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

not to establish thereby the gift of doing of miracles as perpetual in the Church, but to show that this spouse threateneth the perturbers of this peace which the Bridegroom giveth her, seeing she hath in her hand his authority & power, & can say that her Bridegroom is hers, and therefore by consequent she may boast of the effects of this fellowship and society with him. Now the temporal gifts & blessings, which god bestoweth upon his Church, are a small thing in comparison of the spiritual treasure which is proper unto her, although whosoever offendeth the children of God even in these, they shall have the worst, the Lord himself having given this charge, ⟨p. 347⟩Touch not mine anointed, Psalm. 105.15. So that no sacrilegious person, no not among the Paynims and worshippers of false Gods had ever his wickedness unrevenged: and Egypt and Babylon carried not far the outrages they committed against the people of God. In a word, it is not without cause that the head speaking of his members cried from heaven, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Act. 9.4. But here the matter concerneth spiritual blessings, and the proper and peculiar treasure of the Church, namely, the enjoying of the Bridegroom in his word, and the government of his house. Pharaoh would needs seek to hinder the children of Israel from this blessing, first simply, afterward by certain conditions. We see what it cost him. The Assyrians and Chaldeans, who ruined the Temple, and destroyed the City, fared no better. So sped the Kings of Persia who hindered the building of the Temple. Contrariwise God blessed in carnal and worldly things Alexander the great, who bare himself otherwise, how ambitious a Paynim so ever he were. His successors the Kings both of Syria and of Egypt, may serve us for example herein both on the one side and on the other, according as they favoured with all peace and tranquillity this mutual repose of this Bridegroom and spouse, or otherwise endeavoured to hinder it. Those two Roman Captains, Crassus and Pompey, who were the first which spoiled the Temple of God (although it were then most villainously polluted by the gardiens and keepers of it themselves) perished so exemplarily and wretchedly, that he is blind who perceiveth it not. The third who was Titus escaped no better.

not to establish thereby the gift of dooing of miracles as perpetual in the Church, but to shew that this spouse threatneth the perturbers of this peace which the Bridegrome giueth her, seeing she hath in her hand his autority & power, & can say that her Bridegrome is hers, and therefore by consequent she may boast of the effects of this fellowship and society with him. Now the temporal gifts & blessings, which god bestoweth vpon his Church, are a smal thing in comparison of the spiritual treasure which is proper vnto her, although whosoeuer offendeth the children of God euen in these, they shall haue the worst, the Lorde himselfe hauing giuen this charge,