godly and therfore no maruell if they haue compassion on her and call vnto her not to disease or disquiet her selfe by putting her selfe to much trouble and sorrow but that she would rest a while from her labors and returne vnto the comfortable places of the holy scriptures to the end that out of the scripture they may learne see what things are to be done with ease and quietnesse and what with care and trouble And briefely this is that which the young virgines desire and couet for to know what the Church of God is and where it is in time of prosperitie and aduersitie and this is a thing most studiously to be obserued and noted that without the knowledge of the Church we cannot well attaine vnto the knowledge of Christ and they are so fast linked bound together that if you know one you may easily know to other The seuenth Chapter 1 How beautifull are thy goings with shoes ô Princes daughter the ioyntes of thy thighes are like iewels the worke of the hand of a cunning workeman 2 Thy nauell is as a round cup that wanteth not licour thy belly is as an heape of wheat compassed about with lillies 3 Thy two breasts are as tvvo young Roes that are tvvins The Commentarie The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride HE beginneth here in this place as it is manifest by the sequell therof to praise and command the Church whom he cannot chuse but loue as being his only deare spouse and his meaning and purpose is to say and shew no more then Isaiah saith in his 52. cha Nahum 1. and Rom. 10. How beautifull are the feet of thē that declare publish peace that bring good tydings publish saluatiō And the Church of God the true spouse of God is she which doth truely preach these good tydings because she alone declareth vnto vs the worde of God whereunto we must leane and these goings are said to be beautifull with shoes which words are spoken by way of similitude to shew instruct vs that as those which will go any farre iorney must be well shod so the professors and ministers of the Gospell which are to go a farre iorney to preach the Gospell throughout the whole world must be most readie to declare the truth vnto all men and verily they may be then said to be readie and neuer before when they do teach his word faithfully and sincerely So then beautifull are the goings of the. Church with shoes because when she is sent of God she is most willing and ready to declare vnto all men the words of saluation and thus you may see how Christ commendeth his owne good gifts in the Church and that before the young virgins to wit the soules of the faithfull because he would haue vs all to knowe what manner of thing the Church is and I doubt not but that it so commeth to passe by the singular prouidence and wisedome of God that there are so many places in this book of the Canticles where the Church commendeth Christ and is againe commended of him because we should know what a necessarie point of doctrine this is to be repeated and ingeminated in the eares of the faithfull seeing that the ignorance and want thereof hath almost seduced and beguiled the whole world In the second place he prayseth the Church for her vnspotted fruitfulnesse because her thighes signifie the power and vertue of bringing foorth others by the word being like vnto precious iewels and hereby is meant the diuine gifts of the holy Ghost which do adorne beautifie and make fertile the soules of the faithfull And be saith that they are the worke of a cunning workman because they are the workes of almightie God the most ingenious and cunning workemaister that euer was who hath all power and vertue to doe whatsoeuer him listeth who powreth his graces downe vppon vs which make vs to bee farre more excellent and pure then wee were before and without whose helpe we cannot doe any thing at all thy nauell is as a round cup that wanteth not licour thy bellie is as an heape of wheat compassed about with lillies Thy nauell what is this round bason or cup but the doctrine of the Gospell which neuer wanteth the licour of Gods spirit which is still put into it And here by the way we are to consider of how litle estimation the faithfull are at the first time when they are borne vnlesse they be recreated and refreshed with the liuely licour of Gods worde which when they haue once tasted they shall neuer need any more moysture hauing the continuall dew of Gods spirit whereby they are enabled and made powerfull to multiply and beget other sonnes vnto their husbande and the seede whereby they do conceiue and bring forth is the worde of God and then this is the exposition of these words To the end that thou sholdest beget children vnto me there needeth no carnall imbracings or copulation as in the generation of mens bodies because that when thou wert first affianced and betrothed vnto me by faith thou diddest receiue the spirit and giftes of the holy Ghost whereby thou mayest be able to conceaue and bring foorth children vnto God Faith and vnfained charitie is the copulation which is requisite in the procreation of these spirituall children and therefore there needeth no outward seede of the flesh because wee haue the seede of Gods word which is most effectuall to the conceiuing and bringing foorth of the fruites of good workes and this wonderfull strāge and pure kind of fertilitie is yet made more plaine by these words following thy bellie is as an heape of wheat compassed about with lillies Thy belly As if he should haue saide euen as in a heape of wheat there are many graines of corne so within thy fertile wombe there are contayned many multitudes of those which thou hast conceiued for mee and because thou art full or heauenly blessings no doubt of it but thou wilt bring them foorth in their due time and season and she conceaueth these blessings when she beleeueth but bringeth them foorth when they are done in faith and this belly is compassed about with lillies by the lillies we may vnderstand the faithfull because the wombe of the Church is wholly compassed about with the lillie-white innocencie of the faithfull thy two breasts are as two young Roes that are twins thy two the two breasts in this place signifie the old Testament and the New the doctrine of the Prophets and the doctrine of the Apostles which may bee very well compared vnto young Roes either for their puritie and whitenesse or else because they do runne about the whole world as the young Goates doe leape and skippe about the hilles and for the farther exposition of this place wee must entreate the gentle Reader to returne backe againe vnto the fourth Chapter where he shall finde this verse wholly interpreted only we will note this by the way that
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
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
of his meere good will fauour I will rise therefore now that is to say whiles that I doe goe about to seeke him out of me and go about in the citie by the streetes and by the open places to seeke my Sauiour and husbande the foundation of my happinesse and that in the religion of the Gentiles and doctrine of the Philosophers I found him not likewise And to seeke Christ is to bee willing to trust in him and sincerely to beleeue all his sayings and be directed and gouerned by them and lastly to hope most constantly for their saluations by the merits of Christs workes wherefore the spouse here in this place sheweth that she was not a litle deceiued when she sought him diligently but with humaine diligence and industrie and vpon the full confidence of her owne workes Go to then rise vp and goe about the citie that is to say all humaine counsels because they which seeke Christ without the word and spirit of God doe as i◠were fetch a compasse and goe the farthes◠way about Now the wicked do trace vp and downe in this way in vaine because tha◠wheras no care industry of man is auaileable vnto the finding of him they can neuer finde him out this way The watchmen that went about the citie found mee to whom I sayd haue you seene him whom my soule loueth The watchmen c. that is to say those which follow the constitutions of auncient fathers reuelations and studies of men which seeme to ward and keepe the Church I asked them also whether they could certainely tell mee of any place where to find out my louing and gracious spouse whe◠I might securely embrace him and secretly comfort my selfe To conclude I asked them whether they could bring me any certaine tydings of my saluation but hauing past a litle from their humaine studies and speeches to see whether I could find anie more certaine steppes and footings as it were of my saluation and peace of conscience which I had sought a long time but neuer as yet found at the length leauing all humaine helpes and Doctors I busied my selfe to make inquirie after him in the bookes of the holy scripture being written by the instinct of the holy Ghost whom I doe loue most entirely as being the sense of pietie and solide truth for it is onely Gods spirit which satisfieth and filleth the mind of man desirous of knowledge and leadeth his disciples into all manner of truth by teaching them the wordes of God And here I finde that not onely my vnderstanding is informed but also that my affections are inflamed within me and that I am presently able to discerne errors and falsehood from the veritie of true doctrine and to receiue and intertaine in my heart the true peace of conscience quieting and contenting my selfe in my husband and all this happeneth for no other cause but because I haue found out Christ my Sauiour and redeemer that is to say him who hath obtained the spirit of grace which is neuer separated and abstracted from the truth that which is his is mine for otherwise I knowe that I should suddenly perish and come to nought and forthwith Christ doth seeke the saluation of those which liue in wickednesse and error Wherfore the Church being once conuerted from the wicked promiseth to bring in Christ whom shee findeth in the house of his mother that is to say in the Synagogues and congregations of the wicked from whence he came and verily the true beleeuers do study and endeuour by praiers by the ministerie of the word and by all maner of meanes possible to reduce the poore wandring soules of the Church to the truth of Gods word that they may receiue Christ into their houses and into the secret chambers of their hearts because it is not enough for the seruants of God to seeke their owne saluations vnlesse they may compasse it for others also and direct them as well as they may vnto the like speeches of God which they ought to seeke so carefully and diligently that they should not leaue off seeking of it vntill they know that they haue receuied mercie as well as they which is declared vnto vs in the next words following I left him not till I had brought him into my mothers house into the chamber of her that conceiued me That is I left him not till euen the wicked such a one as I my selfe had heretofore for a certaine space beene being turned and conuerted vnto him receiued him The wordes of the Bridegrome vnto the Virgins I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalem by the Roes and by the Hindes of the field that ye stirre not vp nor waken my loue vntill shee please I charge you The faithfull spouse of Christ doth most willingly obey his will and commaundement by seeking the saluation of her mother which conceiued and bare her which yet wandreth vp and downe in darkenesse and in the daunger of death so that the word of truth doth not a litle thing profite by her by making her fit to receiue him that was comming Christ Iesus and to change her by the power of his spirit to the end that they that were wise should become fooles and they that were fooles should become wise Hence is it that she is become one of the Churches daughters or rather to speake more properly a true member of the Church and spouse of Christ afterwardes the Bridegroome dispatcheth vnto her heart the pleasures of his spirite and peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding Therefore both the mother and the daughter being both of them together made a faithfull spouse of the Lords do reioyce and are merrie whereupon she sleepeth and taketh her quiet rest in the holy Ghost whom the holy Ghost doth so preserue and keepe from feare of any danger that the quiet rest and peace of their minds and consciences cannot be disturbed or hindered at all He saith vnto the yong virgins * I charge you which words were expounded before He chargeth them not to stirre or waken his loue vntill shee please but then he would haue the young maydes to waken her when they are moued thereunto by the word of God and this verse is repeated in the Canticles to shew that God hath no lesse care ouer the Church which is made of the Gentiles and wicked being once conuerted then hee hath of the Iewes and others which in the beginning were made righteous by him but that hee hath an equall care and loue of them both being made one in him and thorough him The friends of the Bridegrome vnto the young maydes 6 VVho is she that commeth vp out of the wildernesse like pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrhe and incense and with all the spices of the merchant 7 Behold his bed which is Salomons threescore strong men are round about it of the valiant men of Israell 8 They all handle the sword are expert in warre euery one hath his sword
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