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

7 As for the seventh commandment concerning the observation of holy marriage I will not stay in this horrible filthy stench which neither the sun can abide to see, nor the darkness of the night cover, nor the earth bear and endure, all of these demanding vengeance at Gods hands who shall hear them in his time. But they will reply against me that their doctrine doth not approve this. But who knoweth not, who seeth not, who acknowledgeth not, who feeleth not all that stinking filthiness, the like whereof neither was, nor ever could be in the world, which entered in floodwise into the Church by the gate of that goodly vow of single life, called not without cause by the Apostle a doctrine of devils, 1. Tim. 4.2. I know well their replies. But ô heaven, ô earth, ô hundred thousand millions of rapes, fornications, adulteries, incests, overthrowinges of Gods and mans law, testified before God and men, and demanding vengeance of such desperate & so long a time continued enormities. But farther though all this were nothing, what is this abomination so shamelessly practised in our time of dispensing with the marriage of Uncles and Nieces in degree of consanguinity? A thing not only condemned by Gods law in the case it self of affinity only, Levit. 18.14. but detested so expressly by the poor Paynims themselves, who have blushed at such a case as the Roman histories can witness. And yet for all this, when it so pleaseth them, marriage is forbidden unto the seventh degree of such as be collateral. Alas ô Lord how long?

7 As for the seuenth cōmandement concerning the obseruatiō of holy mariage I wil not stay in this horrible filthy stēch which neither the sunne can abide to see, nor the darkenes of the night couer, nor the earth beare and endure, al of these demaunding vengeance at Gods hands who shall heare them in his time. But they will replie against mee that their doctrine doth not approoue this. But who knoweth not, who seeth not, who acknowledgeth not, who feeleth not all that stinking filthinesse, the like whereof neither was, nor euer coulde bee in the worlde, which entered in floodwise into the Church by the gate of that goodly vowe of single life, called not without cause by the Apostle a doctrine of diuels, 1. Tim. 4.2. I knowe well their replies. But ô heauen, ô earth, ô hundred thousand millions of rapes, fornications, adulteries, incests, ouerthrowinges of Gods and mans lawe, testified before God and men, and demaunding vengeance of such desperate & so long a time cōtinued enormities. But farther though all this were nothing, what is this abhomination so shamelesly practised in our time of dispensing with the marriage of Vncles and Nieces in degree of consanguinitie? A thing not onely condemned by Gods lawe in the case it selfe of affinitie onely,