A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

The Mystery of Noah's Ark.

The Mysterie of Noahs Arke.

This miraculous preservation hath also a mystical sense; and serves for the Instruction and consolation of the militant Church unto the worlds end. There is in a Text, as in a Tree; the bud, blossom, fruit: a literal, a spiritual, and a moral sense.^t Awake O North-wind, and come thou South, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out: let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. In a literal sense, Solomons Queen desires a pleasant garden to delight her husband. In a spiritual sense, the Church entreats the Holy Ghost, that wind which blows where he pleaseth, to blow upon, and enlarge her graces, that CHRIST, her husband, may take pleasure in her. In a moral sense, she would have all her children bring forth store of fruits, good works that they might be blessed of their father.^u O daughter, forget thine own people, and thy fathers house. Literally, it is spoken to Pharaohs daughter, to forget Egypt wherein she was bred and borne, and to adhere to her husband Solomon. Mystically, it speaks to the Church, to forget this world, wherein she was borne an Egyptian, black with sins: and cleave faithfully to her beloved CHRIST, who had now with his own blood washed her fair, and greatly desired her beauty. So that under the title of Pharaohs daughter, hear what the Spirit speaketh to the Church.^x Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. Literally, corporal beauty is commended; chains, jewels, ornaments allowed: spiritually, graces, the beauties of the soul; and good works, the beauty of graces, are required. Only here is the difference between other Trees and the Tree of life. They first bud, then blossom, then send forth fruit: