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

3 Let us note farther that it is not spoken here of all wine, but of the wine of those vessels saith the spouse. For there is a mingled wine, such as the Pharisees gave the people to drink. There is also a vinegar-wine, a dead and turned-wine, yea a poisoned wine, as is that with which the great whore of Rome hath poisoned the kings & nations, Apoc. 17.2. to make them to rave and to rage, as Jeremiah also speaketh of that other Babylon, Jer. 51.17. And therefore we must take diligent heed we be not herein deceived, the world being over full, and now more then ever, of such brewers and minglers of this wine, that is to say, of this word of God which ought to be sincerely and purely administered, as the Apostle warneth us, proposing himself for an example, 2. Cor. 2.17. warning elsewhere all the faithful, to prove all things and approve the good: 1. Thess. 5.21. We must therefore follow the example of them of Beroea, who, as it is written, Act. 17.11. before they would drink the wine which was presented them by the hand of the Apostle himself, a faithful servant of God, would first see and know whether it agreed with the wine of the old vessels or barrels, namely that which the Prophets gauged and drew: which when they had found, then they received it and drank thereof: as it is also said by the Lord, Mat. 13.52. that every scribe and doctor which is well taught in the kingdom of heaven, is like unto an house-holder which bringeth forth of his treasure things new and old. And here we must again take diligent heed of Satan's and his ministers subtlety, who would bear us in hand that all old wine is good, and must be received: which is most false. For there is aswell old wine mingled and poisoned, as new wine, which we must warily take heed of. The receipt therefore to preserve us there-from, or if happily we have drunk of it, to vomit it up again, is first, to consider well whether it be drawn out of the true vessels of the Lords s•ller, which are the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, otherwise called, the old & the new Testament, & so consequently reject and refuse without all exception whatsoever wine is drawn elsewhere. Again seeing the craft and subtlety of these lewd taverners & poisoners is such, that they infect &