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

6 It followeth now to see how the spouse being by means of that wine, and those apples come unto herself, is in this place proposed unto us as it were in a deep rest, not of a sleep, which would bereave her of all manner of feeling of that good, which she receiveth in this feast, as we see how that natural sleep is no other unto us than the Image of death, hindering the actions of all our senses, albeit that God hath ordained it for the refreshing and strengthening of our poor body, which hath need of this comfort, and would not otherwise be able to endure & continue in his daily travel. But we must understand by this sleep of the spouse, that happy repose and contentment, which every faithful soul enjoyeth, being sequestered from all earthly cogitations and thoughts to be occupied only in the good ⟨p. 236⟩digesting of that which it hath eaten in this feast, to be thereby nourished, that is to say, of that which she hath learned and received in the Church of the Lord, hearing his word and receiving his sacraments: even as after corporal repast, a man quitting and laying aside all his corporal actions, setteth himself to sleep, to digest that which he hath eaten and drunken, thereby to be preserved & sustained. This repose then is nothing else but that meditation whereof it is spoken, Psal. 1.2. and Psal. 16.17. And elsewhere in many other places, & whereof we have excellent examples, in the Canticles or songs of Samuel's mother, 1. Sam. 2.1. and of David, 2. Sam. 7.18. of Zechariah, of the virgin Mary, of Simeon, Luk. 1. and 2. For so far is it that this sleep causeth the saints to loose their speech, that contrariwise it is it which openeth their mouth, not to talk as in a dream, but to speak as being ravished into heaven. This is it which we see happened unto Saint Peter, in the history of the transfiguration of the Lord, having his eyes dazzled with the appearance of his glory, Mar. 9.6.

6 It followeth now to see how the spouse being by means of that wine, and those apples come vnto herselfe, is in this place proposed vnto vs as it were in a deepe rest, not of a sleep, which would bereaue her of al manner of feeling of that good, which she receiueth in this feast, as we see how that natural sleepe is no other vnto vs thē the Image of death, hindring the actions of al our senses, albeit that God hath ordained it for the refreshing and strengthening of our poore bodie, which hath need of this comfort, and would not otherwise be able to indure & continue in his daily trauell. But we must vnderstand by this sleepe of the spouse, that happy repose and contentment, which euerie faithful soule enioieth, being sequestred from all earthly cogitations and thoughts to be occupied onely in the good