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

3 It followeth which the Bridegroom saith, namely That the eyes of his spouse are like Pigeons eyes. It is not without exceeding great reason that the Bridegroom marking forth unto us the beauty of his spouse speaketh specially of her eyes. For as the face and countenance of a man is the part whereby he is best known and judged of, in such sort that a fair face covereth all the imperfections of the rest of the body, and contrariwise nothing seemeth fair if the face be foul and ill favoured: so there is no part of the face more sparkling and enticing then the eye; and especially in matter of love the eyes are the ordinary windows by which this affection entereth unto the bottom of the hart whether it be chaste, (example whereof is that which happened unto Jacob touching Rachel) or whether it be unchaste, as it happened unto David, 2. Sam. 11.2. and as Jesus Christ thereof speaketh, Mat. 5.28. but we must understand all this soundly. We know that the Pigeon among all other birds is gentle and fearful, which appeareth specially in his eyes: in such sort that to show us the gentleness and mildness of our Lord Jesus Christ the holy Ghost descended on him in the form of a Dove, Mat. 3.16. To show therefore the correspondency & answerableness which is between this Bridegroom and his spouse, as she which is guided by the same spirit, Rom. 8.14. he sendeth us unto the simplicity of the Dove, Matth. 10.16. which is opposed unto this doubling, dissembling and corrupt nature of ours until the holy Ghost make us true Israelites, Joh. 1.47. as also the description of a true faithful man importeth, Psa. 15. To this virtue also is manifestly opposed the pride which appeareth in the eyes of them, who are haughty and high-minded, as it is said by David, Psal. 101.5