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

THE spouse travelling painfully to find her Bridegroom, and having at the length found him, seized on him and brought him home to her Mother, rejoiceth now and is exceeding merry and glad of this happy estate and condition of hers, charging those about her not to waken her Bridegroom: not that he sleepeth; for, he that keepeth Israel doth never slumber nor sleep, Psalm. 121.4. But because his rest is the rest of his spouse, holding and keeping him ⟨p. 346⟩in the privy Chamber of her hart. Rom. 5.1. and therefore knowing that this rest & quiet is never without such as envy it, for whom they need seek no farther then in the midst of Jerusalem, that is to say, of them themselves who will brag & vaunt, that they are the principal members of the Church, she chargeth them here under the name of daughters of Jerusalem, & that with menaces & threats, that they presume not to trouble this rest of her Bridegroom with her: as if she should say, that she is able to make them repent it, if they be so bold as to do it. But touching this rest & this manner of charge, we have spoken above at large Chap. 2. vers. 7. where the Bridegroom giveth the like charge that they trouble not the repose & rest of his spouse: & therefore we will refer our selves unto that which hath bin said thereof: but there is notwithstanding a particular consideration offered in this place. For it seemeth the spouse speaketh very boldly, such a charge beseeming rather the Bridegroom, who hath all authority, than the spouse, who ought to refer her whole guarding and safe keeping unto the Bridegroom. I confess indeed that the spouse speaketh here very loftily & gallantly. And why should she not? For seeing she hath for her, & with her, yea within her this great & mighty king: what is he that standeth against her, whom she may not and ought not to defy? We have hereof infinite examples, and those also joined with their effects. Joshua commandeth the Sun to stand still, and he obeyeth, Josu. 10.13. And we know what the Lord promiseth unto his, Mat. 17.20.

THE spouse trauelling painefullie to find her Bridegroome, and hauing at the length found him, seazed on him and brought him home to her Mother, reioiceth nowe and is exceeding merrie and gladde of this happie estate and condition of hers, charging those about her not to waken her Bridegroome: not that hee sleepeth; for, hee that keepeth Israel doth neuer slumber nor sleepe,