A34663:1116
A brief exposition of the whole book of Canticles, or Song of Solomon lively…
A brief exposition of the whole book of Canticles, or Song of Solomon lively describing the estate of the church in all the ages thereof, both Jewish and Christian, to this day ... / written by that learned and godly divine, John Cotton ...
London: printed for Philip Nevil, 1642
Chapter 8: THE CANTICLES, OR SONG OF SONGS, opened and explained.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Church enjoying these great mercies and blessings from Christ, chargeth all her daughters, members, to walk so thankfully, and fruitfully towards God, and lovingly and helpfully one towards another, and so circumspectly, and inoffensively to them which are without, that no occasion be given of their alteration of their happy estate. When the Church gave this charge before, it was in regard of the Roes and Hinds of the field;1 fearful Christians coming on towards Religion, willing to flock, and feed, and converse with the sheep,2 yet ready to start and flee away upon any fear of danger of persecution; but now no regard is had of these fearful ones; for they that shall then remain fearful,3 when the Church shall enjoy so great light and safety, they shall be quite excluded from conversing with the Church.
The Church enjoying these great mercies and blessings from Christ, chargeth all her daughters, members, to walk so thankfully, and fruitfully towards God, and lovingly and helpfully one towards another, and so circumspectly, and inoffensively to them which are without, that no occasion be given of their alteration of their happy estate. When the Church gave this charge before, it was in regard of the Roes and Hindes of the field;1 fearefull Christians comming on towards Religion, willing to flocke, and feed, and converse with the sheepe,2 yet ready to start and flee away upon any feare of danger of persecution; but now no regard is had of these fearfull ones; for they that shall then remaine fearefull,3 when the Church shall enjoy so great light and safety, they shall bee quite excluded from conversing with the Church.
- 1Chap. 2. verse 7.
- 2