Page:The Song of Songs (1857).djvu/82

 There are some, says this prelate, ''who do not admit that the Song of Songs has a spiritual sense, and make of it such a texture of fables, which is unbecoming even to the insane. Some maintain that Solomon is here celebrating himself and the daughter of Pharaoh; others take the Shulamite, not as Pharaoh's daughter, but as Abishag; and others, again, considering the thing with a little more reverence, call this book a Royal address, and take "the bride," to be the people of Israel, and "the bridegroom" the king. I have, therefore, found it necessary, before proceeding with the interpretation, first, to refute this false and pernicious interpretation, and then to fix the obvious design of this book''. 1. These people, he submits, ought to remember that those holy fathers were much wiser, and had more spiritual minds than they had, that this book was incorporated in the sacred writings, and that the Church revered it for its spiritual meaning, &c.

2. ''Through Manasseh and the destruction of Jerusalem, the writings of the Old Testament were lost, but the Holy Spirit restored them to Ezra by inspiration. Now the Holy Spirit could not have inspired any other than a divine book.''

3. ''Because the holy fathers saw this, they have either written devotional commentaries on the entire book, or filled their writings with its thoughts, as for instance, Eusebius and others, who were near the apostolic age. Now, are we not to believe these holy fathers? not believe the Holy Ghost? not obey the voice of God rather than our own opinions? We must so deal with the sacred Scriptures as not to regard letters merely, but draw out the hidden spirit from obscurity.''

"The bridegroom" is Christ, "the bride" his church; "the daughters of Jerusalem" are pious, but still unfinished souls (young in a Christian sense), ''which have not as yet attained the perfection of the bride, but imitate her example; "the companions of the bridegroom" are either the angels or the prophets''.

The following is a specimen of his commentary:—

1. The Song of Songs, &c. This book is called The Song of Songs, because all other songs in the writings of Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms