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

WE have left the spouse in the repose and rest of her meditation ravished as it were altogether in an ecstasy, out of which her repose, she is now awaked by the Bridegroom, notwithstanding not to trouble her, but to lead her as it were out of one pleasure into an other. The like cometh to pass after natural sleep, which being taken in sufficient measure refresheth a man, & raiseth, as a man would say, new forces in him: as contrariwise the same, if it pass & exceed a mean, breedeth first in a man a laziness & sluggishness, & finally draweth a man into a bad & naughty custom. So is it in this spiritual rest, which the soul being withdrawn aside by it self to meditate on the graces of God, and to be occupied in prayer in his secret chamber, Mat. 6.6. enjoyeth: be it by day or by night, according unto the example of David in many of his Psalms. But if of this meditation a man will make a contemplative life, falsely called Angelical, he committeth therein two notable faults, which by little and little come at the length to a third, which is utter perdition and destruction of himself. For first a man departeth & withdraweth himself from the principal duty of a Christian, which is to serve his neighbour according unto his vocation: which cannot be done if a man sequester himself from men and employ not his mind in any other actions then such, as are specially and particularly belonging unto himself, whereas we ought to apply all the knowledge we have in humane or divine things ⟨p. 242⟩unto the mutual profit and advancement of one an other. Secondly by such a kind of continual contemplation, it is unpossible but a man will become at the last sottish and fantastical, especially if unto it be added an austerity of life without mean and good measure: and at last after that a man hath besotted himself with such a dreaming and fantastical kind of life, he beginneth to persuade himself by little and little, not only in that false and damnable opinion of merit, but also finally, that he is arrived to the greatest perfection that may be, nay gone beyond Paradise it self. I let pass to speak of the notable hypocrisy, and other most stinking filthiness which is hidden under the cloak and colour of this kind of life, which falsely appropriateth to it self the name of Religion.

WEE haue left the spouse in the repose and rest of her meditation rauished as it were altogether in an ecstasie, out of which her repose, she is now awaked by the Bridegrome, notwithstanding not to trouble her, but to leade her as it were out of one pleasure into an other. The like commeth to passe after naturall sleepe, which being taken in sufficient measure refresheth a man, & raiseth, as a man would say, new forces in him: as contrariwise the same, if it passe & exceed a mean, breedeth first in a mā a lazines & sluggishnesse, & finally draweth a man into a bad & naughty custome. So is it in this spiritual rest, which the soule being withdrawen aside by it selfe to meditate on the graces of God, and to be occupied in praier in his secret chamber,