yong virgins Come sorth ye daughters of Zion and behold the king Salomon with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his mariage and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart Come forth ye daughters of Zion that is to say ye daughters of Zion as many among all the nations of the world as haue receiued the words of life through Christ and the handes of the Apostles to beleeue come forth out of your errors and vanities being before instructed by the holie scripture behold the peaceable king Salomon which made of two churches one by taking away the hinderance and let as well of God towardes man as of the Iewes towards the Gentils by his death and passion on the crosse come see and behold the humanitie of Christ crowned with a crowne of the deitie O good God how great was the loue of God towardes man that hee gaue his onlie begotten sonne in the flesh to the end that euerie one that beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life either that they shall receiue it in that day when he shall come to iudge both the quick and the dead or that they haue receiued it already in that day when his humanitie was glorified the third day after his resurrection and triumph ouer the diuell the great enemie of all the faithfull people of God The fourth Chapter 1 Behold thou art faire my loue behold thou art faire thine eyes are like the doues among thy lockes thine haire is like the flocke of goates which look downe from the mountaine of Gilead 2 Thy teeth are like a flocke of sheepe in good order which go vp froÌ„ the washing which every one bring out twinnes and none is barren among them 3 Thy lippes are like a threde of skarlet and thy talke is comely thy temples are within thy lockes as a peece of a pomegranate The Commentarie The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride THe Church of God is commended for diuerse things in the Canticles First for her doues eyes that is to say her simplicitie and synceritie of minde and iudgement which is giuen her by the holy Ghost which is signified by the similitude and shape of a doue secondly for her ornaments and iewels which do not a litle beautifie and adorn the face because they are the ornamentes of the head and the head is Christ whose face shineth most gloriouslie and in whose countenance is all the glorie of all the faithfull wheresoeuer Thirdlie she is praysed for her haire for as the haires do grow on the head so the truth which we haue and receiue from our head Christ doth take fast root and increaseth in vs nowe it groweth and increaseth in vs by reason of the preachers of the Gospell which are as it were the haires of this head which depeÌ„deth on Christ the true head of the church And the hairs of this head of the spouse are very properly fitly compared vnto Goats haires because whiles they attend wholly vnto the precepts of the Law and meditate vpoÌ„ nothing but vpon heaueÌ„ly things they are clean creatures which feed in high steep places And by Gilead which is as much to say by interpretatioÌ„ as an heap of testimonies is meant the multitudes of martyrs which coÌ„firme Christs doctrine by their deaths and passions Thy teeth are like a flockâ— of sheep in good order which go vp from the washings which euery one bring out twins and none is barren among them Thy teeth The teeth are the power of the holy Ghost by the which the true Bishops do ouercome the wicked and crush them in peeces by the preaching of the word and Christian conuersation and either conuert and turne them to the truth or else confirme and establish them in the truth by the power of the aforesaid word Againe the Bishops are teeth because they reprehend and reproue the wicked by the word of truth and make them members of Gods holy Church Moreouer they are teeth to break bruise the bread of doctrine so that it may be food for the weak And the teeth of the Church are described to be like vnto sheep after they are washed and shorne because the spirit of truth doth make the true professors of the Gospell and generally all the faithfull to become pure innocent simple or harmlesse as sheepe neither are they barren or fruitlesse because as the sheepe they bring forth twinnes alwayes abound in all maner of good workes Thy lips are like a thredâ— of skarlet and thy talke is comelie thy temples are within thy loâ—kes as a peece of a pomegranat Againe the Church is commended for her lips that is to say for her words And her lips are said to bee red because all her speeches tend onely to this end purpose to set forth the death of Christ our Sauiour red with bloud for the saluation of the elect And her words are fyery hot with zeale and faith not knowing howe to lâ—e but able to ouercome the false and lying brethreÌ„ And by her cheekes is signified modestie and shamefastnesse because when a man is ashamed he blusheth or his cheekes do looke red and because the pomegranat is red in hewe therfore it may be most fitly applied vnto the passioâ— of Christ Now because the Church is not ashamed of Christs crosse but reioyceth ratheâ— in her passions and persecutions which shâ— is to suffer for his sake and is wont to bearâ— the signe of the crosse verie patiently therefore it was well said that her cheekes werâ— like a pomegranate especiallie like a peece of pomegranat because the redder part of it was hid and the white only was seen And as the number of graines which are in a pomgranat cannot be seene vnlesse the pomegranat be broken or bruised in peeces so likewise the vertue and power of the Church is not seene but in tribulations and troubles The Text. 4 Thy necke is as the tower of Dauid built for defence a thousand shieldes hang therein and all the targets of the strong men 5 Thy two breasts are as two yong roes that are twins feeding among the lillies 6 Vntill the day break the shadows flie away I will go into the mountaine of mirrhe and to the mountaine of incense 7 Thou art all faire my loue there is no spot in thee The Commentarie In this place he coÌ„meÌ„deth the spouses neck as a tower built vp of a reasonable height haÌ„ged round about with strong shields what thing else is this in the spouse but the sweete agreement of holie maners or true strength fortitude against all aduersities that shall happen being alwayes adorned and decked with strong champions and Christian warriours which they keeping and preseruing do not only praise them but also in the power and vertue of him that is able to strengthen their weake soules endure and suffer all maner of aduersities The great Cannon which defendeth this Church is nothing els but
spirit abideth in the elect is firme and strong vnto them in as much as they are built vpon the most sure and strong rocke Christ That which followeth afterwards If a man should giue all c. doth declare to vs the exceeding great efficacy of this most sacred holy loue in all those which are truely possessed therewith for it is the nature of true and perfect loue which commeth from the holy Ghost to cause a man to renounce all that euer hee hath and to order him selfe wholly after Gods will and commaundement When riches are offered them they regard or esteeme them not for wee see by daily experience that they are ready and willing to forsake all that euer they haue if occasion serue time so require rather then they will seeme to denie the truth And truly it is no great maruell neither for where the loue of heauenly thinges is once accounted and esteemed of there the possession and fruition of all earthly and transitorie things is vilified neglected and disesteemed The Text. The wordes of the Spouse vnto the young maides 8 VVe haue a litle sister and she hath no breasts vvhat shall vvee do for our sister vvhen she shalbe spoken for 9 If she be a vvall vve vvill build vpon her a siluer pallace and if she be a doore vve vvill keepe her in vvith boords of Cedar 10 I am a vvall and my breasts are as towers then vvas I in his eyes as one that findeth peace 11 Salomon had a vine in Baal-hamon he gaue the vineyard vnto keepers euery one bringeth forth the frute thereof a thousand peeces of siluer The Commentarie This is the voice of the Primitiue and Apostolike Church which grew out of the Synagogue and people of the Iewes reioycing for the grace of God which was spred abrode throughout all nations and it is very fitly spoken of Salomon to call the Church of the Gentiles sister vnto the synagogue of the Iewes because God is father to them both Abraham also by whose faith the Gentiles are proued to be lawfull sonnes This is that yong Church which must be chosen from among the Gentiles which is called little or small because it had but small beginnings at the first till afterwardes in processe of time by litle and litle it grew vp in spirit truth She hath no breastes because the doctrine of the Lawe and of the Prophets belonged not vnto the Gentiles neither receiued she anie instruction of faith in God and charitie towardes her neighbour of her selfe for so she was not able to minister vnto her yong ones the spirituall foode of both the Testaments What then shall we do vnto our sister Aske the Patriarkes and Prophets aske of Christ and his Apostles and they wil shew you how the churches were to be taught how they should be vnited knit together of the Gentils how they should grow vp how they should bee nourished and fed how they should be ioyned in mariage with so noble a bridegroome as the Church how partakers of Gods fauor through Christ how they should adorne and beautifie the spouse at such a day of solemnitie what they should do at that time louing those things which they ought to loue and which they knew to be loued of the bridegroome how and in what termes they are to commend themselues vnto the bridegroome when they are brought vnto him If she be a wall we wil build vpon her a siluer pallace and if she be a dore we wil keepe her in with boordes of Cedar which is thus expounded If she be a wall that is if the Church of the faithful be as strong in faith as a wall so that she cannot bee easily ouerthrowne doubtlesse shee will stand fast vnto the authoritie of the Scriptures and bee a spouse worthie of the holy Ghost and of her husband Christ but without faith it is not possible for her to please him or to profite in any kind of exercise or studie whatsoeuer Wherefore if she be faithful we wil build vpon her a pallace of siluer that is to say the bright shining precious and eternall truth by which we may be able without all other helpes to ouerthrow and fiustrate the wicked attempts of our enemies Afterwards they deuise and cōmune among them selues how to shut the doore which is Christ with boords of Cedar hereby endeuoring as much as in them lieth to make the workes of the Church continually from time to time more perfect and sincere for this is meant onely by the going in and going out of the doore The Church of the conuerts vnto the Spouse I am a wall and my breasts are as towers then was I in his eyes as one that findeth peace Shee replieth vnto them and faith that she is a wall that is to say founded and grounded in the faith of Christ for it is verie necessarie for euery Christian man or woman to yeeld a reason of his faith to euery one that shall demaund or aske it of him Likewise she saith My breasts are as towers that is to say charitie and loue in entertaining and receiuing others And this is meant hereby being directed and guided by my welbeloued husband Christ Iesus I shall be able to teach others strengthen them which are borne sonnes vnto God by the Gospell and since that time I haue receiued such fauour and kindnesse at my husband Christes hands that I am in his eyes as one that findeth peace And in these words she seemeth to ascribe all the glory vnto God for comforting and strengthening her and giuing her such strong breasts The Church of the Conuerts Salomon had a vine in Baal-hamon he gaue the vineyard vnto keepers euery one bringeth forth the frute thereof a thousand peeces of siluer Here she yeldeth yet a more ample testimonie of her faith saying in that that is to say the Catholike Church which containeth so many nations Salomō that is to say Christ our true Salomon and peaceable king had a vine in the beginning to wit his vniuersall Church for that is his vine And he gaue the vineyard vnto keepers as who would say I know that it is needfull and requisite that euery one to whom the charge and ministery of the word is committed should be thrisecarefull to keepe and not to wast and spoile te defend and not to destroy my vineyard Euery particular man of the elect may be said to bring forth the frute thereof a thousand peeces of siluer that is all that he hath and himselfe also And the frutes of this vineyard are these the grace of God peace righteousnesse iustice truth other particular signes of the holy Ghost and life euerlasting So that this is the summe of a Christian mans confession to confesse Christ to bee head of the vine that is to say of the Church of the conuerts The Text. 12 But my vineyard which is mine is before me to thee ô Salomon appertaineth a thousand peeces of
to say they say in word somewhat in effect nothing for either they take that for a salt which is not so indeed or els they knowe not how to distinguish the abuse frō the thing so speake against they know not what Translators haue their faults abuses as well as other men as when they translate foolish vnprofitable or wicked vngodly books or els mistranslate misinterpret books and then the abuse proceedeth either of malice or of ignorāce if of malice their reproofe is iust if of ignorance blame thē not vnles it be affected for the best that is may misse in a strāge language whē no man knoweth all in his owne tongue And thus far reacheth their complaint against the abuse of translations which may in no wise be excused As for the harme that cōmeth by making learning too cōmon mē of cōmon iudgement may by vulgar examples easily refute them The sunne moone fire and water are profitable yet common the Philosopher saith Bonum quò communius eò melius good the commoner it is the better it is if it bee true in philosophie it is true in diuinity therfore S. Paul wisheth that all men were learned as hee was and that all men could speak with diuers tongues as he did c. I would that these men which think they haue S. Paules learning had S Paules zeale so it were according to knowledge to seeke other mens good and not their own for now marchāts do not monopolize the goods of a citie more thē these do appropriate vnto thēselues the learning of whole vniuersities whē they haue it what do they with it but keep it vnto thēselues Because I wold not be of this odious sect of men most curteous Christian reader I haue at vacant times trāslated according to that measure of knowledge which God hath giuen me both this book and some others as the historie of the Iesuits Morall Philosophy of the Stoickes which with permissiō of my superiors I mean shortly to publish if God wil and health permit me so to do Take this booke in good part accept of my good wil fault pardon amend whether they be the Printers or the translators the preface is the Authors not mine it escaped both me the Printer before I was aware the rest read corrected in the latter end of the booke The Preface to the Booke THis booke of the Canticles is a holy and admirable booke very spirituall full of mysteries and most hidden senses whereby it is most euident that they haue bene not a litle deceiued which go about to diminish the credit and authoritie thereof for because herein are contained sundry enterchangeable discourses and dialogues of mutuall loue betweene the bride and the bridegrome therefore forsooth haue they thought it good to call this booke in questiō as if it were not an vsuall matter with the holy Ghost in the holy Scripture to set down the sincere and vnfained loue of God and the Church vnder the figure of chast and holy wedlocke as also to discouer the force of wickednesse and Idolatrie by the similitude of the adulterous woman as it is to be seene in the second and third of Ieremie and in the sixteenth Chapter of Ezechiel Besides all this there are certaine places in this booke whereby no otherwise then as it were by certaine beames and lights this point is made so cleare and manifest that we may very well say without any maner of doubt or wauering at all that this Treatise is not carnally and literally but spiritually and mystically to be vnderstood In such sort that I hold this for an vnfallible and certaine truth that there are comprehended and contained in this small booke the exceeding great affection and loue of our Lord Iesus Christ and the holy Church of the faithfull beleeuers the necessarie vse of the word of God the profite and pleasantnesse thereof the efficacie of faith and heat of charity Furthermore we learne to know what are the operations of the spirit and what are the works of the flesh briefly that which doth any maner of way cōcerne or respect the Church and all this vnder the figuratiue talk and communication betweene the Bridegroome and the Spouse Now Christ is the Bridegroome as it is in the 3. of Iohn verse 29. He that hath the bride is the bridegrome and the Church is his spouse Hosea Chapter 2. Thou shalt call me Ishi or my husband I wil marry thee vnto me for euer And this spouse is attended on with her young maidens that is to say with the particular soules of the faithfull which do follow after the odoriferous and sauery ointments of our Sauiour Iesus Christ And the bridegrome likewise hath his friends that do follow accōpany him to wit the true Bishops sincere Prechers of the word of God which he cals vnto him to eate drinke make merry with him These men heare the voyce of the Church that is to say the words of Christ Neuerthelesse this is not so to be vnderstood but that all the faithfull may rightly terme thēselues frēds of the bridegrome The title or inscriptiō is the Song of Songs as if therin were contained songs which did farre exceed all other songs in plenty of holy mysteries and they are called the songs of Salomon or Salomons songs because hee writ them being inspired by the holy Ghost of the true Salomon Iesus Christ VVe reade of many Canticles or songs in the scripture as the song of Moyses Deborah Iosua Anna Dauid Abacuck and others but this booke compriseth not one onely song which Salomon song but there are many songs herein contained all written in one book but concerning one matter and one argument wherin are expressed most truly the charitie faith loue ioy delights and diuerse kinds of benefits not without vehemēt earnest affections wherewith our most louing merciful redemer doth follow his elect with inexplicable graces by the grace fauor of the almighty God So that they being stirred vp by the holy Ghost do with certaine vnspeakeable affections of loue regard behold and approch neere vnto the diuine grace and bountie of God desiring most earnestly and deuoutly to be commended approoued and daily more and more esteemed and fauoured of him in such sort that if there be found any error or fault in their liues and conuersations as spots and blots or wennes in their forheads do sometimes happen yet that they may not be refused or reiected for this or the like things or have any cause to distrust his mercifull kindnesse or louing fauor but that the falling out of louers may be the renewing of loue For louers being iealous one of another are mutually and suddenly prouoked vnto wrath as suddēly reconciled and pacified and afterwards they become greater friends then they were before This then is the principall intent and purpose of this booke This is the song
of God the spouse vnto euery faithfull soule and generally vnto al the Church Neither are we to look for any precise order in this dialogue or cōmunication which is not vsuall amongst perfect louers where all things how soeuer and where soeuer done are taken in very good part where euen errors ignorances and mistakes are accepted of and laught at and where quarrels contentions strife anger and blowes also many times are heard of approued and in most friendly sort admitted And in this booke there be foure sundry sorts of persons to be obserued of vs. The bridegrome and the friends of the bridegrome the spouse and her young damsels or waiting maides and as the bride saith one thing and the bridegrome another so the young virgins that waite on the spouse and the friends of the bridegrome are brought in speaking contrarie and diuerse things yet all of them betokening godly kind affections Now by the bridegrome we may as we have before declared vnto you vnderstand Christ by the spouse the Church by the friends of the bridegrome the Preachers of the Gospell such as shew vs the way vnto Christ and direct vs vnto his eternall marriage and heauenly banquet The young virgins are the faithfull soules which do alwayes accompany the Spouse and we must note that the Spouse doth alwayes long to bee in the house bed or other secret and inward place with her welbeloued according vnto the custome of women and the bridegrome after the manner of men calleth the Spouse foorth into the vineyeard or abroad into the fields or vnto some such places because so it is and it is most true that the Church of it selfe would willingly if so be that it were possible bring vp her children in quiet rest and tranquility but he on the other side thinketh it good to exercise her with many tribulations and persecutions to the ende that she may the better come vnto the consideration of eternall things and also that if matters do happen well and happily yet that amiddest her prosperity she may not bee too far delighted with the pleasures and entising baits of this present world but alwayes hope and grone after an heauenly countrey Thus endeth the preface the Commentarie followeth The first Chapter of the Canticles 1 Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy loue is better then wine 2 Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is as an ointmēt powred out therfore the virgins loue thee 3 Draw me we will run after thee the king hath brought me into his chambers we will reioyce and be glad in thee we will remember thy loue more then wine the righteous do loue thee The Commentarie THe wordes of the Spouse are these Let him kisse me Where first of all we must consider what is the meaning of these kissinges which the Church doth so earnestly desire and long after A kisse is a testimonie of friendship loue and goodwill therfore the Church desireth a kisse of our Sauior that is as much as to say to purchase and obtaine his friendship loue and goodwill Her request is then that her sinnes may be forgiuen her and that she may reobtaine the fauor of God by him she confesseth her sinnes vnto God crauing pardon for the same and she calleth for the Gospell because she would faine heare the comfortable and pleasant voyce of remission of sinnes pronounced through Iesus Christ and the spouse requesteth the amiable kisses of the bridegromes owne mouth to shew testify the great desire which she had to heare Christ alone and no other speake to make knowne the vehemencie of her goodwill towards him For it had bene sufficient to haue said Let him kisse me but the loue of faith holy delight of the soule made her adde these wordes with the kisses of his mouth as if she shold haue said The greatest thing that I can wish for in this world is to obtaine the loue fauor of God which I see I can not obtain by any other but by thee my Sauior Christ For I know this and am most certainly perswaded of it that I shall neuer be able to cōpasse my saluatiō by the merits of my works but by thee alone when it shall please thee to vouchsafe me the benefite of thy sweete kisses that is to say of thy grace and loues For thy loue is better thē wine Here the spouse yeeldeth a reason why she wold so willingly be kissed of him because his loue is better thē any precious thing whatsoeuer which she expresseth by wine Where by the way we must note that by his loue is meant the doctrine of the Gospell and the graces which the bridegroome brought into the world with him especially if we consider howe much this doctrin which so proceedeth from the loue of the spouse is better then that wherewith she was sustained and comforted before the coming of the bridegrome and therefore seeing the abundant grace goodwil of this her bridegroome towards her she breaketh forth into these words Thy loue is better then wine that is to say aboue that doctrine wherewith she was comforted of the auncient fathers so that this is the sense of the whole verse I desire the kisses of thy mouth that is I looke for my redemption at thy hands because thy precepts and instructions are milke and food to nourish me vp vnto eternall life and they are better then the Law which strikes vs downe to the ground with remembrance of our sinnes and aboue all other doctrines which do not strengthen but kill the simple and weake ones as wine which either killeth young children or else maketh them drunke Thus then the Church being inflamed as the spouse towardes her bridegroome crieth out continually Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth That is to say let the Bridegroome himselfe come to teach and instruct to saue and deliuer mee neither let him teach me any longer by the mouth of the Patriarkes and Prophets but let him come himselfe to informe mee with the words of his own mouth and so be content to receiue the kisse of my mouth that is let him not despise mee or turne away his face from me seeking asking after the way of saluation And this was then fulfilled as we do verily beleeue when sitting on the mountaine he taught his disciples whē speaking as the Bridegrome is woont to do vnto the spouse he said Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdō of god many other things which follow there in the same chapter Here he gaue the Spouse his Church a kisse and opening his mouth promised vnto his Apostles that is to say vnto his spouse the Church the ioyes of the kingdom of heauen Here I say the Bridegroome sheweth his loue towards his spouse better thē wine that is to say then the doctrine of the Lawe or any other doctrine because the very instructions of the new
testament do make all those which shall be borne againe of water and of the spirit fit for eternal life which the Law was not able to bring to passe The words of the Spouse vnto the Bridegroome 2 Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is as an ointment powred out therefore the virgins loue thee Because of the sauour of thy good c. What is that thou sayest ô dearest Spouse of the name of thy Bridegroome and welbeloued That it is like vnto an odoriferous ointmeÌ„t poured forth which being preached published abroad throughout the whole world doth yeeld a most sweet sauour in the elect of God and last of all because this Bridegroome doth most entirelie loue vs shew his mercy towards vs to the end that hee might take the Church to be his spouse and make his great name knowne abroad which is coÌ„moÌ„ vnto him with the father the holie Ghost he tooke flesh vpon him because the spouse shold run vnto him with greater coÌ„fidencie boldnesse for help succour This spouse looked for his comming a long time in the end he came and at the presence and voice of the Bridegroome she reioyced that he desceÌ„ded that she might asceÌ„d she did run in faith behind him to be partaker of his ointmentes for afterwards when the eternall Bridegroome of the Church was made flesh as the ointment of his name was spread abroad and powred out throughout the world the young virgins that is to say the soules of the elect did find the sent therof to be exceeding pleasant and sweet the holy Ghost so working and bringing it to passe and foorthwith they were delighted with the bridegrome and beleeued in him whom after the maner of married women they do loue most entirely and syncerely and by the sweete smelling ointments are to bee vnderstood the wholsome gifts of the holie Ghost whence come these hot and zealous words of faith hope and charitie and these yong damsels which I told you before were the soules of the elect renued and regenerated in Christ the filthinesse of the olde man being put away inflamed with these three vertues or gifts of God as I called them do loue and imbrace this welbeloued bridegrome perceiuing that by him and through his meanes they haue obtained full remission and pardon for all their sinnes and purchased vnto themselues these giftes of the holy Ghost whence come these words The loue of God is spread abroad in our hearts by the meanes of the holie Ghost which is giuen vnto them The spouseth speaketh vnto the bridegrome after this maner 3 Draw me we will run after thee the king hath brought me into his chambers we will reioice and bee glad in thee we will remember thy loue more then wine the righteous do loue thee Draw me The Church of the faithful crieth out and saith ô good God draw me vnto thee by the grace of thy election to the end that after we haue a litle smelled felt this sweet odour wee may be fully vnited vnto thee And thus both the spouse and her maidens being allured with the wonderfull pleasant odour of the bridegroms ointmeÌ„ts do runne after him whom they loue this word to draw signifieth a kind of violence or force as if a man were to be haled with ropes out of some deepe pit for the spouse as long as she liueth in this world hath the flesh which resisteth God drawing but God which draweth her is able to ouercome it therfore the spouse when she is drawne desireth him that hee would neuer cease to draw and to pul her vnto him knowing full wel that otherwise she shold waÌ„t of her rock streÌ„gth because indeed he that is not drawen perisheth the holy ghost testifying thus much that no man coÌ„meth vnto the father vnles the father draw him We will run after thee So then the soules of the elect so made by faith and the virgins and damsels of the spouse whose mindes are vndefiled and vnspotted do say vnto the bridegrome we will run after thee As who would say the sauour of thy ointments doth so forcibly draw vs vnto thee although the flesh be vnwilling refuse to run after thee with the spouse that wee cannot chuse but do whatsoeuer thou commandest vs for thy spirit maketh all things seeme they neuer so hard vnpossible possible pleasant and easie to be borne The words of the spouse vnto the young virgins The king hath brought me in Christ heareth the petition of the spouse graunteth her request and draweth her after him he bringeth her into his chambers that is into quiet places such as are true peace quietnesse and securitie of Christian iustice inward ioyes of the kingdome of heauen and in these chaÌ„bers are hidden the secrets of God that is to say the truth of his word And in these chaÌ„bers or closets of the kingdome of God the church is to coÌ„sider those hiddeÌ„ things which neither eye hath seene nor eare heard nor hath entred at anie time into the heart of man that is which cannot be comprehended by any sence of flesh because the peace therof passeth all vnderstanding and the spouse speaketh vnto the yong virgins that is the Church of Christ speaketh vnto her faithful which are regenerated in Christ and so indeed we ought all of vs humbly to beseech our bridegrome Christ that it would pleasâ— him to help and succour vs running after him for succour help by reaching out him hand vnto vs keeping vs from falling Because that vnlesse he put to his helping hand we are not able to stand vp vpoÌ„ our feet much lesse to run about And finally the yong mâ—â— being admitted into the rest and quietnes oâ— the aforenamed chaÌ„bers do speake after this maner of wise vnto the bridegrome We wiâ— reioyce be glad in thee As if they should haue said We desire to reioyce and be glad in thee alone and in no other furthermore they ad these words We will remember thy loue more then wine that is to say to the end that we may truly reioyce and that our ioy may not be a vaine or transitorie ioy we will remember thy louing kindnesse amiable comforts vnto vs ward that is we will call to mind how for our sakes miserable mortall men thou tookest flesh sufferedst for our saluation and last of al because they promise to approch neere vnto their only bridegrome Christ they commend praise him brieflie saying the righteous shall loue thee The wicked praise extoll wicked things neither can any thing please them but that which reseÌ„bleth the filthy cogitatioÌ„s of their wicked hearts therfore it is no praise but rather a great dispraise disgrace to be commeÌ„ded of the wicked but to be slaundered backbited of theÌ„ it is the greatest praise and coÌ„mendation in the world Therfore it is for the credit of the bridegrome that he is
that is to say with the doctrin of the Gospel from whence come these goldē chaynes that is to say true wisedome which leades a man vnto eternall life and these chaines are pointed with points of siluer wherby is signified godly learning and zealous charitie wherewith the faithfull people Church of God are pricked and inflamed both to the glorie of God and benefit of the elect The Spouses words vnto Christ Whiles the king The bridegrome cōmendeth extolleth his workes in the Church now she returneth al the glory backe againe vnto him confessing that his workes are admirable in her eyes and that all her beautie commeth from the glorie of her husbande Christ and that shee receiueth from him all those gifts and graces which are mentioned in the verse immediatly going before Wherfore she speaketh vnto him as vnto a third persō saying Whiles the king was at his repast my spikenard gaue the smell thereof Spiknard is a litle herb but hath a great smel by which is to be vnderstood the humility of the faithfull because they confesse thēselues to be sinners and that they are nothing of thēselues notwithstanding they go onward alwaies in well doing whēce it is that they yeeld a most pleasant sauour of a good report which doth inuite draw others to do the like and this precious spiknard which hath such a perfect smell is not to be gotten but when Christ is at his repast and his repast is the Church secure minds of the faithfull Our Spikenard then is our humility which then sendeth foorth a most sweete and pleasant smell most acceptable vnto God a smell indeed of good works when Christ the king resteth in vs otherwise it is but the stinking smell of hypocrisie and a sauour of death vnto death The words of the spouse concerning her selfe My welbeloued is vnto mee as a bundle for myrrhe Surely it is a great cōmendation for the bridegrome that without him the spouse hath no smell at all And therefore this is her meaning she knoweth that she doth fully possesse enioy Christ that Christ must alwaies dwell with her as a bundle of myrrhe which is bitter but hath a most excell ēt smel in it self hath this power to keep things frō being corrupted And verily the spirit of the bridegrome doth bring to passe these things in the godly First of all he sendeth thē bitternesse because the sword of griefe shold pierce their soules secondly he poureth forth the sauour of the sweet oyntments thirdly lastly he keepeth preserueth thē from corruption by bestowing eternall life vpon all those which beleeue trust in him Ioh. 3.14 And as Moyses lift vp the serpent in the wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lift vp that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life And indeed this same mirrhe is a bitter thing signifying hard and grieuous tribulations but seeing that all these things are to come vnto her for her louing husbands sake she gratifieth cheereth vp her self with these words hoping that god will giue her the grace manfully couragiously to endure al things therfore she calleth not that an armefull or a whole burden which she is to suffer for Christ but a handfull bundle or rather to speake more properly a bundelet wel she may call it a bundelet that is to say a litle bundle because the afflictions of this world are not worthy the glory which shalbe reuealed vnto vs hereafter My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire Christ the only begotten son of God ceaseth not to praise extol his welbeloued spouse he termes her to be like vnto a most precious sweet cluster of camphire which is a kind of aromaticall tree it is all one as if she shold haue said my welbeloued husband is like vnto a most delectable cluster of some excellēt vine which groweth in the vineyard of Engedi to the which there is no vineyard in the world that may be compared because the cōfort which we receiue by the holy ghost doth far surmount all earthly cogitations delights the consolations cōforts of the spirit are these to know that God is fauorable vnto vs and to haue the loue of God almighty inclosed within our harts cōsciēce The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride 14 Behold thou art faire behold thou art faire thine eyes are like the doues The Bridegrome cōmendeth the happy state of the spouse i◠this that he doth worke and bring to passe great matters in her herein consisteth her beauty chiefly that she hath doues eyes that is to say a most right sense vnderstanding of Gods spirit which may be very fitly takē for a doue because it appeared vpō Christ in the shape similitude of a doue it is as much in other words as if the bridegrome should speak after this sort vnto the bride doubt not my dearest deare of any displeasure of mine because I am very wel pleased with thee I reckon thee to be most beautifull faire howsoeuer thou maiest seeme to thy selfe to haue a blacke swart coūtenance because thou pleasest me right well this loue of mine doth not come by any nature of yours but by grace frō me I desire not ornaments of gold or looke for any costly apparell that which I desire and looke for is doues eyes eyes of simplicity or singlenesse of faith and perpetuall chastitie and that nothing may please thee but me I say I desire honest and plaine dealings and meanings not crooked and deceitfull eyes The Spouse speaketh vnto her husband My welbeloued behold thou art faire and pleasant She that before was praysed of her husband for her eyes doth now most ingenuously plainly confesse that he is altogether faire and beautifull The spouse as long as she liueth in the flesh hath some deformitie or indecorum in her by reason of the flesh notwithstanding she is beautifull with the beautie of her husband and shee hath doues eyes but not as Christ hath because he is wholy and soly in euery part of him most beautifull and amiable but to the faithfull onely who alwayes at all times are exceedingly much delighted with the sight of him as also with his wordes And it followeth Also our bed is greene whence it is manifest that all things are cōmon betweene the bridegrome the bride and what other thing is meant by this greene bed but the euer flourishing peace which we obtaine by Christ and by the houses the particular Churches of his kingdome and also we may hereby vnderstand the faithfull people of God In euery one of these houses a man shall finde a most sweet bed of peace whereon the holy Ghost doth oftentimes repose and rest himselfe The beames of this house are of incorruptible and wel-smelling Cedar that is to say they containe the soliditie and stablenesse of true faith in Gods words which both of
them remaine for euer because it is not possible that faith should faile and be vtterly abolished out of Gods kingdome or that one iot or title of his words should not be fulfilled And here by the way let the industrious reader diligently obserue this that the Church speaketh vnto the bridegrome and inuiteth him vnto the quiet rest and repose of his bed because she knoweth full wel that all kind of rest and quietnesse without him is grieuous miserable and vngodly wherefore she sayth Our bed is greene or our peace or the peace which is common vnto vs both is flourishing greene pleasant sweet and delectable as if she should haue said that both of vs are to lie in the selfe same bed which bed is furnished and prepared ready for vs therefore you must take me into the bed to you that is all the pleasure that I take must needes proceed and issue out from you and so the Church doth shewe vs what an earnest desire shee hath to rest with Christ and therfore she saith with Peter It is good for vs to be here And that which followeth in the latter end of the chapter Our rafters are of Cypresse is a type or figure of the elect which by contemning despising of all earthly temporall things grow to be eternall and incorruptible as are our Cypresse or Cedar trees The second Chapter 1 I am the rose of the field and the lillie of the valleys 2 Like a lillie among the thornes so is my loue among the daughters 3 Like the apple tree among the trees of the forest so is my welbeloued among the sonnes of men vnder his shadow had I delight and sate downe and his fruit was sweete vnto my mouth The Commentarie The words of the Bridegrome THe words going before in the latter end of the first chapter where the bed of the Church is called a flourishing greene vnspotted bed and a bed to bee desired are very easie to be vnderstood by the beginning of this chapter because shee is not sayd to flourish by reason of the floure whose greennesse and beauty doth soone fade and decay but indeed because her flowers are chieflie her husband Esay chap. 11. There shall bud forth a braunch out of the root of Iesse of the root therof shall spring a flower and the flowers therof shall be the flowers of honesty and honour Therupon it was wel truly said of him I am the flower of the field which budded forth out of the root of Iesse a pleasant delectable flower of the field that is to say of the whole world and chieflie of the elect of the Church and lastly hee addeth the lillie of the valleyes and what other thing may be vnderstood by the lillies of the valvalleys but the syncere and faithfull people which do truly prostrat humble thēselues because these valleyes shall be filled vp exalted and opposed against the hilles that is to say against the proud of whō Esay speaketh thus in his 40. ch 4. ver Euery valley shall be exalted euery mountaine hill shal be made low and the glory of these valleys consisteth in their lillies to wit in their righteousnesse innocencie and whitenesse Christ which deposeth the mighty proud vnbeleeuers from their seat exalteth the humble and meeke and so the spouse speaketh of himselfe much after this maner I am made vnto the elect as a most pleasant flower of the meadowes whose beauties they do keepe and preserue and the grace of whose bountie and sweetnesse they do smell and perceiue which is to be gathered with ioy of mind without any peril or danger of thornes at all And finally I am the lillie of the valleys that is all pleasure sweetnesse and delight vnto my elect and Christ may fitly be called a flower because whiles he weedeth vp the thornes of sinnes hee doth not a litle decke and adorne the hill of his spouse and beautie of his iustice Like a lilly among the thornes The name of lillies is oftētimes taken in the scripture for the beauty of the faithfull which is hid and had in Christ Hosea chap. 14. vers 6. I will be as the dewe vnto Israell he shall growe as the lillie And so Christ calleth the spouse by the name of a lillie as who would say As much as the lillie surpasseth the thornes so much doest thou exceed all other daughters that is to say al other Churches congregations of the wicked reprobate as the lillie which groweth vp among the thorns is pricked of thē yet notwithstanding flourisheth increaseth so it is necessarie or requisite that the godly Church should bee pricked afflicted and tormented with the reprobate Churches but neuerthelesse the holy Ghost will so worke in her that she repelling the fiery darts of sin with the shield of faith shall in the end become more glorious for her persecutions and so dayly profiting and increasing by means of my gift and protection shall neuer leaue off to bring foorth seede or corne vntill she be brought and layd vp quietly in the barne Like the apple tree among the trees of the forrest These words of mutuall cōmendation praises of the holie Ghost are very strange comfortable and full of trust confidence in God for see how the spouse according to her power doth mutually as it were repay prayse and commendation vnto her bridegrom Christ by saying these words Like the apple tree amōg the trees of the forrest so is my welbeloued among all the sonnes to wit of God that is to say of the Angels faithfull people Verily thou only art holy righteous and good from thee proceed those euerlasting fruits which we enioy and not of themselues thou commendest me for my flower which notwithstanding thou thy selfe diddest cause to growe vp by the grace of thy holy spirit but I must needes glorifie thee for thy fruit which is better then all the flowers of the world The words of the spouse vnto the virgins Vnder his shadowe had I delight and sate downe What shadowe is that I pray you which the spouse should so greatly delight in vnlesse it were the shadowe of Christ her husband because he is the onely delight and hope of the faithfull They which enioy true peace and tranquility of mind and trust onlie to Gods protection grace may be truly sayd to sit vnder his shadow Wherfore the peaceable and quiet spouse of Christ willing that all her maydens that is to say all the soules of the elect should haue the benefite of Christs peace which is so necessarie for thē doe pronounce the Gospell of peace vnto them as if she should haue said You seeke mourne after peace but many there are God wot which seek it where it is not to be foūd for they know not where to find it Come ye therefore and learne of me by my example I will shew you where you shall finde this admirable and
me continue to beleeue in me by faith because he may be truly sayd to followe after Christ which beleeueth in him then the spirit of Christ the bridegrome of the faithful speaketh after this maner vnto the elect dispersed throughout the face of the whole earth Rise vp my faithfull spouse by a liuely faith in Gods wordes and put all thy trust and confidence in him that calleth thee vnto him he sheweth that there is a conueniēt time for all things to be done in by reason of the vicissitude and change of thinges for wheras her welbeloued had but earst before visited her in her greene bed now he wils her to dresse the vineyard and driue away the wilde beasts out from it that is to say to build vp his Church and weede out all manner of heretickes out of it and it is as if Christ should haue said vnto her Rise vp out of thy bed of contemplation and rest wherein thou now slumberest yet thinke not that I will vtterly forsake thee because thou art my loue but go gather the faithfull together in the spirit of gentlenesse and lenitie because thou art my doue come thy way and suppresse thy aduersaries because thou art faire and adorned or beautified with all manner of vertues for behold the winter is past the raine is changed and is gone away That is to say the old and ancient errors are vanished away at the comming of the glorious Sonne of God Christ Iesus and the tedious darke and dyrtie time of winter is past and gone when all things were wrapt and infolded in ignorance and blindnesse in neglect and contempt of Gods good will and benefits but loe now the ioyfull and hopefull time of Spring is come when the pleasant and wholsome blast of Gods fauor shall blow vpon all the hearts and mindes of the faithfull filling and inspiring them with the word of God sent downe from heauen for the behoofe and benefit of vs mortall men and now is the time or neuer to repent and amend our liues by awaking out of sinne and preparing our minds consciences vnto the study or godlinesse meekenesse and to do the true works of piety to roote vp the concupiscences of carnall senses and follow the old and ancient discipline of the Church The voyce of the Turtle doue hath beene already heard vppon the earth which is a signe of a most happie yeare or spirituall aboundance and plentie of all manner of goodnesse and gladnesse in the hearts and consciences of the faithfull and the pleasantnesse of the Gospell is comming vpon you with all maner of comfort and consolation and now the time approcheth whē you shall reape the fruit and receiue the benefit of your godlinesse the figge tree bringeth foorth her young figges and the vines begin to bud foorth so that we haue all the signes of a rich and plentifull yeare which is likely to abound in all manner of loue and true holinesse perfect ioy and euerlasting comfort and we haue certain infallible true tokens of the Churches perfection which consisteth in the true vnitie therof and knowledge of Gods loue in the multitude of the Gentiles and faithfull soules which are called Moreouer we may if we will allegorically interpret the hardnesse of the winter to be the hardnesse and rigor of the law which is alreadie vanished away because of the comming of the Gospell of glad tydings and therefore we see the promises of the Prophts to flourish and the gracious proceedings therof which we may call the floures which appearing in the spring time do shew forth a fruitfull and happie yeare and the time of pruning or dressing is when laying aside all manner of lying and deceit euerie man shall speake the truth vnto his neighbour And by the voyce of the Turtle is signified the voice of the Preachers of Gods word which beginneth to be heard abroad in the world And the figge tree doth bring forth her young figges that is to say the Apostles are alreadie come into the world which bring forth the most delectaable and pleasant food of the Gospell and minister it vnto the faithfull according to their necessities The Bridegrome speaketh vnto the Spouse My doue that art in the holes of the rocke in the secret places of the stayres shew me thy sight let me heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet thy sight comely By the doue is signified the holy Ghost as it is euident out of the third of Matthew the first of Marke the third of Luke and 1. of Iohn Wherefore the Church which is inspired and filled with the holy Ghost made altogether spirituall may well be called here in this place a doue and whereas he replyeth and calleth her his loue we are to note that all her loue commeth frō him which is the fountaine of loue and that it is from him and for him that she is called beautifull and faire or a doue that is to say spirituall and she is prouoked and stirred vp afresh by the Bridegroome to come but in the holes of the rockes and secret places of the stayres This rocke is Christ 1. Cor. 10 v. 2. We did all drinke of the spirituall rocke that followed them the rocke was Christ and by the secret places of the stayres is meant the inward ascention and lifting vp of the heart which euery faithfull man must needs haue And it followeth shew me thy sight because the bridegrome was desirous to see the face of the Church as I shewed you before in the holes of the rockes and in the secrete places of the stayres and to heare her voyce or rather his because otherwise the wordes of God cannot be acceptable vnto her neither is it possible for her to find her husband by any other meanes for thy voice is sweete and thy sight comely here we see the goodnesse of her louing spouse towards her For without all question it is indeede his voice and his words which the Church speaketh and to conclude all that the Church hath is his but why then calleth he it her voice thy voice is sweete because we should know that his voyce is common betweene him and the spouse for Christs voice is nothing else but the ministerie of Gods word in the Church so that alwayes Christs words do concerne and regard the Church and the good of the people It followeth and thy sight comely We are to obserue in these wordes that whereas euery one is knowne by his face that the Church here in this place is said to be known by her sight face or countenace Now the face of the spouse is the righteousnesse of the iust I meane the beleeuing iust of the light of whose countenāce it is written to the end that they may turne the hearts of fathers vnto their sonnes and the vnbeleeuers vnto the wisedome of the iust And whosoeuer hath this wisedome walketh not after the will of man but after the
vpon his thigh for the feare by night 9 King Salomon made himselfe a pallace of trees of Libanon 10 He made the pillars thereof of siluer and the pauement thereof of gold the hangings thereof of purple whose middest was paued with the loue of the daughters of Ierusalem 11 Come forth ye daughters of Sion behold the king Salomon with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him the day of his mariage and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart The Commentarie The blessed spouse resting her selfe vnder the protection of Christ doth dayly more more profit in the knowledge of Christ and this is done euen in the wildernesse of this world and in the middest of the wicke dall maner of aduersities troubles whatsoeuer to the words which come after like pillers of smoke perfumed with myrrhe and incense teach vs that as sweet swelles and perfumes being layd vpon the fire do yeeld a greater and better smell euen so the elect out of the verie fire of their teÌ„ptations by the works of Christian iustice do sâ—nd forth the sweete smell of mirrhe and incense which the friendes of the Bridegrome perceiuing crie out with great admiration and wondring saying Who is she that commeth vp c. so that these wordes and the rest that follow vnto the end of this chapter do in my opinion properly belong appertaine vnto the friends of the Bridegrome and ministers of the word and therefore they containe matters of doctrine which concern the Church and glory of God First of all therfore as if they were astonished and surprised with admiratioÌ„ they tel vs what wonderfull things God hath wrought brought to passe in his Church that is to say how by the vertue of the spitit at one the self same time she doth both rest and moue or ascend like a pillar of smoke perfumed with mirrhe and incense A verie strange thing and worthie to bee noted and in the fire of tribulation at the same time shee hath peace at what time she goeth and groweth from vertue to vertue by the spirit and her faith increaseth dayly more and more which is effectuall and powerfull in her by meanes of loue peace And this is the peace which passeth all vnderstanding because the flesh cannot conceiue how this should be that she should at the selfe same time bee vexed and troubled and yet haue such peace and rest thereby that shee should become more righteous godly and pure then shee was before And looke as the smoke mounteth vpward so long that at the length it cannot be seene any longer so as it is partly seene and partly not seene so the Church consisteth of her members the number whereof is dayly renued and which are partly knowne partly vncertaine and vnknowne And as the smoke which is engendred of the fire mounting vp on high doth by litle and litle vanish away out of a mans sight euen so the church which kindleth the loue of God in our harts by the fire of the holy Ghost leaues not to ascend and mount vp higher and higher vntill shee bee cleane lifted vp aboue the sight of all earthly thinges and transported vnto the consideration of the inuisible thinges which are in heauen aboue Beholde his bed which is Salomons threescore strong men are round about it of the valiant men of Israell Behold Finally they shewe what and how greate the securitie is of the flourishing greene bed that is to say of the power and wisedome of Christ and what vehement and wonderfull great loue he beareth towardes the spouse and her maydens and all this is done vnder the figure of Salomon Furthermore they lay before our eyes certain tokens of his loue as namely these in that he keepeth preserueth defendeth his Church from the tyranny or treacherie of such as lie in waite to destroy it and likewise in sending of his Prophets at their appointed time to forewarne them of the euils to come and fore-arme them with all sortes of armour necessarie for them against their enemies the flesh and the diuell for the Prophetes must by their offices still watch and ward for the profite and commoditie of the Church And the number of ten being multiplied by sixe maketh vp iust 60. Where the number of ten is taken for the Law or decalogue and the number of sixe for all that space and time wherin God made all things Wherefore by the threescore strong men wee are to vnderstand all the perfect and righteous men of the Church who whilest they fulfil the ten commandements in sixe daies they may be rightly said to bee set round about Christs bed because they doe confirme and strengthen the godlie minds of the weaker sort of their brethren both with good words good examples so by this means they do driue away all their enemies from them They hold the swordes in their handes wheÌ„ they obey fulfill Gods words and are expert in warre whiles they teach instruct others which by their godly meanes are preserued and the sword to wit the word of God teacheth vs that no malice of man is able to ouercome the wisedome of God and the hands wherein they holde his sword are nothing els but good deedes good works and the elect which are already come vnto perfection haue this sword vpon their thighes that is to say are able to endure and beare the rigour of their conuersation by the which they learne to beate downe the vnruly appetites of the flesh and despise the force and strength thereof by putting all their hopes and confidences in God to the end that their enemie the diuell may not cause them to fall into the snares of his nettes by the intising baites of the flesh in the night time and ignorance of the world King SalomoÌ„ made himselfe a pallace of the trees of Libanon King Salomon these words may be well vnderstood either of the ark of the Lord which our Lord Christ the husband of the Church caused to bee made of sundrie kindes of pretious woods or else of the Temple which king Salomon built but chieflie and principally they are to be vnderstood of the whole Church congregation of the faithfull which is so precious costlie in the sight of God that it is to be preferred before the most precious dearest matter of all the most stateliest buildings which are be they neuer so curiouslie framed built because it is builded of statelie high trees of Libanus that is to say of notable good teachers and preachers of the Church which are eminent aboue the rest and famous as well for the pure siluer of their doctrine as for the glistering golde of zeale charitie crowned and adorned with the beautie of many vertues in such sort that the mindes of other faithfull men are constrayned as it were to beholde and admire them as also for to glorifie God in his Saintes The words of the Bridegromes friends vnto the
And these loues are better then wine because neither wine nor any other outward thing can be more pleasant or acceptable thē the workes of Christian charitie And finally the sauour of thine oyntments is better then all spices because the Church is made partaker of Christs ointments which yeeld foorth a farre more precious gracious and louing smel then the smell of any outward vnguent or any thing else whatsoeuer Thy lippes my spouse droppe honycombes hony and milke are vnder thy tongue and the sauour of thy garmēts is as the sauour of Lebanon Thy lips The lips of the church are euer like honycombs dropping but what do they drop or distill milke and hony which is vnder their tongues By which words we are to note the hony sweet and milke white vnspotted words of God These words may be said to drop from the mouth of the chast spouse whiles she deliuereth them vnto her neighbours they flow from her most easily and fluently which is signified by these words in that they are said to be vnder her tonge Indeed she is indewed with her husband Christs spirit by meanes whereof she both perfectly knoweth and easily pronounceth all things because it is a generall rule the more perfectly we know a thing the more ready shall we be able to vtter and pronounce the same And it followeth in the text and the savour of thy garments is as the sauour of Lebanon What garments are these which the Church weareth vnlesse it be these wherewith shee which is Christs most sacred body is couered and apparelled withall and these are the garments indeede wherwith the grace of Christ his iustice spirit truth peace and all those good gifts and graces which do accompany them are greatly glorified The sent smell of these things is wonderfull strong and strange for it is as the sauour of the hill of Lebanon or of many odoriferous trees and yet neuerthelesse the garmēts of the spouse are more odoriferous and well smelling then all these things But it is God alone and his Christ the Angels and elect which do smell the odor thereof are delighted therwith because it is not possible at all for them to please either God or man which haue not receiued of the fulnesse of Christs spirit The text 12 My sister my spouse is as a garden inclosed as a spring shut vp and a fountaine sealed vp 13 Thy plants are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweete fruits as camphire spikenard 14 Euen spikenard and saffron calamus and cinnamon with all the trees of incense myrrhe and aloes with all the chiefe spices 15 O fountaine of the gardens ô well of liuing waters and the springs of Lebanon 16 Arise ô North and come ô South and blow on my gardē that the spices therof may flow out let my wel beloued come to his garden and eat his pleasant fruit The Commentarie The Bridegrome in this first verse commendeth the spouse for abounding in all manner of fruit of good workes and he vseth the similitude very fitly of a garden which because it may the better bring forth herbes trees spices and all sorts of fruits men do vse to set a hedge round about it to keepe out cattle from hurting of it and last of all it is watered with wholesome sound and vnpoysoned waters and euen so for all the world is it with the Church What booteth it then for the Church to be neuer so fertile and fruitfull in good workes vnlesse God preserue and keepe it with a fatherly prouidence and care setting as it were a hedge round about it vnlesse he water it with the water of life and shadow or refresh it with the comfortable gifts and graces of the holy Ghost and therefore it is said as a spring shut vp and a fountaine sealed vp because it is confirmed and strengthened with the protection of the Almightie as also for an other reason because it is not lawfull for vs either to adde or diminish any thing from the fountaine of the Gospell because it must not be infected with the puddle of mens filthy doctrines or wicked constitutions Thy plantes are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweet fruits as camphire spikenard Thy plants That is to say the fruits of good workes which follow the planting of faith are as deare vnto me as a garden and as pleasant vnto me as any orchard can be in the world and thus by the varietie of costly spices and odoriferous trees of a paradise that is to say of a wide orchard or delectable garden wee are to learne that the elect although distinguished by degrees and persons yet are they notwithstanding all of them within one paradise that is to say within the odoriferous and pleasant trees of the Church which abound in most precious and sweet plants of the elect and faithfull ones and euery tree that is to say euery one which is not planted in this pleasant Eden or garden bringeth forth poysoned and corrupted fruit And to conclude there is no good herbe or fruit growing in the world out of this garden and contrariwise all that groweth here is wholesome pleasant and a fruit to be desired The words of the Bride vnto the Bridegrome O fountaine of the gardens ô well of lyuing waters and the springs of Lebanon O fountains This sentence appeareth to be an exclamatorie sentence of the spouse breaking foorth into the prayse of her husband for all the good things which she hath receiued of him as if shee should haue said in other wordes Thou ô my gracious and louing spouse art the cause of all my good the fountaine of eternall life all our gardens had neede to be watered with this liuely water thou art the well-spring of all heauenly graces from whō all good things are powred downe vppon vs in most plentifull sort thou art the conduit which conuayest these wholesome waters vnto thy Church which is Lebanon For as Lebanon is full of odoriferous plantings of the faithfull so the particular Churches may be called small orchards and pettie-gardens of the great paradise of the Church and there is but one fountaine of liuely water which runneth thorough out all the gardens of Lebanon that is to say there is but one fountaine of grace and truth namely the holy Ghost wherewithall the seuerall congregations of the faithfull must be watered and refreshed So then the fountaine of the gardens that is to say of the particular Churches and congregations is nothing else but the fountaine of the Catholike and Vniuersall Church because it is in her first and from thence deriued vnto all the rest Arise ô North and come ô South and blow on my garden that the spices thereof may flow out let my welbeloued come to his garden and eate his pleasant fruit Arise ô North. The spouse inuocateth the succour helpe of the holy Ghost by whose inspiration her young and tender plants may as well in aduersitie as in prosperitie flourish increase
first Epistle of S. Paul to the CorinthiaÌ„s chap. 3. vers 11. and Isaiah saith thy dew is the dew of light that is to say his truth and his iustice againe Christ is the head of the spouse and the lockes of his head are those things which she obtaineth thorough his meanes at the handes of God as grace and remission of sinnes the peace of mind helpe and succour in time of trouble and necessitie and a hundred such like things the night or darkenesse are the wicked the droppes of the â—â—ght are those things which are deriued from them as poysoned doctrine and wicked workes Wherefore to conclude this point all wicked men and all the power of darkenesse which Christ sustayneth or restrayneth rather from doing of any euill both to himselfe and his seruants they are the droppes of the night because they are the workes of darkenesse The Text. The wordes of the spouse vnto her selfe 3 I haue put off my coat how shall I put it on I haue washed my feete how â—hall I defile them 4 My welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of the doore and mine heart was affectioned towards him 5 I rose vp to open to my welbeloued and mine hands aid droppe downe myrrhe and my fingers pure myrrhe vpon the handles of the barre 6 I opened to my welbeloued but my welbeloued was gone and past mine heaâ—â— was gone when he did speake I sought him but I could not find him I called him bâ— he answered me not The Commentarie Our old Adam being not yet altogether mortified in the Church is somewhat sluâ—gish sleepie and opposeth himself again the wakefull and vigilant spirit making the answere vnto the Bridegroome when hâ— commaunded him to open vnto him and â—ceiue him for his eternall saluation I have pâ— off my coat as if he should haue said I refâ— not to opeÌ„ vnto thee but the flesh doth son what trouble and molest me and thorouâ— thy fauour and grace I haue put off the câ— of the old man that is to say all manners trust and confidence in my owne workes haue washed and cleansed my feet from a manner of affections and haue alreadie couched my selfe in the most ioyfull bed of thy peace and now if I should rise vp out of my bed to open the dore for to let thee in I shold all to befoule my feet and disquiet my selfe graunt this that I should go to bed againe and enioy my happy rest with thee I am wel pleased with the amiable dewe of thy head that is to say of thy eternall and heauenly father but the drops of the night which â—ang in the locks of thy head do amaze terrifie me who knoweth whether it shall so happen that when I shall suffer and endure the sharpnesse of these drops that is to say of the crosse I shall offend thee and defile my selfe and so consequently exclude my selfe from all manner of partaking of the dew of Gods fauours and loose the quiet rest and peace which by thy gracious meane I haue obtained purchased vnto my selfe thus being plunged in extremities and doubs I can not see any manner of meanes how I should rise and open vnto thee The words of the Spouse vnto the virgins My welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of the dore and mine heart was affectioned towards him My welbeloued Christs hand doth betoken his mightie operation power and helpe the doore of the spouse the workes and iudgemeÌ„ts of the flesh and this doore is fast shut or locked that is to say the impediments hinderances of the flesh are not as yet taken away which as long as they remaine it is vnpossible for the spouse to entertaine or receiue Christ or to set all her affection vpon him but he perceiuing this our naturall dulnesse or frowardnes rather putteth his hand that is to say his mercie and bringeth succour thorought the hole of the doore that is to say of the flesh which is weake and full of holes and infirmities and he may be truly said to put his hand into the Church by the hole of the doore when he lightneth her with the light of his grace inflameth her with a true ardeÌ„t heat draweth her after him and finally confirmeth and establisheth her with other gifts of the holy Ghost wherefore as soone as euer she perceiueth Christs necessary and helping hand she shaketh off al kind of drowsinesse and slothfull sluggishnesse and her bowels are mooued towards him that is to say all her inward partes are mooued within her together by the motion of the holy Ghost to the end that she may be able to do all that which her welbeloued willeth coÌ„mandeth her to do and now she maketh as much hast as may be to rise vp which before could not find in her heart so much as to rise opeÌ„ to her welbeloued when hee knocked And here wee may note the wonderfull force and efficacie of the bridegroms hand for she did not only rise vp when she opened to her welbeloued but furthermore her hands did drop down mirrhe Now the hands of the spouse are her workes which do not alwaies drop downe mirrhe but then only when she openeth vnto her husband and obeyeth his commandements and looke whatsoeuer she doth in the faith and confidence of the bridegrome is but as it were hands dropping down mirrhe through her fingers because the good deedes of the Church be they done neuer so secretly yet neuerthelesse they do yeeld foorth a most sweet smell and incorruptible sauour most acceptable vnto God in whose presence they are done and accepted of him The spouse speaketh I opened to my welbeloued but my welbeloued was gone and past mine heart was gone when he did speak I sought him but I could not find him I called him but he answered me not I opened c. After that Christ had comforted the Church with his hand and succoured it with his helpe and comfort she opened by which word we are to note al that which doth any way fauour the wicked desires of the flesh that is to say all inuentions of men whatsoeuer which we must open that is take out of the way otherwise we shal not be able to open the wicked dore of the flesh that is to say to mortifie and crucifie it with the wicked lusts affections thereof which commeth to passe as often as he enableth her to subdue and crucifie the wicked flesh and taketh away from her matter food of impietie planting in her a desire and longing after heaueÌ„ly things so that she is forthwith filled with Christs spirit and verily shee asketh many things at his hands because she is all in all in the glorie of his name but he passeth and goeth away along by her that is to say he doth not graunt her all the desires petitions of her heart but how then doth the chast spouse behaue her selfe after Christ is departed and
from all her sinnes The Text. 10 My welbeloued is white and ruddie the chiefest of ten thousands 11 His head is as fine golde his lockes curled and blacke as a rauen 12 His eyes are like doues vpon the rivers of waters vvhich are vvasht with milke and remaine by the full vessels 13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers and his lippes like lillies dropping downe pure mirrhe 14 His hands as rings of gold set with the Chrysolite his bellie like vvhite iuorie couered vvith saphirs 15 His legges are as pillars of marble set vpon sockets of fine gold his countenaÌ„ce as Lebanon excellent as the Ceders 16 His mouth is as svveet things and he is vvholly delectable this is my vvelbeloued and this is my louer ô daughters of Ierusalem 17 O the fairest among women whither is thy welbeloued gone whither is thy welbeloued turned aside that vve may seek him with thee The Commentarie In these verses the Spouse describeth vnto vs the beauty of her immaculate spouse And first in generall tearmes speaking of his whole person then in particular by entreating of each part and meÌ„ber of him She saith then that he is white and ruddy the chiefest among thousands By his whitenesse we are to vnderstand his diuinitie according to that of S. Iohn God is the true light and there is no darkenesse in him His rednesse or ruddinesse is a token or signe of his humanity because of the bloud which he shed rebukes which he suffered and bitternesse of torment which he endured and lastly because his bloud doth wash vs cleane from all our iniquities It followeth in the wordes of the Spouse that her welbeloued was the chiefest of thousandes that is to say among all the multitudes of men because a thousand in this place is taken for all men there being one onely Mediator left betweene God and man Iesus Christ But why is he the chiefest and principall aboue all other Because he should be a fit Sauiour and redeemer of the Church for whereas we are all the sort of vs wicked reprobate and sinfull men he is therefore principally good and the chosen and chiefest among all others to the end that we that are by nature wicked should by his grace become good and of a vile and cruell nation an elect and chosen people vnto him being by faith made fully partakers of his goodnes graces and whom it hath pleased God the Father for his Sonne Christ Iesus sake to elect predestinate and preordaine vnto saluation from the beginning because no man can be chosen or become good vnlesse it bee by Christ and a true liuely faith in his death His head is as fine golde his lockes curled and blacke as a raueÌ„ His head c. Now the spouse goeth about to describe all the particular â— seuerall parts of the bridegrome and first she beginneth with his head affirming it to â— like the finest gold Whereby is signified the most precious nature of God which is called Christes head as S. Paule sayth the head of Christ is God Secondly she praiseth him foâ— his lockes because as the haire doth greatâ—â— grace the head if it bee finely curled and somewhat blacke withall euen so the lockâ— of Christes head are most decent and faire that is to say the doctrine and workes done in faith preached by the Apostles and Doctors of the Church which hang round about this head like so many curled lockes For albeit the wicked as much as in them lyeth do daily resist and striue against them yet they haue a most notable victorie ouer them and are more and more enlarged though peraduenture the wicked may thinke them to bee blacke because they cannot please them for they do alwayes labour as much as they may to impugne them obscure their doctrines with lies inuentions His eyes are like doues vpon the riuers of waters which are washt with milke and remaine by the full vessels His eyes c. Here she praiseth him for his eyes by the doues vpon the riuers of waters which are washt in milke or spices we are to consider the exceeding great knowledge fulnes of the holy Ghost which was so plentifully abounding in our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ as in no creature else Wherfore S. Iohn faith that he was full of grace and truth and shortly after it followeth of the fulnesse of his grace we all receaue and truly such are the eyes that is to say all the iudgements and proceedings of Christ to wit most sincere pure and proceeding from the fulnesse of the holy Ghost his cheekes are as a bed of spices and as sweet flowers and his lips like lillies dropping downe pure mirrhe His cheeks c. Here is the perfect description of his cheekes which are in the face and wherby euery man is known and therefore wee may verie well take these cheeks for the coÌ„mandements and writings of God because they do rightly teach and instruct vs how to know Christ and therefore it was wel said of Iohn Attend diligently vnto the writings of the scriptures because you may haue eternall life by them and they are they which testifie of me So then it appeareth most plainely that the scriptures and word of God are the face and cheekes of Christ which doe giue vs most euident tokens of him they are as it were beds of spices because their speeches are distinguished and deuided into diuerse books which smell most sweete vnto the godly mindes and this sweete smell is caused by the operation of the holy Ghost which happeneth so often as the stately sence thereof is vnfolded and expressed and the sent thereof is increased not a litle when those thingeâ— which may seeme to bee litle of themselues are for a certainty known to be most diuine celestiall and heauenly thinges But whâ—â— do these sweete spices growe In the heart of the faithfull which onely do esteeme and make account of them And hee saith thaâ— the smell of them is increased by reason of them which fell sweete spices and drugs which are the true Bishops and ministers of the word who whiles they by the speciall direction and inspiration of the word pronounce and minister it vnto the people as a most soueraigne ointment to recreate and heale their wounded soules Afterwards she commeth to describe the Bridegromes lippes Nowe the lips of the Bridegrome Christ are his doctrine which is published abroad by his Apostles and Saints which like vnto certaine odoriferous lillies do render foorth a most gratious smell of righteousnesse and truth His handes as rings of gold set with the Chrysolite his belly like white iuorie couered with Saphirs His hands c. The hand of Christ is the power of Christ wherwith both in himselfe and in others hee bringeth to passe strange things and he declareth the exceeding great value inestimable goodnes of these hands in that he likeneth them to rings of gold
it is no strange phrase in the scripture to call the concubines by the name of wiues although it be euident out of the olde testameÌ„t that the chiefe of them were called wiues and the rest concubines as it is manifest by Abrahams wiues Thus theÌ„ the whole Church being considered together is one perfect spouse of Christ called a doue because of the gifts of the holie Ghost which are contained in her and the more speciall particular and greater Churches are called Queenes the lesser concubines because although they be threescore in number that is enough yet these are fourscore that is more for indeed the lesser Churches are more in number then the greater the young damsels are the faithfull soules without number because there are many which are vnknowne to vs. The Text. 9 VVho is she that looketh forth as the morning faire as the moone pure as the sunne terrible as an armie with banners 10 I went downe to the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley to see if the vine budded and if the pomegranates flourished 11 I knew nothing my soule set me as the chariots of my noble people 12 Returne returne ô Shulamite returne returne that we may behold thee what shalt thou see in the Shulamite but as the companie of an armie The Commentarie THe Church is the morning which hath not yet receiued the fulnes of her light which she shall receiue in glorie the Mâ—â—â—e is the truth of Christs doctrine which shineth in the darknesse but the darknes compreheÌ„ded it not Ioh. 1. The Sun as Christ Iesus Esa 60. vers 20. Thou shalt haue no more Sunne to shine by day neither shall the brightnesse of the moone shine vnto thee for the Lord shall be thine euerlasting light and thy God thy glory Thy â—un shal neuer go down neither shall the moone be hid for the Lord shal be thine euerlasting light Thus then the Church is faire but faire as the moone that is faire as the truth because all her beauty and fairenesse commeth from thence for so greaâ— is her beauty and comelinesse as her faith is great in Gods word if her life be answerable therunto afterwards shee is elected as the suâ— Christ who in all the elect is sayd to be thâ— first borne because others are elected and predestinated vnto saluation froÌ„ the beginning for his sake that she is terrible as an army witâ— banners It hath bene already shewed yoâ— in the beginning of this chap where you may read the very same words And this interrogatiue kinde of speech Who is she are thâ— words of Christ spoken by the way of admiration to make the glorie of the Churcâ— more known vnto al the world I went dowâ— to the garden of nuttes to see the fruites of thâ— valley to see if the vine budded and if thâ— pomegranates flourished I went downe c. He calleth the Church a garden of nuts because the kernell and sweetnesse thereof is contained vnder an hard shell of aduersitie Christ came downe into this garden to preserue the fruits of the waters or torrents that is to say of the elect which are as trees planted by the riuers of waters as it is in the first Psalme To see whether the vine budded 〈…〉 to say the faith of those elect of the elect which coÌ„tinually haue their faiths accoÌ„paniâ—d followed with good works we may obserue this in these wordes of Christ vnto the Church I went downe that there is nothing which may any way belong or appertaine vnto the good of the Church but he reuealeth and maketh it knowen vnto her The Spouse speaketh vnto the Bridegroome I knew nothing my soule set me as the chariots of my noble people I knew nothing c. Christ deliuered vnto the spouse the manner of his comming downe vnto her and that in the verse immediatly going before to whom she replyeth after this manner I knew not that is to say I marked not that you were so neare me till you bewrayed your selfe vnto me by your sweete and pleasant wordes likewise I knew not when thou departedâ— from me vnlesse it pleased thee to reueale the same vnto me and the reason is because no man knoweth the hidden secrets and mysteries of God vnlesse it be God and him vnto whom God reuealeth them and it followeth my soule The soule of the Church is Christ it is a very vsuall and significatiue kind of speech to expresse a mans loue because he that loueth a thing earnestly and vehemently calleth that which he loueth his soule so that the righteous maÌ„ which loueth Christ saith that Christ is his soule he set me as the chariots of my people which runne willingly in the course of Gods words but although they be willing in spirit and readie in mind yet they draw after them heauie weake chariots or burdens and therefore I will goe draw those chariots I will enter into them and confirme the weake and frayle ones with the doctrine of pietie comfort those that are comfortlesse and as much as I can frame my selfe wholly vnto their seruice caring not what shall happen vnto me so that I may winne some vnto the Gospell And hence it was that S. Paul boasted of his infirmities and labours which hee suffered and endured for Gods people The words of the young damsels vnto the Spouse Returne returne ô Shulamite returne returne that we may behold thee what shall you see in the Shulamite but as the companions of any armie Returne c. It hath beene oftentimes declared vnto you before that by the name of damsels or young virgins are signified the faithfull people of God which are all renewed in Christ and euery one of them hath a youngnesse or youth of mind these viewing and beholding the great care and diuerse troubles of the Church which she suffereth and endureth for their sakes are constrained to reioyce in the true charitie thereof because it is proper vnto the faithfull alone to reioyce be glad in the Lord wheÌ„ they see the loue of others towards theÌ„ which they desire and studie as much as in them lieth to immitate and expresse Therfore these are the words of the faithfull vnto the Church of God which is so carefull and pensiue for their good Returne ô Shulamite that is to say O thou peaceable and quiet spouse of Christ because that she ought to be a peaceable spouse of her peaceable husband Christ to the end that her nature may be answerable vnto her name and the thing concord and concurre with the words The doubling and repetitioÌ„ of the word returne discouereth the greatnes of their affections whence should she returne whence shold she come from labours and griefe from sorrow and troubleâ— for verily we can not but see how the Church is vexed and tormented watcheth and fasteth laboureth sweateth and all this shee is content to receiue at the hands of the wicked for the behoofe good of the
godly and therfore no maruell if they haue compassion on her and call vnto her not to disease or disquiet her selfe by putting her selfe to much trouble and sorrow but that she would rest a while from her labors and returne vnto the comfortable places of the holy scriptures to the end that out of the scripture they may learne see what things are to be done with ease and quietnesse and what with care and trouble And briefely this is that which the young virgines desire and couet for to know what the Church of God is and where it is in time of prosperitie and aduersitie and this is a thing most studiously to be obserued and noted that without the knowledge of the Church we cannot well attaine vnto the knowledge of Christ and they are so fast linked bound together that if you know one you may easily know to other The seuenth Chapter 1 How beautifull are thy goings with shoes ô Princes daughter the ioyntes of thy thighes are like iewels the worke of the hand of a cunning workeman 2 Thy nauell is as a round cup that wanteth not licour thy belly is as an heape of wheat compassed about with lillies 3 Thy two breasts are as tvvo young Roes that are tvvins The Commentarie The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride HE beginneth here in this place as it is manifest by the sequell therof to praise and command the Church whom he cannot chuse but loue as being his only deare spouse and his meaning and purpose is to say and shew no more then Isaiah saith in his 52. cha Nahum 1. and Rom. 10. How beautifull are the feet of thē that declare publish peace that bring good tydings publish saluatiō And the Church of God the true spouse of God is she which doth truely preach these good tydings because she alone declareth vnto vs the worde of God whereunto we must leane and these goings are said to be beautifull with shoes which words are spoken by way of similitude to shew instruct vs that as those which will go any farre iorney must be well shod so the professors and ministers of the Gospell which are to go a farre iorney to preach the Gospell throughout the whole world must be most readie to declare the truth vnto all men and verily they may be then said to be readie and neuer before when they do teach his word faithfully and sincerely So then beautifull are the goings of the. Church with shoes because when she is sent of God she is most willing and ready to declare vnto all men the words of saluation and thus you may see how Christ commendeth his owne good gifts in the Church and that before the young virgins to wit the soules of the faithfull because he would haue vs all to knowe what manner of thing the Church is and I doubt not but that it so commeth to passe by the singular prouidence and wisedome of God that there are so many places in this book of the Canticles where the Church commendeth Christ and is againe commended of him because we should know what a necessarie point of doctrine this is to be repeated and ingeminated in the eares of the faithfull seeing that the ignorance and want thereof hath almost seduced and beguiled the whole world In the second place he prayseth the Church for her vnspotted fruitfulnesse because her thighes signifie the power and vertue of bringing foorth others by the word being like vnto precious iewels and hereby is meant the diuine gifts of the holy Ghost which do adorne beautifie and make fertile the soules of the faithfull And be saith that they are the worke of a cunning workman because they are the workes of almightie God the most ingenious and cunning workemaister that euer was who hath all power and vertue to doe whatsoeuer him listeth who powreth his graces downe vppon vs which make vs to bee farre more excellent and pure then wee were before and without whose helpe we cannot doe any thing at all thy nauell is as a round cup that wanteth not licour thy bellie is as an heape of wheat compassed about with lillies Thy nauell what is this round bason or cup but the doctrine of the Gospell which neuer wanteth the licour of Gods spirit which is still put into it And here by the way we are to consider of how litle estimation the faithfull are at the first time when they are borne vnlesse they be recreated and refreshed with the liuely licour of Gods worde which when they haue once tasted they shall neuer need any more moysture hauing the continuall dew of Gods spirit whereby they are enabled and made powerfull to multiply and beget other sonnes vnto their husbande and the seede whereby they do conceiue and bring forth is the worde of God and then this is the exposition of these words To the end that thou sholdest beget children vnto me there needeth no carnall imbracings or copulation as in the generation of mens bodies because that when thou wert first affianced and betrothed vnto me by faith thou diddest receiue the spirit and giftes of the holy Ghost whereby thou mayest be able to conceaue and bring foorth children vnto God Faith and vnfained charitie is the copulation which is requisite in the procreation of these spirituall children and therefore there needeth no outward seede of the flesh because wee haue the seede of Gods word which is most effectuall to the conceiuing and bringing foorth of the fruites of good workes and this wonderfull strāge and pure kind of fertilitie is yet made more plaine by these words following thy bellie is as an heape of wheat compassed about with lillies Thy belly As if he should haue saide euen as in a heape of wheat there are many graines of corne so within thy fertile wombe there are contayned many multitudes of those which thou hast conceiued for mee and because thou art full or heauenly blessings no doubt of it but thou wilt bring them foorth in their due time and season and she conceaueth these blessings when she beleeueth but bringeth them foorth when they are done in faith and this belly is compassed about with lillies by the lillies we may vnderstand the faithfull because the wombe of the Church is wholly compassed about with the lillie-white innocencie of the faithfull thy two breasts are as two young Roes that are twins thy two the two breasts in this place signifie the old Testament and the New the doctrine of the Prophets and the doctrine of the Apostles which may bee very well compared vnto young Roes either for their puritie and whitenesse or else because they do runne about the whole world as the young Goates doe leape and skippe about the hilles and for the farther exposition of this place wee must entreate the gentle Reader to returne backe againe vnto the fourth Chapter where he shall finde this verse wholly interpreted only we will note this by the way that
siluer two hundred to them that keepe the frute thereof 13 O thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken vnto thy voyce cause me to heare it 14 O my welbeloued flie avvay and be like vnto the Roe or to the young Hart vpon the mountaines of spices The Commentarie The wordes of the Bridegrome vnto the Church of the Conuerts The bridegroome confirmeth her sayings to be true affirming the Church to be before the Lord because he is alwayes most readie to succour and helpe her in all her necessities Wherefore he sendeth not wolues but faithful ministers and Apostles to be her keepers in such sort that it is not possible that any one of them should perish The church of the conuerts vnto the Bridegrome To thee appertaineth a thousand peeces of siluer Because the number of a thousand is the terme and bound of all other numbers therefore it is taken for all numbers and then the words go thus O Salomon O my peaceable and louing Christ to thee appertaineth a thousand that is the greatest and farthermost number And two hundred to them that keepe the frute thereof that is not so much a◠appertaineth vnto thee The wordes of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride O thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken vnto thy voyce cause mee to beare it Here Christ speaketh vnto all the Church in generall shewing how acceptable and pleasant her voyce is to him which she so greatly longeth for to heare because her voice is Gods word therfore he speaketh after this maner vnto the spouse O my louing spouse thou that dwellest in the gardens that is to say in the particular Churches which are taken for gardens Thy companions or friends namely those which preach and teach the Gospell Hearken vnto thy voyce that is are obedient vnto thee because thou alone art able to teach them my words Cause me to heare thy voyce which is nothing diuerse I am sure from my words or contrarie to the scripture therfore most acceptable and pleasant vnto me because all other words which proceede and come from the flesh they are not my words they are adulterous and false words and therfore most abhominable in mine eares The wordes of the Spouse vnto the Bridegroome O my welbeloued flie away and be like vnto the Roe or to the young Hart vpon the mountaines of spices This mountaine of spices is the Church and therfore the lesser and particular Churches are called mountaines of spices Christ desired to heare the Spouse speake the Spouse answereth him by vttering the words of perfect charitie by which words it appeareth how zealous she is of Christes glorie and the knowledge of his truth And furthermore the great desire wherewith she is inflamed towardes the saluation of all men And this is briefly the sence and meaning of these wordes O my welbeloued flie away as a man when he flieth away in great hast or as the Roes or young Harts doe skirre it along most nimbly vpon the tops of the hils so do thou make hast and tarrie not to come vnto the mountaines of spices that is to say to come both vnto the Church vniuersall and also to be present ayding vnto all the particular Churches least happily they may be constrained to receiue any other besides thee and so by estraunging themselues from thee perish eternally Therfore gentle Christ come quickly to helpe and succour to direct and guide vs vnto the right way which leadeth vs vnto life euerlasting FINIS Faults escaped In the Preface for the title or inscription of the Song of songs reade the title or inscription is the Song of songs Page 8. line 12. for man reade men p. 14. l. 6. for sunnie reade sinne p. 21. l. 23. for particularly reade patiently p. 23. l. 10. for houses reade horses p. 39. l. 13. for vvith the svveete reade vvith svveete p. 40. l. 28. for gold reade God p. 51. l. 7. for the people reade his people p. 51. l. 30. for and maketh it reade maketh it p. 64.1 for to reade and p. 79. l. 7. for of seeming workes that issue foorth from faith reade of seeming good vvorks but not proceeding frō faith the other a chaine of good vvorkes indeed that is to say of vvorkes that issue foorth from faith p. 108. l. 12. for then reade that p. 121. l. 11. for those elect vvhich is a companion c. reade of the elect vvhich continually haue their faiths accompanied and follovved vvith good vvorkes Floure Psal 16.11 * It the fruit fo his pleasant apples Thus it is in Italian Thus it is in Italian Thus it is in Italian * It. Hell
the liuely words of the holy scripture which do pearce euen to the soule and the thousand bucklers or targets are the hoped for helpes and succours of Gods diuine prouidence by the which he doth so much sustaine and releeue his seruants that it is not possible that they should bee ouercome or ouerthrowne Thy two breasts Finally because hee meaneth not to proceed so far in this place as to speak of her girdle after he had spoken of her head and neck he addresseth himselfe to say somwhat in commendations of her two breastes wherby is meant the doctrine of both the old and new testament then the which there can bee nothing imagined more pleasant more amiable or more profitable and he likeneth them to two young roes because as they do lightly leape and skip vp and downe so the doctrine of both the old and newe testament is spread abroad throughout the face of the whole world their feeding is said to be among the lillies wherby are signified the faithfull amongst whom there is alwaies abiding the loue charity of the Church which feedeth that is to say recreateth her this loue doth remaine for euer in her full state perfection among the faithfull But what is the food wherewith she feedeth thē It is the food of the spirit and word of God for because the Church doth alwaies feed on that food which shall make her strong to perseuer and continue out vnto the end Moreouer the faithfull people of God are fed and nourished with faith and loue of the Church but howe long are they fed after this sort vntill the day breake that is to say to the end of the world and that the shadowes of errors mens inuentions and all the workes of darknesse do flie away And Christ may rightly then bee sayd to come vnto vs when he helps vs and to go away from vs when he takes all hope of help and succour from vs. Now the spouse as long as she is in this world is not without tribulations and crosses and doubtlesse she would soone perish and come to nought if Christ shold not come to her to comfort strengthen her with the power of his spirit and therfore the Bridegrome speaketh vnto the Church as if he did speake vnto a third person saying I will go into the mountaine that is to say I will indeed helpe thee which arta mountain of mirrhe a hill of incense that is to say so full of my sweete ointments as a mountaine of incense and mirrhe Thou art all faire my loue there is no spot in thee Thou art c. He commeth then and slacketh not to come vnto his welbeloued spouse for he is no lyer to say that he will come and not to come he saith thou art all faire there is no spot in thee How faire how without spot or blemish by the bountifull and beautiful presence of the immaculate son of God and for the sweet smell of his ointmēt wherwith he hath perfumed vs and hence it is that the Church is called a mountaine of mirrhe a mountain of incense because that she albeit in her self and of her selfe she is most miserably foule black as any blackamore can be yet notwithstanding in her bridegrome Christ most amiable admirable faire pure without spot in Christ because he wipes away all her spots blots by forgiuing her her sins and imputing them no longer vnto her The Text. 8 Come with me frō Lebanon my spouse euen with me from Lebanon and looke from the top of Amanak from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the dennes of the Lyons and from the mountaines of the Leopardes 9 My sister my spouse thou hast wounded mine heart thou hast wounded mine heart with one of thine eyes and with a chaine of thy necke 10 My sister my spouse how faire is thy loue how much better is thy loue then wine and the sauour of thine ointments then all spices 11 Thy lippes my spouse drop as honey-combes honey and milke are vnder thy tongue and the sauor of thy garmentes is as the savour of Lebanon The Commentarie Here in this place we are to consider thus much that by the foure hilles of Israell is to be vnderstood the vocation of the Church of the Gentils vnto Christ her husbād which is called that she may not dwel any longer with Lyons Leopards but may be freed frō the power of thē that is to say that her body may not bee torne in peeces with the cruelty of bloudy tyrants or distracted by the diuersity variety of wicked sects but that she being reduced brought from heresie errour to the true vnderstāding of the faith may make one true Catholike Church of all the elect which are gathered assembled together of all nations tongues and kingdomes of the earth as who would say This my beautifull spouse flyeth vnto me for refuge not only from Libanus but from all the corners and quarters of the earth eschuing the subtilties of Sathan and treacheries of false teachers and heretikes such as they haue meditated and thought vpon lying on their beds to destroy and annoy the Church And in that he saith that his heart was wounded wee are to note the greatnesse of his loue which he beareth towards the Church which he for good cause calleth his sister and spouse first because shee is become his heauenly bedfellow partaker of the benefit of his celestial bed and secondly because hee vouchsafed to take flesh and put on mans nature vpō him that he might be our naturall brother The eyes of the Spouse are the iudgements proceedings of the holy Ghost the necke is faith and the chaines about the necke the workes that are done in faith Againe the spouse hath two eies whilest she liueth in the flesh to wit the iudgemēt of the spirit the iudgmēt of the flesh the first pleaseth Christ greatlie the secōd displeaseth him as much as the former pleaseth him because it is cōtrary to the former which the church shal be quite cleane freed frō when mortifying the old man she runneth vnto the tabernacle of the bodie by death Furthermore she is said to haue two chains about her neck the one a chain of hypocrisie that is to say of seming good works that issue forth frō faith one of these chaines the bridegrome loueth and the other he hateth to the death because it is a sinfull chain wherefore he saith thou hast wounded mine heart with one of thine eyes that is to say with the iudgemēt and vnderstanding of the holy Ghost and with one of thy chaynes that is to say with the workes which come from faith hast thou wounded mine heart that is to say thou hast done things very gratefull and acceptable vnto me and hee repeateth these words of wounding of his heart twise to make knowne and declare the singular great loue which Christ beareth towardes his Church