Sermons Upon the Canticle of Canticles

¶THE ARGVMENT OF THE XLV. Psalme, seruing for an Argument and preface or abridgement of this booke of the Canticle of Canticles or song of songes of Salomon.

THis Psalme as the whole booke of the Canticle of Canticles is to bee taken and altogether to be vnderstood in a spirituall sense: and therefore there is no appearance or shewe of reason to take it as some haue done, for a marriadge song of Salomon and Pharoes daughter. For besides, that the title which is in Hebrewe ouer many of the Psalmes woulde haue made some mention touching this point, wee see howe this marriadge is condemned, and that worthily by the holy ghost, 1. Kings. 11. so farre it is from all reason to take that alliaunce & marriage of his to haue bin a figure of so holy & sacred a one as that is which is proposed vnto vs in this Psal. We haue therefore in this psalme an excellent and most diuine treatie touching the most strait and spirituall bonde and alliaunce which is betweene Iesus Christ and his Church, euery point thereof being prosecuted and continued vnder such formes and phrases of speach as are customarily vsed in the treaty of the conditions of a naturall marriadge betweene such persons as are of an high degree and qualitie: as the Prophets also haue in many places retained the very same termes of Bridegrome and spouse and of marriadge speaking of Iesus Christ and of his Church, as the Apostle hath likewise vsed the same, namely, Rom. 7.2. & 2. Cor. 11. and Ephs. 5.

We are therefore to note in the first place that as in the matter of mariadge the fiansailes or betrothings are first solemnized & then afterward the marriadge, so Christ also as the bridegrome of the Church ought to bee in some sort considered after two diuerse manners, first according vnto his infirmitie, which may bee compared vnto the fiansailes: and secondly according vnto his glory which he obtained after his resurrection, beeing nowe the true husband of his Church, replenished himselfe with glory, though shee bee yet remayning in part vpon earth. Now as touching this psalme Christ is therein proposed vnto vs, as being already in his glory, and as he who hath begonne already to accomplish in deede this holy marriadge with his Church.

Christ therefore as husband is this true king of his Church, so perfite in respect of himselfe in all beautie, that there is nothing wanting, vers. 2. As touching the good grace he hath to winne all heartes vnto himselfe, and euen to chaunge and turn them altogether, the same also appeareth in the preaching of the gospell accompanied with a vertue & power of the spirite which cannot be expressed. Himselfe in asmuch as hee hath taken vpon him the nature of man, hath receiued in the same nature the spirite of God without measure, in such aboundaunt wise that he poured it as it were ouer in all his saintes.

He is girded also with a sword, and that not in shewe onely without effect, but which he draweth and vnsheatheth in deede, namely then when he maketh his worde to pearce vnto the diuiding of the soule & of the spirite: vers. 3.

He is besides described to bee furnished and prouided with arrowes with which he shooteth thorough & transpearceth all his enemies, ver. 5. which maketh also that al praise ought principally & souerainly to be yeelded vnto him, who sheweth himselfe of so ready and mighty a power that hee is able to succour and defende such as are his, & to breake in sunder and ouerthrow the strength of such as rebell against him. ver. 5. To this purpose he is introduced as being trained in his chariot by these three horses, Truth, Meekenes, and Righteousnes, which are conducted by the word as by him that guideth this Chariot, vers. 4.

Nowe to declare at large the sense and meaning of euery of these things here proposed, it would require a great volume. Notwithstanding we may as it were by the way obserue somewhat out of them, if we make a comparison on the contrarie side of the traine they kepe, and on what chariot they cause them-selues to be carried, I meane the kinges & Princes who serue that master which is opposed altogether vnto this head of the Church, in whose whole furniture and prouision is nothing but Ambition, Pride, Insolencie, Crueltie, Dissolution, with an horrible trāpling vnder & oppressing of them which are their subiects. We must also diligently note that which is added, that albeit the worlde will not accept this most iust and most milde gouernement of his, that notwithstanding this so iust a king gouerneth alwaies most happily, & that the more men oppose and set themselues against him, the more hee maketh his power to appeare, whether it be in that so iust and assured defence which hee causeth those who are his to feele, or whether he strike his enemies within vnto death by a most diuine power, namely when hee casteth them into a reprobate sense to make them-selues the instruments of their own ruine & destruction. Now albeit these things come to passe euery day, inasmuch as this good king doth alwaies defend all his elect, to the end that none of them perish, & inasmuch as he doth vengeance vpon their enemies according as it pleaseth him to shewe the markes thereof: notwithstanding this appeared most expreslie in the first beginning of this marriage, as it seemeth to be here in some sort touched, when he shewed such vengeaunce on that vngrateful synagogue of the Iewes obstinatly perseuering in her incredulity, in which she continueth vnto this date, reseruing notwithstanding the remnaunt of his elect according vnto his expresse mercy which he promised vnto the race of Abraham, howe rebellious so euer it doth shew it selfe.