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
conscience she waxeth dayly more perfect and perfect ascendyng from fayth to fayth from clerenes to clerenes vntyll she cum to perfectnes so that in this world which is a desert voyde of good people she in all loue pacience vertue holynes and perseueraunce in truth so shyneth that the fyrste Spouse as it wer amased therat syngeth The Frendes to the Younglynges xxvi VVhat one is this that from the desert drye Of vnbelefe lyke to the vapours thicke Of frankincence in true belyef vp hye Ascendeth swete as myrrhe that burneth tricke With poticary spice Jt is the Churche that hath obtayned rest Of conscience by fayth in Christes blood Whome though the worlde do vtterly detest Yet smokth she vp with wurkes that are as good As poticary spice BEholde about Salomons bedstede are .lx. valeaunte men of the moste mightie in Israel They holde sweordes euery one and are expert in warre Euery man also hath hys sweorde vpon hys thygh because of feares in the nyght ¶ The Argument THe perfect Spouse perceyuyng that the other is in the bed of Christe out of whiche she smoketh vp so swetely prayseth the bed to the Younglynges syngyng ¶ The Spouse to the Younglynges xxvii BEholde ye young behold and see the bed Of Salomon Christes peace wherin we dwell With threscore men moste strong and myghtie fed Beset about the strong of Israel That faythful are and wyse Of whiche eche one doeth hold a cuttyng swurd Expert therwith to stryke and warde in warre Well learnde they be to preache and teache Gods wurd And with the same to kepe all errors farre From godly men and wyse Vpon theyr thygh this swurd Gods wurd they wear Gyrded therwith for fear of enemies That cum by nyght the feble for to fear With priuie trappes of subtyl heresies Whiche fleshly wittes deuise KIng Salomon made hymself a tabernacle of the wood of Libanus the pyllers made he of siluer the coueryng of golde the stayres of purple in the middes therof is made a pauemeÌ„t of loue for the Daughters of Ierusalem Goe forth O ye daughters of Sion behold Kyng Salomon in the croune wherewith hys mother crouned hym in the day of his Spousage and in the day of the gladnes of his heart ¶ The Argument THe Spouse hauing shewed to the Yonglinges the bewtie and municion of Christes bed whiche is the peace of conscience obtayned by fayth through hope and assurance of lyfe and ioye euerlastyng for the merites of Christes deathe passion how it is inuirened with true and faythful prechers whiche holde the sweard of the spirit able to confound therewith what so euer doctrine of man maye disquiet anye of the faythfull restyng in the same descrybeth in lyke manner the humanitie of her Beloued syngyng ¶ The Spouse to the Younglynges xxviii KIng Salomon kyng Christe the prince of peace Made for hymself a tabernacle clere Of trees that swete in Libanus increace A carnal corps wherof the pyâ—â—ers were Of syluer shene the sylynges fyne of golde Swete for to smell and goodly to beholde The stayers wherto of purple he hath wrought His blood and sprite wherby we do ascend To perfect blisse to whiche we all be brought By help of grace whiche he to vs doeth lende Vpon these stayers by fayth we do obtayne The lyfe for whiche our sauiour Christ was slayne Jn the myds of Christes tabernacle strong With woundes beset is made a pauement fayre Of Loue for suche as for his grace do long His faythfull flocke that wyll to hym repayre This loue hath Christ prouided for all them That are the daughters of Jerusalem Cum furth therfore from fleshly loue moste vayne Ye faythful folke ye Sion daughters trym To see kyng Christe who for your sake was slayne Jn flesh wherwith his mother crouned hym By byrth with myrth the day whan man and God Wer ioynde with ioye who long before wer od Cum see his flesh beleue that for your sake He dyed therin and rose agayne to lyfe That by his blood he myght them ryghteous make That trust in hym and cleaue vnto his wyfe Cum furth to see this Salomon your kyng Who may alone your soules to glory bring The ende of the thyrde Chapter ¶ The fowerth Chapter O How fayre art thou my loue how fayre art thou thou hast doues eyes beside that which lyeth hyd within Thy heary lockes are like the wull of a flocke of goates that be shorne vpon Mount Gilead Thy teeth are like shepe of the same bignesse whiche went vp from the washyng place where euerye one beareth two twyns and not one vnfruytfull among them Thy lyppes are lyke a rose coloured rybonde thy wordes are louely thy chekes are like a piece of a Pomgranat within thyne heares Thy necke is lyke the tower of Dauid builded with costly stones lying out on the sides wher vpon there hang a thousande shieldes yea all the weapons of the Gyauntes Thy two breastes are lyke two twyns of young Roes which fede among Roses â–ª O that I might go to the mountayne of Myrre and to the hyl of frankencense tyll the daye breake and tyll the shadowes be past awaye Thou art all fayre O my loue and no spot is there in thee Come to me froÌ„ Libanus O my spouse come to me from Libanus loke from the top of Amana from the toppe of Sanir and Hermon from the Lyons dennes and from the mountaynes of the Leopardes Thou hast with loue bewitched my heart O my Sister my spouse thou hast bewitched my heart with one of thyne iyes and with one cheyne of thy necke O how fayer are thy brestes my syster my spouse Thy brestes are more pleasant than wyne and the smel of thyne oyntmentes passeth all spices Thy lippes o my Spouse drop as the hony combe yea mylke and honye is vnder thy toung and the smel of thy garments is lyke the smel of Libanus A gardeyne well locked is my sister my spouse a garden wel locked and a sealed well The fruites that are planted in the are lyke a verye Paradise of Pomegranates with swete frutes as Camphor Nardus and Saffron Calamus and Synamom with all swere smellyng trees Mirrhe Aloes and all the best spices a well of gardeyns a well of liuyng waters which rendoune from Libanus Up thou Northewynde cum thou South wynde and blow vpon my gardeyn that the smel therof may be caried on euery syde yea and that my beloued maye cum in to his garden eat of the swete fruites that grow therin ¶ The fowerth Chapter LOe thou art fayer my Loue thou arte fayer thou hast doues iyes besyde the tyer thervpon Thy heares are flockes of Goates whiche are shorne from of mount Gileal Thy lyppes are lyke the red scarlet threde and thy spech is swete Thy chekes be lyke to an halfe pomegranade besyde thy fyllet Thy Necke is lyke to Dauids tower whiche is buylded with his bulwarkes whervpon hang a thousande shyeldes the armour of
Theyr fruitfull fayth and gyftes of godly grace Whether theyr dedes and doctrine bothe be good Or yf the wedes or foxes them disgrace To see also yf our Pomegranades sprede Suche witnesses as wyl theyr lyues bestowe Thy truth to auaunce for there loe wyll J shede My Loue all whole that J to thee doe beare There wyll J spende the talentes that J owe To thee my Loue to bryng them out of feare THe mandrages do smel within our dores are all maner fruites Both old and newe o my Beloued I haue kept for thee ¶ The Argument AFter that Christe at his Spouses requeste hath bene with her in the fielde and lodged with her in the vyllages and that so long that they haue there wunne a new company to the belyef of the gospel he as she desyred hym cummeth with her now to see the vines and pomegranades whether they be fruitfull or no. And whan the Churche hath wel beheld them she smelleth the Mandrags that is the doctrine and preachyng of the faythful and delyted therwith sheweth Christ therof syngyng The Spouse to her Beloued lix THe Mandrages yeld theyr smell of godly lyfe And doctrine pure that bryngeth vnto rest Vnquiet myndes vncertayn styll at stryfe Through want of wurkes wherein they put theyr trust Of these they learne that of theyr dedes the best Are insufficient for to make them iuste They learne of these that only of Christe they must Be ryghteous made through merit of his Crosse And that by fayth they must receyue must Of ryghteousnes through trust in Christes blood This stylleth soone the mynde that sinnes doe tosse Whiche sent O Christe cummeth from our Mandrages good Within our dores our custody moste sure Are fruites the whiche the faythfull haue brought furth Of euery kynde of lyfe and doctrine pure Bothe of the newe and of the scriptures olde Whiche J haue kept for thee to take in wurth O Christe my Loue beloued a thousande folde ¶ The eyght Chapter O That I might finde the with out and kisse thee whome I loue as my brother whiche sukt my mothers brestes and that thou shalt not be despised I wyll lead the and bring the into my mothers house that thou mightest teache me and that I myght geue thee to drinke of spiced wyne and of the swete sappe of my pomgranates His left hande shalbe vnder my head and his right hande shall embrace me I charge you O ye daughters of Jerusalem that ye wake not vp my loue nor touche her tyll she be content her selfe What is she this that commeth vp from wyldernes and leaneth vpon her loue I waked thee vp among the apple trees where thy mother conceyued thee where thy mother I saye broughte thee into the worlde O set me as a seale vpon thyne heart as a seale vpon thyne arme for loue is mighty as the death and gelousie as the hell Her coales are of fyre a very flambe of the Lorde so that many waters are not able to quenche loue nether may the streames droune it Yea yf a man woulde geue all the good of his house for loue he shoulde count it nothyng Our sister is but young hath no brestes what shall we do for our syster whan she shall bee spoken for If she be a wall we shall buyld a siluer bulwarke therevpon yf she be an open dore we shall fasten her with borders of Cedre tree I am a wall and my brestes lyke towers than was I as one that hath founde fauour in his syght Salomon hath a vineyarde at Baal Hamon and this vineyarde deliuered he vnto the kepers that euery one for the fruite therof should geue hym a thousand pieces of syluer My vineyard is in my syght thou O Salomon must haue a thousand and the kepers two hundred with the fruite Thou that dwellest in the gardens O let me heare thy voyce that my companions maye hearken to the same O get thee away my loue and be as a roe or young heart vpon the swete smellyng mountaynes ¶ The eyght Chapter O That I once myght fynde thee without and kisse thee whome I loue as my brother whiche sukt my mothers brestes and that none myght despyse vs. I wyll lead the and bryng the into my mothers house There thou shalt teache me And I wyll geue thee to drinke of spiced wyne and of the swete sappe of my Pomegranades ¶ The argument WHyle the perfect Spouse taketh her pleasure with her Beloued gatheryng the fruites of the old newe testament to preache Christes humanitie and the wurkes whiche he wrought in the same the younglynges whiche she lefte in the fyeldes and villages whiche may well betoken the sectes of the Phylosophers Phariseis Saduccis and al other like whiche sought for ryghteousnes in theyr wysedome dedes seyng the puritie of the vineyard and smellyng the sauour of the Mandragoras an heauy smell to them partly because it condemneth theyr rightousnes and partly because it maketh them lament theyr imperfeccion begynne to long for the true ryghteousnes and saluacion whiche because they can haue by none other meane than by Christe they seke hym and are therfore mocked and persecuted of those sectes of whyche they wer before whiche is theyr mothers house whose great blyndnes they beyng now his Spouse pitiyng wysh for to fynde hym abrode and to bryng hym to them syngyng The Spouse to Christe lx O That I once myght haue the hap to fynde Thee O my Loue abrode in euery place That euery man of euery sort and kynde Myght trust in thee and eke thy wurde embrace Thus thus abrode would God I mought thee mete To receyue of thee the kysse of peace and rest Whome I in hart loue as my brother swete Whiche sumtyme suckt with me my mothers brest O that thou Christe my Spouse wouldest bryng to passe That I myght mete and kysse thee in this wise And that the worlde now ignoraunt alas Myght vs beholde and neythre of vs despyse Jn the meanewhyle J wyll thee leade my loue And bryng thy name into my mothers house That there thou Lorde mayest teache me from aboue And draw by grace my mother to thy spouse That J maye chere thee there with spiced wine Of doctrine pure well poudred with thy woorde And with the iuyce of swete Pomegranades fine The blud of martirs shead with fyer and swoorde HIs left hande is vnder my head his right hande shall embrace me ¶ The Argument CHrist seyng his Younglynges so earnestly set to receyue hym that they promys to ieoberd theyr lyfe for the profession of his name cummeth to them and geuyng them his kysse of peace taketh them to his Spouse than as he dyd to the other Churches before he cūmeth to her with his dew and nyght droppes to proue and trye her wherfore she beyng sore afflicted of her mothers houshold that such as are weak fall not from her declareth that Christ hath not forsaken her but hath
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. 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