Sermons on the Song of Songs

Why, my brethren, may not she glory in security since “mercy and truth have met each other” to testify to her glory? Therefore, whether she says, “My Beloved to me,” or whether she says, “With expectation I have waited for the Lord,” or, “The Lord is careful for me,” or in fine whatever other expressions of this kind she makes use of, which appear to signify in the same way a certain special love and singular favour on the part of God for His Spouse; she believes that there is none of all these utterances which does not truly apply to herself. And well she may, considering that she has such solid reason for presuming in the Lord’s free choice of her, particularly as she beholds no other Spouse, no rival Church for whose sake the divine pledges, which cannot fail, are to be fulfilled. Hence it is evident that the Church has no hesitation at all in appropriating to herself the prerogatives and graces of the promise. But even with regard to the individual soul, provided that she is holy and spiritual, the question may be reasonably asked, whether she also has not the right to presume in these matters, at least to a certain extent? It seems evident enough that no single soul, however far advanced in holiness she may be, can lay claim to all the privileges and promises appertaining to the universal Church, for the sake of which all things are done. It will consequently be no easy matter, as I think, if indeed it is not altogether impossible, to discover how such presumption, even within limits, can be lawful for any individual. Hence I judge it necessary to reserve this investigation for another discourse. For I am unwilling to enter upon so difficult a disputation, the issue whereof I cannot tell, until we have first prayed for light on this obscure question to Him “Who openeth and no man shutteth,” the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.