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

For besides that the effect and end of the faith of the ancient fathers depended on that which was to be executed & performed, & which was really executed for our salvation by Jesus christ come in the flesh, to the end that as it is said, Heb. 11.40. they should not be saved without us: this secret ⟨p. 251⟩& mystery was shadowed forth unto them by diverse & sundry legal figures, which is compared unto a wall, which was first to be sallied over, before he & his spouse could see each other & be joined more nearer together. Moreover, as the same is most divinely handled by the Apostle in the Ep. to the Galatians, the accomplishment of all righteousness & the satisfaction for our sins being not yet actually come, although by faith the same were present before God & unto the eyes of the believing: yet was there still as it were a very thick wall between this Bridegroom & this spouse. Secondly the Lord having chosen unto himself that only people of the Jews, separated all other people of the world from them in every kind of sort, whether we consider the principal point which was the covenant of salvation, or whether we have a regard unto all that which concerned the policy of Israel, Eph. 2.12. the which separation endured until the mid-wall was broken down, and the testament of Jacob was accomplished, who calleth the Messiah (that is to say this Bridegroom) the expectation of the Gentiles in general as Simeon in his song expounded the same, Gen. 49.10. Luk. 2.32. conformably unto the whole Scripture. It is no marvel therefore if this spouse having regard unto her condition, such as then it was & should remain until the coming of this Bridegroom in flesh, maketh mention of this wall. Now she addeth this word of grates or lattice to show hereby that this wall is not of any thick or earthly matter, so that the Bridegroom might not be perceived through it any whit at all being on the other side: nor like unto those walls which separate the wicked from God. But such a wall as hath open windows in it, or as if it were pierced with grates & lattice. For such was the ancient covenant made with Abraham & afterward renewed under Moses with a thousand ceremonies, albeit obscure, yet such notwithstanding as that through them the ancient fathers beheld with Abraham the day of the Lord and rejoiced thereat,