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

10 But because to go out of a bad way to enter into an other as bad or else worse, doth little better the case of him who is wandered: therefore the spouse is here warned in going out of the ill way to follow the track of the flock, that is to say, of this true flock of sheep with whom they are to join themselves. For the understanding and practise of which lesson we are to note, that there is a difference between the opening of a new way, and the acknowledging of a way made long since, but for lack of using and frequenting grown wast and desolate. The question being therefore in this place, not of taking or making a new way, as if the Church had then took her beginning, but of finding again the true way laid in some sort wast & desert: for this cause the spouse is sent back as it were to find the tracks and footings of the old way. And this is it which the Prophets themselves have preached amidst the desolations of the Church in their times, sending back such as are wandered and gone astray unto the Law and unto the ⟨p. 150⟩testimony, Isaiah. 8.20. and elsewhere as Abraham also speaketh Luk. 16.29. They have, saith he, Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them: whereunto agreeth that of Saint Peter, 2. Pet. 1.20. not forgetting the words of his master, who directed those which were blind & knew him not, unto the Scriptures. Sound ye, saith he, and search the Scriptures, for they are they which speak of me, Joh. 5.39. yea although then when the Lord spake thus, the track and footing of the true sheep of the former time was so clean put forth, amongest those who called themselves the people of God, that there needed miracles and other extraordinary means to make it known unto the silly wandering sheep, Mat. 9.36.

10 But because to goe out of a bad way to enter into an other as bad or els worse, doth litle better the case of him who is wandred: therefore the spouse is here warned in going out of the ill way to followe the tracke of the flocke, that is to saie, of this true flock of sheep with whom they are to ioyne themselues. For the vnderstanding and practise of which lesson we are to note, that there is a difference betweene the opening of a new way, and the acknowledging of a way made long since, but for lacke of vsing and frequenting growen wast and desolate. The question being therefore in this place, not of taking or making a newe way, as if the Church had then tooke her beginning, but of finding againe the true way laid in some sort wast & desert: for this cause the spouse is sent backe as it were to finde the trackes and footings of the olde way. And this is it which the Prophets themselues haue preached amidst the desolations of the Church in their times, sending backe such as are wandered and gone astray vnto the Law and vnto the