A commentary upon 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

The eight Chapter.

1 O that thou vverest as my brother that sucked the breast of my mother: I vvould finde thee vvithout, I vvoulde kisse thee, then they should not despise thee.

2 I vvill leade thee and bring thee into my mothers house: there thou shalt teach me: and I vvill cause thee to drinke spiced vvine, and new vvine of the pome∣granate.

3 His left hand shall bee vnder mine head, and his right shall embrace me.

4 I charge you, ô daughters of Ierusa∣lem, that ye stirre not vp nor vvaken my loue vntill she please.

The Commentarie.

The wordes of the Spouse vnto the Bridegroome.

OH that thou werest as my brother, &c. Christ is as it were a brother vnto those that are of the congregation of the faithful

as hee saith in the third chap, of Mark. 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 com∣fort of her charitie and loue: so in like ma∣ner Christ, although indeede hee receiued not any comfort from her breastes, yet ne∣uerthelesse 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 be∣fore 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 wret∣ched, 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 de∣sp••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 de∣spise 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. Final∣ly 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 car∣nall mother of whom wee haue spoken sufficiently alreadie. It followeth, there thou shalt teach me. She which was but late∣ly 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, say∣ing, 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 know∣ledge of the truth, and veritie of the scrip∣tures, 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 vndefi∣led, which order must necessarily be kept of all those which meane to attaine vnto salua∣tion. 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 plea∣seth 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 plea∣sed 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 prea∣ching 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 begin∣neth 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 he•• which is her true spouse by faith, I meane his peace: and among all the crosses, perils by sword, rebukes, tribulations, and all ma∣ner 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, sit∣ting euen in the shadow of death, and caused

her to rest most quietly with the holy Ghost, and enioy that peace which passed all vnder∣standing: resting thus securely on her bed of rest, the bridegrome (because hee would haue no body to trouble her) spreads the co∣uerlet 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 let her alone for a while, trou∣ble her not, suffer her to repose and rest her selfe a while in the beds of the holy scrip∣ture, and let my holy spirit abide and dwell in her.

The Text. The speech of the young virgins.

5 VVho is this that commeth vp out of the wildernesse leaning vpon her welbelo∣ued, I raysed thee vp vnder an apple tree, there thy mother conceiued thee.

6 Set me as a seale on thy heart, and as a signet vpon thine arme: for loue is strong as death: iealousie is cruell as the graue: the coales thereof are fierie coales,

and a vehement flame.

7 Much water can not quench loue, neither can the flouds drowne it: if a man should giue all the substance of his house for loue, they would greatly contemne it.

The Commentarie.

Wee see here, that the Church doth turne her carnall mother, and she being con∣uerted or turned, is made one and the very selfe same with the Church, and together with her, cleaueth and inclineth vnto Gods word, notwithstanding any crosse or aduer∣sitie whatsoeuer. And she that was before conuerted by her daughter, doth now seeke to procure the saluation of her mother, that is to say, of those from whom she came, for this is alwayes a generall note, that the Church of God doth seeke the saluation of the wicked, and their vngodly congregati∣ons, from whence she came, and was deri∣ued, because we were all of vs once sinners and offenders, and sprong vp out of the Church of the wicked. I say of the wicked, and not of the reprobate, because euery re∣probate is a wicked person, but it followeth not, that euery wicked person is a reprobate: and albeit the elect were said to be of Sathans

Church before they did beleeue and embrace Christ in their hearts, by a liuely faith: yet neuerthelesse in the eternal decree of almigh∣tie God, they were alwayes reckoned to be of his Church. But the young virgins looke vpon the spouse, and see how quietly shee sleepeth amongst the dayly troubles of the Gospell, profiting daily more and more in the knowledge of the Gospell, and therefore breaking foorth into a kind of admiration, they aske who is this? as if they should haue said, it is a very strange thing, beyond all sense and reason, that she should perseuere a∣mong so many euils as do assault her. And they say, that she came vp out of the wilder∣nesse, because they sprong out of the drie and dead stocke of that abominable sect of the vnbeleeuers, as it were out of a plaine de∣sert, whither went shee, whither did she as∣cend or go? verily she mounted from terre∣striall, carnall, and momentarie things, she went vp vnto the glorious hill of Christ, the true Sion.

The words of the Bridegrome vnto the Church after her conuersion.

Vnder an appletree, &c. The preaching of any man whatsoeuer, be his gifts of vtte∣rance & perswasion, neuer so good, profiteth vs nothing, vnlesse Christ preach and teach

vs inwardly by mouing of our harts to heare the word, and afterwards by confirming & strengthening the same in our minds, when we haue heard it. The Church (as we de∣clared vnto you before) brought Christ vn∣to her mother, and he conuerted her because Christ can not be truely and properly saide to be brought to a place, vnlesse he be en∣tertained and lodged there. So then he be∣ing once in friendly sort receiued and enter∣tayned, vouchsafeth to teach and informe her himself, deliuering her the whole summe of the doctrine of the Gospell in few words, for he saith no more vnto her but this, vnder an apple tree, as if he should haue said, thou wast before in a miserable case, dead in sinne, but I haue raised thee vp, and that vnder an appletree: that is to say, vnder mee, for hee speaketh of himselfe, as if he meant a third person. We are then raised vp vnder Christ, the true appletree of life, if we do but be∣leeue in him by faith, and wholly depend vpon him: who are there, that is to say, vn∣der the appletree, borne by the Church, the mother of the faithfull, as vnder that other tree of delight in paradise, our grandmother Eue conceaued and brought vs foorth the sonnes of wickednesse and corruption. Set me as a seale on thine heart, and as a signet vpon thine arme: for loue is as strōg as death: iealousie

is cruell as the graue: the coales thereof are fi∣rie coales, and a vehement flame. Set me, &c. He may be rightly said to haue set Christ as a seale on his heart, and as a signet on his arme, which can subdue & keepe vnder the wicked affectiōs of the flesh, together with the works thereof: so that he frame him selfe wholy vn∣to Gods glorie. For what thing else is the heart, but the affections of the heart? & what is meant by the arme, but the strength and force thereof, with all the works of our hands? And she yeeldeth a reason thereof, because as she saith, Loue is strong at death, to wit, the loue of Christ, because hee loued vnto the death, and this ielousie is cruell as the * 1.1 graue, that is most dreadfull and horrible towardes hypocrites. And the meaning of all these words is this: drawe neare vnto me with all thy heart, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and do all things in my name, be∣cause such is the loue wherewith I loue thee, that I was content to die for thee. And as for those which say they are of me, that is, of my Church, and yet haue not any seale, that is to say, faith, but the lying signes of the flesh and the world, my iealousie & indignation shalbe kindled against them as hote as hel fire. And in that it is sayd, The coales thereof are fierie coales, and a vehement flame, we are to note the vehemencie and heate both of Christes loue,

and also of his iealousie, because they cause such a fire as is the fire of Gods spirit, that is to say, a most liuely and mightie fire, because the fire of loue, that is to say, the holy Ghost maketh vs to be inflamed with a profitable and wholesome kinde of heate. And the iea∣lousie of this fire, that is to say, sharpe reuēge and indignation consumeth all the wicked & vngodly men of the earth. Much water can not quench loue, neither can the flouds drowne it: if a man should giue all the substaunce of his house for loue, they would greatly contemne it. Much water, &c. Here in this place the con∣stancie and stabilitie of the aforenamed Loue is described and deciphered vnto vs: & this is that loue wherwith Christ loued his Church. And verily such was the heate of this loue, that many violent streames of inconuenien∣ces, troubles, reproches, tribulations, and all sorts of euils that could be deuised, could not quench it: for by the parable of a house built vppon a sure rocke, mentioned in the sixt Chapter of Saint Lukes Gospell, it is euident that flouds do sometimes signifie aduersitie. Now the loue which by the vertue of the same 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 there∣with: 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 ri∣ches 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 de∣nie the truth. And truly it is no great mar∣uell neither: for where the loue of heauenly thinges is once accounted and esteemed of, there the possession and fruition of all earth∣ly and transitorie things is vilified, negle∣cted, 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 si∣ster, 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 thou∣sand peeces of siluer.

The Commentarie.

This is the voice of the Primitiue and A∣postolike Church, which grew out of the Sy∣nagogue 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 a∣mong 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 to∣wardes 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 ioy∣ned 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 solemni∣tie, what they should do at that time, louing those things which they ought to loue, and which they knew to be loued of the bride∣groome, 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 Scrip∣tures, and bee a spouse worthie of the holy

Ghost, and of her husband Christ: but with∣out 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 faith∣ful, we wil build vpon her a pallace of siluer, that is to say, the bright shining, precious, and e∣ternall truth, by which we may be able with∣out all other helpes, to ouerthrow and fiu∣strate 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 endeuo∣ring 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 e∣uery Christian man or woman, to yeeld a reason of his faith to euery one that shall de∣maund or aske it of him. Likewise she saith, My breasts are as towers, that is to say, cha∣ritie and loue in entertaining and receiuing

others. And this is meant hereby, being dire∣cted and guided by my welbeloued husband Christ Iesus, I shall be able to teach others & strengthen them which are borne sonnes vn∣to 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 vn∣to 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 sil∣uer. Here she yeldeth yet a more ample testi∣monie 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 vniuer∣sall 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 thrise∣carefull 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 pee∣ces of siluer, that is, all that he hath, and him∣selfe 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 faith∣ful 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 sil∣uer. Because the number of a thousand is the terme and bound of all other numbers, there∣fore 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 farther∣most 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 com∣panions 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; name∣ly 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: & ther∣fore 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 ther∣fore 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 moun∣taines of spices. This mountaine of spices is the Church, and therfore the lesser and parti∣cular Churches are called mountaines of spi∣ces. 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 glo∣rie, and the knowledge of his truth. And fur∣thermore

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 par∣ticular 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.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It. Hell.