2. She vindicates her faith in these words, He feedeth among the lilies. The words may be looked upon as the preventing of an objection, for it might be said, If Christ be yours, where is he? Is it likely that he is yours, when he is so far away? For, the faith of clearness will be assaulted and set upon, and it is not easily maintained, and unbelief takes the advantage of Christ's absence from sense, to brangle it; So that unbelief, and temptation especially sets on then: Therefore, she answers it thus, He feedeth among the lilies, that is, he is kind to his people, and present with them, though now I see him not; faith may, and will argue from Christ's love to his people in general, and from the promises that speaks to all, when there seems to be nothing singular in the believers own condition, from which it can take comfort. By lilies are understood all believers: the Church was called a lily, vers. 2. here all believers are so called, as partaking of that same beauty and savour, and because planted in the same true garden. Christ was called a lily, vers. 1. and here all believers are called lilies, Showing, 1. That all believers have a conformity to Christ, and partake of the divine nature and spirit that is in him. 2. That all believers in things that are essential to grace and holiness, have conformity one to another, they have the same Faith, Spirit, Covenant, Husband, &c. although in circumstantials and degrees, there be differences. Next, his feeding amongst them, shows, 1. A special gracious presence in his Church, and among believers, there he walketh among the seven golden Candlesticks, Rev. 2. 1. 2. A special delight he hath in them, and satisfaction to be amongst them, as a man delighteth to walk in his garden: It's his meat (John 4. 32. 34.) and drink to do them good; so then (saith she) he is kind to all his people, and is so to me, though for the time I see him not: And thus also she answers the question, Chap. 6. 1, 2. even when Christ is a-seeking, and she was inquiring after him. Obs. 1. Christ's care of his Church, and love to his Bride, is no less under absence, than when his presence is sensibly enjoyed. 2. The consideration of this, tends much to ⟨p. 151⟩further the consolation of believers, and it becomes them well to believe this, when under desertion and absence, and so to ward off tentations.
2. She vindicats her faith in these words, He feedeth among the lilies. The words may be looked upon as the preventing of an objection, for it might be said, If Christ be yours, where is he? Is it likely that he is yours, when he is so far away? For, the faith of clearnesse will be assaulted and set upon, and it is not easily maintained, and unbelief takes the advantage of Christ's absence from sense, to brangle it; So that unbelief, and temptation especially sets on then: Therefore, she answers it thus, He feedeth among the lilies, that is, he is kind to his people, and present with them, though now I see him not; faith may, and will argue from Christ's love to his people in general, and from the promises that speaks to all, when there seems to be nothing singular in the believers own condition, from which it can take comfort. By lilies are understood all believers: the Church was called a lilie, vers. 2. here all believers are so called, as partaking of that same beauty and savour, and because planted in the same true garden. Christ was called a lilie, vers. 1. and here all believers are called lilies, Shewing, 1. That all believers have a conformity to Christ, and partake of the divine nature and spirit that is in him. 2. That all believers in things that are essential to grace and holinesse, have conformity one to another, they have the same Faith, Spirit, Covenant, Husband, &c. although in circumstantials and degrees, there be differences. Next, his feeding amongst them, shewes, 1. A special gracious presence in his Church, and among believers, there he walketh among the seven golden Candlesticks, Rev. 2. 1. 2. A special delight he hath in them, and satisfaction to be amongst them, as a man delighteth to walk in his garden: It's his meat (Iohn 4. 32. 34.) and drink to do them good; so then (saith she) he is kind to all his people, and is so to me, though for the time I see him not: And thus also she answers the question, Chap. 6. 1, 2. even when Christ is a-seeking, and she was inquiring after him. Obs. 1. Christ's care of his Church, and love to his Bride, is no lesse under absence, than when his presence is sensibly injoyed. 2. The consideration of this, tends much to ⟨p. 151⟩further the consolation of believers, and it becomes them well to believe this, when under desertion and absence, and so to ward off tentations.
