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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.
3 And yet all this notwithstanding, this manner of drawing cannot be applied to this spouse, as appeareth by the words which went before, by which she most plainly and unfeignedly declareth, that she was already drawn, yea and as it were ravished above the clouds by this grace, witnessed by a most vehement desire of hers of passing yet farther. And therefore we must add unto that which we have already said, that if the first grace be altogether necessary for us, even so is the second, and after the second a third, and so on, in such wise, that even to his last breathing, every faithful soul must every ⟨p. 59⟩minute and moment cry out: Draw me, draw me: such repugnancy & resistance there is yet remaining in those, which are most obedient, such heaviness and lumpishness in those which are most ready and diligent: and all these graces which come one on the head of an other, must proceed from the same fountain from which the first did, I mean from the mere and only free bounty and liberality of our God, which moveth him to perfect his work begun in us; and that not to crown any merits of our works, but to keep his promise as freely with us, as he made it at the first. So that this distinction of works going before faith and only preparatory, as the Sophists speak, from the works which follow and come after faith, of which they make their merits of condignitie, were verily forged in the shop of Satan, who could by no better and readier means lead men unto destruction, then by persuading them, that they be of some price, and deserve some thing before God. The Apostle speaketh far another language: Rom. 7.24.25. who feeling in himself the residue & remnant of the corruption which was yet in him, how regenerate soever he was, and crying out miserable man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death, goeth not to vaunt himself of his travails, but giveth God thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord, protesting elsewhere, (albeit he was well assured of the crown promised unto them which run well, and to loyal and faithful servants: 2. Tim. 4.8. that he will be found, having, saith he, not my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is by faith in Christ, Philip. 3.9.