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

8 Yea but will some man say, we should rather eat and drink to be satisfied; & here is no mention of meat or drink. Let us therefore note that in this banquet there is no speech of refreshing and filling the belly which requireth meat and drink, but the question is here of spiritual life: and therefore mention is of the odour and smell of the spike-nard of the spouse, of Myrrh and clusters of Copher, namely because there is no sensible or material thing more fit or proper to signify unto us a spiritual thing, then the smell of sweet things, which is received into the brain after so subtle a manner as nothing more. And this exposition is neither far set or less certain: for this is the very stile of the Scripture as we will anon declare. But by this reckoning the spouse should seem rather to have given the Bridegroom somewhat then to have received ought of him, objecting her smell of spike-nard. The answer is that it is clean contrary: for the spouse having declared at the beginning that she desired to be kissed and not vaunting of kissing of him, and demanding to be drawn of him to come unto him, with her companions, and to enjoy the odour of his perfumes, showeth sufficiently that she confesseth she bringeth nothing to her Bridegroom which smelleth sweet unto him, but that which she hath received of him to present him withal. And yet it is not to be said, that in the ancient sacrifices we spake of before, there was neither bread, nor wine, nor flesh offered, or that men did not really and corporally eat or drink, as yet at this day we are really washed and sprinkled with water in Baptism, in the supper we do truly eat bread and drink wine which are there made sacraments, that is dedicated and Consecrated unto an holy and sacred use. But we must understand that in the ancient sacrifices, that which appeased Gods wrath was not the flesh and the blood of goats and bulls which men burnt. Heb. 10.4.

8 Yea but will some man saie, wee should rather eate and drink to be satisfied; & heere is no mention of meate or drink. Let vs therefore note that in this banquet there is no speech of refreshing and filling the bellie which requireth meate and drinke, but the question is here of spirituall life: and therefore mention is of the odor and smel of the spike-nard of the spouse, of Mirrhe and clusters of Copher, namely because there is no sensible or materiall thing more fit or proper to signifie vnto vs a spiritual thing, then the smel of sweet thinges, which is receiued into the brain after so suttle a maner as nothing more. And this exposition is neither farre set or lesse certaine: for this is the verie stile of the Scripture as we will anon declare. But by this reckoning the spouse should seeme rather to haue giuen the Bridegrome somewhat then to haue receiued ought of him, obiecting her smel of spike-nard. The answere is that it is cleane contrarie: for the spouse hauing declared at the beginning that shee desired to be kissed and not vaunting of kissing of him, and demanding to be drawn of him to come vnto him, with her companions, and to enioy the odour of his perfumes, sheweth sufficientlie that she confesseth she bringeth nothing to her Bridegroome which smelleth sweete vnto him, but that which shee hath receiued of him to present him withall. And yet it is not to be said, that in the auncient sacrifices wee spake of before, there was neither bread, nor wine, nor flesh offered, or that men did not really and corporally eate or drinke, as yet at this day wee are really washed and sprinkled with water in Baptisme, in the supper we do truly eate bread and drink wine which are there made sacramentes, that is dedicated and Consecrated vnto an holie and sacred vse. But we must vnderstand that in the ancient sacrifices, that which appeased Gods wrath was not the flesh and the blood of goats and buls which men brent.