A Commentary on the Song of Solomon, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
I Am come into my garden, my ſiſter, my ſpouſe: I gathered my myrrhe with my ſpice: I ate mine honey combe with mine honey, I dranke my wine with my milke: eate O friends, drink, and make you merry, O welbeloved.
1 I ſleepe, but mine heart waketh: it is the voyce of my welbeloved that knocketh, ſaying, Open unto me, my ſiſter, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for mine head is full of dew, and my lockes with the drops of the night.
2 I have put off my coat, how ſhall I put it on? I have waſhed my feet, how ſhall I defile them?
3 My welbeloved put in his hand by the hole of the doore, and mine heart was affectioned toward him.
4 I roſe up to open to my welbeloved, and mine hands …id drop down myrrhe, and my fingers pure myrrhe upon …he handles of the bar.
5 I opened to my welbeloved: but my welbeloved was gone and paſt: mine heart was gone when he did ſpe…ke: I ſought him, but I …ould not finde him: I called him, but he anſwered me not.
6 The watchmen that went about the City, found me: they ſmote me and wounded me: the watchmen of the wals tooke away my vaile from me.
7 I charge you, O daughters of Jeruſalem, if you finde my welbeloved, that you tell him that I am ſick of love.
8 O thou the faireſt among women, what is th… welbeloved more then other welbeloved? what is thy welbeloved more then another lover, that thou doſt ſo charge us?
9 My welbeloved is white and ruddie, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand.
10 His head is as fine gold, his lock…s curled, and black as a raven.
11 His eyes are like doves upon the rivers of the waters, which are waſht with milke, and remaine by the full veſſels.
12 His cheekes are as a bed of ſpices, and as ſweete flowers: and his lips like li…ies dropping down pure myrrhe.
13 His hands as rings of gold ſet with the chryſolite. his belly like white yvory covered w…th ſaphirs▪
14 His legs are as pillars of marble, ſet upon ſockets of fine gold: his countenance as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
15 His mouth is as ſweete things, and he is wholly del…ctable▪ this is my w…lbeloved, and this is my lover, O daughters of Jeruſalem.
16 O the faireſt among women, whither is thy welbeloved gone? whither is thy welbeloved turned aſide, that we may ſeeke h…m with thee?
The Reſolution.
HItherto of the Church declining and running to ruine. Now l…ing proſtrate ſhe is doubly deſcribed: Firſt how ſhe neglected her beloved calling her, verſ. 1. 2. 3. Then how ſhe …ought him in vaine b… ing gone: the fruit thereof is ſhewed, …oth how ſhe was uſed of the watchmen, verſ. 4. 5. 6. and how of the daughters of Jeruſalem, who kindled with her mervellous praiſes of him, promi…e their fellow labour to ſeeke him: in the reſt of the Chapter.
THE EXPOSITION.
V…r…e 1. I …eep, but my h…art waketh, it is the voyc… of my beloved that knocketh …aying, Open to me my ſiſter, my love, my dove, my und filed; for my head is filled with dew, and my lock…s with the drops of the night.
THe negligence of the Church lying thus is declared; Firſt by her drowſineſſe, then by his enticing call, and laſtly by the flight cauſes of her excuſe. Sleepe cauſed her outward ſen…es to be benummed, that ſhe neither regarded nor conſi…ered how ſuperſtitions aroſe, as it happened to the Houſholder, Mat. 13. 25. Neither could it be otherwiſe, (when the Bridegroome left the garden, and his friends or fellowes drunken with proſperity, wholly gaping after riches and honours, all common good deſpiſed) but ſleepe would overcome the Spouſe, wherein outwardly ſhe ſhould not differ from a dead woman, howſoever the heart ſho…ld move and liv…, the ſeede of faith not altogether quenched. This drow…ineſſe crept in in the time of Conſtantine, when a gap…ng heavineſſ… with a continuall deſire of ſleeping, ſo oppreſſed the Spo…ſe, that the ſharpeſt ſighted P…ſtors could not uſe their outward ſenſes: not perceiving how ambition crept in among the Biſhops; and not onelyonly that, but now they began to conſecrate Temples to Saints, earneſtly to ſeeke their Reliques, to worſhip them with prayers; and to beleeve that prayers made in the honour of Saints at their Sepulchres did profit much. Who could now tell whether the Church were ſleeping or waking? who neither loathed nor perceived ſuch things. When Conſtantine was d…ad, Chriſt found the Church aſleepe, and ſought by all meanes to ſtir her up, both by knocking and calling. He knocked by perſecutions in the times of Conſtance, Iulian and Valens, of whom though Iulian were a profeſt enemie, (A. D. 368.) yet the other two exceeded him in cruelty. After their tyrannous raigne, God ſtirred up Valentinian in the Weſt parts, by whom Chriſt lovingly called his Spouſe, that returning unto her former integrity ſhe ſhould open and let him in. Then taking away Valens, he called more earneſtly at both dcores (as i… were) as well in the Weſt as in the Eaſt, by Gratian and Theodoſiu… the elder: after by Arcadius and Honorius, then by Theodoſius the younger and Valentinian the third. And laſtly (that there might be foure paire as it were anſwerable to the foure voyces, My Siſter, my Love, my Dove, my undefiled one) by Marcian alone in the Eaſt▪ Theſe Emperours ſtudied and laboured very religiouſly to defen… ▪ and enlarge true Religion; but the Church was in all the fault, who having theſe helpes prepared, would not uſe them to r…cover he… former brightneſſe. To this readines of the Emperors was added the voyce of the moſt excellent Biſhops and beſt learned men of that time: As Baſile, Gregory, Nazianzen, Ambroſe, Hierome, Chryſoſtome, Auguſtin…, and other the lights of that time. But ſeeing hi… profeſſion of …ove could nothing move her, he tryeth what his ſhutting out of the doores at night would doe. My head (…aith he) is filled with dew, and my …ockes with the drops of the night. The lockes of haire ſignified before the congregation of the faithfull, among whom true Religion was now ſo much decayed by new and fooliſh Ceremonies, borrowed partly of the Iewes and Gentiles, and partly invented of their owne idle braines, that the graſſe is ſcarce more covered with drops of dew in the night, then the Church was at that time with ſuperſtitions.
Verſe. 2. I have put off my coate, how ſhould I put it on: I have wa…ed my feete, how ſhould I defile them?
It was great negligence in the Spouſe to give her ſelfe ſo much to ſleepe: but pardon her heavineſſe. Why opened ſhee not when hee knockt and called? was ſhe ſo buried in ſleepe that ſhe heard him not? it is plainely ſeene, ſhe anſwered him quickly. But was ſhe ſo benummed that ſhe could neither move hands nor feete? Neither was that the matter. But when ſhe heard and might open, ſhe made an idle excuſe. I have put off my coa… (faith ſhe) and waſhed my feet. The coat is Chriſt and his only imputed righteouſneſſe; but as ſoon as we look on our ſelves and ſeek righteouſneſſe in the perfection of our own vertue, we ſpoil our ſelves of this garment, and our filthineſſe appeareth preſently to God and the Angels. And ſo we may waſh our feet with oth…r waters, that we may ſeem to our ſelves moſt clean. So much was the doctrine of free juſtification by Chriſt alone decayed at that time, and another mean of waſhing and purging the feet found out beſides him: that no coming to Chriſt by faith alone, was commonly beleeved without danger of defiling, &c.
Verſ. 3. My beloved put his hand by the hole of the door▪ and my …owels were moved for him.
Here beginneth the ſecond part of the chapter of ſeeking th… Bridegroom, the degrees whereof are diverſe, the moving of her bowels, his withdrawing of himſelf, her opening the door, her enquiring, her crying out, and how the watchmen entertained her. It is manifeſt by the firſt of theſe words that he looſed his hand from the hole of the door, wherby appeareth that he not only knocked and called, but alſo ſought to put back the bolt, his hand was ready at the hole when the godly Emperors called ſacred councels to pull up the tares which wicked idle men had ſowen in the Lords field. It is excellent, how Marcian the Emperor in the councell of Chalcedon exhorted the fathers oftentimes to apply all their ſtudie to root out her…ſies and all wicked inſtructions, that the true and holy faith might appear, or ſhew it ſelf. What might not the Biſhops then have done if they had known their opportunity? But one would have thought, it ſhould have been their own chiefeſt care, without the Emperours admonition. The like paines took the two Emperours Theodoſius the Nephew and the grand-father in thoſe famous councels of Epheſus and Conſtantinople: the Bridegroom did his part to take away the …arre, but the ſpouſe would not: therefore he withdrew his hand and took away all power to remove the bolt. For after Marcian was dead, ſuch barbarous cruelty raged in the weſt; and ob…curitie, …oth and covetouſneſſe raigned in the eaſt, that he which before ſought for entrance was now no where to be found.
Verſ. 4. I roſe to open to my beloved and my hands dropped with myrrhe, and my fingers with ſwe…t ſmelling myrrhe upon the handles of the lock or bolt.
After the ſpouſe (afflicted with dayly miſeries) had learned how great loſſ… her negligence had procured: ſhe ſeekes now to recover it by diligence. And ſhaking off floth, goes to the door, which endeavour of hers (her fingers dropping with myrrhe) proves to be to God moſt ſweet and acceptable. The ſpouſe aroſe when Leo Iſaurus raigned, who endeavoured to root out worſhipping of images lately brought in, in the former ages. But Conſtantine his ſon (A. D. 755.) in the ſeventeen councell of Conſtantinople (who ſoundly condemnning that hainous abomination by the holy ſcriptures) ſet his hand to the bolt or lock that ſhut out Chriſt: which holy enterpriſe of his flowed with myrrhe. Charles the great aſſayed the like at Franckford, about forty yeers after, 795. but that which was decreed in the councell wanted ſucceſſe, …o… no reformation followed.
Verſ. 5. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawen himſelf and was gone: my ſoul failed when he ſpake: I ſought him, but I could not finde him, I called him, but he gave me no anſwer.
She opened to her beloved, but he withdrew himſelf and was gone. Her ſoul failed when ſhe remembred how lovingly he had called her. He ſheweth himſelf to be preſent and ſeen of the Church in the worſhip by himſelf ordained. This propheſie agreeth with thoſe times, when Leo Iſaurus, Conſtantine his ſon and Leo Copronymus endeavoured what they could to take away idolatry, to remove the bolt and open the door to the beloved: but ſo great and ſuch horrible corruption of all piety remained, that Chriſt could not be ſeen in his outward worſhip. The Emperors rightly did their duties to root out that which moſt manifeſtly appeared; but they paſt by many groſſe errors untoucht. Whoſe contagion the Bridegroome flying, withdrew himſelf ſo …arre off. They which were awaked out of this idolatry were inflamed with a marvellous deſire of Chriſt: but it rather increaſed their grie…e, then recovered their former happineſſe.
Verſ. 6. The watchmen that went about the City found me: they ſmote me, they wounded me. The keepers of the walls tooke away my vail from me.
Theſe watchmen differ much from thoſe, Chap. 3. 3. who (it is like) knew whither the Bridegroome was gone, and might be found again; for ſhe asketh them whether they ſaw him, but ſhee …yes nothing to theſe, aſſured of their ignorance, and would have been glad to have paſſed by them in ſafety. Likewiſe thoſe forme… watchmen, though they could yeeld her no help, (ſailing in the ſame veſſell) yet forbare to lay violent hands on her: but theſe beat and wound her, and reproachfully take away her vail: who, though they be far unlike in courteſie▪ and humanity, yet their common name ſhewes ſome agreement in Office. Wherefore they are the Rulers and Governors, Emperours, Biſhops, Prelats and men of ſuch ranke, as the event plainly teacheth. For as ſoon as the truth began to appear: in how ſhamefull a manner was ſhe received of the wicked world▪ and eſpecially of thoſe which would be accounted Watchmen of the City? She was ſmitten with reproaches, lyes and Curſings in the time of Gregorie the ſecond: by whom Leo Iſaurus was excommunicated for putting downe the worſhiping of Images. But by the councell of Nice under Conſtantine (ſonne of Leo) and Irene his mother, (by compulſion or Inſtigation of Pope Adrian and Toraſius, Biſhop of Conſtantinople) (788.) ſhee was cruelly wounded. The watchmen within the City are the Eccleſiaſticall Teachers and Rulers. The keepers of the walls, the civill Governours. But in the time of Theodora, the Empreſſe, and Michael her ſonne, the vaile was taken away; ſo that the Church had neither Prieſt nor Magiſtrate to defend her. Theſe were the times wherein the Spouſe kept her bed, and was never ſeen abroad by many yeers: the worſt times that ever ſhee indured. Shee was much troubled in minde (her heart failing her) in the Wine-cellar; as before, Chap. 2. 4, 5. yet then ſhe was ſupplyed with Flagons, and Apples, nay, her beloved came quickly to her, and imbraced her (ready to fall) in both his armes: but here ſhe is ſmitten and wounded, h…r vaile taken away and laid for dead: but no Flagons or Apples, or hope of her beloveds coming: for no man durſt ſpeak or look freely to teſtifie his will, much leſſe to reach out an helping hand to the truth lying proſtrate. The comon Harlot of Rome may then ſee how far ſhe is eſtranged from this Spouſe, who boaſteth ſo much of her viſibility ſince her firſt beginning.
Verſ. 7. I charge you, O daughters of Ieruſalem, if yee finde my beloved, that yee tell him that I am ſick of love.
If yee finde my beloved (ſaith ſhe) tell him (do you ask what you ſhall tell him) that I am ſick of love. After ſhe had conc…aled her ſelf a long time, at length (impatient of longer delay) ſhe begins afreſh to ſeek her beloved: ſhe goes to the daughters of Jer… ſalem, her fellow Citizens, the Elect, and ſheweth them of her grief, how ſhe had ſought him; and though ſhee were without hope of finding him, yet if they chanced to light on him, they ſhould bewaile before him the miſerable fortune of his af…licted Spouſe, that by their tears he mi…ht be the ſooner moved to come ſpeedily to her aide; which ſheweth, that after long ſilence, ſome godly men ſhould bewaile t… calamity of the times and deſire reformation, which was done about the yeer 110…. after all mention of the trueth ceaſed, being altogether buried 260. yeeres and more ſince▪ the vaile was taken away. For about that time a Florentine Biſhop openly began to lament the Miſery of the Church, and doubted not boldly to affirm Antichriſt to bee come already. Alſo one Arnold a Romane could not hold but with the loſſe of his head bewailed the grief of the Spo…ſe. And Hildegarde the Propheteſſe, to whom the Church appeared in a viſion, in the forme of a woman wailing: her face ſprinkled with duſt by the Prieſts▪ her garments rent and torne: the innocent Lambe driven from her by their fault, and many the like. Adde unto theſe Bernards complaints upon the Canticles and others. Afterwards there aroſe many, and more and more every day, which freely profeſſed their grief. By whoſe tongues the Spouſe declared her miſery to the daughters of Ieruſalem.
Verſe. 8. What is thy beloved more then another beloved, O▪ thou faireſt among women? What is thy beloved more then another beloved that thou doeſt ſo charge us?
Theſe daughters of Ieruſalem were the friends of the Spouſe. They call unto her familiarly and lovingly, and (better ſighted then others) they acknowledge her moſt beautifull, being naked and compaſſed with darkeneſſe. Yet were they altogether ignorant of her beloved, otherwiſe they would not have asked what he was. They ſhew great deſire of knowledge, asking again and again to be ſhewed him. At the complaint of the godly doctors, the ſtudies of the Elect were ſtirred up: ſo that hee which promiſed onelyonly the firſt lineaments of true piety and Religion, had great companies following him. See the multitude …locking to Petrus Walde…ſis (about the yeer 1160▪) a private man, not graced with any ambitious titles.
Verſ. 9. My beloved is white and ruddie, the chiefeſt among tenn… thouſand.
Shee willingly yeeldeth to their deſire, hoping to get what ſhe ſought for, the ſooner by their meanes. The anſwer is threefold Common, ſp…iall▪ and mixte. Which ſeemes to note out ſo many times, wherein there ſhould be the like knowledge of Chriſt. Common in this verſe, taken aſwell from things inhe…ent as from Circumſtances. The things inherent declare the excellent ſweetneſſe of the lively colours of Chriſt, which concernes thoſe times of the Waldenſ…s, when the aforeſaid Peter made his houſe as it were a Schoole of Sacred learning, where he taught the Ca…chiſme and firſt rudiments of Religion; turned the Bible into their owne language; tranſlated ſome writings of the Fathers, and by his diligence and piety brought it to paſſe, that at length the beautifull colours of Chriſt ſhining with pure holineſſe, and Red with the merits of his death, might be ſeen of all men which did not wilfully ſhut their eyes. The circumſtances are 10000. men attending on Chriſt. For when the truth was diſcovered by Petrus Waldenſis and his f…llowes, the Romane Antichriſt ſeeking by all meanes to aboliſh the truth, ſpread it abroad unwittingly in many other places, whoſe fruitfulneſſe was ſuch, that about the yeer 1200. the Albigenſes du…ſt joyne battell with the Antichriſtian Bands, which Innocent the third ſent to deſtroy them, under the leading of Leopoldus the ſixth Duke of Auſtria▪ and Simon Earle of Mountfort. At length Reymond Toloſa…us and Petrus King of Tarracon came to aid the Albigeuſes. Then might ye ſee the Bridegroom begin to ſhew hi… ſelfe again to the world, attended with 10000. truly Croſſe-bearing ſouldiers? Which had wandered many yeers before ſolitary and without company.
Verſ. 10. His head is as the moſt fine gold, his lockes are buſhie and black as a Raven.
An other part of the knowledge of Chriſt more plaine and evident then the former. For now the Daughters of Ieruſal…m learn of the Spouſe the excellency of the principall members which the world knew not by many ages. The head as the moſt fine gold, (or, (as it is in the originall) gold of gold) ſignifieth as much as King of …ings. For all other wear Crownes of gold upon their heads, which with their Kingdomes may be taken away: but his head is as pure gold it ſelfe, becauſe it is Eternall and Eſſentiall, which teacheth that Chriſt would now ſhew himſelf a King in the Earth. As it came to p…ſſe about the yeer 1216. in that long contention of Frederick the Emperour, the ſecond of that name, with Hon… rius the third, Gregory the ni…th, and Innocent the fourth, then preſently after the Albigenſ…n Warre, that the Kingdome uſurped of the Popes by Tyranny might be reſtored again to Chriſt, the right Lord or true owner. The buſhie looks are the multitude of the faithfull, very comely and beautifull in thoſe times for their mutuall love and imbracing one of another, yet wanting the brightn…ſſe of externall policy. The blackneſſe of the hair be to keneth the Wars, troubles and perſecutions of thoſe times bewailed by many. As ſome of Sweveland at Hallis, Robert Groſter Biſhop of Lincolne, Matthew Paris, Guilihelmus de ſancto Amore, Arnoldus de villa nova, cryed out, that all Chriſtian people by craft of the devill had gone aſtray from the truth of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that the faith which the people commonly had was like the faith of devils: and that all Chriſtian people were led to hell. See how rightly they are compared to the colours of a Raven, they were ſo black and diſordered. Neither did this deformity then firſt invade her, but then ſhe b…gan firſt to be acknowledged and bewailed.
Verſ. 11. His eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the rivers of water, waſhed with milke and fitly ſet.
Chriſt carefully looking on his ſpouſe boweth down his head that he may behold her the more neerly and exactly. As the doves bow their necks with eyes inclining towards the water when they deſire to quench their thirſt. And where the ſpouſe was deformed altogether with duſt, he uſeth no ſh…rp remedy, but applieth much mercy and gentleneſſe in cleanſing her outward filthineſſe. His eyes are f…tly ſet, not overn…ch ſtanding out nor too much dipping in, but fitly placed to behold the whole condition of the Church. Theſe eyes of the Bridegroome ſo delectable, were ſhewed to the world by Michael Ceſenas and Petrus de Carbaria about the yeer 1277. together with Iohn de Poliaco, all which Pope John condemned: Becauſe firſt, they taught diligently, that P…ter was n…n…on… head of the Church then any other Apoſtle: neither did Chriſt …e…ve after him any vicar …r head of the Church. Which evidently declareth the firſt part of the ſimilitude, that Chriſt beholdeth his Church with no leſſe attention, then the thirſtie and drinking doves beho… the waters with …ttentive eyes. Secondly, they taught plainly, that The Church hath no power to correct any one with coactive puniſhment (as th…y …ll it) much leſſe hath the Pope any ſuch power to correct, puniſh, inſtitute or remove any one in the magiſtracie. Whereby they▪ prove the Pope clean contrary to Chriſt▪ the one waſheth away ſpots with milk, the other with ſalt-peter, the one reſtraine…h and pu…iſheth faults with the word, the other with the ſword, &c.
Thirdly, they taught that Prieſts and elders had all a like authority▪ power and juriſdiction: Emperors indeed had given a high degree to the Popes, and might take it away again at their pleaſure. The Pope raged when Michael taught this, but the holy man proceeded and …eaſed not to preach that the Church was a ſtriving place of piety, not a race of Ambition. And ſeeing that full veſſels might ſatisfie ever… one, it was terrible that the Clergie ſhould ſo ſham…fully contend for honour either with the laitie or among themſelves. The covetous and ambitious have never enough, but their minde alwayes thirſts for ſomething more: whereby they plainly ſhew, that either they never lighted on that full river, where the Bridegroom quietly reſteth, or they are of another diſpoſition, contrary to him whoſe name they falſly pretend, &c.
Verſ. 12. His cheekes are as a bed of ſpices, as ſweet flowers: his lips like lillies, …ropping ſweet ſmelling myrrhe.
The greateſt part of the countenance is in the cheeks, which of Chriſt are moſt apparent unto us, when he raigneth openly in the Church, in holy inſtitutions, which he hath given to be kept by his Church till his coming. Theſe cheeks are firſt likened to beds new made in a garden, and preſently to ſweet flowers, which elegantly ſetteth forth the ſwift and ſpeedy increaſe of the knowledge of Chriſt: the flowers immediately following the ſowing. The fruitfull ripening of thi… ſeed was furthered by the preaching of Robert French Anno 1290. Who by many viſions ſet forth the lamentable condition of the Church, and declared openly that the Pope was an Idol, a Serpent, a wooden head. And the ſpouſe which was preſented unto him with a glittering ſilver croſſe very beautifull and excellent as well in life as doctrine. Hitherto the following member of the verſe doeth ſeem to belong. His lips like lillies dropping ſweet ſmelling Myrr…. Now the Bridegroom began to be famous by the puritie of teaching, which yet durſt not but only mutter and whiſper without lifting up the voice boldly.
Verſ. 13. His hands are as gold rings ſet with the Beryll: his belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with ſaphirs.
Hitherto hath the Bridegroom been ſet forth to the world in ſome ſpeciall members from Frederi…k the ſecond to Robertus Gallus, by almoſt 100. yeers. The hands are the inſtruments of Action, and in ſcripture they figuratively ſignifie works. The Jems included in the rings ſeem to ſignifie the miniſters of the word, which elſwhere Chriſt carryeth as ſtars in his right hand, Rev. 1, 20. But theſe times yeelded not ſuch ſplendour. Theſe things ſhew a change and alteration of that which Chriſt would bring to paſſe by the labour of his miniſters, as it hapned about the yeer 1300. which was called the firſt reſurrection of the dead. For now the thouſand yeers were ended wherein Satan was bound, and the dead raiſed from their graves. Very many now began more boldly to ſet forth the truth: As Dan… the Florentine, Marſilius Pa…avinus, William Ockam, Iohn of Gaunt, and many others. Philip, the French King, deſpiſed Pope Boniface, Lewes of Bavaria, ſtrove long time with theſe moſt humble ſervants of ſervants for the right of the Empire. Edward of England made ſhew unto many, how little he eſteemed the Popes authority. By the Bowels or Belly, bright as Iv…ry, overlaid with Saphirs, may be underſtood the two Sacraments. For the Word of God is open to the view of every one, as the month and countenance, neither is it wont to be hid from ſtrangers: but the Sacraments ſerve only for the houſhold, as the bowels, which are appointed only to that body whoſe members they are, but ſerve to no uſe for ſtrangers. Theſe things therefore, as it were, with the finger, point to thoſe times of Ioh… Wickliff, (1370) who taught openly, that the ſubſtance of materi…ll bread and wine remain in the Sacrament of the Altar: the accidents of br…ad remain not without the ſubject in the ſame Sacrament: Chriſt is not really in the ſacrament, in proper preſence corporally. Beringarius ſpake againſt this wicked error, 200. yeeres before, but the time was not yet come, wherein the hands of the Bridegroome ſhould be ſeen full of Rings, whence his enterpriſe wanted ſucceſſe.
Verſ. 14. His legs are as pillars of Marble, ſet upon ſockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars▪
The beginning of this verſe, ſe…eth forth the nether parts; whoſe chief praiſe conſiſts in ſtrength and ſtableneſſe. All would faile, un…eſſe that which upholdeth were ſufficient to beare the weight. Wherefore the Bridegroome ſtandeth immoveable on ſuch ſtrong baſes: And leſt we ſhould thinke that his ſtrength wanteth beauty, loe, the legs and feet are of gold; So that from the crown of the head to the ſoal of the feet, hee ſhineth with infinite glory and Majeſty. Yet is there no doubt, but theſe things belong alſo to the hiſtory: therefore theſe two golden baſes, whereon the Marble pillars are ſet, ſeem to point out John Huſſe and Hierome of Prague; as is the perpe…uity of Marble, ſuch was their con…tancy to indure death willingly for the truths cauſe, induring a triall by fire, as the pure…t gold. They differed from the Popelings in many things: but this chiefly bit the mitred fathers, that they gravely reprehended their wicked and laſcivious lives. This was the ulcer that could not indure ſcratching, which made them rage ſo fierc…ly againſt them: this was about the yeer, 1415. The other Member of the verſe, … countenance…s as L…b…o…, ex…llent as the C…dars, His countenance is ſeen here on'earth, in the true knowledge of Chriſt, and by his true worſhip, which he himſelf hath appointed. Now the Spouſe, com…ring it to Mount Lebanon, ſheweth thereby that there ſhould be ſo great an increaſe of knowledge and renewed worſhip, that the profeſſion of Chriſt ſhould continue as firm as the hils themſelves; and as the Cedars of …ebanon exceed other tre…s in length, ſo ſhould tru… Religion excell all ſcratching and pricking ſuperſtitions in reverend Majeſty, which moſt f…ly agree with the times preſently following, wherein the B…hemians ſhook off the Romiſh yoke, 1420. Now firſt began the Word to be truly preached, the Sacraments to be adminiſtred in either kinde, wicked ſupe…ſtitions to be rooted out, Monaſteries to be beaten down, and the Prieſts conſtrained to till the Land, or to yeeld ſome better fruit, &c.
Verſ. 15. His mouth is moſt ſweet, yea, he is altogether lovely: This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Ieruſalem.
His lips (at the 12. verſe) dropped myrrhe: here the mouth foundeth ſweetly; both lips and mouth betoken the Word and Preaching, only the lips whiſper obſcurely: the palate and open mouth yeeld a more ſounding voyce. Such was the voyce of the Bridegroome heard in the Miniſters of Bohemia, preaching the truth freely, and without feare, in deſpite of Antichriſt. Hee is altogeth… lovely; there is nothing in him but that which is moſt to be deſired, with greateſt care and ſtudy. This is my beloved, as if ſhe ſhould ſay, ſeeing yee have ſo earneſtly deſired to know the excellencie of my beloved. Thinke with your ſelves, that I have not trifled, nor done any thing unfit for a modeſt woman, in that my earneſt indeavour of ſeeking him and of charging you: but the honour due to his merits far exceeds all my ſtudy. Theſe words do plainly teach, that the Church in her true members, at that time, beſtowed all diligence in ſeeking Chriſt. And now wee ſee by this propheſie (which with noted foot-ſteps hath exactly ſhewed the path-way through this Wilderneſſe) by what degrees the knowledge of Chriſt appeared again from Frederick the ſecond, (after infernall darkneſſe covering the world by the Biſhop of Rome) untill about the yeer, 1420.
Verſ. 16. Whither is thy b…loved …one, O thou faireſt …mong women? whither is thy beloved turned aſide, that wee may ſeeke him with thee?
This ſheweth the great deſire of the faithfull to ſeek Chriſt, offering their fellowſhip, and promiſing common aid in ſeeking. Which came in faſhion, when the Bohemians got their liberty: for afterwards they were holpen with the writings of many learned men, as the Wald…es, Albingenſes, Wickliffe, John Hu…e, and Hierome of Prague, with all thoſe before named. Laſtly, the Bohemians, by▪ whoſe diligence the beauty of Chriſt, by little and little, appeared in his members to the world. It was wonderfull, how they were preſently kindled to ſeeke the truth in England and Germany, and many other places, ſo that all corners (of our coaſts at leaſt) ſounded againe with the voyces of them, asking, Whither is thy beloved gone thou faireſt among women? whither turneth thy beloved? Yea, this ſpeech was ſo generally received, that many daughters of Ieruſalem, which knew him not before, nor touched with any deſire of him, now offered their ayde to ſeeke him. The Art of Printing hapning at the ſame time, (1440) by Gods ſingular benefit, did greatly helpe to ſet forth his fame, which continued 70. yeeres and more, and could not be ſtayed by any meanes.