A34663:655
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 4: 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 was then said to be shut up,
First, because under the persecutions it was shut up in prisons, and other places of punishment, as under locks and fetters.
First, because under the persecutions it was shut up in prisons, and other places of punishment, as under lockes and fetters.
Secondly, because the Church then assembled in private close places, woods, dens, &c. and not in the open places of towns or cities.
Secondly, because the Church then assembled in private close places, woods, dens, &c. and not in the open places of townes or cities.
Thirdly, because it was shut up from free access of foreigners, men without; neither were the Emperors willing their Subjects should repair to them, nor the Church willing to admit all promiscuously.
Thirdly, because it was shut up from free accesse of forrainers, men without; neither were the Emperours willing their Subjects should repaire to them, nor the Church willing to admit all promiscuously.