There are diverse things in this Song, that a ⟨p. 3⟩corrupt heart (unto which all things are defiled) may take offence; But, To the pure all things are pure. Such a sinful abuse of this Heavenly Book is far from the intention of the Holy Ghost in it, which is by stooping low to us, to take advantage to raise us higher unto him; that by taking advantage of the sweetest passage of our life, (Marriage) and the most delightful affection (Love) in the sweetest manner of Expression (by a Song) he might carry up the Soul to things of a Heavenly Nature.1 We see in Summer, that one heat weakens another: and a great light being near a little one, draws away and obscures the flame of the other:2 so it is when the affections are taken up higher to their fit Object, they die unto all earthly things, whilst that heavenly flame consumes and wastes all base affections and earthly desires.3 Amongst other ways of Mortification, there be two remarkable,
1. By embittering all earthly things unto us, whereby the Affections are deadened to them.
2. By showing more noble, excellent, and fit Objects.
That the soul issuing more largely and strongly into them, may be diverted; and so by degrees die unto other things. The holy Spirit hath chosen this way in this Song; by elevating and raising our affections and love, to take it off from other things, that so it might run in its right Channel. It is pity that a sweet stream should not rather run into a Garden, than into a puddle: what a shame is it, that man having in him such excellent ⟨p. 4⟩affections as Love, Joy, Delight, should cleave to dirty base things that are worse than himself, so becoming debased like them? Therefore the Spirit of God, our of mercy and pity to man, would raise up his affections, by taking comparison from earthly things leading to higher matters, that only deserve Love, Joy, Delight, and Admiration. Let Gods stooping to us, occasion our rising up unto him; for, here the greatest things, The Mystery of Mysteries, the Communion betwixt Christs and his Church, is set out in the familiar comparison of a Marriage: that so we might the better see it in the glass of a comparison, which we cannot so directly conceive of, as we may see the sun in water,4 whose beams we cannot so directly look upon: Only our care must be, not to look so much on the colours, as the Picture:
There are diverse things in this Song, that a ⟨p. 3⟩corrupt heart (unto which all things are defiled) may take offence; But, To the pure all things are pure. Such a sinfull abuse of this Heavenly Booke is farre from the intention of the Holy Ghost in it, which is by stouping low to us, to take advantage to raise us higher unto him; that by taking advantage of the sweetest passage of our life, (Mariage) and the most delightfull affection (Love) in the sweetest manner of Expression (by a Song) he might carrie up the Soule to things of a Heavenly Nature.1 We see in Summer, that one heat weakens another: and a great light being neare a little one, drawes away and obscures the flame of the other:2 so it is when the affections are taken up higher to their fit Object, they die unto all earthly things, whilst that heavenly flame consumes and wasts all base affections and earthly desires.3 Amongst other wayes of Mortification, there be two remarkable,
1. By imbittering all earthly things unto us, whereby the Affections are deaded to them.
2. By shewing more noble, excellent, and fit Objects.
That the soule issuing more largely and strongly into them, may be diverted; and so by degrees die unto other things. The holy Spirit hath chosen this way in this Song; by elevating and raising our affections and love, to take it off from other things, that so it might runne in its right Channell. It is pitie that a sweet streame should not rather run into a Garden, than into a puddle: what a shame is it, that man having in him such excellent ⟨p. 4⟩affections as Love, Ioy, Delight, should cleave to dirty base things that are worse than himselfe, so becomming debased like them? Therefore the Spirit of God, our of mercy and pitie to man, would raise up his affections, by taking comparison from earthly things leading to higher matters, that onely deserve Love, Ioy, Delight, and Admiration. Let Gods stouping to us, occasion our rising up unto him; for, here the greatest things, The Mystery of Mysteries, the Communion betwixt Christs and his Church, is set out in the familiar comparison of a Marriage: that so we might the better see it in the glasse of a comparison, which we cannot so directly conceive of, as we may see the sun in water,4 whose beames we cannot so directly looke upon: Onely our care must be, not to looke so much on the colours, as the Picture:
- 1Simile.
- 2Simile.
- 3Two especial ways of Mortification.Two especiall wayes of Mortification.
- 4Simile.
