. Apoc. 21. 27. as was typified 2 Chron. 23. 29. the Church shall want no children by the losse of you, she shall be honoured with a more noble race, of her seed shall be Princes in all the earth, Psal. 45. 16. yea even Kings of remote nations shall licke the dust of her feet, bring their glory and riches to serve the Church, but not for the building of your Abbies and monasteries and filthy nests of your uncleannesses, as you have deluded them by the abuse of these Scriptures, but Kings & Princes from all quarters shall leave their countries and dignities they so much delighted in, and count it their greatest honour to become Citizens of the new Je∣rusalem, true borne sonnes in Zion, to be joyned to the pure con∣gregations there, to be a doore keeper there above the dignitie of Alexander, above all the titles of honour, they shall esteeme it the greatest to be written that they were borne sonnes of Zion, and entred in her records, see Isa. 44. 5. and Zach. 8. 23.

Mount Zion shall be a fruitfull hill, as the garden of Eden, Ezek. 36. 35. as the garden of God farre above Eden, Isa. 51. 3. a garden enclosed, Cant. 4. 12. and fenced strongly, from wild beasts, outragious enemies and craftie Foxes that spoyle the vines and tender grapes; and a fountaine sealed, none but her owne Citizens can come to drinke of her pure waters that flow out of the Sanctuary, Ezek. 47. 1. cleare as Crystall comming out

of the throne of God and of the Lambe, Apoc. 22. 1. promised to all thirsty drinkers, to all overcommers, as the coole waters to refresh them after victory, whose Crystall clearenesse is very de∣lightfull to the Saints, cleare in those dayes to the meanest ca∣pacitie, and of a wholesome and healing qualitie, a draught whereof is an antidote against the poyson of the old Serpents sting, and quenches his fiery darts, puts out his wild fire he se∣cretly throwes into our breasts and bosomes.

This fruitfull hill is the planting of Jehovah, Isa. 61. 3. with varietie of trees of righteousnesse, and usefull members, and holy vessels in Jerusalem, of all sorts, for all uses, Zach. 14. 20. bring∣ing forth goodly fruits of varietie of graces and gifts for all sea∣sons, upon all occasions, for all diseases, new fruits monethly for meate and leaves for medicine, Ezek. 47. 12. for healing of the Nations, Apoc. 22. 2. because they are nourished at the rootes by the wholesome waters that flow out of the Sanctuary and throne of the Lambe, making them blossome and bud and fruit∣bearing, continually some budding, some ripening, some full laden, affording still supply to the Churches necessities, (as the trees of paradise should have done to mens bodies continually if man had not fallen) The Winter now is past and the Spring ap∣peares with all flourishing in the Church, the Fig tree putteth forth her greene Figs, Cant. 2. 12. a signe of the Summer of all prosperitie, Matth. 24. 32. and the voyce of the Turtle, (that is, of the Bridegroome Christ) is heard in the land with great de∣light and high praises, sweet fruits of pure incense, holy offe∣rings, Mal. 3. 4. the vines budding, the tender grapes ap∣pearing, spikenard, and Saffron, Calamus and Cinamon, Fran∣kincense, Myrrhe and Aloes and all chiefe Spices, Pomegranates and all pleasant things, Cant. 2. 15. and Cant. 4. 13. 14. Exod. 30. 23. O what varietie of all gifts and graces, pure worship and spirituall sacrifices of prayers and prayses, and fruits of the Spi∣rit, for all the members, all the necessities of this holy Church! Gal. 5. 22. John 7. 38. fruitfull flockes shall then be from the fee∣ding and watering of this plant of Renowne, this great shepheard, and royall bridegroome, Ezek. 34. 26. to the end, John 10. 1.

And also the Church become thus fruitfull shall be very com∣municative, liberally affording them to others not yet conver∣ted, to allure them to come in to Christs kingdome and taste of

her delicates she so abounds in, since the time of her graffing in againe, and sends out a sweet savour of Christs oyntments to all that come neare, with an ardent desire of gayning soules to Christ her soule-refreshing and delightfull husband, in whom she is now fully happy, his left hand under her head and his right hand embracing her, Cant. 8. 3. sustaining and comfort∣ing her with the kisses of his mouth, and draughts of his love farre above wine, Cant. 8. 1, 2. now saith she, Arise O North winde and blow O South, (that is, the sweet breathing of the Spirit, John 3. 8.) and blow upon my garden: She invites these gentle windes to blow upon her buds and blossomes, and sweet flowers to disperse the sent of her Bridegroomes graces, to the use and delight and allurement of others, Cant. 4. 16.

And then to make up a feast of thankefulnesse to her Bridegroome, she invites him to come to his garden and feast upon his owne delicates and dainties, to sup with her, (as shee had done with him at the wedding) and to eate of his owne pretious things, Cant. 4. 16. wherewith he is so well pleased, and the Church so delighted and satisfied, as they will never part againe, she will now never let him goe.

Thus of the Churches glory in fruitfulnesse.

The fifth glory of the Church is in peace and plenty.

NOw the Churches warfare is accomplished, Isa. 40. 2. her dayes of sorrow ended, Isa. 60. 20. when once her Jehovah appeares in his glory, he brings downe the noyse of strangers and song of the mightie, their lofty lookes he hath now laid full low, Isa. 25. 5. The sonnes of them that afflicted thee, shall come bending to thee, and they that despised thee shall come bowing to the soles of thy feet, in token of subjection, as the Churches servants, and Christs conquered vassalls, Isa▪ 60. 14.

Her husband, her King, Isa. 43. 15. is the Prince of peace, Isa. 9. 6. King of peace, Heb. 7. 2. and speakes peace, and proclaimes peace to all that are farre off and neare, who will come in and submit to his royall Scepter and government, Isa. 57. 19. when he comes in his kingdome he brings peace with him to his peo∣ple before oppressed, in his dayes shall the upright flourish, none shall hurt or destroy in all his holy mountaine, Isa. 65. 25. but

abundance of peace shall be while the Sunne and Moone endu∣reth, that is, for ever; the mountaines shall bring forth peace and the little hills righteousnesse, for hee shall breake in peeces the oppressors, Psal. 72. 3. 7. great Princes and their inferiour officers, who as mountaines and hills overtopped and oppressed and sent downe floods of troubles upon all the Churches, shall now de∣light to serve the Church to worke her peace by judgment and justice; no oppressor shall trouble them any more, Zach. 9. 8. Isa. 11. 9. The Citizens of this new Jerusalem, this holy Citie, shall have continuall peace, sweet and refreshing walkes in faire and pleasant vallies and greene Pastures, by the still and limpid wa∣ters. A covenant of peace the Lord Jesus makes with them, and will cause the evill beasts, devouring tyrannous oppressors of the Church to cease (or goe) out of the land, and they shall dwell safely in the Wildernesse and sleepe in the woods, Ezek. 34. 12. to 16. and Vers. 25. 28. goe out and lodge in the villages, Cant. 7. 11. the Church who before was so encreased and multiplyed, as she complayned, The country was too narrow for me, the place too straite for me, give me place that I may dwell, Isa. 49. 19. 20▪ shall now have roome to enlarge her borders, plant Colonies, and safely where tyrants ruled, sit downe in places of these wild beasts, before as woods and wildernesses, and the most de∣solate places where the Church could formerly have no rest from tyrants, shall bee now peaceable and quiet, and they lie downe and sleepe in the woods, and none make them af∣fraid, nor wilde beasts devoure them, Ezek. 34. 28. Jer. 23. 3. 5, 6. their corne shall no more be given for meate to the ene∣mies, Isa. 62. 8▪ they shall be brought to a land of corne and wine, Joel 2. 19. Corne shall make the young men merry, and new wine the maides, Zach. 9. 17. the pastures shall be cloathed with flockes and the vallies covered with corne, they shout for joy and sing, Psal. 65. 13. the earth shall yeeld her encrease, and God our God shall blesse us and all the ends of the earth shall feare him, Psal. 67. 6, 7. in summe, all things shall be restored in a peace∣able and perfect state againe, without changings, when now the Lord Jesus hath scattered the people that delight in warre, Psal. 68. 30. men shall now breake their swords into plough shares, or Mattockes to till the ground, and their speares into pruning hookes, Nation shall not rise against Nation, or shall they learne warre any more, Isa. 2. 4. compared with Hos. 2. 18. The Chur∣ches

of Christ among the Gentiles who have beene over-run with Antichrist and enemies, full of troubles, shall now injoy their sweet share in the kingdome of Christ, as a kingdome of peace; peace we say is the most beautifull thing in the world and most desirable of all people, and most honorable to the go∣vernment of great Monarchs; and not onely this, but peace and truth shall kisse one another under this King of Kings, and his dominion and government, peace amongst all his subjects, to them a farre off and them that are neare, Isa. 57. 19. the greatest spirits shall not offend the meekest Lambes, or dove-like inno∣cents, both the woolvish spirits of men who have beene as wild beasts upon the mountaines of prey, but also even the rapacitie, and fiercenesse, and devouring and offensive nature of the crea∣tures shall bee all removed from the whole creation, Hos. 2. 18. which is in the time of this marriage of the Lambe, as appeares Vers. 19. and sutes with that, Isa. 11. 6. compared with Isa. 65. 25. are promises clearely belonging to the time of Christs kingdom, and never yet accomplished.

The Woolfe shall dwell with the Lambe, and the Leopard lie downe with the Kid, and the Calfe and the young Lion and the fatling together, and a little childe shall leade them, the Cow and the Beare shall feed and their young ones lie downe toge∣ther, and the Lion shall eate straw like the Oxe. And the suck∣ing child shall play upon the hole of the Aspe, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice den, they shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountaine, Isa. 11. 6.

There is doubtlesse both a spirituall and a literall sense of these things; men of woolvish, ravening, lionish, raging, serpen∣tine, subtill and stinging spirits, and great enemies to the Church and Saints of God, shall be so changed, converted or vassalled by the Scepter of Christ, and their wild dispositions so tamed, by the power of pure discipline, that children in simplicitie and understanding to them shall guide them, even babes in Christ shall rule subtill wits, and great spirits of loftie Statesmen, such peaceable spirits Christ shall make them as all contentious and selfe-seeking shall bee layd aside, men shall not seeke their owne things but the things of God, and good one of another, be wholly taken up with the glory and excellency and high thoughts of Christ and of his kingdome, the beautie of his house in his pure worship and ordinances, and strive to walke

in all well pleasing before him, studious of that above all things, provoking one another to love and to good workes, and to walke in the light of the Lord, as children of light, in a sweet communion of gifts and graces, and of all temporall things for the building up and compleating of the body of Christ, together with a sweet temper of disposition towards all men, within and without the Church, in all holinesse and conversation, shining as lights in the world, as the starres in the outspread firma∣ment, as the glistering stones in the new Jerusalem: but yet this glory reaches further, even to the common weale too, wherein the Saints shall shine in godly government, when the seed of the Church shall be Princes in all the earth. For the Church and Commonweale are like Hippocrates Twins, mourne and rejoyce, suffer and flourish together; O then what a beautifull and de∣sirable thing is this glorious state of Christs kingdome which is to be in the world, in these later dayes!

Calvin upon this 11. of Isay verse 6. saith the Prophet aymes at a further thing then we are aware of; for it is, saith he, as hee would promise a new world, or reestablishing of all things in the order at the beginning before the fall, as if the Prophet should say the golden age shall come in which all felicity shall flourish, as Hos. 2. 18. in the restauration of the creatures: the summe of all, saith he, Christ shall come to chase away all hurtfull things out of the world, and restore it to its originall beautie; for if the contagion of sinne had not infected the world, the creatures should not have beene given to blood or prey, but the fruits of the earth should have sufficed them; so he: So that wee may see a literall sense of these things, there shall none hurt or destroy in all his holy mountaine, for it is his rest, and his rest he will make glorious, Isa. 11. 10. this rest is meant of the time of his kingdome, when after his valiant exploits and noble victories, he builds up his Zion, and sits downe at rest in his kingdome, having made all his foes his footstoole, and all the world brought under his obedience, he then will sit downe with rest and delight in his great workes, and be refreshed in the re∣stauration of the world to its originall at the creation, as he at the first creating of the world, on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed, Exod. 31. 17. which signifies a rest full of sweet∣nesse and delight in his workes which he had made, and not onely a bare rest from creating the world, defaced by Adams

fall before the seventh day of rest, but the Father in this rest also was delighted and refreshed in, beholding Christ undertaking to restore his workemanship which man had defaced, and not onely mankind now fallen, but all the creatures by his fall brought into bondage, Rom. 8. 19. Now as he had his day of rest after creating the world, and was refreshed in beholding Christ undertaking the restauration of it, so when Christ hath accom∣plished this great worke, the Prophet Isay here cap. 11. 10. tells us the great restorer of mankinde hath a day a of rest after this shall be done, in this mountaine he sets his rest, all his workes end herein, Isa. 25. 10. and the Apostle to the Hebrewes, cap. 4. 8. evinces this rest in the day of Christ, for saith he, if their Jesus i. e. Joshua, had given them (that is, the Jewes) rest, he (that is, David) would not have spoken of another day, or rest so long af∣ter: but David did so, Psal. 95. therefore the Apostle concludes there remaines a rest to the people of God, Heb. 4. 9. and being remayning in the Apostles time, it must be meant of the time of Christs kingdome, (whereof the Apostle onely speakes there, and nothing of the Fathers kingdome in heaven) after the restaurati∣on of the world againe, according to 2 Pet. 3. 13. in making new heavens and new earth, and a new state of all things in the Church and in the world, wherein the creatures brought into bondage by mans fall, not willingly of themselves, but because of him (i. e. the Lord) who subjected them to vanity under hope that the same whole creation shall be restored from the bondage of corruption to the liberty of the glory of the Sons of God, Ro. 8. 20. 21. the words in Beza are more significant then in our tran∣slation by much, the whole creation is said to waite with an ear∣nest expectation of this day of Christ and restauration of all things to their originall; a new world indeed, which the same Apostle Heb. 2. 5. calls the world to come, whereof wee speake, even a new creation for this new created people in our 102. Psalme, Isa. 65. 17. 18. by the creator of Israel our King, Isa. 43. 15. as we shall see more anon.

Thus of the fifth glory of the Church in peace and plentie.

The next and sixth is of her protection and safetie.

VVHen the Lord Jesus appeares in his glory and makes his Church, his kingdome glorious, as he gives great

glory, so hee will bee carefull to protect it gloriously.

For it is the Citie, the Court of the great King, his throne is there, his house, his palace there, his rest, his residence there, in his Ivory Palaces, he will be knowne for a refuge, Psal. 48. and shelter from all stormes and tempests, Isa. 4. 6. it is his inheritance, Zach. 2. 10. 12. no designes against it shall prosper, Isa. 54. 17. Zeph. 3. 17.

This new Church, new married bride shall be a Crowne of glory, and a diademe of beautie in the hand of her God, Isa. 62. 3. this King of kings sure will be carefull of his Crowne and Dia∣dem, and therefore there shall be safetie and protection, he will defend it, Isa. 31. 5. This is implyed also in that hee carries it in his hand, that is, keepes it in his owne power, yea her Citizens shall be in stead of strong Garrisons, the inhabitants shall not say I am sicke, Isa. 33. ult. There shall be no more an infant of dayes, nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes, for the child shall die 100. yeares old, Isa. 65. 20. for as the dayes of a tree are the dayes of my people, Vers. 22. The streets shall be full of boyes and girles, antient men and women with staves in their hands for very age, Zach. 8. 5, 6. a little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong Nation, Isa. 60. 22. The least of them shall be as David (who slew great Goliah) that is, a mightie Champi∣on, and the house of David as the Angell of the Lord before them, and the Lord will destroy all the Nations which come a∣gainst Jerusalem, Zach. 12. 6. 8. 9.

Salvation shall be for walls and bulwarkes, Isa. 26. 1. in stead of ramparts and fortresses, and ditches and double walls, for the Lord shall create safety and defence upon mount Zion, and upon all her assemblies, a cloud and smoake by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for upon all her glory shall be a defence, Isa. 4. 5. his defence shall be strong, as a munition of Rockes, Isa. 33. 16. as the mountaines about Jeru∣salem, Psal. 125. 2. there the glorious Lord Jesus will be to her a place of broad rivers and streames wherein shall goe no galley with Oares, neither shall gallant ships passe thereby, for the Lord is our King, our Judge and Law-giver, (shall they say) hee will save us, Isa. 33. 21. there shall be no meanes or wayes by ships, &c. for any to come to assault this holy Citie; What greater strength can bee devised to a Citie then Walls and Bulwarkes, and broad rivers, environed with mountaines? and if that bee

not enough, he will be a wall of fire about them, Zach. 2. 5. to terrifie any enemy from approaching. And upon her gates shall be written Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there, Ezek. 48. 35. and then who dare come against her? And thus we see this new Created people in our Psalme, shall have varieties of new created glory, a new created glorious protection and safety, such as ne∣ver any people had before, Zach. 12. 1. to 10.

The seventh and last glory of the Church is in a state of stability, and perpetuity.

THis is the last thing the Church can desire to be added to all her glory, that she abide in his house for ever, without any more tumbling and changing, till she be translated to glo∣rified endlesse glory in the Fathers kingdome in all eternity, which the Lord Jesus will also grant her, and accomplish for her, for he is her King of old, Psal. 74. 12. he is the first and the last, his hand also (as co-eternall with the Father, John 1. 1, 2, 3.) laid the foundations of the earth, and his right hand hath spanned the Heavens and they are moved by him.

Isa. 48. 12, 13. compared with Apoc. 1. 17. and 22. 13. he is the heire of all things, and great administrator of all the af∣faires in the world, Heb. 1. 2. and whatsoever he hath done, or doth daily, or is needfull to be done for his Church, is done by an eternall decree, his Counsels are of old, they are faith∣fulnesse and truth, Isa. 25. 1. his tender mercies have beene of old, Psal. 25. 6. his wayes everlasting, Hab. 3. 6. Micah 5. 2. from everlasting to everlasting, he is ever her God, Psal. 90. 2. and 103. 17. he hath saved her with an everlasting salvation, she shall not be ashamed or confounded world without end, Isa. 45. 17. for he is her everlasting King, Isa. 40. 28. Jerem. 10. 10. 1 Tim. 1. 17. his name is everlasting, Isa. 63. 12. and hath loved his Spouse with an everlasting love, and given her also an ever∣lasting name, shall not be cut off, Isa. 54. 8. and 56. 5. Jer. 31. 3. and he makes now an everlasting covenant with them, that shall never be broken any more, Jer. 32. 40. Isa. 59. 21. ever∣lasting joy shall be to them, Isa. 61. 7. who are his everlasting inheritance and sure possession, Gen. 17. 8. and 48. 4. Zach. 2. 12. his everlasting kingdome, Dan. 4. 3. 34. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Dan. 7. 27. and of his kingdome shall be no end, Dan. 2. 44. Luk. 1. 33. he

will strengthen and stablish, and confirme them to the end, 1 Cor. 1. 8. And they shall reigne with him for long lasting evermore, Dan. 7. 18. and 12. 3. Apoc. 22. 5. 2 Thes. 4. 16, 17. Isa. 9. 6, 7. And if now any object doubts and difficulties, how ever all this glorious estate shall be accomplished to this new created people: The answer is at hand, it is a new Creation, Isa. 65. 17. After the manner of the first Creation, it was wrought by Christ as co-eternall with the Father, his hand was in it, Heb. 1. 2. Isa. 48. 12. John 1.

[First, Making all out of a Chaos of confused nothing.

Secondly, Without resistance, nothing opposed his mighty hand, his powerfull word, he spake but the word and it was done: Even so shall this great and difficult worke of restauration of all things, as a new Creation, be wonderfully accomplished by the same hand; who created at first all out of nothing, as ver. 26. of this 102. Psalme, now shall also bring forth this glori∣ous state of the Church, and of all new things in the world, out of all the difficulties and confusions, we see or can imagine in the world, in a wonderfull manner, for there is no wisdome or counsell against him.

The zeale of the Lord of Hoasts will performe this, Isa. 9. 7. I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their owne and move no more, neither shall the sonnes of wickednesse afflict them any more as before time, 2 Sam. 7. 10. Amos 9. 15. there shall be no back∣sliding there, or decay of graces or gifts, no sicknesse or griefe or troubles to waste or consume their strength, or violent and un∣timely death, for then all sighing and sorrow should not flie a∣way, Isa. 35. 10. Apoc. 21. 4. for there is the tree of life and a right to eate of it, therefore they shall not decay, for there is both meate and medicine, Apoc. 2. 7. and 22. 3. and mine elect shall long enjoy the workes of their hands, Isa. 65. 22.

Thus we have darkely viewed some of the high designes of the Lord Jesus from his appearing in his glory, so farre as our weak sight can reach, and he pleased to discover, of his glory in him∣selfe, and in his actions and wonderfull workes: now remaines onely the last generall head, of his glory, and that is in the ex∣tent of his noble actions, and therein also we shall find and see him,

Glorious in all Lands, as verse 16. and 23. of this Psalme.

When he, this Sunne of Righteousnesse arises and appeares In his glory, his glory spreads irresistibly, as the Sunne beames cast rayes of brightnesse to the ends of the earth.

First, We have seene him wonderfull glorious, in himselfe; first, in his person and princely parts; secondly, in his Kingly Titles, very glorious; thirdly, in his apparell; fourthly, in his stately riding; and fifthly, in his royall attendants, very Glo∣rious.

Secondly, we have seene him very glorious in his noble acti∣ons; first, great conquests of his enemies; secondly, in build∣ing his Zion, and setting up his kingdome gloriously, or in great glory: first, of Liberty; secondly, in a healing glory; thirdly, in glorious brightnesse, and beauty, fit for the marriage of the Lambe; fourthly, glorious in fruitfulnesse and encrease of all inward and outward gifts and graces, and innumerable multi∣tudes of beleevers and new converts, Kings, and Princes, and great ones, of all rankes and qualities; fifthly, accompanyed with glorious peace and plenty; sixthly, under his glorious and wonderfull protection and safety; seventhly, in a glorious estate of stability and perpetuity.

Thirdly, But the extent of his noble actions and spreading of this his glory to the ends of the earth, is the wonder of won∣ders to see that accomplished, this shall make up the top of his glory, and the Churches Joy, now he will be as good as his word, all now shall be accomplished that he hath promised to be fulfilled in this world, now the Church sets out her breasts to all Nations, to sucke and be satisfied with her consolations, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory, Isa. 66. 11. now she hath asked and received, and her joyes made full, John 16. 24. she can aske no more, but to be gone home with her hus∣band to his Fathers mansions, where her cup shall so continu∣ally runne over, as she shall never be able to drinke it downe or diminish it in the least measure.

Now of the large extent of his kingdome and glory, we will speake somewhat, and that but briefely, of his spreading glo∣ry in all Lands, and so returne to our Text againe.

This the Church had a glimpse of at his first arising, verse 16. of this 102. Psalme, and sees it working afarre off; in midst of

great confusions, and combustions in the world, ver. 23. as we shall see anon.

The kingdomes gathering together to serve the Lord, and his Christ, Apoc. 11. 15. Gathering to the people of the God of A∣braham, Psalm. 47. 9. His dominion shall be from Sea to Sea. The ends of the earth shall be his possession, Psal. 2. 8. Zach. 9. 10. see Isa. 19. 23. 25. Aegypt, and Assyria, shall be converted and serve the Church of the Jewes, the Lord Jesus his speciall inheritance, see the words at large, Psal. 72. 8. 27, 28, 29. All they that be fat upon the earth shall come and worship, that is, great poten∣tates, and rich Princes, the Kings of Tarshish, and of the Isles shall bring presents, Ethiopia and Sheba shall bring gifts, all Kings shall serve him, all Nations worship him, Psal. 72. 10, 11. The Daughter of Tyre shall bring presents; the rich peoples and Na∣tions shall serve the Church and Kingdome of Christ, and seeke favour of acceptance amongst his Subjects, his Citizens, Psal. 45. 13. Tyre there being the most flourishing rich state in the world in those dayes, is brought in by a Synecdoche membri, for mul∣titudes of rich States and Nations, that shall bring their glory to Christs kingdome, and seeke to enter there, Isa. 60. 5. 9. 16. Apoc. 21. 26. I will make mention of Rahab, and Babylon, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia, Psal. 87. 4. here Tyre is but one of the num∣ber of many Nations, Aegypt, and Assyrla, and Philistia, and E∣thiopia, Zions new borne children, and shall be Princes in all the earth, Psal. 45. 16. shall be Subjects of Christs Kingdome, as the seed of the Church, great Princes in all the earth, and shall rule the whole world, and yet but Subjects of Christs kingdome. A∣mongst whom the Jewes shall be the chiefe. And thou O Tower of the flocke, the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion, the kingdome shall be given to the daughters of Jerusalem, Micah 4. 6. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, it shall come to passe in those dayes, that ten men out of all Languages, of all Nations, shall take hold of the skirt of a Jew, saying, We will goe with you, for we have heard that God is with you. Zach, 8. 23. And that Nation and king∣dome that will not serve this new Bride, the new Jerusalem of the Jewes, shall perish, Isa. 60. 12. read the Chapter through∣out; the Nations of them that are saved shall walke in the light of it, and bring their glory and honour to it, Apoc. 21. 24. 26. the other Nations and kingdoms that will not serve the Church.

shall be utterly wasted, Isa. 60. 12. of the large extent and great∣nesse of this kingdome of Christ, read Dan. 2. 34. 35. from small beginnings, it shall grow up into a mountaine and fill the whole earth, which shall be accomplished in the dayes of the seventh Trumpet, Apoc. 11. 15. this is that mystery then fulfilled, cap. 10. 7. then shall the kingdome and dominion & greatnesse of the king∣dome, under the whole heaven, be given to the people of the Saints of the most high, whose kingdome is an everlasting king∣dome, and all dominions shall serve and obey him, Dan. 7. 27. all dominion shall be Christs and the Saints; and none shall have dominion but hee, all haughtinesse of people shall bee brought low; the high ones that are on high, and kings of the earth that are on the earth, that is, all kingly power, now the pride of the earth, and all higher and lower authority shall bee brought under, and he alone shall be exalted, Isa. 2. 11. explay∣ned further by Sunne and Moone that shall be ashamed and con∣founded, when the Lord of hoasts shall reigne in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem before his antients (that is, his antient people) gloriously, that is, all kingly glory and majesty which men of the earth now so much glory in, and all majesty of inferiour dignitie shall vanish before, & be swallowed up in his kingly glory; there shall be no need of Sun or Moone there, for the Lambe is the light thereof, and in stead of all. Kings bring their glory to it, that is, to this kingdome of Christ, and lay downe their honour and riches here at his feet this seemes to be meant by shaking, not the earth onely (that is, the customes of the world by changes) but heaven also, that is, kingly power and glory, and therefore the Prophet to the shaking of heavens hee addes, overthrow thrones, and kingdomes, Hag. 2. 6. 21, 22. which the Apostle applies to Christs kingdome, Heb. 12. 26. 27. and in that Haggai saith the Lord will shake all Nations, Heavens and earth, Sea and dry Land, it seemes clearely to have relation to the times of setting up Christs kingdome amongst the Jewes, when he over∣turnes the world with Earthquakes, Isa. 24. and dries up the floods for his redeemed to passe over (as we saw from, Isa. 11. 11.) and come into his kingdome, and then saith the Spirit, Zach. 14. 9. Jehovah shall be king of all the earth, and in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name one, no more Lords but hee, that is, in comparison of him who shall bee exalted above all dominion, and his name shall be great from East to West, and and amongst the heathen, as never yet it was, Mal. 1. 11. 14.

Micah 5. 4. Isa. 59. 19. Isa. 11. 9. the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the Sea.

Nec ma••is ac terrae spatium, nec terminis aevi, Finiet imperium. Buchan. in Psal. 45.

Thus from beholding the glory of Christ, in his Church and kingdome in these later dayes, and the Churches joy and rejoycing in the sight of her Jehovah arising, and appearing in his glory to doe great things, Joel 2. 21. wee returne to our Text a∣gaine, and there wee finde the Church downe under water a∣gaine, and very low before these things be accomplished, where∣with she was highly delighted and ravished in the sight of them afarre off by the spirit of prophecy, but now againe renewing her sore complaints, in the two verses following.

Notes

• 1. Glorious libertie.
• 2. Glory, is a healing glory.
• 3. Glory, In brightnesse and beautie.
• Isa. 54 11, 12.
• The marriage of the Lambe.
• A new name for he new Bride
• Ezek 40. 2▪ and 43. 10.
• 4 Glory of the Church in fruit fulnesse.
• Cant. 6. 4.
• A better estate then at the be∣ginning promi∣sed to the Jewes.
• The Turtles voyce is more unpleasant than the sing∣ing of other birds, and is onely delight∣full to his mate or she Turtle, who answers him in a laugh∣ing manner▪ so the voyce of Christ is de∣lightfull onely to his Spouse, carnall men finde no plea∣sure in it, but▪ rather sorrow, though they dissemble and hide it often, and often a∣gaine rage a∣gainst it, as a harsh thing not to be endured.
• 5. Glorious in peace and plenty.
• The golden age, from Cal∣vin.
• 6. Glory, is in protection and safetie.
• 7 Glory stabili∣ty and perpe∣tuity.
• 3 Generall head of Christs glory is the ex∣tent of it.
• Isa. 24. 23.
• Apoc. 2••. 23, 24.
• Apoc. 22. 20. 21. 24.