55. Christ, then, feeds His Church with
these sacraments, by means of which the substance of the soul is
strengthened, and seeing the continual progress of her grace, He
rightly says to her: “How comely are thy breasts, my
sister, my spouse, how comely they are made by wine, and the smell of
thy garments is above all spices. A dropping honeycomb are thy
lips, my spouse, honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the smell of
thy garments is as the smell of Lebanon. A garden enclosed is my
sister, my spouse, a garden enclosed, a fountain
sealed.” Cant.
iv. 10 ff. By
which He signifies that the mystery ought to remain sealed up with you,
that it be not violated by the deeds of an evil life, and pollution of
chastity, that it be not made known to thou, for whom it is not
fitting, nor by garrulous talkativeness it be spread abroad amongst
unbelievers. Your guardianship of the faith ought therefore to be
good, that integrity of life and silence may endure
unblemished.