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

namely, referring it either to the great and horrible confusion, which happened more then once after the death of Joshua, until the time of David (as is to be seen in the history of the Judges) or else speaking of other most strange desolations, which happened both in Judah, under the most part of the kings which were of the race of David, as also especially in the kingdom of Israel, until the time that the poor Church was exiled and banished among the barbarous and savage nations, yea and after the return from out of the captivity of Babylon, aswell under the empire of the Greeks as also the Romans, even to the coming and departure of Jesus Christ, which confusions and desolations of the church we may say to have been in this place prophetically foretold by Solomon. And as for that which might here be replied, that mention is here by name made of that banishment and driving forth of hers which befell her, not by strangers, but by such as were within, whom the spouse calleth the sons of her mother: I answer first, that the most notorious desolations of the church, are not those which happened unto the church of the Jews, both by the people bordering about them, & sowed and scattered among them (whom they should have rooted out and exterminated) and by those which were farther removed, I mean, the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Egyptians & others, of whom the holy & sacred histories make mention: but those which happened by the negligence & wickedness of the governors & rulers, as is in the history of the Judges expressly to be seen, and in the civil war, Chap. 12. yea under Sampson himself, whose life doth very well declare, the little regard which the Levites then had of their duty. But this is especially to be seen in the story of the civil war against the Beniamites. As for the ⟨p. 94⟩history of the wicked kings, this is yet more notably to be seen aswell in the kingdom of Israel, where the whole public service of God was overthrown and ruined, and the Levites themselves driven forth and expulsed, so far that the rest of the poor Prophets were constrained to be hidden in holes and dens, and that by the singular bounty and goodness of one man, there to be nourished and sustained with bread and water: 1. King. 18.13.

namely, referring it either to the great and horrible confusion, which hapned more then once after the death of Iosua, vntil the time of Dauid (as is to bee seene in the history of the Iudges) or els speaking of other most strange desolations, which happened both in Iuda, vnder the most part of the kings which were of the race of Dauid, as also especiallie in the kingdome of Israel, vntill the time that the poore Church was exiled and banished among the barbarous and sauadge nations, yea and after the returne from out of the captiuity of Babylon, aswel vnder the empire of the Greekes as also the Romans, euen to the comming and departure of Iesus Christ, which confusions and desolations of the church wee maie say to haue beene in this place prophetically foretold by Salomon. And as for that which might heere bee replied, that mention is heere by name made of that banishment and driuing forth of hers which befel her, not by straungers, but by such as were within, whom the spouse calleth the sonnes of her mother: I aunswere first, that the most notorious desolations of the church, are not those which hapned vnto the church of the Iewes, both by the people bordering about thē, & sowed and scattered among them (whom they should haue rooted out and exterminated) and by those which were farther remoued, I meane, the Assyrians, Chaldaeans, Aegyptians & others, of whom the holy & sacred histories make mention: but those which hapned by the negligence & wickednes of the gouerners & rulers, as is in the historie of the Iudges expreslie to be seen, and in the ciuil war, Chap. 12. yea vnder Sampson himself, whose life doth verie well declare, the little regard which the Leuits then had of their duty. But this is especially to be seene in the storie of the ciuil war against the Beniamites. As for the