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

13 The Bride addeth and come thy way, namely unto me, and to no other neither in heaven nor in earth, yea and that without joining with him any companion or fellow collateral, as they do who worship and adore a strange Queen of heaven: much less making any his superior, as do those sacrilegious worshippers and adorers of the virgin Mary, who are so impudently presumptuous as to cry out in their dens of Idolatry, Roga patrem, jube natum: that is, pray the father, command the Son: and Jure matris impera, that is, command in the authority of a mother. For this Bridegroom is the only mediator between God and men, not only of Redemption, but also of Intercession, though the Saints which live do pray in common both for themselves and for their brethren. And this was the practise of the whole Church from the beginning of the world, until the time of the general revolt, when it came in by little and little under colour of devotion.

13 The Bride addeth and come thy waie, namelie vnto mee, and to no other neither in heauen nor in earth, yea and that without ioining with him anie companion or fellowe collateral, as they doe who worship and adore a straunge Queene of heauen: much lesse making anie his superiour, as doe those sacrilegious worshippers and adorers of the virgine Marie, who are so impudentlie presumpteous as to crie out in their dennes of Idolatrie, Roga patrem, iube natum: that is, praie the father, commaund the sonne: and Iure matris impera, that is, command in the authoritie of a mother. For this Bridegroome is the onelie mediatour between God and men, not only of Redemption, but also of Intercession, though the Saintes which liue doe praie in common both for themselues and for their brethren. And this was the practise of the whole Church from the beginning of the worlde, vntil the time of the generall reuolt, when it came in by litle and litle vnder colour of deuotion.

14 But some man will happily demand, in what sort this is to be understood, that he which cometh himself to awake the spouse, inviteth her to come unto him? The answer is, that we would never come unto Jesus Christ, either to hear him, or to practise his doctrine, if as he hath loved us first, so he came not also to summon and warn us first, to follow him. For if he came unto us to stay and abide here below with us, then were his kingdom of this world: but now he ceaseth not