xxviii. The Spouse to the Younglynges
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 inuerened 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.
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 pyllers 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.
In 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 Ierusalem.
Cum furth therfore from fleshly loue moste vayne
Ye faythful folke, ye Sion daughters trym,
To seekyng Christe, who for your sake was slayne
In 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.