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

3 I have, saith she, earnestly desired to be under thy shadow. We must therefore first of all have this hungry appetite, which we say in common speech, is a good sauce for all kind of meat. But alas have we it of our selves? No. Experience showeth us we have it not. For the world is so far from seeking after this food, that contrariwise, albeit the Bridegroom hath so long a time cried by his Prophet, Come, come ye which are thirsty, come ye to the waters, and ye that have no silver, come take and eat, come I say take wine and milk without silver and without money. Wherefore lay you out your substance for food which is naught worth, and why ⟨p. 218⟩employ you the travel for a thing which satisfieth you not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul be merry with this fatness. Incline your ear & come unto me, & hearken unto me that your soulmate live, & that I may make an everlasting covenant with you, & may ratify my free & sure promises made unto David, Esa. 55.1. & cried yet again in person & that with a loud & shrill voice standing in the temple, saying: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth in me, as saith the Scripture, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life, Joh. 7.37.38. And in another place, Come, come ye unto me all that travel & are heavy laden, and I will refresh you, Mat. 11.28. although I say the Bridegroom crieth out in this sort, yet is there scarce one man to be found among a thousand, who hath notwithstanding ears to •ear, feet to go after, hands to reach after and to receive this heavenly food and nourishment. Nay which is more, some being invited and called to the banquet refuse to come, others spit out again the food they there did eat, which they should have kept within them & digested, a thing verily most lamentable & pitiful to consider. Knowing therefore that we are so clean out of taste of this meat, that we have no appetite at all of our own nature to any thing save that which is hurtful and deadly, let us be careful and diligent to pray unto our good God, to form in us a contrary desire, to know and consider of the beauty & goodness of this fruit.