the twelue tribes, and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God. ^note In both bookes, for more auctoritie sake, making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid, with his owne title also of king. But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon, whom God singularly loued, whereof he was called Idida. ^note Because this alone, without mention of father or king, was most conuenient for the Perfect, who not as seruants, or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie, but as children are swetly drawne by loue. ^note And this he writte in verse, intitling it not simply a Canticle, but The Canticle of Canticles, as preeminent aboue other Canticles. The bridal songue for the Mariage, to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse. For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread, and food of the faithful, yet al are not meate for al, at al seasons. ^note Some parts are not for sinners, nor for beginners, nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection, but only for the perfect. According to the Apostles doctrine: Milke is for children, that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice. But strong meate is for the perfect, them that by custom, haue their senses exercised to the discerning of good and euil. with what moderation therfore, and humilitie, this Canticle of Gods perfect spouse may be read, the discrete wil consider, and not presume aboue their reach, but be wise with sobrietie. For here be very high and hidden Mysteries, as Origen teacheth in his lerned Commentaries (which S. Ierom translated into Latin, and singularly commendeth) and so much harder to be rightly vnderstood, for that the feruent spiritual loue, of the inward man, reformed in soule, and perfected in spirite, is here vttered in the same vsual wordes and termes, wherwith, natural, worldlie, yea and carnal loue of the outward man, old Adam, corrupted by sinne, is commonly expressed: and are so much more dangerous to be mistaken, as we are more addicted to proper wil, & priuate iudgement, or subiect to carnal, or passionate motions. ^note wherfore it semeth most mete to kepe the same order in reading these three bookes, which the author wise Salomon obserued in writing them. And which Philosophers also folow in their forme of discipline. For they first lerne and teach Moral Philosophie, then Natural, & lastly Metaphisikes which is their Diuinitie. As Salomon had geuen them example: first teaching precepts of good life, and maners, in his Prouerbes: after, discoursing of natural thinges in Ecclesiastes, deduced thence a conclusion, which prophane Philosophers wel vnderstood not, to contemne this world: and finally cometh to high mystical Diuinitie, in this supereminent Canticle: written in an other stile, in verse, and in forme of a sacred Dialogue betwen Christ and his spouse: or as Origen calleth it, in forme of an ^note Enterlude, in respect of diuers speakers & actors, & of diuers persons, to whom the speaches are directed, and of whom they are vttered. ^note For by

the Spous or Bridgrome, is not only vnderstood Christ as Man, but also as God, and the whole Blessed Trinitie; to whom manie prayers, praises, and thankes are offered vp; and by whom manie benefites are geuen, praises returned, & promises made to his spouse, Likewise by the Spouse or Bride, the ancient fathers vnderstand three sortes of spouses: al espoused to Christ, and to God. towitt, his General Spouse, the whole Church of the old and new Testaments; of al that are, and shal be perfect, making one mystical bodie, free from sinne, without spotte, or wrinkle, sanctified in Christ. ^{note note note note} Also his special spouse, which is euerie particular holie soule. And his singular spouse, his most blessed & most immaculate Virgin Mother. This being the general summe of this excellent Canticle, remitting the reader, for explication therof to the lerned deuout Commenters, both of ancient and late writers, we shal also endeuour to gether the same contents more particularly, not before the chapters, because we can not there so conueniently distinguish the same by verses, but in the margent. ^note where we shal especially note the speakers, as semeth more probable of euerie parcel, according to the first sense (not hauing rowme for more) perteyning to the General spouse, the Catholique Church: which is the great, and euerlasting holie Citie of God the eternal King. SALAMONS CANTICLE OF CANTICLES, WHICH IN HEBREW IS CALLED SIR HASIRIM.

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