A brief exposition of the whole book of Canticles, or Song of Solomon lively…

The King is held in the Rafters.] For so the word is turned before,¹ where the Rafters were understood partly of the Temple. Held, is always (to my remembrance) used for holding by constraint, bound as a Prisoner. The meaning may be then, That the King, or chief Magistrate is bound to be present at the Ordinances of God in the Temple, as any other private Christian; which is foretold expressly of this Church,² when the people go into the Temple, the Prince is commanded to go in with them, when they go out, he shall go out with them together; he shall come in with the first, and go out with the last: Or what if it imply that their greatest Magistrates shall submit themselves to be bound with the censures of the Church,³ according to that where the Psalmist telleth of binding of Kings ⟨p. 215⟩with the Ordinances of God in the Church. And Isaiah foretelleth that Kings and Queens shall bow down their faces towards the earth unto the Church, and lick the dust of their feet; both their interpretations stand well together.

The King is held in the Rafters.] For so the word is turned before,¹ where the Rafters were understood partly of the Temple. Held, is alwaies (to my remembrance) used for holding by constraint, bound as a Prisoner. The meaning may be then, That the King, or chiefe Magistrate is bound to bee present at the Ordinances of God in the Temple, as any other private Christian; which is foretold expresly of this Church,² when the people goe into the Temple, the Prince is commanded to goe in with them, when they goe out, he shall goe out with them together; he shall come in with the first, and go out with the last: Or what if it imply that their greatest Magistrates shall submit themselves to bee bound with the censures of the Church,³