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

14 And it may also be that Solomon had a particular respect to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were indeed shepherds, as the most part of the ancient Patriarchs, yea Moses himself among the Midianites, and David, Psal. 77.20. & 78.72. to the doctrine and family of whom the spouse in this place is sent back, being a thing without all doubt that they were indeed true Pastors & shepherds, their doctrine the true doctrine, & their house (excepting such as behaved themselves unworthily, and which were rather in the house then of the house, as Ismael and Esau) the true Church of God. And we may not forget that here is express mention made of cabins of shepherds, according unto the purport of the history it self, namely that these Patriarchs did indeed dwell in tents, as wayfarers in this world, Heb. 11.9. We are therefore given to understand by this word that we may not seek after the Church in the outward shining of Towers & Steeples, nor other pomps and braveries of the world: the Church of God being rather composed of the small & contemptible things of the world, Luk. 14.21. and 1. Cor 1.26. as the head also thereof would be borne in a stable, and live poorly and slenderly. If on the contrary side any man object the rich ornaments of the tabernacle, the magnificence of the temple of Solomon, and the riches both of it as also of the people during his kingdom, in whose reign it is said, that men made no more reckoning of silver then of stones in Jerusalem, 2. Chron. 9.27. I answer, as touching the ornaments of the Levitical Priesthood and the riches of the Temple, that all this was a figure of the spiritual riches of the true Temple of God, namely of our lord Jesus Christ under the pedagogy and A. B. C. of the Law, which is now ceased together with all that which depended thereon: and as for the other riches, I deny not but that the Lord honoured his people when it so pleased him, with the blessings and commodities of this life, Godliness having the promises both of the present life and of the life to come, 1. Tim. 4.8. I deny not also but that God hath called unto his Church, both rich and poor, such and so many as it pleaseth him, as the example of Abraham who was rich, in