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

5 The spouse therefore witnesseth unto us the contrary, that she is sitten under the shade, and which is more, she addeth that she was not idle neither. For she employed her time to feed herself with the fruit of this tree, whose excellent sweetness she highly commendeth. The house of god, which is the enclosure of this tree, and the harbour and dwelling place of the church, is not the enclosure of some precious and stately building, whereinto a man entereth to see the goodly workmanship of vaults or of pillars, the glittering of gold, and of silver, and of precious stones, nor a place into which a man goeth to hear the Quire or the Organs which fill the ears: but it is a place where the pure word of God is sincerely preached in the hearing and sight of every man, with exhortations, consolations, warnings and necessary reprehensions unto salvation, not to return thence but being fed with the true and solid food of inestimable sweetness to the souls of them who taste and savour it indeed. For this is indeed the food which caused Saint Peter and his companions to stay with Jesus Christ their master, when others departed from him, at what time the same Saint Peter said unto his master, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, Joh. 6.68. as it is elsewhere said, that the doctrine of the eternal and everliving is the restority of the soul, that the testimony of the everliving is true, giving wisdom unto the ignorant, the commandments of the everliving are right, rejoicing the soul, & the doctrine of the everliving pure, enlightening the eyes, more to be desired then gold, yea then the finest gold, & more sweet then any honey, yea the honey comb. Psal. 19.8. &c.

5 The spouse therefore witnesseth vnto vs the contrary, that shee is sitten vnder the shade, and which is more, shee addeth that she was not idle neither. For she emploied her time to feed herselfe with the fruite of this tree, whose excellent sweetnes she highly commendeth. The house of god, which is the enclosure of this tree, and the harbour and dwelling place of the church, is not the enclosure of some precious and stately building, whereinto a man entreth to see the goodly woorkemanship of vaultes or of pillers, the glittering of gold, and of siluer, and of precious stones, nor a place into which a man goeth to hear the Quire or the Organes which fill the eares: but it is a place where the pure word of God is sincerely preached in the hearing and sight of euery man, with exhortations, consolations, warnings and necessary reprehensions vnto saluation, not to returne thence but being fed with the true and solide food of inestimable sweetenesse to the soules of them who tast and sauour it indeede. For this is indeede the foode which caused Saint Peter and his companions to stay with Iesus Christ their master, when others departed from him, at what time the same Saint Peter said vnto his master, Lord, to whom shall we goe? Thou hast the words of eternall life,