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

Clean contrary unto all this, our adversaries teach us, first of all the merits of preparation, & say grace must prevent the remnant of our nature not altogether slaved unto sin: but only feebled, and yet still in some sort free, so that there is a concurrence of this nature & of grace, and ⟨p. 426⟩thence they draw an heap of those goodly merits whereof they have a store-house full, to sell to every one that will buy. Farther they say that original sin is really abolished by the water of outward Baptism, and by the virtue of the words pronounced together with their Chrism and other ceremonies: As much say they of all actual sins going before Baptism▪ in those which are baptised at years of discretion, whether he which is baptised believe or understand what baptism meaneth, or not: provided only they be not in mortal sin, as they call it. And thus you see how these brave doctors fail most absurdly & blockishly in this so necessary an article, first in being ignorant how great and deadly our original malady and sickness is: secondly sophisticating & corrupting the sole and only remedy against it, both in blending with it that which is naturally in man, and in attributing unto the water, to the sound of words, and finally to their own inventions that which cannot be given unto the Angels themselves, but we must substitute and place them in the seat and room of this only high-priest.

Cleane contrary vnto all this, our aduersaries teach vs, first of all the merits of preparation, & saie grace must preuent the remnant of our nature not altogether slaued vnto sin: but only feebled, and yet still in some sort free, so that there is a concurrence of this nature & of grace, and ⟨p. 426⟩thence they drawe an heape of those goodly merites whereof they haue a store-house full, to sell to euery one that will buy. Farther they say that originall sinne is really abolished by the water of outwarde Baptisme, and by the vertue of the wordes pronounced together with their Chrisme and other ceremonies: Asmuch say they of all actuall sinnes going before Baptisme▪ in those which are baptised at yeares of discretion, whether hee which is baptised beleeue or vnderstand what baptisme meaneth, or not: prouided onely they be not in mortall sinne, as they call it. And thus you see how these braue doctors faile most absurdly & blockishly in this so necessarie an article, first in beeing ignorant how great and deadly our originall maladie and sicknesse is: secondly sophisticating & corrupting the sole and only remedy against it, both in blending with it that which is naturally in man, and in attributing vnto the water, to the sound of wordes, and finally to their own inuentions that which cannot be giuen vnto the Angels themselues, but we must substitute and place them in the seate and roome of this only high-priest.