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

1 How the harmony of the heavens & the elements, was put out of tune in the elementary part of the world, by the sin of man. 2 The spiritual world, which is the Church, hath her four seasons also, according as the sun draweth near, or is farther off, but conducted by a secret direction of a special providence of God. 3 Example of these seasons. 4 After what sort the bridegroom having driven away the parching of the summer, and the rigour and sharpness of the winter, inviteth & leadeth his spouse unto the spring-time. 5 A description of this spring-time. 6 What the fair flowers of the church are in their season. 7 The Lord planteth with these flowers the ground-plot of his Church, by his holy gardeners. 8 A comparison of these goodly flowers with the false gloss of the false Church. 9 A complaint touching the sterility & scarcity of these flowers in all estates of Christians in our days. 10 The sonnets and songs which ring in the true Church opposed to worldly poems, and unchaste and filthy ballads. 11 The song of the Bridegroom inviting his spouse. 12 The song of the spouse answering her Bridegroom. 13 Together with the flowers are found likewise most pleasant fruits in the garden of the true spouse. 14 A difference between the fruit of this garden, husbanded and trimmed by the bridegroom, and those virtues which men call moral. ⟨p. 258⟩15 The garden of the Church is not replanted a new after the winter is past, but hath been & doth remain planted from the beginning: and how greatly they are abused who take that which is old for new, and that which is new for old. 16 The young figs, must become perfect figs: and the young sower grapes, must ripen and become good raisins. 17 An exhortation upon all that which went before, grounded upon the fig-tree which was cursed by the bridegroom.

1 How the harmony of the heauens & the elementes, was put out of tune in the elementarie part of the woorld, by the sin of man. 2 The spirituall worlde, which is the Church, hath her foure seasons also, according as the sunne draweth neare, or is farther off, but conducted by a secret direction of a speciall prouidence of God. 3 Example of these seasons. 4 After what sort the bridegroome hauing driuen awaie the parching of the sommer, and the rigor and sharpnesse of the winter, inuiteth & leadeth his spouse vnto the spring-time. 5 A description of this spring-time. 6 What the fair flowers of the church are in their season. 7 The Lord planteth with these flowers the ground-plat of his Church, by his holy gardiners. 8 A comparison of these goodly flowers with the false glosse of the false Church. 9 A complaint touching the sterilitie & scarcitie of these flowers in al estates of Christians in our daies. 10 The sonnets and songs which ring in the true Church opposed to worldly poems, and vnchast and filthy ballades. 11 The song of the Bridegroome inuiting his spouse. 12 The song of the spouse aunswering her Bridegroome. 13 Together with the flowers are found likewise most pleasant fruits in the garden of the true spouse. 14 A difference betweene the fruite of this garden, husbanded and trimmed by the bridegroome, and those vertues which men call morall.