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

but say our adversaries, he went unto Jerusalem, he came into the Temple as others did, yea into the Synagogues also. I grant, but I answer that first there was but one Jerusalem, where the public outward service was administered according unto the word of God: the priesthood was yet on foot: Moses & the Prophets were all of them in the Synagogues: and albeit the doctrine was mingled with much leaven, yet the true dowe remained still notwithstanding, and the ceremonial service continued in his entire estate. Secondly it was to drive out of the Temple with the whip the buyers and sellers whom he found in the Temple, crying out full loud and full shrill against the leaven of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and others, as likewise he did in the Synagogues. But if the Temple had been brought to that pass, as it was at that time when the ⟨p. 331⟩altar was made in all points like unto that which Achas the king sent from Damascus, 2. King. 16.11. and 2. Chronic. 28.23. who will persuade us he would have entered in thither to communicate there with them? And when he was demanded by what authority he did these things, did he allege unto them Caiaphas or the great counsel of Jerusalem? Nothing less, for this had bin nothing else but to make satan judge of the truth. But he saith, Search the scriptures, Joh. 5.39. credit the testimony of John, or show wherein it is false, Mat. 21.25. which thing we have done and counselled others to do at this day, not to erect and set up altar against altar, as they falsely slander us: but to set up the altar of the Lord, that is his holy ministry against the altar of Damascus: for the performance whereof the Lord having aided with his grace many princes and potentates, to follow the example of that good and holy king Hezekiah, the Lord having likewise raised up in our time Eliasses and Eliseusses, what should they else do but separate themselves from such pollutions, and betake themselves under covert, who are not among the pharisaical leaven simply, but in the fair midst of the confusion of Babylon, as this name was given the City of Rome in Saint Peters time if we will believe the ancient expositors, on that of Saint Peter,