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

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.

My soule failed when he spake:] The faithfull in those times were assembled ⟨p. 151⟩with feare and griefe, to consider how Christ now speaketh to them afarre off, comes not neer to their hearts and consciences; so that now, though they used such meanes to finde him as the times afforded, yet Christ did take no pleasure in those meanes, in those worships, nor, to their sense, in those that used them.

The watchmen that went about the City found me,¹ they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

The watchmen that went about the Citie found me,¹ they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walles took away my vaile from me.

1. 1Verse 7.

The watchmen that went about the City found me:] These watchmen are the Bishops and Ministers of that time; as also the keepers of the walls may well be the Magistrates; for civill government is a wall of defence to the Church of God.