Spouse which doest the thinges that J requier Which longtime strayedst wyde to sin a captiue thrall J lyken to myne Oast myne Angels bryght as fyer But yockt in Pharaos cartes the captayne principall Of hell of hell From whose power I thee quit so soone as faythfully Thou dydst in me beleue and haue thee armed so With giftes of grace diuine that except wylfully Thou yelde not sin nor death haue myght to wurke thee wo Nor hel nor hel For why thy Chekes be fayer J mean thyne outwarde hue Whiche beautified by me that am thy bodies head Shyne lyke to the holy goste whiche is the turtle true With loue with grace and lyght and beautie ouerspred Full well full well Thy necke that is thy fayth by whiche thou doest receyue All gyftes whiche J thee geue as iustice lyfe and grace Is lyke a golden ouche that doeth no syght deceyue Whiche vyler thynges help not but may it foule disgrace Ryght well ryght well Bycause therfore thy necke thy perfect fayth is pure Least with the lawes of men thou do it foully fyle Euen we the Trinitie wyl make thee a neckebonde sure Beset with syluer spanges wurkes for thy fayth not vyle But good but good Good wurkes that shall procede of fayth as humblenes Toward vs the Lorde thy God obedience to our wyl With loue all suche to help as shalbe succourles This neckebande shalt thou wear ▪ these wurkes accept we wyll For good for good WHyle the Kyng was in his restyng place my Narde yelded furthe the sauoure My Beloued is to me a bundle of Myrrhe he wyl tary betwene my brestes a cluster of Cypres is my loue vnto me in the vinyardes of Engaddi ¶ The Argument SCarce hath Christ finished his song but that his Spouse accordyng to her dutie rendereth hym thankes therefore transcrybyng vnto hym that wurketh in her bothe the wyll and dede of all goodnes the prayse of all her goodly beautie And that the Younglynges whome she hath taken charge of maye knowe howe to wear the neckebande of good wurkes whiche God hath prepared geuen her so that her Beloued maye be pleased withall she teacheth the Younglynges by example of her self syngyng as foloweth ¶ The Spouse to the Younglynges VVyle that I walkt in wurkes of mannes deuice Thinkyng myself of power my selfe to saue J dyd good dedes but they wer of no price For faulte of fayth J coulde no merit haue But after Christe had sowed in my brest The seede of fayth through his beneuolence And as a Kyng had layed hym doune to rest Vpon his Couche my quiet conscience Than dyd my Narde myne oyntment of belief Yelde furth the smell the fruteful wurkes of faythe Among the which my charitie for chief God doeth accept and most of value wayeth So that my Loue whome I to be doe know A bundle of Myrrhe though bytter yet in seint Excedyng good and makyng all thynges slow For to corrupt that therwithal be meint Betwene my brestes suche cumfort as J show To all that nede delyteth for to dwel Ye Christe my Loue from whom all fayth doeth flow Jn me his Churche so pleasauntly doeth smell That to my taste he is the goodly grayne Of Cypresse swete whiche commonly doeth spryng Among the vines the elect that do remayne In Engaddi Gods truth the true kyddes spryng LOe thou art fayer my Loue Loe thou arte fayer Thou hast doues iyes ¶ The Argument WHan the Churche hath transcribed the glory of all her goodnes to her Beloued and praysed hym as the Author thereof he pleased with this her true iudgement prayseth her therfore syngyng agayne as foloweth ¶ Christe to his Spouse x. LOe thou my Loue art fayer Myselfe haue made thee so Yea thou art fayer in dede Wherefore thou shalt not nede Jn beautie to dispayer For I accept thee lo For fayer For fayer because thyne iyes Are lyke the Culuers whyte Whose simplenes in dede All others doe excede Thy iudgement wholly lyes Jn true sence of spryte Moste wyse O Howe fayer art thou my Beloued o how welfauored and beautifull art thou Our bed is decked with flowers the sylynges of oure houses are of Cedre tree and oure crosse ioynters of Cypresse ¶ The Argument THe Churche so hyghlye commended of Christe for the simplicitie of her true and vpryght iudgemente yeldeth hym thankes agayne bothe because it pleased hym to geue it her and also to accept it so wel in wurth and to encorage the Younglynges to loue hym the better she prayseth his beautie and other benefites syngyng ¶ The Spouse to her Beloued xi THou thou o Christe it is that arte so fayer Yeà my Beloued most beautifull art thou As for my borowed beautie may appayer Whiche wer but fylth except thou it allow But sith thou Lorde moste fayre moste beautiful Jmputest to me parte of thy beautie bryght Beholde our Bed our peace most plentiful Of conscience doeth florish through thy myght Our houses eke of fayth wherin we dwell Haue sylynges fine the scriptures truly taught Of Cedre tree whose euerlastyng smel Shal styll endure whan all thynges cum to naught With these sylynges Crosse ioynters ioyned are Of Cypresse swete a wood that wyl not rot Good wurkes in whiche we do our fayth declare Through lyuely loue with death that dyeth not ⧠Here endeth the first Chapter ¶ The .ii. Chapter I Am the Lilie of the fielde and the Rose of the valleyes as the rose among the thornes so is my Loue amōg the daughters Lyke as the appul tree among the trees of the wood so is my beloued amōg the sonnes My delite is to sit vnder his shadow for his fruite is swete vnto my throte He bryngeth me into his wyne soller his bāner spred ouer me is loue Set about me cuppes of wyne comforte me with appuls for I am sicke of loue His left hand lieth vnder my head and his ryght hande shal enbrace me I charge you o ye daughters of Ierusalem by the Roes Hyndes of the field that ye wake not vp my loue nor touche her tyll she be content herself Me think I hear the voice of my beloued loe there cummeth he hoppyng vpon the mountaynes and leapyng ouer the little hylles My beloued is lyke a Roe or a young Hart. Beholde he standeth behynde our wall he loketh in at the window and pepeth thorow the grate My beloued answered and sayd vnto me O stand vp my loue my beautifull go to thyne own for loe the winter is now past the rayne is away and goen The flowers are cum vp in the fyelde the tyme of byrdes syngyng is cum the voyce of the turtle doue is heard in our lande The fygtree bringeth furth her figges and the vines beare blossoms and haue a good smell O stāde vp then and cum my loue my bewtiful and cum I saye O my doue out of the caues of the rockes out of the holes of the wall O let me
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
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
nedefull that al whiche wyl be partakers of the benefites and swete consolacions of Christe muste also be partakers of his troubles and bitter affliccions For persecucion foloweth the gospell eyther inwardly by temptacion of the wicked deuyll orels outwardly by the malice of his cruel ministers therfore the Churche by example of her self warneth the Younglynges herof syngyng as foloweth The Churche to the Younglinges v. O ye fayer Daughters of Jerusalem Ye faythful folke whiche pleased are so wel â–ª In Christes teates in whiche there is no wem And in his restful parlers where ye dwel Now take good heed and learne ye al by me Jn fayth to stande in stormie troubles stoute Loe J am blacke welfauored though J be For persecucion toucheth me without Without J am lyke to the Scithicke tentes Whiche outward blacke kepe treasures hyd within For though J be afflict with diuers dentes No farther yet pearce they than to the skin The peace of Christe doeth styll within me dwel And J am lyke to Salomons curtin For purple sylke with fayth adorned wel And with Gods spirit in stede of Cherubin Despise me not therfore though I be broun In syght of men bothe abiect vayne and vyle For why the Sunne euen Christe hath shyned doun And burnt my soule whiche sinnes do sore defyle So that my wurkes appere now through his lyght Ful foule God wote the best not free from sin Yet by his beames that shyne on me so bright J mortifie olde Adam hyd within Why I am blacke an other cause there is My mothers sonnes for Eua is mother of all Fel out with me the cause wherof is this J damne my wurkes on Christes mercies J call True fayth in Christe all only maketh me iust Thus J beleue wherat they all repyne And would compel me on my wurkes to trust Eke in theyr vines theyr lawes to bad for swyne â–ª They haue me set a keper for to be Of Sathanas the Synagog they arre A minister wherof they dyd make me Which made me blacke and doeth my beautie marre They made me thinke that false hypocrisie With ryghtles rites deuised by theyr brayne Were able ynough my soule to iustifie By meanes wherof Kristes death I counted vayne And these theyr lawes repugnant to the truth Theyr vineyardes vile I haue attended long But myne owne vyne my soule euen from my youth I haue not kept but euermore gone wrong O Thou whoÌ„ my soul loueth tel me wher â—hou fedest where thou restest at none tyde lest I begin to wander after thy felowes flockes ¶ The Argument THe yonglinges hauing heard the spouses open declaracion both of her lyfe passed and also of her presente estate and doubting lest they may be deceiued seduced as she before tyme had beene because they would be sure commit themselues to her giding custody But y e church knowlegyng her vnablenes by her owne wit power to kepe herselfe coÌ„mitteth to Christ the cure of altogether And to theÌ„tent she be not prouoked through the subtil deceite of false doctrine to wandre stray from the trueth she desireth her beloued to shew her the right way where and how to finde him synging as foloweth The Spouse to her beloued O Christ my loue beloued of my soule J know that thou delyting in the light In mid day time when men in fayth be hole Doest feede and rest through pleasure and delight But in what place thou doest thee feede and rest I am not sure wherfore J thee desyre To teache me that lest I with al the rest By wandryng wyde defyle vs in the myre The Churche malignant with her many mockes To be thy felow boldly doeth her boast And in thy name hath gathered myghty flockes Whiche straye abrode welnygh in euery caost Newe foldes new faythes she dayly doeth diuice Her flockes to feede wherein alas they stray And as for thyne she counteth of no price Praying by force all shepe from them away Yet in thy name her office she doeth holde Makyng her vaunt that she the true Church is Enforcyng all that would be of thy folde Suche weedes to eat as she hath sowen amis That J therfore lead not thy yong awrye Nor fall among thy fayned felowes flocke Enfourme me where thou doest thee feede and lye O Christ my lyght my shepherd and my rocke IF thou know not thy self O thou fayrest among women cum furth and followe the footsteppes of thy flocke and feed thy kyddes hard by the shepherdes tentes ¶ The Argument BEcause the Churche distrustyng her selfe putteth her whole confidence in her Beloued praying hym so earnestly to teache her how she may ryghtly instruct her YouÌ„glynges he hauyng heard and allowed her humble peticion maketh answer to her request syngyng as foloweth ¶ Christe to his Spouse vii YF thou the fayrest of all woman kynde That euer J founde most faythful in dede Doest not of thy self know where me to fynde Except by my grace thou therto procede Because all wisdom of flesh is to blynde To searche out the place where I lye and fede Because J thee loue and am to thee kynde The trueth wyl J teache thee yf thou wylt spede Cum furth fro thy selfe Cum furth fro thy self cum furth fro the darkesum trust in thy deades wherof all the packe That man may deuise are not wurth a sparke Of fayth in my blud where can be no lacke Although that the church malignant doe barke Cum furth from her foldes and bear on thy backe My Lode Crosse and yoke whiche shall be thy marke For her to detest and put thee to wracke Yet trace thou my steppes Yet trace thou my steppes so shalt thou be sure To gyde ryght thy yong that long to be fed And sith that thou hast of suche taken cure Whiche young are in truth lyke kiddes lately bred Fyrst feede theym with mylke let loue theym allure Than strength theym with fayth of scripture the head By good shepheardes tentes my wurd that is pure Learne theym by the lyfe of Saynctes that are dead Jn fayth to be firme I Haue lykened thee O my Loue to myne oaste in Pharaos charriots Thy chekes are fayer lyke the Turtle doue Thy necke is lyke vnto a goodly Iewel we wyll make thee a neckebande of golde beset with syluer buttons ¶ The argument CHriste hauyng taught his Spouse where and howe to fynde hym and after what sorte she shall instructe her Younglynges nowe that the Younglynges maye delyte in her the more begynneth to prayse her not for because she hath any thyng prayse wurthy of her selfe but for the good gyftes that he hath geuen her whiche neuertheles he calleth hers because he gaue her theym freelye she confessyng also that whatsoeuer good she hath cummeth from hym whiche hath made her beautyfull For whiche and many other good gyftes he wyllyng to prayse her syngeth before the Younglynges as foloweth ¶ Christe to his Spouse viii THee o my
of affliccion and embraced with the ryght hande of consolacion obteyneth perfect peace and layeth her doune to slepe and rest in Christe Who takyng vpon hym to saue and kepe her in quiet chaurgeth that none wake her through errours or new opinions singyng Christe to the Younglynges xvii O All ye daughters of Jerusalem I charge ye all bothe by the Roes and Hyndes The spirites of Angels bryghter than the gem And in your help far swyfter than the wyndes Whiche runne about as hynde or roe in field To help the good that in my churche do dwell By these I charge you as ye wyll they yield Theyr seruice due to saue and kepe you wel That at no hande ye touche or cause to wake The Churche my Spouse that resteth in my lap With vayne beleues whiche flesly braynes doe make For snafflyng snares my faythful to betrap But let her lye tyll by her owne accorde She wake her self compelled by the zeale She bearth to you to leade you to the Lorde That only can your soules sore wounded heale I Hear the voyce of my Beloued Loe he cummeth hoppyng in the mountaynes leapyng ouer the litle hilles My Beloued is lyke a Goat or an Hartes hynde Loe where he standeth behynd our wal lokyng in at the window and pepyng through the lattesses ¶ The Argument THe Church hearyng Christe geue so strayte charge that none wake her knoweth so well his voyce that she affirmeth it to be his And that it may the better be regarded she declareth to the younglynges what he is that hath geuen the charge syngyng The Spouse to the Younglynges xviii OF my Beloued this is the voyce For J doe know his voyce in dede Whiche causeth me muche to reioyce That he to me wyll take suche hede Loe how he leapeth vpon the hylles And daunseth doune the dales by stealth Whiche in his flesh al maner ylles And scorne hath borne to geue me health Yea Christe my Loue moste good and kynde His Spouse to help in tyme of nede Js swyft as Angel Roe or Hynde But much more ruche in makyng spede Loe where he stands behynde our wall Our flesh that doeth the soule diuyde From God the good through Adams fall Whose sin within our flesh doeth byde Through which he by his gyftes of grace Doeth pepe and looke in at our grate And shyne through fayth our wyndoe place To bend and mend our woful state MY Beloued answered me and sayde Aryse make hast my loue my doue my most bewtifull and cum ¶ The Argument The Churche whome no man may wake vp but her Beloued asketh hym continually what she shal doe And whan he hath made her an answer she publysheth it to the Younglynges syngyng ¶ The Churche to the Younglinges xix MY Loue whome in my harte alway J aske what wurke he wyll J doe Made answer thus without delay And louely spake me to Aryse arise Vp vp my Loue my doue my frende Make haste whome J haue made so fayer And cum to me J wyll thee sende My flocke for to repayre Aryse arise NOwe the wynter is past the rayne shower is goen and departed The flowers haue appeared in our land The singing tyme is cum The Turtles voyce was heard in oure lande The fygge tree hath brought furth her buddes and the flowred vines haue yelded theyr smell Up therfore my Loue make haste my darlyng and cum O my doue in to the holes of the rocke into the hyd ladder degrees and shewe me thy face and let me heare thy voyce For thy voyce is swete and thy face beautiful ¶ The Argument CHriste seyng hys Spouse ready to ryse encourageth her to make great haste and exhortyng her to preache declareth howe bothe the tyme and place is nowe fit therefore openly syngyng ¶ Christe to his Spouse xx OF vnbelefe now is cowlde wynter past The stormes lykewyse of blyndnes and of trust Jn mannes deuice the whiche dyd ouercast The truth are goen are knowen to be but rust And loe the flowers of faythful men and iust In the erth our lande in beautie bud and bloome So that the tyme for whiche thou long didst lust The syngyng tyme the tyme to preache is cum The turtles voyce the voyce of the holy gost The wurd of God sincerely as it ought Was heard abrode in our landes litle coast And as it shoulde effectually hath wrought The fygtree loe her blossomes furth hath brought The budded vines haue yelded out theyr smel The faythfull folke to whom my truth was tought Jn fayth and wurkes excedyngly excell Aryse therfore my Spouse my special Loue Make haste make spede purely my wurde to preache And cum to me cum cum to me my doue To whome J geue myne holy goste to teache Cum to the Rocke to me thy stedy leache Cum to the hoales the merites of my death Cum to the hyd degrees of fayth that reache To perfectnes assisted by my breath Then turne to me thy face and let me hear Thy voyce aloude lyke thunder in the ayer Thy preachyng voyce is pleasaunt to myne ear And in myne â—ye thy face is very fayer CAtch vs the foxes the litle foxes that waste the vines and our vine bourgeons ¶ The Argument WHyles the Church accordyng to Christes commaundement preacheth remission of sinnes through fayth in his blud death and merites false Apostles seyng the people ready to receyue what soeuer is taught â–ª fayne themselues to be the Spouses healpers and vnder that title deceyuyng the surple rude soules preach for theyr profit theyr own dremes and inuencions promisyng merit and satisfaccion for supersticious wylwurkes Whiche Christe perceyuyng geueth his Spouse warnyng of them streytly chargyng her to preach agaynst them syngeth ¶ Christ to his Spouse xxi CAtche vs the false foxes that preache not the truth Those young litle foxes whiche flatter my youth Catche them with scripture declare them theyr follie Teache them to preache true my wurd that is hollie And stroy not my vineyardes They labour with learnyng the truth to deny And through theyr false faynyng to lead men awry Wastyng my vineyard my people most holly Therfore catche them quickly that they by theyr folly Destroy not my vineyardes For loe now my vine trees begyn thycke to bud Jn bryngyng furth bourgeons the whiche wyll be good Catche then these foxes ye preachers most holly Least by theyr flattring and false fayned folly They stroy al my vineyardes MYne is my Beloued and I his whiche fedeth among the lilies vntyl the day break and tyll the shadowes be goen ¶ The argument THe Spouse consyderyng the carefulnes that her Beloued taketh for her and her maydens admonisheth them therof and declaring what loue she beareth hym agayne and wyll doe euer syngeth ¶ The Spouse to the Younglynges xxii CHriste my Beloued whiche styl doth fede Among the flowers hauyng delyght Among his faythful lilies Doeth take great care for me in dede And J agayne with all
began his stryfe Whose myght my power doeth holde from doyng harme To thee or them that in my merites trust O let therfore in me thy feble arme With all thy strength continually be trust Vpon thyne arme o set me as a seale And as a bracelet bynde me all along For loue as death and eke the gelous zeale J beare to thee as hell is myghtie strong For whiche my loue J nought requyre agayne But thankfulnes that maye my mercy moue For all my zeale my lyfe my death my payne Nought J requyre saue only loue for loue Whose coales are fyerye and a very flame Sent of the Lorde true loue is suche a fyer That many waters can not quenche the same No troubles can a faythfull louer tyer Ne may the streames of persecucion drounde This earnest loue yea yf a man woulde geue For loue all goodes that in his house are founde He woulde them all count nothyng J beleue This loue therfore that is so strong and sure Beare thou agayne to me that fyrste began So shall my loue and zeale for aye endure With thee and thyne to further what J can WE haue a litle sister whiche as yet hath no brestes What shall we doe to our Syster whan we shall speake to her ¶ The Argument WHan Christe hath finished his song his Spouse accordyng as he desyred setteth hym as a seale at her heart and as a bracelet about her arme and than remembryng heâ— sister whome she left whan she came to Christe and desyrous through her preachyng to bryng her to Christe doeth aske of Christe and his perfect frendes what she shall doe singyng The Spouse to Christe lxvi WE haue a sister young and small Whome J dyd leaue behynde Within the place where ye dyd call Me from my mother blynde She is so young in Christes truthe That yet she hath no teates She wanteth brestes to feede her youth With sounde and perfect meates To our sister therfore so weake What shall we doe saye you Whan we to her the wurdes shall speake Of Christes gospell true J in my harte desyer ryght sore My sister rude to teache What must we doe to her therfore Whan we begyn to preache IF she be a wall we wyll buylde a syluer bulwarke thervpon yf she be an open dore we wil fasten her with borders of Cedre ¶ The Argument CHriste seyng the carefulnes of his Spouse for her yong sister teacheth what must be doen to her saying If she be aâ—al that is as sum take it elect and yet not in the fayth and as other sum take it instructed in the faythe but yet not perfecte we wyll buylde vpon her a syluer bulwarke that is accordyng to eleccion a strong and valiaunt fayth according to fayth the gyftes of the holy gost as knowlege vtterance power to wurke myracles c. whiche bothe agree well to the matter but the last is moste nere and proper But yf she be an open dore that is in state of grace apte to receyue any kynde of doctrine we wyll garnishe or fasten her with borders of cedre tree with good doctrine good bokes good constant and perfect preachers whiche shall kepe her close from errour Thus sayth Christ she must be doen by singyng to his spouse as foloweth The Beloued to his Spouse lxvii YF that thy sister be a wall Vpon the same than buylde we shall A bulwarke of syluer Yf that she be an open dore We wyll her fasten close before With borders of Ceder I Am a wall and my brestes lyke towers Than was I as one that hath founde fauoure in hys syght ¶ The argument THe Younglynges hearyng what Christe sayde answere that they are a wall strong constant and able to kepe out errours and wrong opinions and beyng made his Spouse sayeth she hath brestes lyke towers well furnyshed with vytayles of good doctrine to succour and helpe them that nede For the whiche properties they hauyng founde fauour in the syght of God declare all to theyr sister syngyng The Younglynges to the Spouse lxviii A Wall am I Strong thycke and hye Jn truthe J beare me bolde And with the same Myself I frame All errours to outholde Also my brestes where succour restes Are lyke to towers strong Whiche vitayled are For to kepe warre With all that would them wrong Because J was A wall and as The towers had brestes of myght Swete peace J founde And doe abounde With fauour in Gods syght SAlomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon and this vineyarde let he out to kepers that euery one for the fruicte thereof shoulde geue hym a thousande pieces of syluer My vineyarde is in my syght And to thee O Salomon I wyl paye a thousande and two hundred to the kepers with the fruite ¶ The argument CHriste hauyng by fayth coupled all his Churches together and made them all one vineyard calleth to mynde the vineyarde whiche Kyng Salomon had at Baalhamon a place nere Ierusalem whiche vineyarde he let out to hyer receyuyng of euery keper a thousande pieces of syluer for the fruicte This story Christe counteth to his Spouse that she maye know howe muche he loueth her better than Salomon dyd his in that he wyll kepe her hym selfe And geue to Salomon that is euery peacefull person an inestimable reward and to the kepers that are his byshoppes two hundred and the fruite O happy kepers that shall be so rewarded This promis maketh he to his Spouse syngyng Christe to his Spouse lxix OF all the gydes that Jsrael euer had Jn wyt in welth in peace prince Salomon The chyefest Kyng was not a litle glad Of a vineyard he had at Baalhamon Whiche vineyard though it pleased his desyer Yet at the length he let it furth to hyer To kepers suche who yerely euery one Should for suche frute as they tooke thence away Of syluer good a thousand pieces paye Thus dyd this kyng with his beloued vine But J contrary haue so great delyght That J myself this vineyard of myne My churche I mean wyll kepe styll in my syght And vnto thee O salomon J geue A thousande pieces for thy good beleue Eke to them all that kepe my vine vpryght J geue two hundred and the fruite to boote Of lyfe eterne whiche spryngeth from the roote If Salomon myght iustly well requier A thousande for his vineyarde let to hyer Howe muche than is my churche nowe bounde to me Who doe both paye and also ouersee THou that dwellest in the gardeyns O let me heare thy voyce that my Companions maye hearken o the same ¶ The Argument WHan Christe hath styrred vp his Churche to yelde hym thankes for his beneficiall diligence toward her he stirreth her vp to preach that his felowes whiche are false christians maye heare her true preaching that beyng confounded therwith they may coÌ„uert and becum true christians in dede syngyng to her as foloweth Christe to his Spouse lxx THou my spouse that doest excell Jn fayth