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

Contrariwise when this sun withdraweth it self, or distributeth not the influence of his light and heat, as the necessities require, there are no good times of sowing, or of harvest, or of vintage, but a general barrenness and mortal famine; in a word, a perpetual winter, that a man cannot see so much as one green leaf, though all the world besides be in great good health and tranquillity, with plenty and abundance of all dainties and delicacies. This sun is this Bridegroom: that sun of righteousness, who carrieth health upon his wings, Malac. 4.2. that branch of light or dayspring from on high, Zach. 3.8. Luke. 1.78. lightening them whom he found in the shadow of death, Isaiah. 9.2. and shining on his Jerusalem, Isaiah. 60.1.2. And because that this is by the order which he hath established, that this world of his is governed, I mean by the sincere preaching of his word and the administration of his sacraments, accompanied with the efficacy of his holy spirit, according as the sun drawing near or going farther off, appeareth unto the world, we must necessarily conclude, that according as this holy ministry hath his force, or is deprived of it (whether it be for a time eclipsed, or whether it cast forth his beams mightily, but men love darkness still more then this light, in such sort that little effect thereof appeareth) it is upon this diversity and difference we must judge of the good and fair weather, or of the il and hard time of the Church, & not according unto the outward either prosperity, or adversity of this world below. Notwithstanding when it so pleaseth God, the sun of the Church, and the sun of this world meet, to cherish it in all kind of sorts: as sometimes on the contrary, both of them are withdrawn together, to bring on it a marvellous rough and as it were a deadly winter.

Contrariwise when this sunne withdraweth it selfe, or distributeth not the influence of his light and heate, as the necessities require, there are no good times of sowing, or of haruest, or of vintage, but a general barrainnes and mortal famine; in a word, a perpetual winter, that a man cannot see so much as one greene leafe, though all the woorlde besides bee in great good health and tranquillitie, with plentie and abundance of al dainties and delicacies. This sunne is this Bridegroome: that sunne of righteousnesse, who carrieth health vpon his wings,