The Prooem in these words , Now will I sing to my well-beloued a song of my beloued touching his Vineyard : wherein , these particulars are obseruable :

First , the Inditer or Author Instrumentall , intimated in this particle [ I. ]

Secondly , the kinde of Treatise indited [ A Song . ]

Thirdly , the manner of the Prophets publishing and deliuering it [ Will sing . ]

Fourthly , the Dedication of it [ To his well-beloued . ]

Fifthly , the warrant and authoritie for the publishing of it [ Of my well-beloued . ]

Sixtly , the Subiect matter thereof [ Touching his Vineyard . ]

These in the Prooem . As for the Poem , we will then limb and branch it forth , when we come to the handling of it . Let vs now goe to the sickle of the Sanctuary , and there weigh those words which we haue already numbred .

Now ] Some reade it Goe to , or Goe to yet : Exposition . Muscul . Moller . As if the Prophet should stirre vp himselfe to sing ; and like the watchfull Cocke , first clap his wings to awake himselfe , before he crowes to awaken others . Others reade it as we haue it Now , or Now I pray ; hereby stirring vp his people to attention ; which reading is the best : for the Hebrew particle Na noteth the motion of the minde to perswade or intreat .

Will I sing ] id est , I will lift vp my voice and make a melodious sound , modulating and singing the Song I haue composed .

To my well-beloued ] id est , To the grace or praise of his well-beloued , or ( as some ) in his defence . Calu. & Vrsin . in loc.

Well-beloued ] Some there are who would haue Gods Israel to be meant hereby : He so terming them in regard of the great loue he bare towards them , and great care he had ouer them , they being dearely beloued of him : But the Prophet explaineth his owne meaning , when he saith , My well-beloued hath a Vineyard . Now the Vineyard of the Lord of Hoasts , is the house of Israel , vers. 7. By well-beloued then he vnderstandeth , not the people of God , but God himselfe . And he cals him so in a two-fold respect .

More Generally ; as he himselfe was a member of the Church , and in the behalfe of it , and thus said Solomon , r r Cant. 2.13 . & 6.3 . 7.10 . My well-beloued is mine , and I am his .

Or more Specially ; as he was a Prophet , and so one of the Bridegroomes friends , to whom the charge of the Church was committed ; according to that of Saint Iohn , s s Iohn 3.29 . He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroome : but the friend of the Bridegroome which standeth and heareth him , reioyceth greatly because of the Bridegroomes voice .

A Song ] Three kindes of Songs were in vse especially amongst the Iewes : Mizmor , Tehillah , Shir. Some they called Psalmes ; othersome Hymnes ; and another sort they had which they called Songs or Odes : All which kindes Saint Paul mentioneth , when he willeth vs to speake to our selues with Psalmes , and Hymnes , and Spirituall Songs t t Ephes. 5.19 . Coloss. 3.16 . . The first of these were such as were artificially framed in a certaine full number of words and measure , as the originall word noteth ; it comming of a word u u Zamar . which signifieth to prune or cut off superfluous twigs : and containeth in it holy matter , of what argument soeuer : whether Precatorie ; Praiers for benefits to be receiued : or Deprecatorie ; Petitions against aduersities : or Consolatorie ; Matter of comfort and consolation . These were wont to be sung both with Instrument and voice .

The second sort , were speciall songs of praise and thanksgiuing , and come of a word * * Halal . which signifieth the lifting vp or exaltation of the voice , in extolling and magnifying either the worthy person or his noble action ; and these are properly those that set forth the Almighties praise : Hymnus Psalmo sanctior . Chrys. in Colos. 4. Hom. 9. therefore saith Chrysostome ; A Hymne is more diuine than a Psalme . These were wont to be sung either with the Instrument , or without .

The third kinde contained in them doctrine of the chiefe good , or mans eternall felicitie , with other such like Spirituall matter , and were artificially made , and after a more maiesticall forme than ordinary . These were sung only with the voice , without any Instrument .

A learned writer x x Zanch. in Colos. cap. 3. vers. 16. sheweth diuers other differences , and distinctions giuen of these by diuers of the Ancients : but that I haue named , is the most receiued . Let this suffice , there were and are varietie , and all allowable by the Lord .

As for this Song of our Prophet y y Calu. in loc. , it is of this latter kinde , and was most artificially composed , and set out with the most exquisite skill that might be . It is of the like nature and kinde with that of Solomons , Oecolamp . which is called the Song of Songs : For here the great loue of God towards his Church , with the fruit of that his loue is set forth vnto vs . In this indeed they differ ( as some haue well obserued ) that is Comicall , but this is Tragicall ; for though our Prophet beginneth merrily , yet he endeth heauily .

Of my beloued ] D●dho . Here the Prophet vseth the same word that he did before , though with some little alteration : and some z z Moller . & Hector . Pint. in loc. translate it Vncle ; others Couzen ; ( For so it signifieth as well as friend or beloued ) and would by it note out the Messiah , and his humanitie in a speciall manner : For Isaiah descended from Dauid , and so was of Christs kindred ; in which regard ( say they ) he calleth him his Vncle or his Couzen. But this exposition is reiected by other of the learned a a Caluin . Vrsin . as constrained : And they take the word here vsed to be the same in signification with the former , holding the addition to be but a garnishing of the Prophets speech , which liberty Poets haue aboue other writers , to the end that by the rime and running of the verse , the Memorie might be the better helped , and the Vnderstanding quickned .

Now , in that he saith it was [ Of ] his beloued , he hereby noteth out his Warrant and Authoritie . It was the Song which his Beloued put into his mouth , and which he had in charge from him to publish . It was of him and from him , as well as for him .

Touching his Vineyard ] Some reade it , to his Vineyard ; others , for his Vineyard . The word may be read both waies , both in the Genitiue and Datiue case ( as b b Muscul . one obserues . ) By this Vineyard we are to vnderstand the Church , as appeareth , vers. 7. The reasons why it is compared to a Vineyard we shall hereafter see . And thus much for Explanation . Come we now to matter of Obseruation .

And first in generall from the Prophets method and manner of proceeding , which we see was not as vsually it was ; Doct. Ministers both for matter and method to fit themselues to their hearers . note we , What wisdome is requisite for Gods Ministers , that they may be able to apply themselues to the seuerall affections ( if not sinfull ) of their hearers : becomming all things to all men , seeking by all possible meanes to winne or gaine any vnto Christ .

To the Iew c c 1 Cor. 9.19 , 20 , 21 , 22. ( saith Saint Paul ) I became as a Iew , that I might gaine the Iewes ; to them that are vnder the Law , as vnder the Law , that I might gaine them which are vnder the Law . To the weake became I as weake , that I might gaine the weake . I am made all things to all men , that I might by all meanes saue some . Then followes that generall exhortation : d d Vers. 24. So run that you may obtaine . This course likewise tooke our blessed Sauiour ; sometimes he taught by Explication ; otherwhiles by Application : sometimes Propounding doctrines ; othertimes Expounding them : sometimes he deliuereth plaine Principles , at other times Parables and darke sentences ; and not seldome by exemplarie similitudes . The rich man he teacheth by the rich mans care and greedy gathering : The Vine-dresser by the Vinitors digging and hedging : The Labourer by the Labourers hire and working : The Builder by the builders laying of a good foundation : The Husband-man by the Husbandmans sowing and reaping : The Fisher-man by the Fishermans casting in nets and drawing . By all which the Ministers of the Gospell are admonished to become all vnto all , that they may winne the more , Muscul . in Matth. 4. according to our propounded point .

Let vs not then be discouraged , though we haue to Vse 1 deale with a stubborne and refractarie people , so as to surcease our paines . The Physitian omits no point of his Art , though the recouerie of his Patient seeme desperate ; he will vse his best skill before he giues him ouer . What is this diuine trade of ours , but a spirituall Piscation ? Now how much skill , and toyle , and patience is requisite in this Art , who knowes not ? The world is the Sea ; Soules like fishes swim at liberty in this deepe , ranging vp and downe after their owne disposition , vncaught : Ministers are the Fishers in this Sea , who must be euer busied , sometimes in preparing , sometimes in mending , sometimes in casting abroad , sometimes in drawing in their nets . The Net to take men with , is the preaching of the Gospell , which Net is oftentimes let downe , and many a draught made by the poore Fisherman , yet nothing taken . For some are craftie , and will not ; as the worldling , who is so wise ( at least in his generation e e Luke 16. ) that he no sooner spies the Net laid , but he shuns it . Some are slippery , and cannot ; as the Hypocrite , Qui capit anguillam per caudam non capit illam . who like an Eele slips thorow when he is enclosed . Some are great , and may not ; f f Amos 7.13 . Prophesie not at Bethel , for it is the Kings Chappell , and it is the Kings Court : So sheweth Ieremiah , when hee saith , g g Ier. 5.5 . read Psal. 2.3 . I will get me to the great men , and speake to them , but these haue broken the yoke , and burst the bonds . And therefore Paul though he had caught many a soule in his Nets , yet he could catch but a peece of King Agrippa : So sheweth the Text , h h Acts 26.28 . Almost thou perswadest me to become a Christian . And lastly ; Some are little , and dare not : Our Peter-like professors , whom the voyce of a silly damsell , crying , Thou art a Galilean , terrifies . So that the summe of the paines of many is , i i Luke 5.5 . We haue laboured all night and taken nothing . Thus it pleaseth God to exercise the patience of his seruants . But howsoeuer some fishes are too great , and some too little , some too silly , and some too subtle , yet let vs launch out into the deepe , and once againe let slip our new-washen Nets at our Masters bidding : What though there be no likelihood of successe ? yet the last throw may draw vp some to grace and glory : Say then with Simon , Master , though we haue trauelled all night , and taken nothing , yet at thy word we will let downe the net , and make one cast more . In so doing certainly we at last shall finde , that our humble and penitent obedience shall come home laden with blessings as theirs did , for when they had so done ( saith the Text ) k k vers. 6. they enclosed a great multitude of fishes , so that their nets brake ; and they filled their ships , so that they began to sinke . O happy complaint of too large a capture ! Who would not obey thee , oh Christ , since thou so bountifully requitest mans weakest seruices ? Their nets breake , their ships sinke with the burden of that which they haue taken : O blessed Sauiour , if those Apostolicall vessels of thy first rigging were thus ouerlaid , ours flote and totter with an vnballast lightnesse : Thou who art no lesse present in these bottomes of ours , lade them with an equall fraight of conuerted soules ; giue vs abilitie to take ; giue men will , and grace , to be taken , and let vs praise thee for thus sinking . Howeuer , let thy worke be followed , and thy leisure waited for : Assure vs of this , that that paines cannot be lost , which we resolue to lose for thee . For l l Isay 49.5 . Though Israel be not gathered , yet shall we be glorious in the eyes of the Lord , and our God shall be our strength . Though our preaching be not a sweet sauour to them that heare vs ; yet euen in them we shall be a sweet sauour vnto the Lord m m 2 Cor. 2.15 . . If then we preach , and men repent not , let it neuer repent vs of our preaching ; for they are the losers and not we : n n 2 Chron. 15.7 . Be yee strong therefore , and let not your hands be weake , for your works shall be rewarded .