Verse 1. How. Christ again praises the beauty of his Church. Worthington.—The dialogue takes place in the country. Bible.—From corporal beauty, which is often dangerous, and the portion of the most dissolute, we must raise our minds to spiritual advantages, which the Holy Ghost has here in view.—Within. Saint Ambrose “besides thy taciturnity.” Septuagint “silence.” Rabbins, and so forth “hair.” Prot. “within thy locks.” But what renders this version of tsammathec ( Bible.) suspicious is, that none of the ancients knew of it, and the hair is afterwards specified. Calmet. 6:4. Moreover, Isaias, (47:2) uses it for ( Calmet.) “turpitude,” (Saint Jerome) or the parts which are usually “covered.” Septuagint Bible.—Si qua latent, meliora putat. Met. 1500.—All the glory of the king’s daughter is within. Psalms 44:14. Modesty and silence are the best encomium. Calmet.—The Lord praises the intention, occupations and doctrine of the Church, the twins of faith and good works; the preaching of Christ’s passion without shame, (verse 3) and the administration of the sacraments, which, like the neck, unite the members to their head; so that they become invincible, (verse 4) whether they be of Jewish or Gentile extraction, verse 5. Worthington.—Up. Hebrew and Septuagint “appear.” Jerusalem was the highest part of the country; ( Bible.) and coming up and down often means no more than coming or going. Jug. 11:3 and 15:11. Calmet.—The hair of goats in Lycia was beautifully curled. Ælian 16:30.—Women used such false hair. Mart. xii. 45.—Though the hair be only an ornament, it is not to be neglected; so the pious Christian will always treat with respect the ceremonies established chiefly for the instruction of the ignorant. Calmet.—Those simple and fervent souls, by their numbers, adorn the Church, as hair does the body. Saint Gregory—The external and internal perfections of the spouse deserve commendation. Menochius.
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Verse 2. Them. Those who lay aside the old man, and receive baptism, are filled with grace, to bring forth the fruits of virtue. Saint Augustine Doct. ii. 6.—Pastors in particular, must lay aside worldly cares, and attend to their flocks. Menochius.
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Verse 3. Scarlet. Preachers of the gospel (Saint Gregory) must speak with elegance, and have their lips dyed with the blood of Christ, and purified with coals from the altar. Calmet.—So, if we may use the words of a living critic, who is sometimes accurate, “a commentator ought to study at the foot of his crucifix, and write with ink drawn from the heart of Jesus.” Bible.—Pomegranate. Plump and ruddy, representing the purity of the Church, and of virgins, who are its “flower,” (S. Cyp.) and bring forth fruits of good works. Saint Augustine de Virg.
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Verse 4. Bulwarks. Hebrew Thalpiyoth, “at the height of the defiles,” probably in Libanus, when David conquered Syria. Thalassar, Thelmela, and so forth were such “heights.” Bucklers, to be used in case of need, or for ornament. Thus the neck of the spouse was adorned with chains and pearls. The Church is this tower, the pillar of truth, 1 Timothy 3. Matthew 16:18. Apostles and prelates are her bucklers.
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Verse 5. Roes. This comparison does not seem happy: but exactitude is not required. Calmet.—Indeed if we were to take all in the literal sense, a very grotesque figure would arise, with a head like Carmel, a nose like a tower, and so forth which shews that the tropological or allegorical sense must be adopted. D.—The two Testaments given for our instruction, (chapter 1:2) or the charity towards God and our neighbour, may be meant. Theod.
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Verse 6. Retire. In the morning, (Sanct.) or rather the bridegroom takes his leave early, promising to return in the evening. Calmet. 2:17. Calmet.—Myrrh. To Calvary, where the fervent will pour forth their prayers, and learn mortification. Calmet.—Christ dwells in mortified and devout minds.
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Verse 7. Thee. All must be pure before they enter heaven, as the blessed Virgin was on earth, ( Worthington.) and the Church is still. Ephesians 5:27. Calmet.—Before his departure, Christ heaps praises on her.
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Verse 8. Thou. Hebrew “look from.”—Libanus. So Jerusalem is called, Zechariah 11:3. Ribera. Menochius.—Amana. Septuagint “faith.” By it and charity, we must do good. Saint Augustine Ps. lxvii. Amanus separates Cilicia from Syria.—Sanir is the name given by the Phenicians to Hermon, (Eusebius) beyond the Jordan. 1 Chronicles 5:23.—Leopards. It is not fit for women to hunt such beasts. Ovid (Met. x. 10.) thus speaks of Venus: Nuda genu, vestemque ritu succincta Dianæ, and so forth The Church leaves Jerusalem to preach the gospel without fear. Menochius.
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Verse 9. Wounded. Symmachus, “given.” Septuagint Prot. “ravished.” Mystic writers suppose, that the spouse had been guilty of some negligence; or, on the contrary, that her deportment was most enchanting, bent on God, and on good works. Calmet.—Sister. So Assuerus styles himself brother of Esther. 15:12. Christ died for the unity of his Church. Menochius.
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Verse 10. Spices. He returns her compliment. Calmet. 1:2.
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Verse 11. Lips. Teachers who accommodate their instructions to the capacity of their audience, ( Calmet.) giving milk to children. Hebrews 5:13. Bible. 1 Corinthians 3:2.—In allusion, perhaps, to this passage, ( Calmet.) it was customary to give milk and honey to the new baptized. Tert. coron.—Garments. Which were perfumed, (Genesis 27:17. Psalms 44:9) and imply good works, (2 Corinthians 5:3. Romans 13:14. Calmet.) and the external service and prayers of the Church, which ascend like incense. Psalms 140:2. Menochius.
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Verse 12. Up. She is perfectly chaste. Proverbs 5:14. The Church excludes from her society all unbelievers and schismatics. The wicked serve to exercise the virtuous. Her pastors explain the Scriptures, the fountains of saving knowledge. Calmet.—Christ is also a fountain. Zechariah 13:1 and John 7:37. Menochius.
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Verse 13. Plants. The various orders of clergy and laity.—Cyprus, (chapter 1:13. Calmet.) whence a healing oil is extracted. Theod.—Prot. “camphire.” Bible.—Spikenard is twice mentioned, as it may be well mixed with cyprus and saffron. Menochius.
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Verse 14. Cinnamon. Very rare. Exodus 30:23.—Libanus, or “incense.” Heb.
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Verse 15. Libanus. The law of the gospel was proclaimed by the apostles, who were Jews. They explained the pure doctrine of the Scriptures, and converted many.
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Verse 16. Wind. At different times. Let all nations be convinced of thy beauty. Calmet.—The holy Spirit enabled the apostles to convert the world. Nys. Rupert.—All temptations, whether proceeding from cruelty or deceit, “make constant souls more grateful to God.” Worthington.