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

4 What is then, you will say, this Catholic Church, in the which no where else, Jesus Christ is found, & out of which there is no salvation? It is the assembly of all the true elect and faithful, gathered out of all people and nations in unity of the Prophetical and Apostolical doctrine considered in her generality, in which assembly truly the light of the trueth can never be put out, albeit in the parts and members of the body distinctly & severally considered, there may be some defects, doubts, & ignorances, as the history of all times declareth the same. To this Church thus universally considered, is opposed the generality of all companies besides, which are also called Christian, and which keep the mark of Baptism, but have forged unto themselves a religion, according unto their own lust and fancy, whether they cover themselves with the name & writings of the Prophets & Apostles il interpreted, or whether they invent a doctrine altogether new according unto their own pleasure, for which cause such a church is called heretical, that is to say, grounded upon a doctrine which a man hath chosen and taken unto himself, and which agreeth neither with that which is Catholic, nor with it self, but is often times divided into so many pieces as there are brains given unto their own private and particular sense, having all of them this in common, that they go astray and wander from ⟨p. 322⟩the Prophetical and Apostolical truth. I know that all this is applied against us by the adversaries of our time, who for this cause call our Church new, and give us such titles as like themselves best, not perceiving how themselves cut their own throats calling their Church the Catholic Church, except they can show us that Rome and the whole world are all one: but the controversy would be soon ended if men would but hearken unto reason. I say therefore that accordingly as it pleaseth God to show his judgements upon the unthankfulness of the world, or of his mercy to spare mankind, the true Catholic Church hath sometimes shined forth and appeared in her beauty, but not always above the false and heretical:

4 What is then, you will say, this Catholicke Church, in the which no where else, Iesus Christ is found, & out of which there is no saluation? It is the assembly of all the true elect and faithfull, gathered out of al people and nations in vnitie of the Propheticall and Apostolicall doctrine considered in her generality, in which assemblie truely the light of the trueth can neuer be put out, albeit in the parts and members of the bodie distinctly & seuerally considered, there may be some defects, doubts, & ignorances, as the history of all times declareth the same. To this Church thus vniuersally considered, is opposed the generality of all companies besides, which are also called Christian, and which keepe the marcke of Baptisme, but haue forged vnto themselues a religion, according vnto their owne lust and fancy, whether they couer themselues with the name & writings of the Prophets & Apostles il interpreted, or whether they inuent a doctrine altogether newe according vnto their own pleasure, for which cause such a church is called hereticall, that is to say, grounded vpon a doctrine which a man hath chosen and taken vnto himselfe, and which agreeth neither with that which is Catholicke, nor with it selfe, but is often times diuided into so many peeces as there are braines giuen vnto their owne priuate and particular sense, hauing all of them this in common, that they goe astray and wander from