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Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticlesMaster Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles
Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated between us and the adversary at this day, especially touching the true Jesus Christ and the true Church, and the certain & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by John Harmar ...Master Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated betweene vs and the aduersarie at this day, especially touching the true Iesus Christ and the true Church, and the certaine & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by Iohn Harmar ...
Oxford: printed by Joseph Barnes, 1587Oxford: printed by Ioseph Barnes, 1587
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2 The Bridegroom therefore is compared by the spouse unto a fruitful tree, but planted in the middest of a forrest, and amongst other trees which are nothing like unto him. Wherein we see what a correspondence there is between the Church, which is as a Rose among the thorns, and her Bridegroom being a fruitful tree planted among other wild trees. Before the sin and transgression of man it was not so, when there was nothing neither among the fruits of the earth, nor otherwise in all this whole world, which agreed not with God the Creator, and which was not answering unto the desire of man, whom God appointed to be ruler and governor of all these inferior creatures. But the sin of man having brought forth thorns and briars, Gen. 3.18. it is no marvel if this change and alteration be found: but this is rather to be wondered at, that it pleaseth the Lord of his infinite goodness to grub up in some part of the world these brambles and briars, and to plant himself there as a fruitful tree, to the end that some number, whom it hath pleased him to elect before the foundation of the world, might feed and be sustained under his shadow. We read in the prophecy ⟨p. 217⟩of Daniel, Dan. 4.20. how that great monarch Nebuchadnezzar is compared unto a goodly great tree under which the greatest part of the world had a covert. But this implieth nothing but a temporal power, and such as continueth but a small time. And therefore all such trees are subject to be cut down, yea rooted up and consumed in their time, as it is written in that prophecy. But here mention is made of an apple-tree which representeth him whose kingdom is everlasting, as the father who planted it promised it should be: whereas contrariwise all wild plants shall one day be rooted up and cast into everlasting fire. This is then the imp which is sprouted out of the stock of Isaiah, under whom all the nations of the earth should be gathered there to rest themselves, Isaiah. 11.1.10. and this goodly tree of life figured by that in the garden of paradise, Gen. 2.9.