Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticlesMaster Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles

8 But we may not forget these words After thee. For it is not enough to run, but we must first run in the right way, and secondly we must run right, without straying either to the right or to the left hand, and thirdly we must tend & go forward unto the mark unto which we ought to tend, if we will not have our pains to be frustrate and lost. Al these things are given us in Jesus Christ solely and alone. For first, besides that it is of his spirit that we receive as well the desire of running, as the power to run, Phil. 2.13. He is the way, the truth and the life, and for to follow him without straying, and to obtain the price at the end of our race, he must always run before and we must run after him. They therefore, who to go to eternal life devise unto themselves new ways, that is to say any serving of God according to their own pleasure, or happily follow the inventions and devises of other men whatsoever, although these ways be never so common and frequented, and as old and ancient as a man can wish: how ever they reply that these are not other ways, but only certain paths, which bring them into the high way, as those men dream which make themselves believe, that the merits of works agree very well with grace: and the invocation of holy men departed with the office of mediation of Jesus Christ alone: and his corporal and essential presence in the mass with the verity and truth of the body of Jesus Christ, and with the ascension and second coming of him, and other such conclusions necessarily contradictory: yet notwithstanding not holding the right way after him, they shall not find him at their journeys end, and consequently they shall have no other fruit of their travail, then that which Isaiah speaketh of 29.13. and the Apostle: Colos. 2.18. Ye see then all false worships and religions condemned in one word, of which the Apostle in that place of the Colos. 2.18. handling this very matter setteth down three kinds. The first is of those which are grounded upon certain vain speculations, having an appearance of some great wisdom. As when at this day, men ground the Intercession of Saints upon this, that men go ⟨p. 65⟩not to kings & princes, but by mediators. Item that if holy personages have had credit with God being in this world, they have a great deal more being received with him into paradise.