xxiii. The Spouse to Christe.
The argument.
The
Church accordyng to Christes commaundment, goeth
about to catch the foxes: admonishing them of theyr wikednes,
and shewyng what hurt they do to the Lordes vineyardes
with preachyng theyr own dreamed diuices, & supersticious
wurkes: charitably exhortyng them to ceasse from
peruertyng the people, and abusyng the holy scriptures. But
the foxes are so proude, stubberne and stoute, that they wyll
not yelde: but wylfully resist styl the truth. Wherfore she supposing
that God hath geuen them ouer by withdrawing his
grace from them, instauntly prayeth her Beloued to returne
vnto them: and to mollifie theyr hardened heartes, that they
may repent and be saued: syngyng.
Returne my Loue, to these that are so blynde,
And geue them grace, for lacke wherof they erre:
Cum swyft my Loue, lyke to a Roe and hynde,
Vpon these proude, these mountaynes of Bather.
For from thy truth these proude deuided be,
Of stomake haute, with troubles vexed sore:
But meken them, and make them cum to me,
Whiche soone shall be, if thou thy grace restore.
