Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

The Directions are two, Would thou know, saith he, how to be kept out of snares? Then, 1. Look how the old Worthies walked, and follow their way. 2. Have respect to the public Ordinances, and hold near them, that you may have direction from the Word, by these to whom I have committed the trust of dispensing the same: I have (saith he) no new light to give you, nor any new way to heaven to show you, nor any new means, ordinances, or officers to send amongst you, nor yet must ye expect immediate revelations; but walk in the light that shines to you, by the preaching of the Word by my Ministers, who are the ⟨p. 90⟩under-shepherds which I have set over you: For thus I guide all my counsel, whom I afterward receive to glory.

The Directions are two, Would thou know, saith he, how to be kept out of snares? Then, 1. Look how the old Worthies walked, and follow their way. 2. Have respect to the publick Ordinances, and hold neer them, that you may have direction from the Word, by these to whom I have committed the trust of dipensing the same: I have (saith he) no new light to give you, nor any new way to heaven to shew you, nor any new means, ordinances, or officers to send amongst you, nor yet must ye expect immediat revelations; but walk in the light that shines to you, by the preaching of the Word by my Ministers, who are the ⟨p. 90⟩under-shepherds which I have set over you: For thus I guide all my counsel, whom I afterward receive to glory.

The first Direction (go thy way forth by the foot-steps of the flock) holds forth, 1. That all believers, of old and late, are of one flock, of one common concernment, and under the care of one chief shepherd: This is the flock spoken of, vers. 7. whereof Christ is shepherd. 2. That there is but one way to heaven, for the substantials of faith & godliness, in which they that went before have walked, and these that follow-after must walk in the same way, if ever they think to come there. 3. That there are many in all ages, whom God hath helped in trying times to keep in his way, and have been carried well through all difficulties to heaven. 4. That believers would observe these beyond others, as being especially worthy of imitation. 5. That they should, and may follow the commendable practices of believers in former times, and not affect singularity. 6. That it's commendable, and often safe in times when new opinions and doctrines bear sway, to follow their way, who we are sure went before us to Heaven,