In Cant. 2.14. the Spouse was fallen to the ground (for grief and sorrow, as I take it) and hid her self in the clefts of the rock and the secret places of the stairs, and the little Foxes (Satan's temptations and wiles) did endeavour to spoil the Vine that had but tender grapes; but the Bride-groom, seeing her in this disconsolate condition, bespeaks her thus, Rise up my Love, my fair one and come away, Vers. 10. and again Vers. 13. Let me see thy countenance and hear thy voice; Mine O Lord, alas I dare not look up, I am so black; as 'tis said of the poor Publican, Luke 18.13. that he stood afar off, and would not lift up his eyes to Heaven, but smote upon his breast and said, God be merciful to me a sinner: My countenance, O Lord, 'tis not worth looking on, saith this poor soul, these blubbered checks of mine and eyes standing full of tears will not give me leave to look up: But saith he, Let me see thy Face for it is comely; I love it now the tears run down, I love to see it beset with these Diamonds, and silver drops of tears, 'tis a precious sight in my eyes; and therefore let me see thy face; yea and let me hear thy voice; My voice Lord, alas, I can but chatter as the ⟨p. 107⟩Crane, and mourn as the Dove; Oh let me hear this voice of thine, thy sighs and groans are music and make melody in mine ears, let me therefore hear it, For sweet is thy voice and thy countenance comely; Rise up my Love, my Dove, my fair one and come away: for lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing is come, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land; The Fig-tree puts forth her green Figs, and the Vines with the tender Grapes give a good smell; I will take the Foxes that spoil the Vines, and preserve the tender Grapes. Thus may the dear and loving Jesus (and oh that he would thus) speak to thee, poor soul; that after thy April of showers, thou mayest have a month of May with all its flowers, and be able to conclude as the Spouse did, Vers. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his. In the mean time, if thou hear not this joyful sound, if thou have not Wine to drink, nor meat to eat, yet go thy way and eat thy milk with as merry an heart as thou canst, for God accepteth thy work (even thy Repentance from dead works) to allude to that, Eccl. 9.7. only take not up here, but go on and believe too.
In Cant. 2.14. the Spouse was fallen to the ground (for grief and sorrow, as I take it) and hid her self in the clefts of the rock and the secret places of the stairs, and the little Foxes (Satans temptations and wiles) did endeavour to spoil the Vine that had but tender grapes; but the Bride-groom, seeing her in this disconsolate condition, bespeaks her thus, Rise up my Love, my fair one and come away, Vers. 10. and again Vers. 13. Let me see thy countenance and hear thy voice; Mine O Lord, alas I dare not look up, I am so black; as 'tis said of the poor Publican, Luke 18.13. that he stood afar off, and would not lift up his eyes to Heaven, but smote upon his breast and said, God be merciful to me a sinner: My countenance, O Lord, 'tis not worth looking on, saith this poor soul, these blubbered checks of mine and eyes standing full of tears will not give me leave to look up: But saith he, Let me see thy Face for it is comely; I love it now the tears run down, I love to see it beset with these Diamonds, and silver drops of tears, 'tis a precious sight in my eyes; and therefore let me see thy face; yea and let me hear thy voice; My voice Lord, alas, I can but chatter as the ⟨p. 107⟩Crane, and mourn as the Dove; Oh let me hear this voice of thine, thy sighs and groans are musick and make melody in mine ears, let me therefore hear it, For sweet is thy voice and thy countenance comely; Rise up my Love, my Dove, my fair one and come away: for lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing is come, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land; The Fig-tree puts forth her green Figs, and the Vines with the tender Grapes give a good smell; I will take the Foxes that spoil the Vines, and preserve the tender Grapes. Thus may the dear and loving Jesus (and oh that he would thus) speak to thee, poor soul; that after thy April of showers, thou maist have a month of May with all its flowers, and be able to conclude as the Spouse did, Vers. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his. In the mean time, if thou hear not this joyful sound, if thou have not Wine to drink, nor meat to eat, yet go thy way and eat thy milk with as merry an heart as thou canst, for God accepteth thy work (even thy Repentance from dead works) to allude to that, Eccl. 9.7. only take not up here, but go on and believe too.