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

But such Churches as have no Preachers, or such as have no power in their gifts to open and shut the Kingdom of Heaven, to the conscience and souls of men, they are as Concubines.

But such Churches as have no Preachers, or such as have no power in their gifts to open and shut the Kingdome of Heaven, to the conscience and soules of men, they are as Concubines.

Lastly, such Congregations where the people remain still ignorant in darkness, and are not brought on to be begotten of God by the lively word of Regeneration, but continue altogether ignorant, worldly, and profane; they are as Concubines, whose children inherit not, though God may give them outward blessings. But such Congregations where the word is lively to the begetting of souls to ⟨p. 189⟩an immortal inheritance, they are lawful wives, yea Queens: Of this sort our English and foreign Churches have many, (God be blessed) though the Church of Sardis hath but a few names.¹

Lastly, such Congregations where the people remaine still ignorant in darknesse, and are not brought on to be begotten of God by the lively word of Regeneration, but continue altogether ignorant, worldly, and prophane; they are as Concubines, whose children inherit not, though God may give them outward blessings. But such Congregations where the word is lively to the begetting of soules to ⟨p. 189⟩an immortall inheritance, they are lawfull wives, yea Queenes: Of this sort our English and forraigne Churches have many, (God be blessed) though the Church of Sardis hath but a few names.¹

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