Simile. | Parallel.
A Lilly is a very sweet Flower, so fragrant, that Naturalists tell us, a Man's Senses will be easily turned with the Strength thereof. | SO there is nothing sweeter to Christ, than the Church, the Spouse:1 Thou art all fair, my Love, there is no Spot in thee. The Smell of thy Ointment is better than all Spices, Spikenard, and Saffron, ⟨p. 116⟩Calamus, and Cinnamon, with all Trees of Frankincense, Myrrh and Aloes, with the chief Spices. The Church, and faithful Children of God, are unto Christ a sweet Savour. And 'tis said, Noah built an Altar to the Lord, and took of every clean Fowl, 2and offered Burnt-Offerings on the Altar; and the Lord smelled a sweet Savour.
II. A Lilly is an exceeding white Flower; nothing more pure, nothing whiter, saith the same Author, than a Lilly. | II. So nothing is more fair and white, or purer in Christ's Sight than the Church. My Undefiled is but one, she is the only one of her Mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. Thou art all fair, my Love, and there is no Spot in thee. Hence said to be clothed in fine Linen, clean and white. Christ, her blessed Bridegroom, gave himself for her,3 that he might sanctify and cleanse her, with the washing of Water, by the Word; that he might present her to himself a glorious Church, not having Spot, or Wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy, and without Blemish.
III. The Lilly is a very fruitful Flower;4 one Root (saith Pliny) often yielding fifty Pods. The Dew of Heaven, the Heat of the Sun, and Fatness of the Soil, make it fruitful. | III. The Church is fruitful; nothing more fruitful, saith Wendelin: The which being planted in the Field of one Jerusalem, in the Days of old, watered by the Apostolic Men, with the Dew of the Word, and Miracles; the Sun of Righteousness shining upon it,5 and infusing of his Divine Heat into it. In what part of the World,6 (in the space of a few Years) hath it not taken Root? In the former Age, after the Roman Winters of the Alpine Snow had for some Ages depressed this Flower, and reduced its Leaves to admirable Paucity, insomuch that they were scarcely visible to the World, and had circumscribed its Roots into a narrow Space, how great and swift were the Increasings of it, the Heavens, which before seemed shut, again bedewing of it! Then that Word (saith he) we saw fulfilled, which was promised in Times past to Israel:
Simile. | Parallel.
A Lilly is a very sweet Flower, so fragrant, that Naturalists tell us, a Man's Senses will be easily turned with the Strength thereof. | SO there is nothing sweeter to Christ, than the Church, the Spouse:1 Thou art all fair, my Love, there is no Spot in thee. The Smell of thy Ointment is better than all Spices, Spikenard, and Saffron, ⟨p. 116⟩Calamus, and Cinamon, with all Trees of Frankincense, Myrrh and Aloes, with the chief Spices. The Church, and faithful Children of God, are unto Christ a sweet Savour. And 'tis said, Noah built an Altar to the Lord, and took of every clean Fowl, 2and offered Burnt-Offerings on the Altar; and the Lord smelled a sweet Savour.
II. A Lilly is an exceeding white Flower; nothing more pure, nothing whiter, saith the same Author, than a Lilly. | II. So nothing is more fair and white, or purer in Christ's Sight than the Church. My Ʋndefiled is but one, she is the only one of her Mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. Thou art all fair, my Love, and there is no Spot in thee. Hence said to be cloathed in fine Linnen, clean and white. Christ, her blessed Bridegroom, gave himself for her,3 that he might sanctify and cleanse her, with the washing of Water, by the Word; that he might present her to himself a glorious Church, not having Spot, or Wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy, and without Blemish.
III. The Lilly is a very fruitful Flower;4 one Root (saith Pliny) often yielding fifty Pods. The Dew of Heaven, the Heat of the Sun, and Fatness of the Soil, make it fruitful. | III. The Church is fruitful; nothing more fruitful, saith Wendelin: The which being planted in the Field of one Jerusalem, in the Days of old, watered by the Apostolick Men, with the Dew of the Word, and Miracles; the Sun of Righteousness shining upon it,5 and infusing of his Divine Heat into it. In what part of the World,6 (in the space of a few Years) hath it not taken Root? In the former Age, after the Roman Winters of the Alpine Snow had for some Ages depressed this Flower, and reduced its Leaves to admirable Paucity, insomuch that they were scarcely visible to the World, and had circumscribed its Roots into a narrow Space, how great and swift were the Increasings of it, the Heavens, which before seemed shut, again bedewing of it! Then that Word (saith he) we saw fulfilled, which was promised in Times past to Israel:
- 1Ca•t. 4.7, 10, 14.
- 2Gen. 8.40, 41.
- 3Eph. 5.25, 26, 27.
- 4Plin. lib. 21. cap. 5.
- 5Mal. 4.2.
- 6See Vine.
