THE DISCIPLINE OF Gathered Churches, WITH The Covenant taken by each Member; And a Confession of Faith professed by the Church of Christ at Martin's Vintry:  
Together with Spiritual Hymns by way of Paraphrase upon the whole book of Canticles by them sung at their breaking of Bread.  
And an Abreviate of their whole Practice.  
London Printed for R. Ibbitson in Smithfield, 1654. Nou. 22 1653   

CANTICLES.  

CHAP. I.  
NOw let us sing a Song most choice.  
To God; of Christ our peace:  
verse 2 Whose blood gushed out to heal our souls  
His love doth never cease.  
verse 3 The savour of thy grace, O Christ,  
Is sweet from Heaven above  
Thou dost refresh our thirsty soul,  
And thee we dearly love.  
verse 4 Draw us we will run after thee,  
Thy fellowship to have:  
We will be glad, and joy in thee,  
Thy love therefore we crave.  
verse 5 We are by nature black with sin,  
Dear friends and Christians all;  
The blood of Christ will make us clean  
If we on him do call.  
verse 6 Look nor on us, for our black sins,  
In which we guilty are,  
Us to destroy, O Lord, but let  
us in thee have a share.  
We mind the world too much; our souls  
We do not keep with care,  
But to refresh our souls, sweet Christ  
Thy blood thou didst not spare.  
verse 7 I sought for Christ whom my soul loves  
Sweet rest in him to find,  
To feed with his beloved ones  
And him alone to mind.  
verse 8 Then by his Spirit he me taught,  
And with his flock me led,  
And with his Body and his Blood  
My Soul hath sweetly fed.  
verse 9 The life of Saints in sinful flesh,  
While they continue here;  
Is full of trouble, strife, and care,  
But Christ doth love them dear.  
verse 10 His Testaments most precious are  
And sealed with his blood.  
His Graces he to Saints doth give,  
Most pure are and good.  
verse 11 The borders of his table spread,  
are richer than the gold;  
His Ordinances are more pure  
Than silver to behold.  
verse 12 Whilst I with Christ at Table sit,  
His Body and Blood to take.  
His Graces poured in my Soul  
A sweet perfume doth make.  
verse 13 Christ my Beloved is to me,  
sweet, glorious, and bright;  
He only shall have place to lodge  
in my heart day and night.  
verse 14 He hath by clusters of rich grapes  
with his own blood me fed,  
With his beloved chosen ones,  
for whom his blood he shed.  
verse 15 By this communion Lord with thee  
thy righteousness is mine  
Thou dost me love, & give me grace  
and I by Faith am thine.  
verse 16 O my Beloved thou art fair,  
and pleasant unto me,  
And all is sweet that I enjoy,  
in fellowship with thee.  
verse 17 As thou art sweet so by thy grace  
Our fellowship is so,  
Oh let the breath of thy sweet Spirit  
for ever on us blow.   

CHAP. II.  
CHrist Jesus as with water sweet  
which from the Rose is styled  
hath now refreshed our drooping souls  
with his blood which was spilled,  
verse 2 Satan doth rage, and seek our harm  
while we continue here,  
But blessed be God, a Saviour  
we have that loves us dear.  
verse 3 Even as an apple tree among  
trees growing in the wood  
So is the body and blood of Christ  
for souls the richest food.  
We under his sweet wings have sat  
with great delight of heart,  
His body & blood is sweet which to  
our souls he doth impart.  
verse 4 Praise be to Christ that brought us to  
this banquet and rich feast  
His love doth overflow our souls  
most precious is his taste,  
verse 5 O stay our souls by Faith in thee,  
sweet Christ who art above,  
And let thy Spirit comfort us  
for we are sick of love.  
verse 6 Christ hath preserved our lives, and brought  
us hither to this place:  
But glorious is the love wherewith  
our souls he doth embrace.  
verse 7 His sweet communion to our souls  
doth give much joy and ease,  
Oh, that we never more might part,  
if Jesus Christ did please.  
verse 8 When we were full of grief, the voice  
of Christ to us was sweet  
Mountains of sorrows he did tread,  
our souls (forlorn) to meet.  
verse 9 Most willingly he died, and by  
his Spirit he doth us call,  
And by his wounds and precious blood  
for us doth conquer all.  
verse 10 Christ our beloved sweetly spoke  
and said to us this day,  
Rise up and I will beautify  
your souls, O come away.  
verse 11 Gods wrath is passed your tears are bottled  
verse 12 Sweet flowers of grace appear,  
The time of Gospel joy is come,  
God's glorious word to hear.  
verse 13 The bread & wine doth for your souls  
my body an blood display,  
Arise and I will beautify  
your souls, O come away.  
verse 14, When we with broken hearts do mourn  
in secret, Christ doth call;  
Our tears he sees, and hears the sobs  
and sigh of us all.  
Our voice is sweet to him, and he  
to be with us doth joy.  
verse 15 And all the enemies of the Saints  
he surely will destroy.  
verse 16 O our Beloved, ours thou art,  
and we, O Christ, are thine.  
Thy body and blood, doth feed our souls  
while we take bread & wine.  
verse 17 Until the day of joyful rest,  
with thee in heaven above:  
Be thou with us, and keep us from  
divisions, in thy love.   

CHAP. III.  
UPon our beds we sought for Christ.  
but could not find him there;  
verse 2 We rise, and went to worldly things  
and Christ did not appear.  
verse 3 The Word to hear then did we go  
verse 4 And found our Saviour then,  
We held him in our heart, and would  
not let him go again.  
verse 5 we now have in communion sweet  
received Christ's body and blood,  
Let Christ among us sweetly rest vine  
while he doth see it good  
verse 6 What heavenly gales of Grace diperfumed from heaven above,  
Hath Christ our Saviour breathed on us  
at this rich feast of love.  
verse 7 Where Angels do about us stand  
verse 8 And Christ his Spirit doth give  
Give us O Lord thy Spirital ways,  
that we in Christ may live.  
verse 9 Christ hath himself a Chariot made  
of Ordinances fair  
verse 10 The bottom is of grace most free  
of Faith the Pillars are.  
And covered with his sacred blood,  
and filled with precious love,  
For all the Saints to sit and sing  
glory to God above.  
verse 11 Go forth, exalt the Throne of Christ  
to us he doth impart  
His body and blood, his glory & grace  
in gladness of his heart.   

CHAP. IU.  
CHrist Jesus hath us beautified,  
with his rich Grace of Love,  
Our mournful eyes he hath refreshed  
with gladness from above:  
Much people hear the word with us  
verse 2 But we his flock do feed  
By Faith on him our souls are washed  
in blood which he did bleed.  
verse 3 The love of Christ in streams of blood  
to us is sweet and fair,  
His innocent body to break for us,  
and give, he did not spare.  
verse 4 His power & strength doth us preserve,  
verse 5 His word doth us refresh  
Praise be to him who at this Feast,  
hath fed us with his flesh  
verse 6 O blessed Christ whose fellowship  
In this feast we have had,  
Thy body and blood, by bread and wine  
by faith hath made us glad  
Oh that the glorious day was come  
and all these shadows gone  
That we might mount to Heaven with thee.  
verse 7 Our glory is Christ alone  
verse 8 Christ in his love hath brought us to  
this feast of bread and wine;  
As his beloved Spouse with him,  
upon the mount divine:  
verse 9 His Grace he povers forth most free  
his precious blood he shed  
He draws our hearts to him, his heart  
for us is ravished.  
verse 10 Christ by his blood doth purify  
the Saints whom he doth love.  
And doth delight to sanctify  
their souls from heaven above:  
verse 11 Their prayers he delights to hear  
his graces they are sweet  
Whereby he draws their hearts to him  
in faith and love to meet  
verse 12 His sister, Spouse Christ doth us call  
a Garden enclosed round,  
A Spring shut up, a Fountain sealed  
in whom his Spirit is found.  
verse 13 As Trees a comely Orchard make  
where they are planted well,  
So doth his Church bear precious fruit,  
in Christ who doth excel,  
verse 14 His graces are exceeding sweet,  
which to the Saints do flow  
Whereby their hearts he watereth  
that pleasant fruit may grow.  
verse 5 And of his Garden Christ himself  
the fountain is, whose blood  
A Well of living water is  
with streams to do them good  
verse 16 As in thy Garden thou dost feed  
us here with bread and wine,  
So let thy Spirit on us blow,  
from heaven in grace divine.  
As thou, O Christ, thy body & blood  
for us dost freely give,  
So sanctify us with thy grace,  
that we in thee may live:  
And may in our communions all  
have fellowship with thee,  
And thou thyself may joy in us  
thy pleasant fruits to see.   

CHAP. V.  
CHrist is unto his Garden come  
to meet us at this feast,  
His precious grace to pour on us  
and feed us with the best,  
He poured out his blood for us,  
and willingly did die  
That we might feed thereon by faith  
to live eternally,  
verse 2 Our flesh doth sleep, our soul doth wake  
the voice of Christ we hear  
He knocks and calls to have us come  
to him that loves us dear,  
And calls us Sister, Love, and Dove,  
his undefiled one,  
Yet for our sins, God's wrath was poured  
His innocent head upon  
verse 3 When Christ hath called many a time  
to us to open our heart,  
Our laziness and pride of spirit,  
hath moved him to departed,  
verse 4 But our beloved glanced in  
with glorious beams divine  
And by his sacred power made way  
into our heart to shine,  
O then our soul did hunger sore,  
of his sweet love to taste  
Our bowels moved were for him,  
and then we risen in haste  
verse 5 We risen up to our Saviour dear,  
to him to open our heart;  
His Graces by his spirit divine,  
to us he did impart:  
verse 6 Yet from our sense he did withdraw  
which made our souls to faint,  
We sought him, but had no return  
from him of our complaint,  
verse 7, We by the mouths of Ministers,  
his sacred word did hear  
Which did so strip and wound our  
that we did quake for fear.  
verse 8 But such refreshments here we find  
by Christ from Heaven above,  
In this communion; that our souls  
for him are sick of love,  
verse 9 What our Beloved is, we seek,  
some people question much,  
Why we should love him more than they  
and why our zeal is such?  
verse 10 Christ our Beloved is beautiful  
his glory we can tell,  
If ten thousands compare with him  
he doth them all excel.  
verse 11 His Spirit doth sweetly Graces breathe  
upon his people all,  
verse 12 His love is faithful to the Saints,  
whom he by Faith doth call.  
verse 13 The flowers of the Promises  
in Christ are rich and fair.  
and every word that from his mouth  
distils is sweet and rare  
verse 14 His handy works most precious are  
his bowels yern with love  
verse 15 His strength is very excellent,  
and great from heaven above.  
verse 16 A pleasant relish we do find,  
of his sweet body and blood  
Yea, he is wholly lovely and  
doth always do us good,  
This our beloved is, and is  
to us a faithful friend,  
To whom be honour, glory, laud,  
and praise world without end.   

CHAP. VI  
WE have this day been seeking out  
Christ our Beloved dear,  
That we with pure and single hearts  
might worship him in fear  
verse 2 And in his Church we have enjoyed  
his Ordinances good,  
And he by grace hath fed us with  
his body and his blood.  
verse 3 O our Beloved Saviour dear  
behold we are thine own,  
Thou dost among the Lilies feed,  
beside thee we have none.  
verse 4 In thy love we are beautiful  
through grace which thou dost give  
To make us comely, and thy strength  
alone doth make us live  
verse 5 When we in tears do groan for Christ  
by faith our prayers prevail  
For in Assemblys of the Saints  
to be, he doth not fail.  
Where all professors join with us  
verse 6 But he his flock doth feed  
(By faith) on him O wash our souls  
in blood which thou didst bleed.  
verse 7 The love of Christ in streams of blood  
to us is sweet and fair,  
His spotless body to break for us  
and give he did not spare.  
verse 8 Though in opinions difference be  
in outward things below.  
In Church's Congregations,  
and precious Saints also.  
The sanctified Spouse of Christ,  
in light divine is one  
With God in Christ, & all the Saints  
have sweet communion.  
verse 10 By Faith in him they are more bright  
than day, or Moon, or Sun  
And by his power they are so strong down  
none can them overcome.  
verse 11 Into his Garden Christ came  
where his sweet Spirit did blow,  
And viewed the Graces of the Saints  
which from his Spirit did flow,  
verse 12 His love constraineth all the hearts  
he doth by grace prepare,  
His arm he doth reveal and then,  
his people willing are.  
verse 13 O come let us return to walk  
more close and we shall see,  
The glorious power of the Lord,  
our joy and strength to be.   

CHAP. VII.  
ALl those that are regenerate  
are beautiful, their feet  
In holy paths do walk with Christ  
they have communion sweet.  
verse 2 Their bowels earn in charity,  
to Saints where they do live,  
Unto the poor that are in want  
they liberally do give.  
verse 3 The Ordinances of the Lord,  
unto the Saints are sweet,  
Lord sanctify our union,  
that Christ may with us meet.  
verse 4 The power of Christ doth us preserve  
in him alone we live,  
Our tears he turns to joy, his spirit  
a sweet perfume doth give.  
verse 5 His blood he freely spilt for us,  
and clothed us also.  
With his pure robes of righteousness  
his mercies to us flow.  
verse 6 He by his blood doth purify,  
the Saints whom he doth love,  
And doth with pleasant joy delight  
their souls from Heaven above.  
verse 7 The humble spirits of the Saints,  
before the Lord in love,  
By grace from Heaven on them bestowed  
ascend to God above,  
verse 8 By faith our souls do mount on high  
while bread & wine we take  
And in this feast, the grace of Christ  
a sweet perfume doth make  
verse 9 His precious body and blood received,  
unto the taste is sweet,  
And all our souls refreshment have,  
when we with him do meet,  
verse 10 O our Beloved Saviour dear,  
behold us we are thine,  
And thy desires after us  
most sweetly do incline.  
verse 11 O our beloved Jesus come,  
and do thou with us live,  
verse 12 That all our joy may be in thee  
to whom our hearts we give.  
verse 13 Then we abundant peace shall have,  
in all that we possess  
All our rich treasures are in thee,  
thou art our righteousness.   

CHAP. VIII.  
AS we in this our fellowship,  
communion have together,  
So let our union truly be  
with thee, O Christ, for ever.  
verse 2 In all the duties we perform,  
thy Spirit to us give,  
Teach thou our souls, and give us strength  
that we in thee may live.  
verse 3 Do thou preserve our souls and be  
with us in every place.  
For glorious is thy love wherewith Saints  
our souls thou dost embrace.  
verse 4 Thy sweet communion with the  
doth give much joy and ease.  
Oh, that we never more might part  
if Jesus Christ did please.  
verse 5 What heavenly gales of grace divine  
perfumed from heaven above  
Hath Christ our Saviour breathed on us  
at this rich feast of love,  
verse 6 Lord to thy bosom take us up,  
to be with thee above,  
For after thee in us doth burn.  
a vehement flame of love.  
verse 7 The floods of tears, and streams of blood  
which Christ for us hath shed,  
Abundantly set forth thy love,  
of which we now have fed.  
verse 8 Lord many of thy Saints there are  
that wait thy mind to know,  
O teach both us and them the way  
where thou wouldst have us go.  
verse 9 Oh, that all were united here,  
who union have with thee,  
Let all our troubles have an end,  
and all thy Saints agree.  
verse 10 We bless thee for our fellowship  
in this rich feast of love,  
Refresh our souls with thy sweet spirit,  
for ever from above.  
verse 11 Christ's Churches are his vineyards  
where he doth keeper's place  
To dress his plants, and make their fruit  
to bud & spring apace.  
verse 12 They in his vineyards do the work  
which he to them doth give,  
That his name may be magnified  
and we in him may live.  
verse 13 All those that in thy Church, O Christ  
do worship thee in fear,  
Communion have with thee, and joy  
thy pleasant voice to hear.  
verse 14 Make haste, O Christ, with speed to us,  
we do thee dearly love,  
O let thy spirit to our hearts  
come down from heaven above.    
FINIS.