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

2 Now touching the first of these points, she warneth and advertiseth them, not to stand so much upon considering of her in this hew, how sun-burnt soever it be: a warning & advertisement of all others most necessary, seeing there is nothing so fair and perfect in nature, whereof a man groweth not out of taste and liking, if letting pass to consider the beauty and goodness thereof, he settle his mind wholly to take a view of every defect & imperfection which may be found in it: whereas rightly to judge of a thing, and to make our profit thereby, we must equally consider of it, and uprightly balance every thing in it. And as this measure is to be held in esteeming all other things, so is it especially and above all to be observed in ⟨p. 88⟩this matter, whereof we here speak. They whom they called in ancient time Catharists, as also the Donatists, and of our time a certain sort of Anabaptists make good proof hereof: who imagining a perfect beauty of a church in this world, sever them selves from all others (as if in their particular assemblies this perfection were to be found) wherein they do greatly abuse and deceive themselves. First in this, that they stand only upon the defects of the Church, thinking that therefore the Church is no Church. Secondly in this, that they espy a mote in the eye of an other, & will not see the beam which is in their own eyes. We are therefore to note, that there is a diversity & difference of defects and imperfections which are found in the Church. The first are touching manners, which how wicked and corrupt soever they be, either in the pastors and shepherds, or in the sheep, ought not to cast us into such a rage as therefore to think, that there is no Church in those places where such corruptions are found. I say so long as the truth is there taught, according to that which the Lord said speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees, so long as they sate in the chair of Moses, that is to say, so long as they taught the doctrine of Moses: do ye, saith he, that which they say, but do not that which they do: Mat. 23.2. Although this hinder not, but that a man may well withdraw himself from the company of such men, following the Apostles admonition, 1. Cor. 5.11. & as the Prophet protesteth himself did, Psal. 17.4