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

The like is also to be seen by that which the Apostle writeth unto Timothy, and likewise by the second of Saint Peter, and that of Saint Jude, that there were already false teachers, and wicked Disciples even in the bosom of the Churches, which notwithstanding for all these imperfections, left not to be called true Churches: as a man leaveth not to be a man, though he have some wert or some ulcers & boils in one part of his body. But the case is otherwise of a body altogether rotten and corrupted in the noblest and principallest parts: whereunto the Synagogues of the Jews may be compared, after that they stubbornly resisted the preaching of the Apostle, from which, for this cause, he utterly divided and disjoined the Church of Ephesus, Act. 19.9. and 28.28. and himself also hath given us a rule hereof, Philip. 3.2. Neither are we otherwise to believe or to do, touching such assemblies and congregations (be they great or little) which notoriously and ⟨p. 90⟩stubbornly oppose themselves against the principal and fundamental articles of Christian Religion, as that assembly doth at this day which sitteth upon the seven hills, and opposeth it self directly against the kingdom of Jesus Christ, whose name notwithstanding it falsely borroweth, and therefore we have it justly in execration and hold it accursed, following the doctrine of the Apostle: Galat. 1.8. To come therefore to our purpose, we must take heed in this case, how we stand in such sort upon the defects and imperfections of one Church or more as therefore not to take them for Churches: but we must use those ordinary means which God hath appointed, to bear with that which is to be borne withal, to remedy that which may be remedied, and to take heed to our selves we be not smutted, as they say, among colliers: applying all our study and endeavour to mutual edification, as the Prophets and Apostles teach us, both by their doctrine and by their example.

The like is also to bee seene by that which the Apostle writeth vnto Timothy, and likewise by the second of Saint Peter, and that of Saint Iude, that there were already false teachers, and wicked Disciples euen in the bosome of the Churches, which notwithstanding for all these imperfections, left not to be called true Churches: as a man leaueth not to bee a man, though he haue some wert or some vlcers & biles in one part of his body. But the case is otherwise of a body altogether rotten and corrupted in the noblest and principallest partes: whereunto the Synagogues of the Iewes may bee compared, after that they stubburnely resisted the preaching of the Apostle, from which, for this cause, hee vtterly diuided and disioyned the Church of Ephesus,