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

8 But let us speak now of the port and comely tall feature of this so goodly and fair a spouse. When the vigour and force of the soul lighteth on a body well disposed and ordered in all his members, without any either obstruction or other defect which hindereth the faculties and powers thereof from passing and spreading themselves throughout the whole body, then truly the effects thereof show themselves most evidently, from the very head unto the feet. Even so fareth it with this spouse, quickened, nourished and sustained by the spirit of her Bridegroom, & therefore showeth she herself most excellent and gallant through out: lifting up her head unto the heavens, treading under her feet Satan, the world, and sin, yea defying death it self and hell, Ose. 13.14. & 1. Cor. 15.55. And therefore is she compared elsewhere unto goodly great & tall trees planted along the waters, from whom no stormy time or season taketh away either greenness or fruit, Psal. 1.3. and 92.12. and 13. True it is notwithstanding that this vineyard is sometimes bruised and marred by the vineyarders fault and negligence (as is at large declared, Psal. 80.) nay beaten with hail and tempest from above, as if the bridegroom had laid it as low as he had raised it high, and all by the spouses own fault. But therefore he beateth her down to raise and lift her up again and to show her how dearly he loveth her, and is jealous in chastising of her, Isaiah. 49.21. making always a great difference between the destruction of Sodom, and the visitation of Zion, Isaiah. 1.9. And though he correct us some-times in his great wrath, yet doth he limit his displeasure, Psal.. 125.3. In a word the spouse is sometimes divorced for a time, as she was, scarce seventy years ago, but is afterward received again,