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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.

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Salamons

1

Canticle of Canticles

Which in Hebrew is called

Sir Hasirim

Chap. I

2LEt a a The Church of the old testament desireth Christs coming in the flesh: and the Christian Church prayeth for his coming in glorie him kiſſ me with the kiſſe of his mouth: because thy brestes are better then wine, 3† smelling fragrantly of the best ointments. Oile powred out is thy name: therfore haue yongmaydes loued thee. 4† Draw me: we wil runne after thee in the odour of thine ointments. The king hath brought me into his cellars: we wil reioyce & be glad in thee, mindful of thy brests aboue wine: the righteous loue thee. 5† b b The Church outwardly afllicted, is inwardly fayre. I am blacke but beutiful, (edit o with circumflex) ye daughters of Ierusalem, as the tabernacles of Cedar, as the skinnes of Salomon_. 6† Doe not consider me that I am browne, because the sunne hath altered my colour: the sonnes of my mother haue fought against me, they haue made me a_

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