of God the spouse vnto euery faithfull soule and generally vnto al the Church Neither are we to look for any precise order in this dialogue or cōmunication which is not vsuall amongst perfect louers where all things how soeuer and where soeuer done are taken in very good part where euen errors ignorances and mistakes are accepted of and laught at and where quarrels contentions strife anger and blowes also many times are heard of approued and in most friendly sort admitted And in this booke there be foure sundry sorts of persons to be obserued of vs. The bridegrome and the friends of the bridegrome the spouse and her young damsels or waiting maides and as the bride saith one thing and the bridegrome another so the young virgins that waite on the spouse and the friends of the bridegrome are brought in speaking contrarie and diuerse things yet all of them betokening godly kind affections Now by the bridegrome we may as we have before declared vnto you vnderstand Christ by the spouse the Church by the friends of the bridegrome the Preachers of the Gospell such as shew vs the way vnto Christ and direct vs vnto his eternall marriage and heauenly banquet The young virgins are the faithfull soules which do alwayes accompany the Spouse and we must note that the Spouse doth alwayes long to bee in the house bed or other secret and inward place with her welbeloued according vnto the custome of women and the bridegrome after the manner of men calleth the Spouse foorth into the vineyeard or abroad into the fields or vnto some such places because so it is and it is most true that the Church of it selfe would willingly if so be that it were possible bring vp her children in quiet rest and tranquility but he on the other side thinketh it good to exercise her with many tribulations and persecutions to the ende that she may the better come vnto the consideration of eternall things and also that if matters do happen well and happily yet that amiddest her prosperity she may not bee too far delighted with the pleasures and entising baits of this present world but alwayes hope and grone after an heauenly countrey Thus endeth the preface the Commentarie followeth The first Chapter of the Canticles 1 Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy loue is better then wine 2 Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is as an ointmēt powred out therfore the virgins loue thee 3 Draw me we will run after thee the king hath brought me into his chambers we will reioyce and be glad in thee we will remember thy loue more then wine the righteous do loue thee The Commentarie THe wordes of the Spouse are these Let him kisse me Where first of all we must consider what is the meaning of these kissinges which the Church doth so earnestly desire and long after A kisse is a testimonie of friendship loue and goodwill therfore the Church desireth a kisse of our Sauior that is as much as to say to purchase and obtaine his friendship loue and goodwill Her request is then that her sinnes may be forgiuen her and that she may reobtaine the fauor of God by him she confesseth her sinnes vnto God crauing pardon for the same and she calleth for the Gospell because she would faine heare the comfortable and pleasant voyce of remission of sinnes pronounced through Iesus Christ and the spouse requesteth the amiable kisses of the bridegromes owne mouth to shew testify the great desire which she had to heare Christ alone and no other speake to make knowne the vehemencie of her goodwill towards him For it had bene sufficient to haue said Let him kisse me but the loue of faith holy delight of the soule made her adde these wordes with the kisses of his mouth as if she shold haue said The greatest thing that I can wish for in this world is to obtaine the loue fauor of God which I see I can not obtain by any other but by thee my Sauior Christ For I know this and am most certainly perswaded of it that I shall neuer be able to cōpasse my saluatiō by the merits of my works but by thee alone when it shall please thee to vouchsafe me the benefite of thy sweete kisses that is to say of thy grace and loues For thy loue is better thē wine Here the spouse yeeldeth a reason why she wold so willingly be kissed of him because his loue is better thē any precious thing whatsoeuer which she expresseth by wine Where by the way we must note that by his loue is meant the doctrine of the Gospell and the graces which the bridegroome brought into the world with him especially if we consider howe much this doctrin which so proceedeth from the loue of the spouse is better then that wherewith she was sustained and comforted before the coming of the bridegrome and therefore seeing the abundant grace goodwil of this her bridegroome towards her she breaketh forth into these words Thy loue is better then wine that is to say aboue that doctrine wherewith she was comforted of the auncient fathers so that this is the sense of the whole verse I desire the kisses of thy mouth that is I looke for my redemption at thy hands because thy precepts and instructions are milke and food to nourish me vp vnto eternall life and they are better then the Law which strikes vs downe to the ground with remembrance of our sinnes and aboue all other doctrines which do not strengthen but kill the simple and weake ones as wine which either killeth young children or else maketh them drunke Thus then the Church being inflamed as the spouse towardes her bridegroome crieth out continually Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth That is to say let the Bridegroome himselfe come to teach and instruct to saue and deliuer mee neither let him teach me any longer by the mouth of the Patriarkes and Prophets but let him come himselfe to informe mee with the words of his own mouth and so be content to receiue the kisse of my mouth that is let him not despise mee or turne away his face from me seeking asking after the way of saluation And this was then fulfilled as we do verily beleeue when sitting on the mountaine he taught his disciples whē speaking as the Bridegrome is woont to do vnto the spouse he said Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdō of god many other things which follow there in the same chapter Here he gaue the Spouse his Church a kisse and opening his mouth promised vnto his Apostles that is to say vnto his spouse the Church the ioyes of the kingdom of heauen Here I say the Bridegroome sheweth his loue towards his spouse better thē wine that is to say then the doctrine of the Lawe or any other doctrine because the very instructions of the new
testament do make all those which shall be borne againe of water and of the spirit fit for eternal life which the Law was not able to bring to passe The words of the Spouse vnto the Bridegroome 2 Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is as an ointment powred out therefore the virgins loue thee Because of the sauour of thy good c. What is that thou sayest ô dearest Spouse of the name of thy Bridegroome and welbeloued That it is like vnto an odoriferous ointmeÌ„t poured forth which being preached published abroad throughout the whole world doth yeeld a most sweet sauour in the elect of God and last of all because this Bridegroome doth most entirelie loue vs shew his mercy towards vs to the end that hee might take the Church to be his spouse and make his great name knowne abroad which is coÌ„moÌ„ vnto him with the father the holie Ghost he tooke flesh vpon him because the spouse shold run vnto him with greater coÌ„fidencie boldnesse for help succour This spouse looked for his comming a long time in the end he came and at the presence and voice of the Bridegroome she reioyced that he desceÌ„ded that she might asceÌ„d she did run in faith behind him to be partaker of his ointmentes for afterwards when the eternall Bridegroome of the Church was made flesh as the ointment of his name was spread abroad and powred out throughout the world the young virgins that is to say the soules of the elect did find the sent therof to be exceeding pleasant and sweet the holy Ghost so working and bringing it to passe and foorthwith they were delighted with the bridegrome and beleeued in him whom after the maner of married women they do loue most entirely and syncerely and by the sweete smelling ointments are to bee vnderstood the wholsome gifts of the holie Ghost whence come these hot and zealous words of faith hope and charitie and these yong damsels which I told you before were the soules of the elect renued and regenerated in Christ the filthinesse of the olde man being put away inflamed with these three vertues or gifts of God as I called them do loue and imbrace this welbeloued bridegrome perceiuing that by him and through his meanes they haue obtained full remission and pardon for all their sinnes and purchased vnto themselues these giftes of the holy Ghost whence come these words The loue of God is spread abroad in our hearts by the meanes of the holie Ghost which is giuen vnto them The spouseth speaketh vnto the bridegrome after this maner 3 Draw me we will run after thee the king hath brought me into his chambers we will reioice and bee glad in thee we will remember thy loue more then wine the righteous do loue thee Draw me The Church of the faithful crieth out and saith ô good God draw me vnto thee by the grace of thy election to the end that after we haue a litle smelled felt this sweet odour wee may be fully vnited vnto thee And thus both the spouse and her maidens being allured with the wonderfull pleasant odour of the bridegroms ointmeÌ„ts do runne after him whom they loue this word to draw signifieth a kind of violence or force as if a man were to be haled with ropes out of some deepe pit for the spouse as long as she liueth in this world hath the flesh which resisteth God drawing but God which draweth her is able to ouercome it therfore the spouse when she is drawne desireth him that hee would neuer cease to draw and to pul her vnto him knowing full wel that otherwise she shold waÌ„t of her rock streÌ„gth because indeed he that is not drawen perisheth the holy ghost testifying thus much that no man coÌ„meth vnto the father vnles the father draw him We will run after thee So then the soules of the elect so made by faith and the virgins and damsels of the spouse whose mindes are vndefiled and vnspotted do say vnto the bridegrome we will run after thee As who would say the sauour of thy ointments doth so forcibly draw vs vnto thee although the flesh be vnwilling refuse to run after thee with the spouse that wee cannot chuse but do whatsoeuer thou commandest vs for thy spirit maketh all things seeme they neuer so hard vnpossible possible pleasant and easie to be borne The words of the spouse vnto the young virgins The king hath brought me in Christ heareth the petition of the spouse graunteth her request and draweth her after him he bringeth her into his chambers that is into quiet places such as are true peace quietnesse and securitie of Christian iustice inward ioyes of the kingdome of heauen and in these chaÌ„bers are hidden the secrets of God that is to say the truth of his word And in these chaÌ„bers or closets of the kingdome of God the church is to coÌ„sider those hiddeÌ„ things which neither eye hath seene nor eare heard nor hath entred at anie time into the heart of man that is which cannot be comprehended by any sence of flesh because the peace therof passeth all vnderstanding and the spouse speaketh vnto the yong virgins that is the Church of Christ speaketh vnto her faithful which are regenerated in Christ and so indeed we ought all of vs humbly to beseech our bridegrome Christ that it would pleasâ— him to help and succour vs running after him for succour help by reaching out him hand vnto vs keeping vs from falling Because that vnlesse he put to his helping hand we are not able to stand vp vpoÌ„ our feet much lesse to run about And finally the yong mâ—â— being admitted into the rest and quietnes oâ— the aforenamed chaÌ„bers do speake after this maner of wise vnto the bridegrome We wiâ— reioyce be glad in thee As if they should haue said We desire to reioyce and be glad in thee alone and in no other furthermore they ad these words We will remember thy loue more then wine that is to say to the end that we may truly reioyce and that our ioy may not be a vaine or transitorie ioy we will remember thy louing kindnesse amiable comforts vnto vs ward that is we will call to mind how for our sakes miserable mortall men thou tookest flesh sufferedst for our saluation and last of al because they promise to approch neere vnto their only bridegrome Christ they commend praise him brieflie saying the righteous shall loue thee The wicked praise extoll wicked things neither can any thing please them but that which reseÌ„bleth the filthy cogitatioÌ„s of their wicked hearts therfore it is no praise but rather a great dispraise disgrace to be commeÌ„ded of the wicked but to be slaundered backbited of theÌ„ it is the greatest praise and coÌ„mendation in the world Therfore it is for the credit of the bridegrome that he is
eternall perfection and neuer misse of it I my selfe was as carefull as any woman in the world could be to find it and I was cōtent to endure any thing so I might attaine vnto it I asked for her many times and oft I did fast and pray watch and torment my body for the want of her but shee was not to be found any where but vnder the shadowe of thy wings which I so much desire And hence it is that she saith that he is so among all the sons as a fruitfull appletree is among all the trees of the wood Drawe neare therfore and approch vnto this happie blessed and most sweet shadow and vnder it you shall be sure to obtaine perfect peace rest although it be in the middest of tribulations aduersities because our husband Christ is our only appletree or tree of life which bringeth forth fruite of eternall life that is true vertues and holy workes in all those which lie vnder the shadow of it expecting the fulnesse of time when they shall receiue of the fulnesse of his liberalitie the apples which he shall command them to take of Gods benefits and graces that they may bee food vnto them of euerlasting and happy life The Text. 4 He brought me into the wine celler and loue was his banner ouer me 5 Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sicke of loue 6 His left hand is vnder mine head his right hand doth imbrace me 7 I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalē by the roes and by the hindes of the field that ye stirre not vp nor waken my loue vntill she please 8 It is the voice of my welbeloued behold he commeth leaping by the mountains and skipping by the hilles 9 My welbeloued is like a roe or a yong hart Lo he stādeth behind our wall looking forth of the windowes shewing himselfe through the grates The Commentarie He did not onely bring me vnto this tree of life true felicity which yeeldeth vs a defence frō the heat of the Sun also pleasant fruit but furthermore he brought vs into the wine celler by this wine is meant the word of God the houses or cellers which contain this wine are the holy books of both the old new testaments where Christ bringeth the Church as into a celler when he informs her in the right vnderstanding of the Scriptures Wherefore after that the spouse had once tasted of the pleasant drinke of euerlasting truth and therewith comforted and cheered vp her selfe in the spirit presently she declareth the benefits of her husband vnto her maydens and young virgins because she would inuite thē by litle litle vnto the loue of him and so cause them to run after him and she saith The king brought me in as if she should haue said His wine is so pleasant and good that I would willingly haue you brought into his cellers to tast of the goodnes therof and she continueth her old vaine of setting forth her husbands glory saying thus And loue was his banner ouer me What banner was that which was lifted vp ouer him the banner of loue Well then loue is the banner which draweth all thinges after her with her wonderfull and strange giftes of insinuation and allurement Christ continually commendeth vnto his Church the gift of loue and charity in such sort that he cannot with greater tokens of kindnesse testifie his loue and kindnesse to vs wards The spouse speaketh vnto her damsels Stay me with flagōs cōfort me with apples for I am sick of loue You see how effectuall how precious admirable is the banner of Christ that as soone as euer the spouse sawe it her heart was inflamed within her she cōstrained to breake forth into these words saying for I am sicke of loue And why shouldst thou be sick ô thou welbeloued spouse Is it for the want of the glorious presence of thy husbād that thou doest so torment and vexe thy self why doest thou crie out vnto the yong maidens that is to say vnto the faithfull what wouldest thou haue them to do for thee why callest thou vnto them biddest them stay thee vp with flagons and comfort thee with apples Surely by the flagōs of wine we must vnderstand the faithful and by the apples the holy Ghost or the wordes and operations of Christ And it commeth all to one passe as if she should haue sayd I am growne so impatient in striuing to shew forth my exceeding great loue vnto my best beloued Christ that I had need to be stayed vp and strengthened with the sweet smelles wine that is to say with the comfortable words of the faithfull and with the holie spirit of the Bridegrome abounding in them vnto all maner of perfection increase of faith therfore I do long to be cōforted with the delicate apples of the spirituall pleasures delights of his heauenly promises His left hand is vnder mine head his right hand doth imbrace me that is to say my request is vnto my husbād that he wold comfort me in this present world with the word of God least happily I may take occasion through the consideration conscience of my sins to fall into desperation I desire to haue him imbrace me with the clear sight and fruition of his bounty that he would preserue and deliuer me being now in this vale of miseries from all maner of sinne and daunger of dispaire or diffidencie at all and that it may please my husband to bestow vpon me the graces and gifts of the mind or otherwise confirme them in me with his glory perpetuall loue By the right hand of God is signified prosperitie by the left aduersitie and these are called the two hands of the Bridegrome because he worketh effecteth al things by thē The spouse hath the left hād of Christ but vnder her head that is to say vnder Christ by whose will and commādement they most willingly suffer endure all maner of crosses troubles or persecutions whatsoeuer For she knoweth this most certainlie that not an haire of her head shall fall to the ground or that she shall suffer any bitterne◠of griefe in the world vnlesse the Bridegrom◠will And furthermore that this left hand cannot alwaies be vnder her head although the fruites and effects thereof to wit true riches and godly glorie shall endure and continue for euer Besides all this she is most certainly perswaded that her happy daies which God holdeth in his right hand shall neue◠cease for as the Psalmist saith In thy presence is the fulnes of ioy at thy right han◠are pleasures for euermore And truly if i◠were so that Gold should holde his left han◠only vnder our heads as we haue shewed yo◠before we shold soon be brought to nough◠and neuer be able to come vnto the euerlasting pleasures in his right hand Gods left hand is said to be
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
the liuely words of the holy scripture which do pearce euen to the soule and the thousand bucklers or targets are the hoped for helpes and succours of Gods diuine prouidence by the which he doth so much sustaine and releeue his seruants that it is not possible that they should bee ouercome or ouerthrowne Thy two breasts Finally because hee meaneth not to proceed so far in this place as to speak of her girdle after he had spoken of her head and neck he addresseth himselfe to say somwhat in commendations of her two breastes wherby is meant the doctrine of both the old and new testament then the which there can bee nothing imagined more pleasant more amiable or more profitable and he likeneth them to two young roes because as they do lightly leape and skip vp and downe so the doctrine of both the old and newe testament is spread abroad throughout the face of the whole world their feeding is said to be among the lillies wherby are signified the faithfull amongst whom there is alwaies abiding the loue charity of the Church which feedeth that is to say recreateth her this loue doth remaine for euer in her full state perfection among the faithfull But what is the food wherewith she feedeth thē It is the food of the spirit and word of God for because the Church doth alwaies feed on that food which shall make her strong to perseuer and continue out vnto the end Moreouer the faithfull people of God are fed and nourished with faith and loue of the Church but howe long are they fed after this sort vntill the day breake that is to say to the end of the world and that the shadowes of errors mens inuentions and all the workes of darknesse do flie away And Christ may rightly then bee sayd to come vnto vs when he helps vs and to go away from vs when he takes all hope of help and succour from vs. Now the spouse as long as she is in this world is not without tribulations and crosses and doubtlesse she would soone perish and come to nought if Christ shold not come to her to comfort strengthen her with the power of his spirit and therfore the Bridegrome speaketh vnto the Church as if he did speake vnto a third person saying I will go into the mountaine that is to say I will indeed helpe thee which arta mountain of mirrhe a hill of incense that is to say so full of my sweete ointments as a mountaine of incense and mirrhe Thou art all faire my loue there is no spot in thee Thou art c. He commeth then and slacketh not to come vnto his welbeloued spouse for he is no lyer to say that he will come and not to come he saith thou art all faire there is no spot in thee How faire how without spot or blemish by the bountifull and beautiful presence of the immaculate son of God and for the sweet smell of his ointmēt wherwith he hath perfumed vs and hence it is that the Church is called a mountaine of mirrhe a mountain of incense because that she albeit in her self and of her selfe she is most miserably foule black as any blackamore can be yet notwithstanding in her bridegrome Christ most amiable admirable faire pure without spot in Christ because he wipes away all her spots blots by forgiuing her her sins and imputing them no longer vnto her The Text. 8 Come with me frō Lebanon my spouse euen with me from Lebanon and looke from the top of Amanak from the top of Shenir and Hermon from the dennes of the Lyons and from the mountaines of the Leopardes 9 My sister my spouse thou hast wounded mine heart thou hast wounded mine heart with one of thine eyes and with a chaine of thy necke 10 My sister my spouse how faire is thy loue how much better is thy loue then wine and the sauour of thine ointments then all spices 11 Thy lippes my spouse drop as honey-combes honey and milke are vnder thy tongue and the sauor of thy garmentes is as the savour of Lebanon The Commentarie Here in this place we are to consider thus much that by the foure hilles of Israell is to be vnderstood the vocation of the Church of the Gentils vnto Christ her husbād which is called that she may not dwel any longer with Lyons Leopards but may be freed frō the power of thē that is to say that her body may not bee torne in peeces with the cruelty of bloudy tyrants or distracted by the diuersity variety of wicked sects but that she being reduced brought from heresie errour to the true vnderstāding of the faith may make one true Catholike Church of all the elect which are gathered assembled together of all nations tongues and kingdomes of the earth as who would say This my beautifull spouse flyeth vnto me for refuge not only from Libanus but from all the corners and quarters of the earth eschuing the subtilties of Sathan and treacheries of false teachers and heretikes such as they haue meditated and thought vpon lying on their beds to destroy and annoy the Church And in that he saith that his heart was wounded wee are to note the greatnesse of his loue which he beareth towards the Church which he for good cause calleth his sister and spouse first because shee is become his heauenly bedfellow partaker of the benefit of his celestial bed and secondly because hee vouchsafed to take flesh and put on mans nature vpō him that he might be our naturall brother The eyes of the Spouse are the iudgements proceedings of the holy Ghost the necke is faith and the chaines about the necke the workes that are done in faith Againe the spouse hath two eies whilest she liueth in the flesh to wit the iudgemēt of the spirit the iudgmēt of the flesh the first pleaseth Christ greatlie the secōd displeaseth him as much as the former pleaseth him because it is cōtrary to the former which the church shal be quite cleane freed frō when mortifying the old man she runneth vnto the tabernacle of the bodie by death Furthermore she is said to haue two chains about her neck the one a chain of hypocrisie that is to say of seming good works that issue forth frō faith one of these chaines the bridegrome loueth and the other he hateth to the death because it is a sinfull chain wherefore he saith thou hast wounded mine heart with one of thine eyes that is to say with the iudgemēt and vnderstanding of the holy Ghost and with one of thy chaynes that is to say with the workes which come from faith hast thou wounded mine heart that is to say thou hast done things very gratefull and acceptable vnto me and hee repeateth these words of wounding of his heart twise to make knowne and declare the singular great loue which Christ beareth towardes his Church
And these loues are better then wine because neither wine nor any other outward thing can be more pleasant or acceptable thē the workes of Christian charitie And finally the sauour of thine oyntments is better then all spices because the Church is made partaker of Christs ointments which yeeld foorth a farre more precious gracious and louing smel then the smell of any outward vnguent or any thing else whatsoeuer Thy lippes my spouse droppe honycombes hony and milke are vnder thy tongue and the sauour of thy garmēts is as the sauour of Lebanon Thy lips The lips of the church are euer like honycombs dropping but what do they drop or distill milke and hony which is vnder their tongues By which words we are to note the hony sweet and milke white vnspotted words of God These words may be said to drop from the mouth of the chast spouse whiles she deliuereth them vnto her neighbours they flow from her most easily and fluently which is signified by these words in that they are said to be vnder her tonge Indeed she is indewed with her husband Christs spirit by meanes whereof she both perfectly knoweth and easily pronounceth all things because it is a generall rule the more perfectly we know a thing the more ready shall we be able to vtter and pronounce the same And it followeth in the text and the savour of thy garments is as the sauour of Lebanon What garments are these which the Church weareth vnlesse it be these wherewith shee which is Christs most sacred body is couered and apparelled withall and these are the garments indeede wherwith the grace of Christ his iustice spirit truth peace and all those good gifts and graces which do accompany them are greatly glorified The sent smell of these things is wonderfull strong and strange for it is as the sauour of the hill of Lebanon or of many odoriferous trees and yet neuerthelesse the garmēts of the spouse are more odoriferous and well smelling then all these things But it is God alone and his Christ the Angels and elect which do smell the odor thereof are delighted therwith because it is not possible at all for them to please either God or man which haue not receiued of the fulnesse of Christs spirit The text 12 My sister my spouse is as a garden inclosed as a spring shut vp and a fountaine sealed vp 13 Thy plants are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweete fruits as camphire spikenard 14 Euen spikenard and saffron calamus and cinnamon with all the trees of incense myrrhe and aloes with all the chiefe spices 15 O fountaine of the gardens ô well of liuing waters and the springs of Lebanon 16 Arise ô North and come ô South and blow on my gardē that the spices therof may flow out let my wel beloued come to his garden and eat his pleasant fruit The Commentarie The Bridegrome in this first verse commendeth the spouse for abounding in all manner of fruit of good workes and he vseth the similitude very fitly of a garden which because it may the better bring forth herbes trees spices and all sorts of fruits men do vse to set a hedge round about it to keepe out cattle from hurting of it and last of all it is watered with wholesome sound and vnpoysoned waters and euen so for all the world is it with the Church What booteth it then for the Church to be neuer so fertile and fruitfull in good workes vnlesse God preserue and keepe it with a fatherly prouidence and care setting as it were a hedge round about it vnlesse he water it with the water of life and shadow or refresh it with the comfortable gifts and graces of the holy Ghost and therefore it is said as a spring shut vp and a fountaine sealed vp because it is confirmed and strengthened with the protection of the Almightie as also for an other reason because it is not lawfull for vs either to adde or diminish any thing from the fountaine of the Gospell because it must not be infected with the puddle of mens filthy doctrines or wicked constitutions Thy plantes are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweet fruits as camphire spikenard Thy plants That is to say the fruits of good workes which follow the planting of faith are as deare vnto me as a garden and as pleasant vnto me as any orchard can be in the world and thus by the varietie of costly spices and odoriferous trees of a paradise that is to say of a wide orchard or delectable garden wee are to learne that the elect although distinguished by degrees and persons yet are they notwithstanding all of them within one paradise that is to say within the odoriferous and pleasant trees of the Church which abound in most precious and sweet plants of the elect and faithfull ones and euery tree that is to say euery one which is not planted in this pleasant Eden or garden bringeth forth poysoned and corrupted fruit And to conclude there is no good herbe or fruit growing in the world out of this garden and contrariwise all that groweth here is wholesome pleasant and a fruit to be desired The words of the Bride vnto the Bridegrome O fountaine of the gardens ô well of lyuing waters and the springs of Lebanon O fountains This sentence appeareth to be an exclamatorie sentence of the spouse breaking foorth into the prayse of her husband for all the good things which she hath receiued of him as if shee should haue said in other wordes Thou ô my gracious and louing spouse art the cause of all my good the fountaine of eternall life all our gardens had neede to be watered with this liuely water thou art the well-spring of all heauenly graces from whō all good things are powred downe vppon vs in most plentifull sort thou art the conduit which conuayest these wholesome waters vnto thy Church which is Lebanon For as Lebanon is full of odoriferous plantings of the faithfull so the particular Churches may be called small orchards and pettie-gardens of the great paradise of the Church and there is but one fountaine of liuely water which runneth thorough out all the gardens of Lebanon that is to say there is but one fountaine of grace and truth namely the holy Ghost wherewithall the seuerall congregations of the faithfull must be watered and refreshed So then the fountaine of the gardens that is to say of the particular Churches and congregations is nothing else but the fountaine of the Catholike and Vniuersall Church because it is in her first and from thence deriued vnto all the rest Arise ô North and come ô South and blow on my garden that the spices thereof may flow out let my welbeloued come to his garden and eate his pleasant fruit Arise ô North. The spouse inuocateth the succour helpe of the holy Ghost by whose inspiration her young and tender plants may as well in aduersitie as in prosperitie flourish increase
rough and filthie barke because shee is yet a sinner hauing not crucified the olde man but being alwayes subiect vnto aduersities stormes and troubles aboue on the toppe of the tree that is to say in Christ the head of the Church there bee manie fine heights and breadthes and workes of charitie stooping euerie way vnto the necessities infirmities of her neighbours and brethren here are to be gathered most sweet and pleasant fruits because there is nothing more pleasant and sweete then the loue of the Church and as it is said the Church is the palmetree which our sauiour Christ went vp into when hee powred downe his heauenly graces from heauen Againe hee went vp this palme-tree when more particularlie hee reuealed vnto his faithfull the knowledge of his maiestie And hee tooke hold of the boughs therof that by touching of him he might giue them some influence and cause them more and more for to prosper and encrease The breasts of the Church are compared likened vnto the clusters of the vine because as there are many stones in a cluster of grapes so true and perfect charitie is not idle but bringeth foorth many godly workes The last commmendation which hee giueth of the spouse is of the roofe of her mouth which is the taste and feeling of Gods spirite which is like the best wine because it is most pleasant in taste comfortable to the mind and without any mixtion or infusion of anie strange liquor maketh a man drunken after a most profitable and wholesome kinde of sort The Text. 10 I am my welbeloueds and his desire is towards me 11 Come my welbeloued let vs goe foorth into the field let vs remaine in the villages 12 Let vs get vp early to the vines let vs see if the vine flourish whether it hath budded the small grape or whether the pomegranates flourish there will I giue thee my loue 13 The mandrakes haue giuen a smell and in our gates are all sweet things new and old my vvelbeloued I haue kept them for thee The Commentarie The wordes of the Spouse vnto the Bridegroome These are the wordes of the spouse directed vnto the Bridegroome containing thus much in effect As long as I endeuour studie to please thee so long I may perswade my selfe most assuredlie that I shall want nothing And furthermore that hee will loue embrace me as his most deare spouse and louing married wife according vnto the holy and godly lawes of matrimonie because my desire shall bee towardes him Come my welbeloued let vs go foorth into the field let vs remaine in the villages Fieldes vines and villages are out of the towne within the towne hurres sturres tumults abroad a man may finde rest and quietnesse but at home that is within Gods Citie to wit the Church we are to looke for nothing but stirres and tumultes either whiles she is tossed vp and downe and vexed with the care of prouiding thinges necessarie for the welfare of the Church or in making continuall warre and fight with olde Adam and the wicked and shee is saide to goe foorth when shee is deliuered and freed out of the handes of them or when she can be most willing and content to suffer and endure all manner of rebukes for the testimonie of a good conscience or for Christs sake reposing all her trust and confidence in God and vtterly distrusting her owne workes or merits Afterwards she may bee trulie sayd to remaine in the villages when she hath the benefite of Christs peace Earlie in the morning that is to say when she is illuminated and lightened thereunto by Christ because all thinges must be done in his name and in his name we are to seeke for the flower of true faith And the grapes which are not yet fully ripe are the works and deeds of faith which are saide to be greene vnripe or somewhat sower because as long as wee liue here in this wicked world and carrie about vs this frayle and brittle flesh there remayneth some dregges of imperfection in vs. And furthermore it is sayd that they went to see whether the Pomegranates did flourish that is to say they did seeke and inquire after many good workes done in good and orderly sort likewise we may vnderstand hereby the well ordered and gouerned congregations of the faithfull which are red with charitie and this is the onely order and method to be obserued of vs in gouerning and guiding the works of the Church that all thinges be done and ordered according vnto the prescribed rule and Canon of Gods word for otherwise howe can they be said to be ordered at all The violets haue giuen a smell and in our gates are all sweete thinges new and olde my welbeloued I haue kept them for thee So then the Spouse goeth vnto the villages with Christ that is to say by his meanes shee commeth vnto the full fruition of true rest and tranquilitie because the violets which do most commonly growe abroad in the fieldes are taken for the faithful whose place and habitation is in the fields that is to say in peace because as they are sometimes oppressed with the tumultes of the Citie that is to say assaulted with diuerse and grieuous temptations so at another time they enioy such rest of minde and peace of conscience that they seeme to haue arriued at the hauen of all happinesse and to be safely brought vnto the pleasures and delights of the countrie It followeth And in our gates are all sweet thinges to wit in the gates of our villages which are these iustice righteousnesse hope the grace of God wisedome a cleane heart and a pure vnderstāding because the faithful do remaine and dwell in these villages most peaceably and securely and the gates of these villages or towres are these faith and trueth together with the feare of God which is the beginning of wisedome and these are for the most part common with Christ and the spouse and therfore he calleth them our gates Round about these gates and villages there is great plentie of good workes growing which are to bee reaped when the haruest and seasonable time of charitie commeth The eight Chapter 1 O that thou vverest as my brother that sucked the breast of my mother I vvould finde thee vvithout I vvoulde kisse thee then they should not despise thee 2 I vvill leade thee and bring thee into my mothers house there thou shalt teach me and I vvill cause thee to drinke spiced vvine and new vvine of the pomegranate 3 His left hand shall bee vnder mine head and his right shall embrace me 4 I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalem that ye stirre not vp nor vvaken my loue vntill she please The Commentarie The wordes of the Spouse vnto the Bridegroome OH that thou werest as my brother c. Christ is as it were a brother vnto those that are of the congregation of the faithful as hee saith in the third chap of Mark.