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

And thus you see how the Lords sheepfold is guided by them who call themselves the chief pillars of the Catholic Church, and maintainers of divine service. For which things I report me to that which heaven and the very conscience of every one which hath any at all can witness, to judge whether I slander them in speaking thus of them or no. Others are after another sort disguised, all of them having this one thing in common, that they are nothing less than that they appear without for to be, I mean, true Pastors, but deceive, after diverse sorts, both themselves and ⟨p. 335⟩others. Some make nothing else but a mockery of them who make reckoning of them, being no other within then mere Atheists: others are poor superstitious ones, abused & abusing others, thinking to appease the fire of the wrath of god by their inventions & devotions, sparing neither body nor soul which they torment not, of whom the Apostle speaketh, Coloss. 2.22.23. And this is properly of those two last sorts of gardiens that the spouse here speaketh, whom a man shall find to busy from matins to vespers a mumbling their crucifix, besides their ordinary devotions: some of them of a mere hypocrisy: others of zeal without knowledge: albeit, when there is any question of persecuting the Church, we may then truly say, that there is never a one of these asleep, but they all forget for a time their ordinary train altogether, to catch and entrap as many silly sheep as seek to fly and escape their talons: as did the great council of Jerusalem who watched all night long, to take Jesus Christ, and to frame his indictment, when Saint Peter himself and his companions could not keep themselves waking. This is not all then to watch, for the Devil watcheth also, as do they also whom he setteth a work. But we must keep watch and ward to a good end, for they are of all others the most dangerous, who are most diligent and expert men to do evil.

And thus you see howe the Lords sheepefolde is guided by them who cal themselues the chiefe pillers of the Catholique Church, and maintainers of diuine seruice. For which thinges I report me to that which heauen and the verie conscience of euery one which hath any at al can witnes, to iudge whether I slaunder them in speaking thus of them or no. Others are after another sort disguized, all of them hauing this one thing in common, that they are nothing lesse thē that they appear without for to be, I mean, true Pastors, but deceiue, after diuerse sortes, both themselues and