CAP. $a 1áo72, The State of the Church, whereas the was railedupunder anapple tree, we learned before that theApple tree betokeneth inferiour Magiftrates, under whofe fha- dow the Bridegroome covereth his Church, as under Tamarisk and lower trees; the high and loftie Cedars being cut downe, Chap. z. 3, 4. Wherefore the firif infancieof this Church, feemeth to be go- verned by fome inferiour Uhcer,who though in thebeginning there wanted the chiefe Princes authority, yet by his labour a.nd diligence, he (hall bring it to paffe, that the feede of the truth fowen (hall fpringup into the light, that men may behold it: yet it feemeth more likely that this Magdlrate should be given them of the jewes, to who rule the bordering Regions {hail obey. And therefore this Church is railed up under an Apple tree, becaufe it (hall be ruledby filch Government. Verf. 6. Set me as a feale upon thine heart, as a Seale upon thine arme,for love isflron as death,jealou!e as cruel a the grave,theconies thereof are coales offire, Which path a moll vehement flame. Such was the beginning. The progreffe (hall be famous for her marvellous and earneft dcfire ofpiety,which is molt elegantly pain- ted out in her delire and the reafon thereof. Her delire is, that (he may be as a feale on his heart and arme, as a note Printed with a Peale, whereby the impre(lïon ofit might be afwell deepely fixed in- wardly in the minde, as appeare alwaies outwardly to the fight, wherein fhedefireth that the may cleave to him, as the figure is wont which the Print of the Seale hath made. Molt vehement love requires the like againe. The ardent delire of love is exprefl fly moil fit (imilitudes, for faying it is as flrong as death, the iheweth thereby that none can refill thepower thereof, death overcommeth the proudefl ones by force, fo that it should be folly to contend with her. The grave is allo cruell without pifie, difeourteous and inexo- rable, who defpifeth all fupplications, nor is ever filled with prey: it daily devoureth an infinite multitude, and yet alwayes gapeth for new fpoiles. Neither is jealoule lelkinfatiable. Verle 7. Many Waters cannot quench love, neither can the ¡loud; droWne it: if a man Wouldgiveall thefubftance of lots houfe for love, it Wouldutterly be contemned. Therefore this love (hall be eternall, which neither adverfity nor prolperiy {hall be able to weaken or any whit impaire : for the chiefe fcope hereof is to teach us that the light of the truth once kindled, (hall never be quenched againe in thefe countries, whereby it manifedlly appeareth that here is fomething expefted to be done, and
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