2. He presseth her to rise and come, from some heartsome encouragements he propones, vers. 12. There is a great change (saith he) now, when the angry winter is over, all things are pleasant and lovely. 1. The flowers appear, that shows there is heat and warmness in the earth, and it is an effect of the Spring, and a proof that winter is past. Hereby the fruits of grace, appearing in the change that is wrought upon sinners, may be signified, as is frequently hinted in this Song, where the Church is called a garden, and believers are the flowers; Come, (saith he) grace hath made others to come through the ground, who once were like flowers in the winter, under ground, but now they appear ⟨p. 138⟩and flourish. 2. The time of singing of birds is come. As in the Spring, birds sing, which in the winter drooped; So (saith he) now many poor sinners have changed their sad note, and begin to sing, who once were sinking under fears: And the good news of the Gospel, like the voice of the turtle, is heard in our land; these good tidings have been sent even to us, which is no little evidence of love, and no small confirmation to faith: That the news of the Gospel, and the consolation of sinners thereby, is here understood, is very agreeable to the scope: And these prove the removing of wrath, and are encouraging for stirring sinners up to the exercise of faith. And O how heartsome, and refreshful is the spiritual Spring, when the day-spring from on high visits us! (as these things, mentioned in the text, are in the natural spring very pleasant, and tend to provoke men to go and recreate themselves in the fields.) And this is the particular scope of this place: There is never a sinner hath gotten good of Christ, but it proves him to be very kind; and the blessed change Christ hath wrought on them, should encourage others to believe, especially when it is the day of their visitation, and the Sun of Righteousness hath become warm by the Gospel unto them, or unto the place and society in which they live. 3. He presseth his direction and call, by the very presentness, and now of the season of grace, vers. 13. The fig-tree putteth forth, &c. Which shows not only, that Summer is near, but that it is even at the door, Matth. 24. 32, 33. and (saith he) the vines bud and give a smell;
2. He presseth her to rise and come, from some heartsome incouragements he propons, vers. 12. There is a great change (saith he) now, when the angry winter is over, all things are pleasant and lovely. 1. The flowers appear, that shews there is heat and warmnesse in the earth, and it is an effect of the Spring, and a proof that winter is past. Hereby the fruits of grace, appearing in the change that is wrought upon sinners, may be signified, as is frequently hinted in this Song, where the Church is called a garden, and believers are the flowers; Come, (saith he) grace hath made others to come through the ground, who once were like flowers in the winter, under ground, but now they appear ⟨p. 138⟩and flourish. 2. The time of singing of birds is come. As in the Spring, birds sing, which in the winter drooped; So (saith he) now many poor sinners have changed their sad note, and begin to sing, who once were sinking under fears: And the good news of the Gospel, like the voice of the turtle, is heard in our land; these good tydings have been sent even to us, which is no little evidence of love, and no small confirmation to faith: That the news of the Gospel, and the consolation of sinners thereby, is here understood, is very agreeable to the scope: And these prove the removing of wrath, and are incouraging for stirring sinners up to the exercise of faith. And O how heartsome, and refreshful is the spiritual Spring, when the day-spring from on high visits us! (as these things, mentioned in the text, are in the natural spring very pleasant, and tend to provoke men to go and recreat themselves in the fields.) And this is the particular scope of this place: There is never a sinner hath gotten good of Christ, but it proves him to be very kind; and the blessed change Christ hath wrought on them, should incourage others to believe, especially when it is the day of their visitation, and the Sun of Righteousnesse hath become warm by the Gospel unto them, or unto the place and society in which they live. 3. He presseth his direction and call, by the very presentnesse, and now of the season of grace, vers. 13. The fig-tree putteth forth, &c. Which shews not only, that Summer is neer, but that it is even at the door, Matth. 24. 32, 33. and (saith he) the vines bud and give a smell;
