A09998:60
Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticlesMaster Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles
Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated between us and the adversary at this day, especially touching the true Jesus Christ and the true Church, and the certain & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by John Harmar ...Master Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated betweene vs and the aduersarie at this day, especially touching the true Iesus Christ and the true Church, and the certaine & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by Iohn Harmar ...
Oxford: printed by Joseph Barnes, 1587Oxford: printed by Ioseph Barnes, 1587
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4 But now to come to the third point, let us consider what this spouse demandeth. He unto whom she addresseth and directeth her speech, is exceeding rich, passing bountiful and liberal, having in his hand, all the goods and blessings both of this life which is present, and of that which is to come. Yet this spouse desireth and demandeth nothing else, but to be kissed and kissed again with the mouth of her beloved: neither must we wonder at this familiar demand of hers. For the spouse, which is the Church of God, hath not received the spirit of fear by the condemnation of the Law, Rom. 8.15. but the assurance of that holy hardiness and boldness which doth thrust us forward even to the throne of Grace, Heb. 4.16. not for any opinion of our selves, but by an holy assurance grounded on him which is our peace, Ephes. 2.14. as his spirit beareth us witness in our hearts, Gal. 4.6. yea so far as to verify that which is said, that the kingdom is even as it were snatched & caught away by violence, Mat. 11.12. the lord himself yet suffering himself to be as it were overcome in plain wrestling, by his Israel, according as it is described, Gen. 32. Now touching this kissing which is here spoken of, we have to note that men by a certain address and instinct of nature, to declare their mutual love & amity one towards an other, have accustomably used certain manners of outward actions, having some agreeableness with the same ⟨p. 18⟩thing which they would witness to be within them, some after one fashion, others after another. As for example, this custom of putting off the cap and vailing bonnet, this bending and bowing of the body, this kissing, in witness of love and reverence one towards another, by which outward gesture a man maketh himself inferior to another to do him courtesy. The like is that of giving the hand one to another, to witness that a man is ready to make mutual delivery of his hart and all that he hath. But among all other gestures kissing hath I know not how the most evident & express representation of that which is within. For whereas the life consisteth in respiration and breathing, and that our breathing is by the mouth, kissing is a sign, that a man is ready to communicate and as it were to infuse his own proper soul into his friend.