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

We read how Eve our first mother, poisoned with the venom of that old serpent, had an appetite to the eating of that fruit which she was forbidden, because she saw it fair to see, and good to eat. In that she thought it to be fair and goodly to see, therein she deceiveth her self nothing at all, but (had not her understanding been utterly corrupted she would never have thought that that could be good to eat, the eating whereof she was forbidden by the mouth of her Creator himself. In such sort doth Satan deal with us every day, by the means of our concupiscences set on fire and enticed by the outward show and appearance of things, to bring us unto sin and transgression: and yet we do much worse and are more deceived a great deal then ⟨p. 219⟩ever Eve was. For the tree which she took to be fair, was indeed fair and pleasant to behold, though it was not good to be eaten of. But as for us, besides that we abuse the beauty and goodness of the creatures of God as she did, we are so blind, that that which is most foul seemeth unto us most fair, and that most sweet which is indeed most bitter, until such time as it pleaseth God of his mercy to change our senses, and to enable them throughly to discern between that which is good & that which is evil, Heb. 5.14. In a word this tree whereof the spouse here speaketh, is that of which if we eat not, we can have no life in us, contrary to that tree, of which our first Parents were forbidden under pain of death to eat.

We read how Eue our first mother, poysoned with the venom of that old serpent, had an appetite to the eating of that fruite which she was forbidden, because she saw it fair to see, and good to eat. In that she thought it to be faire and goodlie to see, therein she deceiueth her selfe nothing at all, but (had not her vnderstanding beene vtterlie corrupted she would neuer haue thought that that could bee good to eate, the eating whereof shee was forbidden by the mouth of her Creator himselfe. In such sort doth Satan deale with vs euerie daie, by the meanes of our concupiscences sette on fire and entised by the outward shewe and appearance of thinges, to bring vs vnto sinne and transgression: and yet wee doe much worse and are more deceiued a great deale then ⟨p. 219⟩