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

IT hath bin showed in the Sermon before what diligence the spouse used in seeking after this Bridegroom of hers, who seemed for her, to be lost: and how she found him not in the open places, nor could hear any tidings at all of him of the watch: whereof we have largely entreated. There remaineth notwithstanding one difficulty more, in that we said that by this watch were meant the false Pastors of the City of God which is the house of this spouse, namely, the Church: whereunto it seemeth that this which is here said is directly contrary, to wit, that this watch was not asleep in their private houses (for had it been so, the spouse had not met with them, as neither would she have made this demand ⟨p. 334⟩unto those which had been asleep) but that she found it where it should be to guard & defend the City round about: which thing the false Pastors are not wont to do, whom a man shall find rather in their beds, or at table, or in the stews or any where else then in their corps degard. I answer that there are in general two sorts of these false Pastors: for some of them are more shameful and detestable in their whole life, and making their vices the only trade of their life they show themselves publicly and openly for such as they be: others there be (to wit such are of the richest and wealthiest sort) who are Church-robbers, hawkers and hunters, drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, having no other god but their belly, briefly such as Bernard describeth the court of Pope Eugenius which is since nothing mended, but hath sowed and increased her filthy manners in all the quarters of the world: others (of which sort are these mass-mongers, confessors, grand amners,) make open profession of being bawds, stewards of the house, clerks of the kitchen, yeomen of the horse, to have a soup at their masters broth & brews. In the mean time the poor vicars must trudge about and watch, that is to say, must bark & bay day and night at the parchment, and make sale of their merchandise for the quick and the dead which they have taken to farm, to sell again (as well as they may to be savers themselves, how ever the poor sheep pay for it) to him that offereth most and out-biddeth the rest: paying the world again with Christmas-carols, and providing especially for this, that no other wolf catch their sheep.

IT hath bin shewed in the Sermon before what diligence the spouse vsed in seeking after this Bridegrome of hers, who seemed for her, to bee lost: and how shee found him not in the open places, nor could heare anie tidinges at al of him of the watch: whereof we haue largelie entreated. There remaineth notwithstanding one difficultie more, in that wee said that by this watch were meant the false Pastors of the Citty of God which is the house of this spouse, namelie, the Church: whereunto it seemeth that this which is here said is directly contrarie, to wit, that this watch was not asleepe in their priuate houses (for had it been so, the spouse had not met with them, as neither would shee haue made this demaund