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

Farther albeit we be neither stones nor blocks in well doing, notwithstanding seeing that to will well or to do well are not any way of our own nature, but created in us by grace only, the good works we do are rather his then ours, and therefore to speak properly indeed, he crowneth his works in us his unprofitable servants ⟨p. 191⟩rather then ours, as if they proceeded from us. In a word that he accepteth of and crowneth the best works of the holyest as rightly good, and smelleth unto the odour of our spike-nard as savouring him and smelling well, proceedeth not of any sufficient quality of them which they have in themselves, but of this, that of his mere mercy he considereth them not rigorously, such as they are in themselves, but regardeth and esteemeth them in him in whom it hath pleased him to elect us, & in whom it pleaseth him so to look on us as to like both of us, and whatsoever is presented him by us. For examining in rigour of the Law the greatest godliness and charity which can be found in any of his Saints, it shall be found that in all of this there is so much soil and filth intermingled with that which is clean and neat, and so much bad among the good, such as it is, that not only it is without all value to be able to move the Lord to crown us with his glory, but contrariwise being nothing else but a polluting and defiling of his graces, deserveth nothing but condemnation if he judge of it according unto the merit thereof.

Farther albeit we bee neither stones nor blockes in wel doing, notwithstanding seeing that to will wel or to doe wel are not any way of our owne nature, but created in vs by grace onelie, the good workes we doe are rather his then ours, and therefore to speake properlie indeed, he crowneth his works in vs his vnprofitable seruants ⟨p. 191⟩rather then ours, as if they proceeded from vs. In a woord that he accepteth of and crowneth the best woorkes of the holyest as rightlie good, and smelleth vnto the odor of our spike-nard as sauoring him and smelling wel, proceedeth not of any sufficient quality of them which they haue in themselues, but of this, that of his meere mercie hee considereth them not rigorously, such as they are in themselues, but regardeth and esteemeth them in him in whom it hath pleased him to elect vs, & in whom it pleaseth him so to looke on vs as to like both of vs, and whatsoeuer is presented him by vs. For examining in rigor of the Law the greatest godlinesse and charitie which can bee found in anie of his Saintes, it shall bee found that in all of this there is so much soile and filth intermingled with that which is cleane and neate, and so much bad among the good, such as it is, that not onely it is without al value to be able to moue the Lord to crown vs with his glorie, but contrariewise being nothing else but a polluting and defiling of his graces, deserueth nothing but condemnation if he iudge of it according vnto the merit thereof.