THE SPOUSE Rejoicing over ANTICHRIST, And triumphing over the DEVIL, In the Day of the Lord, when God alone shall be EXALTED. Then sing my Love, then sing my Dear, Then sing the truth, stand not in fear. Written in the day and year, when the world is running besides itself, crying out against truth, in the hearing of truth; this mad world is beside itself, persecuting those which desire not to meddle with the world: I have found it, that the world cannot endure light, my experience makes it manifest. Written by JAMES MICHAEL, 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 shall rest to the proceeding further in the BOOK. London, Printed, and are to be sold in Cannon's street, near London-stone. 1654. A word to the patiented Readers consideration in season, so I shall leave it to the Reader to judge a charitable judgement to the proceed after. A Message to the world, which the world loves not, but rather is reviling against, the messenger which to me brings glad tidings, and therefore they are crying out against me, and accusing me for putting times to the songs in my Book, entitled, the singing of Praises but now the cause of their malice against me, or persecuting of me, therefore I shall cease from that work of vanity, as they call it, but rather please a fool in his folly; so at this time I am taken up in earnest occasion, that time will 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 I 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 entitled, the singing of Praises, and many such false accusations they have raised upon me for blasphemy touching my life, but for my part. I 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 liars, 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 shall conclude this, which is Written by James Michael. A vindication of the Verses in this Book. THat he that rejoiceth in the Lord, doth truly serve the Lord, for the Spouse when they rejoice it is in the knowledge that they received of the Lord glorifying the eternal God; for those that glorify the eternal God, do 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, rejoicing 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 Hell, and over Damnation. And this the Spouse and those that do truly serve the Lord, may rejoice 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, glorify that true God the Lord of heaven 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 we truly serve him we may truly rejoice in him, and sing with him, triumph with him over his enemies in spite of the Devil's face; and in this service of the Lord, as we find his love manifested to us, so he will speak in us freely above tribulation, singing peace with him, and living in rest, so we shall according at he makes himself manifest to us, we shall say, than 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 jesus, so we shall freely be carried forth of trouble, and live in silence for ever, and so I conclude, JAMES MICHAEL, The SPOUSE rejoicing over Antichrist. 1. THis is God's love I see, Taking away the curse, but here I'll stay and sing with joy, Then Devil do thy worst. 2. My sorrows are flying away, They are flying with the enrse, but here I'll stay and sing with joy, Then Devil do thy worst. 3, My body is brought home so clear And purely from the curse. then here I'll stay and sing with joy, Then Devil do thy worst. 4. My Religion is counted base, But it was as pure at first, but here I'll stay and sing with joy, Then Devil do thy worst. 5. My life it is above, Triumphing o'er the curse; which makes me stay and sing with joy, Then Devil do thy worst. 6. The spouse they are come home, As they were all at first, than here I'll stay 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 Devil 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 joy, Then Devil do thy worst. 10. This Fountain glory right, Which is his love to me, makes me to stay and sing with joy, My everlasting rest to be. 11. The sweetness of his love, Is the purest love I see, which makes me stay and sing with joy, When I am truly set free. 12. Now this ere I do tell, If that man could see when I do stay and sing with joy, This is sweet harmony. 13. The love which is my mind, Three Kingdoms I see, this is the rest that I find best, God's Kingdom now with me. 14. The time is not past, The curse is sweetly croft, with God's 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, than we should stay and sing with joy. For the Devil had done his worst. 16. Unto my friend I writ, He need not fear the Curse, for here we shall stay and sing with joy, For the Devil had done eyes worst, By James Michael, 1. March on March on, Saith my General in chief, He is my only dear, for he is see free and lives in me, A casting out all fear. 2. We march with him, We march with him. In Majesty and grace, if willing be. he will make us see The heightness of his face. 3. And this Jehovah is going on, With honour and renown, 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 people's ears full of din. And fills men's hearts with lies, 6. And this cheir snapping And snarling like, Like dogs a picking bones, For if they could see The Lord jesus 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 Just command, His command is truth, That you shall see in rest. 8. But we'll march, we'll march, Saith our General in chief, We'll 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 Mark it very well. For when that you do finde true love. You shall hear who carries away the bell, 10. Then harken people, harken all, Harken 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 passed in these verses, concluded as an error for haste, but it may be excused. A Description of love in true love, declared by James Michael, 1. When the trumpet sounds his call, Then death and hell doth fall, For God he's all in all: Now rejoice, now rejoice. 2. Rejoice in this thing, That God our only King. Salvation he doth bring. He makes me now to sing. And rejoice, and rejoice. 3. Then be you not so sad, For all you are so mad, Persecuting so bad, For all that I am glad, And rejoice, and rejoice, 4 For this will be that happy day, When the lion with the Lamb doth play, And cast old things away, And rejoice and rejoice. 5. For the stopping of the ear. Is the cause of all fear, Brings desolation hear, For God now he is near, Now rejoice, now rejoice. 6. Rejoice now with all. That death and hell do fall, For God he is all in all, Now rejoice, now rejoice. 7. I glorify my King, Glad tidings he doth bring, For he makes me now to sing, And rejoice, and rejoice. 8. When eternal fire do burn, Then Merchantry shall mourn, For I do live with one, And rejoice, and rejoice. 9 These tidings I do see, For Christ have set me free, And he do sing with me, now rejoice, now rejoice. 10 It cometh from above, When sorrows they do move, Then we'll live in true love, And rejoice, and rejoice. 11. The Kingdom is at hand, Where God will have command, No rebels there shall stand, Now rejoice, now rejoice. 12. At this poor Righteous King. I see how they do sling, Because he do make us swim. And rejoice, and rejoice. 13. I swim unto my dear, Who takes away all fear, And dwell with him so clear, And rejoice, and rejoice, 14. I do not swim for hire, Nor to lie 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 rejoice, nor rejoice. 16 Nor yet the outward State, Nor Parliament of late, Did never make things sweet, To rejoice, to rejoice. 17. It's this eternal King so neat, Is with us now complete, A making all things sweet, To rejoice, to rejoice, 18 For he is in his throne, For all the world do frown His Glory is his own, Now rejoice, now rejoice. 19 And to the Priest I call When Babylon shall fall, for we will be merry all. And rejoice, and rejoice. I tell it to the poor, I have destroyed the whore, Now you shall sing for evermore, And rejoice, and rejoice. 12. I can no longer forbear▪ But tell you what you are, And this I do declare, And rejoice. and rejoice, 22. But your fight with the poor, Ambition is the whore, I will destroy her so sure, And rejoice, and rejoice. 23. True love is not so blind, But to the poor is kind, And constant is in one mind, To rejoice, to rejoice, 24. All Glory now is mine, Though they will me confine Because I cast out the swine, And rejoice, and rejoice: 25. But this is the swine's grace, To confine true love to one place, while they do run the race, And thus laugh God in the face; Now rejoice. now rejoice. 26. But he is lust and true, Making all things so new, In sweetness here to view, And rejoice, and rejoice. 27. Thus heaven and earth is shown, His Glory now is known, With true love that is his own, To rejoice, to rejoice. 28. I'll be merry and sing, Sorrows away I'll fling, Now death have lost her sting, I'll rejoice, I'll rejoice. 29. When I am in my throne, Whose glory that is shown, Where's not good nor evil known, Then rejoice, then rejoice. 30. This is game of the head, Sorrows away are fled, The curse is almost dead, Now rejoice, now rejoice. 31. For this is his love to us, To take away the curse, Gives us the better for the worse, Now rejoice, now reio ice. 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 rejoice now rejoice. The Descrptjoin of the restauration of love. Now love 's declared, And wrath 's abased, By james Michael, 1. Our joys now they are come, And truly they do reign, 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 men's Kingdom shaking, Behold how they do fall. 3. It is his loving kindness 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, Which makes me sing amain, The freedom now is pure, To live in peace again, This is life eternal, That glory we enjoy, To live in peace and frience And so to go away James Michael. A Vindication or the verses following, whereby no man may be troubled at these verses, for he that is troubled which these verses knows not what he is troubled at for men knowing not the things of the Lord jesus, 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 form 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, 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 man's prayers cannot prevail any thing of good, for if a man's prayers were good, than 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 men's prayers are, they are but earth, therefore they need not pray as they do, for they pray for the Lord jesus, but they have him already, but in this they crucify the Lord of life, because they see him not; and this earth exalting himself something to be, and all men's 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 MICHAEL, 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 Zion to be more bold, Zion it is the purest throne, For there the Lord enjoys his own. This is the truth I'll justify To see what the whore and the world can deny. 6. For when conceiving in you did begin, It said that paid was the man of sin, 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 Zion 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 Zion 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 I passed along the Highway, I 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 I see as I travel until I come to my journey's end, for I have a long Journey to go, as it is declared by men, for they say it is a great way to Herven, but still I am travelling on the road till come thither, but when I come thither, there I shall 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 already, indeed if a man peaks what he knows at that they will be troubled, but touch a galled horse on the back and indeed he will soon kick, as also these verses that follow, do touch the thiefs 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 therefore 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 darkness unto light, and live in true love, so turn from their wickedness and live. james Michael. Who is not ashamed to declare the truth of the passages which he hath seen and do lee, so that men may forsake their cruelty one towards another, and love one another in truth and reality and sincerely by the bottom of his heart, and to the height and depth of his soul to the utmost thereof. 1. Glorious one now let us befogging, Every true lover in his own way, Then give us the spiritual fl●gging For we will be merry in Vount Sian to day. 2. Now awake all ye that are Sleepy, And do hear the voice of the Lord, For he is a pulling down allyour Temples, Religion shall 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 Thiefs and robbers, A you do plainly appear unto me. For you are a robbing the poor of this Nation, And so like Tyrant's ra●gn go as you be. 5. These words that I do say 'tis in rejoicing That the Lord Christ have set me so free, For I myself could not declare it Not till true reason declared in me. 6. Then leave of Crueity and all your baseness, Throw down injustice and east away pride, Than you shall be married all in sweet communion, When truth shall be your own glorious Bride. A Description of love betwixt God and Christ The spense and the world. Declared and made manifest at the time and houwhen God pleased to reveal it in my heart, there one truth cannot be ashamed; this is written in my heart when the world frowns in madness against the Lord jesus. By james Michael, 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. justice's now is above, 'tis so to me, justice now is above 'tis so to me, justice now is above, reigning 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 fall it doth appear, Tyranny that must fall it doth appear, Tyranny that must fall, we shall be merry all. And then shall rejoice 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 james Michael. 1. God is our joy, God is our rest, God is our King The prince of peace, This is God's love to every one, He shed his blood 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 not more should begin. 3. But Antichrist in his dark power Is held up by men now each hour, I will 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 will 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 crossed. Dear hearts, I shall let you understand in few words, that the fifth song in the book, entitled, 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, james Michael. 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 one's mind, which these are contrary to most men's minds, but they are chosen out from their hearts to lie in their way to stumble at, who are ready to catch a fall at them, because they are not one with them to their apprehension; indeed I do verily believe, as to them, they are no verse, for those that do not enjoy 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 shall leave them to serious consideration for a cherritable Judgement of them and so conclude. To me this is a true return, out of Egypt into Canaan, out of trouble into peace, out of darkness into light, and out of hell into heaven, and out of sorrow into joy, and out of torments into rest, for peace is my salvation, JAMES MICHAEL, FINIS.