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

4 But it is far an other thing to dispute and make a question of that which a man knoweth not, with a will and desire to learn and know it: and stubbornly to oppose a mans self against the truth, and finally to maintain and authorise a doctrine directly contrary unto the articles of our faith. And thus is it at length come to pass in the Romish church at this day, which for this cause doth no more deserve the name of a church then the kingdom of the ten tribes revolting with Jeroboam the son of Nabath deserved the name of the people of God: albeit there were for a long time some of Gods elect among those revolters, whom the Lord according unto his good pleasure did miraculously preserve, until the day of the utter dissipation of them, which shall befall this West Babylon in his time. And therefore we protest that in the times of our fathers there was a Church, that is to say, a number of the children of God as it were secret and shut up, as may be proved by writings from age to age, that there were always some who opposed themselves against those superstitions and idolatries ⟨p. 144⟩which by little and little got the upper hand in this Babylon, called three hundred years ago by one of their own Poets a Temple of heresy, in the which the Lord for this suffered not that Baptism should be utterly taken away and abolished, but not that this Sea or any affected thereunto being directly opposed unto the Church of God, was at any time the Church. We protest & confess farther, that even in our time, in which it hath pleased God to display the banner of his truth, there do still remain some of the elect, buried as it were in the middest of this Babylon, who in respect of the eternal purpose and counsel of God appertain at this present unto the true church: but by little and little as it pleaseth God to draw them out of this gulf, are actually made the members of this true Church, of which thing you to whom we speak, and our selves who are by Gods mercy come forth thereof, are good witnesses.

4 But it is far an other thing to dispute and make a question of that which a man knoweth not, with a will and desire to learne and know it: and stubburnly to oppose a mans selfe against the truth, and finally to maintaine and authorise a doctrine directly contrarie vnto the articles of our faith. And thus is it at length come to passe in the Romish church at this day, which for this cause doth no more deserue the name of a church then the kingdome of the ten tribes reuolting with Ieroboam the sonne of Nabath deserued the name of the people of God: albeit there were for a long time some of Gods elect among those reuolters, whom the Lorde according vnto his good pleasure did miraculously preserue, vntill the daie of the vtter dissipation of them, which shall befall this West Babylon in his time. And therefore we protest that in the times of our fathers there was a Church, that is to say, a number of the children of God as it were secret and shut vp, as may be proued by writinges from age to age, that there were alwaies some who opposed themselues against those superstitions and idolatries