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

9 The spouse addeth And where thou causest thy flock to rest at noon. Which is added to declare by this effect, the difference which is between this pasture and food, and all others besides. For if we shall consider in particular of all that which men have ever invented and forged to have rest in their mind and consciences, we shall find, that all is nought else but so many dreams and doting fancies. For if we speak of them whom men call and term Philosophers, they have indeed by common consent and accord said, that man can find no true repose or quiet but in that which is his sovereign good and happiness: wherein they say most true: but themselves never agreeing or according hereupon, what this sovereign good or happiness and felicity was, how could they show others the way to attain unto it? Some of them therefore (worthy rather to be called hogs then men) ⟨p. 108⟩have sought after this felicity, in the pleasures of the body, others in the perfection of the soul, supposing that it consisted in the knowledge, which man by himself might attain unto, of divine and humane things, which they called wisdom: others making a more exquisite anatomy of the parts of the soul, added hereunto many other virtues concerning the usage of this life, delivering forth hereupon many goodly sentences and sayings: but vanishing away in the end, both because they were ignorant of the true virtues indeed, which are no where else taught but in the school of the lord▪ as also because there was never yet found the man, in whom these virtues might be found in such sort, as themselves have described them. Others have gone yet farther, and babbled something of eternal life and of the conjunction of the soul of such as are virtuous with God. But what? Being ignorant of the true god, and knowing as little the way to come unto him, & farther, never so much as thinking upon the resurrection of the body, the same is happened unto them which S. Paul declared & showed them in Athens Act, 17.22. & which he hereof writeth, Ro. 1.21.

9 The spouse addeth And where thou causest thy flock to rest at noone. Which is added to declare by this effect, the difference which is betweene this pasture and foode, and al others besides. For if wee shall consider in particular of all that which men haue euer inuented and forged to haue rest in their minde and consciences, wee shall find, that all is nought else but so manie dreames and doting fancies. For if we speak of them whom men call and terme Philosophers, they haue indeede by common consent and accord said, that man can finde no true repose or quiet but in that which is his soueraigne good and happinesse: wherein they saie most true: but themselues neuer agreeing or according hereupon, what this soueraigne good or happines and felicity was, how could they shewe others the way to attaine vnto it? Some of them therefore (worthie rather to bee called hogges then men)