Book 2
The Song of Songs, in which that wisest of kings Solomon describes under the figure of the bridegroom and the bride the mysteries of Christ and the Church, namely the eternal King and His city, whoever wishes to read, must first remember that the entire congregation of the elect is generally called the Church. Yet now, for the sake of distinction, that portion of the faithful which preceded the times of the Lord's incarnation is called the Synagogue; while that which followed is named the Church. For the old Scripture is accustomed to designate the faithful people of that time by both terms. Both names, however, are Greek: Synagogue means congregation in Latin, and Church means convocation. By this name, it was more pleasing to call the faithful of this time, for a broader knowledge of spiritual understanding. Because it is proper for those who know how to hear and discern to be convoked; while stones or any other insensible things can be gathered together. However, both parts of the righteous, share the same faith and love of Christ; although they have different sacraments according to the reckoning of times, as the apostle Peter testifies, who says: Why do you tempt God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they (Acts XV). For just as we, now that the mystery of the Lord's incarnation, passion, and resurrection has been accomplished, hope and believe to be saved, so too the earlier part of the Church, still expecting the future incarnation, passion, and resurrection of the Lord and Redeemer, believed that it would be saved through His grace, which it ardently desired to come. Thus the voice of this part resounds first in the song of love; to whom the holy prophets very often both pointed out the way of living and promised His advent, who, like a bridegroom coming forth from his chamber, would grant the entire world the grace of a new blessing, began, surpassing the voices of the heralds, to desire more the presence of its King and Savior, saying: