A brief exposition of the whole book of Canticles, or Song of Solomon lively…

My beloved is white and ruddy, &c.]¹ Thus Petrus Waldus, a Citizen of Lions, opened Christ to the daughters of Jerusalem, to the children of the Church, setting before them the white innocency of true holiness in him, and the ruddy scarlet dye of his death. The righteousness and death of Christ plainly, yet powerfully, opened by him, brought many to behold Christ, and to profess him; who (when by persecution stirred up against them by the Bishop of Rome they were dispersed into many places) multiplied exceedingly; and being then called Albigenses, in many battles fought against the soldiers which Pope Innocent the third had sent against them, under conduct of Simon Montfort, and others signed with the cross: in many of which the Albigenses prevailed, helped by Raymond Earle of Thelus, and Peter King of Aragon; though ⟨p. 155⟩afterwards they were overcome and scattered further into many places of Christendom. So in regard of these troupes of many thousands, Christ is here called the standard▪ bearer, as the word signifieth, or the choice of ten thousand. Again, at that time Christ may be said to be white and ruddy in regard of his members, who were then white with innocency of life, yet ruddy, enduring persecution.

My beloved is white and ruddy, &c.]¹ Thus Petrus Waldus, a Citizen of Lions, opened Christ to the daughters of Jerusalem, to the children of the Church, setting before them the white innocency of true holinesse in him, and the ruddy scarlet dye of his death. The righteousnesse and death of Christ plainly, yet powerfully, opened by him, brought many to behold Christ, and to professe him; who (when by persecution stirred up against them by the Bishop of Rome they were dispersed into many places) multiplied exceedingly; and being then called Albingenses, in many battels fought against the souldiers which Pope Innocent the third had sent against them, under conduct of Simon Mounteford, and others signed with the crosse: in many of which the Albingenses prevailed, helped by Reymund Earle of Thelus, and Peter King of Aragon; though ⟨p. 155⟩afterwards they were overcome and scattered further into many places of Christendome. So in regard of these troupes of many thousands, Christ is here called the standard bearer, as the word signifieth, or the choice of ten thousand. Again, at that time Christ may be said to be white and ruddy in regard of his members, who were then white with innocency of life, yet ruddy, enduring persecution.