The sonnes of my mother were angrie against me And what is this mother but Eue the mother of all the liuing aswel the iust as the vniust and the vniust haue euer since the beginning of the world opposed themselues against the iust because they hate thē which are ruled by Christs lawes so perish in the reprobrat sence of the flesh these are of the wicked synagogue of Satā which do stil persecute vexe contradict the spouse whence it cōmeth that she is grown so blacke brown They made me the keeper of the vines as if she should haue said I haue obtained this by my persecutions that I am made keeper of more vines that is of more churches bicause the first Church was founded in Ierusalem that which followeth But I kept not mine owne vine is not to be vnderstood of the mind but of the place for although the citie be ruinated and destroyed yet neuerthelesse the integritie of faith remaineth inuiolable for euer and euer so that this is the meaning he kept not that place that is hee retayned not that place where the vineyard should haue bene and where it was planted at the first being rooted by God the father out of that barren and vnfertile soyle and planted in a more fertile place among the Gentiles So the Church is this vine or else by this you may vnderstand the soules of the faithfull which are planted in faith rooted in charitie trenched about with the furrowes of good discipline repayred with the teares of the penitent and watered with the wordes of the Preacher and hence commeth it that they doe so abound in all manner of diuine fruit that is to say in gladnesse and holy deuotion In like maner we may say that faith is the vine the branches vertues the grapes good workes the wine deuotion Moreouer the vineyard is religion the husbandman the father the sonne the vine and the iust the branches thereof God the father is the husbandman because he digges and ditches it in confession and contrition proynes it with sprinckling of teares And indeed the Sonne is the vine because he is the foundation of religion because no man can lay any other foūdatiō but that which is already laid which is Christ Iesus by whom euery building doth grow vp to be a holy tēple The brāches are the righteous which doe shoot sprout out of the vine Christ and are full of sappe and moysture The spouse vnto Christ Shew me Christ is all in all vnto them that beleeue a king a sunne a keeper of vines a shepheard notwithstanding he cōtinueth alwayes to be their bridegrome welbeloued to whom the spouse flieth for succour helpe seeing that she is not able to keepe her vine any lōger she referreth the care therof vnto her husband Christ Moreouer she hath many litle goats about her that is many yong ones which are but simple fellowes nouices vngrounded in faith which she would faine haue fed with the precious and wholesome bread of Christs word and not with the poisoned doctrine of men And this is the cause why she makes her recourse vnto him knowing that he is the true shepheard of her soule saying O thou whom my soule loueth ô sonne of loue charitie and this charitie is God that is as much to say as ô thou my deare bridegrome husbād Christ whō my soule loueth whom I can not chuse but loue most entirely dearely shew me where thou feedest where the sonne of righteousnes feedeth and resteth himselfe I meane Christ Iesus the sonne of God which neuer setteth hauing alwayes a meridian brightnesse shyning round about him And the Church knoweth the time that is to say the noone-tide at what time the bridegrome doth rest take his repast but she knoweth not the place where Also she knoweth that with the lanterne of the word it is not possible to find him vnlesse it please him to manifest and shew himselfe by opening the hidden senses and darke mysteries of the scriptures with his key and this knowledge also can not be gotten vnlesse it be obtayned by the spirite of the bridegrome and therefore she requesteth him that it would please him to make himselfe knowen vnto her and shew her where he feedes abides And euen now he feedeth her whilest that he lighteneth reioyceth and inflameth her which is in the heate of the day to wit at noone or midday So that we are not able to endure the great glorie of his face vnlesse wee be couered with the vayle of his flesh which he tooke and euen now we do rest vnder the shadowe of his wings by being made partakers of his heauenly graces For why should I be And what is that the spouse requireth here in this place vnlesse it be that Christ should shew her these things least that she should be compelled to turne aside to the flockes of his companions But what are these companions but the faithfull chiefly those which haue any office or superioritie ouer the rest But of these there be some true some lying and false brethren The true brethren do not gather the flockes vnto themselues but vnto Christ neither doe they make themselues heads of the Church but humbly submit both themselues and their whole flockes vnto Christs gouernment acknowledging him to be their Lord and head and they are very much afraid least the flockes should follow them and therefore they doe studie by all manner of meanes how to preuent these sayings I am of Paul and I am of Peter I am of Barnabas and I am of Apollo But their onely care and desire is to bring euery one to say and confesse thus much I am of Christ Now contrariwise they which are the false followers and companions of Christ Iesus do not leade or gather the flockes vnto their bridegrome Christ but vnto themselues making themselues heads and ouerseers ouer those flockes wherefore the true Church saith I will not turne aside to the flockes of them which are called thy companions chusing rather to do any thing then this because that if the flockes do follow any other shepheard but thee they must needes perish and be destroyed and these flockes do wander and go astray because during the time of their abode here in this wicked world they can find no rest or peace but are alwayes troubled disquieted in mind and therefore the sense and meaning of these words is this I doe heartily desire thee ô my God and Sauiour that it would please thee and none but thee to take the paines to teach mee those things which it is meete for me to know to the end that my iudgement and minde may not bee offuscated and darkened with the cloudes of errors and heresies but that my vnderstanding may be lightened with the truth of thy word which shineth as cleare as the Sunne doth at noone day so that I may not fall into any error or false opinion being
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
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
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
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
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
will of God the holy Ghost that is to say when his mind and vnderstanding is ruled and gouerned by the holy Ghost which commeth then to passe when he iudgeth all things rightly according to the word of God And likewise she may be then said to haue Christs face when in the middest of prosperitie shee doth nothing by chance or otherwise then as a true Christian woman should do but in effect deed and maketh it manifest vnto the whole world that she hath rightly put on the Lord Iesus Christ and his face is seene in her aduersities and troubles if she willingly beare the crosse and crucifie the old man by suffering patienly all manner of aduersities The text 15 Take vs the Foxes the litle Foxes which destroy the vines for our vines haue small grapes 16 My welbeloued is mine and I am his he feedeth among the lillies 17 Vntill the day breake and the shadowes flee away returne my welbeloued be like a Roe or a young Hart vpon the mountaines of Bether The Commentarie The Foxe is one of the craftiest beasts in the world and hereby are signified painted out vnto vs the false beleeuers and enemies to the truth and this text may be fitly applyed against false teachers dissembling Prophets which destroy the litle vines that is to say corrupt those which in the particular Churches of the world doe beginne to beleeue and he repeateth the word Foxes by saying litle Foxes the better to make known vnto vs their weakenesse infirmity which is such that they cannot be able to bring any thing to passe against the Church of God vnlesse they first receiue power from the darkenesse of God and this he forewarneth the friendes of the bridegrome to wit the ministers of the word to the end that they should girde vp themselues to take them by the mutuall helpe of the bridegrome and of the bride as often as they would like fishes fast caught in the nets of Gods word now hee is saide properly to be taken or caught which is cōuinced by the truth And in that he sayth Take vs the Foxes we must note this how the preachers of the Gospell which are commaunded to do this do take and keepe them for Christ and the Church labouring to please and obey them both because they are ministers both of Christ and also of the Church The vines are the particular Churches which the heretikes and false hypocriticall Doctors and teachers doe corrupt and peruert because they pare away the greennesse beautie of the Church that is to say sucke out the principles of good fruit which they haue gathered out of the worde of God and alleage them vnder a shew and pretence of godlinesse vnto a most wicked end Wherefore all such must be driuen away which goe about to depraue the word of God with their heresies and inuentions The Spouse speaketh My welbeloued is mine and I am his he feedeth among the lillies As who would say I do most constantly and inuiolably hold the friendship of my welbeloued for because I know his loue is most constant towards me which I perceiue by his great familiaritie in that he feedeth among the lillies By the lillies are to be vnderstood the soules of the faithfull which do alwaies yeeld foorth a pleasant sent of good workes among their neighbours so that the spouse being inuited to them by the word of God and now ioyned with her husband Christ is imbraced of him and desireth to dwell with him for euer and that she may in the deuotion of her mind as it were among the lillies and roses continually enioy the comforts of the Saints and holy ones vntill the cleare day-starre and meridian brightnesse of Gods good will and pleasure do shine foorth whereby all manner of clouds and shadowes may be compelled to flee away to the end that all manner of men from the highest to the lowest may know God without feare of sinne or danger of heresie It is certainely a great sute which the Church hath vnto Christ here in this place and although she be most fully perswaded that it shall be most fully graunted vnto her yet neuerthelesse shee interposeth and offereth vp her prayers vnto God because she would not be depriued of this happinesse in any sort saying Returne my welbeloued Returne I say my welbeloued and be to me both in word and deede a most ioyfull goat to spie out our wantes and defects with sharpe and quicke eyes and to looke downe vpon our miseries with the eye of pitie and compassion as a most louing young Hart take the old serpent away from among vs which lyeth in wait to do vs harme and kill him with the breath of thy mouth ouercome all our enemies ô thou which art so louing ouer all mankind and faithfull soules graunt this O Lord if it be but for the promises which thou madest vnto our forefathers whom verily thou diddest choose out amongst the Gentiles commandedst them to looke for their sauing healthes and saluation and the saluation of all others at the hands of Christ Iesus their Sauiour which was promised vnto them from the beginning of the world The third Chapter 1 In my bed by night I sought him that my soule loued I sought him but I found him not 2 I will rise therefore now and go about in the citie by the streetes and by the open places and will seeke him that my soule loueth I sought him but I found him not 3 The watchmen that went about the citie found me to whom I said haue you seene him whom my soule loueth 4 VVhen I had past a litle from them then I found him whom my soule loued I tooke hold on him and left him not till I had brought him vnto my mothers house into the chamber of her that conceiue◠me 5 I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalem by the Roes and by the Hindes of the field that ye stirre not vp nor wake◠my loue vntill she please The Commentarie THe soules of the righteous are saide t◠make them beds when flying the care◠and troubles of the world they take a course how to liue quietly peaceably And to seek the bridegrome in the night time or in the dark is as much as to seeke him in their own works or in the traditions and constitutions of men where it is not possible to find him because they are full of darknesse and obscuritie So then the spouse the Church speaketh these words or the like in effect Being pricked with the guiltinesse of mine own sinfull conscience and labouring in my chamber bed that is to say trusting in mine own merits or worthinesse I sought the fauour and loue of my husbād because indeed I thought to haue obtained purchased eternall blisse and happinesse by the workes of the law and thus hauing a long time sought it here I could not find it because his loue commeth not from our merits and worthinesse but
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