There are three things in them, 1. On external evil incident to the Church, and that is, to be spoiled by 'foxes.' 2. A care given in a direction, 'Take them,' &c. 3. He gives reasons to deter all from cruel pity in sparing of them, 'For,' &c." Having descanted at large upon the first and second heads, Durham remarks on the third: "Thirdly. There is a motive to press, implied, while he (i. e. Christ) saith this; 'Take us,' which words insinuate that it is service both to him and her, and that ministers are his servants, and the Church's for Christ's sake. It shows also his sympathy in putting himself, as it were, in hazard with her (at least mystically considered), and his love in comforting her, that he thinks himself concerned in the restraint of these foxes as well as she is. "Fourthly. The direction is amplified, to remove an objection (say some) 'All heresies, or all heretics are not equal; some comparatively are little to be regarded, and it is cruelty to meddle with these, that seem to profess fair.' 'No (saith he), take them all, even THE LITTLE FOXES; for though they be but little, yet they are foxes; though they be not of the grossest kind (as all scandals in fact are not alike, yet none is to be dispensed with), so they are (saith he) foxes, and corrupt others; for a little leaven will leaven the whole lump (often small-like schisms, or heresies, such as the Novations and Donatists, &c., have been exceedingly defacing to the beauty of the Church), therefore, saith he, hunt and take them up.' How small a friend is our Lord to toleration! and how displeased is he with many errors, that the world thinks little of! Magistrates, ministers and people may learn here, what distance ought to be kept with the spreaders of the least errors; and how every one ought to concur, in their stations, for preventing the hurt that comes by them."[1] 1723. Whether this commentary, with its affirmation that "this Song is a little magazine, for direction and consolation in every condition," and whether the doctrine of intolerance palmed upon Chap. ii. 15 of the Song were published in time to be seen by Whiston, who was neither convinced by Durham's arguments nor daunted by his appeal to the magistrates, ministers, and people; or whether they appeared too late to be seen by him, I cannot tell. But, in the same year that Durham's commentary was published Whiston's Essay appeared, in which he declares that he finds in the Song of Solomon, "from the beginning to the end marks of folly, vanity, and looseness," and assures us that "it was written by Solomon when he was wicked
- ↑ Exposition, pp 103, 106.
