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

3 But this he doth in two sorts opening his holy mouth to teach us. First to make us to understand the language of his visible and sensible creatures, which ought to be understood of every one, & is notwithstanding unknown unto the most part of men. For when he calleth himself Almighty and eternal Creator, most patient, and yet notwithstanding most just and righteous, he doth as a master painter, who should paint certain figures in a table, not to stay his scholars in the outward view and contemplation of that which the painting doth outwardly figure & represent, but to make them thereby to know things greater and invisible by those visible representations & Images. For example, the picture whereof the world made afterwards a detestable Idol, called Saint Christopher, was never the picture or portrait of any man of that name: but was first invented to represent the condition and state of every christian ⟨p. 206⟩called Christophorus, that is to say, bearing in effect the name of Jesus Christ, namely the burden of his Cross, and passing as a mighty giant through the gulf of this world, with the rest and prop of faith, serving him as it were for a staff, being guided always by the means of the light of the word unto the haven. And thence it came to pass that because the Christians could never abide any Image or portrait to be brought into the assembly and congregation of Christians, these Saint Christophers are yet remaining in the church porches: as also the figure of that, for which they have made their Saint George. But the devil found afterwards the mean to bring into the Church both these pictures, and a million of swarms of other Idols, even to put God and his trueth out of doors. To return unto my matter, the frame of this world (as, besides that which the blind Paynims themselves have in this behalf observed, the whole Scripture teacheth us, Psal. 19. and 145. and elsewhere almost throughout, & namely the Apostle, Rom. 1. and Acts. 17. in that excellent Sermon of his which he made at Athens) is a plain and excellent preaching, of the eternal wisdom, power, and bounty of God.

3 But this he doth in two sorts opening his holy mouth to teach vs. First to make vs to vnderstand the language of his visible and sensible creatures, which ought to be vnderstoode of euerie one, & is notwithstanding vnknowē vnto the most part of men. For when he calleth himselfe Almighty and eternall Creator, most patient, and yet notwithstanding most iust and righteous, he doth as a master painter, who should paint certaine figures in a table, not to stay his scholers in the outwarde view and contemplation of that which the painting doth outwardly figure & represent, but to make them thereby to know things greater and inuisible by those visible representations & Images. For example, the picture whereof the world made afterwardes a detestable Idol, called Saint Christopher, was neuer the picture or pourtrait of any man of that name: but was first inuented to represent the condition and state of euery christian