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

11 It remaineth yet we expound what this day of the espousals is, and of the great joy of this king. Whereupon we must call to remembrance that which I have already more then once reiterated upon this Canticle, namely that in this spiritual marriage, which is here mentioned, there are so many degrees to be considered as there be approchings of the Messiah near his Church by the manifestation of his will. Until the time of the Law therefore there was the treaty as it were of these fiansailes, and the time after the Law (which was as it were the chalking forth of this Bridegroom) shall be accounted as it were the solemnizing of the fiansailes, especially in the building of the Temple, & in that so magnificent establishing ⟨p. 433⟩of the Levitical priesthood. Afterward at the coming of the Lord in flesh this marriage was really contracted by words of the present, according unto that which the Apostle expressly teacheth us, Ephes. 5.25.29. the contract of the new covenant being ratified and confirmed by the new seal of the holy Supper, as appeareth by the tenor of the institution of it, and by the scope and end whereunto it tendeth, namely, to the communion of body and goods with this Bridegroom 1. Cor. 1.30. and 10.16. in such sort notwithstanding, that the full and perfectly real consummation of this marriage, appertaining unto the enjoying of eternal life, 1. Cor. 15.28.54. is differed unto the day of his glorious appearance, 1. Thess. 4.16.17. and elsewhere in many places. As this is also the end and hope of this spouse waiting for now with no less devotion this second coming, whereof she hath the pledges, then she did sometimes upon other pledges expect his first. Unto what time therefore shall we refer these espousals and this joy and gladness? Solomon the son of David being set before us in this place as a figure of the true Solomon, and his coronation in Jerusalem here below being represented unto us as no vain figure of the real taking of possession of the true Solomon in the heavenly Jerusalem: it seemeth that it is not to be doubted, but that according unto the ordinary stile of the Prophets, the time of the solemnising of the fiansailes, under the which this Canticle was written, is properly mentioned in this place: