church and the great account and regard he hath her in And these wordes Thine eyes be like doues eyes teach the church to stryue to inward and outward chastity and to Abstain from all appearance of euill as 1. Thes 5. 22. And to hate euen the garment which is spotted by the flesh Iude. 23. Verse 16. Teacheth vs to acknowledge that all the good thinges we haue we haue from aboue as Iames 1. 17. And these wordes Our bed is greene noteth the flourishing of the church and the increase thereof of which see before verse 9. Vers 17. Setteth out the firmity and staydnes of the church which thing also our sauiour meaneth when hee sayth that The gates of hell shal not preuaile against it Math. 16. 18. And in an other place that if it were possible the very elect should be deceiued Math. 24. 24. To this purpose also it is called the piller and ground of truth 1. Tim. 3. 15. CHAP. the second and the summe thereof The Bridegrome setteth out his owne dignitie and the Brides 1. 2. She againe answearing praiseth him and setteth out the duties that he hath done for her vnder a banquet and her exceeding loue towardes him by fainting or swonning 3. 4. 5. 6. Afterward shee declareth the comming of the Bridegrome vnto her her calling and moste large promises made vnto her 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13 c. And therefore she not onely reioyceth that she shall haue his company but desireth his presence vntill the fulfilling of his promises be perfourmed which shal be in his second comming 14. 15. 16. 17. 1 I Am the Rose of Sharon the Lilie of the vallies betweene the hils 2 As a lilie among Thornes so is my loue among the daughters 3 As an Apple tree among the trees of the forrest so is my well beloued among the sonnes I doe very greatly desire to sit in his shadow for his fruit is sweet to the roofe of my mouth 4 He brought mee into the place of wine and his banner towardes me was loue 5 Proppe me vp with these flagons beare mee vp with these apples for I am sicke with loue 6 His left hand is vnder mine head and his right hand doth imbrace me 7 I charge you and that by an oth O yee daughters of Ierusalem tarry ye abroad with the roes or with the hindes of the field stirre not vp neither wake this loue vntill he will him selfe 8 It is the voyce of my well beloued behold him he commeth leaping vpon these mountaines skipping vpon these hils 9 My well beloued is like a roe or a hindes calfe beholde him standing behinde our wall looking foorth of the windowes springing out of the gates 10 My well beloued speaking saide vnto me arise my loue my fayre one and come 11 For loe winter is past the raine is past it is gone away 12 Flourishing thinges are seene in the earth the time of the singing of birdes is come and the voyce of the Turtle is heard in our land 13 The fig tree it selfe hath brought foorth her very young figs and the vines them selues euen in the first grape do yeeld a sauour Arise my loue my fayre one and come 14 My Doue lyuing in these cleftes of the rocke in a denne all to broken shew mee thy countenances Make mee to heare thy voyce for thy voyce is sweete and thy countenaunce comely 15 Take for vs the foxes yea the little foxes corrupting the vines whilst our vines bring foorth the first grape 16 My welbeloued is mine and I am his that feedeth among the Lilies 17 Vntill that day shall come and these shadowes shall flye away returne belike O my wel beloued to a Roe or as a Hindes calfe running on mountaines one of them sundred from another IN the last end of the first chapter Christe and his church had with an harmonicall conclusion praysed their houses for the excellencye continuaunce and commodiousnesse thereof that beeing dispatched the Brydegrome beginneth againe particularlye to praise him selfe and his spouse and likewise the spouse to praise him and to set foorth her great loue towardes him 1 The chapter hath two speciall parts In the first part the bridegrome commendeth him selfe and his spouse and this is contained in the two first verses of this chapter 2 And in the other the bride praiseth the bridegrome reciteth his benefits towardes her and earnestly calleth vpon him for his continual presence and fauor and this reacheth from verse the 3. to the end of the chapter Verse 1. I am the rose of Sharon I take these to be the wordes of the spouse commending him selfe for his moste excellent sweete vertue testified to all but speciallye to his church by communicating his spirite vnto it If any man maruaile that the Bryde and the Brydegrome doe commende them selues both heere and in other places let him know that in olde time this was not vnseemely as it is now accounted Secondly they did not flatter them selues in their prayses neither extolled them selues more then was meet Thirdly that the Brydegrome in this behalfe could not offend because there was neuer any sinne founde in him as 1. Pet. 2. 22. That Sharon was a plentifull place maye appeare 1 Chr. 27. 29. Also Isaiah 53. 2. One reason of the fertility therof may be giuen y e moderate warmnes of the sun in that place in which places also roses doe most delight and flourish are also by that means as the Philosopher supposeth more sweet of sauor So that when Christ resembleth him selfe to the rose of Sharon hee meaneth nothing els but that he was well coloured fruitful and of very good sauor able inough thorow his sweetnesse and the aboundance of his giftes and graces to allure and drawe his Churche to him selfe And the same I suppose he meaneth by comparing him selfe in the nexte part of the verse to the Lilie of the vallies How glorious and excellent the Lilie is our Sauiour himselfe beareth witnesse Math. 6. 28. 29. And when the Lorde will assure his people of a great blessing hee promiseth them that they shall grow as the Lilie Hosea 14. 5. Much more excellent shall it be when it groweth in a moste fertile place such as the vallies are that lie betweene two hilles which in all reason can not chuse but bee verye fruitefull and plentifull Christe therefore by this manner of speech not onelye noteth his great glorye and excellencye but also setteth foorth the aboundaunce of fruite that these shall yeeld which shall bee ingrafted into him as the true vine For which see Iohn 15. 2. Verse 2. As a Lilie among Thornes so is my loue amonge the Daughters These are still Christes wordes not commending him selfe as before but the Church shewing heereby that the Church in dignitye and honour so much excelleth other companyes and assemblyes as the Lilie in beautye and sauour surmounteth the Thornes He meaneth not that Lilies grow amongest Thornes but
127. 5. Much lesse shall the Churche or children thereof bee ouertaken there with howsoeuer they may somtimes haue their feares And this we may see performed particularly in Sephen Acts. 6. 15. And generally thorough the whole seuenth chapter of the sayd booke of the Actes Verse 15. Commending vnto vs the excellency and aboundance of Gods graces bestowed vpon the church is another argumēt propounded by the holy ghost to drawe vs on more and more to loue the same Al which is put down not only for the high exceeding commendation of the church of God as which is indued with al manner of louely graces from the Lord but also that so he might win that at our handes eyther by some one of these sundry reasons or by all of thē ioyntly together that otherwise coulde not bee gayned of vs. We learn also that not mean men onely but euen the mightiest of the earth should make this their speciall crowne and glorye to delight in the church of God yea to take delight in the very stones therof as Gods seruants are said to doe Psalme 102. 14. For what could it or can it boote them to liue and not to liue as the principall members or at the least sound members thereof sithe all of them must confesse that without the church there is no saluation And the rather they aboue others should striue hereto because their examples are manye times forcible to fetch that from men eyther for feare or fauour c. that other mens works can not winne Vers 16. Deliuereth vnto vs this doctrine namelye that the Churche contayneth in it not only more glory and beauty then can bee seene with the outward eie but than can either be conceiued in heart or expressed with mouth Which also shold moue vs vnfeinedly to affect the same Wherof also me thinketh we may yeelde a dubble reason the first because of the narrownesse and straightnesse of our owne vnderstanding we being not able sufficiently either to thinke or speak of the least of Gods graces much lesse of the church vppon whome the Lorde hath bestowed euen the very treasures of his goodnesse secondly because of y e excellency of y e graces thē selues whether we consider them generallye or particularly they beeing as in respect of themselues euen of his nature from whom they flow y t is to say altogether infinite incōprehensible Ver. 17. Teacheth vs y t howsoeuer the church both in the whole and in the partes thereof may be greatly by the burthen of afflictions oppressed for the time that yet notwithstanding it shall rise vp againe doe the wicked what they can Which as we know to be truelye performed in Christ our sauiour the head therof whom it was impessible y t the sorrowes of death shold altogether hold down Act. 2. 24 so was it also verefied in the Apostle and other beleeuers who sayth of him self and thē we are afflicted on euery side yet not in distresse persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but perish not 2. Cor. 4. 8. 9. which indeed ariseth in them from the strength of Christes ouercomming we being in him become more then conquerors Roma 8. 37. Oh whom would not this comfort and incourage to suffer any thing yea euery thing for the profession of Christ and the keeping of a good conscience before God and men Vers 18. Teacheth vs that the greatest matter of ioy to the church standeth especially vpon thes two points to wit Christes continuall presence and his making of the same fruitefull in the seueral duties that the church is to perform to God and men One of these maye not nor can not bee sundred from other because where Christe is hee is not there idelly or in vaine though we muste confesse also that the force of Christs grace appeareth not a like at al times because it is darkned many times with the mystes cloudes of our owne corruption but dwelling in their harts by faith he maketh thē fruitfull in all good workes and inableth them to comprehend with all saints what is the bredth and length and depth and height that is all fulnesse as it were of fayth and obedience See for this purpose Epes 3. 17. Vers 19. Doth notably commend vnto vs the excellency gracious effects of the word of god Whereof who so listeth to read may see a large discourse psal 119. And if they suppose that to be to tedious they maye more shortly see it comprised Psal 19. vers 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. which the holye Ghoste doth so much the more highly extoll because men are wont to haue it in very small regard accoūt And yet in y e praising of it he doth not as mē who to win men to the loue liking of such things as they propose giue excessiue or vnture commendations thereof but in all truth and simplicitie exalteth the same if he come short any waye it is because the Lord is too sparing in it not that hee wanteth wordes to expresse the praise of it or that the thing it selfe is not most high excellent but because hee is for our weaknesse sake contented to stoupe downe commending it so farre foorth as we are able thorow his spirit to conceiue of it and not otherwise Is it not then a pitifull thing that this word shall receiue so great a commendation and that we shall be so backewarde in intertayning the same CAP. 7. and the summe thereof The church hearing of the earnest affection and loue of Christ hir spouse towardes hir whollye resigneth vp her selfe vnto him verse 1. and afterwardes doth not onelye seeke to know the signes of the day set for their mariage but doth wishe from hir hart that the time therof were come ver 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. She admonisheth her Damsels handmaides or friendes of their dutie that they should not hinder hir being now conuersant with hir husband Christ vers 8. And lastly she declareth her most ardent and earnest loue towardes him desiring euen for euer to be beloued of him againe ver 9. 10. 11. 1 I Am my welbeloueds for his desire is towardes me 2 Come my welbeloued let vs goe foorth into the fielde let vs remaine in the villages 3 Let vs rise vp earely to the vines let vs see whether the vine flourish and whether the small grape hath opened it selfe whether the pomgranates florish ther will I giue thee my loues 4 The mandrakes haue giuen a smell and in our gates are all sweet thinges new and olde I haue kept them for thee 5 O that some woulde giue thee to be as a brother vnto me that sucked the breastes of my mother though I found thee in the streat I woulde kisse thee neither would they dispise me 6 I would lead thee I woulde bring thee into the house of my mother that teacheth me I would cause the to drinke spiced wine yea sweete wine made of my Pomegranate 7 His left hande shoulde be vnder mine
concerning the particular consideration of the church or the regarding of it in some part it is to be waighed either as it is distinguished by occasion of times or of place In respect of times it is distinguished thus that one part is called the old Church and that is it which was before Christes comming the other is named the new and that is that which hath beene reuealed since Christe was manfested in the fleshe he casting downe the partition wall and making of the olde and the newe but one sheepfold See Ephes 2. 14. 15 c. Also Iohn 10. 16. In respect of place thus the Church of Ierusalem the Church of Antioch the Church of Corinthe of Rome c. Now which way soeuer wee consider it as in parte it is indeed Christes Sister euen as if it were the Daughter of one and the selfe same mother But all this is performed and brought to passe thorow the election of God Which teacheth me vz all godlynesse and euerye good thing especiallye in my duetyes towardes thee and how to intreat thee and behaue my selfe towardes thee in all such thinges as maye please and delight thee I woulde cause thee to drincke spiced Wine Shee meaneth such Wine or Wines as we call Ipocras which besides the nature and strength of the Wine it selfe hath by the composition and confection of menne mingling manye Spices with the same great power in it and pleasauntnesse also by the smell of the Spices that as the heart is strengthened and warmed thereby so the sent might bee satisfied with the pleasaunt smell thereof Yea sweete Wine made of my Pomegranate The worde turned heere sweet Wine signifyeth muste or newe Wine yea generallye all moysture which eyther by expressing or treading is fet from anye fruite For it is deriued of a worde that signyfieth to expresse or tread downe but because hee addeth Pomegranates we maye see that he meaneth speciallye the maysture iuyce or liquor that is or maye bee wronge from them In a worde shee meaneth that if shee might indeede bee partaker of him and his graces shee woulde moste comfortablye and ioyfullye intertayne and receiue him For vnder these metaphors taken and borrowed from an earthly banquet shee meaneth nothing els but the spirituall intertainement of him Some thinke these to bee the wordes of the Iewish synagogue wishing for Christes comming and manifestation in the flesh and promsing a meruellous intertainment of him but I extend it more largely that it should be the voyce both of the olde and new Churche wishing the continuall coniunction of Christ her spouse with her that so shee might neuer bee pulled from him which indeede shall bee fully performed in the life that is to come but yet so farre foorth as it is lawful shee desireth to haue it perfourmed in this life that so they maye neuer bee sundred one of them from another that in that holye coniunction also wherein shee cleaueth whollye and altogether to CHRISTE her heade and spouse shee maye freelye and openly serue God without the feare of tyrantes or the infamy and slaunder of worldly men See Luke 1. 74. Neither is this to be taken as contrary to that which was sayde before in the diuision of this chapter touching the church of the Iewes because that the verification of it in thē is no hinderaunce to haue it verified likewise in the church of the Gentiles and so by consequent also in the whole bodye of the Churche and so must we vnderstand that which is in the beginning of the next chapter namely that look what the Gentiles were vnto the Iewes in as much as the Iewes were called befor them the same are they that are of the Churche and are not yet called as in respect of them that are alreadye called but of this matter more in the beginning of the next chapter Vers 7. His left hand should be vnder mine head As before she had set out how she would receiue and entertayne him so now for the strengthening of her selfe in the assured perswasion of his vnfayned loue towardes her shee sheweth howe he woulde comfort her namely that for her ease he woulde put his left hande vnder her heade as men commonly do to sicke and infirme persons And his right hande shoulde imbrace me vz moste comfortably and louingly as dearest friendes do one an other See this whole verse expounded before chap. 2. 6. there beeing no other difference but this namelye that there shee affyrmeth the thing in present action and heere by waighing the earnest loue of Christ towardes her she stirreth vp her hope assuring her selfe that if shee may enioye his comfortable and continuall presence it shall be done indeed Vers 8. I charge you by an othe O yee daughters of Ierusalem vz y t ye molest or grieue not this my head and spouse y t either may hinder our cōming togeather or may break of our comfortable company one from an other and this shee speaketh vnto her handmaydes as it were or friends See this expounded before chapt 2. 7. also chap. 3. 5. Why shoulde yee stirre vp or why should yee awake q. d. there is no reason or cause why you shoulde deale either so vncourteously or malepartly with him specially sith in his rest standeth your own good This my loue y t is he whom I so dearly and tenderly loue Vntill he please y t is till he himselfe will and the Church vseth this as a reason to discourage them from awaking him q. d. Be not carried away with a fond affection thinking that it will be good for you and him that hee should be raysed vp or awaked no no he knoweth what and when it is better for you and him selfe also then you can either think or declare Vers 9. Who is she The church going about to declare the loue shee carried towardes her head and husbande Christe both in this verse and in the first part of it by the way of a demand speak of her self and in the latter part taking vpon her the person of Christ she sheweth what great graces she had receiued from him That commeth out of the wildernes vz of this wide worlde and her owne corruption Leaning vpon her welbeloued She vseth this speech not onely to note her loue towardes him men vsing to leane vppon them whom they like See 2. King 5. 18. but also to set out the strength and comfort shee had from him without whome by reason of their owne weakenesse she had neuer beene able to get out of the wildernesse and all this is spoken by the way of comparison q. d. was there euer anye Bryde that tooke such great paines and vnderwent so many dangers for the obtayning of him whom she loued Take therefore these thinges following as assured testimonies and pledges of my vnfayned good will namelye that I haue laboured to laye aside the olde man denying my selfe the whole world also which somtimes in scripture is called a wildernesse Isay
nothing but that which they haue receiued from him but rather to regard Christs purpose in praysing y r church which is to prouoke her thereby specially sith he taketh delight in her goodnesse more and more to proceed in the same because there is no church so good but it may be still bettered and though they haue proceeded well yet the Lorde hath somewhat to say against them as Reuel 2. 4. 14. c. Secondly that the fulnesse of all good thinges are in Christ and none other and that therefore they doe the church great iniury besides that they deface Christ him selfe that either woulde vtterly spoyle the church of him or mingle others togeather with him Thirdly that the church should neuer cease praysing and magnifiyng her head and spouse Christ in whom shee cannot chuse but see and confesse that there dwelleth the fulnes of all heauenlye graces yea the very Godhead it selfe bodily Collos 2. 9. Verse 16. Teacheth the church that howsoeuer shee her selfe and her particular members feele them selues in reasonable good case as we say as in respect of spirituall graces yea and be so esteemed not onely in their owne and other mens mindes but euen in the verye iudgement and sentence of Christ that yet for all that they cease not still to intreat the Lorde Iesus not onely to continue but to increase all the gyftes and graces of his holy spirite in them and particularly fayth and obedience euen vntill they come to the finishing of their faith and hope which is eternall lyfe at the last thorow Christ Vers 17. Teacheth vs that the prayers of the church made to God in Christes name shall neuer be frustrate or voyd and therfore good cause haue we to bee often yea after a sort as it were contiuall in the same CAP. 5. and the summe thereof The church attributing the departure of christ from her to her owne sinnes declareth her offence and the punishmentes shee had deserued therefore vers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. She craueth the ayde of all the godlye with common consent as it were and ayde to set foorth her affection towards him who in that they might be the better able to know she doth liuely describe him and noteth the place whither he is gone and so at the last strengtheneth her selfe in fayth and hope vers 7. 8. c. to the end of the chapter 1 I Slept but myne hart waketh it is the voyce of my welbeloued that knocketh saying open vnto me my sister my loue my doue my perfect one for my heade is full of dew and my lockes with the drops of the night 2 I aunswered I haue put off from me my coate how should I put it on I haue washed my feet how should I defile them 3 My welbeloued put downe his hand frō the hole and my bowels were moued touching him 4 I rose vp to open to my welbeloued mine hands did drop downe myrrhe and my fingers myrrhe that passed vpon the handles of the locke 5 I opened to my welbeloued but my welbeloued with-drawing him self passed by my soule departed while hee was in speaking I sought him but I could not finde him I called him but he aunswered me not 6 The watchmen that goe about the citie founde me they smote me they wounded me the wathmen of the wals tooke my vaile away from me 7 I charge you O Daughters of Ierusalem if yee find my beloued that yee tell him that I am sicke of loue 8 O thou the fayrest among women what hath thy welbeloued more then another welbeloued what hath thy welbeloued more then an other welbeued that thou dost so charge vs 9 My welbeloued is white and ruddy euen a standerd bearer aboue ten thousand 10 His head is excellent golde yea most pure gold his lockes are curled and blacke as a rauen 11 His eyes are like doues eyes by the riuers of waters washing them selues in milke and remaining by fulnes 12 His cheekes are as a bed of spice as the flowers of spices his lippes are as lilies dropping down pure myrrh 13 His handes as ringes of golde set full of Tarshishe his bellye like the whitenes of Iuory couered with Sapphires 14 His thies are as pillers of marble set vppon sockets of fine gold his countenaunce as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars 15 The roof of his mouth is sweetnesses he himselfe is wholly delectable this is my welbeloued and this is my louer O Daughters of Ierusalem 16 O thou the fayrest among women whither is thy welbeloued gone whither is thy welbeloued turned a side that we may seeke him witb thee 17 My welbeloued is gone down into his garden to the beds of spice to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies 18 I am my welbeloueds and my welbeloued is mine who feedeth among the Lilies HOwsoeuer Christ the Sauiour and head of the Church had shewed him selfe in the laste verse of the former chapter not onely willing to enter into the church but was indeed already entred into the same to receiue the fruite thereof yet the church in this chapter and particularlye in the verye beginning of it declareth that shee was not so readye to intertayne and receiue him as eyther he was to offer him selfe or shee in duty should haue beene which offence of hers she acknowledgeth vnfaignedly commending hir husband Christe with a singuler prayse both to aggrauace her own transgression and also to stirre vp her selfe and others thereby to seeke after him that hath such excellency in him requiring as well aid of them in this behalfe as tendring after a sort helpe from hir selfe to others in that case also Salomon alluding in this chapter to the manner vsed in Commodies and tragedies in which diuers persons are brought in some tarrying some departing doth cheefly propounde vnto vs 2. pointes The first is a lamentable complaint that the Church maketh accusing hereselfe for y e she had not diligently enough performed her duty to her head husband Christ this is contained in the six first verses Wherin also there are two especial matters deliuered vnto vs the first is an open confession of the offence committed Vers 1. 2. 3. 4. and the other a recitall of the myseries that fell vppon her by the meanes of that synne Vers 5. 6. The seconde thing sette forth vnto vs in this chap. is a familiar speeche had betweene the Church and such as were her freendes and welwillers who demanding some questions of her the Churche instructeth them concerning the state dwelling and mutuall fellowship that is betwixte her and Christe her spouse This matter beginning at verse 7. and so holding on to the end of the chapter The questions with the aunsweres thereto touche two thinges the first concerneth the spouse him self vers 8. whereunto there is a large answere ver 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. And the seconde concerneth the place of his aboad the question being contayned
head and his right hand should imbrace me 8 I charge you by an oth O yee daughters of Ierusalem why should yee stirre vp or why should ye awake this my loue vntill he please 9 Who is she that commeth out of the wildernesse leaning vppon her welbeloued Vnder the apple tree I raised thee vp there thy mother conceiued thee there she conceaued that bare thee 10 Set me as a seale on thy hart as a singet vppon thine arme for loue is strong as death iealousie is harde as the graue the coales therof are coales of fire and as a flame from the lord 11 Many waters cannot quench this loue neither can the floudes ouer-flow it if a man woulde giue all the substance of his house for this loue in contemning they would contemne him OUR Sauiour hauing in the former chapter graciously comforted his poore distressed church partlye by giuing her an high and excellent commendation partly by promising her his continuall and gracious presence euen vntill the time of the solemnization of the marriage betweene them be come The church in this chapter sheweth what notable effectes these comfortable wordes of Christe brought foorth in her namelye they did continuallye strengthen her fayth in the truth of those promises and made her euery day more and more in earnestnes and vnfayneones to wish the approching of the mariage day that so they might be inseperably ioyned together for euer Which thing as Christe had done before in the other chapter so doth the church here thereby to let the Lorde as it were vnderstand that there was no want of loue and affection both towardes him and towardes the thinges also that he him selfe affected In this chapter and the next following for in both are principallye contayned the wordes of the church of Christe the church labouring according to her power to render lyke for lyke unto Christ doth set out her most earnest desire towardes that same wished day of their spirituall mariage But in this chapter she doth principally propound two thinges 1 The first is that the church doth generallye declare her good minde towardes Christe her Spouse and this is contayned in the first verse 2 In the second because there are two principall members of this church that is in subiection to Christ that is the fulnes of the Iewes and the fulnes of all the Gentiles as the Apostle sayth Rom. 11. 25. the old church that is to saye specially and principally the church of the Iews doth declare that shee did very earnestlye wayt for her spouse and diligently performe her duties and this reacheth from verse 2. to the ende of the chapter For as for that part of the church which consisteth in the fulnesse of the Gentiles mention is made of it in the next chapter as you shall see by the church of the Iewes Verse 1. I am my welbeloueds that is I do certainelye and assuredlye in the right of affiaunce and mariage belong vnto him q. d. I am no others but his And these are y e churches wordes manifesting what great good the comfortable speeches of Christ mentioned in the other chapter did her and declaring what assurance and certaine perswasion shee had of his holy graces towardes her and in her and of her constauncye and continuaunce in all sounde affection towardes him For his desire is towardes me that is he doth desire me and in this affection most tenderly loue me q. d. There is a mutuall loue betweene vs as I loue him so hee loueth me and as I belong to none but to him alone so hee belongeth to none other but to me onely whereof I haue amongest manye other graces this as a singular pledge that he loued me when I was his enemy that when I was straying awaye he called me backe that hee forgaue mee when I had sinned and did continuallye powre his benefites and mercyes vppon mee yea that he offered and gaue him selfe vnto mee as appeareth by his dealinges in the other chapter and therefore I can not chuse but loue him and belong vnto him alone So that wee see that the Church maketh the testimonies and tokens of Christes fauour sure proppes vnto her owne continuance in good thinges and obedience of his holy will Vers 2. Come my welbeloued Here beginneth the second part of the chapter in which the church but speciallye that of the Iewes which in the dayes of Solomon was in flourishing estate doth by turning her speech vnto Christe whereas in the former verse he had spoken as it were to some others stirre him vp by common affection as well as shee to wayt for and obserue the time of their holy mariage and this is contayned in this and the third verse Secondlye shee yeeldeth vp all the good thinges that shee had to the glorye of her Husbande and head verse 4. yea euen her selfe for the wonderfull loue that shee bare towardes him verse 5. and so on forwarde to the ende of the chapter So that these wordes Come my welbeloued are woordes of exhortation and prouoking as it were taken also from the loue of the church towardes Christ more effectually to perswade the thing she desireth because men willinglye commit them selues to the companye and easelye yeelde to the requestes of suche as they take to bee their vnfayned friendes Let vs goe foorth into the fielde Shee speaketh it after the maner of men inhabiting cityes and hauing their farme houses abroad in the country will walke they and their people to the same for recreation and to see how forwarde the springe is and whether the tyme of Sommer and haruest doe drawe nigh but all this muste bee vnderstoode spirituallye as though the Churche shoulde saye I beseeche thee doe not aloue and by thy selfe imploy thine affection in searching out the wished tyme of oure marriage as thou seemest to saye before chapter 6. 8. but let vs both togeather imploye our common diligence thereto for I likewyse desyre to haue that Marriage daye drawe yeare and the thinge it selfe perfourmed also Neither muste this exhorting of CHRISTE bee vnderstoode eyther as though hee were of himselfe vnwilling to it or needed the prouocations of the Churche for wee knowe hee is moste ready to all good thinges yea and stirreth vp the church to the dooing of the same or else they would neuer be performed but the churche requesteth it for euer for the strengthning and incouragement of her selfe thereby that so hauing his continuall presence and felllowship she may the more cheerfully go forward Let vs remaine in the Villages This part of the verse is diuersely reade by reason of the diuers significations of the words vsed therein as that worde which we turne remaine signifieth also to lodge all night which acception of the word I rather incline to in this place bicause the church seemeth to exhorte to it as it were of this purpose that so the next morning they mighte bee more ready to looke vpon