A09998:104
Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticlesMaster Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles
Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated between us and the adversary at this day, especially touching the true Jesus Christ and the true Church, and the certain & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by John Harmar ...Master Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated betweene vs and the aduersarie at this day, especially touching the true Iesus Christ and the true Church, and the certaine & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by Iohn Harmar ...
Oxford: printed by Joseph Barnes, 1587Oxford: printed by Ioseph Barnes, 1587
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
THE end and scope whereunto we ought to refer this whole Canticle, is in sum to show us, that every faithful soul, yea all the true Church, is in such sort in this world, that her whole heart is ravished into heaven, tending only to the full and perfect conjunction and enjoying of him, in whom lieth all her treasure, which is our Lord Jesus christ her beloved. And therefore this holy spouse having opened & declared her so ardent affection, addeth now, that it is not without just cause that she maketh no reckoning of whatsoever withholdeth men here below, in comparison of him, whom she desireth and longeth after, because saith she, there is nothing of so good and sweet a smell as he, whose perfume she and her companions smelled.
THE ende and scope whereunto wee ought to refer this whole Canticle, is in sum to shewe vs, that euery faithfull soule, yea al the true Church, is in such sort in this world, that her whole heart is rauished into heauen, tending onlie to the ful and perfect coniunction and enioying of him, in whom lieth al hir treasure, which is our Lord Iesus christ her beloued. And therfore this holy spouse hauing opened & declared hir so ardent affection, addeth now, that it is not without iust cause that she maketh no reckoning of whatsoeuer withholdeth men heere below, in comparison of him, whom she desireth and longeth after, because saith she, there is nothing of so good and sweete a smell as hee, whose perfume shee and hir companions smelled.
2 Whereupon we are before all other things to note that she useth this word of perfumes, having regard properly and specially to the perfumes ordained and appointed in the Law. For albeit the use of these precious perfumes were from all times usual and accustomable among the people of the East, which is to be seen aswell by sacred as profane histories, notwithstanding, the spouse had not properly respect unto this, but to that sacred perfume which was in such sort composed of earthly sweets, that notwithstanding the receipt & composition thereof came not from man, but was expressly prescribed of God, Exod. 30.23. with an express forbiddal of applying it to any use else save to the holy & sacred service of God: