Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

2. Christ hath a notable right to, and propriety in, these Elect who are given to him, so that the Vineyard is his, and it cannot be that one of these perish, without the impairing and prejudice of the propriety of our Lord Jesus. 3. There is an old transaction, concerning the salvation of the Elect betwixt the Father and the Son, which can be no other thing but the Covenant of Redemption; for, the Son's having an interest in some and not in others, supposeth that some were given to him and accepted by him, as that word, Joh. 17. 6. bears out. Thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and so they are mine. 4. Christ's Church or Vineyard, hath the only choice soil in all the world to live into, it's Baal-hammon where they are planted, though often their outward lot be not desirable, yet their lines have fallen in pleasant places.

2. Christ hath a notable right to, and propriety in, these Elect who are given to him, so that the Vineyard is his, and it cannot be that one of these perish, without the imparing and prejudice of the propriety of our Lord Jesus. 3. There is an old transaction, concerning the salvation of the Elect betwixt the Father and the Son, which can be no other thing but the Covenant of Redemption; for, the Son's having an interest in some and not in others, supposeth that some were given to him and accepted by him, as that word, Ioh. 17. 6. bears out. Thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and so they are mine. 4. Christ's Church or Vineyard, hath the only choise soil in all the world to live into, it's Baal-hammon where they are planted, though often their outward lot be not desirable, yet their lines have fallen in pleasant places.

The second part concerns Christ's managing of his Church, when he hath gotten it; He doth not immediately dress it by himself, but he lets it out to keepers, as a man having purchased a field, or planted a Vineyard, doth set it, or farm it for such a rent; So hath Christ thought good to commit his Church to keepers, that is, to watchmen and farmers, that by their Ministry, he might in a mediate way promove their edification and salvation, which he accounts his rent: The very same parable, almost in the same words, pressing this scope, is recorded,