viii Christe to his Spouse.
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.
Thee (o my Spouse) which doest the thinges that I requier,
Which longtime strayedst wyde, to sin a captiue thrall:
I 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, I 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 I 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.
