Robert of Tombelaine, on Song 4:12

“My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up.”

“The garden represents holy Church, because when she brings forth many peoples in faith, she sends out beautiful flowers like good soil. This garden is rightly said to be enclosed, because it is fortified on every side by the wall of charity, lest any reprobate enter within the number of the elect. Each holy soul is also understood to be an enclosed garden, because when she hides her good works by the intention of eternal life, when she utterly despises human praises, she surrounds herself with that good intention, lest the ancient enemy be able to break in to seize what is within. She is also called a fountain, because when she continually thinks on heavenly things, when she always gathers the knowledge of the Scriptures into the belly of memory, the holy mind does not cease to produce living waters within herself, which she is able to offer to thirsting neighbors so that they may be refreshed. Whence it is written, the Lord saying: "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life" (John 4:13). And elsewhere: "He who believes in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water shall flow from his belly" (John 7:38). But why is that fountain said to be sealed, unless because spiritual understanding is hidden from unworthy minds? For to the unfaithful man it is said by the Lord: "The Spirit breathes where He wills, and you hear His voice, and you do not know whence He comes or where He goes" (John 3:8). And again it is written: "The light of Your countenance is sealed upon us, O Lord" (Psalm 4:7). For what is there called a sealed light is without doubt here declared to be a sealed fountain. For the Holy Spirit both illuminates and bedews the mind He fills, and bedewing illuminates it: so that from His light it may see what to desire, and from His dew it may refresh itself, lest it grow weary.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.