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

10 But some man will say, this Bridegroom was not yet come, when this spouse spake thus: but I answer that seeing faith cannot be without him unto whom it tendeth as unto her only end and scope, and which also hath her foundation in him who giveth it & formeth it in those who are his, (which is Jesus Christ, true God and true man, and not God only or man only) and again seeing the Church cannot be without faith being the true and essential form thereof, if from the very promise made unto Adam, Jesus Christ, true god and true man were not in the Church, then was there nether faith at all, nor any Church at all. And yet the humanity and manhood of Christ began not actually to be before then, that it was conceived by the virtue of the holy ghost in the womb of the most blessed virgin. This I confess to be most true: and yet I say with the Scripture, that Jesus Christ (which name importeth together with the quality of an only mediator, that which is absolutely and necessarily required, namely that he be apprehended ⟨p. 299⟩and considered by faith, true god and true man in one only person) not only was, but was also sacrificed from the beginning of the world, seeing that the Church, being from all eternity elected and chosen, was not saved but by him, Apoc. 13.8. And these things are easily agreed and accorded, if we consider diligently that which is said, Heb. 11.1. namely that faith that is to say, this gift of God, through which, every faithful one assureth himself of his salvation, by that only mediator Jesus Christ true God & true man) causeth that, which the believer hath not yet but by hope, to be unto him already as it were present in being, and showeth him (I mean unto the spirit of the believer) that which he seeth not. The humanity therefore and manhood of Jesus Christ (without the which he should not be our mediator, nor the object of our faith) was not in nature in Solomons time, nor many ages after, but yet notwithstanding was really & effectually present in respect of the eyes of faith, whereof Saint Paul is a witness (over and besides that invincible reason which I have before alleged) who calleth Christ him whom the fathers tempted in the desert, 1. Cor. 10.9. and saith that the fathers being in the desert, did eat the same spiritual meat, and drank the same spiritual drink which we do, to wit, Jesus Christ.