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
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
misled misguided by them which make profession of great knowledge and wisedome and which continue to coÌ„pare their doctrine and the precepts of their fond hearts with the truth of thy word The text 7 If thou know not ô thou the fairest among women get thee foorth by the steppes of the flocke and feede thy kiddes by the â—ents of the shepheards 8 I haue compared thee O my loue to the troupe of horses in the chariots of Pharaoh 9 Thy cheekes are comely with rowes of stones and thy necke with chaynes 10 VVe will make thee borders of gold with studs of siluer 11 VVhiles the king was at his repast my spikenard gaue the smell thereof 12 My welbeloued is as a buÌ„dle of myrrhe vnto me he shall lie between my breasts 13 My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire vnto me in the vines of Engedi 14 My loue behold thou art faire behold thou art faire thine eies are like the doues 15 My welbeloued behold thou art faire and pleasant also our bed is greene 16 The beames of our house are Cedars our rafters are of firre The Commentarie The words of the bridegrome vnto the Spouse If thou know not Christ aunswereth the Church and teacheth her all those things which she before had demaunded of him he saith vnto her O thou the fairest among women that is to say among the Churches because the Church congregation of the faithfull howsoeuer it seeme in the sight of men to be blacke and contemptible yet notwithstanding the only begotten sonne of God Christ Iesus esteemeth and iudgeth her to be fairer and better then all the Synagogues of the wicked O wonderfull great beautie and fairenes which God himselfe doth so greatly commende and approoue by calling her the fairest among women Indeed other women are faire because they are Gods creatures who is most glorious admirable in all his workes but thou O my Spouse exceedest them all because thou art to be preferred before them all because thou art adorned with my beautie in regard whereof he sayth vnto her O thou the fairest among women if thou know not of thy selfe where I feed rest at noone day then go foorth out of thy selfe renounce thy selfe and all things else for the loue of me beare thy crosse particularly and trust not to thy owne opinion or workes at all Furthermore depart from the flockes of my companions and from the dregs filth of humane traditions and lastly lay aside all trust and confidence in the flesh otherwise neuer hope to find the place where I do feed and rest my selfe at nooneday because he is not worthie of my loue that for the loue of me is not content to forsake all things and himselfe also if neede be At length he sheweth where his feeding and abiding is to wit in the footsteps of the flocks of the Church and neere the tabernacles of shepheards of these flockes are all they which we know to be of the Church and their footsteps are those things which we read of them to haue bene gratefull and acceptable vnto God and these are the steppes of the Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles of the true faith in the word of God all those things which God doth worke and bring to passe in them by charitie And we must follow after those steps where he feedeth and lyeth because he comforteth all them which truely feede on him in their hearts by faith and he granteth them true peace of conscience which is as much as to rest and feede with Christ The litle goates and the feeble and weake hearted are those which beleeue in the Lord. The shepheards may be tearmed those whom he sendeth abroad with authoritie to preach the Gospell who by publishing abroad among the people the sincere word of God do minister and giue them food of eternall life by giuing them the bread of Gods word in due season which if they did not they would not be accounted true shepheards and ministers of the word and their tabernacles are the Churches neare which the flockes of the elect children of God do graze and feed and the pastures are the immaculate wordes of God and this is the food which Christ commanded Peter to feed his sheepe withall The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Spouse I haue compared thee ô my loue to the troupe of houses He compareth the blessed spouse of the most victorious king Christ vnto the troupe of horses that is to say vnto the Angels because no man of any vnderstanding in the world doubteth whether they be the messengers and ministers of Christ Wherefore Christ speaketh as it were after this sort vnto the spouse ô my deare spouse the time was when thou wast in a miserable case the prisoner and bondslaue of the Diuell and therfore as farre estranged as might be from me but loe I haue now set thee at libertie I haue freed and redeemed thee out of the hands of the diuell and by the vertue of my word and spirite I will so glorifie thee that thou shalt be like vnto the glorious companie of Angels But wherein In the Chariots and power of Pharaoh the king of Egypt that is to say the Prince of darkenesse the diuell sinne death and hell it selfe all which things I haue ouercome for thee that thou shouldest trust and beleeue in me And this is spoken to this end and purpose that we shold know that all those which are without Christ are but as it were horses which draw in the Chariot of Pharaoh that is to say are vnder the rule and guiding of him which driues the Chariot to wit the Diuell but as many as are of Christ hold with him they are put into Gods coach that is to say are altogether ruled and gouerned by him Therefore by the notable troupe of horses of God we must needes vnderstand the Church by reason of the multitude of meÌ„ that are contained in it and of store of spirituall armour and weapons of faith iustice and for the inuincible force and strength of the spirit and noble victorie ouer her enemies Thy cheekes are comely Finally he commendeth his owne workes in the spouse because the spouse is not otherwise faire or coÌ„ly but as she is faire and beautifull in her husband Christ And whereas it is said thy cheekes are comely wee are to consider the cheekes as they are in the head and face and the head of the spouse is the husbaÌ„d Now as the beautie of the cheekes doth principally appertain vnto the head and theÌ„ afterwards vnto the rest of the members so the beautie and glorie of Christs cheekes which is the head of the Church do first of all belong vnto him and secondly they appertaine vnto his members that is to say vnto the spouse because Christ is the honour and glory of the spouse whose necke are the Preachers and teachers of the Church which are adorned beautified with chaines sundry iewels
vnder their heades what is meant by that but that when the iust man fâ—lleth he should not be broken in peeces wherfore the spouse feeling his left hand vnder her head reioyceth notwithstanding because of the louing imbracings which she is sure to enjoy by the benefit of his right hand The words of the Bride vnto the yong maydens There be foure things which cause me exceedingly to reioice first because of the flowâ—rs that is to say for the faithful because there â—re enough of theÌ„ secondarily for the apples of the most fruitfull tree Christ thirdly because he hath his left hand vnder his head â—hat is to say vnder the spouses head for hee â—s the head of the spouse last of all because of the certaine hope and assurance which â— haue that hee will imbrace me with his right hand that is to say with the pleasures and ioyes of euerlasting glorie And thus whiles the Church the spouse of Christ â—oth take her quiet rest sleepe the word of God commandeth her not to be troubled or disquieted any thing at all it is as if Christ ss hould speak vnto the soules of the faithfull â—fter this manner I charge you ô ye faithfull soules and which is more I coniure you by that which is most deare and pleasant vnto you that you stir not the loue of your husband in the elect by iudging condemning them by the wrath and fauour of God shewed more or lesse towards them I say find not you fault with God for being sometimes displeased with the elect and shewing forth his anger towards theÌ„ accuse not his diuine prouidence or the maner of his proceedings eyther in iustice or mercy because he doth most certainly guide and direct all things vnto thâ— good of his elect but submit your willes Alwayes vnto the good will and pleasure of almighty God praying continually that hiâ— will may be done his name hallowed And we are to vnderstaÌ„d by the roes and hinds oâ— the fields by the which he chargeth the souleâ— of the faithfull the Apostles and preacher of Gods word which wander vp and dowâ— in the worlde preachâ—â—g the Gospell euery where whersoeuer they come fearing the policies sleights of their aduersary the diuell The spouse vnto the yong maides It is the voice of my welbeloued behold â—â— commeth leaping by the mountaines and skipping by the hilles This is a notable place to proâ—â— that all those that are of Christs Church 〈◊〉 know their husband Christs voice that is tâ— say his words and can iudge thereby Gods words from mens Because shee saith flatlie vnto the virgins that the words that she doth heare are vndoubtedly the words of her louing husband Christ for she saith she knoweth them well enough and indeed to say the truth who should better knowe the thinges which concerne the Bridegrome then the Bride her selfe Nowe I am the Bride which haue espoused the onely begotten sonne of God wherefore me thinks I should knowe his voyce better then anie other So then first of all there is shewed vnto vs the Church by the voyce of the bridegrome which she knoweth most readily afterwards there is declared vnto vs the fruit that ariseth redoundeth vnto her by the knowledge of his voice that is to say the knowledge of perfect charity And Christ the husband of the faithful is likened vnto him which is most faire in the fairest thinges most excellent in the excellents that that can be gotten exceeding beyond the degree of admiration and abounding beyond measure in all maner of thinges that may be desired coueted or obtained Finally the ende and terme of Gods promises contayned within the compasse of the scriptures and written of either in the Law or in the Prophets This Christ the summe of all happines and felicity came vnto his own vnder the forme of mortality hauing a wall set betweene him and the wicked because he would not be seene of the vnworthy vngodly or vnelected ones and yet he stood in the middest of them and spake the words of life partlie vnto them which did see him partlie vnto those which despised him voluntarilie suffered themselues to be seduced or deceiued so as he looked forth of the windowes and shewed himselfe through the grates he might be seen and heard after some sort of the wicked but onely the godly and elect of God vnto saluation may fully see behold lastly receiue him into their hearts by faith And the words of SalomoÌ„ in the next verse before how hee came leaping by the mountains skipping by the hilles signifieth nothing els but this how his spirit leaped vpon the Patriarkes and Prophets and skipped in the Apostles preachers of the Gospell who being more eminent and excellent theÌ„ the rest did teach men the simplicity and plainnesse of their liues doctrines and the similitude of a roe or a hart which followeth in the next verse is all one in effect with the former because it is only proper vnto goates to leap skip about although they may bee likened vnto theÌ„ for another reason because of their sharpe sight for vnlesse their sight were as good as their running they shold not be able to discerne their way know either how to leape or skip By the swiftnes of their leaping skipping vp and downe we may note the earnestnesse of a willing and charitable minde by the quicknesse of sight the sharpenesse of iudgement so in both these thinges we may obserue both iudgemeÌ„t and mercy crying out with Dauid in the Psalmes Mercie and iudgement will I sing vnto thee â— Lord. The Text. 10 My welbeloued spake and said vnto me arise my loue my faire one and come thy way 11 For behold winter is past the raine is changed and is gone away 12 The flowers appeare in the earth the time of the singing of birds is come and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land 13 The figtree hath brought forth her yong figs and the vines with their small grapes haue cast a sauour arise my loue my faire one and come away 14 My doue that art in the holes of the rock in the secret places of the staires shew me thy sight Let me heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet thy sight comely The voyce of the Spouse vnto the virgins My welbeloued spake said vnto me c. The spouse being once awaked out of her sleep tels her maydens what her sweet-heart said vnto her Arise my loue faire one and come thy way to wit arise froÌ„ rest to labour froÌ„ ioy peace to sorrow griefe and rise thou thy selfe let no other rise for thee because I wil haue thee no other to gather my flowers fruits that is to say vnto the ministery of my word by the which the flowers to wit the soules of the faithfull are gathered together into the Church And come thy way that is follow
gone away from her that is when he doth not fulfill all her desires do all that she would haue him for to do she rehearseth the wonderfull workes of God and laudeth the great power force of his word saying my soule shall go forth when he speaketh The speech of the Bridegrome is his worde which speaketh most absolutely in the hearts of the faithfull by the operation and working of the holy Ghost and as soone as the faithfull mā heareth the soūd of these words he beleeueth and trusteth in them and his heart or soule goeth foorth because hee renounceth and denyeth himselfe and all that liueth or is within him for Christs sake and the soule may be truely sayd to go forth at the voyce of the bridegrome which leeseth her voyce and life and all that euer she hath for him but whosoeuer doth so shall be sure to keepe them vnto eternall life So then it is all one in effect as if the spouse should speake after this sort so amiable and effectuall is the voice of my welbeloued husband that I am wholly bent and intent vpon him still looking and following after him It followeth I sought him but I could not find him What should the spouse of Christ be by the delights and ioyes of Christ but readie to seeke him and runne after him and this with as much hast and diligence as may be Thus then she maketh diligent search and inquiry for her husband continueth still seeking of him but he withdrew himselfe from her would not suffer her to find him out although she desired it so as nothing more for albeit she puffed blowed labored till she swet againe to find him out yet she could not find him till he manifested himself vnto her which may be foūd at any time so that a mā haue faith which faith cōmeth frō God the giuer of al good things Neuerthelesse it pleaseth him for a while to withdraw himselfe from the flesh to the end that it may be more holy and more sanctified Againe the spouse addeth these wordes I called him but he answered me not She calleth the Bridegrome because she hath neede of his fauour and help and desireth it most earnestly he answereth her when he granteth her the desires and petitions of her heart but she saith that her welbeloued answered her not when shee called him Because he did not presently yeeld vnto her request by giuing that which shee asked for oftentimes it so commeth to passe that God doth not presently bestow that on vs which we desire at his hande because indeed by withholding and withdrawing these things from vs for a certain time he maketh vs to bee more earnest and willing to seeke those thinges according to the institution prescript of his word The Text. 7 The watchmen that went about the citie found me they smote me and wounded me the watchmen of the walles took away my vaile from me 8 I charge ye ô daughters of Ierusalem if you find my welbeloued that you tell him that I am sicke of loue 9 O the fairest amōg women what is thy welbeloued more then other welbeloued what is thy welbeloued more then another louer that thou doest so charge vs The Commentarie Whiles the Church was thus earnest in the pursuit of her welbeloued the watchmen and those that went round about the citie found her thus perplexed and by them we are to vnderstand those which are Bishops and chiefe-priests in name and word only being indeed so far frō shewing where Christ is and comforting the weake consciences of the ignorāt people with the words of life that they do rather beat the spouse and vexe the Church as the euill seruants in the Gospel did afflict and beat the rest of their maisters family and fellowseruants whiles their maister was abroad in a forraine countrie These be the men that lade men with an infinit number of humane precepts and commandements these false teachers tooke away her vaile from her When vnder the pretence and pretext of true religion they became destroyers or corrupters of the word of God by taking it away out of the Church to the end that their owne doctrines might take place The words of the Spouse vnto the virgins I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalem if you find my welbeloued that you tell him that I am sicke of him I charge you The faithfull spouse of Christ being wounded beaten spoyled and depriued of her owne garments and being now altogether out of hope as a man would say to find him in the doctrines of men yet neuerthelesse for all this she ceaseth not to call vpon him and seeke after him neither wanteth she any desire or godly affection to stirre her vp vnto the earnest and vehement pursute therof for it is most certaine that the elect of God are so inwardly prouoked and stirred vp vnto those things by the meere instinct of the holy Ghost that they would rather chuse to die a hundred times then once to leaue off from doing those things Wherefore as the spouse could learne nothing of the false teachers and enemies of godlinesse which carried a great shew of pietie learning she turneth her selfe vnto those which of her knowledge made no great shew of knowledge and learning to wit vnto the young maydes and daughters of Ierusalem signifying the faithfull and godly sort liuing here in this world which are accounted fooles and deuoyde of iudgement of the world And it is most euident that hereby they are meant because the daughters of Ierusalem are alwayes taken for the faithfull whom the Church chargeth that if they find Christ they would be a meanes vnto him for her to obtaine his loue by telling him that she was sicke of loue and languished for the desire of him which is the greatest desire the elect can haue because they do both seeke to find out Christ together with the spouse and also desire him to help and succour them at all times houres The virgins words vnto the Spouse O the fairest among women what is thy welbeloued more then other welbeloued what is thy welbeloued more then an other louer that thou doest so charge vs It is not possible for the young virgins the Churches best beloued vnlesse they first heare to vnderstand what his state and condition is wherefore here in this place they do aske after his condition and qualities demaunding what he is Wherefore the faithfull people of God doe earnestly desire to receiue instructions of the Church and bee informed of her what is her welbeloued for it appertayneth onely to the Church to define of these things prouided alwaies that she doe it by the tenour and prescript of Gods word which is her onlie life and rod of direction how he was begotten of the father before all ages and how in the fulnesse of time he came into the world to take the Church to be his spouse sauing and redeeming her