THE HOLY Ghost is pleased here to condescend to 1our infirmities, and that we might help our selves, in our spiritual ⟨p. 2⟩estate, by our bodily; he speaketh here of heavenly things after an earthly manner, and in a comfortable mystery. As in other places the Holy Ghost sets out the joys of Heaven by a sweet Ban quet: so here he sets out the union that we have with Christ, by the union of the Husband with the wife. And that we might the better understand what this union is, he condescends to our weak capacities, that we might see that in a glass of resemblance which we (through our corruptions) cannot discern in the own nature. This book therefore is nothing else but a shadowed demonstration and setting ⟨p. 3⟩forth of the love of Christ to his Church, and of the love of the Church to Christ under certain earthly similitudes so familiarly and naturally, that the Jews took, and do take great scandal at it, and therefore would not have any to read it, till they should come (at least) to the age of thirty years; and this, least they thereby should be tempted to wantonness and foul incontinency; where in they should seem wiser then God himself, and teach the holy Ghost to speak. But the Holy Ghost is pleased thus by corporal, to set out spiritual things, which are of a higher strain, that by some deeper thoughts, and ⟨p. 4⟩more then a taste of the one, they might be made to transpose their affections (which in your youthful age are most strong) from the heat of natural love to a flame of spiritual desires, and to the things of God. All therefore who are spiritually minded, (for whom chiefly the Scriptures, and this holy book of Scripture were written) must endeavour out of this shell, to take out the sweet kernel of our blessed Communion with Christ, howsoever others (otherwise minded) take offence hereat; for here, the union between Christ and his Spouse is so familiarly and to the life pencilled out by that union which is between the Husband ⟨p. 5⟩and the Wife, that though ungodly men may stumble here, as at some stone of offence, yet the godly may by a better hand receive instruction and much bettering from the same.
THE HOLY Ghost is pleased here to cōdescend to 1our infirmities, and that wee might helpe our selves, in our spirituall ⟨p. 2⟩estate, by our bodily; hee speaketh here of heavenly things after an earthly manner, and in a comfortable mystery. As in other places the Holy Ghost sets out the joyes of Heaven by a sweet Ban quet: so here hee sets out the union that wee have with Christ, by the union of the Husband with the wife. And that wee might the better understand what this union is, hee condescends to our weake capacities, that wee might see that in a glasse of resemblance which wee (through our corruptions) cannot discerne in the owne nature. This booke therefore is nothing else but a shadowed demonstration and setting ⟨p. 3⟩forth of the love of Christ to his Church, and of the love of the Church to Christ under certaine earthly similitudes so familiarly and naturally, that the Iewes tooke, and doe take great scandall at it, and therefore would not have any to reade it, till they should come (at least) to the age of thirty yeares; and this, least they thereby should be tempted to wantonnesse and foule incontinency; where in they should seeme wiser then God himselfe, and teach the holy Ghost to speake. But the Holy Ghost is pleased thus by corporall, to set out spirituall things, which are of a higher straine, that by some deeper thoughts, and ⟨p. 4⟩more then a taste of the one, they might bee made to transpose their affections (which in your youthfull age are most strong) from the heate of naturall love to a flame of spirituall desires, and to the things of God. All therefore who are spiritually minded, (for whom chiefly the Scriptures, and this holy booke of Scripture were written) must indeavour out of this shell, to take out the sweete kernell of our blessed Communion with Christ, howsoever others (otherwise minded) take offence hereat; for here, the union betweene Christ and his Spouse is so familiarly and to the life pensilled out by that union which is betweene the Husband ⟨p. 5⟩and the Wife, that though ungodly men may stumble here, as at some stone of offence, yet the godly may by a better hand receive instruction and much bettering from the same.
- 1Loquitur ad modum nostrum, agit ad modum suum, Augustin.
