This diverse consideration of the Church as one and moe, Is not, 1. disagreeable to other Scriptures, in which Christ useth to commend her, as we see, Psal. 45. 9, 13, 14. where there is the Queen, called the Kings daughter, and the Virgins; or Daughters her companions, who are with her, yet by all is understood the same invisible Church, considered collectively as one body, or distributively in her several members. Nor, 2. is it unsuitable to the strain of this Song, nor is it absurd, as was shown in the Preface, and needs not now be repeated. And, 3. it agrees well with Christ's scope here (where he is (to say so) seeking how to express fully the commendation of his Bride, as singular and eminent) thus to consider her; for, the moe ways she be considered, her excellency appears the more, she being excellent, whatever way she be looked on: And if as visible, she be glorious, and someway one in him, much more as invisible she is so, which is the scope, as is clear, vers. 9. By Queens, Concubines and Virgins then, we understand believers of different growths and degrees: I say, believers, 1. because these titles agree best to them, according to the strain of this Song and of Psalm 45. 2. They are supposed to be of one mother. 3. They praise the Bride, which is an evidence of honesty and sincerity, and a greater argument of her excellency, that she is praised and commended by such as had discerning: I say, we are here to understand believers of different growths and degrees, so that some believers are Queens, that is, more glorious, and admitted to the highest privileges; Some are as Concubines, who were accounted lawful wives as to conjugal fellowship, but differed in this, that they had not such government over the family, and their children had not right to inherit, therefore they are as half wives, as the word in the Original will bear; Some are Virgins, that are not so far admitted, yet are of ⟨p. 359⟩a chaste carriage, and so differenced from others, as was said on Chap. 1. 3. Next, the commendation is, that though there be many Queens, moe Concubines, and Virgins without number (that is, though there be many believers of different […] and degrees) yet there is but one Bride, which is a singular excellency in her, and an unheard-of thing, that so many make up but one Bride; the like whereof is not to be found in any marriage that ever was in the world:
This diverse consideration of the Church as one and moe, Is not, 1. disagreeable to other Scriptures, in which Christ useth to commend her, as we see, Psal. 45. 9, 13, 14. where there is the Queen, called the Kings daughter, and the Virgins; or Daughters her companions, who are with her, yet by all is understood the same invisible Church, considered collectively as one body, or distributively in her several members. Nor, 2. is it unsuitable to the strain of this Song, nor is it absurd, as was shown in the Preface, and needs not now be repeated. And, 3. it agrees well with Christ's scope here (where he is (to say so) seeking how to expresse fully the commendation of his Bride, as singular and eminent) thus to consider her; for, the moe wayes she be considered, her excellency appears the more, she being excellent, whatever way she be lookt on: And if as visible, she be glorious, and someway one in him, much more as invisible she is so, which is the scope, as is clear, vers. 9. By Queens, Concubines and Virgins then, we understand believers of different growths and degrees: I say, believers, 1. because these titles agree best to them, according to the strain of this Song and of Psalm 45. 2. They are supposed to be of one mother. 3. They praise the Bride, which is an evidence of honesty and sincerity, and a greater argument of her excellency, that she is praised and commended by such as had discerning: I say, we are here to understand believers of different growths and degrees, so that some believers are Queens, that is, more glorious, and admitted to the highest priviledges; Some are as Concubines, who were accounted lawful wives as to conjugal fellowship, but differed in this, that they had not such government over the family, and their children had not right to inherit, therefore they are as half wives, as the word in the Original will bear; Some are Virgins, that are not so far admitted, yet are of ⟨p. 359⟩a chast carriage, and so differenced from others, as was said on Chap. 1. 3. Next, the commendation is, that though there be many Queens, moe Concubines, and Virgins without number (that is, though there be many believers of different 〈…〉 and degrees) yet there is but one Bride, which is a singular excellency in her, and an unheard-of thing, that so many make up but one Bride; the like whereof is not to be found in any marriage that ever was in the world:
