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

But this ministry being in such sort polluted by little and little ⟨p. 361⟩for many hundreds of years, that in the end this Coach of the Bridegroom was made the throne of the whore which sitteth upon the seven hills, the Bridegroom hath in our time after so long an interruption restored it again & having harnessed it anew & joined his horses unto it, hath traversed a great part of the world in it, to enlighten the eyes of the blind, as the Poets feign that the sun guiding his chariot from East to west giveth his shining light unto the world. Such is then this Coach, the description whereof, we are more nearly, and more particularly to consider of.

But this ministery being in such sort polluted by litle and litle ⟨p. 361⟩for many hundreds of yeares, that in the end this Coch of the Bridegrome was made the throne of the whore which sitteth vpon the seuen hils, the Bridegroome hath in our time after so long an interruption restored it againe & hauing harnished it anew & ioyned his horses vnto it, hath trauersed a great part of the world in it, to enlighten the eies of the blind, as the Poets faine that the sunne guiding his chariot from East to west giueth his shining light vnto the worlde. Such is then this Coch, the description whereof, we are more nearly, and more particularly to consider of.

2 First therefore it is said that Solomon himself made himself this Coach, to teach us, that whether we consider the doctrine of truth, for the publishing & making known whereof this Coach was made: or whether we regard the whole furniture and direction thereof, it is he that must set down the order, and as I may say the Carpentership: he must pin it and fit it throughout, and he must after teach the Coachmen the manner and order how he will have it ruled and governed. Wherein there is a double fault committed. The first is in them, who will build & frame this Coach after their own fancy and appetite, keeping themselves no farther then liketh them unto the ordinances and prescriptions of the bridegroom: the other is in them, who confess indeed that as for the manner and fashion of this Coach in general considered, there must be nothing but that which is correspondent unto the pattern which the bridegroom himself hath left us, not in chalk only, but in lively picture and portrait in his holy scriptures. But for the direction of this Coach, some are of opinion that they must follow the ancient customs of the fathers, taking away only such abuses as afterwards came in: others think that because of the contrariety of circumstances of places, times, and persons, God hath left it in the power and liberty of the Churches to appoint and ordain the whole ordering, according as they judge it to be expedient: provided always they tend unto the right end and mark they ought. And the ground of all this is that God doth it as it were by himself