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

11 There remaineth yet one point more to be handled touching this place, namely, concerning that which is here said, both of the house, as also of the chamber of this mother, a thing which ought to be well and throughly weighed of them who despise the holy public assembly established from all time by the Lord in his Church, and without the which, as I may so ⟨p. 343⟩say, the Church (which is as much to say as an assembly called together out of the world) is no Church: as a flock hath no apparent form of a flock, if the sheep remain scattered one from another. I speak here of the contemners of congregations and assemblies, as we have among us Sunday and Thursday Christians, nay some from Communion to Communion: & others which make no reckoning at all of them, wicked wretches and utterly inexcusable before God and before men. There are others and too too many, some of them making no conscience to betake themselves into the midst of Idolaters, following herein Lots fault: others who never come forth, & being reprehē dead & accused for not giving testimony of their Christianity, instead of confessing their weakness and infirmity, or their distrust and covetousness, bear themselves in hand they do well enough in reading at home in their house & praying a part by themselves. But the Apostle exhorteth them in another language, forsake not, saith he, our assembly as the manner of some is, Heb. 10.25. And indeed if this pretence might take place, must we not condemn the Prophets, Apostles, & other martyrs of the lord for madmen & senseless? But behold how wily satan is to divide this body in pieces, which can never be joined enough together & united. And indeed the end of such goodly private christians maketh us at the last to know their fair domestical exercise they practise at home: which we need not to marvel at, seeing that even those who are most diligent to frequent the assemblies & congregations, where they are reproved, admonished, comforted, taught, stirred up & heated every day, leave not for all that to be cold, lazy, & negligent in their duty. Let us therefore note here, my brethren, in Gods name, that the spouse protesteth she came with her Bridegroom not only into the house, but which is more, into the Chamber of her Mother.

11 There remaineth yet one point more to be handled touching this place, namely, concerning that which is here saide, both of the house, as also of the chamber of this mother, a thing which ought to bee well and throughly weighed of them who despise the holy publicke assemblie established from al time by the Lorde in his Church, and without the which, as I maie so