Sermons on the Song of Songs

From these observations it appears evident, as I think, that the Spouse had a special reason for saying that she was found by the preachers, because, namely, she desired to acknowledge that by them she has been collected, but not elected; discovered, but not converted. For the conversion of every soul must be attributed to Him alone to Whom alone all men without exception are under the necessity of addressing that petition of the psalm, “Convert us, O God our Saviour.” But it may be doubted whether there would be the same propriety in speaking of souls as having been found by God as in attributing to Him their conversion. Indeed I am certain that there would not. Souls are not found by God but prevented (non invenire.… sed praevenire) and anticipation excludes discovery. For how could anything be discovered by Him to whom nothing is ever unknown? “The Lord knoweth who are His,” as the Apostle tells us. But what are His own words? “I know,” He says, “whom I have chosen from the beginning.” Manifestly, then, there would have been no reason in the Spouse’s proclaiming that she was found by the same Bridegroom Who from eternity had foreknown her, and loved her, and Who had created her at the beginning. But I would say with confidence that she had been prepared by Him in order to be found by others. For “he that saw it hath given testimony” and we know that “his testimony is true.” And this is his testimony, “And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” These are the words of one of the watchmen who keep the city. But attend now to the Bridegroom Himself by whom the Bride was prepared. He says to the watchmen, using another image, and as it were pointing her out to them with His finger, “Lift up your eyes and see the countries, for they are white already to harvest,” that is to say, prepared for the harvest. It is from this time that the Father of the family begins to invite labourers into His fields, when He beholds how everything has now been so well prepared that without very much effort on their part they may be able to rejoice over their success and to boast with St. Paul, “For we are God’s coadjutors.” For what is it that they shall have to do? Only to seek out the Spouse and, when she has been found, to tell her about her Beloved. For being the friends of the Bridegroom, they will seek not their own glory but His. And they will not need to labour much to obtain for Him the glory of finding her, because she is already at hand, is already seeking Him with all the eagerness of love. So well has her will been prepared by the Lord.

Indeed, before the watchmen have spoken a word to her, she of her own accord questions them concerning her Beloved. Having been herself prevented by divine grace, she now in turn prevents her preachers, interrogating them and asking, “Have you seen Him Whom my soul loveth?” Rightly, therefore, does she proclaim that she has been found by the watchmen who keep the city,” because she is well aware that she has been foreknown and anticipated by the Lord of the city, and that it was their part, not to form her, but to find her after she had been already formed by Him. Thus Cornelius was found by St. Peter and St. Paul by Ananias, because both had been prevented and prepared by the Lord. How could anyone have been better prepared than was Saul, who had even already cried out with suppliant heart and voice, “Lord, what wouldst Thou have me to do?” Nor less prepared was Cornelius, who by his almsgivings and prayers—to which, however, he was moved by the preventing grace of God—merited to receive the gift of faith. St. Nathanael also was found by St. Philip. But the Lord had already seen him when he was under the fig-tree. And what else was this vision of the Lord but a preparation of the heart? Again, St. Andrew is credited with having found his own brother, Simon; nevertheless he also was anticipated by the foresight and the foreknowledge of the Lord, Who immediately changed Simon’s name to Cephas, as if to signify the firmness of his faith.

Moreover, we read of the Virgin Mary that “she was found with Child of the Holy Ghost.” It seems to me, my brethren, that in this respect there is some resemblance between the Mother of the Lord and His Bride. For unless the latter had been found likewise with the fruit of the Holy Ghost, she would by no means have so familiarly questioned the watchmen who found her concerning Him Whose Spirit He is. As it was, however, she did not wait for them to make known the object of their coming. She was the first to speak, and indeed out of the abundance of her heart, saying to them, “Have you seen Him Whom my soul loveth?” For she knew how blessed were the eyes that had gazed upon Him, and therefore, looking with wondering eyes on those who had seen Him, she seems to ask, “Are you they to whom it has been given to see Him Whom so many kings and prophets have desired to see and have not seen? Are you they who have been found worthy to behold Wisdom in the flesh, Truth in the body, God in man? Many say to me, ‘lo! He is here’ and ‘lo! He is there’; but I judge it to be safer to put my trust in you who ‘did eat and drink with Him after He arose again from the dead.’” These, my brethren, are the remarks which have occurred to me in connection with the Spouse’s questioning of the watchmen. If anything has been omitted which ought to be said, it shall be supplied in another sermon. But that the Spouse has been prevented by the Holy Ghost, although recognised and found by those who keep the city, is now, I hope, sufficiently clear, especially from this fact, because, namely, it is she who has been chosen by God before the beginning of the world and prepared for His own beloved Son to be His everlasting delight during unending ages, “that she may be holy and unspotted in His sight,” “springing as the lily” and “flourishing for ever before the Lord,” the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.