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

2 But the Bridegroom who can never utterly forget his spouse, no not when he hath for a time in his just judgements cast her off & left her as it were to the wide world: findeth always means to awaken her, & to form in her a desire of returning again to find him, as it is said, Deu. 32.37. & 1. King. 8.46. which is here declared us by the spouse saying, that she sought him. And how could this be if she were not first gone from him, & afterward come again unto herself to think to seek after him? And that by his means who speaketh within, and saith, Awake thou which sleepest, Eph. 5.14. and Isaiah. 26.19. And here we must put a great difference between that sort of waking which is proper unto Gods elect, and which proceedeth from his mere grace (as he also causeth us to find the way out of which we are wandered and strayed) and that waking & good morrow of sin which the wicked have, which leadeth such as are reprobate into despair, according unto that which is said, that there is no peace unto the wicked, Isaiah. 48.22. and as is to be seen in that horrible example of Judas the traitor, Matth. 27.4. For this awaking proceeding from the prick of sin, maketh the sinner to fly before the face of the Judge, according unto the example of Adam, Genes. 3.8. but that awaking which proceedeth from grace, & from an hart truly contrite, ⟨p. 310⟩createth in a man an ardent desire of returning unto his Saviour: for which reason the spouse here saith, that when she awoke she sought him.

2 But the Bridegroome who can neuer vtterly forget his spouse, no not whē he hath for a time in his iust iudgemēts cast her off & left her as it were to the wide world: findeth alwaies means to awakē her, & to forme in her a desire of returning again to find him, as it is said,