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

2 We must therefore use & observe a mean in the exposition of this book, handling it then and in such wise as it appertaineth, in the church of God. For God will not that any thing which he teacheth us by his Prophets and Apostles should be hidden or kept secret in such sort, as to content our selves to have it enregistered only in his word, without farther regarding and considering what it is: as the Paynims were wont to deal in their false religions & worships, who feared their abuses should be discovered, if their mysteries were known: or as we yet to this day see it practised in the false church, where the reading of the scriptures in the vulgar and common tong is forbidden: whereas the Apostles and Prophets since the beginning have spoken and written in a common and intelligible language, to the end they might be understood of all men. And yet is it very true, that the holy Ghost hath not used throughout the same stile and manner of writing, but hath spoken sometimes very plainly, sometimes obscurely, in such sort notwithstanding, that (as one of the ancient fathers hath heretofore well observed) obscurity and darkness is tempered and mixed with plainness and clearness, to the end to sharpen and quicken our desire to search after that which we understood not at the first, and to cause us to esteem more higher of the secrets of his wisdom, after that he hath bestowed on us the gift of knowledge and understanding of them, upon our careful diligence of reading and conferring together the places of scripture. And this is that which we hope to do, by Gods good assistance obtained by your prayers, in the expounding of this book: seeing it is now about fifty years that God hath set up, as it were anew, his holy Jubilee amongst us, causing the holy light of his gospel to shine in such sort in this place, that now nothing in this behalf ought to seem new and strange unto us: as if we were yet young infants and babes in understanding: in stead of being ashamed not to be of the number of those, of whom it is spoken in the fifth to the Hebrews, that they be exercised and practised in discerning between ⟨p. 5⟩that which is good and that which is evil.

2 We must therfore vse & obserue a mean in the exposition of this booke, handling it then and in such wise as it appertaineth, in the church of God. For God will not that any thing which he teacheth vs by his Prophets and Apostles should be hidden or kept secret in such sort, as to content our selues to haue it enregistred onely in his word, without farther regarding and considering what it is: as the Paynimes were woont to deal in their false religions & worships, who feared their abuses should be discouered, if their mysteries were knowen: or as we yet to this day see it practised in the false church, where the reading of the scriptures in the vulgar and common tong is forbidden: whereas the Apostles and Prophets since the beginning haue spoken and written in a common and intelligible language, to the end they might be vnderstoode of all men. And yet is it very true, that the holy Ghost hath not vsed throughout the same stile and manner of writing, but hath spoken somtimes very plainly, sometimes obscurely, in such sort notwithstanding, that (as one of the auncient fathers hath heretofore well obserued) obscurity and darknes is tempered and mixed with plainnes and clearnes, to the end to sharpen and quicken our desire to search after that which we vnderstoode not at the first, and to cause vs to esteeme more higher of the secrets of his wisdom, after that he hath bestowed on vs the gift of knowledge and vnderstanding of them, vpon our carefull diligence of reading and conferring together the places of scripture. And this is that which we hope to doe, by Gods good assistaunce obtayned by your prayers, in the expounding of this booke: seing it is now about fifty years that God hath set vp, as it were anew, his holy Iubile amongst vs, causing the holy light of his gospell to shine in such sort in this place, that now nothing in this behalfe ought to seeme new and strange vnto vs: as if we were yet yong infantes and babes in vnderstanding: in steede of being ashamed not to be of the nomber of those, of whom it is spoken in the fift to the Hebrues, that they be exercised and practised in discerning betweene