1 0 3S Thefletre r `tl1"e'GIN ì í CA-P.4. watering. Neither dot'h the Bridegroome intreat that a fupply fhould be made from any but'hin felfOf'that which fhouldbe ti: tor the garden ; but to Chewwhat ayre theGarden fhoaldufe at thofe times.By the Neirth-and theSout`á,aremeant Ea; Q?eand Africk, í'loiitly defended the truth in thofe times,agairfl the Arrian herefie, Lallly,of the fruit whereunto he is invited : for it is no idle invitati- on,only for fh'ons fake;but for gte,t nfe, to expreife the condition of thole times.Let my love (faith'fhe) come intohit Garden,cnieat his pleafant fruit; which word,, no doubt, are ofthe'Spoufe, giving the `Garden toher beloved,not challenging it to her fel&as is ,faid`betore: for without doubt, fheAperceived that her beloved had withdrawne himfe lf,otherwife,had the invitation been in vain. There was an ex- cellent oitward Chew,but within, all things weredefiled with Ivtoffe and Ruft; Envie,Brawlings,ConterttionsAmbition and'Herefies,had almafl abolifhed true pietie:fo that the Church necefl'arily (leaving the multi: ude,who preferred a barename only) lurked, as it were,in darkneff, vith a few Citizens. This folitarineffe happened when the fountain was fealed, as is laid at the r a. verfe : for then many more were within the bounds of the Church,then'had leave todrink ofthe Fountain. Then was the Dragon thruflout ofheaven,and thewoman fled into theDefarr,as we have (hewed in theRevelation.The mean- ing is,the Church mach flourifhing outwardly,Chrifl left her, void Of true piety,as more,plainlywill appearby his anfwer in the next verfe. 'Jeri. 17. I am come into mygarden, my Sifter, my Spoesfe, Ihave gatheredmy myrrhe With my Bice : Ihave eaten my honj-eomb With my bony ; Ihave drunke my Winewith mymilk,,e. E'at,O friends,drink, yea, drink abundantly,O beloved: Or, and be drunk.en with loves. They commonly expound ir, as if (yeelding to her requeft)'hee fhould fay, Thoudoefl intreat mee to come into the ,garden, Lae, I come, thou haft thy défire. But the Hiftory direleth us to another expofition, as if he fhould fay, whereas thou defireft that I thould come intothe Garden, to what end should I come ? mÿ harveft and myvintage, and time of delights are pall I was there long fince, and gathered mymyrrhe With my /ice, c c. I have laid up as much as I pleafed, now nothing remaineth wherein I fhould takeplea- fare. Thus faith the Bridegroome. This harveft and vintage were prefently at the fencing of the garden, as Toone as Cónftantiné ob- tained the Empire : for then the fruit (getting heat of the Sunne) was quickly ripe ; And the good Husbandman loft no opportunity, but gathered infinite Clore of all kinde of fruits while the time fer- ved.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=