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

8 But what are these daughters of Jerusalem which are thus adjured in this place? Some take them to be the damsels of the spouses train, as if a man should say unto the waiting gentlewomen of a Queen, take heed you awake not your Lady & Mistress. But it were needless to use so solemn a charge towards such persons: and it seemeth rather that this is spoken unto them who would not fail to trouble this repose and rest if so be they were not hindered. The Bridegroom therefore in this place calleth them daughters of Jerusalem, whom the spouse before, Chap. 1.6. calleth not Her sisters, but Children of her mother: namely those, which are in the Church but not of the Church, as S. Paul putteth a great difference, between the circumcised without, & the circumcised within, Rom. 2.18. saying, that all are not the children of Abraham, which are of the posterity of Abraham, Rom. 9.7. These are therefore they unto whom the Bridegroom giveth this charge, as unto those, who are the nearest, & therefore the most dangerous enemies of the Churches rest, as experience hath daily showed, & yet every day still showeth them to be. For who are they who at this day do most hinder the advancement of the kingdom of God, and that the Church joyeth not in this rest? They are neither Jews nor Turks which so much do it, in comparison of them, who call themselves the Catholic Church, nay the chief pillars thereof: together with certain cursed Apostates and heretics gone forth from us, because they ⟨p. 238⟩were not indeed of us, 1. Joh. 2.9. but what? God bridleth them notwithstanding then, & so far as is behooveful & expedient, as it is said in this place.

8 But what are these daughters of Ierusalem which are thus adiured in this place? Some take them to bee the damsels of the spouses traine, as if a man should say vnto the waiting gentlewemen of a Queene, take heede you awake not your Lady & Mistresse. But it were needlesse to vse so solemne a charge towardes such persons: and it seemeth rather that this is spoken vnto them who would not faile to trouble this repose and rest if so be they were not hindred. The Bridegroom therfore in this place calleth them daughters of Ierusalem, whom the spouse before, Chap. 1.6. calleth not Her sisters, but Children of her mother: namely those, which are in the Church but not of the Church, as S. Paul putteth a great differēce, between the circūcised without, & the circumcised within,