A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
All Commentaries on Song of Songs 4:12 Go To Song of Songs 4
Cyprian of Carthage
AD 258
If then this spouse of Christ—which is the church—is a garden enclosed, what is closed cannot be open to the stranger and profane. If the church is a sealed fountain, one who is outside, without access to the fountain, cannot drink from it or be sealed there. If there is but one well of living water—that which is within—then one who is without can have no life or grace from the water which only those within are allowed to use and drink.
