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

WE have understood before the kind caresses and loving entertainment of the Bridegroom at the meeting and taking again of his spouse: who now rejoicing in her self and being withal very desirous that every one should understand, what a benefit she hath received, declareth how she was invited unto the banquet of her Bridegroom, and how she behaved her self sitting by him, enjoying his presence with infinite contentment. This matter truly is most excellent being well understood and practised. For this is most certain, that there is no joy nor pleasure in the world to be compared in any sort with that repose and quiet, which every faithful soul feeleth, & by consequent, the whole Church, savouring & smelling the sweets of the Lord who comforteth her within: which thing is painted out unto us in a great part of the Psalms, and represented especially in that most excellent song of rejoicing of the virgin Mary. And this is it which is usually declared to us in the holy Scripture under the similitude of a banquet, not only because friendship and familiarity is testified by eating and drinking together, and that men are willingly disposed unto mirth at their repast and refection: but especially in respect of the banquets of the sacrifices which were made in the presence of the Lord, as if himself had had a room at the uppermost end, to wit at his altar, and there contenting himself with one part burnt on his altar, should distribute the rest of the sacrificed host unto the priests, and to the rest of them which brought the offering, whereof we have a goodly description in the history of Samuel's mother, 1. Sa. 1.4. all of it representing this heavenly repast and true nourishment of our souls, as Jesus Christ handleth this matter at large, Joh 6. and the Prophets in many places speaking of spiritual blessings make mention of wine, of milk, of honey, of living water, which Christ followed and expounded speaking with the Samaritan woman, Joh. 4.14.

WE haue vnderstood before the kind caresses and louing entertainment of the Bridegroome at the meeting and taking againe of his spouse: who now reioycing in her selfe and beeing withall verie desirous that euery one shoulde vnderstand, what a benefit she hath receiued, declareth how she was inuited vnto the banquet of her Bridegroome, and how shee behaued her selfe sitting by him, enioying his presence with infinit contentment. This matter truely is most excellent being wel vnderstood and practised. For this is most certaine, that there is no ioy nor pleasure in the woorld to bee compared in any sort with that repose and quiet, which euery faithfull soule feeleth, & by consequent, the whole Church, sauouring & smelling the sweetes of the Lord who comforteth her within: which thing is painted out vnto vs in a great part of the Psalmes, and represented especially in that most excellent song of reioycing of the virgine Mary. And this is it which is vsually declared to vs in the holy Scripture vnder the similitude of a banquet, not onelie because frindship and familiarity is testified by eating and drinking together, and that men are willingly disposed vnto mirth at their repast and refection: but especially in respect of the banquets of the sacrifices which were made in the presence of the Lord, as if himselfe had had a room at the vppermost end, to wit at his altar, and there contenting himselfe with one part burnt on his altar, shoulde distribute the rest of the sacrificed host vnto the priestes, and to the rest of them which brought the offering, whereof we haue a goodly description in the historie of Samuels mother, 1. Sa. 1.4. al of it representing this heauenly repast and true nourishment of our souls, as Iesus Christ handleth this matter at large, Ioh 6. and the Prophets in many places speaking of spirituall blessings make mention of wine, of milke, of honie, of liuing water, which Christ followed and expounded speaking with the Samaritane woman,