Partly the great shortness partly the doubtful signification of one word doth make the sentence dark. As for the word fountains, there is no doubt but that it is translated from the right signification & used here by a Metaphor. But for all the that expounders do differ in the declaration of the Metaphor. Some do expound it hope, some affections, some the inward thoughts. How ⟨image 108⟩be it, I would gladly agree to their sentence which interpret it songs if the propriety of the tongue would suffer it. But because it may seem to far fetched I do receive that which is most agreeable to reason to wit, that the countenance is signified, for the rote from the which it is derived doth signify an eye. Now must we see what that other member signifieth. Aswell the singers as the players on instruments. It is an abrupt manner of speaking, but all men do agree of the sense thereof, to wit, that there shall be such cause of joy that the praise of God shall be set forth with singing, both without instruments and also with instruments of music. Therefore he doth establish that which he said afore of that great glorious restoration of Zion: for by the greatness of the joy and manifold singing of praise he declareth how great the felicity thereof should be. But in the mean season he describeth the end of all the gifts which god doth so liberally pour on his church: to ⟨image 108⟩wit that the faithful do witness their thankful mind towards him with hymns & songs. More over that the prophet declareth that he doth embrace the church with a singular love care and study to the intent he might exhort and kindle all faithful by his example to the same affection. According to this saying let my right hand be forgotten if I do not remember thee Jerusalem in the beginning of my joy. For then finally are all our affections in the church when as we gather our selves from the wandering and vain destruction of the mind, and despise the dignities, delicate things, riches, and pomp of this world, and are content with that only spiritual glory of the kingdom of Christ.
Partly the great shortnes partly the doutfull signification of one worde doth make ye sentence dark. As for the word fountaines, there is no dout but that it is translated from the right signification & vsed here by a Metapher. But for all ye yt expounders do differ in the declaration of the Metapher. Some do expound it hope, some affections, some the inward thoughtes. How ⟨image 108⟩be it, I would gladly agre to their sentence which interpret it songs if the proprietie of the tonge wold suffer it. But because it may seme to far fetched I do receiue yt which is most agreable to reason to wit, that the countenance is signified, for the rote from the which it is deriued doth signifie an eye. Nowe must we se what that other membre signifieth. Aswell the syngers as the players on instruments. It is an abrupt maner of speaking, but al men do agree of the sence thereof, to wit, that there shalbe such cause of ioye that the prayse of God shall be set forth with singyng, both without instrumentes and also with instrumentes of musicke. Therefore he doth establishe that which he saide afore of that great glorious restauration of Sion: for by ye greatnes of the ioy and manifolde singing of praise he declareth how great the felicitie thereof should be. But in the meane season he describeth the end of al the giftes which god doth so liberally powre on his church: to ⟨image 108⟩wit that the faithfull do witnesse their thankfull minde towardes him with himnes & songes. More ouer that the prophet declareth yt he dothe embrase the church with a syngular loue care and studye to the intent he myght exhorte and kindle all faithfull by his example to the same affection. According to thys saiyng let my ryght hande be forgottē if I do not remembre thee Ierusalem in the begynyng of my ioye. For then finallye are all our affections in the churche when as we gather our selues frō the wanderyng and vaine distruction of the mynde, and despyse the dignities, delicate thynges, ryches, and pompe of this worlde, and are content wyth that onelye spirituall glory of the kyngdome of Christ.
