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

1 The Bridegrooms calling to awaken his spouse, so often reiterated, declareth what natural heaviness and drowsiness is in the best sort, which can be corrected by no other means, then by the voice of the Bridegroom only, who maketh himself to be heard. 2 The spouse is sometimes made so wild and so hared, that she is forced to give place unto her persecutors: but yet remaineth a Dove still in her holy purity. 3 Examples of this under the old covenant. 4 Examples of the same under the new covenant, beginning from Jesus Christ himself. 5 The Romish puttock hath scared the Dove out of the plain: but the Bridegroom hath begun in our time to reclaim her. 6 The spouse, the Dove thus scared, instead of stooping, skirreth aloft, where she findeth her sure rock to foot on. 7 The spouse being brought down from the rock, where for a time she was hid and remained dumb, must make her self to be clearly seen and heard of her Bridegroom. 8 An exhortation to put this doctrine throughly in practise. 9 A reprehension of the negligence of some, and the unthankfulness of others in this behalf.

1 The Bridegroomes calling to awaken his spouse, so often reiterated, declareth what naturall heauines and drousinesse is in the best sort, which can be corrected by no other meanes, then by the voice of the Bridegroome onely, who maketh himselfe to be heard. 2 The spouse is somtimes made so wild and so hared, that shee is forced to giue place vnto her persecutors: but yet remaineth a Doue still in her holie puritie. 3 Examples of this vnder the olde couenant. 4 Examples of the same vnder the newe couenaunt, beginning from Iesus Christ himselfe. 5 The Romish puttock hath skared the Doue out of the plaine: but the Bridegrome hath begun in our time to reclaim her. 6 The spouse, the Doue thus skared, insteed of stooping, skirreth aloft, where she findeth her sure rock to foote on. 7 The spouse beeing brought downe from the rock, where for a time shee was hid and remained dumbe, must make her selfe to be clearlie seene and heard of her Bridegrome. 8 An exhortation to put this doctrin throughlie in practise. 9 A reprehension of the negligence of some, and the vnthankefulnes of others in this behalfe.

THE residue of this thirteenth verse which we have read unto you hath been before expounded, in the tenth verse. But it is not without cause here reiterated. For besides that by this recital again of the same thing, we are advertised, more nearly to consider of, and more often to weigh the contents and meaning thereof, for the excellency of the comfort and consolation therein comprised: ordinary and daily experience might be able to teach us, how by nature, yea and that after our regeneration, we are heavy and sleepy, and always drowsy and lazy, some of us standing stock still in the way we began to take, others trailing the wing, instead of flying on, others turning tail and going backward. And therefore it is more then necessary that we be daily warned and pricked forward, the Lord, by whose only voice and mercy we are awakened, showing herein as in all the rest, his more then admirable patience in this, that he ceaseth not to cry continually in our ears, to draw us unto himself, as it is said, not without great reproach unto them, that he bare forty years with the manners and conditions of his people,