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

I opened to my beloved.] This attempt of the Church in executing in some places the decrees of these synods was an opening of the door to Christ: Images and Idolatry being shut forth, there is a door open for Christ to enter.

I opened to my beloved.] This attempt of the Church in executing in some places the decrees of these synods was an opening of the doore to Christ: Images and Idolatrie being shut forth, there is a doore open for Christ to enter.

But my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone.] Christ did not delight to reveal himself in their public assemblies, though Images were in some places well removed, both because those decrees for removing of Images were not generally received and executed, through the coming in of the Bishop of Rome; and because the worship of God was still full of heathenish and Jewish superstitions, which Christ took no pleasure in.

But my beloved had withdrawn himselfe, and was gone.] Christ did not delight to reveale himselfe in their publike assemblies, though Images were in some places well removed, both because those decrees for removing of Images were not generally received and executed, through the comming in of the Bishop of Rome; and because the worship of God was still full of heathenish and Jewish superstitions, which Christ tooke no pleasure in.

My soul failed when he spake:] The faithful in those times were assembled ⟨p. 151⟩with fear and grief, to consider how Christ now speaketh to them afar off, comes not near to their hearts and consciences; so that now, though they used such means to find him as the times afforded, yet Christ did take no pleasure in those means, in those worships, nor, to their sense, in those that used them.