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

9 Moreover we may not lightly pass over that which the spouse addeth, namely that the banner or standard, or ensign of her bridegroom which is upon her, that is to say, under which she marcheth, is called dilection or good-will. For as in an army, the ensign is it, which distinguisheth every band and company under which every soldier is to march, so the love and good-will which Jesus Christ beareth us is that, which assembleth us together to compose this body which is called the Church: which linketh and keepeth us one to an other, which helpeth and aideth us in all the assaults and combats which we are to sustain. For what induced and persuaded this great God to make the world for man? Nothing but his good pleasure to make a creature, in which he would declare ⟨p. 225⟩by effect his singular love and affection, that is to say, because he would make one creature whom he would indeed entirely love, so far as to make it governor & ruler of all the creatures else below, as if he had reserved for himself the place above, to commit unto him that below, Psal. 115.16. And now certainly this is exceeding much, nay so great, as no man is able to comprehend the infiniteness of such bounty towards the creature which was not yet in being: but what is this in comparison of that which is showed in the work of the redemption of this unthankful and traitorous creature? And that before the foundation of the world he provided for this, that man being thus justly condemned unto death, should not only not perish, but be exalted by means of his exceeding love into a degree above the Angels themselves? Ephes. 1.2. In such sort, as that a man may and ought to say, not praising the evil, but praising him who draweth light out of darkness: O ha•pie fall which hath brought us higher: o most happy darkness without which this truly great light, had never appeared unto us. For man had he not fallen, had continued a creature fashioned for his excellent qualities, to be as it were a visible portrait of the invisible creator: but the fall of his which made him like unto the brute beasts, served for an occasion unto the creator, not to be ashamed of him, but to join & unite man so near unto himself, that he and the eternal Son of God are but one person, Man-God, and God-man. And what moved God to do this admirable work?