The Garden And The Waters

Plantaverat autem Dominus Deus paradisum voluptatis a principio.   Paradisus Ecclesia est; sic enim de illa legitur in Canticis Canticorum: Hortus conclusus soror mea. A principio autem paradisus plantatur, quia Ecclesia catholica a Christo, qui est principium omnium, condita esse cognoscitur. Fluvius de paradiso exiens imaginem portat Christi, de paterno fonte fluentis, qui irrigat Ecclesiam suam verbo praedicationis, et dono baptismi. De quo bene per Prophetam dicitur: Dominus Deus noster fluvius gloriosus exsiliens in terram sitientem. Quator autem paradisi flumina quator sunt Evangelia ad praedictionem cunctis gentibus. Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis,Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Genesin, Caput III Source: Migne PL 83.216b-c

The Lord God planted a paradise of pleasure in the beginning. 1 Paradise is the Church, so indeed we read about it in the Song of Songs: 'An enclosed garden is my sister.' 2 And in the beginning paradise was planted because the Catholic Church is from Christ, who is the beginning of all things, being known as the foundation. 3 The river going out from paradise bears the image of Christ, flowing from the paternal spring, which waters His Church with the word of preaching and the gift of Baptism. Concerning which it is said by the Prophet: 'The Lord our God is a glorious river flowing out into a thirsty land'. 4 And the four rivers of paradise are the four Gospels given for the preaching to all the peoples. Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On Genesis, Chap 3 1 Gen 2.8 2 Song 4.12 3 1 Cor 3.11 4 Isai 44.3