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PRINCETON, N. J.

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Collection of Puritan Literature.

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1

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MASTER BEZAES SER- MONS VPON THE THREE

FIRST CHAPTERS OF THE

CANTICLE OF CANTICLES:

WHEREIN ARE HANDLED THE

CHIEFEST POINTS OF RELIGION CONTROFERSED AND DEBATED BE- TfVEENE VS AND THE tADVERSA- RIE AT THIS DAY, ESPECIALLY TOV- CHITtG THE TRVE 1ESVS CHRIST jiT^D THE TRVECHVRCH.AND THE CER- TAINE & INFALLIBLE MARKS BOTH OF THE one and

OF TKI OTKia.

TRANSLATED OFT OF FRENCH INTO

ENGLISH BY Iohn Harmar, HER HIGHNES

PROFESSOR lit THE GREEKE T 0 Vl^G

IN THE VNIVERSITIE OF OXFORD,

AND F EL OWE OF THE NEWS

CO L18GB TKERI.

AT OXFORD,

PRINTED BY Ioseph Barnes, AND ARE TO BE SOVLD IN TAVLS CHVRCH- », /YARD AT THE TYGERS HEAD, i f 87,^

TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT AND Ho- norable Lord,thc Lord Robert Dudley, Earlc of Lecelter, 'Baron of Denbigh, height of the mofl noble order of the garter t Mafter oftheQuecnesMaicftieshorfe, and one of her

graces mofi Honorable friuy Counfeli, IolmHarnuor i\ifheth all godly fclicitie, continuauncc of health, encreaic of Honor, & graces cccrnall.

WAS REQVESTED, RIGHT HO- norable , by manic of my friends , to emploie the time of this laft vacation of mine from my publique readinges in the Vniucrfitic , in the tranflating of Mafter Bezaes Sermons vpon the Canticle of Canticles , which I had a little before receaued from the Francfurt Mart in French , into our vulgarc and Mother tongue. The defire I had of aduancing and promoting the gloric of God, which is thenefpcciallv en- creafed and farthered,when his word,the mirrour of his wil,is no longer a fealed booke vnto the iîmple and ignorant,but a volume laid open in clear and capital lctters,that he that runneth may read it:enforced mec princi- pally to vndcrtake vpon my prcfent leafurc, this more painful,then happi- lie thankful work of tranflating.

Wherein , for the vtiliry and profite of manic, as wel the learned as the ynlettcred who haue not the vnderftandingof the French tongue , I did the more willingly emploie both my leafure and my paine,becaufe I would haue fomewhat to prefêntyour Lordfhippe withal for a token and monu- ment of my thankful ducty , and dutifull thankfulnefle , vpon fo manie,(b rnemorable,fb vtterly vndeferued benefits of your Honor,not fo much col- lated, as congcfted,& heaped from time to time vpon mc.For extend I the cogitation of my mind to the fartheft part of my infancy and childhoode, and d rawc it foorth as in a continuall and euen threed vnto this prefene time , what part of my age hath not becne honored with the patronage of your Lordihips fauor and goodwil towardes me? The ground and founda- tion of my firlt ftudics laid in Winchefter by your honours onely mcanes, in obtaining her highnefte letters for my preferment vnto that fchoole; the rearing of the farther frame of them in this Collcdgcwhercin placed by your Lordflups fauor,I yet continu j my time fpent to my great defire & contentment in the parts beyond the Seas by your Honours interccflion; my roomc and degree I doc nowe enioie in the Vniucrfitic bceingonc of her Maiefties publique profcflôr5,purchafed by your Lordflups fauourablc mediation , doe cuerie of them in particular deferue a volume of acknow-

f » ledge-

THE 'EPISTLE lodgements in ai thanktulnes and humble deuotion towards your honour. And therefore,that 1 might notfceme vnmindful of your Lordlhips graci- ous refpeft and fauour towards me,or drownc fo manic benefkes receaued in the flud of forgetfulncs and vctcr obliuion ,1 was bould to aduenture the deliucne of chefe my fimple labours in this fofmal a woorkc of translation vnto your Honors patronage.

What common profit & emolument the worke it felfe maie bring vnto the Church of Go i among vs , mate be eafily eftcemed of them, who (hall anghc confider both the argument ic felfe ded-^d m this prefent treatifc, as like wife the autor whofe deduction and exposition ic is, and lafthe both the manner hee hath vfed in the handling thereof, and the principall end whereunto he hach directed it.

The Argument therefore or fubieét thereof , ImeanctheCancicleit felfe, enciculed by an eminency of fpeach, che Song of Songes , that is the oncly Song as ic were in the holy Scnpture,and of che moft heauenlieft & exccllentelt ditty jconcluded in termes and phrafesof fpeach alrogether cnigmaticall and allegoricall , and containingthe great myfterie as the Apoltle calleth it of our faluation.the myftical coniunttion of Chnft with the faichfull his members, and the whole order of the fpirituall fiaunfailes and marnadge match it pleafeth Chrift to contract with his Chuich,bec- ingalwaies reputed fo darke and obfcure,fo hard and difficult, that many afwelloftheauncicnc as of the later Church haue thoughc this arme of the maine Ocean of holy fcriptures, the wacers of life, ficcer for the Ele- phant to fwimme,chen for che Lambe to wade in: that is, according to the phrafeofthe Apoftle, rather ftrongmeate foifuchasaregrowenvntoa perfect man in IcfusChri(t,thenmilke for fuch as are (till babes and in- fanes in vnderftanding:ic can not be denied but that the found interpreta- tion thereof according vnto the fenfe& meaning of the hoîyGhoft, the vniformitie and confent of other fcriptures, the proportion and analogic of chriftian faith,muft necdes bee profitable and auaileable to the edifica- tion of the Church of God,the congregation of l'aimes. For what admira- ble comfort,& confolation vtterly incomprchenfible, the reading of th» part of Scripture may bring euery Chriftian, what peace and tranquillity it may breede in the afflicted minde and confciencc , what incomparable ioy it may worke in the harts of the beleeuing,it is eafie to confider by the Ipoufe her felfe in this place reprefenting not onely the whole butcuerf part & member of the Church of God. Mybeloucd, faith me, is mine, and I am his. Loe the ground of our holy affuraunce of the fauour and loue of God towardesvs.The which words making and plighting inrnoir forms! fort a reciprocall d onarion of che Bride to her Bridegroome , of Chrift to his Church, ferueth as it were for the burden of this holy & facred nuptial fong.Now this ground being of ic felfe fo comfortable and fo plaine,dedu- ced choroughout by the way of m Jtuall fpeach in many darke and allego- ricall termes and fîmilitudes, implyeth a fingular degree of confolation ira the reft being foundly and perfectly vndeiftoodc .

And

r^

DEDICATORY.

And albeit many haue crauailedin the expofition of this moft com- fortable part of holy icripturc,among whom fornc of our own countrymen haue well deferued of the Church of God for their painfull labours in this behalfe.notwichftanding if I be not deccaued with the loue and affection I beare the authour,in whofe tranflation 1 haue laboured ( a man to bee embraced and loued of all who loue the Lord & embrace his truth, but m particular to bee honoured and reuerenced of my feIfc,who found him no JeiJe then a father vnto me m curtefie & good will, when 1 lmed as a itran- gcrinGeneua,and cnioyed the benefice of hcanngofhim in lectures and iermons) there is none that hath Co plainely,fo perficely,fo dittinctly fettc downe and expounded it,ashee harh done. Wherein let Mounfier Genc- brard himielfe be iudge, whether Matter Beza vnderftand this Canticle or no, and leaue to accufe with fuch (hamelefle impudcncie his ignorance andimpietie.

Nowe for the profite and benefite of the Church of God in common, how could it be more plainly and familiarly, more largely and plentifully, more distinctly and particularly handled, then by this way which he tooke for the behoofe of his particular flocke and charge, the people of Gene- ua,to expound the whole Canticle by particular fcrmons,and fo to drawc from thence for inftruction and doctrine, rebuking and reproouing,war- tiing and exhortation,com forcing and con(olation,what ground and pré- ceptes foeucr might be offered;? Which howe aptly and fitly it is done by Mafter Beza in thefe lermons,therc is no man fo ignoraunt which in rea- ding iliall not percciue : cfpecially obferuing thofe fpeciall notes which containethefummeof all that which in the fermons following he hath particularly deduced and handled, eucry feftion aunfweringby the lixe fi- gure vnto chat which» prcmictedmthofcfummarv contcntes,which may (crue both in ftecde of marginal notes, and an exact table vnto the whole worke.And in thefe who fo lift may fumm'arily and ihortly fee in what foi t the Auchors whole difcourfes arc framed and directed,accordmg vnto the naturall importance of the text it felfc,againft the aduerfarie.

And this is it whereat principally Mafter Beza hath in thefe fermons of his aimed^iamcly ,to the conuincing of che aducrfary in the chiefeft & moft fundamcntall pointes controuerfed betweenc the Papiftes Sc vs,and cfpecially touching the principallpoints concerning the crue Iefiis Chrift (for there are falfeChriftes gone out into the world,and many iay.here is Chrift , and there is Chrift, but beleeuc them not) and the true Church (for there is a falfe Catholique Church too, refcmbli ng the true onely in name J and the certaine and infallible markes both of the one and the o- thcr, which arc the queftions efpecially debated betwecne our aduerfarics and vs at this day. As in deeie this is the pnncipall ends and fcopc which Salomon himfelfe refpectcd in chis long of his,namely,co painc forth vnto vs in moft liuely coloures , afwell the true and effentiall qnalities of this Bridegrome, as alfo the natiuc and liuely portraice of this ipoufe,which is his Church. And therefore fiue of the fe rmons of this volume, which goc

* 3 ao

THE EPISTLE DEDICAT. tic fst ther then the thirde Chapter of the Canticles ( for the reft Msftet Beza hath premifed if Gcd wil hereafter, and my felfe hy the r flïflar ce of the fame God will according to my lcafuiererforroethe tranflatienof them vhenï (hall recejuethcm)concerning the defcriptien of Salomons Coche, and the crowning of him with a crownc by his morhcr in the day ofhis fiaunfailcs, atewjioly touching the vfwped tiranny of the Church of Rome ouer all Chnftendcme, and the fabrication, which the headc thereof, who naroeth himfelfc the Lieutcnaunt generall in earth vnto this king which is here crowned,vfeth, in all the ordinaunces and Jawes of God. And fii ft in the law moralJ,thrcughout cucry commande menr, fij ft, fécond, third, fourth, fifr,ilxt,feuenth,cight,nimh,ûnd tenth: and then in the law ceremoniall, thirdly in confounding thclaw with the GofpeU,and caufing men,to fceke after their faluation in that which inditeth and con- demned! t hem , (hewing and proouing after this howe Chrift is degraded from all his eftatcs & offices by this Apoftaticali See. And firft of his dig- nity royall,then his ftate propheticall, thirdly his Priefthood . 1 he fanic both touching thefe and other points debated betwecne the Papiftes qnd vs, is hkewife performed throughout his whole fermons, that the diligence reading of them m ay furnidicuery one of the ampler and ignorauntiorr, with ftore of weapon s defenfiuc & offenruie againittbc aduerfaric.

Some fewe thinge s, beeing perfonal mattei s,l muft confefle vnto your L,ordfhip,l haue omitted in the printed tranflation, which are pointed vn- to by a little ftar, that who fobft to fee them maie by that meanes con fuit the autor himfclfe.I thought it for my owne part not conuenient,as many good men alio with roe, to hinder the Church of fo great a commodities* I doubt not this woorke will bring it, by occafioning anic offence through fomc few wordes which might happily breedc fomc grieuance And herein as I doubt not, but the autor himtelfe,for his loue towards me , wil pardoa rnerlo 1 hope al the godly wil hold me excufed.

It remaineth 1 befeech your Lordfhip in all dutie and humility fauou- rablie to accept of this fimple prcfentof mine ,nd requital or rccompcncc of your Honors bountie and liberality alwaics exhibited vnto mc,but a tc- {timonic and fignifi cation of my grateful and thankful mind moft aifc&io- natclie deuoted Vnto al fcruiceable duty towardes your honour,

TH E Lord of lords and God almighty, guideyoueuer, anddsrcEtyouin alyou*. honourable aff ions with his holiefpirite , and contint* you long in al honour vnto his honour: for the welfare ofhis Church, thebencfite of our common Wedt , the patronage of our Vniuerfitie , the ky ofaUfuçb atfrayforyvw Lordfljipt hidth andfrofjprityt Jmen.

f THE ARGVMENT OF THE XLV, Pfalme, feruingforan Argument and pre-

face or abridgement of this booke of the Canticle of Canticles or long otïonges

êfSafatoVh

^ His Pfalme as the whole booke of the Canticle of \ Canticles is to bee taken anàaltogethcr tobevnder- ■flcsdinasjirittfallfenfe; and therefore there is no abearance orfhewe ofreafen to take it as feme hahë done , for a marriadge fong ofSalonm <md Pha? oes daughter. Tor befidesjhat the tit le which ts m He* hrewe otter many of the P faint es wontde haste made fc me mention ton* thing this joint , wee fee howe this marriadge is condemned, and that Worthily by the bolyghoft, I .Kings. 1 1 fo jarre it is from allreafon to take that alhaunce& marriage of his to have Un a figure offo holy & facreda one as that is which ts propo fed vnto vs in this Tfat . We have therefore in this pfalme an excellent axdmoft dsuine treatie touching the moft flra'tt and ffirituall bonde and alliamcc which ts betweene JefusChrifl and his Cburch,euery point thereof beingprofecuted and continuedvnder fuch formes andpbrafisoflpeach as are cujlcmari- fy v fed in the treaty of the conditions ofanat wall marriadge bei weene fuch per fins as or* of an high degree and qualitie: as the Prophet s alfa houe in m#ny places ret awed the very fame termes ofBridegrome and Jpottfe andofmarrtadgc freaking of lefts Cbrift andofhis Church, as the dpoftle hath ^kpfifivfedtbefame^amefy^om^.t^iS^ox. lx«WjEphf.?, . , -

We are therefore to note in the firfl place that as m the matter of fnariadgethefiarfailes^or betrothings are frft folemniz^À ejr then af- tenrardthc marriadge, fo Cbrifi alfo as the bridegrome of the (burcb eight to bee infime fir t conftdered after two diuerft manners , fir ft wording vntohis wfrmitxe .which ma) /bee comparedvntc the 'fan* jai fes;andfecondly according vnto his glory which he obtainedafter bis refarrsttton, beeing now e the true htsfbandof bis Church/eflemfhed hmfelfc vtuhglorji though fige bee jet rcmajning in part vpon earth.

Nam

THE ARGVMENT. New as tpuching thispfalme Chrifl is therein propofeJvntû vs>*she* ing already tn his glory yan das he who hath begonne already to accent- fltjb in deede this holy marrtadge with his Church.

Chrtfi then efore as hufband is this true kwg of his Church, Jo per- fite in refpeft ofhtmfelfe m allbeautte , that there is nothing wanting, verf. z.^/is touching the good grace he hat h to wtnne all heart es vnte btm/elfe , and euen to chaunge and turn them altogether ;the fame al- fo appeareth m the preaching ofthegosjellacccmpaniedwithavertue £r power of the fftrttewhtch cannot be expreffed.Htwfelfe in afmuch as hee hath taken vpon htm the nature of man , hath receiuedin the fame nature thefptrtte of God without meafure , in fuch abomdaunt wife that he poured it as tt were ouer in all his faint es. ■ He at gtrded alfo wtth afwordy and that not in fbewe onely without ejfetlybut whtch he draweth and vnjheatheth in deede, namelj then when he makethhtswordetopearcevntothe dsuidtng of the foule & efthejptrite: verf.%.

He ts beftdes defcribed to beefurnifhed and promded with or row es wtth whtch hefbooteth thorough & transpearcethallhis enemies per. $ .whtch rmketh alfo that alpraife ought principally grfiucrainly to be ye elded vnto him, whejbeweth himfelfe of Jo ready and mighty a power that hee is able id fuc cour and défende fuch as are his ,<*rtobreakeim finder andouer-throw theflrength of fuch as rebellagairft htm. rver. . y . To thispurpofe he is introduced as being trainedin his chariot by thefe three horfes>TruthyMeekenes, and*Rjghteoufites/whichare condu- cted by the word as hy htm thatgUtdeth this Chariot, verf.q.

Nowe to declare at large the fen fe andmeanmg ofeuery ofthefi things here prqpofefyt vroaktrequtre agreat iwlume . Notwithftan- ding we may as it were by the way ebjeruefemewhat vktbjthemjtfwe make a comparifonon the- contrariefide of the tfaine they t>efe, and on what charm they caufe ihem-felues tobe carried; I meanerhe kwges Cfr Princes who feruetJwt ma/fer whtcbis4ppofè)l#ltogethcr vnto this headof the Church , inwJtoJèwhoùfm&tiurè%*#pri>arfîon isnothing but )AmIutiW)PTuletfnfolewnefo horrible

trapltng zwder& ^preffmg of them rthtcharc their fubiecls. Wemufl alfo diligently mtùthm whtch is added , that albeit \theworlde will not accept this moft ivftaxdmoft milde gouernement of his f hat notwith-

fianàng

THE ARGVMENT.

/landing thisfo tuft a hinggcuerneth ah aies n eft typify) é that the more men oppofe and Jet thtmfelues agairft htm .the more hee maketh his pow er to appeal e, n hether it be tn that Jo ipft and affured defence trhtch hee can jet h thrfe who are hid tofecle, cr n hether heftrtkc his e- ttemics within vnto death by a me ft diutne power gamely when hee ca- Jleth them into a reprobate fen fe to make them-Jclues the inftrtments of their cwn ruine çj deftrutlion.Now albeit theft things ceme topaffc cuery day yinafmuch as thisgoodkjng doth a/rraies deft nd all his ele #, to the end that none ofthempenjh, efr inafmuch as he doth vengeance vpon their enemies according as it plea f et h h, m to fhewe the market t hereof: notwithftandwg this appeared meft expreflie in the ftrftbe* ginning of this marriage , as itfet met h to be here tnftmeftrt touched* when he Jbewcd fetch vergeaunce on that vngratefulfjnagogueofihe J ewes obftinatly perfeuenng in her incredulity jn which pje continueth njnto this date, referuingnotwithflandtngthe remnaunt of his eleB according vnto his expreffe mercy which he premtfedvntothe race of tsibrahtm , howe rebellious fo etter it dothfhewitftlfe.

Now after this king hath obtained fetch a vicloriejhee is here feat ed en his feat ofluftice and Right eoufneffe, which is called eternal and e- ucrlafling, ver,6,togme vs to vnderftandthat it is rot of this woorld% and that not onely becaufe that Iufttceeftablfbeth the feat of the k^ng in this world , as it is written y Prou. 27.28 . but especially bec au ft here the queftion is of a king who is together both true God eternal^ana true Son of^Dauid according vnto theftefhe, vnto whom a/ft in afmuch as he is man isgiuen all power both in heauen and in earth , beeing ex* altedaboueeuerie namejit this place is alleagedJieb.iS. info much that the Church hath no more manie kinges> then one woman can haue manie hufbandes; neither is he whom /he hath for her huftandfo Gods that he is not alfo man, feeing otherwife the marriage would not agree betweene him ejr the Church which isgatheredfrom among men : ai neither is hee man in fuch fort jhat hee is not God too , becaufe that o« therwife the Church fhould not hauean head and hufband mighty c- *§ugh to defend her.

zAfterwarde is declared the meft righteous gouernment of this goodlte kingdom*, to wit, of the Chmrh, ver. J for there is nekiygdeme butthe^burchwhich is gouernedby the true rule ofamoft tuft and

fff moderate

THE ÀRGVMttfT.

modèïÂfê, Sfcrction , bee it mpubUclee charges or hfrlnflte luîtes ana particular charges , becaufe it is in ft po per lie th:t the sf trite ofGid doth ratgnjcvhichorderetb çjrdireïieth indeed thefenfesfjrgsuernztb the off celions _ of the true faithful & bettering. *And the reafon of this point which is adL'dis of g' eat waigbt, namely t becaufe that this king if the Church both in resell dfbisperfon as.dfoofhis officers *mo;n- ted abo^e his com? avions, that is to fate y we muflfet bint bj bimfelfe in another order & degree then other kings are . Far euen in the mofl ex* sellent kings, yea in Dauidbimfelfe there bane beene many de feci s and imperfections , bat infuch ak»ig m tliis is there is nothing bat all per* fed/on.

t/fs for that which U aideiof the tnofl exq-tiflte rob 2 s and vefti*

ment s of this king>verf%jthis is referred partly vnto thaï proper vole*

which the father cassfed to be beard when be was baptised, fay mgyTbi$

û my welbeJoued Sonne in whom I am wellplca/ed by which voice isgi*

Hen vs to vnderfiandthe fid and perfect reconcibaium with the father

by that moflfweet odor afwelofthe integrity and right eostfnejfe refiant

- in tbeparfon ofChrtfi our Immanuel, as alfo his obedience vntackatb

tuen the death of the croffe. The fe fame vsfliments alfo and robes of hi4

*re referred vnto that which the Apoftle faith, 2 .Cor. 2 . 1 5 .we are thé

faeet odor ofQbrifi as ofbimwloa hath beene made vnto vs JVifdome%

Righteoufnes7andSanclificatwn^ Red:mptiony 1 . Cor. 1.3 Q, which

bleffiigs heepowreth downe vpon vsfrom tbofe pillaces of 7uory,whick

Are thofe heauenly places wbere hee is ^eated%andfrom whencebce loo-

keth vpon vsy<tndfrom whence alfabe caufeththefc blefsmgs & grace*

efbis,toflo*>dr.vne vpon vsyyea,bis xvnefelfefas we mayfofay)afterm

ffriritualmvier & fafhio, .^rfurhas is vtterly incopreh:nfible vnto vf+

This ki»% andUndeçrom? being tiras defcribedvnto vsjhe condi*

t'tan andeflate of the Church bis ffoufe , and of their whole mxrsiagt

is mofl amply fet dorvne and bandied verfç. Nbwein the d'fcourfe ana

handling heereof there are adioyned vnto the Ifraeliies and faitbfidi

levés which properly reprefent thxsfiu/e, certaine others which art

the king's D* ighters alfo to be her companions : atxhich notwithfian~

ding appertaining but to one hufbudreprefent vnto vs by ihismitnet

thsperfinofvts&tely Church trtsely C tth Aicks, that is ty fate vmue.'»

{tdjxttyet m fnchfm that they are at it were placed after this prince

THE AfcÔVMENT.

fat Ifyufeofthe people oflfrael: bcciufiihe firjl right affrrtabteti jirjt of d v~ to the bohcTrophets & Apoflles of the nation cfthe left et ludtoaltbe other which the Apoflle calleth the natural branches >bj vehofem'miflerU alfo we baa; been led andcomLVtcdinio the chamber *ftbis&g , with whofe gold and glittering ihinwg we are maàe bright tidfhining. Wee are farther to note teaching the ornament es of i be fi Queens which are the body of the (fburch, that it is not faidthat they took? them out of their owa cabinets aid ward-r obes, bat : hex rectified tbëofthekwghimfelfejo theenditfhouldbe acknowledged that nhaf* foeuer is faire & goodly proceedetb nott as it is mofl true, but from hit jnerc grace & f<*wr whj hath couered our potter ty & nakednes.tvher* ttpon ttfobweth that /he ought properly to be held & taken for thetruQ Catbolicke Church whim wee fee to comcfoorih in this place with her companions fa at humilitie with that rich crowne of the onely right e^ -tuples ofChrifl her king andfauiour , embraced by fait h and freely im- puted & allowed her: although togetherwith this righteoufnes of faith there mufl appeare befides in the faith full an atluall righteoufnes, but neusrperfciï and entire, but onely begun anddeltneated forth by little and little ,by which notwithfia^dmg a man mate alwaies cbftingutfb the children of light from the children ofdarkenes, as itfeemeth our Lord* le fus (fhrifl had a/fi r effect thereunto, Math. 22.11.

•At thefi things being thus handled, in which almofl all the fecretes fifour faluation are comprifedshe Prophet addreffeth his Ifeache vnt* the (fhurch or rather vnto euery member thereof: ver. 1 o. 1 1 . exbor- ting to fiudy to plea fe thisBridegroome who chertfheth andfajtouretb her fo much Jfbewing withal how fhefhall doe itjiamsfy if m hearkening diligently vnto him [according as fut h proceedeth of that which a man bearethofGod kmfilfe , andwithout which a man cannot pleafi God) and ordering herfelfe altogether vnto him ( which is done iffhse take ^narrow heeds vnto his wil which tsfeene in thcglaffe of the Lave) fbee éeginneth to rid her fil fe in the while traîne aid te nos f of her life from td wicked s^ott and defilement s of 'corruption which fhe huh m herfelfe imprinted inher both from the ovigmoUand beginning of her nature & being, and from the nounture of her Parents ai alfb ofalfuch as after by cujlome '& XVtvtHanç: are gro-vm according vnto the flefh& deep» iymtsdiaher^ th.t;fofb:e maie leame the better to obey this one lie

ff*f % Bridegrom

THE AKGVMENT.

T}ridegroeme of her s as her true head and Lard for ever.

tsîfterward there is adioined an ex hortaticn n hichis vfedin re* Sfetlofthefmallbegtnnirgesofthc Ckrtfttan Church ft.ch as n v. at pphen it began to take her fir ft beginning in IerufaUmper, 1 2 . 1 5 .

For it is eafie to bee (eene bj the cities of the çÂpeftles what the Church might bee according vnto thefiefh when there were in the fr ft affembly but threefcore perjons anàthojepoorepecple and of no comte* nance or appearaunce9and therefore heeccmforteth her andforetelleth that itfbatcome topaffejhat they euencf Tyre it (elfe, vr.derwhcm he tomprehendeth the ftr ange nattons ey- the very mightieft of the world, fhouldioine themfelues vnto her, Andy et for al this he warneth her in good time that alt his goodly beutifulfhew and fitting for th whereof he make t h mentï6j& which he faith is to be priced abotte al the gotdin the World Without c opart fon & whatfoeuer ornament the great eft Queens çfthis world might hauejught to be within cjr in the hart & not wtth- eut to be apparant only vnto the eies according vnto thefafhton & ma~ ner of the worlds ver. 13.14.15.^ that y et a date fhoulde come when ' it fhoulde appear e fo high and magnificent m this Queene and in her Daughters, that itfhould furmount andexceede all the magnificency 'themmdofman were able to concerne y namely then whenwe fhalmeet Chnft 04 the ^époftle ffeaketh s and when bee'tng entredwith him into hispallace wefhallbe and abide With him for euer.

Now to conclude if any man demandwhat this rBr'tdefhalàoe whilô fhe waiteth & expefieth the laft aecoplifhment ofthUfouerain bliffe & bappines which this blisfullBridegroomefhalin the end be flow vpon the 'church his true ffoufe:tt is pud that this fpoufe for the time Jhewaheth for.fhalnot ceafe to bear or bringforth children vnto this hufbar.dver* 1 6yea & thofe excellent & good children, drfuch asjhafrefemble cJ* proue like vnto their true once ft or s , Imcane the ancient 'Prcphets & ' Patriarches: & fuch as fiat be kings to rule ouer ai the coafts & quar- ters of the world Jhavirg therein by the vertueefthejpirit of this great kingfubduedandouercomefatatifmydeath ana themfelues, Whence it folorreth that then herefhalbe in euery refteU a moftperfeft mariage and fuch a one as fhal endure for euer.

The First Sermon Vpon The ^Chapter;

It is written as followeth in the title of the third booke ofSalomon.

The Canticle ofCanticles,or Song ofSongSjofSalomon.

Thefrinctfd fointshandUàmthc frjl Sermon.

I That this booke *f canonic ■all, but ought tobered, and expounded in the church with great difcretion. 1 That nothing conteyned in holy writ ought to be concealed or hid m the ehurch, andwherefore God hath not al- way es frozen fo playnly at one time as at an other.

3 Wherfore the holy ghoft hath cho- Jen and profecutedfofarre the allegory ofmariagejbott) in this Canticle or Sogy tu alfo elfewhere.

4 Three manners of Cods Joining him felfevcith hiscreature,the one general, the other particular in the per {'on of

Chrift le fut :the third ofthefinne of Cod with his church. J Oftheperfonswhkh are introduced and brought in in this Canticle3in maner of a dialogue^ mtttualljpeach^with the fumme and feepe thereof.

6 Wherefore this Canticle or SongS* called the Canticle of Canticles or Song offongs^and who was the penman there- of-

7 ji fyeciall obferuation touching the order of the three booths ofSalomon.

8 ^An enhortaticn for euery one f mah^ h is profit by theexpoftionofthis Canticle,

HIS booke albeit It hath bin as well in the auncient church of the Ifraelites, as alfo in the Chriftian church by one common confenc not only rcckned amongft the num- ber of thofe which the holy Ghoft hathfpoken andvtteredtothepen, and which ought to be the rule and canon ofourfayth:butalfoheld for one of the moft excel- lent and fpirituall of all the reftryct hath it not bin handled or red in the church as euery or the other, but referued to bepropofed vnto them, who were farther aduaunced and

A grow en

3 The First Sermon

grownevpinths knowledge of Goçl, apd.^cre of a more liable and confiant mdgc ment. The caufes whereof were,firft becaufe the ftilc and phrafe- thereof is altogether alleçoricall and enigmatka),that istaf?.y,deiiucreth toourvnceritâding thinges heaueniy and fpiriiuall, by a imiiiitudc and figure of things naturall and corporal!, which, cuery man neycherof himlelfc can,nor'by the help of an other îs able/o to conceiuc and vnderihnd, as thereby throughly to be profited and in- ftru&ed. Second'y becaufe this allegory is wholy grounded vpon the conjunction and coupling of man and w ife in marri- adge :in the which, being humanely and carnally confidered, we fhall finde eucn from the beginning thereof vnto the end, many great wantes and imperfections on mens behalfes, which defaultes as they haue bene euer rife fince the entrance of finnc into the worldilo we know how they haue bin dayly encreafed fithencc men haue for fo long a time giuenthem- felucs ouer to all this vncleannes and wantonnes, which is no other thing then a polluting and defiling of the honelt and chart careflès, dile&ions, andembrafementes inmarriadge. The which notwithrtanding it hath in it many defeases and blemiflies,vvhich the Lord of his great goodnes mu(t fupport and couer, htndereth not but that according to the faying oft he Aportle Heb. 15.4. Mirrhdge U honorable amongft all,ar:d the beat hereof 'vndefttsd. And thus you fee how fome confide- ringthe mifchieuouSman'ersofthis world,and becaule there are in this Canticle many kinds oflpeaches3according to the fimplicity of that time in which this booke was writte,w hich the world «night eaiîly abufe,haue bene hardly induced to in- terprète it in the church, fearing leait it fhould bring more harmethercuntOjthen profit and edification. Others there haue bene vs hich haue gone farthcr,arRl haue beene fo bold and hardy, or rather fo ouerwecning and headdy , as to go a- bout to rafe this booke out of the canonical! fcriptures, as be- ing a writing altogcather profane, and compiledby Solo- mon in the middeft of his wanton and licencious diflblutiôs» As touching the firft fort of thefc men,they aie herein to beé

greatly

VponThs First GhapTer. $

greatly commended', that they thinke it not good that euery one fhould rafhly & vnaduifcdly be carried or led to the hai- ling of this booke : according vnto the faying of the Apo- (tie i. Or. ^.ljliAt we muft begin with milk?, &jo proceed &cctne to bard &foltd meat e. VI h\ch thing hath bin carefully & diligently obferucd both in this church and in others by the fayihfull pa- ftorsandminiitcrs. But as for thofe which prefume to con- demne this booke, they are no more to bcharkencd vnto or regarded then thofe,whodefperatIy and arrogantly sdereffe andoppoiethemfelues agaynirthefpiritof God.Forbefidts that the old and newe church hath- from all times judged the contrary^'this booke being diligently expounded by the aun- cient Doctors both greeke and latin, yea euen in monaflctics amonglt the monkes vfed and handled, as a booke altogea- thercontemplatiue more then any befides: albeit they then made folcmne profeiîion of being farre from all thought of women and marriagc^this very allegory of marriadge^is very amplie to the fame end and purpoie profecutedin other bookes, which by a perpetual and common conltnt haue bin alw ayes held for holy & diuine> as in the P Jaime 45, w hich is as ic were a fumme and abridgement of this whole Canticle, and in Efay, 61. 1 . 6. Ierem. 3 ♦ Ezech. 1 6. and 2 3 . Ofeas 1.2. Math, 25. /oh. 3. 29. Rom. 7. i.2«£Jr. 1 1. 2 . and efpccially Ephe. 5. where the Apoftlevfeth the very fame words which Adam vfed in the firft institution of marriadge, to wit, that the shurch is made flejh ofthefejh oflefhs Chnfl, and bone ojhu bones, which ùfoithle, agreat fecret^nd myftery ; to be fhort the holy Ghoit in the *s4pocdL. 1 7. is the expounder and interpre ter of the beginning of this booke* Neyther is that to be regarded which fome bring for an argument why t his booke is not Ca» nonicall^becaufethatnoplaceofit is alleaged in the new c teftament. For firlt,befide that which I haue faydofthe 45-. Yfi&ne ,th&i it is anrabridgment of this booke, the flmilitudes which are taken from marriage in Saynt Paul, and in thclaft chapter ofthc Apocalyps are drawen from hence: and by the fame rcafon wc may condemne other bookes ofthc old tefta-

A 2 rncne

4 THsFmSTSfiRMOK

ment, which arereceiued without contradiction orgaînfayîngé 2 Wc muft therfore vfe & obferue a mean in the expedition or this bookc, handling it then an d in fuch wife as it appertai- ned, in the church of God. For God will not that any thing whichheteachethvsby his Prophets and Apoftles fhould be hidden or kept fecret in fuch fort, as to content our feluesto haueitenregiftred onelyin his word, without farther regar- ding and considering what it is : as the Paynimes were woonc to deal in their falfe religions &worfhips,who feared their a- bufes fhouldbe difcouered, if their myfterieswereknowen: or as we yet to this day fee it praétifed in the falfe church, where the reading of the fcriptures in the vulgar and common tong is forbidden: whereas the Apoltles and Prophets fince the beginning haue fpoken and written in a common and in- telligible language, to the end they might be vndcrftoode of all men. And yet is it very true, that the holy Ghoit hath not vied throughout the fame ftile and manner of writing, but hath fpoken fomtimes very plainly, fometimes obfeurely, in fuch fort notwithftanding,that( as one of the auncient fathers hath heretofore well obferued)obfcurity and darknes is tem- pered and mixed with plainnes and clcarnes, to the end to iharpen and quicken our defire to fearch after that which wc vnder(toodcnotatthefirft,and to caufe vs to efteememore higher ofthe fecrets ofhis wifdom,after that he hath beftow- cdon vsthe gift of knowledge and vnderftanding of them, vponourcarefull diligence of reading and conferring toge- ther the places of fcripture. And this is that which we hope to doe, by Gods good aflîftauncc obtayned by your prayers , in the expounding of this booke:fcing it is now about fifty years that God hath let vp,as it were ane w,his holy Iubile amongft vs,caufingthe holy light ofhis gofpcll to mine in fuch fort in this plac e,that now nothing in this behalfc ought to feemc new and ftrange vnto vs : as if wc were yet yong infantes and babes in vndcrltanding : in fteede of being afhamed not to be ofthe nomber of thofe , of whom it is fpoken in the fift to the Hçbtuçsjhat thej be exertijedandpraftifed mdifcernmg between*

thai

Vpôn TheFirttChaptsiù i

that which is good and that which is emll.

3 Now for the vnderftandingofthisbook,it is requifit we learnc and knowe,whatmoued the holy Gboft to chufeand profecute fofarre this fimilitude of marriadge: the which is not, as I fayde before, if Go*d would deal with rigour in exa- mining cuery poynt thereof, without many great wantcs and imperfections. This was it therefore, to fpeak in few wordes, becaufe there is not amongit men , eyther in refpeéfc of the obligation , a more facrcd and diuine , or in regarde of the effect , a more ftrait and firme bond to bee founde , then this of marriadge . For in all other contracts and bargaines wherein one man is obliged and bound vnto the other, the queftion & poynt is only of the goods and poiTefllons of this world, and of luch things as are without the perfons which bargaine and contract together: or if the matter be touching thcbody,yetisnot the obligation reciprocall,wherintheonc party is as much interelTed as the other : but may happily bee as far to the difaduantage of the one, as the aduantage of the other : as for the contract of marriage , therein God himfelfc as principall author fo dealeth , as that this bond continueth indilToIuble, if himfelfc fay not the word to the contraband breakethis bond either by death or by any other his ordi- naunce. And agayne the obligation or bond of both parties is fo mutuall and reciprocall,that neither of the parties is free and at his owne choy fe , and both of them become as it were oneperfon by the coniun&ion of marriage. Now, which is more, the efrcet thereof is rather diuine then humane,to wit, the generation and procreation of mankind. For God by this, contract vfeth men as his inftruments to do that which is pro- perly belonging to himfclfe,to wit, to the engendring of ma- kindc,whereothis church is made and compofed . For albeit thisordinaunceof God, Encreajeandmnhiplie , be extended generally to all the creatures, comprifing man alfo in the number of them : yet notwithftanding, as the creating of ma, both touching the male and touching the female,is other and different from that of the reft of the crcatures;eucn fo we muft

A3 conclude

6 TheFirst Sermon

conclude that Gcd hath led and conducted the race arid fuc* ceflion of mankinde from the father to the fonnc,:ohisehx:Cfc byafpeciaUandpaiticularconiundionin wedlock/pecially ordayned andbleifcd by the infpiration of his holy ipirit and calling vpon of his name. 1 he hc!y Gholl therefore mind- ing tort prefentvntovs, that which in it felfe isincompre- henfible, & not to be conceiued, I mean that moll fheit lptri- tuall bond of IefusChriit, with eucry faythfuJl foule, tothc end to engender in the minds of the bclceuing (the aflembly and congregation of whom is called the church) the know- ledge of truth, together with all other holy motions and ope- rations, thereby to quicken and giue life to euery ore of the faithfullw holy and entirely, and confequently tohis whole church and congregation in the true life which lalfcth fore- uer, could not chufe a more proper fimilitude, nor a more liuelypatterneand modell thereof then this comun&ion of marriadge.

And this isalfotherearfon,whythew'ord of God, which is receiued & fru&ifieth by fayth,is by Saynt Peter called The incorrt^uble yWf.Hereunto alfo tendeth that fécond generation drNew-hyrtb,w\\\c\\\s made by the fpirie, whereof our Lord IefusChrift fo largely treatcth with Nicodemus lob.^ . which I will therefore declare vnto you and handle more at large, becaufe this fecrete, w hereof I now fpcakc,is the ground and foundation ofour faluation.

4 Euery one ofvs then is coltrained to confeffe, that eue- ry good thing cotnmeth from God, whether we confider the cflence and being which all the creatures haue receiued of God, orthediuerfe qualities whereby they aremayntained. Which thing is fignified vnto vs by the Apoftlc Att.i y.when he faieth, That in hint pre areywe Uueandhatte our wouwg^sxî God the Creatour did, as I may fo fay, lniinuate hi;r>fclfe within his creatures,to declare vnto vs the better, that diuine cflficacie & woorking of his , which is in them opened & dis- played, according to that meafure and durance it pleafeth him: although to fpeake properly, his diuine efTcnce, bee

neither

VpokT-H'E FïRST ClIAfctElU 7

neither within, nor! without the world, but comprehendeth alJjitlcifc being incomprehensible-. But there are two other maimer of coniunctions, yea ratixr vnions oi God with man, much different ft om that whereof I lait fpake,and of an effç.6t ofgieatçrconfcquence,to witjfidlot all the vniting of the eternal! fonoe of God with a true body and true iiumane foul in the wombe of the blefTed Virgin Mary, by a perfonall vm- pn, which to the Angels themfelues is incomprehensible, by which, the word, which is the fonne,eternali andcoefTenri- all with the father, was'madcftefii/^.i. 14. in fuc h fort that fînce,thi$ perfon, which is called leius Chrift, CM<tt. 1 . t 6. is true God and true man, without any either feuering or con- founding of the two natures : which is that great fecret wherof the Apottle fpeaketh I.Tim. 3. And vpon this dependeth a third coniun&ion ofour/*ww4*/*r/with the belceuingjby the which euery faithful! perfon,and focanfequently the .whole church which is compofed of them, is fpiritually as it were married withlefus Ghrut, and made flefli of his fie fh, and bone of his bones. Not that the body of Chrift is really with- in our bodies,or his foule within our foule (which the truth and.verityofhisbodyandofhis foulc cannot fufTcr, as nei- ther any iuch conjunction appertainéth any whit at all to thismy(leryrwhichis altooether fpirituall and tending to a fpirituall life) but becaufethatas in an humane body, the foule.,being naturally ioynedthereunto,quickneth and liueth all the members of the body, ifrfb they be knit and ioyne.d to- gether according to the frame and building of the body : fo Iefus Chrifr, as the fpiritual bridegrome of his church,by the force & vertu of his holy fpirit,& by the means of his humane naiure, bythe which, he fymboHzcthithat is,agreeth in onc| part with vs, is foneare an dfo powerfully ioyned with vs, by the roeanesûffayth which apprchendeth him, that he quick- neth vs to life ctcrnah\working in our vnderftanding and wilj to repaire in: vs by little atid little the image of God doone forth and defaced by finne, to make vs in the end perfit par- takers of his glorious immortality in the later day , vnto

which

8 The First Sermo'm

which the confummation & perfiting of this holy & fpîrituall marriage is referued. Hence it is that the Apoftle hath drawn thefc m anners of fpeaking, which he learned of Chrift him- felfe, w hen he faith, That we are in Jefiu Chrift. Rom. 8. i . and that Ieftu fhrrft is in vs. R om . 8. 1 o. That he Uueth in vs, andrvec inhim. Gal. 2. 20, and That he dtvellet h in his fayni es, ,Ioh. I 4. 23. And Iefus Chrift himfelfc to this end compareth himfclfe to a vmeyand vs to the branches rrhichfrutlific and bear efrmte.loh. 1 5 • and hii body is called our foode, and his blood our drink* -Ioh. 6. be- caufc that as corporally by meate and drinkc this prefent life is maintained in vsreue fo by Iefus Chrift incorporating him- felf invSjin thatmanerlhauefaid,andbeingas I mayfo fay rcceiued,caten,anddigefted by the inner man, we rcceiuc and draw from him the true life euerlafting . In the expofiti- on therefore of this booke, there is no queftion of bringing withvs vntothevnderftanding thereof a fenfuallminde and carnall, but our foule muft with Salomon concciue this huf- band^this marriage, and whatfoeuer is fayd thereof, after a fpirituallfafhion, farrc remoued from all carnall and filthy cogitations, remembring the faying ofthe Apoftle, That hee

tvhich cUaneth vnto the JorAir nuiâc onejfirit with hint. I .Co. 6. 1 J9 & that of Chrift, That he which is born ofthe (jtirit isfpir/r.lo. 3 .6. 5 Now to vnderftand more particularly the order of hand- ling of this Canticle or fong,wc muft know,that it is written in maner of a dialogue, many perfons being introduced in a moft wonderfull and artificiall maner,fpeaking and anfwe- ring one the other: to wit, a Bride addrerfîng her fpeach vnto