Bookiii. THE KISSES OF CHRIST's MOUTH. ssr the Chriftian Heligion, ancl to bring in another Gofpel; he !hives to cheat Men of the true Savior, and in his ftead to preach another, of'whom the Scripture is wholly ignorant ; how many have impudently alfened the Light in all Men to be the true Chrift, and Savior of the World I He cloth not !hive to take away his glorious Sove– reignty, and fet up another univerfal Head, who hath Power to make Laws, and repeal them in Matters of Religion at his Pleafure, as the Followers of the Beaft affirm, but now of late endeavors to take away the very Perfon of the Holy Jefus. Alfo to change the Ordinances, or wholly to deny them, hath been, and is another of his Strata– gems, which wirnefs to the true Chrift, his Death, Burial and RefurreCI:ion. And laftly, Satan hath always endeavored alfo to bring into Contempt the Minifters of the Goipel, or elfe raife up l'erfecution upon them ; and a<l thefe Things he doth to hin– der the Gofpel from fhining, or ob11ruC\: the Promulgation thereof. THE K I s s E s OF c H R I s T 's M 0 u T H. Let him kifs me with the Kif!es of his Mouth,for thy Love is better than Wine, Cant. i. 2. LET him, that is, Chrift, kifs me. By chefe Expreffions, (faith Ainfworth, and others) • the Church deli reth to have Chrift manifefted in the Flefh. Others by Kif!es, underftand moft friendly, fam iliar, and fenfible Manifeft:1tions of Love, for they are fo amongll: Friends; as it was betwixt Jonathan and David, and fo it is between Hufhand and 'Wife. le is evident that Kilfes are mentioned on fundry Oc– cafions, ufed for divers Ends, and Ggnifying feveral Thmgs. 1. We read of a Ki ls of Salutation, ' I Sam. xx. 41. 1 'fheJ!. v. 26. 2. A Kifs of ValediC\:ion, Ruth ii. 9· 3· A Kifs of Reconciliation, 2 Sam. xiv. 33· 4 · A Kifs of Subjection, Pfa/. ii. I z. 5· A Kifs of Approbation, Prov. ii . 4o. A Kifs of Adoration, 1 Kings xix. 18. 7· A traiterous Kifs, Matt. xxvi . 49· 8. A Kils of Affd \ion, Gen. xlv. •5· And fince the Church defires in the plural Number, Kijfes of Chrift's Mouth, it may reft:r, 1. To a Kifs of Reconciliation, or Manifell:acion of Peace, Unity, and Friendfhip. 2. A Kifs of AffeCtion, which is very fweec, to have Chrill: exprefs or manifell: his gracious Love to her. 3· A Kifs of Approbation which is, faith Mr. Gt~ild, fweecell: of all. The Text is purely allegorical, as the whole Song is acknowledged to be by all Divines. M E T A P H 0 R. P A R A L L E L. I. KISSES betoken L ove and I. THE Spoufe in the Text defires of the Lord Good-willcotheParty they J efus, Tokens, or further Manifellatiare given eo. ons of his Love and Good-will eo her. 11. They betoken a hearty ConII. The Church defires further Tokens and junCtion, and cordial Union of two Alfurances of that blelled ConjunCtion and Union, Parties. that is between herfelf and the Lord Jefus Chrift. Ill. They betoken fuch a FriendIll. Gracious Souls defire a more near Accefs fhtp, as allows a Ltbercy of Accefs unro Chrill:, and fpiritual Intimacy and Cornmu– and Commumcation at all Times. nion with him : 0 when wilt thou come unto me! It is the Voice of my Beloved that kmcketh. With my Soul ha·ve I de./ired thee in the N ight, Cant. v. 2. !fa. xxvi. 9· IV. They leave fuch Impreffions, IV. The Spoufe defires fuch Favor, and Maas engagethe ,\ffeCl:ions coafucure nifeftacions of Chrifl:'sLove and Grace, that fhe Remembrance of the ObjeCt. may never forget his Love: We will remember his Love more tban Wine, C,ant. i. 4• • Ainfrwortb, Guild, Sib!n~ Durham, U'i!frm, Glalfius, 1/ljrhuJ, in loctlm. 5· The:
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