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
vnder their heades what is meant by that but that when the iust man fâ—lleth he should not be broken in peeces wherfore the spouse feeling his left hand vnder her head reioyceth notwithstanding because of the louing imbracings which she is sure to enjoy by the benefit of his right hand The words of the Bride vnto the yong maydens There be foure things which cause me exceedingly to reioice first because of the flowâ—rs that is to say for the faithful because there â—re enough of theÌ„ secondarily for the apples of the most fruitfull tree Christ thirdly because he hath his left hand vnder his head â—hat is to say vnder the spouses head for hee â—s the head of the spouse last of all because of the certaine hope and assurance which â— haue that hee will imbrace me with his right hand that is to say with the pleasures and ioyes of euerlasting glorie And thus whiles the Church the spouse of Christ â—oth take her quiet rest sleepe the word of God commandeth her not to be troubled or disquieted any thing at all it is as if Christ ss hould speak vnto the soules of the faithfull â—fter this manner I charge you ô ye faithfull soules and which is more I coniure you by that which is most deare and pleasant vnto you that you stir not the loue of your husband in the elect by iudging condemning them by the wrath and fauour of God shewed more or lesse towards them I say find not you fault with God for being sometimes displeased with the elect and shewing forth his anger towards theÌ„ accuse not his diuine prouidence or the maner of his proceedings eyther in iustice or mercy because he doth most certainly guide and direct all things vnto thâ— good of his elect but submit your willes Alwayes vnto the good will and pleasure of almighty God praying continually that hiâ— will may be done his name hallowed And we are to vnderstaÌ„d by the roes and hinds oâ— the fields by the which he chargeth the souleâ— of the faithfull the Apostles and preacher of Gods word which wander vp and dowâ— in the worlde preachâ—â—g the Gospell euery where whersoeuer they come fearing the policies sleights of their aduersary the diuell The spouse vnto the yong maides It is the voice of my welbeloued behold â—â— commeth leaping by the mountaines and skipping by the hilles This is a notable place to proâ—â— that all those that are of Christs Church 〈◊〉 know their husband Christs voice that is tâ— say his words and can iudge thereby Gods words from mens Because shee saith flatlie vnto the virgins that the words that she doth heare are vndoubtedly the words of her louing husband Christ for she saith she knoweth them well enough and indeed to say the truth who should better knowe the thinges which concerne the Bridegrome then the Bride her selfe Nowe I am the Bride which haue espoused the onely begotten sonne of God wherefore me thinks I should knowe his voyce better then anie other So then first of all there is shewed vnto vs the Church by the voyce of the bridegrome which she knoweth most readily afterwards there is declared vnto vs the fruit that ariseth redoundeth vnto her by the knowledge of his voice that is to say the knowledge of perfect charity And Christ the husband of the faithful is likened vnto him which is most faire in the fairest thinges most excellent in the excellents that that can be gotten exceeding beyond the degree of admiration and abounding beyond measure in all maner of thinges that may be desired coueted or obtained Finally the ende and terme of Gods promises contayned within the compasse of the scriptures and written of either in the Law or in the Prophets This Christ the summe of all happines and felicity came vnto his own vnder the forme of mortality hauing a wall set betweene him and the wicked because he would not be seene of the vnworthy vngodly or vnelected ones and yet he stood in the middest of them and spake the words of life partlie vnto them which did see him partlie vnto those which despised him voluntarilie suffered themselues to be seduced or deceiued so as he looked forth of the windowes and shewed himselfe through the grates he might be seen and heard after some sort of the wicked but onely the godly and elect of God vnto saluation may fully see behold lastly receiue him into their hearts by faith And the words of SalomoÌ„ in the next verse before how hee came leaping by the mountains skipping by the hilles signifieth nothing els but this how his spirit leaped vpon the Patriarkes and Prophets and skipped in the Apostles preachers of the Gospell who being more eminent and excellent theÌ„ the rest did teach men the simplicity and plainnesse of their liues doctrines and the similitude of a roe or a hart which followeth in the next verse is all one in effect with the former because it is only proper vnto goates to leap skip about although they may bee likened vnto theÌ„ for another reason because of their sharpe sight for vnlesse their sight were as good as their running they shold not be able to discerne their way know either how to leape or skip By the swiftnes of their leaping skipping vp and downe we may note the earnestnesse of a willing and charitable minde by the quicknesse of sight the sharpenesse of iudgement so in both these thinges we may obserue both iudgemeÌ„t and mercy crying out with Dauid in the Psalmes Mercie and iudgement will I sing vnto thee â— Lord. The Text. 10 My welbeloued spake and said vnto me arise my loue my faire one and come thy way 11 For behold winter is past the raine is changed and is gone away 12 The flowers appeare in the earth the time of the singing of birds is come and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land 13 The figtree hath brought forth her yong figs and the vines with their small grapes haue cast a sauour arise my loue my faire one and come away 14 My doue that art in the holes of the rock in the secret places of the staires shew me thy sight Let me heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet thy sight comely The voyce of the Spouse vnto the virgins My welbeloued spake said vnto me c. The spouse being once awaked out of her sleep tels her maydens what her sweet-heart said vnto her Arise my loue faire one and come thy way to wit arise froÌ„ rest to labour froÌ„ ioy peace to sorrow griefe and rise thou thy selfe let no other rise for thee because I wil haue thee no other to gather my flowers fruits that is to say vnto the ministery of my word by the which the flowers to wit the soules of the faithfull are gathered together into the Church And come thy way that is follow
me continue to beleeue in me by faith because he may be truly sayd to followe after Christ which beleeueth in him then the spirit of Christ the bridegrome of the faithful speaketh after this maner vnto the elect dispersed throughout the face of the whole earth Rise vp my faithfull spouse by a liuely faith in Gods wordes and put all thy trust and confidence in him that calleth thee vnto him he sheweth that there is a conueniēt time for all things to be done in by reason of the vicissitude and change of thinges for wheras her welbeloued had but earst before visited her in her greene bed now he wils her to dresse the vineyard and driue away the wilde beasts out from it that is to say to build vp his Church and weede out all manner of heretickes out of it and it is as if Christ should haue said vnto her Rise vp out of thy bed of contemplation and rest wherein thou now slumberest yet thinke not that I will vtterly forsake thee because thou art my loue but go gather the faithfull together in the spirit of gentlenesse and lenitie because thou art my doue come thy way and suppresse thy aduersaries because thou art faire and adorned or beautified with all manner of vertues for behold the winter is past the raine is changed and is gone away That is to say the old and ancient errors are vanished away at the comming of the glorious Sonne of God Christ Iesus and the tedious darke and dyrtie time of winter is past and gone when all things were wrapt and infolded in ignorance and blindnesse in neglect and contempt of Gods good will and benefits but loe now the ioyfull and hopefull time of Spring is come when the pleasant and wholsome blast of Gods fauor shall blow vpon all the hearts and mindes of the faithfull filling and inspiring them with the word of God sent downe from heauen for the behoofe and benefit of vs mortall men and now is the time or neuer to repent and amend our liues by awaking out of sinne and preparing our minds consciences vnto the study or godlinesse meekenesse and to do the true works of piety to roote vp the concupiscences of carnall senses and follow the old and ancient discipline of the Church The voyce of the Turtle doue hath beene already heard vppon the earth which is a signe of a most happie yeare or spirituall aboundance and plentie of all manner of goodnesse and gladnesse in the hearts and consciences of the faithfull and the pleasantnesse of the Gospell is comming vpon you with all maner of comfort and consolation and now the time approcheth whē you shall reape the fruit and receiue the benefit of your godlinesse the figge tree bringeth foorth her young figges and the vines begin to bud foorth so that we haue all the signes of a rich and plentifull yeare which is likely to abound in all manner of loue and true holinesse perfect ioy and euerlasting comfort and we haue certain infallible true tokens of the Churches perfection which consisteth in the true vnitie therof and knowledge of Gods loue in the multitude of the Gentiles and faithfull soules which are called Moreouer we may if we will allegorically interpret the hardnesse of the winter to be the hardnesse and rigor of the law which is alreadie vanished away because of the comming of the Gospell of glad tydings and therefore we see the promises of the Prophts to flourish and the gracious proceedings therof which we may call the floures which appearing in the spring time do shew forth a fruitfull and happie yeare and the time of pruning or dressing is when laying aside all manner of lying and deceit euerie man shall speake the truth vnto his neighbour And by the voyce of the Turtle is signified the voice of the Preachers of Gods word which beginneth to be heard abroad in the world And the figge tree doth bring forth her young figges that is to say the Apostles are alreadie come into the world which bring forth the most delectaable and pleasant food of the Gospell and minister it vnto the faithfull according to their necessities The Bridegrome speaketh vnto the Spouse My doue that art in the holes of the rocke in the secret places of the stayres shew me thy sight let me heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet thy sight comely By the doue is signified the holy Ghost as it is euident out of the third of Matthew the first of Marke the third of Luke and 1. of Iohn Wherefore the Church which is inspired and filled with the holy Ghost made altogether spirituall may well be called here in this place a doue and whereas he replyeth and calleth her his loue we are to note that all her loue commeth frō him which is the fountaine of loue and that it is from him and for him that she is called beautifull and faire or a doue that is to say spirituall and she is prouoked and stirred vp afresh by the Bridegroome to come but in the holes of the rockes and secret places of the stayres This rocke is Christ 1. Cor. 10 v. 2. We did all drinke of the spirituall rocke that followed them the rocke was Christ and by the secret places of the stayres is meant the inward ascention and lifting vp of the heart which euery faithfull man must needs haue And it followeth shew me thy sight because the bridegrome was desirous to see the face of the Church as I shewed you before in the holes of the rockes and in the secrete places of the stayres and to heare her voyce or rather his because otherwise the wordes of God cannot be acceptable vnto her neither is it possible for her to find her husband by any other meanes for thy voice is sweete and thy sight comely here we see the goodnesse of her louing spouse towards her For without all question it is indeede his voice and his words which the Church speaketh and to conclude all that the Church hath is his but why then calleth he it her voice thy voice is sweete because we should know that his voyce is common betweene him and the spouse for Christs voice is nothing else but the ministerie of Gods word in the Church so that alwayes Christs words do concerne and regard the Church and the good of the people It followeth and thy sight comely We are to obserue in these wordes that whereas euery one is knowne by his face that the Church here in this place is said to be known by her sight face or countenace Now the face of the spouse is the righteousnesse of the iust I meane the beleeuing iust of the light of whose countenāce it is written to the end that they may turne the hearts of fathers vnto their sonnes and the vnbeleeuers vnto the wisedome of the iust And whosoeuer hath this wisedome walketh not after the will of man but after the
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
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
vers 35. Whosoeuer doth the will of God hee is my brother and my sister and mother and Saint Paule in the 8. chapt to the Romanes calleth him the first borne among many brethren And hee was made as it were a brother when hee tooke flesh and was in outward shewe like vnto vs men Now as euery brother that is to say euerie faithfull man sucketh the breastes of his mother the Church which begate him by the word of God that is to say receiueth ayde and comfort of her charitie and loue so in like maner Christ although indeede hee receiued not any comfort from her breastes yet neuerthelesse wee may truly say that hee did sucke her breastes because he tooke delight and comfort in them For the two breastes signifie loue and charitie as it hath bene before shewed you And this husband Christ is hee whome the Church desireth to finde in the streetes of the Citie that is to say in the multitudes of peoples because it is her heartie desire and wish that if it bee possible shee may bee seene and knowne of all by faith and finallie to the honour and glorie of God and example of others shee desireth to kisse him that is humblie to request Gods fauour and grace through Christ wherefore the Spouse here in this place seemeth to bee willing before men to confesse her selfe to bee a most wretched vile and miserable sinner making dayly intercessions and prayers vnto God through Christ for his mercifull fauour and therefore she desireth that she may haue leaue to kisse him publikely in the streetes and what is meant hereby it appeareth by the words following then they should not despâ—se me As who would say I know that thou doest most louingly embrace and kisse me in secret but I beseech thee ô my gentle and most louing Sauiour to kisse me openly and in the presence of whole multitudes to the end that all men may know and learne by my example to confesse themselues to be miserable sinners wretched persons and in the state of damnation and so consequently sue for Gods fauour and remission of sinnes thorough thee their Sauiour and Redeemer againe thy desire and prayer is that thy most glorious and holy name may be sanctified among all men and that no man would despise thee but contrariwise euery one would magnifie extoll thee with all their hearts I will lead thee and bring thee into my mothers house there thou shalt teach me and I will cause thee to drinke spiced wine and new wine of the pomegranate I will leade thee c. Finally he sheweth the duetie of the spouse she saith I will leade thee Christ is led of them that pray vnto him by faith whither they will because he heareth them and graunteth their requests Thus the Church bringeth him into the house of her carnall mother of whom wee haue spoken sufficiently alreadie It followeth there thou shalt teach me She which was but lately informed and taught by Christes spirite waxeth now more earnest and zealous to be taught and instructed in higher points of doctrine and shee will haue none to teach her but Christ to whom she speaketh with great boldnesse and confidencie saying thou shalt teach mee and no other but thee for there is nothing which the Church doth so much desire as to be taught of her husband bridegrome Christ and to heare his voice that is to say his wordes and no mans else and after that she hath bene taught of the bridegrome what remaineth then for her to do then she must cause him to drinke of the best wine or spiced wine Now this new wine of the pomegranates is the knowledge of the truth and veritie of the scriptures which is seasoned with the taste of the holy Ghost and the pomegranates are the congregations of the faithfull being red with the holy Ghost and directed or gouerned by charitie that is to say liuing altogether by the rule and canon of Gods holy word which is most pure and vndefiled which order must necessarily be kept of all those which meane to attaine vnto saluation Their new wine is the delectation and sweetnesse of Gods spirit whereby they liue and walke and haue their being and the bridegrome may be very well said to drinke of this wine because he is greatly delighted therewithall for he may be said in some sort to drinke which findeth a thing which pleaseth him greatly Last of all she thirsteth to drinke of this new wine that is to say after the workes of faith which Christ may bee very well said to drinke whiles he seeth these things in the faithfull and is well pleased with them His left hand shall be vnder mine head and his right hand shall embrace me The carefull and louing spouse entreth into the house of her carnall mother and bringeth Christ along with her she bringeth him thither by sincere prayers and preaching of the Gospell and she followeth the matter so earnestly faithfully withall that she receiueth the truth of her mother and so embraceth it For hauing once receiued the truth of her mother that is to say of carnall men from whom the Church issued and came she becommeth both the mother and the daughter that is to say the Church and spouse of Christ and last of all being conuerted vnto the truth she beginneth to make experience and triall of the crosse together with her daughter because it is vnpossible indeede that the crosse shold not be a companion to the loue of the truth Furthermore she sendeth Christ vnto heâ— which is her true spouse by faith I meane his peace and among all the crosses perils by sword rebukes tribulations and all maner of aduersities he sendeth vs by meanes of his peace the comfortable ioyes of his holy spirit whereby his left hand is comforted of the right vnto a certaine hope of saluation as these words are expounded aboue in the second Chapter where the very same words are to be read The words of the Spouse vnto the young damsels I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalem that you stirre not vp nor waken my loue vntill she please I charge you After that the spouse the Church had made sufficient triall of the sharpnesse of Gods left hand that is to say had suffered crosses and tribulations enough she was sustayned and vpholden by Christs right hand wherewith he did most louingly embrace her in her greatest temptations sitting euen in the shadow of death and caused her to rest most quietly with the holy Ghost and enioy that peace which passed all vnderstanding resting thus securely on her bed of rest the bridegrome because hee would haue no body to trouble her spreads the couerlet ouer her and saith these wordes vnto the young virgins I charge you stirre not vp nor waken my loue and why then do you raise her vp waken her by sending her abroad amidst the troubles and turmoyles of the world which are alwayes opposed against her nay rather
to say they say in word somewhat in effect nothing for either they take that for a salt which is not so indeed or els they knowe not how to distinguish the abuse frō the thing so speake against they know not what Translators haue their faults abuses as well as other men as when they translate foolish vnprofitable or wicked vngodly books or els mistranslate misinterpret books and then the abuse proceedeth either of malice or of ignorāce if of malice their reproofe is iust if of ignorance blame thē not vnles it be affected for the best that is may misse in a strāge language whē no man knoweth all in his owne tongue And thus far reacheth their complaint against the abuse of translations which may in no wise be excused As for the harme that cōmeth by making learning too cōmon mē of cōmon iudgement may by vulgar examples easily refute them The sunne moone fire and water are profitable yet common the Philosopher saith Bonum quò communius eò melius good the commoner it is the better it is if it bee true in philosophie it is true in diuinity therfore S. Paul wisheth that all men were learned as hee was and that all men could speak with diuers tongues as he did c. I would that these men which think they haue S. Paules learning had S Paules zeale so it were according to knowledge to seeke other mens good and not their own for now marchāts do not monopolize the goods of a citie more thē these do appropriate vnto thēselues the learning of whole vniuersities whē they haue it what do they with it but keep it vnto thēselues Because I wold not be of this odious sect of men most curteous Christian reader I haue at vacant times trāslated according to that measure of knowledge which God hath giuen me both this book and some others as the historie of the Iesuits Morall Philosophy of the Stoickes which with permissiō of my superiors I mean shortly to publish if God wil and health permit me so to do Take this booke in good part accept of my good wil fault pardon amend whether they be the Printers or the translators the preface is the Authors not mine it escaped both me the Printer before I was aware the rest read corrected in the latter end of the booke The Preface to the Booke THis booke of the Canticles is a holy and admirable booke very spirituall full of mysteries and most hidden senses whereby it is most euident that they haue bene not a litle deceiued which go about to diminish the credit and authoritie thereof for because herein are contained sundry enterchangeable discourses and dialogues of mutuall loue betweene the bride and the bridegrome therefore forsooth haue they thought it good to call this booke in questiō as if it were not an vsuall matter with the holy Ghost in the holy Scripture to set down the sincere and vnfained loue of God and the Church vnder the figure of chast and holy wedlocke as also to discouer the force of wickednesse and Idolatrie by the similitude of the adulterous woman as it is to be seene in the second and third of Ieremie and in the sixteenth Chapter of Ezechiel Besides all this there are certaine places in this booke whereby no otherwise then as it were by certaine beames and lights this point is made so cleare and manifest that we may very well say without any maner of doubt or wauering at all that this Treatise is not carnally and literally but spiritually and mystically to be vnderstood In such sort that I hold this for an vnfallible and certaine truth that there are comprehended and contained in this small booke the exceeding great affection and loue of our Lord Iesus Christ and the holy Church of the faithfull beleeuers the necessarie vse of the word of God the profite and pleasantnesse thereof the efficacie of faith and heat of charity Furthermore we learne to know what are the operations of the spirit and what are the works of the flesh briefly that which doth any maner of way cōcerne or respect the Church and all this vnder the figuratiue talk and communication betweene the Bridegroome and the Spouse Now Christ is the Bridegroome as it is in the 3. of Iohn verse 29. He that hath the bride is the bridegrome and the Church is his spouse Hosea Chapter 2. Thou shalt call me Ishi or my husband I wil marry thee vnto me for euer And this spouse is attended on with her young maidens that is to say with the particular soules of the faithfull which do follow after the odoriferous and sauery ointments of our Sauiour Iesus Christ And the bridegrome likewise hath his friends that do follow accōpany him to wit the true Bishops sincere Prechers of the word of God which he cals vnto him to eate drinke make merry with him These men heare the voyce of the Church that is to say the words of Christ Neuerthelesse this is not so to be vnderstood but that all the faithfull may rightly terme thēselues frēds of the bridegrome The title or inscriptiō is the Song of Songs as if therin were contained songs which did farre exceed all other songs in plenty of holy mysteries and they are called the songs of Salomon or Salomons songs because hee writ them being inspired by the holy Ghost of the true Salomon Iesus Christ VVe reade of many Canticles or songs in the scripture as the song of Moyses Deborah Iosua Anna Dauid Abacuck and others but this booke compriseth not one onely song which Salomon song but there are many songs herein contained all written in one book but concerning one matter and one argument wherin are expressed most truly the charitie faith loue ioy delights and diuerse kinds of benefits not without vehemēt earnest affections wherewith our most louing merciful redemer doth follow his elect with inexplicable graces by the grace fauor of the almighty God So that they being stirred vp by the holy Ghost do with certaine vnspeakeable affections of loue regard behold and approch neere vnto the diuine grace and bountie of God desiring most earnestly and deuoutly to be commended approoued and daily more and more esteemed and fauoured of him in such sort that if there be found any error or fault in their liues and conuersations as spots and blots or wennes in their forheads do sometimes happen yet that they may not be refused or reiected for this or the like things or have any cause to distrust his mercifull kindnesse or louing fauor but that the falling out of louers may be the renewing of loue For louers being iealous one of another are mutually and suddenly prouoked vnto wrath as suddēly reconciled and pacified and afterwards they become greater friends then they were before This then is the principall intent and purpose of this booke This is the song
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
that is to say with the doctrin of the Gospel from whence come these goldē chaynes that is to say true wisedome which leades a man vnto eternall life and these chaines are pointed with points of siluer wherby is signified godly learning and zealous charitie wherewith the faithfull people Church of God are pricked and inflamed both to the glorie of God and benefit of the elect The Spouses words vnto Christ Whiles the king The bridegrome cōmendeth extolleth his workes in the Church now she returneth al the glory backe againe vnto him confessing that his workes are admirable in her eyes and that all her beautie commeth from the glorie of her husbande Christ and that shee receiueth from him all those gifts and graces which are mentioned in the verse immediatly going before Wherfore she speaketh vnto him as vnto a third persō saying Whiles the king was at his repast my spikenard gaue the smell thereof Spiknard is a litle herb but hath a great smel by which is to be vnderstood the humility of the faithfull because they confesse thēselues to be sinners and that they are nothing of thēselues notwithstanding they go onward alwaies in well doing whēce it is that they yeeld a most pleasant sauour of a good report which doth inuite draw others to do the like and this precious spiknard which hath such a perfect smell is not to be gotten but when Christ is at his repast and his repast is the Church secure minds of the faithfull Our Spikenard then is our humility which then sendeth foorth a most sweete and pleasant smell most acceptable vnto God a smell indeed of good works when Christ the king resteth in vs otherwise it is but the stinking smell of hypocrisie and a sauour of death vnto death The words of the spouse concerning her selfe My welbeloued is vnto mee as a bundle for myrrhe Surely it is a great cōmendation for the bridegrome that without him the spouse hath no smell at all And therefore this is her meaning she knoweth that she doth fully possesse enioy Christ that Christ must alwaies dwell with her as a bundle of myrrhe which is bitter but hath a most excell ēt smel in it self hath this power to keep things frō being corrupted And verily the spirit of the bridegrome doth bring to passe these things in the godly First of all he sendeth thē bitternesse because the sword of griefe shold pierce their soules secondly he poureth forth the sauour of the sweet oyntments thirdly lastly he keepeth preserueth thē from corruption by bestowing eternall life vpon all those which beleeue trust in him Ioh. 3.14 And as Moyses lift vp the serpent in the wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lift vp that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life And indeed this same mirrhe is a bitter thing signifying hard and grieuous tribulations but seeing that all these things are to come vnto her for her louing husbands sake she gratifieth cheereth vp her self with these words hoping that god will giue her the grace manfully couragiously to endure al things therfore she calleth not that an armefull or a whole burden which she is to suffer for Christ but a handfull bundle or rather to speake more properly a bundelet wel she may call it a bundelet that is to say a litle bundle because the afflictions of this world are not worthy the glory which shalbe reuealed vnto vs hereafter My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire Christ the only begotten son of God ceaseth not to praise extol his welbeloued spouse he termes her to be like vnto a most precious sweet cluster of camphire which is a kind of aromaticall tree it is all one as if she shold haue said my welbeloued husband is like vnto a most delectable cluster of some excellēt vine which groweth in the vineyard of Engedi to the which there is no vineyard in the world that may be compared because the cōfort which we receiue by the holy ghost doth far surmount all earthly cogitations delights the consolations cōforts of the spirit are these to know that God is fauorable vnto vs and to haue the loue of God almighty inclosed within our harts cōsciēce The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride 14 Behold thou art faire behold thou art faire thine eyes are like the doues The Bridegrome cōmendeth the happy state of the spouse i◠this that he doth worke and bring to passe great matters in her herein consisteth her beauty chiefly that she hath doues eyes that is to say a most right sense vnderstanding of Gods spirit which may be very fitly takē for a doue because it appeared vpō Christ in the shape similitude of a doue it is as much in other words as if the bridegrome should speak after this sort vnto the bride doubt not my dearest deare of any displeasure of mine because I am very wel pleased with thee I reckon thee to be most beautifull faire howsoeuer thou maiest seeme to thy selfe to haue a blacke swart coūtenance because thou pleasest me right well this loue of mine doth not come by any nature of yours but by grace frō me I desire not ornaments of gold or looke for any costly apparell that which I desire and looke for is doues eyes eyes of simplicity or singlenesse of faith and perpetuall chastitie and that nothing may please thee but me I say I desire honest and plaine dealings and meanings not crooked and deceitfull eyes The Spouse speaketh vnto her husband My welbeloued behold thou art faire and pleasant She that before was praysed of her husband for her eyes doth now most ingenuously plainly confesse that he is altogether faire and beautifull The spouse as long as she liueth in the flesh hath some deformitie or indecorum in her by reason of the flesh notwithstanding she is beautifull with the beautie of her husband and shee hath doues eyes but not as Christ hath because he is wholy and soly in euery part of him most beautifull and amiable but to the faithfull onely who alwayes at all times are exceedingly much delighted with the sight of him as also with his wordes And it followeth Also our bed is greene whence it is manifest that all things are cōmon betweene the bridegrome the bride and what other thing is meant by this greene bed but the euer flourishing peace which we obtaine by Christ and by the houses the particular Churches of his kingdome and also we may hereby vnderstand the faithfull people of God In euery one of these houses a man shall finde a most sweet bed of peace whereon the holy Ghost doth oftentimes repose and rest himselfe The beames of this house are of incorruptible and wel-smelling Cedar that is to say they containe the soliditie and stablenesse of true faith in Gods words which both of
them remaine for euer because it is not possible that faith should faile and be vtterly abolished out of Gods kingdome or that one iot or title of his words should not be fulfilled And here by the way let the industrious reader diligently obserue this that the Church speaketh vnto the bridegrome and inuiteth him vnto the quiet rest and repose of his bed because she knoweth full wel that all kind of rest and quietnesse without him is grieuous miserable and vngodly wherefore she sayth Our bed is greene or our peace or the peace which is common vnto vs both is flourishing greene pleasant sweet and delectable as if she should haue said that both of vs are to lie in the selfe same bed which bed is furnished and prepared ready for vs therefore you must take me into the bed to you that is all the pleasure that I take must needes proceed and issue out from you and so the Church doth shewe vs what an earnest desire shee hath to rest with Christ and therfore she saith with Peter It is good for vs to be here And that which followeth in the latter end of the chapter Our rafters are of Cypresse is a type or figure of the elect which by contemning despising of all earthly temporall things grow to be eternall and incorruptible as are our Cypresse or Cedar trees The second Chapter 1 I am the rose of the field and the lillie of the valleys 2 Like a lillie among the thornes so is my loue among the daughters 3 Like the apple tree among the trees of the forest so is my welbeloued among the sonnes of men vnder his shadow had I delight and sate downe and his fruit was sweete vnto my mouth The Commentarie The words of the Bridegrome THe words going before in the latter end of the first chapter where the bed of the Church is called a flourishing greene vnspotted bed and a bed to bee desired are very easie to be vnderstood by the beginning of this chapter because shee is not sayd to flourish by reason of the floure whose greennesse and beauty doth soone fade and decay but indeed because her flowers are chieflie her husband Esay chap. 11. There shall bud forth a braunch out of the root of Iesse of the root therof shall spring a flower and the flowers therof shall be the flowers of honesty and honour Therupon it was wel truly said of him I am the flower of the field which budded forth out of the root of Iesse a pleasant delectable flower of the field that is to say of the whole world and chieflie of the elect of the Church and lastly hee addeth the lillie of the valleyes and what other thing may be vnderstood by the lillies of the valvalleys but the syncere and faithfull people which do truly prostrat humble thēselues because these valleyes shall be filled vp exalted and opposed against the hilles that is to say against the proud of whō Esay speaketh thus in his 40. ch 4. ver Euery valley shall be exalted euery mountaine hill shal be made low and the glory of these valleys consisteth in their lillies to wit in their righteousnesse innocencie and whitenesse Christ which deposeth the mighty proud vnbeleeuers from their seat exalteth the humble and meeke and so the spouse speaketh of himselfe much after this maner I am made vnto the elect as a most pleasant flower of the meadowes whose beauties they do keepe and preserue and the grace of whose bountie and sweetnesse they do smell and perceiue which is to be gathered with ioy of mind without any peril or danger of thornes at all And finally I am the lillie of the valleys that is all pleasure sweetnesse and delight vnto my elect and Christ may fitly be called a flower because whiles he weedeth vp the thornes of sinnes hee doth not a litle decke and adorne the hill of his spouse and beautie of his iustice Like a lilly among the thornes The name of lillies is oftētimes taken in the scripture for the beauty of the faithfull which is hid and had in Christ Hosea chap. 14. vers 6. I will be as the dewe vnto Israell he shall growe as the lillie And so Christ calleth the spouse by the name of a lillie as who would say As much as the lillie surpasseth the thornes so much doest thou exceed all other daughters that is to say al other Churches congregations of the wicked reprobate as the lillie which groweth vp among the thorns is pricked of thē yet notwithstanding flourisheth increaseth so it is necessarie or requisite that the godly Church should bee pricked afflicted and tormented with the reprobate Churches but neuerthelesse the holy Ghost will so worke in her that she repelling the fiery darts of sin with the shield of faith shall in the end become more glorious for her persecutions and so dayly profiting and increasing by means of my gift and protection shall neuer leaue off to bring foorth seede or corne vntill she be brought and layd vp quietly in the barne Like the apple tree among the trees of the forrest These words of mutuall cōmendation praises of the holie Ghost are very strange comfortable and full of trust confidence in God for see how the spouse according to her power doth mutually as it were repay prayse and commendation vnto her bridegrom Christ by saying these words Like the apple tree amōg the trees of the forrest so is my welbeloued among all the sonnes to wit of God that is to say of the Angels faithfull people Verily thou only art holy righteous and good from thee proceed those euerlasting fruits which we enioy and not of themselues thou commendest me for my flower which notwithstanding thou thy selfe diddest cause to growe vp by the grace of thy holy spirit but I must needes glorifie thee for thy fruit which is better then all the flowers of the world The words of the spouse vnto the virgins Vnder his shadowe had I delight and sate downe What shadowe is that I pray you which the spouse should so greatly delight in vnlesse it were the shadowe of Christ her husband because he is the onely delight and hope of the faithfull They which enioy true peace and tranquility of mind and trust onlie to Gods protection grace may be truly sayd to sit vnder his shadow Wherfore the peaceable and quiet spouse of Christ willing that all her maydens that is to say all the soules of the elect should haue the benefite of Christs peace which is so necessarie for thē doe pronounce the Gospell of peace vnto them as if she should haue said You seeke mourne after peace but many there are God wot which seek it where it is not to be foūd for they know not where to find it Come ye therefore and learne of me by my example I will shew you where you shall finde this admirable and
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
and bring foorth fruit worthy of the bridegrome to recreate delight and content him which is a most carefull and diligent husbandman ouer the flocke that is committed vnto him so that the breath of his mouth may cause the sweete spices to fall off from the trees and to ripen the daintie fruits vpon the trees to the end that he that is the true husband of the Church may eate and be delighted with the fruit thereof In fine her heartie desire and affection is that shee may be commended of the Bridegrome for her fruits of faith which she can not bring forth without his speciall assistance helpe and fauour The fift Chapter 1 I am come into my garden my sister my spouse I gathered my myrrhe with my spice I eate mine hony combe with mine hony I dranke my wine with my milke eate ô friends drinke and make you merrie ô welbeloued 2 I sleepe but mine heart waketh it is the voice of my welbeloued that knocketh saying open vnto me my sister my loue my doue my vndefiled for mine head is full of dew and my lockes with the droppes of the night The Commentarie The words of the Spouse vnto the Bridegrome THe Church calleth her husband Christ her welbeloued in her garden that is to say she ascribeth all glorie vnto him for making her so faire a garden and causing her to bring foorth such trees and wonderfull strange and odoriferous fruit whereby shee confesse ththat both her selfe and her fruit do come from Christ to the end that hee may be alwayes ready to helpe her and that he may be glorified in all of whom all things are and haue their being therfore she speaketh these words my welbeloued Christ came into his garden that is to say vnto me which am his and in whom if there be any good or pleasant thing it must be acknowledged to proceede come from his bountifull goodnesse and he eate his pleasant fruit so that these are the words of the spouse promising her seruice deuotion vnto the Bridegrome Furthermore her garden and all her delights as it hath bene before shewed you must be watered by Christ with his heauenly water The Bridegrome speaketh vnto the Bride these words I am come into my garden c. The Bridegrome heareth the prayers of the Church and accordingly addresseth himselfe vnto her and he commeth to helpe her he gathered myrrhe and spice that is to say the good workes of the Church which are done in faith doe fully please and are right acceptable vnto him afterwards then he calleth her to come into his garden into what garden I pray you vnto her selfe for she is Christs pleasant garden she is his paradise for it is Christs desire and will that she should retire backe againe vnto her selfe and returne vnto her heart and he calleth her because no man can truly returne vnto his heart vnlesse it please him to call and instruct him with his holy Spirit and the reason thereof may be this because there is no man so righteous or godly which sinneth not at one time or other as long as he liueth in the flesh and therefore he hath great need to returne vnto himselfe and be renewed and repayred in Christ because in deed no man can be truely said to returne but hee that crucifieth the flesh and is reformed and informed afresh againe by the holy Ghost It followeth and eate his pleasant fruit Before we heard that Gods wordes were taken for hony milke and wine for hony because of the sweetnesse thereof for milke for the meetenesse and conuenientnesse thereof for young children lastly for wine because it filleth our hearts with true ioy and gladnesse all these the bridegrome may be said to eate and drinke when he delighteth in them eate ô friends drinke and make you merrie ô welbeloued Among the number of those which are of thâ— Church of God there are called vnto thâ— aforesaid banquet of hony milke and wine that is to say vnto the tasting of Gods worâ— first of all all Bishops and true professors oâ— the Gospell hee willeth them to eate anâ— drinke and be drunken also because hâ— would haue them to take enough of God words that is to say to giue themselues wholâ—ly vnto the meditation of them vntill thâ— be dronken therewithall O happie drunkennesse which commeth not of the frâ— of the vine but of the sweet liquor of Gods words which maketh vs forget all temporall affaires in such sort that men beeing once inflamed with the loue of heauenly things neuer feele any temporall paine or griefe as a drunken man in his drunkennes forgetteth all his businesse The words of the Spouse I sleepe but mine heart waketh it is the voice of my welbeloued that knocketh saying open vnto me my sister my loue my doue my vndefiled for mine head is full of dew and my lockes with the droppes of the night I sleepe There be some in whom the desires and affections of the flesh are yet to be seene as in the beâ—eeuers which haue not yet altogether crucified and mortified the same because whiles â—hey liue in this worlde the flesh preâ—ayleth and worketh something in them â—nd therefore the Spouse sayth I sleepe but â—â—ne heart waketh She sleepeth whiles that he is somewhat kept backe by the weake â—esh that she cannot follow Christ so perâ—ectly as she would for shee would not â—â—ne nor offend any more by her good will yet neuerthelesse she doth sinne and â—ffende many times whether shee will or â—o because oftentimes it so happeneth that she doth those things which she should not and would not doe and those things which she would do doth she not and yet for all this her heart waketh by the grace and fauour of the bridegrome whence it commeth to passe that according to the inward man she reioyceth in the law of the Lord and delighteth in it saying the voyce of my welbeloued as if she shold haue said although I sleepe in the flesh yet my heart is still waking I heare and knowe the voyce of my welbeloued Christ calling me into his garden that is to say willing mee to returne vnto my selfe open vnto me my sister He saith not sister but my sister this word my and yoâ— marke it is alwaies added to the former Noâ— he calleth her sister because of the bond oâ— charitie a friend for her faith a doue for hauing the spirit of God vndefiled because oâ— the righteousnesse of her husband his because all these thinges being put together or euery one by themselues in particular do flow from Christ So then the Bridegrom knocketh saying open vnto me this is great and waightie commaundement anâ— there cannot be a more necessarie precepâ— the bridegrome would haue euery one tâ— open vnto him and why so for because â— he saith himselfe mine head is full of dew 〈◊〉 my lockes with the droppes of the night Goâ— the father is Christs head as it is in the
Church knew full well that the young virgins could neuer find out Christ vnlesse they were first ioined with him in perfect charitie and therefore she teacheth and instructeth them how they should seeke Christ if they meant to find it is as much as if she shold haue said in other words my louing spouse the only begotten sonne of God came downe from heauen out of the bosome of his father into his garden here in this world which he created for the elects sake adorned beautified it commending it to them as a paradise of delight for to dresse and keepe it to the end that they hauing once rooted out the thorns of errors and impieties might make deepe furrows in it with the plough of Gods word wherein might be sowen spices and sweet odors which afterwards taking deepe roote might growe vppe that is to saye the elect and faithfull soules might receiue profit thereby and in processe of time gather roses that is to say the sonnes of God diuided in the world but vnited in faith and charity and afterwards translate or lay them in the barne or heauen of all happinesse And there she saith I will embrace and loue my welbeloued and my welbeloued shall embrace and loue me in such sort that I cannot hope for greater happinesse and ioy to bring me vnto the top of felicitie because this is the cause why the bridegrome came into the world to draw all things vnto him to the end that amongst the elect and regenerate the fulnesse of ioy of the Bridegrome might bee fulfilled in the Spouse as it were among those that feede among roses and lillies And the second verse is an exaggeration shewing that her minde was pricked with wonderfull great zeale of charitie because it was inflamed and burned within her as if she should haue said He descended and came down into me and therefore if you will finde him you must seeke him in me The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride Thou art beautifull my loue as Tirzah comely as Ierusalem terrible as an armie with banners Thou art beautifull c. Whence is it that the chast spouse of Christ is so courteous and charitable vnles it be of Christes spirit in whom she beleeueth and therefore he doth well to call her beautifull and comely And he calleth her his loue or friend by grace because by nature she merited not this loue of the Bridegrome But therefore was shee comely and faire because he elected chose decked and trimmed her and so loued her that he prouided all things necessarie for her saluation in most plentifull and aboundant sort And because Ierusalem in the time of king Salomon was richer then any other city in golde siluer strong men peace ioy and aboundance of all corporall and temporall goods therefore was there no better way to set foorth the beauty of the Church but by cōparing it vnto Ierusalem the citie of God especially whereas the Church is a certaine pleasant city of God abounding in all maner of spirituall goods Neither is the Church only beautified and adorned with all maner of graces and vertues which shine in her but she is terrible also or rather maiestical portly made inuincible by the power of the Bridegrome and alwayes triumphing ouer all the world and wicked worldlings therin contained Turne away thine eyes from me for they ouercome me thine haire is like a flock of goats which look downe from Gilead Turne away c. The Bridegrome falleth afresh in commēding praising of the bride vsing the very same wordes which shee vsed before in the 4. chap. wherefore whereas the spouse is so glorious and great by meanes of the bridegrome he desireth no further thing at her hands but that she would withall maner of confidence trust behold looke vpon him nothing distrusting his loue or kindnesse towards her assuring her self that it could not but be right pleasant in his eies which is the husband of the Church that his goodnes louing kindnesse shold be beleeued embraced of the faithful and he goeth forward in cōmending the spouse for manie good parts which were in her because he him selfe is the head of the Church therfore he shold not seeme so much to cōmend himself as his spouse but he cōmendeth the haires of her head which may bee taken here in this place for the chiefe of the Church as Apostles teachers and expounders of the word hanging downe his head that is depending vpō the spirituall influences of his graces for the better ornament of the bridegrome with mutuall loue and concord And these haires are likened vnto a faire flocke of goates which come from the pleasant pastures of mount Gilead the spouses eyes as it hath beene aboue declared in the fourth cha signifie the iudgement of the holy Ghost and whereas it is said that the Spouse was ouercome waxed proud or tooke great glorie in them and all this after a good and godly sort therefore the bridegrome willeth them to turne them away from him not but that he was greatly pleased with them for so wee must alwayes vnderstand him least we mistake him and be deceiued our selues for the meaning of the words is this I am already delighted pleased with thy eyes that is to say with the knowledge of the godly righteous iudgemēts of the spirit of God which fully resteth in them in so much that they do is it were kindle my loue towards thee inflaming my zeale increasing the ioy which I conceiue by thee so that I can hardly endure the vehemēcy of my loue it so burneth within me The other words which folow are expoūded in the aforenamed place and chapter There are 60. Queenes and 80. concubines and of the damsels without number The Church of God is one Church in the true vnitie of the spirit this Church hath two mothers one a fleshly mother and the other a spirituall mother of the first wee haue intreated alreadie in the third chap. of the second that is to say of the spirituall mother are these wordes spoken here in this verse for out of doubt these words are not intended of the carnall Church and therefore they must needs be meant of that Church which consisteth in the spirit The Bridegrome calleth this Church a doue that is to say spirituall and hee addeth moreouer his doue because it is by means of his spirit that she is spirituall for without it she could not bee accounted a doue Furthermore we may for ought that I know take this mother for the regenerating grace of God which electeth the simple and sustaineth and vpholdeth the elect this is commended of the Queens concubines and yong damsels by whom we are to vnderstand the faithfull because they are made of a wicked and incredulous generation a Church and congregation of the elect which is continually reuiled blasphemed contradicted Furthermore these concubines and Queenes are the kings wiues because
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