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

9 As much is to be said of them who have been so bold & presumptuous as to forge new vocations and charges in the church of God, which they afterwards transfigured and changed into dignities, and finally into a tyranny truly Satanical, that is to say adverse, contrary and opposite directly unto the royalty and regality of Jesus Christ, altogether following that which was expressly foretold by Saint John in the Apocalypse of the Image drawn and moulded on the pattern of the beast, which was the Roman empire, which was finally ruined and dissipated, as it is at this day, according unto the prophecy of Saint Paul, 2. Thess. 2.7. wherein Satan hath used a marvellous sleight in serving his own turn by abusing many good and holy personages, and those very learned otherwise, but not sufficient attentive to mark and consider how men abused the names of vocations established by the son of God, to ⟨p. 134⟩turn them notwithstanding and to overthrow them: in such wise that by little and little he attained unto the end he desired, having set up instead of that goodly estate of the Church established in his perfection by the ministry of the Apostles this fall hierarchy, as they call it. Such are the reverend names of Bishop, Pastor, Elder or Ancient, Doctor & Deacon, * which they afterwards by little and little divided into many other degrees, * to hatch at the length an Ecumenical Bishop, that is to say, a Bishop of the universal world, to which for a full measure of all this disorder have been added the most reverent Seigneurs the Cardinals.

9 As much is to be said of them who haue been so bold & presumptuous as to forge newe vocations and charges in the church of God, which they afterwards transfigured and changed into dignities, and finally into a tyrannie truly Satanicall, that is to say aduerse, contrarie and opposite directly vnto the royalty and regality of Iesus Christ, altogether following that which was expresly foretold by Saint Iohn in the Apocalypse of the Image drawne and mouled on the pattern of the beast, which was the Romane empire, which was finally ruined and dissipated, as it is at this daie, according vnto the prophecie of Saint Paul, 2. Thess. 2.7. wherein Satan hath vsed a marueilous sleight in seruing his owne turne by abusing many good and holy personages, and those very learned otherwise, but not sufficient attentiue to marke and consider how men abused the names of vocations established by the sonne of God, to