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

17 This then hath been a very strange sleight and treachery of Satan to tie the spirit of trueth to the persons of Pastors and shepherds without the examination of their doctrine by the scriptures: nay which more is, to subject the scripture to their opinions and decrees, as if the mason should order his plummet & rule by the wall, & not frame the building to the rightness of his line and level. We ought therefore ⟨p. 157⟩to consider that the principal and chief stone Jesus Christ & his doctrine, have been from all times in part not known, in part most wickedly rejected by the principal and chief builders, such I mean in name, but not indeed and effect, Psal. 118.22. Which was first verified by the experience the Prophets had thereof, Math. 23.37. And then in the person of Jesus Christ himself, Act. 4.11. and foretold should come to pass expressly in the Christian church, Act. 20.29. as the event hath since plainly showed unto the eye, and still to this day proveth the same. And yet notwithstanding there was appearance & probability of holding our selves, aswell in general unto that which was commonly received of this people, whom God had only chosen from out of all the nations of the world, as also in special of standing unto the advise and judgement of the Priests, appointed by God ordinary and sovereign judges, Deut. 17.9. Besides there is no man which knoweth not the authority of the See of Jerusalem which was called the city of God. And yet notwithstanding of whom is it I pray you that the Lord saith, Let them alone, they are blind leaders of the blind, Matth. 15.14. and who excommunicated Jesus Christ and his disciples? Joh. 9.22. who constrained Pilate to crucify him? Mat. 27.20