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
yong virgins Come sorth ye daughters of Zion and behold the king Salomon with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his mariage and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart Come forth ye daughters of Zion that is to say ye daughters of Zion as many among all the nations of the world as haue receiued the words of life through Christ and the handes of the Apostles to beleeue come forth out of your errors and vanities being before instructed by the holie scripture behold the peaceable king Salomon which made of two churches one by taking away the hinderance and let as well of God towardes man as of the Iewes towards the Gentils by his death and passion on the crosse come see and behold the humanitie of Christ crowned with a crowne of the deitie O good God how great was the loue of God towardes man that hee gaue his onlie begotten sonne in the flesh to the end that euerie one that beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life either that they shall receiue it in that day when he shall come to iudge both the quick and the dead or that they haue receiued it already in that day when his humanitie was glorified the third day after his resurrection and triumph ouer the diuell the great enemie of all the faithfull people of God The fourth Chapter 1 Behold thou art faire my loue behold thou art faire thine eyes are like the doues among thy lockes thine haire is like the flocke of goates which look downe from the mountaine of Gilead 2 Thy teeth are like a flocke of sheepe in good order which go vp froÌ„ the washing which every one bring out twinnes and none is barren among them 3 Thy lippes are like a threde of skarlet and thy talke is comely thy temples are within thy lockes as a peece of a pomegranate The Commentarie The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride THe Church of God is commended for diuerse things in the Canticles First for her doues eyes that is to say her simplicitie and synceritie of minde and iudgement which is giuen her by the holy Ghost which is signified by the similitude and shape of a doue secondly for her ornaments and iewels which do not a litle beautifie and adorn the face because they are the ornamentes of the head and the head is Christ whose face shineth most gloriouslie and in whose countenance is all the glorie of all the faithfull wheresoeuer Thirdlie she is praysed for her haire for as the haires do grow on the head so the truth which we haue and receiue from our head Christ doth take fast root and increaseth in vs nowe it groweth and increaseth in vs by reason of the preachers of the Gospell which are as it were the haires of this head which depeÌ„deth on Christ the true head of the church And the hairs of this head of the spouse are very properly fitly compared vnto Goats haires because whiles they attend wholly vnto the precepts of the Law and meditate vpoÌ„ nothing but vpon heaueÌ„ly things they are clean creatures which feed in high steep places And by Gilead which is as much to say by interpretatioÌ„ as an heap of testimonies is meant the multitudes of martyrs which coÌ„firme Christs doctrine by their deaths and passions Thy teeth are like a flockâ— of sheep in good order which go vp from the washings which euery one bring out twins and none is barren among them Thy teeth The teeth are the power of the holy Ghost by the which the true Bishops do ouercome the wicked and crush them in peeces by the preaching of the word and Christian conuersation and either conuert and turne them to the truth or else confirme and establish them in the truth by the power of the aforesaid word Againe the Bishops are teeth because they reprehend and reproue the wicked by the word of truth and make them members of Gods holy Church Moreouer they are teeth to break bruise the bread of doctrine so that it may be food for the weak And the teeth of the Church are described to be like vnto sheep after they are washed and shorne because the spirit of truth doth make the true professors of the Gospell and generally all the faithfull to become pure innocent simple or harmlesse as sheepe neither are they barren or fruitlesse because as the sheepe they bring forth twinnes alwayes abound in all maner of good workes Thy lips are like a thredâ— of skarlet and thy talke is comelie thy temples are within thy loâ—kes as a peece of a pomegranat Againe the Church is commended for her lips that is to say for her words And her lips are said to bee red because all her speeches tend onely to this end purpose to set forth the death of Christ our Sauiour red with bloud for the saluation of the elect And her words are fyery hot with zeale and faith not knowing howe to lâ—e but able to ouercome the false and lying brethreÌ„ And by her cheekes is signified modestie and shamefastnesse because when a man is ashamed he blusheth or his cheekes do looke red and because the pomegranat is red in hewe therfore it may be most fitly applied vnto the passioâ— of Christ Now because the Church is not ashamed of Christs crosse but reioyceth ratheâ— in her passions and persecutions which shâ— is to suffer for his sake and is wont to bearâ— the signe of the crosse verie patiently therefore it was well said that her cheekes werâ— like a pomegranate especiallie like a peece of pomegranat because the redder part of it was hid and the white only was seen And as the number of graines which are in a pomgranat cannot be seene vnlesse the pomegranat be broken or bruised in peeces so likewise the vertue and power of the Church is not seene but in tribulations and troubles The Text. 4 Thy necke is as the tower of Dauid built for defence a thousand shieldes hang therein and all the targets of the strong men 5 Thy two breasts are as two yong roes that are twins feeding among the lillies 6 Vntill the day break the shadows flie away I will go into the mountaine of mirrhe and to the mountaine of incense 7 Thou art all faire my loue there is no spot in thee The Commentarie In this place he coÌ„meÌ„deth the spouses neck as a tower built vp of a reasonable height haÌ„ged round about with strong shields what thing else is this in the spouse but the sweete agreement of holie maners or true strength fortitude against all aduersities that shall happen being alwayes adorned and decked with strong champions and Christian warriours which they keeping and preseruing do not only praise them but also in the power and vertue of him that is able to strengthen their weake soules endure and suffer all maner of aduersities The great Cannon which defendeth this Church is nothing els but
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
eternall perfection and neuer misse of it I my selfe was as carefull as any woman in the world could be to find it and I was cōtent to endure any thing so I might attaine vnto it I asked for her many times and oft I did fast and pray watch and torment my body for the want of her but shee was not to be found any where but vnder the shadowe of thy wings which I so much desire And hence it is that she saith that he is so among all the sons as a fruitfull appletree is among all the trees of the wood Drawe neare therfore and approch vnto this happie blessed and most sweet shadow and vnder it you shall be sure to obtaine perfect peace rest although it be in the middest of tribulations aduersities because our husband Christ is our only appletree or tree of life which bringeth forth fruite of eternall life that is true vertues and holy workes in all those which lie vnder the shadow of it expecting the fulnesse of time when they shall receiue of the fulnesse of his liberalitie the apples which he shall command them to take of Gods benefits and graces that they may bee food vnto them of euerlasting and happy life The Text. 4 He brought me into the wine celler and loue was his banner ouer me 5 Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sicke of loue 6 His left hand is vnder mine head his right hand doth imbrace me 7 I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalē by the roes and by the hindes of the field that ye stirre not vp nor waken my loue vntill she please 8 It is the voice of my welbeloued behold he commeth leaping by the mountains and skipping by the hilles 9 My welbeloued is like a roe or a yong hart Lo he stādeth behind our wall looking forth of the windowes shewing himselfe through the grates The Commentarie He did not onely bring me vnto this tree of life true felicity which yeeldeth vs a defence frō the heat of the Sun also pleasant fruit but furthermore he brought vs into the wine celler by this wine is meant the word of God the houses or cellers which contain this wine are the holy books of both the old new testaments where Christ bringeth the Church as into a celler when he informs her in the right vnderstanding of the Scriptures Wherefore after that the spouse had once tasted of the pleasant drinke of euerlasting truth and therewith comforted and cheered vp her selfe in the spirit presently she declareth the benefits of her husband vnto her maydens and young virgins because she would inuite thē by litle litle vnto the loue of him and so cause them to run after him and she saith The king brought me in as if she should haue said His wine is so pleasant and good that I would willingly haue you brought into his cellers to tast of the goodnes therof and she continueth her old vaine of setting forth her husbands glory saying thus And loue was his banner ouer me What banner was that which was lifted vp ouer him the banner of loue Well then loue is the banner which draweth all thinges after her with her wonderfull and strange giftes of insinuation and allurement Christ continually commendeth vnto his Church the gift of loue and charity in such sort that he cannot with greater tokens of kindnesse testifie his loue and kindnesse to vs wards The spouse speaketh vnto her damsels Stay me with flagōs cōfort me with apples for I am sick of loue You see how effectuall how precious admirable is the banner of Christ that as soone as euer the spouse sawe it her heart was inflamed within her she cōstrained to breake forth into these words saying for I am sicke of loue And why shouldst thou be sick ô thou welbeloued spouse Is it for the want of the glorious presence of thy husbād that thou doest so torment and vexe thy self why doest thou crie out vnto the yong maidens that is to say vnto the faithfull what wouldest thou haue them to do for thee why callest thou vnto them biddest them stay thee vp with flagons and comfort thee with apples Surely by the flagōs of wine we must vnderstand the faithful and by the apples the holy Ghost or the wordes and operations of Christ And it commeth all to one passe as if she should haue sayd I am growne so impatient in striuing to shew forth my exceeding great loue vnto my best beloued Christ that I had need to be stayed vp and strengthened with the sweet smelles wine that is to say with the comfortable words of the faithfull and with the holie spirit of the Bridegrome abounding in them vnto all maner of perfection increase of faith therfore I do long to be cōforted with the delicate apples of the spirituall pleasures delights of his heauenly promises His left hand is vnder mine head his right hand doth imbrace me that is to say my request is vnto my husbād that he wold comfort me in this present world with the word of God least happily I may take occasion through the consideration conscience of my sins to fall into desperation I desire to haue him imbrace me with the clear sight and fruition of his bounty that he would preserue and deliuer me being now in this vale of miseries from all maner of sinne and daunger of dispaire or diffidencie at all and that it may please my husband to bestow vpon me the graces and gifts of the mind or otherwise confirme them in me with his glory perpetuall loue By the right hand of God is signified prosperitie by the left aduersitie and these are called the two hands of the Bridegrome because he worketh effecteth al things by thē The spouse hath the left hād of Christ but vnder her head that is to say vnder Christ by whose will and commādement they most willingly suffer endure all maner of crosses troubles or persecutions whatsoeuer For she knoweth this most certainlie that not an haire of her head shall fall to the ground or that she shall suffer any bitterne◠of griefe in the world vnlesse the Bridegrom◠will And furthermore that this left hand cannot alwaies be vnder her head although the fruites and effects thereof to wit true riches and godly glorie shall endure and continue for euer Besides all this she is most certainly perswaded that her happy daies which God holdeth in his right hand shall neue◠cease for as the Psalmist saith In thy presence is the fulnes of ioy at thy right han◠are pleasures for euermore And truly if i◠were so that Gold should holde his left han◠only vnder our heads as we haue shewed yo◠before we shold soon be brought to nough◠and neuer be able to come vnto the euerlasting pleasures in his right hand Gods left hand is said to be
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
it is no strange phrase in the scripture to call the concubines by the name of wiues although it be euident out of the olde testameÌ„t that the chiefe of them were called wiues and the rest concubines as it is manifest by Abrahams wiues Thus theÌ„ the whole Church being considered together is one perfect spouse of Christ called a doue because of the gifts of the holie Ghost which are contained in her and the more speciall particular and greater Churches are called Queenes the lesser concubines because although they be threescore in number that is enough yet these are fourscore that is more for indeed the lesser Churches are more in number then the greater the young damsels are the faithfull soules without number because there are many which are vnknowne to vs. The Text. 9 VVho is she that looketh forth as the morning faire as the moone pure as the sunne terrible as an armie with banners 10 I went downe to the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley to see if the vine budded and if the pomegranates flourished 11 I knew nothing my soule set me as the chariots of my noble people 12 Returne returne ô Shulamite returne returne that we may behold thee what shalt thou see in the Shulamite but as the companie of an armie The Commentarie THe Church is the morning which hath not yet receiued the fulnes of her light which she shall receiue in glorie the Mâ—â—â—e is the truth of Christs doctrine which shineth in the darknesse but the darknes compreheÌ„ded it not Ioh. 1. The Sun as Christ Iesus Esa 60. vers 20. Thou shalt haue no more Sunne to shine by day neither shall the brightnesse of the moone shine vnto thee for the Lord shall be thine euerlasting light and thy God thy glory Thy â—un shal neuer go down neither shall the moone be hid for the Lord shal be thine euerlasting light Thus then the Church is faire but faire as the moone that is faire as the truth because all her beauty and fairenesse commeth from thence for so greaâ— is her beauty and comelinesse as her faith is great in Gods word if her life be answerable therunto afterwards shee is elected as the suâ— Christ who in all the elect is sayd to be thâ— first borne because others are elected and predestinated vnto saluation froÌ„ the beginning for his sake that she is terrible as an army witâ— banners It hath bene already shewed yoâ— in the beginning of this chap where you may read the very same words And this interrogatiue kinde of speech Who is she are thâ— words of Christ spoken by the way of admiration to make the glorie of the Churcâ— more known vnto al the world I went dowâ— to the garden of nuttes to see the fruites of thâ— valley to see if the vine budded and if thâ— pomegranates flourished I went downe c. He calleth the Church a garden of nuts because the kernell and sweetnesse thereof is contained vnder an hard shell of aduersitie Christ came downe into this garden to preserue the fruits of the waters or torrents that is to say of the elect which are as trees planted by the riuers of waters as it is in the first Psalme To see whether the vine budded 〈…〉 to say the faith of those elect of the elect which coÌ„tinually haue their faiths accoÌ„paniâ—d followed with good works we may obserue this in these wordes of Christ vnto the Church I went downe that there is nothing which may any way belong or appertaine vnto the good of the Church but he reuealeth and maketh it knowen vnto her The Spouse speaketh vnto the Bridegroome I knew nothing my soule set me as the chariots of my noble people I knew nothing c. Christ deliuered vnto the spouse the manner of his comming downe vnto her and that in the verse immediatly going before to whom she replyeth after this manner I knew not that is to say I marked not that you were so neare me till you bewrayed your selfe vnto me by your sweete and pleasant wordes likewise I knew not when thou departedâ— from me vnlesse it pleased thee to reueale the same vnto me and the reason is because no man knoweth the hidden secrets and mysteries of God vnlesse it be God and him vnto whom God reuealeth them and it followeth my soule The soule of the Church is Christ it is a very vsuall and significatiue kind of speech to expresse a mans loue because he that loueth a thing earnestly and vehemently calleth that which he loueth his soule so that the righteous maÌ„ which loueth Christ saith that Christ is his soule he set me as the chariots of my people which runne willingly in the course of Gods words but although they be willing in spirit and readie in mind yet they draw after them heauie weake chariots or burdens and therefore I will goe draw those chariots I will enter into them and confirme the weake and frayle ones with the doctrine of pietie comfort those that are comfortlesse and as much as I can frame my selfe wholly vnto their seruice caring not what shall happen vnto me so that I may winne some vnto the Gospell And hence it was that S. Paul boasted of his infirmities and labours which hee suffered and endured for Gods people The words of the young damsels vnto the Spouse Returne returne ô Shulamite returne returne that we may behold thee what shall you see in the Shulamite but as the companions of any armie Returne c. It hath beene oftentimes declared vnto you before that by the name of damsels or young virgins are signified the faithfull people of God which are all renewed in Christ and euery one of them hath a youngnesse or youth of mind these viewing and beholding the great care and diuerse troubles of the Church which she suffereth and endureth for their sakes are constrained to reioyce in the true charitie thereof because it is proper vnto the faithfull alone to reioyce be glad in the Lord wheÌ„ they see the loue of others towards theÌ„ which they desire and studie as much as in them lieth to immitate and expresse Therfore these are the words of the faithfull vnto the Church of God which is so carefull and pensiue for their good Returne ô Shulamite that is to say O thou peaceable and quiet spouse of Christ because that she ought to be a peaceable spouse of her peaceable husband Christ to the end that her nature may be answerable vnto her name and the thing concord and concurre with the words The doubling and repetitioÌ„ of the word returne discouereth the greatnes of their affections whence should she returne whence shold she come from labours and griefe from sorrow and troubleâ— for verily we can not but see how the Church is vexed and tormented watcheth and fasteth laboureth sweateth and all this shee is content to receiue at the hands of the wicked for the behoofe good of the
he calleth them twinnes because it is the selfe same God and father which is the author and father of both Testaments The Text. 4 Thy neeke is like a towre of iuorie thine eyes are like the fish pooles in Heshbon by the gate of Beth-rabbim thy nose is as the towre of Lebanon that looketh toward Damascus 5 Thine head vpon thee is as a skarlet and the buâ—ke of thine head like purple the king is tyed in the rafters 6 How faire art thou and how pleasant art thou ô my pleasure 7 This thy stature is like a palme trâ—e and thy breasts like clusters 8 I said I will go â—p into the palme tree I will take hold of her boughes thy breasts shall now be like the clusters of the vine and the sauour of thy nose like apples 9 And the roofe of thy mouth like good wine which goeth straight to my welbeloued and causeth the lips of the ancient to speake The Commentarie The necke is faith as it is euident out of the first and fourth Chapters and this place may be thus expounded as if a man had a towre of iuorie doubtlesse it would be a very precious and strong place so in like maner if a man haue faith hee hath a most firme strong and precious towre and rocke of defence against which the gates of hell shal neuer be able to preuaile but of this there hath bene sufficiently spoken in the places aboue mentioned Moreouer he commendeth her for her fine eyes which signifie nothing else but the iudgementes of the Church which are as cleare bright and pure as the most â—â—eare waters in the fish-pooles of Hesebon which are the liuely fountaines of truth and pure waters of Gods word which the bridegroome hath in great abundance and of the aboundance of his goodnesse wee all receiue that belong vnto the faithfull churches And these fish-pooles are neare vnto the gate of Beth-rabbim that is if a man interpret it the gate of the daughter of a multitude that is wherein manie are contained or to whom manie belong according to the phrase and manner of speaking of the Hebrewes is the Church which may bee verie fitly called a daughter of multitudes begotten by the word of God whose gate is Christ In this gate is their great aboundance and plentie of fountaines fishpooles of liuing water that is to say of truth grace and Gods diuine iustice Furthermore he goeth onward in praising her for her nose which is a signification of vertue for thereby do we smell the sweete sauours of our Lord and sauior Iesus Christ wherefore as they which are situated vpon the top of a towre on the pleasant hill of Lebanon do partake the sweet sent of the spices which growe thereon so hee that standeth vpon the strong tower of the Church and hath sure footing on this rocke to wit of faith which is noted by the similitude of a rock or towre must needs be perfumed with the sweete smell of Christes ointments for because he is in the Church and the rest not so for the same reason and he saith that this tower of faith looketh toward Damascus Where he taketh Damascus for all the carnall minded men which are indeed nothing else but a sacke of bloud because this is the right signification of the word in the originall Against these doth the strong tower that is to say the faith of the Church looke most oppositely and directly because the iudgementes and affections of the Church are cleane contrarie vnto them and the heade of the Church as wee haue before prooued vnto you is the Bridegrome Christ a pleasant and worthy Bridegrome high as mount Carmel and fruitfull as mount Carmel for all these thinges haue bene truly spoken and may bee very well verified of Christ the head of the Church for hee is most high and statelie fruitfull and abounding in the corne of trueth or rather all manner of fruites spring from him and without him it is not possible for anie man to budde or bring foorth either fruite or leaues Finallie wee are sed with his corne that is to say with his Spirit and truth as often as we beleeue in him as it is in the sixt chapter of Iohn and 32. verse where hee commaunded the Iewes to eate and drinke him by faith And Christ here as in manie other places of the Canticles commendeth himselfe in the Church and the Church in him for when hee praiseth the head of the Spouse what doth hee else but commend himselfe by and by afterwardes he commendeth the Spouse in commending himselfe for otherwise the Spouse deserueth no commendarious vnlesse it be for his sake He proceedeth further yet to magnifie and extoll her haire now the haire is nothing els but the doctrine and deedes of Christ and the king which he talketh of is God the purple the holie Ghost and perfect charitie the watering places the writings of God the Prophets where all the flockes of the Christians are to be watered And the haire of Christ is compared and likened vnto the purple of some mightie Prince because all that which hee either did or taught was deriued from the source of the holy Ghost and fountaine of true charitie and the king is tyed to the watering places because Gods holy spirit is inserted and ingrafted within the writings of the holy scripture and bookes of the Prophets where he is alwayes present and by them he maketh knowne the loue of God vnto the godly mindes moreouer he continueth to prayse the Church by rehearsing the generall commendations thereof and confounding or huddeling the prayses therof together into one short sentence saying ô faire art thou O thou Church and congregation of the faithfull which art most louing and pleasurable vnto thy spouse and that in the pleasures of thy Christ whilest thou reioycest in him alone and none but him for otherwise thou sholdest be the most miserable distressed wretch in the world receiuing no helpe and succour from him for no man that walketh in strange pleasures from Christ can haue any comelinesse or beauty before the Lord. Again she is commended for her husband and for her stature in these words This thy stature is like a palme-tree and thy breasts like clusters The palme-tree is a tree that hath a sound trunke high and straight but the barke or rinde thereof is rugged hard and deformed being broad and equallie big at top bowing her head euerie way downward which yeeldeth plentie of a kind of sweet fruite called dates which growe so plentifully vpon this tree that they be like vnto the clusters of vines and this is the stature of Christes spouse for shee is sound because of the roote and strength of faith somewhat high and tall which is so streight in the toppe with faith and the consideration of heauenlie thinges that she boweth or swaggereth not at all neither to the right hande nor to the left from the word of God shee hath a hard
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
siluer two hundred to them that keepe the frute thereof 13 O thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken vnto thy voyce cause me to heare it 14 O my welbeloued flie avvay and be like vnto the Roe or to the young Hart vpon the mountaines of spices The Commentarie The wordes of the Bridegrome vnto the Church of the Conuerts The bridegroome confirmeth her sayings to be true affirming the Church to be before the Lord because he is alwayes most readie to succour and helpe her in all her necessities Wherefore he sendeth not wolues but faithful ministers and Apostles to be her keepers in such sort that it is not possible that any one of them should perish The church of the conuerts vnto the Bridegrome To thee appertaineth a thousand peeces of siluer Because the number of a thousand is the terme and bound of all other numbers therefore it is taken for all numbers and then the words go thus O Salomon O my peaceable and louing Christ to thee appertaineth a thousand that is the greatest and farthermost number And two hundred to them that keepe the frute thereof that is not so much a◠appertaineth vnto thee The wordes of the Bridegrome vnto the Bride O thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken vnto thy voyce cause mee to beare it Here Christ speaketh vnto all the Church in generall shewing how acceptable and pleasant her voyce is to him which she so greatly longeth for to heare because her voice is Gods word therfore he speaketh after this maner vnto the spouse O my louing spouse thou that dwellest in the gardens that is to say in the particular Churches which are taken for gardens Thy companions or friends namely those which preach and teach the Gospell Hearken vnto thy voyce that is are obedient vnto thee because thou alone art able to teach them my words Cause me to heare thy voyce which is nothing diuerse I am sure from my words or contrarie to the scripture therfore most acceptable and pleasant vnto me because all other words which proceede and come from the flesh they are not my words they are adulterous and false words and therfore most abhominable in mine eares The wordes of the Spouse vnto the Bridegroome O my welbeloued flie away and be like vnto the Roe or to the young Hart vpon the mountaines of spices This mountaine of spices is the Church and therfore the lesser and particular Churches are called mountaines of spices Christ desired to heare the Spouse speake the Spouse answereth him by vttering the words of perfect charitie by which words it appeareth how zealous she is of Christes glorie and the knowledge of his truth And furthermore the great desire wherewith she is inflamed towardes the saluation of all men And this is briefly the sence and meaning of these wordes O my welbeloued flie away as a man when he flieth away in great hast or as the Roes or young Harts doe skirre it along most nimbly vpon the tops of the hils so do thou make hast and tarrie not to come vnto the mountaines of spices that is to say to come both vnto the Church vniuersall and also to be present ayding vnto all the particular Churches least happily they may be constrained to receiue any other besides thee and so by estraunging themselues from thee perish eternally Therfore gentle Christ come quickly to helpe and succour to direct and guide vs vnto the right way which leadeth vs vnto life euerlasting FINIS Faults escaped In the Preface for the title or inscription of the Song of songs reade the title or inscription is the Song of songs Page 8. line 12. for man reade men p. 14. l. 6. for sunnie reade sinne p. 21. l. 23. for particularly reade patiently p. 23. l. 10. for houses reade horses p. 39. l. 13. for vvith the svveete reade vvith svveete p. 40. l. 28. for gold reade God p. 51. l. 7. for the people reade his people p. 51. l. 30. for and maketh it reade maketh it p. 64.1 for to reade and p. 79. l. 7. for of seeming workes that issue foorth from faith reade of seeming good vvorks but not proceeding frō faith the other a chaine of good vvorkes indeed that is to say of vvorkes that issue foorth from faith p. 108. l. 12. for then reade that p. 121. l. 11. for those elect vvhich is a companion c. reade of the elect vvhich continually haue their faiths accompanied and follovved vvith good vvorkes Floure Psal 16.11 * It the fruit fo his pleasant apples Thus it is in Italian Thus it is in Italian Thus it is in Italian * It. Hell
A COMMENTARY VPON THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES WRITten first in Italian by Antonio Brucioli and now translated into English by Th. Iames fellow of New colledge in Oxford Greater is he that prophecieth then he that speaketh diuers tongues except he expound it that the Church may receiue edification 1. Cor. 14. v. 4. Come and eate of my meate and drinke of the wine that I haue drawen Prov. 9. v. 5. LONDON Printed by R. F. for Tho. Man 1598. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR THOmas Egerton Knight Lord Keeper of the great seale of England Thomas Iames wisheth increase of health wealth and prosperitie in this life and endlesse ioy happinesse immortality in the life to come SAint Hierome complained of the multitude and abuse of writers in his time Salomon to shew the vanity of meÌ„ in writing of bookes beginneth one of his bookes with Vanitie Vanitie of vanities saith Salomon the Preacher vanitie of vanities and all is but vanitie and as he beginneth his booke so he endeth it as if from the beginning vnto the ending â—here were nothing but vanity in all other bookes the holy Scripture onely excepted no part or parcell whereof may be guilty of the least thought of vanitie in the world the holy Ghost being in the holy scripture as the soule is in the bodie all in all and all in euery part And therefore in the later ende of his booke to leade vs vnto the beginning of true wisedome he pricketh men forward and exhorteth them to the diligent reading of Gods words the words of truth by comparing them vnto prickes and nailes fastned by the masters of the assemblies To auoyd Saint Hieromes complaint follow Salomons godly exhortation the Author of this present treatise vpon the Canticles did exercise him self from his infancie in the studie of Gods word the which he read so earnestly and eagerly as if as Saint Austin saith he could neuer haue read it sufficiently though hâ— should haue begun neuer so soone and liued neuer so long But finding the scriptures by his owne experience so written in diuerse places though all Scripture be written for our instruction as if iâ— were not written as it was sayd of certaine bookes of Aristotle in so much that when the Eunuch readeth Philip had need to stand by interpret He thought it good for the good of the Church and glorie of God to bestow the greatest part of his time partly in translating the Bible into his mother tongue which he did most exactly partly in writing such a commentarie vpon the Bible as might in doubtfull and hard places fully satisfie and content the minde of the religious reader Now there are many which haue written vpon the Bible learned and godly commentaries in all tongues languages many more now thanks be to God in these later dayes theÌ„ in former times but of all late writers there is none for any that I haue seene or heard which may be compared with this Brucioli for absolute and exquisite knowledge in the tongues great reading in the Fathers shortnesse and plainnesse in deliuering of the meaning of the holy Ghost and last of all such soundnesse in Religion integritie of doctrine as may seeme admirable in any man but in Brucioli and Italian wonderfull beyond the degree ofâ— admiratioÌ„ For surely as it seemed straÌ„geâ— vnto the Iewes that out of Galile should come any good so it is no lesse stranges vnto some that Italie should affoord vs any good Italy being the cage of vncleannesse and seate of Antichrist But God the God of the Gentiles as well as of the Iewes the God of Italians as of Englishmen no accepter of persons or respecter of place hath euen in Italie many peraduenture thousands which haue not bowed their knees vnto Baal electing some out of each nation countrey to make vp the summe of his elect Now as God in his mercie hath stirred vp some to defende his glorie in other countreys so hath he raised vp this Brucioli to be a principall setter forth of his glorie in Italie which that man of sinne the Romane Antichrist perceiuing hath therefore laboured to suppresse and abolish his painfull labours but man purposeth and God disposeth For as they haue bene forbidden twise so twise haue they bene printed and that in no other place then Venice dedicated to men of the contrary religion which it should seem he professed and submitted to the censure of our holy mother the Church prouided that out of the Scriptures and Fathers they should be able to refute his doctrine which out of theÌ„ both he had most learnedly coÌ„piled The time wherin he liued I find not certainly set downe of any but this is most certaine that he liued about the time of Conradus Pellicanus some 70 or 80 yeares ago and that Pellican did verie much profite himselfe by Brucioli or Brucioli by Pellicans writings which is the more probable by how much the more Brucioli hath in his CoÌ„mentary besides that which is out of Pellican translated into his books word for word in diuerse places The order method which he obserued in his Commentarie is such as deserueth to be imitated of all men that labour in this businesse in easie and facill places of the Bible either to be altogether silent or very short and briefe in harder places to be more plentifull and copious in no place spending paper and inke in idle and vnprofitable questions such as tend not to edification As to dispute the case in this Commentarie vpon the Canticles whether of the three bookes which Salomon wrote he wrote the Canticles in the first or second place as the Iewes imagine or last of all as all the Latine writers do consent Whether there be more persons then foure or whether this book be meant literally of Pharaohs daughter or mystically of the Church these questions being farre aboue the reach of the commoÌ„ sort of people he omitteth purposely And because all writers with one voyce consent that the Church is meant by the Spouse he so taketh it without any further adoe instructing vs in these points of religion necessary to be taught of him and vnderstood of vs. That the Church here militant consisteth of two parts a visible and an inuisible that in the Church Christ must beare rule and not Peter that Gods word must be heard and not mens traditions finally he teacheth vs the necessitie of faith and fruite of good workes these are the principall points which he handleth in this booke euery where ioyning with them matter of comfort and exhortation and thus much for Brucioli and his Commentary Now for my selfe and my translation I could haue wished that others which haue the gift of interpretation wold haue taken the worke in hand but seeing they haue bene slacke in this businesse I haue for that exceeding great loue which I beare vnto tâ—â— workes of this learned man a stranger but not from the faith translated this booke of
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
The sonnes of my mother were angrie against me And what is this mother but Eue the mother of all the liuing aswel the iust as the vniust and the vniust haue euer since the beginning of the world opposed themselues against the iust because they hate thē which are ruled by Christs lawes so perish in the reprobrat sence of the flesh these are of the wicked synagogue of Satā which do stil persecute vexe contradict the spouse whence it cōmeth that she is grown so blacke brown They made me the keeper of the vines as if she should haue said I haue obtained this by my persecutions that I am made keeper of more vines that is of more churches bicause the first Church was founded in Ierusalem that which followeth But I kept not mine owne vine is not to be vnderstood of the mind but of the place for although the citie be ruinated and destroyed yet neuerthelesse the integritie of faith remaineth inuiolable for euer and euer so that this is the meaning he kept not that place that is hee retayned not that place where the vineyard should haue bene and where it was planted at the first being rooted by God the father out of that barren and vnfertile soyle and planted in a more fertile place among the Gentiles So the Church is this vine or else by this you may vnderstand the soules of the faithfull which are planted in faith rooted in charitie trenched about with the furrowes of good discipline repayred with the teares of the penitent and watered with the wordes of the Preacher and hence commeth it that they doe so abound in all manner of diuine fruit that is to say in gladnesse and holy deuotion In like maner we may say that faith is the vine the branches vertues the grapes good workes the wine deuotion Moreouer the vineyard is religion the husbandman the father the sonne the vine and the iust the branches thereof God the father is the husbandman because he digges and ditches it in confession and contrition proynes it with sprinckling of teares And indeed the Sonne is the vine because he is the foundation of religion because no man can lay any other foūdatiō but that which is already laid which is Christ Iesus by whom euery building doth grow vp to be a holy tēple The brāches are the righteous which doe shoot sprout out of the vine Christ and are full of sappe and moysture The spouse vnto Christ Shew me Christ is all in all vnto them that beleeue a king a sunne a keeper of vines a shepheard notwithstanding he cōtinueth alwayes to be their bridegrome welbeloued to whom the spouse flieth for succour helpe seeing that she is not able to keepe her vine any lōger she referreth the care therof vnto her husband Christ Moreouer she hath many litle goats about her that is many yong ones which are but simple fellowes nouices vngrounded in faith which she would faine haue fed with the precious and wholesome bread of Christs word and not with the poisoned doctrine of men And this is the cause why she makes her recourse vnto him knowing that he is the true shepheard of her soule saying O thou whom my soule loueth ô sonne of loue charitie and this charitie is God that is as much to say as ô thou my deare bridegrome husbād Christ whō my soule loueth whom I can not chuse but loue most entirely dearely shew me where thou feedest where the sonne of righteousnes feedeth and resteth himselfe I meane Christ Iesus the sonne of God which neuer setteth hauing alwayes a meridian brightnesse shyning round about him And the Church knoweth the time that is to say the noone-tide at what time the bridegrome doth rest take his repast but she knoweth not the place where Also she knoweth that with the lanterne of the word it is not possible to find him vnlesse it please him to manifest and shew himselfe by opening the hidden senses and darke mysteries of the scriptures with his key and this knowledge also can not be gotten vnlesse it be obtayned by the spirite of the bridegrome and therefore she requesteth him that it would please him to make himselfe knowen vnto her and shew her where he feedes abides And euen now he feedeth her whilest that he lighteneth reioyceth and inflameth her which is in the heate of the day to wit at noone or midday So that we are not able to endure the great glorie of his face vnlesse wee be couered with the vayle of his flesh which he tooke and euen now we do rest vnder the shadowe of his wings by being made partakers of his heauenly graces For why should I be And what is that the spouse requireth here in this place vnlesse it be that Christ should shew her these things least that she should be compelled to turne aside to the flockes of his companions But what are these companions but the faithfull chiefly those which haue any office or superioritie ouer the rest But of these there be some true some lying and false brethren The true brethren do not gather the flockes vnto themselues but vnto Christ neither doe they make themselues heads of the Church but humbly submit both themselues and their whole flockes vnto Christs gouernment acknowledging him to be their Lord and head and they are very much afraid least the flockes should follow them and therefore they doe studie by all manner of meanes how to preuent these sayings I am of Paul and I am of Peter I am of Barnabas and I am of Apollo But their onely care and desire is to bring euery one to say and confesse thus much I am of Christ Now contrariwise they which are the false followers and companions of Christ Iesus do not leade or gather the flockes vnto their bridegrome Christ but vnto themselues making themselues heads and ouerseers ouer those flockes wherefore the true Church saith I will not turne aside to the flockes of them which are called thy companions chusing rather to do any thing then this because that if the flockes do follow any other shepheard but thee they must needes perish and be destroyed and these flockes do wander and go astray because during the time of their abode here in this wicked world they can find no rest or peace but are alwayes troubled disquieted in mind and therefore the sense and meaning of these words is this I doe heartily desire thee ô my God and Sauiour that it would please thee and none but thee to take the paines to teach mee those things which it is meete for me to know to the end that my iudgement and minde may not bee offuscated and darkened with the cloudes of errors and heresies but that my vnderstanding may be lightened with the truth of thy word which shineth as cleare as the Sunne doth at noone day so that I may not fall into any error or false opinion being
misled misguided by them which make profession of great knowledge and wisedome and which continue to coÌ„pare their doctrine and the precepts of their fond hearts with the truth of thy word The text 7 If thou know not ô thou the fairest among women get thee foorth by the steppes of the flocke and feede thy kiddes by the â—ents of the shepheards 8 I haue compared thee O my loue to the troupe of horses in the chariots of Pharaoh 9 Thy cheekes are comely with rowes of stones and thy necke with chaynes 10 VVe will make thee borders of gold with studs of siluer 11 VVhiles the king was at his repast my spikenard gaue the smell thereof 12 My welbeloued is as a buÌ„dle of myrrhe vnto me he shall lie between my breasts 13 My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire vnto me in the vines of Engedi 14 My loue behold thou art faire behold thou art faire thine eies are like the doues 15 My welbeloued behold thou art faire and pleasant also our bed is greene 16 The beames of our house are Cedars our rafters are of firre The Commentarie The words of the bridegrome vnto the Spouse If thou know not Christ aunswereth the Church and teacheth her all those things which she before had demaunded of him he saith vnto her O thou the fairest among women that is to say among the Churches because the Church congregation of the faithfull howsoeuer it seeme in the sight of men to be blacke and contemptible yet notwithstanding the only begotten sonne of God Christ Iesus esteemeth and iudgeth her to be fairer and better then all the Synagogues of the wicked O wonderfull great beautie and fairenes which God himselfe doth so greatly commende and approoue by calling her the fairest among women Indeed other women are faire because they are Gods creatures who is most glorious admirable in all his workes but thou O my Spouse exceedest them all because thou art to be preferred before them all because thou art adorned with my beautie in regard whereof he sayth vnto her O thou the fairest among women if thou know not of thy selfe where I feed rest at noone day then go foorth out of thy selfe renounce thy selfe and all things else for the loue of me beare thy crosse particularly and trust not to thy owne opinion or workes at all Furthermore depart from the flockes of my companions and from the dregs filth of humane traditions and lastly lay aside all trust and confidence in the flesh otherwise neuer hope to find the place where I do feed and rest my selfe at nooneday because he is not worthie of my loue that for the loue of me is not content to forsake all things and himselfe also if neede be At length he sheweth where his feeding and abiding is to wit in the footsteps of the flocks of the Church and neere the tabernacles of shepheards of these flockes are all they which we know to be of the Church and their footsteps are those things which we read of them to haue bene gratefull and acceptable vnto God and these are the steppes of the Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles of the true faith in the word of God all those things which God doth worke and bring to passe in them by charitie And we must follow after those steps where he feedeth and lyeth because he comforteth all them which truely feede on him in their hearts by faith and he granteth them true peace of conscience which is as much as to rest and feede with Christ The litle goates and the feeble and weake hearted are those which beleeue in the Lord. The shepheards may be tearmed those whom he sendeth abroad with authoritie to preach the Gospell who by publishing abroad among the people the sincere word of God do minister and giue them food of eternall life by giuing them the bread of Gods word in due season which if they did not they would not be accounted true shepheards and ministers of the word and their tabernacles are the Churches neare which the flockes of the elect children of God do graze and feed and the pastures are the immaculate wordes of God and this is the food which Christ commanded Peter to feed his sheepe withall The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Spouse I haue compared thee ô my loue to the troupe of houses He compareth the blessed spouse of the most victorious king Christ vnto the troupe of horses that is to say vnto the Angels because no man of any vnderstanding in the world doubteth whether they be the messengers and ministers of Christ Wherefore Christ speaketh as it were after this sort vnto the spouse ô my deare spouse the time was when thou wast in a miserable case the prisoner and bondslaue of the Diuell and therfore as farre estranged as might be from me but loe I haue now set thee at libertie I haue freed and redeemed thee out of the hands of the diuell and by the vertue of my word and spirite I will so glorifie thee that thou shalt be like vnto the glorious companie of Angels But wherein In the Chariots and power of Pharaoh the king of Egypt that is to say the Prince of darkenesse the diuell sinne death and hell it selfe all which things I haue ouercome for thee that thou shouldest trust and beleeue in me And this is spoken to this end and purpose that we shold know that all those which are without Christ are but as it were horses which draw in the Chariot of Pharaoh that is to say are vnder the rule and guiding of him which driues the Chariot to wit the Diuell but as many as are of Christ hold with him they are put into Gods coach that is to say are altogether ruled and gouerned by him Therefore by the notable troupe of horses of God we must needes vnderstand the Church by reason of the multitude of meÌ„ that are contained in it and of store of spirituall armour and weapons of faith iustice and for the inuincible force and strength of the spirit and noble victorie ouer her enemies Thy cheekes are comely Finally he commendeth his owne workes in the spouse because the spouse is not otherwise faire or coÌ„ly but as she is faire and beautifull in her husband Christ And whereas it is said thy cheekes are comely wee are to consider the cheekes as they are in the head and face and the head of the spouse is the husbaÌ„d Now as the beautie of the cheekes doth principally appertain vnto the head and theÌ„ afterwards vnto the rest of the members so the beautie and glorie of Christs cheekes which is the head of the Church do first of all belong vnto him and secondly they appertaine vnto his members that is to say vnto the spouse because Christ is the honour and glory of the spouse whose necke are the Preachers and teachers of the Church which are adorned beautified with chaines sundry iewels
me continue to beleeue in me by faith because he may be truly sayd to followe after Christ which beleeueth in him then the spirit of Christ the bridegrome of the faithful speaketh after this maner vnto the elect dispersed throughout the face of the whole earth Rise vp my faithfull spouse by a liuely faith in Gods wordes and put all thy trust and confidence in him that calleth thee vnto him he sheweth that there is a conueniēt time for all things to be done in by reason of the vicissitude and change of thinges for wheras her welbeloued had but earst before visited her in her greene bed now he wils her to dresse the vineyard and driue away the wilde beasts out from it that is to say to build vp his Church and weede out all manner of heretickes out of it and it is as if Christ should haue said vnto her Rise vp out of thy bed of contemplation and rest wherein thou now slumberest yet thinke not that I will vtterly forsake thee because thou art my loue but go gather the faithfull together in the spirit of gentlenesse and lenitie because thou art my doue come thy way and suppresse thy aduersaries because thou art faire and adorned or beautified with all manner of vertues for behold the winter is past the raine is changed and is gone away That is to say the old and ancient errors are vanished away at the comming of the glorious Sonne of God Christ Iesus and the tedious darke and dyrtie time of winter is past and gone when all things were wrapt and infolded in ignorance and blindnesse in neglect and contempt of Gods good will and benefits but loe now the ioyfull and hopefull time of Spring is come when the pleasant and wholsome blast of Gods fauor shall blow vpon all the hearts and mindes of the faithfull filling and inspiring them with the word of God sent downe from heauen for the behoofe and benefit of vs mortall men and now is the time or neuer to repent and amend our liues by awaking out of sinne and preparing our minds consciences vnto the study or godlinesse meekenesse and to do the true works of piety to roote vp the concupiscences of carnall senses and follow the old and ancient discipline of the Church The voyce of the Turtle doue hath beene already heard vppon the earth which is a signe of a most happie yeare or spirituall aboundance and plentie of all manner of goodnesse and gladnesse in the hearts and consciences of the faithfull and the pleasantnesse of the Gospell is comming vpon you with all maner of comfort and consolation and now the time approcheth whē you shall reape the fruit and receiue the benefit of your godlinesse the figge tree bringeth foorth her young figges and the vines begin to bud foorth so that we haue all the signes of a rich and plentifull yeare which is likely to abound in all manner of loue and true holinesse perfect ioy and euerlasting comfort and we haue certain infallible true tokens of the Churches perfection which consisteth in the true vnitie therof and knowledge of Gods loue in the multitude of the Gentiles and faithfull soules which are called Moreouer we may if we will allegorically interpret the hardnesse of the winter to be the hardnesse and rigor of the law which is alreadie vanished away because of the comming of the Gospell of glad tydings and therefore we see the promises of the Prophts to flourish and the gracious proceedings therof which we may call the floures which appearing in the spring time do shew forth a fruitfull and happie yeare and the time of pruning or dressing is when laying aside all manner of lying and deceit euerie man shall speake the truth vnto his neighbour And by the voyce of the Turtle is signified the voice of the Preachers of Gods word which beginneth to be heard abroad in the world And the figge tree doth bring forth her young figges that is to say the Apostles are alreadie come into the world which bring forth the most delectaable and pleasant food of the Gospell and minister it vnto the faithfull according to their necessities The Bridegrome speaketh vnto the Spouse My doue that art in the holes of the rocke in the secret places of the stayres shew me thy sight let me heare thy voice for thy voice is sweet thy sight comely By the doue is signified the holy Ghost as it is euident out of the third of Matthew the first of Marke the third of Luke and 1. of Iohn Wherefore the Church which is inspired and filled with the holy Ghost made altogether spirituall may well be called here in this place a doue and whereas he replyeth and calleth her his loue we are to note that all her loue commeth frō him which is the fountaine of loue and that it is from him and for him that she is called beautifull and faire or a doue that is to say spirituall and she is prouoked and stirred vp afresh by the Bridegroome to come but in the holes of the rockes and secret places of the stayres This rocke is Christ 1. Cor. 10 v. 2. We did all drinke of the spirituall rocke that followed them the rocke was Christ and by the secret places of the stayres is meant the inward ascention and lifting vp of the heart which euery faithfull man must needs haue And it followeth shew me thy sight because the bridegrome was desirous to see the face of the Church as I shewed you before in the holes of the rockes and in the secrete places of the stayres and to heare her voyce or rather his because otherwise the wordes of God cannot be acceptable vnto her neither is it possible for her to find her husband by any other meanes for thy voice is sweete and thy sight comely here we see the goodnesse of her louing spouse towards her For without all question it is indeede his voice and his words which the Church speaketh and to conclude all that the Church hath is his but why then calleth he it her voice thy voice is sweete because we should know that his voyce is common betweene him and the spouse for Christs voice is nothing else but the ministerie of Gods word in the Church so that alwayes Christs words do concerne and regard the Church and the good of the people It followeth and thy sight comely We are to obserue in these wordes that whereas euery one is knowne by his face that the Church here in this place is said to be known by her sight face or countenace Now the face of the spouse is the righteousnesse of the iust I meane the beleeuing iust of the light of whose countenāce it is written to the end that they may turne the hearts of fathers vnto their sonnes and the vnbeleeuers vnto the wisedome of the iust And whosoeuer hath this wisedome walketh not after the will of man but after the
will of God the holy Ghost that is to say when his mind and vnderstanding is ruled and gouerned by the holy Ghost which commeth then to passe when he iudgeth all things rightly according to the word of God And likewise she may be then said to haue Christs face when in the middest of prosperitie shee doth nothing by chance or otherwise then as a true Christian woman should do but in effect deed and maketh it manifest vnto the whole world that she hath rightly put on the Lord Iesus Christ and his face is seene in her aduersities and troubles if she willingly beare the crosse and crucifie the old man by suffering patienly all manner of aduersities The text 15 Take vs the Foxes the litle Foxes which destroy the vines for our vines haue small grapes 16 My welbeloued is mine and I am his he feedeth among the lillies 17 Vntill the day breake and the shadowes flee away returne my welbeloued be like a Roe or a young Hart vpon the mountaines of Bether The Commentarie The Foxe is one of the craftiest beasts in the world and hereby are signified painted out vnto vs the false beleeuers and enemies to the truth and this text may be fitly applyed against false teachers dissembling Prophets which destroy the litle vines that is to say corrupt those which in the particular Churches of the world doe beginne to beleeue and he repeateth the word Foxes by saying litle Foxes the better to make known vnto vs their weakenesse infirmity which is such that they cannot be able to bring any thing to passe against the Church of God vnlesse they first receiue power from the darkenesse of God and this he forewarneth the friendes of the bridegrome to wit the ministers of the word to the end that they should girde vp themselues to take them by the mutuall helpe of the bridegrome and of the bride as often as they would like fishes fast caught in the nets of Gods word now hee is saide properly to be taken or caught which is cōuinced by the truth And in that he sayth Take vs the Foxes we must note this how the preachers of the Gospell which are commaunded to do this do take and keepe them for Christ and the Church labouring to please and obey them both because they are ministers both of Christ and also of the Church The vines are the particular Churches which the heretikes and false hypocriticall Doctors and teachers doe corrupt and peruert because they pare away the greennesse beautie of the Church that is to say sucke out the principles of good fruit which they haue gathered out of the worde of God and alleage them vnder a shew and pretence of godlinesse vnto a most wicked end Wherefore all such must be driuen away which goe about to depraue the word of God with their heresies and inuentions The Spouse speaketh My welbeloued is mine and I am his he feedeth among the lillies As who would say I do most constantly and inuiolably hold the friendship of my welbeloued for because I know his loue is most constant towards me which I perceiue by his great familiaritie in that he feedeth among the lillies By the lillies are to be vnderstood the soules of the faithfull which do alwaies yeeld foorth a pleasant sent of good workes among their neighbours so that the spouse being inuited to them by the word of God and now ioyned with her husband Christ is imbraced of him and desireth to dwell with him for euer and that she may in the deuotion of her mind as it were among the lillies and roses continually enioy the comforts of the Saints and holy ones vntill the cleare day-starre and meridian brightnesse of Gods good will and pleasure do shine foorth whereby all manner of clouds and shadowes may be compelled to flee away to the end that all manner of men from the highest to the lowest may know God without feare of sinne or danger of heresie It is certainely a great sute which the Church hath vnto Christ here in this place and although she be most fully perswaded that it shall be most fully graunted vnto her yet neuerthelesse shee interposeth and offereth vp her prayers vnto God because she would not be depriued of this happinesse in any sort saying Returne my welbeloued Returne I say my welbeloued and be to me both in word and deede a most ioyfull goat to spie out our wantes and defects with sharpe and quicke eyes and to looke downe vpon our miseries with the eye of pitie and compassion as a most louing young Hart take the old serpent away from among vs which lyeth in wait to do vs harme and kill him with the breath of thy mouth ouercome all our enemies ô thou which art so louing ouer all mankind and faithfull soules graunt this O Lord if it be but for the promises which thou madest vnto our forefathers whom verily thou diddest choose out amongst the Gentiles commandedst them to looke for their sauing healthes and saluation and the saluation of all others at the hands of Christ Iesus their Sauiour which was promised vnto them from the beginning of the world The third Chapter 1 In my bed by night I sought him that my soule loued I sought him but I found him not 2 I will rise therefore now and go about in the citie by the streetes and by the open places and will seeke him that my soule loueth I sought him but I found him not 3 The watchmen that went about the citie found me to whom I said haue you seene him whom my soule loueth 4 VVhen I had past a litle from them then I found him whom my soule loued I tooke hold on him and left him not till I had brought him vnto my mothers house into the chamber of her that conceiue◠me 5 I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalem by the Roes and by the Hindes of the field that ye stirre not vp nor wake◠my loue vntill she please The Commentarie THe soules of the righteous are saide t◠make them beds when flying the care◠and troubles of the world they take a course how to liue quietly peaceably And to seek the bridegrome in the night time or in the dark is as much as to seeke him in their own works or in the traditions and constitutions of men where it is not possible to find him because they are full of darknesse and obscuritie So then the spouse the Church speaketh these words or the like in effect Being pricked with the guiltinesse of mine own sinfull conscience and labouring in my chamber bed that is to say trusting in mine own merits or worthinesse I sought the fauour and loue of my husbād because indeed I thought to haue obtained purchased eternall blisse and happinesse by the workes of the law and thus hauing a long time sought it here I could not find it because his loue commeth not from our merits and worthinesse but
And these loues are better then wine because neither wine nor any other outward thing can be more pleasant or acceptable thē the workes of Christian charitie And finally the sauour of thine oyntments is better then all spices because the Church is made partaker of Christs ointments which yeeld foorth a farre more precious gracious and louing smel then the smell of any outward vnguent or any thing else whatsoeuer Thy lippes my spouse droppe honycombes hony and milke are vnder thy tongue and the sauour of thy garmēts is as the sauour of Lebanon Thy lips The lips of the church are euer like honycombs dropping but what do they drop or distill milke and hony which is vnder their tongues By which words we are to note the hony sweet and milke white vnspotted words of God These words may be said to drop from the mouth of the chast spouse whiles she deliuereth them vnto her neighbours they flow from her most easily and fluently which is signified by these words in that they are said to be vnder her tonge Indeed she is indewed with her husband Christs spirit by meanes whereof she both perfectly knoweth and easily pronounceth all things because it is a generall rule the more perfectly we know a thing the more ready shall we be able to vtter and pronounce the same And it followeth in the text and the savour of thy garments is as the sauour of Lebanon What garments are these which the Church weareth vnlesse it be these wherewith shee which is Christs most sacred body is couered and apparelled withall and these are the garments indeede wherwith the grace of Christ his iustice spirit truth peace and all those good gifts and graces which do accompany them are greatly glorified The sent smell of these things is wonderfull strong and strange for it is as the sauour of the hill of Lebanon or of many odoriferous trees and yet neuerthelesse the garmēts of the spouse are more odoriferous and well smelling then all these things But it is God alone and his Christ the Angels and elect which do smell the odor thereof are delighted therwith because it is not possible at all for them to please either God or man which haue not receiued of the fulnesse of Christs spirit The text 12 My sister my spouse is as a garden inclosed as a spring shut vp and a fountaine sealed vp 13 Thy plants are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweete fruits as camphire spikenard 14 Euen spikenard and saffron calamus and cinnamon with all the trees of incense myrrhe and aloes with all the chiefe spices 15 O fountaine of the gardens ô well of liuing waters and the springs of Lebanon 16 Arise ô North and come ô South and blow on my gardē that the spices therof may flow out let my wel beloued come to his garden and eat his pleasant fruit The Commentarie The Bridegrome in this first verse commendeth the spouse for abounding in all manner of fruit of good workes and he vseth the similitude very fitly of a garden which because it may the better bring forth herbes trees spices and all sorts of fruits men do vse to set a hedge round about it to keepe out cattle from hurting of it and last of all it is watered with wholesome sound and vnpoysoned waters and euen so for all the world is it with the Church What booteth it then for the Church to be neuer so fertile and fruitfull in good workes vnlesse God preserue and keepe it with a fatherly prouidence and care setting as it were a hedge round about it vnlesse he water it with the water of life and shadow or refresh it with the comfortable gifts and graces of the holy Ghost and therefore it is said as a spring shut vp and a fountaine sealed vp because it is confirmed and strengthened with the protection of the Almightie as also for an other reason because it is not lawfull for vs either to adde or diminish any thing from the fountaine of the Gospell because it must not be infected with the puddle of mens filthy doctrines or wicked constitutions Thy plantes are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweet fruits as camphire spikenard Thy plants That is to say the fruits of good workes which follow the planting of faith are as deare vnto me as a garden and as pleasant vnto me as any orchard can be in the world and thus by the varietie of costly spices and odoriferous trees of a paradise that is to say of a wide orchard or delectable garden wee are to learne that the elect although distinguished by degrees and persons yet are they notwithstanding all of them within one paradise that is to say within the odoriferous and pleasant trees of the Church which abound in most precious and sweet plants of the elect and faithfull ones and euery tree that is to say euery one which is not planted in this pleasant Eden or garden bringeth forth poysoned and corrupted fruit And to conclude there is no good herbe or fruit growing in the world out of this garden and contrariwise all that groweth here is wholesome pleasant and a fruit to be desired The words of the Bride vnto the Bridegrome O fountaine of the gardens ô well of lyuing waters and the springs of Lebanon O fountains This sentence appeareth to be an exclamatorie sentence of the spouse breaking foorth into the prayse of her husband for all the good things which she hath receiued of him as if shee should haue said in other wordes Thou ô my gracious and louing spouse art the cause of all my good the fountaine of eternall life all our gardens had neede to be watered with this liuely water thou art the well-spring of all heauenly graces from whō all good things are powred downe vppon vs in most plentifull sort thou art the conduit which conuayest these wholesome waters vnto thy Church which is Lebanon For as Lebanon is full of odoriferous plantings of the faithfull so the particular Churches may be called small orchards and pettie-gardens of the great paradise of the Church and there is but one fountaine of liuely water which runneth thorough out all the gardens of Lebanon that is to say there is but one fountaine of grace and truth namely the holy Ghost wherewithall the seuerall congregations of the faithfull must be watered and refreshed So then the fountaine of the gardens that is to say of the particular Churches and congregations is nothing else but the fountaine of the Catholike and Vniuersall Church because it is in her first and from thence deriued vnto all the rest Arise ô North and come ô South and blow on my garden that the spices thereof may flow out let my welbeloued come to his garden and eate his pleasant fruit Arise ô North. The spouse inuocateth the succour helpe of the holy Ghost by whose inspiration her young and tender plants may as well in aduersitie as in prosperitie flourish increase
set with Chrysolits and pretious stones because that it is not possible for any mortall man to cōprehend the height depth of Gods omnipotent power Furthermore shee praiseth him for his belly vnderstanding by his belly his affections cogitations she saith that his belly is like white iuory couered with saphirs Because all the cogitations affections and purposes of Christ and the faithfull are and appeare in the presence of God most white most precious and most acceptable Iuorie is made of an Eliphants tooth very hard very durable or incorruptible and the Saphire is a kinde of pretious stone which shineth most brightly and euen so the iudgements of Christ and his elect are most sincere firme and incorruptible and furthermore they are bright and Orient Saphirs lightning the whole body of the Church with their good workes so thē men seeing them may glorifie God which is in heauen His legges are as pillars of marble set vpon sockets of fine gold his countenance as Lebanon excellēt as the Cedars His legges Here in this place the spouse goeth about to commend Christes legges Now all the strength and nimblenesse of a man is in his legges wherefore by the legges wee may note the inuincible strength and fortitude of Christ which is able both to breake all his enemies in peeces and preserue his seruants from all manner of euill and therefore they may be well likened vnto pillars of marble set vpon sockets of fine gold because they are inuincible and the strength of them can not bee ouercome for he came into the flesh and ouercame sinne death and hell it selfe because hee might subdue them vnto the faithfull and strengthen their fearefull hearts And hence it is that you may read in the holie Scripture that hee is called a rocke because of his exceeding great force and strength against the which nothing shalbe able to preuaile Thus then the force of Christ consisteth in this that he is a pillar of marble which hath none like vnto him or to be compared with him and as many as beleeue in him may truly bee sayd to bee pillars also So that as many as are strengthened and confirmed by him may bee sayd to be pillars of the Church And now after all this shee setteth foorth his beautie at large which onely the beleeuers see and are delighted with the beautie thereof and yet they see no more then it pleaseth him to reucale vnto them And his countenance is likened vnto Lebanon which is a most stately and pleasant place because indeed all the beauty and sweete smell of Lebanon that is to say of the Church which is mystically to bee vnderstood by Lebanon is hid in Christ and among all the trees of Lebanon he is compared vnto the high incorruptible and odoriferous Cedar for looke howe much the Cedar doth passe all other trees in height euē so much and more doth he exceed and surpasse all others in the Church because hee is more high more precious and more odoriferous then any other yea there is no good smell no pretious good thing whatsoeuer which is not deriued frō him as frō the fountain of all good His mouth is as sweet things and he is wholly delectable this is my welbeloued this is my louer ô daughters of Ierusalem His mouth c. Last of all she describeth the bridegromes mouth taking it for all his inward sweetnesse that is to say for that inestimable great loue which he bare vnto mākind in seeking their saluations his peace which passeth all vnderstanding the righteousnes of Gods eternall truth in a word his ineffable inestimable spirit Finally the spouse wondering at the altitude of Christs glory and seeing that all the praises that shee could heap and accumulate vpon him were many degrees inferiour vnto his deserts concluding much matter in few tearms she saith that he is wholly delectable indeed this is her principall intent purpose euery where in the Canticles to proue Christ to be most earnestly desired and sought after that she might inflame and kindle the loue of all men towardes him And it followeth in the text and this is my louer to shew howe greatly she did glorie in him The vvordes of the young virgins vnto the Spouse O the fairest among women whither is thy welbeloued gone whither is thy welbeloued turned aside that we may seeke him with thee Whither c. Consider that which went before how the elect not as yet wholly fully perfect but tainted with some small errors and faults haue a kind of forme of godlines and some certaine knowledge of God which they desire might bee increased euerie day more and more and they are willing to bee better informed taught better things The young virgins that is to say the faithfull seruants of the immaculate spouse had learned and heard before what Christ was now they desired to know where his abiding is whither he is gone and where they should finde him and they promise to seeke him with her and they may well say with her for no man can find Christ without he haue that which shal bring him vnto the knowledge of christ or confirme and strengthen him in it Nowe we know that a true faith is a true companion of the faithful Church spouse of Christ which he himselfe nameth the fairest among all women that is to say among all congregations and nations because she is most wonderfully perfect and excellent by reason of that vnspeakeable beautie which she receiueth from her heauenly husband and celestiall bridegrome Christ The sixt Chapter 1 My welbeloued is gone downe into his garden to the beds of spices to feede in the gardens and to gather lillies 2 I am my welbeloueds and my welbeloued is mine who feedeth amōg the lillies 3 Thou art beautifull my loue as Tirzah comely as Ierusalem terrible as an armie with banners 4 Turne away thine eyes from me for they ouercome me thine haire is like a flock of goates which looke downe from Gilead 5 Thy teeth are like a flocke of sheepe which go vp from the washing which every one bring out twinnes and none is barren among them 6 Thy temples are within thy lockes as a peece of a pomegranate 7 There are 60. Queenes and 80. concubines and of the damsels without nūber 8 But my doue is alone and my vndefiled she is the only daughter of her mother and she is deare to her that bare her the daughters haue seene her and counted her blessed euen the Queenes and the concubines and they haue praised her The Commentarie The words of the Spouse vnto the young damsels IT is a strange thing to see how the Church which but a litle since sought after her welbeloued whom she could not find charged the young damsels that is to say the faithfull that if they did find him they should bring her tidings of him because she was sick for the loue of him yet the
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