But this kiss is of a superior to an inferior; Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth: that is, let him show me a further testimony of his love by his presence; and let me enjoy a further communion with him: or let him further assure me of his love. Consider the Churches meaning here: the Church, however she had good interest in this spiritual jointure at the marriage making; yet she, (according to the different degrees of time) had different degrees of desires to be further and further assured. From Solomons time, and before, even from the beginning, there was ever a desire in the Church ⟨p. 19⟩to these kisses of Christs mouth; which is, that he would come in our nature; and that he would manifest by little and little, and clearer and clearer, his coming in the flesh; which accordingly he did by degrees, and with open countenance at last. As first in Paradise; aThe seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head; then to Abraham, bIn thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed; after that, to one Tribe, the Tribe of cJudah; then to one Family of that Tribe, the house of David; 4and sweetly to his Prophet Isaiah, dA Virgin shall conceive; and after with the finger of the Baptist, John pointing to Christ; eBehold ⟨p. 20⟩the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world; and so you see how Christ did reveal himself often, and by degrees unto his Church; answerable to which were the desires of the Church for the coming of Christ; as the Prophet Isaiah, where he 7saith, Oh that thou wouldst break the heavens and come down. Where he prophesied of those that should wait for the consummation of Israel: And thus before Christ came in the flesh; the Church had a great longing after his incarnation; as here: Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. But this is not all, and she was not ignorant that this could not be ⟨p. 21⟩till the last time of days; therefore she desireth some further means of acquaintance with Christ, & knowledge of him; desiring that he would manifest himself more and more by his word, by his graces, and by his Spirit. As therefore then the desire of the Church was for the coming of Christ, so now that which Christians should desire and long after, is not that Christ might come to them, but that they might go to him, and that they might be with him in glory. They love his appearance; but because this cannot be yet;
But this kisse is of a superiour to an inferiour; Let Him kisse me with the kisses of His mouth: that is, let him shew me a further testimony of his love by his presence; and let mee enjoy a further communion with him: or let him further assure me of his love. Consider the Churches meaning here: the Church, however shee had good interest in this spirituall joynture at the marriage making; yet shee, (according to the different degrees of time) had different degrees of desires to bee further and further assured. From Solomons time, and before, even from the beginning, there was ever a desire in the Church ⟨p. 19⟩to these kisses of Christs mouth; which is, that hee would come in our nature; and that he would manifest by little and little, and clearer and clearer, his comming in the flesh; which accordingly he did by degrees, and with open countenance at last. As first in Paradise; aThe seede of the woman shall breake the Serpents head; then to Abraham, bIn thy seede shall all the families of the earth be blessed; aftēr that, to one Tribe, the Tribe of cIuda; then to one Family of that Tribe, the house of David; 4and sweetly to his Prophet Esay, dA Virgin shall conceive; and after with the finger of the Baptist, Iohn pointing to Christ; eBehold ⟨p. 20⟩the Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the world; and so you see how Christ did reveale himselfe often, and by degrees unto his Church; answerable to which were the desires of the Church for the comming of Christ; as the Prophet Isaiah, where hee 7saith, Oh that thou wouldst breake the heavens and come downe. Where hee prophesied of those that should waite for the consummation of Israel: And thus before Christ came in the flesh; the Church had a great longing after his incarnation; as here: Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth. But this is not all, and shee was not ignorant that this could not bee ⟨p. 21⟩
- aGen. 3. 15.
- bGen. 12. 3
- cGen. 49. 10.
- 4Heb. 7. 14. Rom. 5. 5.
- dEsa. 7. 14.
- eJoh. 1. 29.Ioh. 1. 29.
- 7Esa. 64. 1.
