XXIV
The New Conuerted Spouse To The Younglynges.

In wysedome of the flesh, my bed,
Fonde trust in wurkes of mannes deuise,
By nyght, in darkenes of the dead,
I sought for Christe, as one vnwyse,
Whome my soule loueth.

I sought hym long, but founde hym not,
Because I sought hym not aryght:
I sought in wurkes, but now I wot
He is found by fayth, not in the nyght,
Whome my soule loueth.

I wyll vp (thought I) and get me out
In lanes and stretes my Loue to fynde:
And wandre others wurkes about,
To seke hym in that citie blynde,
Whome my soule loueth.

I sought hym there but coulde not spede.
The watche that of that citie been,
False preachers there founde me in dede:
Of whom I askt yf they had seen
Whome my soule loueth.

They saw hym not, nor greatly past
My soule that sought hym to confounde:
But whan I was a lytle past
Fro them and theyrs, than hym I founde
Whome my soule loueth.

I caught hym quycke, by fayth and grace,
And wyll not suffre hym depart,
Tyl I haue brought hym to the place
Where I hym sought with blynded hart,
Whome my soule loueth.

Tyl I hym bryng into the place
Of vnbelief, my mothers house
And Chaumber: that she may embrace
His wurde, and be with me his spouse,
Whome my soule loueth.

XXV
Christe To The Younglynges.

O o ye daughters of Ierusalem
O o ye daughters of Ierusalem. &c. As before in the fowertenth song, in the second Chapter.
XXVI
The Frendes To The Younglynges.

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?

It 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.

XXVII
The Spouse To The Younglynges.

Beholde ye young, behold and see the bed
Of Salomon, Christes peace wherin we dwell:
With thre score 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.

XXVIII
The Spouse To The Younglynges

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.

The ende of the thyrde Chapter.