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

So the holy Ghost teacheth, what favour any doth show to the Church, it is Christ that doth it; so take it, that if any good befall the Church, it is Christ that doth it; If any lead into captivity, Nebuchadnezzar, or any other, it is Christ that leads her into a wine Cellar: If there be any noise or work of deliverance, it is Christ that comes leaping and skipping: So in all the calamities, and in all the blessings that befall the Church, ascribe all to Christ:^* The same hand that gave, the same hand hath taken away:^† God turned the captivity of Job, and God turned again the captivity of his people. This is a wonderful stay to Gods Church, and to every member of it; for man cannot bring it into captivity, and bring it out again: Mans hand cannot bring hard things upon the Church, nor bring her out again of them; for if it were in mens hands, or in Satan's, or in our own hands, it would not go well ⟨p. 75⟩with us; but being in Christs hands alone, it may be a stay and a comfort.

So the holy Ghost teacheth, what favour any doth shew to the Church, it is Christ that doth it; so take it, that if any good befall the Church, it is Christ that doth it; If any lead into captivity, Nebuchadnezzar, or any other, it is Christ that leads her into a wine Cellar: If there be any noise or worke of deliverance, it is Christ that comes leaping and skipping: So in all the calamities, and in all the blessings that befall the Church, ascribe all to Christ:^* The same hand that gave, the same hand hath taken away:^† God turned the captivity of Job, and God turned againe the captivity of his people. This is a wonderfull stay to Gods Church, and to every member of it; for man cannot bring it into captivity, and bring it out againe: Mans hand cannot bring hard things upon the Church, nor bring her out againe of them; for if it were in mens hands, or in Sathans, or in our own hands, it would not goe well ⟨p. 75⟩