the Spous or Bridegrome, God & Chriſt the Spous, or Bridgromeis not only vnderſtood Chriſt as Man, but alſo as God, and the whole Bleſſed Trinitie; to whom manie prayers, praiſes, and thankes are offered vp; and by whom manie benefites are geuen, praiſes returned, & promiſes made to his ſpouſe, Three ſpouſes Likewiſe by the Spouſe or Bride, the ancient fathers understand three ſortes of ſpouſes: al eſpouſed to Chriſt, and to God. towitt, his General Spouſe, The General. the whole Church of the old and new Teſtaments; Epheſ. 5of al that are, and shal be perfect, making one mystical bodie, free from ſinne, without ſpotte, or wrinkle, ſanctified in Chriſt. The ſpecial. and Singular.Alſo his ſpecial ſpouſe, which is euerie particular holie ſoule. And his ſingular spouſe, his moſt bleſſed & moſt immaculate Virgin Mother. This being the general ſumme of this excellent Canticle, remitting the reader, Origen.
S. Ierom.
S. Aug.
lib. 8. de
Gen. adli.
S. Greg.
S. Bede.
S. Tho.
Arbor.
Geneb
Del Rio
for explication therof to the lerned deuout Commenters, both of ancient and late writers, we shal alſo eneuous to gether the ſame contents more particularly, not before the chapters, becauſe we can not there ſo conueniently diſtinguish the ſame by verſes, but in the margent. The particular contents are ſette in the margent of euerie chapter Where we shal eſpecially note the speakers, as ſemeth more probable of euerie parcel, according to the firſt ſenſe (not hauing rowme for more) perteyning to the General spouſe, the Catholique Church: which is the great, and euerlasting holie Citie of God the eternal King.
Salamons
1Canticle of Canticles
Which in Hebrew is called
Sir Hasirim
Chap. I
keeper
