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

For behold how the governors of the Church & successors of Aaron together with the people bewitched in like manner and enchanted, replied unto the servants of God, reprehending their falsehood in doctrine, and corruption in manners; the Temple, the Temple, the Temple of God, Jerem. 7.4. & that with as loud a cry, as that seditious Demetrius cried, & caused to be cried in Ephesus, the Temple of the great goddess of Diana, of the Ephesians yea carried headlong with the same lying and murdering spirit, being no other difference at all between them then this, that the Jews abused a good ground and principle, for indeed the Temple of Jerusalem was built by the commandment of the Lord, and unto the Lord, ⟨p. 308⟩which could not be said of the Temple of Diana, built by the suggestion of Satan unto a false goddess: all coming notwithstanding to one end, seeing the Temple built & consecrated unto God, was become the place where his holy name was most villainously polluted and abused. This is it which we are taught in this place by the very confession of the spouse herself, seeking after her Bridegroom, and not finding him in her bed, where the Bridegroom, without going far from her, had laid her, as we have seen in the Chapter going before. And how came this to pass? Upon no other thing, but that the spouse fell asleep in this bed, on which notwithstanding she was laid down, not to sleep, but only to rest herself, and that continuing still watching. And yet neither if we continue so, can we deal so well and so diligently, that there be no default, as we shall afterwards see. What other thing then can happen, but an extreme desolation, when men fall asleep upon their ease and quiet, and especially when they of all other are the fastest asleep, who should watch for themselves and for others? Matth. 13.25. But from whence is the fault? Not on the lords side, but on the wretchedness of man, who cannot order himself aright, neither in prosperity nor in adversity, not in poverty nor in wealth & abundance. And if we compare both these extremities together, we shall find both by reason and by experience, that the way of peace and rest, accompanied with prosperity & abundance, is the more dangerous.

For behold how the gouernours of the Church & successours of Aaron together with the people bewitched in like maner and enchanted, replied vnto the seruantes of God, reprehending their falsehood in doctrine, and corruption in maners; the Temple, the Temple, the Temple of God,