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

6 Now to make us the more ashamed of our slowness and sluggishness, we must consider of this similitude of the Roe or hind-calf, unto which the Bridegroom is in this place compared, as unto beasts of great agility and nimbleness: especially if we take the word which Solomon here useth, not for a Roe, but for a chamois or gemps, which is a beast more swift then the other without comparison, & of an incredible venturousness and dexterity together to leap from cliff to cliff, as if it were a beast that rather flieth, as a man might say, then leapeth. Behold then why it is said that this Bridegroom running ⟨p. 246⟩unto his spouse, quitteth the Mountains and the hills. And what are these mountains else, but that which putteth a mid-wall, as it were, between God and us, to hinder him if it might be, from coming unto us, and joining himself with us? Now there are two sorts of these mid-mountains. For first of all Satan and his complices do what lieth in them to hinder that this bridegroom and this spouse should never see each the other, leaving no kind of cruelty unpractised, nor any kind of subtle & crafty sly means unattempted to work this division and divorce: the which thing is verified throughout the whole sacred history. But to go no farther for proof hereof, what hath been done in this behalf in our time by Kings and Emperors enchanted and bewitched by that whore of Rome, & by her slaves? And what doth the world still every day? Read we over all the histories of the ancient persecutions, no one excepted, shall we find the like unto that which hath been practised in our time? For there is neither fire, nor water, nor air, nor earth, which have not all of them been employed to suck the life of our poor brethren: there is no kind of cruel death through which they have not passed, neither have the hands of the hangmen only been wearied with their slaughter, but the people also have been employed to embrue themselves with the blood of the poor, meek and innocent, without distinction of age▪ or difference of sex, or any privilege of nature whatsoever: & this licentiousness hath been permitted, to any that would die his hands red with innocent blood, not in time of war and hostility, but in the greatest appearance and confidence that might be of peace and friendship.

6 Now to make vs the more ashamed of our slownes and sluggishnes, wee must consider of this similitude of the Roe or hind-calfe, vnto which the Bridegrome is in this place compared, as vnto beastes of great agilitie and nimblenes: especially if we take the word which Salomon here vseth, not for a Roe, but for a chamoise or gemps, which is a beast more swift then the other without comparison, & of an incredible venterousnes and dexterity together to leape from cliffe to cliffe, as if it were a beast that rather flieth, as a man might saie, then leapeth. Behold then why it is saide that this Bridegroome running