THE SPOVSE Rejoycing over ANTICHRIST, And triumphing over the DEVILL, In the Day of the Lord, when God alone shal bee EXALTED.

Then sing my Love, then sing my Dear,
Then sing the truth, stand not in fear.

Written in the day and yeer, when the world is running besides it self, crying out against truth, in the hearing of truth; this mad world is beside it self, persecuting those which desire not to meddle with the world: I have found it, that the world cannot indure light, my experience makes it manifest.

Written by JAMES MICHEL,

Who have been lately accused for blasphemy in the words which is Scripture; they say that this is blas­phemy which the Scripture saith, My God, my God is a consuming fire, and everlasting burn­ing: to this I shal rest to the proceed­ing further in the BOOK.

London, Printed, and are to be sold in Cannons street, neer London-stone. 1654.

A word to the patient Readers consideration in season, so I shal leave it to the Reader to judg a charitable judgment to the proceedings after.

A Message to the world, which the world loves not, but rather is reviling against, the messinger which to me brings glad tydings, and therefore they are crying out against me, and accusing me for putting times to the songs in my Book, entituled, the singing of Praises but now the cause of their malice against me, or persecuting of me, therefore I shal cease from that work of vanity, as they cal it, but rather please a fool in his folly; so at this time J am taken up in earnest occasion, that time wil not permit any longer to give babes meat, but rather should feed them with milk, and give meat to stronger men, who is able to bear meat. But at this time J am called upon, or else I should speak a word or two to the Babes and suck­lings of the world, that cry blasphemy, and know it not; they accuse me for not setting my name to my book of Songs, which is entituled, the singing of Praises, and many such false accusations they have raised upon me for blasphemy touching my life, but for my part. J do not wrong none of them all, neither did I ever blaspheme, never in my life, but as they do accuse me for not setting my name to my Book of Songs, I have proved them lyars, and I am not ashamed of my name, I set my name to that book three times, and I would have them understand themselves, nor mistake me, and so I shal conclude this, which is Written by James Michel.

A vindication of the Verses in this Book.

THat he that rejoyceth in the Lord, doth truly serve the Lord, for the Spouse when they rejoyce it is in the knowledge that they received of the Lord glorifying the eternal God; for those that glorifie the eternal God, doe truly serve God; but the property of meaning, which the Scripture holds forth, that the true service in the serving of God is the Spouse with [...]esus Christ, rejoycing in the Lord to the excellency of the most high God: in that true sorvice when they serve God royally and truly in the sin­cerity of the heart, they may safely rejoice over Antichrist, and may truly and freely triumph over the Devil, over Death, over Hel, and over Damnation. And this the Spouse and those that do truly serve the Lord, may re­joyce over these things, and say, O death where is thy sting! O grave where is thy victory! for those that know the most high God, will, glorifie that true God the Lord of beaven and earth, that mighty King of Israel whose name is glorious; Then you need not stand in fear of this Devil, Hell, death or damnation, but may sing all honour glory and praise be given to the eternal God, the Lord of best that is his name, this Lord knows what my will is, that I may freely say as the spouse saith, that I will serve the Lord before the face of his enemies, and by the love of the everlasting God and his glorious power, if wee truly serve him we may truly rejoyce in him, and sing with him, triumph with him over his enemies in spight of the Devils face; and in this service of the Lord, as wee finde his love manifested to us, so he will speak in us freely above tribulation, singing peace with [Page]him, and living in rest, so we shal according at hee makes himself manifest to us, we shall say, then Devil do thy worst, for we know our God is an everlasting God, who will bear us on with love, and carry us from all our enemies that do oppose the Lord Iesus, so we shall freely be carried forth of trouble, and live in silence for ever, and so I conclude,

IAMES MICHEL,

The SPOVSE rejoycing over Antichrist.

1.
THis is Gods love I see,
Taking away the curse,
but here I'le stay
and sing with joy,
Then Devil do thy worst.
2.
My sorrows are flying away,
They are flying with the enrse,
but here Ile stay
and sing with joy,
Then Divil do thy worst.
3,
My body is brought home so clear
And purely from the curse.
then here Ile stay
and sing with joy,
Then Divil do thy worst.
4.
My Religion is counted base,
But it was as pure at first,
but here Ile stay
and sing with joy,
Then Divil do thy worst.
5.
My life it is above,
Tryumphing o're the curse;
which makes me stay
and sing with joy,
Then Divil do thy worst.
6.
The spouse they are come home,
As they were all at first,
then here Ile stay
[Page 9]and sing with joy,
Then Devil do thy worst.
7.
The Kingdom that it near,
As it was at the first,
which makes me stay
and sing with joy,
Then Divil do thy worst.
8.
But now I live with God,
And he doth make me to see,
it is his love with him above,
which alone sets me free,
In glory for to be.
9.
This sweet joy now is here,
As his true love was at first,
makes me to stay
and sing with ioy,
Then Devil do thy worst.
10.
This Fountain glory right,
Which is his love to me,
makes me to stay
and sing with ioy,
My everlasting rest to be.
11.
The sweetness of his love,
Is the purest love I see,
which makes me stay
and sing with ioy,
When I am truly set free.
12.
Now this ere I do tel,
If that man could see
when I do stay
and sing with ioy,
This is sweet harmony.
13.
The love which is my minde,
[Page 10]Three Kingdoms I see,
this is the rest
that I finde best,
Gods Kingdom now with me.
14.
The time is not past,
The curse is sweetly croft,
with Gods love we are blest.
as all this was at first,
For the Devil had done his worst.
15.
When we shall live in love.
As we did all at first,
then we should stay
and sing with ioy.
For the Devil had done his worst.
16.
Vnto my friend I write,
He need not fear the Curse,
for here we shall stay
and sing with ioy,
For the Devil had done eis worst,
By James Michel,
1.
March on March on,
Saith my General in chief,
He is my only dear,
for he is se free
and lives in me,
A casting out all fear.
2.
We march with him,
We march with him.
In Majesty and grace,
if willin be.
he will make us see
The heightness of his face.
3.
And this Jehovah is going on,
With honour and renown,
[Page 11]for he lifts us up
to his spiritual cup,
And so he wears his crown
In true love that he found,
4.
He is the King
The King of Kings,
That King I do see,
the King of rest
and of righteousness
And of true liberty.
5.
For he is above
The Priest and Preachers all,
who thinks themselves so wise,
to fill peoples ears full of din.
And fills mens hearts with lies,
6.
And this cheir snapping
And snarling like,
Like doggs a picking bones,
For if they could se
The Lord Iesus
At him they would throw stones.
7.
And these men sot up tyrant laws,
But I am sure they could not stand,
For they fight against the God of love,
And the Lord of Iust command,
His command is truth,
That you shal see in rest.
8.
But we'le march, we'le march,
Saith our General in chief,
We'le march into the field,
When we meet then with our enemies
Sweetly we will win the field.
9.
This which I do tell you now
[Page 12]Mark it very well.
For when that you do sinde true love.
You shall hear who carries away the bell,
10.
Then hearken people, hearken all,
Hearken what I do say,
Then live in rest, and in true peace,
For our Lord God and Jehovah,
Have truly won the day.

Some certain mistakes are past in these verses, conclu­ded as an error for hast, but it may be excused.

A Description of love in true love, declared by James Michel,

1.
When the trumpet sounds his call,
Then death and hell doth fall,
For God he's all in all:
Now reioyce, now reioyce.
2.
Rejoyce in this thing,
That God our only King.
Salvation he doth bring.
He makes me now to sing.
And rejoyce, and rejoyce.
3.
Then be you not so sad,
For all you are so mad,
Persecuting so bad,
For all that I am glad,
And reioyce, and reioyce,
4
For this will be that happy day,
When the lyon with the Lamb doth play,
And cast old things away,
And reioyce and reioyce.
5.
For the stopping of the ear.
[Page 13]Is the cause of all fear,
Brings desolation hear,
For God now he is near,
Now reioyce, now reioyce.
6.
Reioyce now with all.
That death and hell do fall,
For God he is all in all,
Now reioyce, now reioyce.
7.
I glorifie my King,
Glad tydings he doth bring,
For he makes me now to sing,
And reioyce, and reioyce.
8.
When eternall fire do burn,
Then Merchantry shall mourn,
For I do live with one,
And reioyce, and reioyce.
9.
These tidings I do see,
For Christ have set me free,
And he do sing with me,
now reioyce, now reioyce.
10
It cometh from above,
VVhen sorrows they do move,
Then we'le live in true love,
And reioyce, and reioyce.
11.
The Kingdom is at hand,
Where God will have command,
No rebels there shall stand,
Now reioyce, now reioyce.
12.
At this poor Righteous King.
I see how they do sling,
Because he doe make us swim.
And reioyce, and reioyce.
13.
I swim unto my dear,
[Page 14]Who takes away all fear,
And dwell with him so clear,
And reioyce, and reioyce,
14.
I do not swim for hire,
Nor to ly in the mire,
But home we will retire▪
15.
Twas not a fleshly King,
That good to us did bring,
Nor never made us sing,
Nor reioyce, nor reioyce.
16
Nor yet the outward State,
Nor Parliament of late,
Did never make things sweet,
To reioyce, to reioyce.
17.
Its this eternal King so neat,
Is with us now compleat,
A making all things sweet,
To reioyce, to reioyce,
18
For he is in his throne,
For all the world do frown
His Glory is his own,
Now reioyce, now rejoyce.
19.
And to the Priest I call
When Babylon shall fall,
for we will be merry all.
And reioyce, and reioyce.
I tell it to the poor,
I have destroyed the whore,
Now you shall fing for evermore,
And reioyce, and reioyce.
12.
I can no longer forbear▪
But tell you what you are,
And this I do declare,
[Page 15]And reioyce. and reioyce,
22.
But your fighting with the poor,
Ambition is the whore,
I wil destroy her so sure,
And reioyce, and reioyce.
23.
True love is not so blinde,
But to the poor is kinde,
And constant is in one minde,
To reioyce, to reioice,
24.
All Glory now is mine,
Though they will me confine
Because I cast out the swine,
And reioyce, and reioyce:
25.
But this is the swines grace,
To confine true love to one place,
while they do run the race,
And thus laugh God in the face;
Now reioyce. now reioyce.
26.
But he is lust and true,
Making all things so new,
In sweetness here to view,
And reioyce, and reioyce.
27.
Thus heaven and earth is shown,
His Glory now is known,
With true love that is his own,
To reioyce, to reioyce.
28.
I'le be merry and sing,
Sorrows away I'le fling,
Now death have lost her sting,
I'le reioyce, I'le reioyce.
29.
When I am in my throne,
Whose glory that is shown,
Where's no good nor evil known,
[Page 16]Then reioyce, then reioyce.
30.
This is game of the head,
Sorrows away are fled,
The curse is almost dead,
Now reioyce, now reioyce.
31.
For this is his love to us,
To take away the curse,
Gives us the better for the worse,
Now reioyce, now reio yce.
32.
For he is my loving friend,
with me do not contend,
Makes the stoutest heart to bend,
For he will be the end,
Now reioyce now reioyce.

The Descrptioin of the restauration of love.

Now love's declared,
And wrath's abased,
By Iames Michel,
1.
Our ioyes now they are come,
And truly they do raign,
It is the Lord Jehovah,
with all his loving train,
He's with his train so sure.
Which now do make me see,
It is that virgin pure,
The life that lives in me,
2.
His foes are now exalting,
And this makes them so stout,
But he sets most pure upon them,
And gives the whore the rout,
But this which I do tell you,
I speak unto you all,
I see mens Kingdom shaking,
Behold how they do fall.
3.
It is his loving kindeness
Which doth appear to me,
That I am in his Kingdom
And purely set free;
Then this is my beloved,
My own beloved dear.
which liveth in my bosom
A casting out all fear.
4.
Now fear away is Casted,
VVhich makes me sing amain,
The freedom now is pure,
To live in peace again,
This is life ete [...]nal,
That glory we enioy,
To live in peace and frience
And so to go away
James Michel.

A Vindication or the verses following, whereby no man may be trubled at these verses, for he that is trou­bled wich these verses knows not what he is troubled at for men knowing not the things of the Lord Iesus, therefore they are troubled to hear them, but indeed they need not be troubled at the things o [...] God, for mine own part I am not ashamed of them, but am free to declare them as they are declared in me, for indeed it is thus, men knowing not that the Lord Ie [...]us is with­in them, they use a forme of praying for him, which the Scripture makes manifest and restisies that all men are wicked; and as the Scrio ure saith, that the prayers of the wicked are abomination before the face of the Lord, for no man can pray righteously, but the prayers of the righteous prevail much, there is no man righteous, no not one, [Page 18]neither can one do good, but that good which is done, is done by the righteous man the Lord Jesus, and therefore I do hold it plainly, that mans prayers can­not prevail any thing of good, for if a mans prayers were good, then he might prevail much by prayer, but they vanish away like a shadow, not acting the things which are Royal and truth, therefore according to these verses following, it is plainly to be seen what mens prayers are, they are but earth, therefore they need not pray as they do, for they pray for the Lord Iesus, but they have him already, but in this they cru­cifie the Lord of life, because they see him not; and this earth exalting himself somthing to be, and all mens prayers are not in force not yet in power, for if they were faithful men, when they pray for rain they should have it, or if they did pray for water to be tur­ned into wine it should be so, but indeed their prayers as the Sripture saith are abomination before the face of the Lord, whereby reason proves it is nothing but earth and from whence they came thither they shall return; from the earth they came, and to the earth they shall return again: Therefore I declare this unto you, not to read these lines in wrath, but read them in love. And so I rest in love at this time.

JAMES MICHEL,
1.
It is my joy, and for to see
All those which now are set free,
Those are our people to behold,
And live in Sion to be more bold,
Syon it is the purest throne,
For there the Lord enioys his own.
This is the truth Ile justifie
To see what the whore and the world can deny.
6.
For when conceiving in you did begin,
It said that paide was the man of sinn,
Then be content and rest on this hour,
For the Lord is working in a light power.
7.
And this the people cannot see,
Tis darkness to them and a mystery,
The Mystery that you shall know,
The light of God will truly show.
8.
And the people they shall see,
How pure all shall be set free;
3.
And to this truth I shall speak still
And live so pure upon Syon hill.
But now these words that I shall say,
For any faith you need not pray.
4.
For all your praving that is vain,
From whence it came it returns again,
Then be you silent for you must,
For all your prayers return to the dust.
5.
Then do hold you that are free,
And for to sing this harmony
For the Mountains know I do declare,
What all below the Lord God are.
Then sit you still upon the true throne,
For Syon once shall be your own.

Dear friends this is to let you understand, the passa­ges I have seen in some travels, the cruelty of men one towards another, for as J pass [...]d along the Highway, J see some gallants habited inclothing l [...]ke unto Gen­tlemen, which were using violence against the poor, taking their estates from them, and this cruelly abusing of them, and robbing them of that which was free for their use, and this J see as J travel until I come to my iourneys end, for J have a long Journey to go, as it is [Page 20]declared by men, for they say it is a great way to Her­ven, but stil I am travelling on the road till come thi­ther, but when I com thither, there I shal find [...]eare and rest but none I do [...]nde here amongst men, for they are apt to backbite one another, even as they have done me [...]lredy, indeed if a man peaks what he knows at that they wil be troubled, but touch a gauld horse on the back and indeed he will soon kick, as also these verses that follow, do touch the thieves and robbers, but many others may seem to take exception, but they need not do it for any thing I know (but if any man be troubled any thing which is written in this Book) be my be guilty of the same action of robbing, but if he be guilty he needs no accuser but his own conscience, for if he is guilty his conscience will fly in his face, and bare witness against him, and therfore he may seem to cry out against these veases; who ever are troubled at them, will make themselves guilty of that fact of rob­bing but I should very gladly see men turn from their darkn [...]ss unto light, and live in true love, so turn from their wickedness and live.

Iames Michel.

Who is not ashamed to declare the truth of the passa­ges which he hath seen and do lee, so that men may forsake theit cruelty one towards another, and love one another in truth and reallity and sincerely by the bottom of his heart, and to the heighth and depth of his soul to the utmost thereof.

1.
Glorious one now let us be [...]ogging,
Every true lover in his own way,
Then give vs the spiritual fl [...]gging
For we will be merry in Vount Sian to day.
2.
Now awake all ye that are Sleepy,
[Page 21]And do hear the voice of the Lord,
For he is a pulling down allyour Temples,
Religion shal be no more your strong Guard.
3
You Tyrants, Tyrants, now in the Kingdom,
This mine eyes so plainly do see,
Then what will be come of all your vain glory
When the poor Captives are trnly set free.
4.
Them [...]r [...] again turn again
You Theeves and robbers,
A you do plainly appear unto me.
For you are a robbing the poor of this Nation,
And so like Tyrants ra [...]gn go as you be.
5.
These words that I do say tis in reioycing
That the Lord Christ have set me so free,
For I my self could not declare it
Not till true reason declared in me.
6.
Then leave of Crueity and all your baseness,
Throw down iniustice and east away pride,
Then you shall be married all in sweet communion,
When truth shal be your own glorious Bride.

A Dis [...]ription of love betwixt God and Christ The spense and the world.
Declared and made manifest at the time and hou­when God pleased to reveale it in my heart, there one truth cannot be ashamed; this is written in my heart when the world frownes in madness aginst the Lord Iesus.

By Iames Michel,
1.
His light is in renown this I do see,
His light is in renown this I do see,
His light is in renown, heresy must go down,
True love shall wear the Crown,
'Tis well for me.
2.
Iustice now is above, tis so to me,
Iustice now is above tis so to me,
Iustice now is above, raigning in true love.
None can harbour the dove
Truly but he.
3.
Some saints fit in the throne
With such a grace,
Some saints fit in the throne with such a grace.
Some saints sits in the throne, as if it were their own,
But quickly it may be known in every place.
4.
This true love we would have now for to be,
This true love we would have now for to be,
This true love we would have to be eased from a slave,
But then to live so brave truly with thee.
5.
Tyranny that must sall it doth appear,
Tyranny that must fall it doth appear,
Tyranny that must fall, we shal be merry all.
And then shall reioyce withal, stand nor in fear.

A declaration declared in truth being not ashamed, who is free, to own every line in this book, now [...] name suscribed in two words of truth which will [...] his name manifest, for truth is never ashamed of it [...] This is spoken by

Iames Michel.
1.
God is our joy, God is our rest,
God is our King
The prince of peace,
This is Gods love to every one,
He shed his bloud for all.
2.
And this by men is not understood.
That all are saved by his blood,
His blood was the sacrifice for sin,
Which men no more should begin.
3.
But Antichrist in his dark power
Is held up by men now each hour,
I wil dissolve him with love and peace,
For I live in joy in truth and rest.
4.
I am the King that they should see.
The Lord omnipotent I be,
That I wil make them
Truly to see I am with them.
Now here I be.
5.
This King of reason is my life,
He's taking away envy and strife,
For he goes betwixt the Marrow and the bone
So him and us are all but one.
6.
He is the life he is the breath,
He is the bones he is the earth,
He is the truth I speak withal,
He is that spirit which cannot fall,
He is God, he is all in all.
7.
For this true love have envy cast,
And now it is quite at the loss,
To see who now do bare the Cross,
For now this is true loves own host.
To see how sweetly the curse is crost.

Dear hearts, I shal let you understand in few words, that the fifth song in the book, entituled, the singing of praises, was a mistake in the printing, and therefore I thought good to put it in print again, with some ad­dition to it; and in the 22 song, in that book of the singing of praises, it was not all printed, for the printer had le [...]t out [...]alf of it, whereby many at it are trou­bled, but let them know what they are troubled at, and so let them sit down in peace,

Iames Michel.

Indeed I am caused to write again concerning these verses in this Book which many already have been troubled at, for I know they are a stumbling block to the stumbler, which is the world, for indeed they do not go as the world would have them to go, but as their customs is to have verse to every ones minde, which these are contrary to most mens mindes, but they are chosen out from their hearts to ly in their way to stumble at, who are ready to cath a fall at them, because they are not one with them to their apprehen­sion; indeed I do verily beleeve, as to them, they are no verse, for those that do not enioy them nor live in the same light that they are in, cannot make verse of them but rather would be troubled at them, and cry out a­gainst the Author of them, and so I shal leave them to serious consideration for a cherritable Judgment of them and so conclude.

To me this is a true return, out of Aegypt into Canaan, out of trouble into peace, out of darkness in­to light, and out of hel into heaven, and out of sor­row into joy, and out of torments into rest, for peace is my salvation,

IAMES MICHEL,
FINIS.

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