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

9 Now seeing that love and hatred are so directly contrary, and that the one putteth forth the other, it must needs be that man before his fall hated that which was foul and ill, seeing he loved that which was fair and good. But, how can this be true, whereas before the fall of man all was fair and good in the world, as the Lord had made it? Gen. 1.31. I answer, that truly seeing there was nothing foul or evil in the world, man before his fall hated nothing, but loved his Creator in all things. But seeing he was endowed with understanding to know wherein he ought to love his Creator, he had also in himself the mean to know, that he ought to hate the contrary if he should meet with it: as indeed alas he met it with a mischief, when Satan (which remaining not in his first estate had made himself most foul and most wicked) discovered himself enough unto him for such a one as he was, and most worthy to be hated and rejected, when in tempting of him, he accused the creator of envy and lying. And behold here wherein Eve, and after her Adam did fail inexcusably, to wit, that in stead of using that address and help which they had to know well enough and to hate this deceiver, they ⟨p. 36⟩suffered themselves to be persuaded of him, & so enthralled and captivated themselves with all their posterity in this corruption: Rom. 7.14. which maketh that he is now most blind and most bad together in loving and in hating.

9 Now seeing that loue and hatred are so directly contrary, and that the one putteth forth the other, it must needes bee that man before his fall hated that which was foule and ill, seeing hee loued that which was fayre and good. But, howe can this be true, whereas before the fall of man all was faire and good in the worlde, as the Lord had made it? Gen. 1.31. I answere, that truly seeing there was nothing foule or euill in the worlde, man before his fall hated nothing, but loued his Creator in all things. But seeing he was endewed with vnderstanding to knowe wherein he ought to loue his Creator, hee had also in himselfe the meane to know, that he ought to hate the contrary if he should meete with it: as indeede alas he met it with a mischiefe, when Satan (which remaining not in his first estate had made himselfe most fowle and most wicked) discouered himselfe inough vnto him for such a one as he was, and most worthy to be hated and reiected, when in tempting of him, he accused the creator of enuy and lying. And behold here wherein Eue, and after her Adam did faile inexcusably, to wit, that in steede of vsing that addresse and helpe which they had to know well enough and to hate this deceiuer, they