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

4 Secondly because this whole manifestation of Gods so great and magnificent majesty, could not but astonish us, nay condemn us, & make us altogether inexcusable, Rom. 1.20. Therefore hath God revealed and manifested from heaven an other more notable & excellent mystery, I mean the gospel, announcing and preaching unto us the free reconciliation of God with us, together with all the virtue of the spirit of God, ⟨p. 207⟩to enlighten and to change our hearts: wherein God again useth the means of visible things, but yet after a manner and fashion somewhat diverse and different from the former. For as concerning the first point which we have touched, the lord maketh himself as it were the expounder of the book of nature. But in this second point he useth his creatures to a more excellent end, and such as passeth and goeth beyond the end of their creation, that is to wit, to aide and help us to conceive this high and supernatural secret of our salvation and of the author thereof the Son of god, and of that which dependeth thereon, inasmuch as he taketh and draweth from these corporal & visible things, similitudes, aiding & helping greatly for the conceiving of things spiritual. This appeareth by infinite similitudes & parables or comparisons found in the holy Scriptures, and especially in the history of the gospel, which if we have well rooted and planted in our memory, there is nothing can present & offer it self unto our eyes which induceth us not to think on God to dedicate our whole life unto him.

4 Secondly because this whole manifestation of Gods so great and magnificent maiesty, could not but astonish vs, nay condemne vs, & make vs altogether inexcuseable, Rom. 1.20. Therefore hath God reuealed and manifested from heauen an other more notable & excellent mysterie, I meane the gospel, announcing and preaching vnto vs the free reconciliation of God with vs, together with al the vertue of the spirite of God, ⟨p. 207⟩to enlighten and to chaunge our hearts: wherein God againe vseth the meanes of visible thinges, but yet after a maner and fashion somewhat diuerse and different from the former. For as concerning the first point which we haue touched, the lord maketh himselfe as it were the expounder of the book of nature. But in this second point hee vseth his creatures to a more excellent end, and such as passeth and goeth beyond the end of their creation, that is to wit, to aide and helpe vs to conceiue this high and supernaturall secret of our saluation and of the author thereof the sonne of god, and of that which dependeth thereon, in asmuch as he taketh and draweth from these corporal & visible things, similitudes, ayding & helping greatly for the conceiuing of thinges spiritual. This appeareth by infinit similitudes & parables or comparisons found in the holie Scriptures, and especially in the history of the gospel, which if we haue well rooted and planted in our memorie, there is nothing can present & offer it selfe vnto our eies which induceth vs not to think on God to dedicate our whole life vnto him.