purposely brought that crosse vpon her and that at length she shall haue the victorye of all her aduersaries and persecutours syngyng The Spouse to the Younglynges lxi VNder my head the chief men of my flocke That to the truth must stycke styll vnafrayed Of Christe my Spouse my anker and my rocke The lefte hande of aduersitie is layed Yet for all that nothyng can me deface Though for a tyme harme doe preuayle through hate For why at length Christs ryght hande shall embrace My body whole with prosperous estate I Charge ye O ye Daughters of Ierusalē that ye wake not vp my loue nor touch her tyll she be content herself ¶ The Argument WHan Christe hath tryed his Spouse with persecucion and founde her constant he receyueth her into his bed of peace quietnesse and rest geuyng chaurge to the Daughters of Ierusalem as many as entende to obtayne fauoure at his hande that they trouble her not with vayne questions false opinions supersticious tradicions ydle and dum ceremonies newe constitucions wicked decrees nor vngodlye lawes but to suffer her slepe in the faythe and quyetnesse of conscience that she hath receyued of hym already til she wake her selfe eyther through his instigacion to auaunce his glory or by sum charitable mocion to healpe her neyghboures syngyng as foloweth Christe to the whole worlde O O ye daughters of Jerusalem All suche as lyst my voyce to vnderstande Marke what J saye to you and to all them That hope to haue saluacion at my hande Concernyng my faythfull She doeth beleue the scriptures euery iote With all the truthes that therin are contaynde My sacramentes also she knoweth by rote With gyftes of grace that are by them attaynde Of all that are faythfull She doeth beleue the father omnipotent To haue created the erth and heauens hie From whome the wurde into the worlde was sent And toke flesh of the virgin pure Marie A woman moste faythfull And in that flesh was hanged on the tree Wheron he shed his blud to reconcile His fathers wrathe to whiche all subiect be That know not Christe but doe his death defyle Remaynyng vnfaythfull Who on the Crosse by death made recompence For all the sinnes of all that in hym trust From whome he frely pourged all offence And in Goddes syght through fayth alone made iust All them that are faythfull He rose agayne she beleueth with all the rest Of tharticles that in the scripture be Through whiche belief she hath attayned rest Of conscience and slepeth nowe in me Through hope very ioyfull J charge you than on payne to lose the lyfe Whiche dureth euer in heauen ioyes aboue Ye fayne no fayth nor stirre vp any stryfe Whereby to wake from rest my quiet loue Through hope very ioyfull But let her lye tyll by her owne accorde She wake herselfe compelled by the zeale She hath to you to leade you to the Lorde Who can alone the soules sore wounded heale Of all that are faythfull VUhat is she that cummeth vp from the wyldrenes and leaneth vpon her Loue ¶ The Argument WHyle the Churche is at rest in Christe she waxeth dayly more and more notable through her good lyfe and Godly conuersacion whiche the perfecte Spouse woundryng at syngeth ¶ The perfect Spouse to Christ. lxiii WHat maye she be that doeth ascende Out from the desert place Of worldly folke that woulde not bende Them selues to call for grace What is she that ascendeth hye Leanyng vpon her loue That trusteth whole in Christes mercy Through grace sent from aboue I Waked thee vp amōg the apple trees wher thy mother conceyued thee where thy mother brought thee into the worlde ¶ The argument CHriste maketh aunswere declaryng what she is where and howe he rounde her and declaryng what he dyd for his Spouse doeth syng as foloweth Christe to the Churche lxviii EMong the apple trees J waked thee vp my spouse Where as thou sleptest in sin in sin original Which Eua by the frute she plukt fro the apple bowes Brought on her whole posteritie Whiche are condemned al For theyr parentes iniquitie And for theyr owne vnryght Vnder this apple tree through whiche thou wast condemnde Jn whiche condemned state thy mother brought thee furth J waked thee for I my lyfe and all contemnde Vpon the tree dyd sheade my blood Whiche all that take in wurth Are quit from sin and newe made good In God my fathers syght Vnder this apple tree the swete tree of my crosse So soone as thou dydst syt and therein put thy trust I waked thee from sin I payed thy parentes losse And got thy former state agayne Whiche Eua by her lust Had lost and dyd mankynde constrayne To slepe in sin and death Among these apple trees bothe bytter swete and sower The apple tree of death by whiche mankynde was lost And tree of lyfe whiche I dyd purchace by my power I waked thee vp to lyfe and welth Because I sawe the tost With waues of woe and gaue the helth Agaynst thy sin and death O Set me as a seale vpon thy heart and as a signet vpon thyne arme for loue is myghtie as death and gelousie as hel Her coles are of fier a very flame of the Lord. Many waters are not able to quenche Loue neyther maye the streames droune it yea yf a man would geue al the goodes of his house for loue he should count it nothyng ¶ The Argument WHan Christe hath tolde his Spouse howe he ascended for her sake the apple tree of the crosse makyng thereon ful satisfaccion to his father for the sinnes of al mankind by the sheadyng of his most precious blood wakyng her vp from the deadly slepe whiche she slept vnder the apple tree of originall sinne and condemnacion vnder whiche her mother brought her furth He wyllyng to haue her myndeful of hys benefites byddeth her set hym as a seale vpon her harte that is to scale vp all her affeccions and thoughtes with the remembraunce of his blessed passion and by the same to seale out al other deuices to obtayn saluacion to set him as a signet vpon her arme not to presume to doe ought by her owne wit strēgth but to doe in al thinges as his wurd teacheth All this he desyreth her to doe for the loue sake which he beareth to her whiche is strong as death or hel yea and stronger For the strength of his loue overcam the strength of bothe Wherfore for this his great loue he woulde haue his spouse thankfull and shewe hym loue agayne The properties wherof he declareth syngyng ¶ Christe to his Spouse lxv O Set me as a seale vpon thyne hart Remember me alwayes in all thy thought Out of thy mynde my spouse let not depart The wurthye wurkes whiche J haue for thee wrought Remembre how that I alone dyd clyme The tree of death to bryng thee vnto lyfe And shed theron my blud to cleanse the cryme For whiche the serpent fyrst
see thy countenaunce and hear thy voyce for swete is thy voyce fayre is thy face Get vs the foxes yea the litle foxes that hurt the vines for our vines bear blossoms My loue is mine and I am his which fedeth among the roses vntil the day breake and tyll the shadowes be goen Cum agayne O my beloued and be lyke as a Roe or a young hart vpon the wyde mountaynes ¶ The seconde Chapter I Am the flower of the field and the Lilie of the valleyes As the lilie among the Thornes so is my Spouse among the daughters ¶ The argument CHrist hauyng heard his Spouse prayse him for his bewtie and fauour through whiche she was made bewtifull and obtayned the bed of peace and house in the last song declared calleth nowe to mynde his humanitie whiche after he hath euidently declared he taketh therof a new occasion to prayse his Churche syngyng ¶ Christe to his Spouse xii THe floure of the field am I That springeth alone vnset Whome Mary brought furth fleshly Though man dyd me not beget Nor set Yet am not J lyke the flower Whiche once beyng rype doeth dye But as the violet hath power Whose flower smelleth moste swetely So I. The Lilie am J lykewyse The glorious beautie bryght Of the humble who as vallies Ly low doubtyng of theyr myght To ryse These vallies among below Whome hilles set aloft doe hyde J Christe for the more part grow By fayth in them I abyde Not slow And as J that am thy head Am fayer so art thou my Spouse For as Lilies whyte and read In beautie far passe the bowes Of thorne Euen so thou my Loue doest passe Jn fayth other daughters borne The vnfaythfull that doe not passe To pricke thee muche wurse than thorne With howes LIke as the apple tree among the trees of the wood so is my Beloued among the sonnes ¶ The Argument BEcause Christe compared his Spouse to a flower she compareth hym agayne to an Apple tree syngyng ¶ The Spouse to her Beloued xiii NOt J my Loue it is But thou that art so good For J am scarce a flower Where thou art very frute For as among the trees That wylde grow in the wood By nature sharp and sower The Apple tree not brute But pure is of great price So thou Beloued of me Among the sonnes of God Sprites Angels soules and men Art principall in power For all obey to thee By scripture vnforbod To wurshyp where and when Thy name at euery hower With bowyng of theyr knees I Sate doun vnder the shadow of him whom I desyred his frute is swete in my throte The kyng led me in to his wyne celler and lifted vp to me his banner of loue ¶ The Argument THe Churche hauyng compared Christe to an apple tree declareth to the Younglynges the cause why she so dyd swetely syngyng as foloweth ¶ The Churche to the Younglinges xiiii I Whiche dyd long my Loue to know Who is the apple tree of lyfe Haue sit doune in his kShade below Whiche is his help and refuge ryse Jn this trees shade is quiet rest For all that truly therin trust Jn whiche to sit for them is best Who to fynde rest in soule doe lust For whyles I rested me in the shade Of Christes helpe there dyd J eate The frute therof Gods sprite whiche made Me feele the taste of Manna meat Wherof the relice is so swete Vnto my Throte whyle J it chew That doune J fall at Christes fete For this his fooed high thankes to shew For whyle I sat vnder his wyng And trusted whole in power diuine Than dyd he lead me lyke a Kyng Jnto his wurd his house of wyne In whiche whan I holp from aboue Was well refresht my Kyng set vp His standard strong whiche is his loue For me and all that taste his cup. DEcke me with flowers comforte me with apples for I am loue sicke ¶ The Argument THe Churche beyng in the wyne seller of Goddes hollye wurde and seyng therin the banner of his loue whiche he displayed for her whan he gaue vp his body to the crosse suffered with horrible payne and panges of death his blud to be shed and powred furth only for her sake to pourge and cleanse her from all spot and wrincle and to make her of his foule enemie his fayer Spouse is so rauished with beholding his mercy that desirous to haue all people loue hym she brasteth furth in her panges syngyng to the Younglinges ¶ The Spouse to the Younglynges xv THe streamer haue J seen Of loue whiche Kriste my Kyng Hath reard for those that been The flocke whome he woulde bryng To loue With syght wherof my soule Doeth flambe in lyke desyer And languisshing all whole Js fiercely set on fyer With loue Paue me therfore ye yong With flowers beset me thicke Ye faythfull make me strong For loe how I am sicke For loue With apples fyll me full Gods wurd the lyuely quicke With gyftes moste plentiful Of grace for J am sycke Of Loue Of loue because J long That all mought saued be That all that wander wrong Myght cleaue to Christe and me By Loue. HIs left hand is vnder my head his right hande shall embrace me ¶ The Argument SO feruent is the Churches zeale to bring all creatures to the loue of her Beloued that it causeth the wycked and suche as hate the truthe to persecute her whiche also for a whyle Christ suffereth to trye whether she be constant in the truthe or no. Whiche she knowyng welynough exhorteth the Younglynges not to be afrayed though the malice of manne for a tyme seeme to preuayle and to cumfort them the more allegeth that it cummeth not agaynst her Beloueds wyll but purposely by the prouidence of God whatsoeuer tribulacion she suffer and that at length she shall haue the victorie ouer all her enemies ¶ The Spouse to the Younglynges xvi VNder my head my Loue hath layed His left hande of aduersitie To proue yf J woulde be afrayed His truth moste true to testifie Continually He suffereth men me to assayle To trye me oft and diuersly To see yf malice may preuayle To make me leaue hym peruersly Continually Wherwith although I be afflict In wurth I take all louyngly Beyng for Christes sake addict To suffre al paynes wyllyngly Continually For God whan it shal please his grace May turne my trust to victorie For why his ryght hande wyll embrace His Churche with all prosperitie Continually I Charge you o ye daughters of Ierusalem by the Roes and Hyndes of the fielde that ye wake not vp my Loue nor touch her tyll she be content her selfe ¶ The Argument THe Spouse hauyng drunke in the wyne celler of her Beloued the secret misteries of his holy spirit sitten vnder his shadow eaten the apples of gostly graces garnished with the swete smellyng flowers of many faythful people vnderlayed with the left hand
To plucke the flowers of Abrams stocke His clere clothed faythful lilies In my Loue I alone delyght Whiche maketh me so ioyfull And I am louely in his syght That feedeth among the faythfull THou art fayer my frende pleasaunt bewtifull as Ierusalem Fearful as a standerd of an hoste set in ray Turne awaye thyne iyes from me for they haue set me on fyer Thyne heares are lyke a flock of goates whiche appear from Gileal Thy teeth are lyke a flocke of shepe whiche cum vp from the washing place hauyng euery one twinnes and none barayn amongst them Thy chekes are lyke to a pyece of Pomegranade besydes thy fillet ¶ The Argument WHan the Spouse hath shewed that Christ is goen doun into his Churche whiche is his gardeyne not that she at any tyme lacked hym for she had him euen whaÌ„ she sought hym but she felt hym not therfore she sayeth he went doun into her because he than holpe her and towlde also that he cummeth to the spice beddes the bokes of holy scripture alwayes present there to geue to all those the fruites of euerlastyng lyfe that sincerely study and earnestly accomplysshe the thinges taught them therin And that besyde his presence in her and in the scriptures he fedeth among the lilies those are the true and faythfull beleuers not that he eateth them but rather they hym in perfectly beleuyng in hym and howe she only delyteth in hym and he in her Christe allowyng her zeale prayseth her And where as before she had a carnall iye and false chayne of hipocritical wurkes about her fayer neck her iudgement is now so vpryghte and her charitable deades so good and perfect that he delyted therwith syngeth ¶ Christe to his Spouse xlvii FVll fayer art thou my frende And frendely there withall For why thy good wyll doeth extende To all that on thee call Fayer fayrer than the gem Thou art and doest appere Lyke the heauenly Jerusalem Whiche is to God so dere And lyke an armye dight So dreadful art thou alse Whiche with my wurde doest put to flyght Al doctrines that be false Thou holdest furth my crosse that bluddy standard strong And sayest mennes wurkes therto are mosse And doe my death great wrong Thy iudgement in my wurd Is paysed so vpryght That in my mynde J am styll sturde In thee to haue delyght Turne backe from me thyne iyes For they haue made me proude â–ª J mean thyne earnest excercise Jn iudgement wel allowed Thy heares that is to saye thy scripture grounded notes Jn lyuelynes to dure alway Are lyke aflocke of Goates Are lyke a flocke of goates from Gileal clypped rounde For all thy truthes and scripture notes Are in the Byble founde Thy teeth thy reasons strong that doe so well agre Are lyke vnto the flockes of shepe That scarce can numbred be Whiche clean cum vp along Out from the washyng place Thyne argumentes that are so strong Jn scripture take theyr grace Of whâ—che eche hath within The truth and scripture grounde Lyke flockes where eche beast hath a twin And none is barayn founde Lyke to the Pomegarnarde That cut in twayne is read So all thy wurkes thy chekes outwarde Do shyne and none are dead Besydes thy fyllet fine My wurkes that can not fayle Whiche garnysh al good wurkes of thyne Whiche els could not auayle THere are thre score Quenes and fowerscore Concubines with Damsels innumerable One is my doue one is my perfect one she is the elect of her mother and dere vnto her that bare her The daughters sawe her and sayde she was moste blessed the quenes also and Concubines praysed her ¶ The Argument CHriste beyng highly pleased with his Spouses iyes and heares whiche she lacked at the fyrste prayseth her now But aboue all his Churches bothe Quenes whiche are the perfectest concubines that are not throwly perfect and damsels whiche yet are young in fayth with all the rest he prayseth one whiche is the primatiue churche of his Apostles callyng her his Doue and perfect one to allure the Yonglinges to ensue her steppes swetely syngyng to them Christe to his Spouse xlviii ACcordyng to the rates of gyftes of godly grace Within my church there are estates wherof no one is base Of whiche thre score are Quenes that haue got perfectnes And there be fowerscore concubines with damsels numbreles But al the rest aboue in one doe J delyght â–ª One through my loue is made my doue and perfect in my syght One is the chyef elect vnto her mother dere To all that are of Abrams sect who truly dyd her bear The daughters of Sion those faythfull dyd her see And preached frankly euery one that most blessed was she The Quenes dyd prayse her eke and shal so doe alwayes The Concubines also dyd speake of her excedyng prayse wHat one is she that loketh furth as the mornyng fayer as the Moone elect as y e Sun and terrible as a banner ¶ The argument WHan Christe hath magnified his Spouse with no lyttle coÌ„mendacion yet is he not satisfied but that the yonglynges maye lyke her the better procedeth farther comparyng her to the mornyng to the sunne to the moone and to a banner and as it were wundryng at her excellencie singeth Christe to his Spouse xlix VVhat one is she so lyke the morow bryght Whiche yet doeth lacke the fulnes of my lyght Whiche she hereafter shall receyue In glory Who lyke the Moone is pleasaunt to the syght My Moone I meane my truth that shynes by nyght Whiche doeth of me her lyght receyue Jn glory Yea what is she so lyke the Sunne elect Lyke me the Sunne chief of the chosen sect Whiche shyne aboue with my father Jn glory Yea what is she so dreadfull to beholde Whiche on my wurd doeth bear her selfe so bolde Styll standyng styffe lyke a banner Jn glory I Am cum downe into the Nutgardeyn to se the plantes that growe by the ryuers syde to see yf the vineyard bud or yf the Pomegranades wer floured ¶ The Argument WHan Christ hath wundred at the excelleÌ„cie of his spouse and compared her to the mornyng because of the lacke of perfect glory whiche she can not attayne so long as she is subiect to the fraile body and to the Moone that is the truth whiche taketh lyght of hym as the moone doeth of the sun whiche as it shyneth in the darke so doeth the Churche in aduersitie and persecucion and to the Sunne that is hymselfe the Sunne of righteousnes callynge her electe as hymselfe the chefe and principal elect of his father and last of all to a banner for her terriblenes in fraying her aduersaries whan he hath thus wunderyngly praysed her he cummeth downe into her to se yf his vines bud and pomegrates flower whether his elect haue a lyuely iustifiyng fayth whiche wurketh by loue that if they be barayn he maye curse them as he dyd the fruteles fygtree Math. xx and whan they be wydered to cast
all folke and doest now dwell Jn scripture gardeyns whiche do smell Moste strong in sent Lyke to a trumpe exalt thy voyce With preachyng truth make suche a noyse That J may hear it and reioyce That I thee sent Preache out my wurde so loude and hye That they whiche of my companye Doe boast themselues but yet they lye And loth my name Maye hear thy voyce and know how ferre They are from me and how they erre From truth to whiche thou shalte preferre Them by the same That it maye cum to passe at length That all men doubtyng in theyr strength Maye to my mercy them submit And so be fit To be engraft in thee my stocke That all maye be one faythfull flocke With shepherdes therof other none But only one O Get the away my Loue and be as a young Roe or an Harte vpon the sweete smellyng mountaynes ¶ The argument THe Churche commaunded of Christe to preache willingly obeyeth But because she knoweth her preachyng can take none effect without his help she desyreth hym to depart from this worlde to heauen and there to make intercession betwene God the father and her and from thence to help her in all her affayers She desyreth hym also to be as a Roe or harte vpon the swete smelling mountaynes that is to be alwayes quicke ready and swyft in his Scriptures that they may take effect when she preacheth them This she desyreth of hym syngyng as foloweth ¶ The Spouse to Christe lxxi TO preache thy wurde thy felowes for to win Suche felowes false as Christen folke them fayne Loe prest I am and gladly doe begyn With preachyng truth to thee them to attayne But sith J know my labour shall be vayne Except thy help be present therwithall Compeld therfore by force loe J am fayne To flee to thee for thy chefe ayde to call Wherfore O Christe whome euer loue I shal Auoyde from earth to heauen and remayne On Gods ryght hande head father of vs all And there of hym all grace for vs obtayne And sende from thence thy sprite that may constrayne All folke through fayth to gather to thy folde That hypocrites theyr folly may refrayne And be in dede the same that seme they wolde And whan that J suche secretes shall vnfolde As darkly hyd the scriptures do contayne That in the hartes of all they maye take holde And to thy truth all vnbeleuers gayne Lyke to a Roe or hart take thou the payne Vpon the mountaynes of thy wurde to dwell And through thy power the hartes of all to trayne Vnto thy truth that shall thy mountaynes smell So shall my voyce all kynde of errours quel So shall all men resort to thee amayne So sin shall synke so shall the power of hell We ryd therfrom through fayth in thee be slayne So in the churche for aye thou Lord shalt rayne All Death shall dye through fayth of styngles sin And we enioye that blisfull state agayne Whiche bought by thee we wer created in ⧠FINIS ⧠¶ Blessyng honor glory and power Be vnto God for euer and euer AMEN ¶ The interpretacion of the Hebrue wurdes AMand signifieth Truth Ammadaf signifieth People wel willyng or vnder tribute B Bather Diuision Pride Trouble Bathrabim Gatheryng to gether Baal hamon Full of people C Carmel A circumcised Lambe D Damascus A field of blud E Engaddi The iye or fountayne of a Kyd. G Gileal An heap of witnes H Hermon Cursyng or Accursednes Hesebon is the name of a watrie grounde L Libanus Beautie or Clerenes S Salomon Peacefull or a quiet person Sculamite A peaceful or glorious woman Sanir the name of Hermon as the Amorites call it Finis ¶ In the fyrste syde of the fowertenth lefe in the sixte and seuenth line for fowertenth read seuententh Any other great fautes it hath not excepte lettre for lettre whiche euery one shal be as able to correct as to fynd and therfore not nedefull to haue be noted here ⧠MATTHEW X. ⧠¶ BE WISE AS SERPENTES AND JNNOCENT AS DOVES ⧠¶ Imprinted at London by William Baldwin seruaunt with Edwarde Whitchurche Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Gene xiiii Hebru vii i. of Kin. vii i. of Kin. viii i. Macha i. ii and .iii. i. Mach. xiii Iosephus de bello Iudai li. i. Cap iii. A prouerbe Ephes. v. Iacob v. Thes. iii. The Gene. xxix ii Kin. xiiii ii Cor. xiii Luke vii and .xxii. Esai lxvi Psal. xliiii Esai ix and xlvi and .li. Deut. xxviii Psalm viii cx and .cxii. Prou. xviii Phile. ii Luke i. Hebre. ii The texte The texte Esay xxvi and .xxxii. The texte The texte Gene. xxxv ii Paral. iii. Malac. iiii Luke ii The texte The texte The texte Luke ii The texte The texte The Texte Cant. viii a Cantic iii. b. Cantica vi The texte The texte The texte Psalm xvi Esai xlix Oseas ii The texte The Texte The Text. The texte The Texte The texte The texte The texte Cantic ii ◠The texte The texte The texte The Texte The Texte The Text. The Text. The texte The texte The texte The texte The Texte The texte The Text. The texte The Text. The Text. The Texte The Text. The texte The texte ▪ The Text. The Text. The texte The texte The Texte The Texte The texte The Text. The Texte The texte The Texte The texte The texte The Texte The texte The Texte The texte The Texte The texte The Texte The text The text The Texte The text