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

6 But what shall become of them who sleep not in that bed which God laid them in, or enjoy that rest & quiet which God bestowed on them, but in that which their own lusts, & their wicked practises have purchased them? As some plenty of riches, and goods il gotten, or some other show and appearance of credit and quiet, redeemed and purchased with the loss of their conscience: as also when any are asleep in a lewd course and train of life, whether it be in whoredom (whereof we have a strange example in David himself, who of an adulterer became a traitor and a murderer, by falling asleep in his sin) or whether it be in gluttony, as we see it to be the trade of these gamesters, tipplers, tavern-haunters, & other such dissolute people, who end their days in misery and commonly on the gallows: for few of them have that grace given them which is mentioned in the parable of the prodigal son. But O poor and wretched bed, not of feathers, but of thorns and briars, full of deadly pricking! O miserable & unhappy prosperity which bringest with thee perpetual and remediless calamity! O sleep, not sleep, but a plain lethargy ⟨p. 314⟩of the soul deprived of all true sense and motion!

6 But what shall become of them who sleepe not in that bed which God laied them in, or enioy that rest & quiet which God bestowed on them, but in that which their owne lustes, & their wicked practises haue purchased them? As some plenty of riches, and goods il gotten, or some other shewe and appearaunce of credit and quiet, redeemed and purchased with the losse of their conscience: as also when anie are asleepe in a leud course and traine of life, whether it bee in whooredome (whereof we haue a straunge example in Dauid himselfe, who of an adulterer became a traitor and a murderer, by falling asleep in his sinne) or whether it be in gluttony, as wee see it to be the trade of these gamesters, tiplers, tauern-haunters, & other such dissolute people, who ende their daies in misery and commonlie on the gallowes: for fewe of them haue that grace giuen them which is mentioned in the parable of the prodigal sonne. But O poore and wretched bed, not of feathers, but of thornes and bryars, full of deadly pricking! O miserable & vnhappy prosperity which bringest with thee perperuall and remediles calamity! O sleepe, not sleepe, but a plaine lethargie ⟨p. 314⟩of the soule depriued of al true sense and motion!