A09998:463
Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticlesMaster Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles
Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated between us and the adversary at this day, especially touching the true Jesus Christ and the true Church, and the certain & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by John Harmar ...Master Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated betweene vs and the aduersarie at this day, especially touching the true Iesus Christ and the true Church, and the certaine & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by Iohn Harmar ...
Oxford: printed by Joseph Barnes, 1587Oxford: printed by Ioseph Barnes, 1587
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For it is certain that there is a Queen, the spouse of this Bridegroom which is already partly in heaven, and partly yet languishing here on earth, to wit, the Church being coheir with Jesus Christ, as she is also called by this name of Queen. Psal. 45.10. but this is not because she should be adored. Not the whole church, I say, so far is that the blessed virgin ever required, or yet requireth that which is properly belonging unto her Son, or that she allowed of (to admit that she could understand them) these titles full of most horrible and most execrable blasphemy, to be called a Mediatrix, mother of mercy, our life, our hope, having power to command her son. And yet to find fault with all this, were a point of greater impiety in the opinion of them, who call themselves chief Christians, then if a man had denied God, an hundred thousand times. For behold, say they, there was never yet any since Christs time, that called not upon this Queen of heaven, & all the Saints, yea who gave not credit to all these things, which you call miserable abuses: as never yet the time that there was not Mass said, & a Pope to be gods vicar in earth. And what new gospel then I pray you is this of yours? Where was this new Church of yours I pray you fifty years ago? Behold their common language. But we will send them back unto this text, and will tell them with this Bridegroom, that this is that only vine which he transported ⟨p. 271⟩out of Egypt, which hath been a long time in the hands of wicked, not vineyarders but destroyers, from whom it is now taken, to be restored and husbanded. The wild beasts have bruised it, but God hath made up the hedge thereof again, & set up his wine press in it, Psal. 80.15. & Mat. 21.33. they are the same fig trees which were before, but being become barren for want of careful trimming and looking too, they now bear little figs, as the vine beginneth to shoot forth her tender grapes.
For it is certaine that there is a Queen, the spouse of this Bridegroome which is already partly in heauen, and partlie yet languishing here on earth, to wit, the Church being coheire with Iesus Christ, as shee is also called by this name of Queene.