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

4 But what is it to find him if a man seize not on him? And what is it to seize on him if a man hold him not fast to enjoy him? Verily no more to purpose, then if a man should find good meat, and not touch it: or put it in his mouth, and not swallow it: or swallow it, and not digest it. And alas how many such guests are there in the world? For to let pass those who vouchsafe not to come unto this banquet, and those also who not only enter not them selves into it but hinder also others from entering in and that by all manner not only craftiness but violence also: letting I say, these go who are without, let us speak of them who enter in, who see & hear him who is both the banquet, and the banquet maker, I mean our Lord Jesus Christ, & yet notwithstanding do neither sit down, nor vouchsafe to eat, nay not so much as to open their mouths to chew the morsels already cut & provided for them? How many contemners & mockers are there? How many that swallow the meat down but are fed never a whit with it, & therefore grow nothing at all in this inward man, showing by the course of their whole life, that they as yet have not any sense or feeling of the spirit of him, in whom all true Christians do live, as he also ⟨p. 339⟩liveth in them, Ga. 2.20. Behold the ruin of Israel & Judah, which we yet see to continue before our eyes, behold what hath caused the Candlesticks of the Churches of Asia to be removed, according unto the threatening contained in the Apocalypse, and which in the end brought in the deluge of Mahomet & of his companion upon the four ends & quarters of the world. We see it with our eyes, & who taketh it to hart? Who thinketh on that which the Apostle foretelleth of the fullness of us the Gentiles? Ro. 11.15. in such sort that it will happen unto us as in the days of Noah, Mat. 24.37. Let us look unto our selves my brethren, that we be not found asleep, Lu. 12.37. much-less cast out of the banquet into outward darkness, Matth. 21.22. & finally cast forth of the temple of God as filth and dung.

4 But what is it to find him if a man seaze not on him? And what is it to seaze on him if a man hold him not fast to enioie him? Verily no more to purpose, then if a mā should find good meat, and not touch it: or put it in his mouth, and not swallow it: or swallow it, and not digest it. And alas howe many such guestes are there in the woorlde? For to let passe those who vouchsafe not to come vnto this banquet, and those also who not only enter not them selues into it but hinder also others from entering in and that by all manner not onlie craftines but violence also: letting I say, these goe who are without, let vs speake of them who enter in, who see & heare him who is both the banquet, and the banquet maker, I mean our Lord Iesus Christ, & yet notwithstanding do neither sit downe, nor vouchsafe to eat, nay not so much as to open their mouthes to chew the morsels already cut & prouided for thē? How manie contēners & mockers are there? How many that swallow the meate downe but are fedde neuer a whit with it, & therefore grow nothing at al in this inward mā, shewing by the course of their whole life, that they as yet haue not any sense or feeling of the spirit of him, in whō all true Christians do liue, as he also