¶ A misticall deuise of the spirituall and godly loue betwene Christ the spouse, and the Church or Congregation. Firste made by the wise Prince Salomon, and now newly set forth in verse by Jud Smith. wherunto is annexed certeine other briefe stories. And also a Treatise of Prodigalite, most fit and necessarie for to be read & marked of all estates.
(⸫)
1575.
Imprinted at London by Henry Kirckham, and are to be solde at his Shoppe, at the little northe doore of Paules, at the signe of the black Boie.
¶ To the christian Reader Iohn Whatton wisheth all good giftes of vertue.
(⸫)
IN perusing this little volume intituled, A misticall deuise, being requested of my frend therunto, I did fynde such a pleasantnes therin, that my hart reioyced and gaue du signes what pleasure and delight my minde of it conceiued. For surely (gentle Reder) if thou couit to heare anye olde bables, as I may terme them, or stale tales of Chauser, or to learne howe Acteon came by his horned head? If thy mynde be fixed to any such metamorphocall toyes, this booke is not apt nor fit for thy purpose. But if thou art contrary wise bent, to heare, or to reade holsome documentes, as it becometh all Christians, then take this same: For thou shalt fynde it sweeter (as the Prophet sayeth) then the honye [Page] [Page] [...] [Page] or the honye combe. For Salomon had great delite in the makinge of these, to recreat and renyue his spirits, and called them by this name, Canticum Canticorum, whyche is to saye: the song of songes.
Would to God that all our rebald songes were abrogated and cast quit away, and that we would once call to mynde this sweete saying of our Lord God. (O that my people would haue harkened vnto mee.) Therefore let vs followe the good counsail of the Apostle, that is: To cast awaye the workes of darknesse, and put on the Armour of lyght, which lyght is the true worde of the most hiest: as Dauid in his Psalmes writteth. Thy worde is a Lanterne vnto my feete, & a lyght vnto my path. God graunt that we may frame our lyues according to that lyght.
Vale.
❧ Christ speaketh to the Churche.
COme wend vnto my garden gay
my sister and my spowse:
For I haue gathered Mirre wt spice
and other goodly bowes.
I meane to eate my honnye, &
my honny combe so sweete,
And I will drinke my wyne & milke
for so it seemeth meete.
Christe to the Apostles.
Eat now my frinds do nothing spare
but be of perfect cheare:
And drink with mirth, for you of me
are sure be loued deare.
The voice of the church.
As I laye in a slombring sleepe,
but being wake in mynde:
I heard my true loue speake & knock
and all was me to fynde.
Christe to the churche.
Open me the gates saide he,
my sister and my loue:
My darling and my harts desyre,
my onely Turtle Doue.
For why, my heade is full of dewe,
and so are all my lockes
bedecked well in comely wise
with these benighted drops.
The voice of the Spouses.
I haue put off my coat, how can
I put it on againe:
And if I fyle my washed feete,
then washt I them in vaine.
The voice of the church. speaking of christe.
But when my loue put in his hande,
then was my heart so prest
To him that I was m [...]ned much,
and tooke but little rest.
So that I stoode vp by and by,
to open him the doore:
But then my handes coulde drop
wt Myrre as was not seene before.
Which Myrre ran down my fingers fast
when they were on the lock
When I was opening him the dore,
that there before did knocke.
But when to my beloued, I
the doore had opened wyde:
He was departed thence away,
and gone his wayes asyde.
And nowe as he before did speake
when I coulde not refraine:
So now I sought him mournfullye
but found him not againe.
And then I cryed after him
as one that was forsake:
And listned still, but answere none
woulde he vnto me make.
The church complaineth of her Persecutors.
And then ye watchmē that did ward
about the citie there:
Found me out and wounded mee,
deuoyde of any feare.
And also they that kept the walles,
lyke theeues did nothing spare:
To take my garment from my back,
and left me very bare.
The Spouses to her companions.
Wherfore I charge you euery one,
accomplisht let it be,
You daughters of Hierusalem,
that I do say to ye.
And if that you do fynde my loue
then do expresse with speede,
That I am sicke and verie sicke
for loue of him in deede.
The voice of the Sinagog.
Why what is he that is thy loue,
aboue all other louers:
O thou which in all womens sights
art fairest of all others.
Or what can this thy loue do more
than other louers can,
That thou so straitly chargest vs
for to reueale it than.
The church aunswering, of christ.
As for my loue, you shall well knowe
is collourde white and redde,
And is a person singuler,
where thousands they be spread:
His head is of the glittering golde,
none fyner can be tryde:
His lockes are busshed berrie brown
as is the euenyng tyde.
His eyes are as the eyes of Do [...]s,
that by the water brookes,
So ste [...]ly seames of euery one
that theron louely lookes.
And being washt with milk so whit
it doth become his grace:
Remaining in a fertill foyle,
and in a plenteous place.
His cheekes are like a garden bedd,
where Potticaries vse
To plant eche thing yt seemeth sweet
which they do seeme to choose.
His lips do drop as do the flowers
of Myrre most principall:
His handes are deckt with ryngs of gold
& precious stones withall,
His body is the Iuery pure,
with Saphiers bedighted,
His legges are marble Pillers, set
on golden sockets righted.
His face it is as Libanus,
So all they saye that sees;
And eke his bewtie is comparde
vnto the Cedar Trees,
His throte is sweete & sweete againe
what should I more expresse:
He altogether louely is,
and full of comlynesse.
Lo daughters of Hierusalem,
suche a one is hee,
Yea suche is my beloued sure,
as euery man may see.
The voice of the Sinagog, speaking to the churche.
Whether is thy loue thou sweete
departed do declare:
For we to seeke him out with thee,
do nothing meane to spare.
The voice of the Church.
My loue is to his garden gone
as he hath thought it meete:
For tore freshe himselfe among
the smelling boddes so sweete.
and there he gathereth goodly flours
although he syllye is:
He is thyne, and his am I
which fedeth with the Lillies.
Christe to the churche.
Thou art pleasant O my loue,
yea louely art thou sure:
As faire as is Hierusalem,
whose bewtie doth endure.
Thou art as glorious O my loue,
as I would wishe to haue.
[...] [...]And as an armie is of men,
with all their Banners braue.
Tourne away thyne eyes from me
to make my body shrowde
For when as I do looke on them,
they make me to be prowde.
Thy, hearie lockes are like a florke
of Goats on Galaad mount:
Thy [...]eth are lyke a flock of sheepe
in fruite which do surmount.
And looke how frō yt washing place,
they go as it is seene.
And euery one hath their ii. twinnes
so art thou as I weene.
In them is no vnfruitefulnes,
not one doth barren byde:
And so art thou my best beloued,
whome I loue tyme and tyde.
Thy checkes are like a peece of pure
Pomegranat very fyue,
beside that which there lyes within
so sweete by course of lyne.
There are three score Queenes,
and iiii. score Concubines I trowe
And many youthfull weomento,
as I full well do know.
But one there is that is my loue,
my darling and my deere:
who of her mother is beloued.
with louing louely cheere.
When as the daughters saw her face
they sayde shee blessed was:
The Queenes & all the Concubines,
did praise her fot to passe.
The voice of the Sinagog.
What, and is shee this in deede
that peepes as Morning free:
who is as faire as is the Moone,
in euery one degree.
And excellent as is the Sunne
and glorious to besyde.
As is an Armie that displayes
their Banners tyme and tyde.
Christe to the Sinagog.
Into the Nut garden went I,
to see what there did growe:
All by the brooks that were so braue
which brauely sure did showe.
For to beholde the Uinyarde, if
that it did florish well:
And see the Pomgranats shot forth,
whose bewtie did excell.
The voice of the Sinagog.
Then did the Charrets of the prince,
who was my peoples head,
make me afrayde so sodeinly,
that I amazed fledd.
¶ The Church calling againe the Sinagog.
Do turne againe thou Sulamite,
thou shalt not turne in vaine:
That we may looke vpon thēe well,
and therefore turne againe.
¶ The ende of the v. & vi. chapters of Canticum Canticorum.
Finis.
❧ A coppie of the Epistle that Ieremye sent vnto the Iewes, which were led away Prisoners by the king of Babilon, wherein he certifyeth them of the thinges which was commaunded him of god.
BEcause ye haue committed sinne
against the myghtie God:
Ye may be certein to possesse
his scourging Whip and Rod,
Nabuchodonosor the king
shall lead you captiues all,
Unto the Babilonians soyle,
and there remaine ye shall.
Long season, yea and many dayes,
for God hath so decreede:
That seuen generations
shall there be spent in deede.
But afterwarde with peace & rest
from thence I will you bring:
In safetie and in saue garde sure,
as vnderneath my wing.
But yet whyist that in Babilon,
ye do as Captiues byde:
There shall you see the Gods of gold
and Siluer tyme and tyde:
And eke their Gods of wood & stone
which they on shoulders beare:
Which tendeth vnto nothing, but
the heathen for to feare.
But when you see the multitude
which geueth honor due
Unto these flattering fained Gods
then do remember you
O Lorde it is thy Maiestie,
that oughtest for to haue
the adoration, whereof nowe,
the heathen thee depraue.
This being done, my Angel shall
be with you as you are,
And I my selfe will surely seeme,
for all your soules to care.
As for the timber of those Gods,
the Carpenter you see,
Hath polyshed, and yet besyde
they gaily gilted be.
Yet are they thinges of vanitie,
and neuer seeme to speake:
and therfore they that worship them
do my cominaundement breake.
And as a wenche that paramours
doth loue bothe nyght and daye,
Is trimly deckt with golden geare
euen surely so are they.
Crownes of Golde vpon their heads
they dayly seeme to weare,
So that their priestes, when they see good
do not them selues forbeare,
To teke the Gold from of their gods
to be at harlots call:
And from their harlots yet againe
do decke their Gods withall.
Yet cannot these same sayned Gods
preserue them selues from rust,
But they which stil do worship them
must kepe them cleane from dust.
One hath aceptar in his hand,
as he weare Judge elected,
Yet hath not power to slaye yt wight
who hath his hestes neglected.
Another hath a sworde in hand
or els an axe in deede,
Yet can he not defend himselfe
from battaile thats decreed.
By this ye may deserne, the name
of Gods they ought not beare,
wherfore in no cas worship them,
nor seeme not them to feare.
For as a vessell which we vse,
when it in peeces lyes:
we do accompt it nothing worth,
but do the same despise:
euen so tis with their gorgious gods
for, why beholde and see:
Through feete of men their eyes wt dust
for aye encombred be.
And as the doores are shut on him
that hath the king offended:
So are the doores vpon their Gods,
from Robbers daily tended.
They set vp candels burning still
before them lyght to showe:
Yet can they not deserne the lyght;
but byde as blockes you knowe.
The worms that creap from out the earth
constime thē as they stand.
Yet haue not they the sence to feele
nor cannot moue a hande.
Their faces are bedewed blacke
the Owles and Swalloes still
do flye vpon them, and the Cattes
run ouer them at will.
By this you may perceaue and see
no Gods they are reputed:
Then feare them not, for if you do,
you shalbe quite confuted.
They are bedect you see with Golde
yet needes of force there must
attentiue heade be to them geuen,
to dight away their rust.
For money they are daily bought,
no lyfe they haue to showe:
But on the shoulders still of men,
are caryed to and fro.
Confounded are their worshippers,
because they are so vayne,
That if they fall vnto the grounde,
They cannot ryse againe.
Yet note though helpers wt their hādes
do set them right to tread:
[...] [...]yet must they haue ther props beneth
as men that now be dead.
The priests do [...]el their offred gifts
their wines therafter liue,
But to the poore and impotent
they nothing seeme to giue.
Frō whence procedeth then ye names
of Gods which they obtaine,
S [...]h that their priests wt opē mouths
do roare to them in vaine.
The priests bereue thē of their robes,
their children for to deck,
And yet these gods cannot perceue,
nor nothing do they reck.
They neyther may geue riches,
reward the euill spight,
And though men frustrat make their vowes
yet do they not requight,
They nothing can auaile the blinde,
nor help a man at neede,
Nor to the widowes ought extend,
nor yet do good in deede.
Their idols carued forth of stone
if trueth should be exprest,
Are as the other in the rockes,
that lye among the rest.
Then wherfore dare mē cal thē gods
which are their onely woorke,
Wherby they know that neither lyfe
nor breath in them doth lurke.
Vaine therefore are all these thinges,
and shame it is to see,
That they behind them seme to leaue
to their posteritie.
For when there cometh any warres,
or plagues that they possesse,
their priests wil hyde thē selues wt [...]ē
immagining no lesse,
They neither can defend them selues
from broyling battels doome,
Nor yet from no misfortune els
which seemeth for to come.
And kinges shal wel hereafter know
and plaine it shalbe tolde
That they be vaine, the very worke
of men vpon the moulde.
They cannot set a gouernour
to raine within the lande,
They cannot geue no sentenes, when
a matter should be scande.
They are not able to compare
sure with the sillie crowe,
that slyes betwene the heauē & earth
as euery man doth knowe.
For when a fyer do chaunce to come
where all these Gods they bene:
The priests do flye, but thei thēselues
do burne as balkes within.
Tis better sure to be a doore
to kepe eche thing in safetie,
Then to be counted such a God,
that vayne is vylde and naughtie
The Sunne, the Moone & al ye stars
obedient do appeare:
And when yt lightning glistreth forth
then all things seemeth cleare.
The wind doth blowe in euery coast
he seemeth not to spare,
And so the clowds about the worlde
go when they bidden are.
These heathenish Gods may not cō pare
with any one of these,
Because in be wtie & in strength
they passe them all degrees.
wherefore men should not thinke nor Iudge
that they be Gods at all.
Because they neither see nor saye,
nor harken to your call,
No tokens can they surely showe,
by any meanes in heauen,
For those that be their worshippers,
that is thimruly heathen.
The beastes deuoyde of reason quite
in sence are surely better,
For vnderneth the roofe they wende
to kepe them selnes from wether.
I like them to a frayboggarde,
where Cocumbers do growe,
which cānot kepe, such be their gods,
Experience this doth showe.
And as a white thorne which doth grow
in orchards heare & theare:
which euery Byrde doth sit vpon
and forceth not to feare:
And as a carkas that is dead,
being cast into the darke:
Euen so be they both dead & dum,
this euery man may marke,
And as the Skarlet, which vpon
them, they do vse to lay,
Doth not endure, but in the ende
doth seeme to vade a waye:
Euen so do they them selues also,
whereby do vnderstande,
They shall consume, and it wil be
confusion of the lande.
Blessed be the godly man,
which doth not God depraue,
Of honour through those Images
which still the heathen haue.
For farre he shalbe from reproofe
the Holy ghost doth saye.
To whome wt God & Christ his sonne
be honour euery day.
¶ The ende of the Prophesie of Baruch.
Finis.
Iud Smyth.
‘Babes beware of Images’
The commaundements of God our Creator, geuen by Moyses. Exod. xx.
Lift vp your hearts, open your eyes
you people obstinate and yll:
To heare Gods voice you exercise,
And seeke his precepts to fulfill.
I am, saith he, thy God and Lorde
Which frō Bondage, did set thee free
Therefore see that thou do accorde,
to serue no Gods but onely mee.
Similitude, none make thou shall,
Of any thing in heauen on hye,
Nor in the earth, theron to call,
For suche sinne sharpely plage will I.
The name of God, take not in vayne,
Abuse it not after thy will:
For if thou do I tell thee plaine,
In his wrathe soone he will thee spil.
In sixe dayes God his worke did end
and the seuenth day did sanctifie:
So thou and thine that day pretend
To serue thy Lord and God only.
To thy Parents due honor geue,
as Gods precepts do thee comaunde
That ye long dayes & good maist liue
where God hath plaste thee in yt land
With murther be not thou infect,
All filthie fornication feare:
With theft see thou be not detect
False witnes against no man beare.
Thy neyghbours house do not desire
his wife, man, maid, seeke not to haue
His Oxe his Asse do not require,
of his seeke him not to depryue.
Our sinnes heareby we do descrye,
wherefore forgeuenes Lord we pray
& strength our faith by grace heauēly
That we may serue the lord alwaye.
Deut. 6.
These woordes which I comaund thee this day, shalbe in thine hearte, & thou shalt teache them thy chyldren, and shalt talke of them when thou art at home in thyne house. &c.
Deut. 12.
No man shall do that whiche seemeth good vnto him selfe, but onelye that whiche God comaundeth, and put nothing to it, nor take any thinge from it. Apo. 2.
Deut. 27.
Cursed are they whiche abydeth not in all that is written in the booke of the lawe, and do not the same.
Psalm. 19.
The lawe of the Lorde is a perfect lawe, it quickeneth the soule. The Testimonie of the Lorde is true, and [Page] geeueth wisedome euen vnto Babes. The statutes of the Lorde are ryght, and reioyceth the heart. The commaundements of the Lorde are pure, and geeueth lyght vnto the eyes.
Esai. 40.
The worde of the Lorde endureth for euer.
The commaundements of Sathan, put in practise dayly by the Pope.
ATtende my people and listen well
& heare what precepts I you geue
For they are such as doth excell,
The which of force you must beleue.
I am your earthly God alone,
You neede none other but onely mee
Beleue this and other seeke none,
For this is my will and decree.
Set vp Idols abundantly,
This is my will, let this be done:
If them to ador, any denye,
Myne yre he shall feele right soone.
My name highly you shal esteeme
And honor, if ye do loue mee:
And if Gods name you do blasphem
By me absolued you shal bee.
Of workedaies, holy daies I made
that thou & thine frō work may cease
Obserue them as before is sayde
& come & heare my chapleins Masse.
Father & mother do refuse
and seeke the spirituall occupacion,
This is the first precept I vse,
To teach among my shorlings natiō.
If in whoredom or theft thou fall,
Or in any other greuous foyle:
I will absolue thee of them all,
If I may haue parte of the spoyle.
If any manset his delyght
His neighbours wife & goods to get,
For monye I wil him acquite,
And free from sinne I will him sett.
Haue not my lawes a goodly grace
No man of them afentd may be:
and al those which follow their trace
Shall haue their saluation with me.
¶ This is also that which God speaketh by his holy Prophet. Zacharias. 11.
I will raise vp a sheparde in the lande, which shall not seeke after the thinges that be lost, nor care for suche as go astraye. He shall not heale the wounded. He shall not norishe the thing that is whole: But he shal eat the fleshe of such as be fatt, and teare their clawes in peeces.
O Idle sheperde that leaueth the flocke, the Sworde shall come vpon his arme, and vpon his right eye, his arme shalbe cleane dryed vp, and hys ryght eye shalbe sore blynded.
¶ The warnyng whiche S. Paule geueth to the Thessalonians, how they should learne to know Antychrist. 2. Thes. 2.
Let no man deceaue you by anye meanes, for the Lorde commeth not, except there come a departing firste, and that, that sinfull man be opened, the sonne of perdicion, whiche is an aduersarie, and exalteth him selfe aboue all that is called God, or that is worshipped. So that he shall sit as God, and shewe him selfe as God.
Finis.
Imprinted at London by Henry Kirckham, and are to be solde at his Shoppe, at the little northe doore of Paules, at the signe of the black Boie.
1575.