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

For behold already even in the Apostles time, they of the Circumcision could not abide the taking away of the Judaical Ceremonies, which had bin sometime the decking & setting forth of this spouse, but had an end at the coming of the bridegroom in person. Others began then to mingle, under the shadow of devotion, their goodly frivolous and altogether superstitious inventions: others, not considering that they went about to be more wise then god himself, instead of contenting themselves with this native and ingenuous beauty, added thereunto the painting of their own goodly humane wisdom. And albeit the Apostle hath so often and so diversly cried out against all such inventions, and namely by a most singular divine and clear distinct setting down of all these abuses, Coloss. 2.16. and the verses following, yet could he not hinder that this should not come to pass. Hereupon is entered into the Church the most part of Ceremonies manifestly and notoriously taken from Judaism, as namely holy water, priestly vestments, lights, decking of material temples, shining and glittering with gold and ⟨p. 81⟩silver and precious stones, without sparing of all manner costly apparel, & bravery that might be. Afterwards the simplicity of administering the Sacraments seemed over light, & therefore there must be added to the consecration of the water, chrism, salt, spittle, chreme, &c. As for the sacrament of the Supper, it was in the end clean taken away & abolished by Transubstantiation, & by a real and expiatory offering and oblation which men have invented. Besides all this, this goodly humane wisdom hath had that credit a long time to model and pattern forth ecclesiastical charges after the Roman policy, to the end to fulfil and accomplish that which was foretold by Saint John, in the Apocalypse, of the Image of the beast. From hence instead of an Aristocratical order of Bishops, that is to say Pastors, are come * the dignities of Patriarchs and others, and last of all two Popes or Ecumenical Bishops, the one in the East, whose wings Mahomet hath clipped, and the other in the West: seated the one and the other upon the seven hills, and especially he of the West, who doth yet make drunk the Kings and Nations of the earth, assisted with his brethren, officers of the latest and newest forge, called Cardinals.

For behold alreadie euen in the Apostles time, they of the Circumcision could not abide the taking awaie of the Iudaicall Ceremonies, which had bin sometime the decking & setting forth of this spouse, but had an end at the comming of the bridegroome in person. Others began then to mingle, vnder the shadow of deuotion, their goodly friuolous and altogither superstitious inuentions: others, not considering that they went about to bee more wise then god himselfe, insteed of contenting themselues with this natiue and ingenuous beutie, added thereunto the painting of their owne goodly humane wisedome. And albeit the Apostle hath so often and so diuersly cried out against all such inuentions, and namely by a most singular diuine and cleare distinct setting downe of all these abuses,