the tabernacle he drew before it the veile to fulfil the commandement of our Lord. â He sette the table also in the tabernacle of testimonie at the north side without the veile â ordering the bread of proposition before it as our Lord had commanded Moyses â He sette the candlesticke also in the tabernacle of testimonie ouer against the table on the south side â placing the lampes in order according to the precept of our Lord. â He set also the altar of gold vnder the roofe of testimonie against the veile â and burned vpon it the incense of spices as our Lord had commanded Moyses â He put also the hanging in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie â and the altar of holocauste in the entrie of the testimonie offering on it the holocauste and the sacrifices as our Lord had commanded â The lauer also he set betwen the tabernacle of testimonie and the altar filling it with water â And Moyses and Aaron and his sonnes washed their handes and feete â when they entred the roofe of couenant and went to the altar as our Lord had commanded Moyses â He erected also the court round about the tabernacle and the altar drawing the hanging in the entrie therof After al thinges were perfited â the cloude couered the tabernacle of testimonie and the glorie of our Lord filled it â Neither could Moyses enter the roofe of couenant the cloude couering al thinges and the maiestie of our Lord shining because the cloude had couered al thinges â If at anie time the cloud did leaue the tabernacle the children of Israel went forward by their troupes â If it hong ouer they remained in the same place â For the cloude of our Lord honge ouer the tabernacle by day and a sire by night in the sight of al the children of Israel throughout al their mansions THE ARGVMENT OF LEVITICVS VVHEN the Tabernacle was erected nere to Mount Sinai the first day of the second yeare after the children of Israel parted from Aegypt and was so replenished with Gods Maiestie that none no not Moyses him self could enter in our Lord speaking from thence called Moyses and declared to him the offices of the Leuites whom only and no others he deputed for the administration and charge of sacred things wherof this booke wherin they are written is called Leuiticus In which saith S. Hierom al and euerie Sacrifice yea almost euerie sillable and Aarons vestments and the whole Leuical order breath forth heauenlie sacraments or mysteries For first God here prescribeth what sacrifices he wil haue in what manner and to what purposes Then what partes and qualities he requireth in Priests how they shal be vested and consecrated seuerly punishing some that transgressed with commandment neither to offer in sacrifice nor to eate things reputed vncleane and the maner of purifying such things and persons as by diuers occasions were polluted Interposing also some moral and iudicial precepts appointeth certaine solemne feastes times of rest and Iubilie yeare Finally promiseth rewardes and threatneth puâishments to those that kepe or breake his commandments with particular admonition touching vowes and tithes So this booke may be diuided into fiue special partes The first of diuers sortes of Sacrifices in the seuen first chapters The second of consecrating Priests and their vâstments with punishment for offering strange fire in the three next chapters The third of distinction betwen cleane and vncleane with the maner of purifying certaine legal vncleanes and other precepts moral and iudicial from the 11. chap. to the 23. The fourth of feasts times of rest and Iubilie with priuiledges rewardes and punishments from the 23. chap. to the 27. The fifth of vowes and tithes in the last chapter THE BOOKE LEVITICVS IN HEBREW VAICRA CHAP. I. Diuers rites in offering holocaustes as wel of cattle 14. as of birdes AND OVR LORD called Moyses and spake to him out of the tabernacle of testimony saying â Speake to the children of Israel thou shalt say to them â The man of you that shal offer an hoste to our Lord of beastes that is of oxen sheepe offering victimes â if his oblation be â an holocauste and of the heard he shal offer a male without spotte at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie to propitiate our Lord vnto him â and he shal put his handes vpon the heade of the hoste and it shal be acceptable and profitable to his expiation â And he shal immolate the calfe before our Lord and the children of Aaron the priestes shal offer the bloud therof powring it in the circuite of the altar which is before the dore of the tabernacle â And the skinne of the hoste being plucked of the ioyntes they shal cut into peeces â and shal put fire vnderneth in the altar hauing before laid a pyle of wood in order â and the ioyntes that are cut out laying in order thereupon to wit the head al thinges that cleane to the liuer â the entralles and feete being washed with water and the priest shal burne them vpon the altar for an holocauste and â sweete sauoure to our Lord. â And if the oblation be of flockes an holocauste of sheepe or of goates a lambe of a yeare old without spot shal he offer â and he shal immolate it at the side of the altar that looketh to the North before our Lord but the bloud therof the sonnes of Aaron shal poure vpon the altar round about â and they shal diuide the ioyntes the head and al that cleane to the lyuer and shal lay them vpon the wood vnder which the fire is to be put â but the entrales and the âeâte they shal wash with water And the whole the priest shal offer and burne vpon the altar for an holocaust and most sweete sauoure to our Lord. â But if the oblation of holocaust to our Lord be of birdes of turtles and young pigions â the priest shal offer it at the altar and writhing the head to the necke and breaking the place of the wound he shal make the bloud to runne downe vpon the brimme of the altar â but the croppe of the throate and the fethers he shal cast nigh to the altar at the east side in the place where the ashes are wount to be powred out â and he shal breake the pinnions therof and shal not cut nor diuide it with a knife and shal burne it vpon the altar putting fire vnder the wood It is an holocaust and oblation of most sweete sauoure to our Lord. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 2. The man that shal offer Sacrifice being the most special external seruice wherby man acknowledgeth the supreme dominion of God and his owne subiection and homage to his diuine Maiestie was so wel knowen to be necessarie as being in most frequent vse in the law of nature and in al nations that here neded not anie new precept in general
and serue him with a perfect and verie true hart and take away the goddes which your fathers serued in Mesopotamia and in Aegypt and serue our Lord. â But if it like you not to serue our Lord choise is geuen you choose this day that which pleaseth you whom you ought especially to serue whether the goddes which your fathers serued in Mesopotamia or the goddes of the Amorrheites in whose Land you dwel but I and my house wil serue our Lord. â And the people answered and said God forbid we should leaue our Lord and serue strange goddes â Our Lord God he brought vs and our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of seruitude and did in our sight great signes and kept vs in al the way by the which we walked and among al the peoples through which we passed â And he hath cast out al the nations the Amorrheite inhabiter of the Land which we haue entred We therfore wil serue our Lord because he is our God â And Iosue said to the people You can not serue our Lord for God is holie and a mightie aemulator neither wil he pardon your wickednes and sinnes â If you leaue our Lord and serue strange goddes he wil turne him self and wil afflict you and ouerthrow you after he hath geuen you good thinges â And the people said to Iosue No it shal not be so as thou speakest but we wil serue our Lord. â And Iosue said to the people You are witnesses that your selues haue chosen to you our Lord for to serue him And they answered Witnesses â Now therfore quoth he take away strange goddes our of the middes of you and incline your hartes to our Lord the God of Israel â And the people said to Iosue We wil serue our Lord God and wil be obedient to his preceptes â Iosue therfore in that day made a couenant and proposed to the people preceptes and iudgementes in Sichem â He wrote also al these wordes in the volume of the law of our Lord and he tooke a very great stone and put it vnder the oke that was in the Sanctuarie of our Lord â and said to al the people Behold this stone shal be a testimonie for you that it hath heard al the wordes of our Lord which he hath spoken to you lest perhaps hereafter you wil denie and lye to our Lord your God â And he dismist the people euerie one into their possession â And after these thinges Iosue the sonne of Nun the seruant of our Lord died being a hundred and ten yeares old â and â they buried him in the coastes of his possession in Thamnathsare which is situated in the mountaine of Ephraim on the North part of mount Gaas â And Israel serued our Lord al the daies of Iosue and of the ancientes that liued a long time after Iosue and that had knowen al the workes of our Lord which he had done in Israel â The bones also of Ioseph which the children of Israel had taken out of Aegypt they buried in Sichem in part of the field which Iacob had bought of the sonnes of Hemor the father of Sichem for a hundred yong ewes and it was in the possession of the sonnes of Ioseph â Eleazar also the sonne of Aaron died and they buried him in Gabaath of Phinees his sonne which was geuen him in mount Ephraim ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXIIII 2. They serued false goddes It is euident by this place that Thare and some other progenitors of Israel sometimes serued false goddes from which they were reduced but Abraham was euer preserued in true religion and the whole familie of Thare was therfore persecuted in Chaldea as S. Augustin sheweth li. 16. c. 13. de ciuit Likwise Theodoret q. 18. in Iosue and other both ancient and late writers teach the same as is already noted pag. 203. 30. They buried In that no mention is made of mourning for Iosue S. Hierom noteth a mysterie and a special point of Chistian doctrin It semeth to me saieth he Epist de 42. Maus mans 33. that in Marie prophecie is dead in Moyses and Aaron an end is put to the law and priesthood of the Iewes For so much as they could neither passe into the land of promise nor bring the beleuing people out of the wildernes of this world And Mans 34. Aaron sayeth he was mourned and so was Moyses Iesus is not mourned that is in the law was descentinto hel called limbus in the Gospel is passage to paradise THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES SAINCT Hierom geuing this general rule Epist ad Eustoch virg that in reading historical bookes of holie Scripture the historie as fundation of veritie is to be loued but the spiritual vnderstanding rather to be folowed agreably therto teacheth Epist ad Paulin. that in this booke of Iudges there be as manie figures as princes of the people Neither doth he meane that there were no more but for example sake affirmeth that these Iudges raised vp after Iosue and sent of God to deliuer the people fallen for their sinnes into afflictions were types and figures of the Apostles and Apostolical men sent by Christ to propagate and defend his Church of the new Testament For albeit diuers of these Iudges were sometimes great offenders yet they were reclamed by Gods special grace and so amending their errors did great thinges to the singular honour of God and are renowmed among the holie Patriarces and Prophetes particularly praysed in bolie Scipture saying And the Iudges euerie one by his name whose hart was not corrupt Who were not auerted from our Lord that their memorie may be blessed and their bones spring out from their place and their name remaine for euer the glorie of holie men remaining to their children After Iosue therfore who it semeth guided and ruled the people 32. yeares this booke written as is most probable by Samuel shewing the famouse Actes of these Iudges of Israel prosecuteth the historie of the Church the space of 288. yeares more And may be diuided into three partes First is described in general the state of the people sometimes wel and sincerly seruing God other times falling to great sinnes in the two first chapters Secondly their offences afflictions repentance and deliuerie from their enemies are more particularly reported from the third chap. to the 17. Thirdly other special accidents which happened within the same time are recorded in the last fiue chapters THE BOOKE OF IVDGES IN HEBREW SOPHETIM CHAP. I. Vnder a general captaine of the tribe of Iuda assisted by the tribe of Simeon Israel subdueth diuers cities of the gentiles 12. Othoniel taking Cariath sepher possesseth it and marieth Calebs daughter obtainig also addition of her dowrie 21. Iebuseites yet dwel in Hierusalem with Beniamin 27. and the Chananeites with diuers of the tribes AFTER the death of Iosue the children of Israel consulted
him for the same THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF GENESIS THIS first Booke of holie Sripture called Genesis which signifieth birth or beginning was written by Moyses when he was designed by God to instruct rule the children of Israel As also the other foure bookes folowing The Author and authoritie of al which fiue bookes were euer acknowledged by the faithful both of the old and new Testament and so accounted and estemed by tradition til Christ and his Apostles who also confirmed them by their testimonies and allegations of the same as of holie Scriptures From the creation vntil Moyses writ which was aboue two thousand and foure hundred yeares the Church exercised Religion by Reuelations made to certaine Patriarches and by Traditions from man to man without anie Scriptures or Law written But the peculiar people of God being more visibly separated from other nations manie errors abunding in the world God would for correction confutation therof haue his wil made fuââher knowen to his children and so remaine amongst them in written record by his faithful seruant and Prophet Moyses VVho therfore declareth the Author and beginning of al thinges that is How al creatures were made by God and of him haue their being and by him only are conserued He teacheth expresly that there is one onlie God against those that imagined and brought into the phantasies of men manie goddes That the whole or vniuersal substance of heauen and earth with their ornaments and accidents were made in time against those that thought the first fundation therof had euer benne That God doth gouerne the same against those that say al is ruled by dâstenie or by the starres and not by the continual prouidence of God That God is a rewarder of the good and a punisher of euil which sinners seme either not to know or grosly to forgete And that God created al for mans vse and benefite which should make vs grateful VVherfore holie Moyses more particularly describeth the beginning of man what he was at first how he fel how al mankind is come of one man deducing the Genealogie of Adam especially to Noe. Then how men being more and more defiled vpon the earth with wicked especially carnal sinnes were by Gods iust wrath drowned with an vniuersal floud Againe how a few reserued persons multiplied the world a new But this of spring also falling into manie sinnes especially Idolatrie and spiritual fornication as those of the first age did to carnal offences God stil conserued some faithful true seruants Of which Moyses specially pursueth the line of Noe by Sem his first begotten sonne Then describeth the particular vocations liues maners notable sayings and noble factes with sincere religion of Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph other holie Patriarches who liued before the written lavv Likevvise vpon vvhat occasion in vvhat maneâ Iacob otherwise called Israel with al his progenie descended from the Land of Canaan into Aegypt and were there entertayned So this booke contayneth the historie of two thousand three hundred odde yeares And it may be diuided into eight partes The first contayneth the Creation of Heauen and Earth other Creatures and lastly of Man chap. 1. 2. The second part is of the trangression fal of man his casting out of Paradise of multiplication of mân and of sinne though stil some were iust of the general floud that drowned al except eight persons few other liuing creatures of the earth from the third chap. to the 8. The third part is of the new increase multiplication of the same from the 8. chap. to the 11. The fourth of the confusion of tongues the diuision of nations in the 11. chap. The fift relateth Abrahams going forth of his countrie Gods promise that in his seede al Nations should be blessed the commandment of Circumcision from the 12. chap. to the 21. The sixth part recounteth the progenie and other blessings especially the great vertues of Abraham Isaac and Iaâob from the 21. chap. to the 37. The seuenth part reporteth the felling of Ioseph into Aegypt and his aduancement there from the 37. chap. to the 46. The eight and last part is of Iacob and his progenies going into Aegypt their intertainment there and of Iacobs and finally of Iosephs death in the fiue last cahpters The signification of the markes here vsed for direction of the reader The numbers in the argumentes of chapters point to the verse where the matter mentioned beginneth This forme of crosse â in the text sheweth the beginning of euerie verse The numbers in the inner margent ouer against the crosse shew the number of verses in the same chapter This marke signifieth that there foloweth an Annotation after the chapter vpon the word or wordes wherto it is adioyned The number also of the same verse is prefixed to the Annotation These foure prickes shew that there is an Annotation in the margent vpon that place And when manie occurre the first answereth to the first marcke the second to the second and so forth In like maner the citations of places in the inner margent are applied to the authores alleaged But when there be more such marginal annotations then may easely be applied we vse the letters of the Alphabete for direction This forme of a starre * in the text or annotations pointeth to the explication of some word or wordes in the margent Sometimes we put the Concordance of other Scriptures in the inner margent of the text VVe haue also noted in the margent when the Bookes of holie Scripture or partes thereof are read in the Churches Seruice For their sakes that desire to reâd the same in order of the Ecclesiastical Office THE BOOKE OF GENESIS IN HEBREW BERESITH CHAP. 1. God createth heauen and earth and al things therin distinguishing and bevvtyfying the same 26. last of al the sixth day he createth man to vvhom he subiecteth al corporal things of this inferior vvorld N THE beginning GOD created heauen and earth â And the earth was voide vacant and darkenes was vpon the face of the deapth and the Spirite of God moued ouer the waters â And God said Be light made And light was made â And God saw the light that it was good he diuided the light from the darkenes â And he called the light Day and the darkenes Night and there was euening morning that made one day â God also said Be a firmament made amidst the waters and let it diuide betwene waters waters â And God made a firmament and diuided the waters that were vnder the firmament from those that were aboue the firmament And it was so done â And God called the firmament Heauen and there was euening morning that made the second day â God also said Let the waters that are vnder the heauen be gathered together into one
punishing oftenders in that behalfe 3. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 18. 23. they did the same without preiudice of the High Priestes supremâcie in spirituall causes and their godlie actes make nothing for the English Paradox of Laiheadshippe For superior authoritie and ordinarie povvre is not proued by factes good or euil but rather by Gods ordinance and institution For as the factes of vsurpers make no lawfull prescription so neither the factes of good men do change Gods general ordinance and law But are done either by waie of execution or sometimes by dispensation Often also by commission and special inspiration of God As king Dauid by dispensation did eate the holie bread which was ordained for Priests onlie 1. Reg 21. He disposed of Priestes and Leuites offices about the Arke of God Par. 15. 19. by way of execution according to the law And of the like offices in the Temple when it should be built 1. Par. 23. 24. 25. 26. by diuine inspiration And Salomon by commission from God deposed Abiathar the High Priest from his office and put Sadoc in his place 3. Reg. 2. VVherefore albeit good kinges did excellentlie well in calling together the Priestes and disposing them in their offices for execution of Gods seruice yea in commanding what they should do 4. Reg. 18. 19. 22. and in punishing Priestes 4. Reg. 23. yet they did such thinges as Gods Commissioners not as ordinarie Superiors in spiritual causes and still the ordinarie subordination made by the law Deut. 17. Num. 27. stood firme and inuiolable the High Priest supreme Iudge of all doubtes in faith causes and quarels in religion when other subordinate inferior Iudges varied in their iudgmentes Of which offices Malachias the Propher cap. 2. admonished Priestes in his time that whereas they were negligent not performing their dutie their sinne was the greater for that their authoritie stil remained and the perpetual Rule of the lavv that the lippes of the Priest shal kepe knowlege and they other men generally shal require the law of his mouth because he is the Angel of the Lord of hostes And al Princes others were to receiue the law at the priestes haÌd of the Leuitical Tribe This vvas the vvarrant of stabilitie in truth of the Synagogue in the old Testament Much more the Church and Spouse of Christ vvhose excellencie and singular priuileges Salomon describeth in his canticle of canticles hath such vvarrant Of this spouse al the Prophets write that more plaânlie then of Christ himselfe forseing more aduersaries bending their forces against her as S. Augustine obserueth then against Christ her head And the same holie father in manie places teacheth that she neither perisheth nor loseth her beutie for the mixture of euil members in respect of whom she is blacke but fayre in respect of the good Cantiâ 1. Notwithstanding therfore sinners remaining within the Church schismatikes and heretickes breaking from the Church stil she remaineth the pillar and firmament of truth the virgin daughter of Sion THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKES OF ESDRAS ESDRAS a holie Priest and Scribe of the stocke of Aaron by the line of Eleazar vvriteth the historie of Gods people in and presently after their captiuitie in Babilon vvhich Nehemias an other godlie Priest prosecuteth vvhose booke is also called the second of Esdras because in the Hebrevv and Greke they are but one booke relating the acts of them both The other two books called the third and fourth of Esdras touching the same matter are not in the Hebrew nor receiued into the Canon of holie Scripture though the Greke Church hold the third booke as Canonicall and plaâeth it first because it conteyneth thinges donne before the other In the two here folowing vvhich are vndoubtedly holie Scripture S. Ierom sayth that Esdras and Nehemias to witte the Helper and Comforter from God restored the Temple and built the walles of the citie adding that al the troope of the people returning into their countrie also the description of Priestes Leuites Israelites Proselites and the workes of walles and to wres diuided by seueral families aliud in cortice praeferunt aliud in medulla retinent shew one thing in the barke kepe an other thing in the marrow signifying that this historie hath both a literal and a mystical sense According to the letter this first booke shevveth the reduction of Gods people from Babylon In the first six chapters In the other soure their instruction by Esdras after their returne THE FIRST BOOKE OF ESDRAS CHAP. I. Cyrus king of Persia moued by divine inspiration releaseth Gods people from captiuitie with license to returne and build the Temple in Ierusalem 7. restoring the holie vessel which Nabuchodonesor had taken from thence IN THE first yeare of Cyrus king of the Persians that the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie might be accomplishd our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of Persians and he made proclamation in al his kingdom yea by wryting saying â Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians Al the kingdomes of the earth hath the Lord the God of heauen geuen me he hath commanded me that I should build him a house in Ierusalem which is in Iewrie â Who is there among you of al his people His God be with him Let him goe vp into Ierusalem which is in Iewrie and build the house of the Lord the God of Israel he is the God that is in Ierusalem â And let al the rest in al places whersoeuer they dwel let euery man of his place helpe him with siluer and gold and substance and cattel besides that which they offer voluntarily to the temple of God which is in Ierusalem â And there rose vp the princes of the fathers of Iuda and Beniamin the Priestes and Leuites and euerie one whose spirit God raysed vp to goe vp to build the temple of our Lord which was in Ierusalem â And al that were round about did helpe their handes in vessels of siluer and of gold in substance and beastes in furniture besides those thinges which they had offered voluntarily â King Cyrus also brought forth the vessels of the temple of our Lord which Nabuchodonosor had taken of Ierusalem and had put them in the temple of his God â But Cyrus the king of Persians brought them forth by the hand of Mithridates the sonne of Gazabar numbred them to Sassabasar the prince of Iuda â And this is the number of them Phials of gold thirtie phials of siluer a thousand kniues twentie nine goblettes of gold thirtie â goblettes of siluer of the second order foure hundred tenne other vessels a thousand â Al the vessels of gold and siluer fiue thousand foure hundred Sassabasar tooke al with them that went vp from the transmigration of Babylon into Ierusalem CHAP. II. The names and number of special men which returned vnder the conduct of Zorobabel into lerusalem 66.
S. Ierom. VVhose discourse vve haue here cited at large for a taste of his profound exposition of this vvhole booke that such as haue apportunitie may read the rest in the auctor himself To. 7. CHAP. XI Workes of mercie are necessarie whiles we haue time 3. because after death none can merite 4. neither must we differ to beginne nor cease from good dedes 8. but stil be mindful of death and iudgement 10. auoiding wrath and malice CAST thy bread vpon the passing waters because after much time thou shalt finde it â Geue a portion to seuen and also to eight because thou knowest not what euil shal be vpon the earth â If the cloudes be ful they wil powre out raine vpon the earth If the tree shal fal to the South or to the North in what place soeuer it shal fal there shal it be â He that obserueth the winde soweth not and he that considereth the cloudes shal neuer reape â As thou art ignorant which is the way of the spirite how the bones are framed together in the wombe of her that conceiueth childe so thou knowest not the workes of God who is the maker of al. â In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand cease for thou knowest not which may rather spring this or that and if both together it shal be the better â The light is sweete and it is delectable for the eyes to see the sunne â If a man shal liue manie yeares and shal haue reioyced in them al he must remember the darkesome time and manie dayes which when they shal come the thinges past shal be reproued of vanitie â Reioyce therfore yongman in thy youth and let thy hart be in good in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thyne eyes and know that for al these God wil bring thee into iudgement â Take away anger from thy hart and remoue malice from thy flesh For youth and pleasure are vaine CHAP. XII In youth is fittest time and most meritorious to serue God In age the same is more and more necessarie but harder then to beginne and lesse gratful 8. In this booke the preacher hath shewed that al worldlie thinges are vanitie 13. and that true felicitie is only procured by wisdom which consteth in the feare of God and obseruation of his commandments REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the time of affliction come the yeares approch of which thou maist say They please me not â before the sunne and light and moone and starres be darke and the cloudes returne after the raine â when the kepers of the house shal be moued and the strongest men shal stagger and the grinders shal be idle in a smal number and they shal waxe darke that looke through the holes â and they shal shut the doores in the streate at the basenes of the grinders voice and they shal rise vp at the voice of the birde and al the daughters of song shal be deafe â The high thinges also shal feare and they shal be afrayd in the way the almondtree shal florish the locust shal be fatted and the capertree shal be destroyed because man shal goe into the house of his eternitie and the mourners shal goe round about in the streate â Before the siluer coard be broken and the golden headband recurre and the water pot be broken vpon the fountaine and the wheele be broken vpon the cesterne â and the dust returne into his earth from whence it was and the spirite returne to God who gaue it â Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes and al thinges vanitie â And wheras Ecclesiastes was most wise he taught the people and declared the thinges that he had done and searching forth made manie parables â He sought profitable wordes and wrote wordes most right and ful of truth â The wordes of wisemen are as prickes and as nailes deepely stricken in which by the counself of maisters are geuen of one pastour â More then these my sonne require not Of making manie bookes there is no end and often meditation is affliction of the flesh â Let vs al heare together the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandments for this is euerie man â and al thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euerie errour whether it be good or euil THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES SALOMON called also Ecclesiastes and Idida according to these three names as S. Ierom noteth writte three bookes of three particular arguments directed to three degrees of people with three distinct titles al tending to one end the true seruice of God which bringeth to eternal felicitie In the first he teacheth the principles of good life to flee from vices and folow vertues belonging to such as beginne to obserue Gods law wherin true wisdom consisteth and this booke is called the Prouerbes or Parables that is to say Pithie brief sentencious precepts of Salomon which signifieth Pacificus Peaceable or Pacifier the sonne of Dauid King of Israel In the second he exhorteth to contemne this world shewing that true felicitie consisteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges but in the eternal fruition of God which is obtayned by keping his commandments And this booke he intitleth The wordes of Ecclesiastes which is Concionator Preacher Sonne of Dauid King of Ierusalem because he there exhorteth such as haue made some progresse in vertues called Proficientes signified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ierusalem whereas in the former he stiled himself king of Israel proposing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God In both bookes for more auctoritie sake making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid with his owne title also of king But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon whom God singularly loued wherof he was called Idida Because this alone without mention of father or king was most conuenient for the Perfect who not as seruants or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie but as children are swetly drawne by loue And this he writte in verse intitling it not simply a Canticle but The Canticle of Canticles as preeminent aboue other Canticles The bridal songue for the Mariage to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread and food of the faithful yet al are not meate for al at al seasons Some parts are not for sinners nor for beginners nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection but only for the perfect According to the Apostles doctrine Milke is for children that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custom haue their senses
fiction of the author That is If anie error could be committed by the authores of Scriptures either through ignorance obliuion or anie other humane frailtie what soeuer were produced exception might be taken and question made whether the author had eâred or no True it is that some of these bookes as we shal particularly discusse in their places were sometimes doubted of by some Catholiques and called Apochrypal in that sense as the word properly signifieth hidden or not apparent So S. Ierom in his Prologue before the Latin Bible calleth diuers bookes Apochryphal being not so euident whether they were Diuine scripture because they were not in the lewes Canon nor at first in the Churches Canon but were neuer reiected as false or erronious In which sense the Prayer of Manasses the third booke of Esdras and third of Machabees are yet called Apochryphal As for the fourth of Esdras and fourth of Machabees there is more doubt But diuers others as the booke ascribed to Enoch the Gospels of S. Andrew S. Thomas S. Bartholmew and the like recited by S. Gelasius Decreto de libris Ecclesiasticis dist 15. Can. Sancta Romana S. Innocentius the first Epist. 3. S. Ierom Ep ad Laetam S. Augustin li. 15. cap. 23. de ciuit Dei Origen homis 2. in Cantica are in a worse sense called Apochryphal are reiected as conteyning manifest errors or fained by Heretikes Neither can a Christian Catholique he otherwise assured Which Bookes are Diuine and Canonical Scriptures but by declaration of the Catholique Church which without interruption succedeth the Apostles to whom our Sauiour promised and sent the Holie Ghost to teach al truth For if in anie thing more then others assuredly one chief and most necessarie point is to know and declare which Bookes are Gods holie Word being of most singular importance THE SVMME OF THE OLD TESTAment as it is distinguished from the new Not withstanding the subiect general argument of both Testaments is one the same in substance as is already said yet they differ in time in maner of vttering of Mysteries in varietie of precepts promises also in meanes to obserue the thinges exacted to attayne to the end proposed In regard wherof S. Ierome saith Lex Moysi omne vetus instrumentum elementa mundi intelliguntur quibus quasi elementis Religionis exordijs Deum discimus The law of Moyses and al the old Testament are vnderstood the elements of the world by which as by first rudiments beginnings we lerne to know God For that in it we haue first the Law of nature and asterwards a law written with promises of temporal rewardes as long life land flowiug with milke honie the like but it brought nothing to perfection as S. Paul saith when giftes hostes were offered which could not according to conscience make the obseruer perfect For the helpes of that time were but infirma egena elemeÌta Weake poore elements Likewise in general touching the punishments that sometimes happened to the people of the old Testament when they transgressed the same Apostle affirmeth that al the same chanced to them in figure are written for our correption vpon whom the ends of the world are come so that the old Testament or Law was but our pedagogue in Christ Yet it setteth forth to vs the whole course of Gods Church for the space of foure thousand yeares that is from the beginning of the world vntil Christ our Redemer which Diuines diuide into six ages wherein was varietie change of her state three vnder the Law of nature and three others vnder the written Law The seuenth last age being this time of grace wherin we now are from Christ to the day of general Iudgement as the world was made in six dayes and in the seuenth God is said to haue rested and therfore sanctified it in other sort then the former six The eight wil be after the Resurrection during for al eternitie VVhich six ages of the ancient Church old Testament are thus distributed The first from the Creation to Noes floud conteyning the space of 1656. yeares The second from the floud to the going of Abraham out of his countrie 368. or counting Cainan Gen. 11. iuxta 72. Luc. 3. 398. yeares The third from Abraham his going forth of his countrie to the parting of the children of Israel out of Aegypt VVhich-some count to haue continued 720. yeares others whom we folow but 430. And thus farre in the law of nature before the written law The fourth age dured 480. yeares from the deliuerie of the children of Israel forth of Aegypt to the fundation of the Temple in Ierusalem The fifth age was from the fundation of the Temple to the captiuitie transmigration of the Iewes into Babylon about 430. yeares And the sixth age dured about 640. yeares from the Captiuitie of Babylon to Christ In al which times God was acknowledged and rightly serued by a continual visible Church with true Religion the same no other which now that Church holdeth that is called and knowen by she name of Catholique As we intend by Gods assistance to shew by briefe Annotations concerning diuers particular points now in Controuersie as the holie Text geueth occasion And especially by way of Recapitulation after euerie one of the six ages when we come to those passages in the Historie where the same are ended OF MOYSES THE AVTHOR OF THE fiue first bookes MOyses so called because he was taken from the water as the name signifieth was borne in Aegypt the sonne of Amram the sonne of Caath the sonne of Leui the Patriarch and so of Iacob Isaac and Abraham His maruelous deliuerie from drowning his education excellent forme singular wisdome heroical vertues rare dexteritie in al affayres whole life most admirable are gathered out of holie Scriptures by S. Gregorie Bishop of Nissen into a briefe Summe most worthie to be read but to large for this place He was borne about the yeare of the world two thousand foure hundred long before al prophane writers yea before manie of the Painimes false goddes as S. Augustin declareth in diuers places of his most excellent booke intituled of the Citie of God He liued in this world 120. yeares Of which 40. were in Pharaos court as the adopted sonne of Pharaos daughter fourtie in banishment from Aegypt in Madian and fourtie more he gouerned the people of Israel His singular prayses are also briefly touched in the last chapter of Deuteromie added by Iosue and in the booke of Ecclesiâsticus He died in the desert and was buried in the vaâle of Moab so secretly that no mortal man knew his sepulchre lest the Iewes who were very prone to Idolatrie should haue adored his bodie with diuine honour for the greatnes and multitude of his miracles and for the singular estimation they had of
Which when Iacob heard awaking as it were out of a heauie sleepe notwithstanding did not beleeue them â They on the contrarie side reported the whole order of the thing And when he sawe the waynes and al things that he had sent his spirit reuiued â and he said It sufficeth me if Ioseph my sonne be liuing yet I wil goe and see him before I dye ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLV 24. Be not angrie in the vvay Trauelers in iourney are easily prouoked to anger and brawling especially if they auoide not probable occasions Therfore Ioseph admonisheth his brothers to beware therof lest in talking of him and how they had sold him to strangers some of them might accuse others and excuse themselues and so fal in to new offences S. Chris. ho. 64. in Gen. CHAP. XLVI Israel warranted in a vision from God goeth into Aegypt with al his famimlie 8. who are here recited 28. Ioseph meeting him in Gessen aduiseth him to tel Pharao that they are shepheards by their trade of life AND Israel taking his iourney with al things that he had â came to the wel of the oath and killing there victimes to the God of his father Isaac â He heard him by a vision of the night calling him and saying vnto him Iacob Iacob To whom he answered Loe here I am â God said to him I am the most mightie God of thy father feare not goe downe into Aegipt for into a great nation wil I make thee there â I wil goe downe with thee thither and thence wil I bring thee returning Ioseph also shal put his handes vpon thine eyes â And Iacob rose vp from the wel of the oath and his sonnes tooke him vp with their little ones and wiues in the waynes which Pharao had sent to carie the old man â and al that he had possessed in the Land of Chanaan and he came into Aegypt with al his sede â his sonnes and nephewes daughters and al his progenie together â And these are the names of the children of Israel that entred into Aegypt him selfe with his children His first-begotten Ruben â The sonnes of Ruben Henoch and Phallu and Hesron and Charmi. â The sonnes of Simeon Iamuel and Iamin and Ahod and Iachin and Sohar and Saul the sonne of Chananitesse â The sonnes of Leui Gerson and Caath and Merari â The sonnes of Iuda Her and Onan Sela and Phares and Zara. And Her and Onan died in the land of Chanaan And there were sonnes borne to Phares Hesron and Hamul â The sonnes of Issachar Thola and Phua and Iob and Semron â The sonnes of Zabulon Sared Elon and Iahelel â These are the sonnes of Lia which she bare in Mesopotamia of Syria with Dina his daughter Al the soules of his sonnes and daughters are thirtie three â The sonnes of Gad Sephion and Haggi and Siuni and Esebon and Heri and Arodi and Areli â The sonnes of Aser Iamne and Iesua and Iessui and Beria Sara also their sister The sonnes of Beria Heber and Melchiel â these be the sonnes of Zelpha whom Laban gaue to Lia his daughter and these she bare to Iacob sixtene soules â The sonnes of Rachel Iacobs wife Ioseph and Beniamin â And there were sonnes borne to Ioseph in the Land of Aegypt which Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar priest of Heliopolis bare to him Manasses and Ephraim â The sonnes of Beniamin Bela and Bechor and Asbel and Gera and Naaman and Echi and Ros and Mophim and Ophim and Ared â these be the sonnes of Rachel which she bare to Iacob al the soules fourtene â The sonnes of Dan Husim â The sonnes of Nepthali Iaziel and Guni and Ieser and Sallem â These be the sonnes of Bala whom Laban gaue to Rachel his daughter and these she bare to Iacob al the soules seuen â Al the soules that entred with Iacob into Aegypt and that came out of his thighe besides his sonnes wiues â sixtie six â And the sonnes of Ioseph that were borne to him in the land of Aegypt two soules Al the soules of the house of Iacob that entred into Aegypt were â seuentie â And he sent Iudas before him to Ioseph that he should tel him and he should come into Gessen to meete him â Whither when he was come Ioseph addressing his chariot went vp to mete his father vnto the same place and seing him fel vpon his neck and as they embraced he wept â And his father said to Ioseph Now wil I die with ioy because I haue seene thy face and do leaue thee aliue â But he spake to his brethren and to al his fathers house I wil goe vp and wil tel Pharao and wil say to him My brethren and my fathers house that were in the Land of Chanaan are come to me â and the men are pastours of sheepe and their trade is to feede flockes their cattel and heardes and al that they could haue they haue brought with them â And when he shal cal you and shal say What is your trade â You shal answer We thy sernantes are pastours from our infancie vntil this present both we and our fathers And this you shal say that you may dwel in the Land of Gessen because he Aegyptians detest al pastours of sheepe ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLVI 1. Came to the vvel of oath In this holie place called Bersebee that is vvel of oath where Abraham and Isaac had confirmed by oath their league with the Kings of the countrie and erected Altares Iacob also consulted God about his going into Aegypt and was commanded to goe with al that he had 26. Sixtie six 27. Seuentie The difficultie in these two verses concerning the number of Israelites that were at first in Aegypt with Iacob is easily explicated that iust sixtie six of his owne issue came in with him and himselfe being counted maketh sixtie seuen adding also Ioseph who was there before and his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim borne there they were in al seuentie But a far greater difficultie remaineth for besides these seuentie persons the Septuagint Greeke Interpreters number and name fiue more to wit a sonne and a nephew of Manasses the first called Machir the other Galaad and two sonnes of Ephraim called Sutalaam and Taam and one nephew named Edem which number of seuentie fiue S. Steuen also citeth folowing the vulgar knowen Scripture of the Septuagint rather then the Hebrew text Now in what sense these fiue could be said to haue entred into Aegypt with Iacob being not then borne may some of them not borne during Iacobs life for Iacob liued but seuentene yeares in Aegypt chap 47. v. 28 and Ioseph being maried but nine yeares before for this was the second deare yeare after the seuen plentiful yeares his sonnes could not excede seuen or eight yeares when Iacob came to Aegypt and so being but 24. or 25. yeares old at his death could not then be grandfathers how therfore
Lord â the priest shal account the price according to the number of yeares vnto the iubilee and he that had vowed shal geue that to the Lord. â but in the Iubilee it shal returne to the former owner that sould it and had it in the lotte of his possession â Al estimation shal be weighed by the sicle of the sanctuarie A sicle hath twentie oboles â The â first borne which pertaine to the Lord no man may sanctifie and vow whether it be oxe or sheepe they are the Lordes â And if it be an vncleane beast he that offereth it shal redeme it according to thy estimatimation and shal adde the fift part of the price If he wil not redeme it it shal be sould to an other for how much soeuer it was estemed by thee â Anie thing that is consecrated to the Lord whether it be man or beast or field shal not be sould neither can it be redemed Whatsoeuer is once consecrated shal be holie of holies to the Lord. â And any consecration that is offered of a man shal not be redemed but dying shal die â Al tithes of the land whether of corne or of the fruites of trees are the Lordes and are sanctified to him â And if anie man wil redeme his tithes he shal adde the fift part of them â Of al the tithes of oxen and sheepe and goates that passe vnder the sheepheardes rodde euerie tenth that commeth shal be sanctified to the Lord. â It shal not be chosen neither good nor bad neither shal it be changed for an other If anie man change it both that which was changed and that for the which it was changed shal be sanctified to the Lord and shal not be redeemed â These are the precepts which our Lord commanded Moyses vnto the children of Israel in the mount Sinai ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXVII 26. The sirst borne God here forbiddeth to vow the sirst borne and geueth the reason for that they are the Lordes shewing that those things wherto we are already bound are not properly matter of vow But a vowe properly is a religious promise voluntarily made to God of a good thing vnto which we were not bound And that the same is verie gratful to God appeareth not only in this chapter and in manie other places of Moyses law but also in the law of nature Gen. 28. Iacob vowed and God accepted therof Gen. 31. v. 13. And the royal Prophet in diuers Psalmes pertaining to the new Testament commendeth vowes It is certaine also manifest 1. Tim. 5. that widowes did lawfully vowe chastitie in the primitiue Church and such as did afterward breake the same did violate their promise to God Innumerable also most lerned and most godlie fathers haue euer from Christs time both taught and practised religious vowes of obedience to superiors who otherwise had no authoritie ouer them and of perpetual chastitie and voluntarie pouertie It is likewise and continually hath benne a most common practise in the Church to vow other good workes of pietie as to visite holie places to build Churches Collegies Hospitals and the like being no way bound therto but of mere deuotion See Annotations 1. Tim. 5. THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF NVMERI IN this booke called Numeri are contained saieth S. Hierom the Mysteries of al Arithmetike or numberiug of the Prophecie of Balaam and of the fourtie two Mansions of the Israelites in the desert VVhich mystical sense the same great Doctor as also S. Augustin and other Fathers do gather of the literal written by Moyses VVho here prosecuteth the sacred historie after Genesis and Exodus Leuiticus also containing one moneth from the second moneth of the second yeare after the deliuerie of the Israelites out of Aegypt nere 39. yeares to the last of Moyses life First therfore he reportetâ how al the men of twelue tribes of the age of twentie yeares and vpward were numbered Likewise the tribe of Leui was numbered and imployed parth in priestlie function the rest to assist the priests He describeth also the oraer of marching and encamping the Leuites alwayes next and round about the Tabernacle the other twelue tribes in circuite of them on al sides He moreouer recordeth certaine notable murmurings tumults schismes and rebellions with the euents therof and miserable endes of chief seducers VVhose great iniuries Moyses mekely sustained with singular patience stil executing his owne function with heroical fortitude Among which diuers precepts and lawes are partly repeated partly added as wel concerning Religion and Gods seruice as godlie policie and ciuil gouernment of the people with chastisment of offenders How also their enemies endeuoured to annoy them Balaâ king of Moab procuring Balaam the sorcerer so much as in him lay to curse them but al in vaine Yet by carnal fornication manie were drawen to spiritual Both which being punished God againe prospered his people in diuers encounters and battailes against Infidels Finally the promised Land of Chanaan on both sides lordaine is described by limites which they shal parte amongst them by loât the Leuites mingled in euerie tribe with their appointed cities and commodities for habitation and the tithes first fruites oblations and abundant prouision for their maintenance Cities also of refuge are designed for casual manslayers and a law established that al shal marie within their owne tribes to avoide confusion of inheritances So this booke may be diuided into three partes In the first the principal and most perfect sort of the people are numbered and disposed in order according to diuers states and offices before they depart from the desert of Sinai in the nine first chapters Then are related sundrie thinges which happened vnto them in the rest of their iourney especially manie and great impediments through al which God punishing some brought the residue to enioy the promised land from the 10. chap. to the end of the 33. Lastly the countrie of Chanaan is againe promised with order so to possâsse and enioy it that euerie tribe may haue and keepe their seueral partes in the three last chapters THE BOOKE NVMERI OR NVMBERS IN HEBREW VAIED ABBER CHAP. I. Al the men of twelue tribes of Israel of the age of twentie yeares and vpwardes but not vnder nor wemen are numbred 20. and are sound in al six hundred thirtie thousand fiue hundred fiftie 47. The Leuites not yet numbred are designed to serue about the Tabernacle AND our Lord spake to Moyses in the desert of Sinai in the tabernacle of couenant the first day of the second moneth the second yeare of their going out of Aegypt saying â Take the summe of the whole assemblie of the children of Israel by their kinredes houses and the names of euerie one whatsoeuer of the male sexe â from the twentith yeare and vpward of al the strong men of Israel and you shal number them by
of two former lawes the one Leuit. 25. prouiding that inheritance of landes should not be sold nor otherwise alienated but vntil the Iubilee yeare and then returne to him or his heyres to whom it pertained before the other Num. 27. ordaining that for lack of a sonne daughters should enherite this difficultie did rise in case an enheretrixe did marrie a man of an other tribe her landes by that meanes should passe from tribe to tribe and not be restored in the Iubilee yeare For auoiding of which inconuenience a further law is made that none shal marrie out of their owne tribe Neuerthelesse the tribe of Leui made mariages with the tribe of Iuda as appeareth by that Zacharie the priest married Elizabeth cosin to our B. Ladie of the tribe of Iuda though in the old Testament there is no such expresse dispensation nor explication of the law but by tradition was holden for lawful and practised by so holie a man as Zacharie And not without mysterie as S. Augustin noteth li. 2. c. 2. dâ consen Euang. for that Christ the Annointed of God was prefigured by the annointing of Kings and Priests and borne of the royal and priestlie tribes being both a King and a Priest THE ARGVMENT OF DEVTERONOMIE DEVTERONOMI in English The second law so called not that there be two lawes of Moyses but because the same which was first geuen in Mount Sinai fiftie dayes after the children of Israel parted from Aegypt is here repeted in the eleuenth moneth of the fourtith yeare of their abode in the desert In which repetition albeit Moyses explicateth the same law adding also diuers things not expressed before yet is it but an Abbridgement conceiued and vttered in fewer wordes VVhereupon S. Bode in princ Leuit. compareth this booke with the foure precedent as one made of them al. For wheras the former foure prefigured the foure Gospels this signified the whole Gospel contained in al foure Likewise S. Hierom calleth it A prefiguration of the Euangelical law so iterating former things that al become new of old Epist ad Paulin. ca. 7. de Mans 42. But touching the literal sense Moyses here compriseth foure general things vnto which after his death the fifth is added and so the whole conteineth fiue partes First he briefly reciteth Gods special benefites bestowed on this people and their ingratitude incredulitie murmurings and punishments in the three first chapters Secondly he repeteth and explicateth Gods precepts moral ceremonial and iudicial with the functions and offices of Priests and Leuites from the 4. chap. to the 27. Thirdly he denounceth Gods promises of manie blessings and thretes of punishments for keeping or breaking his commandments from the 27. chap. to 31 Fourthly he exhorteth them to serue and loue God but withal fortelleth that they wil often fal to great sinnes and for the same shal be punished and at last forsaking Christ shal be forsaken yet finally blesseth their tribes in figure of the Gentiles that shal be called in their place chap. 31. 32. and 33. Fiftly in the last chapter losue writeth the death burial and singular commendation of Moyses THE BOOKE OF DEVTERONOMIE IN HEBREW ELLE HADDEBARIM CHAP. I. Moyses beginneth the first day of the eleuenth moneth and fourtith yeare after the children of Israel parted from Aegypt to repete and explicate the Law 6. first putting them in mind of Gods munisicence his owne and other superiors care ouer them their ingratitude incredultie murmuring 34. and punishment for the same THESE are the wordes which Moyses spake to al Israel beyond Iordan in the champion wildernesse against the Read sea betwen Pharan and Thophel and Laban and Haseroth where there is verie much gold â eleuen daies from Horeb by the way of mount Seir to Cadesbarne â The fourtith yeare the eleuenth moneth the first day of the moneth Moyses spake to the children of Israel al thinges that our Lord had commanded him to say vnto them â after that he had stroke Sehon king of the Amorrheites which dwelt in Hesebon and Og the king of Basan which abode in Aseroth and in Edrai â beyond Iordan in the Land of Moab And Moyses began to expound the law and to say â The Lord our God spake to vs in Horeb saying It is sufficient for you that you haue stayed in this mountaine â returne and come to the mountaine of the Amorrheites and to the rest that are next to it champion and hillie and lower places against the South and beside the shore of the sea the Land of the Chananeites and of Libanus vnto the greate riuer Euphrates â Behold quoth he I haue deliuered it to you enter in and possesse it vpon the which our Lord sware to your fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would geue it to them and to their seede after them â And I said to you at that time â I alone can not susteyne you because the Lord your God hath multiplied you and you are this day as the starres of heauen verie manie â The Lord God of your fathers adde to this number manie thousandes and blesse you as he hath spoken â I alone am not able to susteyne your businesses and the charge of you and your quareles â Geue from among you wise and skilful men and such whose conuersation is approued in your tribes that I may appoint them your princes â Then you answered me The thing is good which thou meanest to do â And I tooke of your tribes men wise and noble and appointed them princes tribunes and centurions and quinquagenarians and deanes that might teach you al thinges â And I commanded them saying Heare them and iudge that which is iust whether he be the same countrie man or a stranger â There shal be no difference of persons so shal you heare the litle as the great neither shal you accept any mans person because it is the iudgement of God And if any thing seme hard to you referre it to me and I wil heare it â And I commanded al thinges that you ought to do â And departing from Horeb we passed through the terrible and huge wildernesse which you saw by the way of the mountaine of the Amorrheite as the Lord our God had commanded vs. And when we were come into Cadesbarne â I said to you You are come to the mountaine of the Amorrheite which the Lord our God wil geue to vs. â See the Land which the Lord thy God geueth thee goe vp and possesse it as the Lord our God hath spoken to thy fathers feare not neither dread you any thing â And you came al vnto me and said Let vs send men that may view the Land and may bring vs word what way we shal ascend and to what cities to goe â And because the saying pleased me I sent of you twelue men one of euerie tribe â Who when they had gone
of our Lord thy God and keepe his preceptes and ceremonies which are written in this law and returne to our Lord thy God in al thy hart and in al thy soule â This commandment that I command thee this daie â is not aboue thee nor so farre of â nor situated in heauen that thou maiest say Which of vs is able to ascend vnto heauen to bring it to vs that we may heare and fulfil it in worke â Nor placed beyond the sea that thou mayest pretend and say Which of vs can passe ouer the sea and bring it euen vnto vs that we way heare and doe that which is commanded â But the word is very neere thee in thy mouth and in thy hart to doe it â Consider that I haue â set before thee this day life and good and contrariewise death and euil â that thou mayest loue our Lord thy God and walke in his waies and keepe his commandmentes and ceremonies and iudgementes and thou mayest liue and he multiplie thee and blesse thee in the Land which thou shalt enter to possesse â But if thy hart be auerted and thou wilt not heare and deceaued with errour thou adore strange goddes and serue them â I foretel thee this day that thou shalt perish and abide a litle time in the Land which passing ouer Iordan thou shalt enter to possesse â â I cal for witnesses this day heauen and earth that I haue proposed to you life and death blessing and cursing Choose therfore life that both thou mayest liue and thy seede â and mayest loue our Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleaue to him for he is thy life and the length of thy daies that thou mayest liue in the Land for the which our Lord sware to thy fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would geue it them ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXX 6. God vvil circumcise thy bart Most true it is that of our selues without Gods grace none can kepe or fulfil the commandmentes But he whose hart God doth circumcise is therby made able to loue God with al his hart and with al his soule And except some hartes were thus circumcised and so made able to loue God aboue al and consequently their neighboures God should not performe his promise that he wil circumcise the hart of some 11. Is not aboue thee VVhen thou art stirred vp assisted and indued with Gods grace the commandment of God is not then aboue thee nor faire of from thee but very nere thee in thy mouth to confesse God and his truth and in thy hart to do it But you wil aske How then cometh it to passe that manie hauing receiued sufficient grace yet do not kepe Gods commandmentes God him self answereth 15. That he hath set before thee life and good and contrrivvise death and euil he inuiteth and helpeth yet forceth thee not he geuethâthee powre abilitie helping and not destroying thy freewil that thou maist loue our Lord thy God walke in his wayes and kepe his commandements But if thy hart be auerted and v. 17. thou vrilt not heare thou shalt perish Againe God inculcateth 19. I cal for vvitnesses heauen and earth that I haue proposed to you life and death blessing and cursing Choose therfore life c. VVhat Doctor can teach more plainly the possibilitie of keeping Gods commandmentes and frewil in man then this text of holie Scripture CHAP. XXXI Moyses substituteth Iosue his successour in temporal gouernment 9. deliuereth the law to the Priestes 16. God fortelleth that the people wil often forsake him and that he wil punish them 19. commandeth Moyses to write a canticle an abrigement of the Law easie to be remembred 25. and in further testimonie against them the Leuites must put this booke in the arke of couenant MOYSES therfore went and spake al these wordes to al Israel â and said to them I am this day a hundred and twentie yeares old I can not goe out and come in any longer especially wheras our Lord also hath said to me Thou shalt not passe ouer this Iordan â Our Lord therfore thy God wil passe ouer before thee he wil destroy al these nations in thy sight and thou shalt possesse them and this Iosue shal passe ouer before thee as our Lord hath spoken â And our Lord shal doe to them as he did to Sehon and Og the kinges of the Ammorheites and to their land and shal destroy them â Therfore when our Lord shal haue deliuered these also to you you shal doe in like manner to them as I haue commanded you â Doe manfully and be strengthned feare not neither tremble ye at their sight because our Lord thy God him selfe is thy conductor and wil not leaue nor forsake thee â And Moyses called Iosue and said to him before al Israel Take courage and be strong for thou shalt bring in this people into the Land which our Lord sware that he would geue to their fathers and thou shalt diuide it by lotte â And our Lord that is your conductor him selfe wil be with thee he wil not leaue nor forsake thee feare not neither dread thou â Moyses therfore wrote this law and deliuered it to the priestes the sonnes of Leui which caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord and to al the ancientes of Israel â And he commanded them saying After seuen yeares in the yeare of remission in the solemnitie of tabernacles â when al come together out of Israel to appeare in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which our Lord shal choose thou shalt read the wordes of this law before al Israel they hearing â and the people being assembled together as wel men as wemen children and strangers that are within thy gates that hearing they may learne and feare our Lord your God and keepe and fulfil al the wordes of this law â Their children also who now are ignorant that they may heare and feare our Lord their God al the daies that they liue in the Land which passing ouer Iordan you goe to obteyne â And our Lord said to Moyses Behold the daies of thy death are nigh cal Iosue and stand ye in the tabernacle of testimonie that I may command him Moyses therfore and Iosue went and stoode in the tabernacle of testimonie â and our Lord appeared there in the piller of a cloude which stood in the entring of the tabernacle â And our Lord said to Moyses Behold thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers and this people rysing vp wil fornicate after strange goddes in the Land to the which it entreth to dwel therein there wil they forsake me and wil make the couenant which I haue made with them of none effect â And my furie shal be wrath against them in that day and I wil forsake them and wil hide my face from them and they shal be deuoured al euils and afflictions shal finde them so that they shal say
were heard and broken into peeces â and they went on to Iosue who then abode in the campe at Galgal and said to him and withal to al Israel We are come from a farre countrie desirous to make peace with you And the children of Israel answered them and said â Lest perhaps you dwel in the Land which is dew to vs by lotte and we can not enter a league with you â But they said to Iosue We are thy seruantes To whom Iosue said Who are you and whence came you â they answered From a very farre countrie are thy seruantes come in the name of the Lord thy God For we haue heard the fame of his might al thinges that he did in Aegypt â and to the two kinges of the Amorrheites that were beyond Iordan Sehon the king of Hesebon and Og the king of Basan that were in Astaroth â and our ancientes and al the inhabitantes of our Land said to vs Take in your handes victuals for a very long way and goe meete them and say We are your seruantes enter a league with vs. â Behold these loaues we tooke hotte when we departed from our houses to come to you now they are become drie and broken for ouer much oldenesse â the bottels of wine we filled being new now they are burst dissolued The garmentes and shoes that we haue vpon vs and which we haue on our feete for the length of the long way are worne and almost consumed â They tooke therfore of their victuals and asked not the mouth of our Lord. â And Iosue made peace with them and entring a league promised that they should not be slaine the princes also of the multitude sware to them â But three daies after that the league was made they heard that they dwelt nigh and they should be among them â And the children of Israel remoued the campe and came into their cities the third day whose names are these Gabaon and Chaphira and Beroth and Chariathiarim â And they stroke them not because the princes of the multitude had sworne in the name of our Lord the God of Israel Therfore al the common people murmured against the princes â Who answered them We haue sworne to them in the name of our Lord the God of Israel and therfore we may not touch them â But this we wil doe to them Let them be reserued in dede aliue lest the wrath of God be stirred against vs if we shal be forsworne â but so let them liue that for the vses of the whole multitude they hew wood and carie in water Who speaking these thinges â Iosue called the Gabaonites and said to them Why would you deceiue vs by fraude to say We dwel very farre of from you wheras you are in the middes of vs â Therfore you shal be vnder a curse and there shal not faile of your stocke a hewer of wood and a carier of water into the house of my God â Who answered It was told vs thy seruantes that the Lord thy God had promised Moyses his seruant that he would deliuer you al the Land and would destroy al the inhabitantes therof Therfore we feared excedingly and prouided for our liues coÌpelled by your terrour and we tooke this counsel â And now we are in thy hand that which seemeth vnto thee good and right doe to vs. â Iosue therfore did as he had said and deliuered them from the hand of the children of Israel that they should not be slaine â And he decreed in that day that they should be in the ministerie of al the people and of the altar of our Lord hewing wood and carying water vntil this present time in the place which our Lord hath chosen CHAP. X. âiue kinges of the Amorrheites besieging Gabaon because it is confederate with Israel 6. Iosue with his armie defeateth theirs killing and pursewing them 11. manie also are slaine with haile stones 12 At the prayer of Iosue the sunne and moone stand stil the space of one day 22. The fiue kinges are hanged on gibbetes 28. He taketh also and subdueth diuers cities 40. and countries VVHICH thinges when Adonisedec king of Ierusalem had heard to witte that Iosue had taken Hai and had subuerted it for as he had done to Iericho the king therof so did he to Hai their king and that the Gabaonites were fled to Israel and were their confederates â he was sore afrayd For Gabaon was a great cititie and one of the kinglie cities and greater then the towne of Hai and al their men of warre most valiant â Therfore Adonisedec king of Ierusalem sent to Oham king of Hebron and to Pharam king of Ierimoth to Iaphia also king of Lachis and to Dabir king of Eglon saying â Come vp to me and bring ayde that we may ouercome Gabaon because it reuolted to Iosue to the children of Israel â Therfore the fiue kinges of the Amorrheites being assembled went vp the king of Ierusulem the king of Hebron the king of Ierimoth the king of Lachis the king of Eglon together with their hostes camped about Gabaon assaulting it â But the inhabitantes of the citie Gabaon which was besieged sent to Iosue who then abode in the campe at Galgal said to him withdraw not thy handes from the helpe of thy seruantes come vp quickly and deliuer vs and bring ayde for there are assembled against vs al the kinges of the Ammorrheites which dwel in the mountaines â And Iosue went vp from Galgal and al the hoste of the men of warre with him most valiant men â And our Lord said to Iosue Feare them not for I haue deliuered them into thy handes none of them shal be able to resist thee â Iosue therfore came in vpon them sodenly going vp al the night from Galgal â And our Lord trubled them at the sight of Israel and destroyed them with a greate slaugher in Gabaon and pursewed them by the way of the ascent to Bethoron and stroke them vnto Azeca and Maceda â And when they fled the children of Israel and were in the descent of Bethhoron our Lord sent vpon them greate stones from heauen as farre as Azeca and there died farre more with the stones of haile then they whom the children of Israel had strooken with the sword â Then spake Iosue to our Lord in the day that he deliuered the Amorreite in the sight of Israel and said before them Thou Sunne against Gabaon moue not and thou Moone against the valley of Aialon â And the Sunne and Moone stoode stil til the people reuenged themselues of their enemies Is not this writren in the booke of the iust The Sunne therfore stood stil in the middes of heauen and hastened not to goe downe the space of one day â There was not before nor after so long a day our Lord obeying the voice of a man and fighting for Israel â And Iosue returned with al Israel
men dying They fel and were ouerthrowen on the east side of the citie of Gabaa â And there were that were slaine in the same place eightene thousand men al most valiant warryers â Which when they had seene that were remayning of BeniamÃn they fled into the wildernes and went on to the rocke the name wherof is Remmon In that flight also stragling and going diuers waies they slew fiue thousand men And whereas they went farder they pursewed them and slew also other two thousand â And so it came to passe that al which were slaine of Beniamin in diuerse places were fiue and twentie thousand one hundred fighting men most prompt to warres â There remayned therfore of al the number of Beniamin that could escape and flee into the wildernes six hundred men and they abode in the Rocke Remmon foure monethes â But the children of Israel retyring stroke al the remaines of the citie with the sword from men euen to beastes and al the cities and villages of Beniamin the deuouring flame did consume CHAP. XXI The tribe of Beniamin is repayred 8. by foure hundred virgins reserued in the slaughter of Iabes Galaad 19. and by other virgins taken that come forth of Silo to daunce THE children of Israel sware also in Maspha and said None of vs shal geue of his daughters to the children of Beniamin to wife â And they came al to the house of God in Silo and sitting in his sight vntil euening lifted vp their voice and with great wayling beganne to weepe saying Wherfore ô Lord God of Israel is this euil done in thy people that this day one tribe should be taken away out of vs â And on the morrow rising early they built an altar and offered there holocaustes and pacifique victimes and said â Who hath not ascended in the hoste of our Lord of al the tribes of Israel For they had bound them selues with a great othe when they were in Maspha that they should be slayne which had beene wanting â And the children of Israel being moued with repentance vpon their brother Beniamin beganne to say One tribe is taken away out of Israel â whence shal they take wiues For we haue al sworne in common that we wil not geue our daughters to them â Therfore they said Who is there of al the tribes of Israel that went not vp to our Lord into Maspha And behold the inhabitantes of Iabes Galaad were found not to haue bene in that armie â At that time also when they were in Silo none of them was found there â They sent therfore ten thousand the strongest men and commanded them Goe and strike the inhabitantes of Iabes Galaad in the edge of the sword as wel their wiues as their litle ones â And this shal be it which you shal obserue Al of the male kinde and wemen that haue knowen men kil ye but the virgins reserue â And there were found of Iabes Galaad foure hundred virgins that knew not mans bedde and they brought them to the campe in Silo into the Land of Chanaan â And they sent messengers to the children of Beniamin that were in Rocke Remmon and commanded them that they should receiue them in peace â And the children of Beniamin came at that time and there were geuen vnto them wiues of the daughters of Iabes Galaad but others they found not which they might geue them in like maner â And al Israel was very sorie and repented for the killing of one tribe out of Israel â And the ancientes said What shal we doe to the rest that haue not taken wiues For al the wemen in Beniamin are dead â And we must very carefully and with great studie prouide that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel â For our owne daughters we can not geue them being bound with an oath and a curse wherby we said Cursed be he that shal geue to Beniamin anie of his daughters to wife And they tooke counsail and said Behold there is an anniuersaire solemnitie of our Lord in Silo which is situate on the North of the citie of Bethel on the East side of the way that goeth from Bethel to Sichem and on the South of the towne of Lebona â And they commanded the children of Beniamin and said Goe and lie hidde in the vineyardes â And when you shal see the daughters of Silo come forth after the maner to lead daunses issue forth sodenly out of the vineyardes and catch of them euerie one his wife and goe into the Land of Beniamin â And when their fathers shal come and their brethren and shal beginne to complaine against you and to chide we wil say to them Haue pittie on them for they tooke them not away by the right of warryers and conquerours but when they desired to receiue them you gaue them not and on your part the fault was committed â And the children of Beniamin did as it had beene commanded them and according to their number they tooke away to them selues of those that ledde the daunses euerie one his wife and they went into their possession building cities and dwelling in them â The children of Israel also returned by their tribes and families into their tabernacles In those daies there was not a King in Israel but euerie one did that which semed right to him selfe THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF RVTH AMONGST other thinges that happened to the people of Israel in the time of the Iudges this historie of Ruth to witt her coming from Moab her conuersion to true Religion godlie conuersation and mariage with Booz of the tribe of Iuda is recorded as a more principal matter For that not onlie king Dauid but consequently also our SAVIOVR the Redemer of mankind descended from her VVherby was fore signified that as saluation thus proceded from the Gentiles together with the Iewes so the Gentiles are made partakers of the same grace More clerly prophecied as S. Hierom noteth by Isai cap. 16. saying Send forth ô Lord the lambe the Ruler of the earth from the Rocke of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion That is from Ruth the gentile to Hierusalem or rather to the Church This mariage of Ruth came to passe about the time of Abesan Iudge The booke was written as is most probable by Samuel and is diuided into foure chapters whose contentes folow in their places THE BOOKE OF RVTH CHAP. I. By occasion of famine Elimelech of Bethleem going with his wife Noemi and two sonnes into the Land of Moab there dieth 4. His sonnes marrie wiues of that countrie and die without issue 6. Noemi returning homewardes hardly perswadeth one of her daughters in law to part from her 15. The other called Ruth wil needes goe with her professing the same God and Religion 19. So these two arriue in Betheleem IN the dayes of one Iudge when the Iudges ruled there came a famine in the Land And there went a
conteyne his thankesgeuing to God for benefites receiued and prophecie of thinges to come with a catalogue of valiant men THE SECOND BOOKE OF SAMVEL WHICH WE CAL THE SECOND OF KINGES CHAP. 1. Dauid hearing that Saul and Ionathas are slaine 11. mourneth with al his familie weeping and fasting 13. causeth him to be slaine who affirmed that he had killed king Saul 18. He traineth vp archers 19. and inuiteth also al Israel to mourne AND it came to passe after that Saul was dead that Dauid returned from the slaughter of Amalec and taryed in Siceleg two dayes â And in the third day there appeared a man coming out of Sauls campe his garments torne and sprinkled on the head with dust and as he came to Dauid he fel vpon his face and adored â And Dauid said vnto him Whence comest thou Who said to him I fledde out of the campe of Israel â And Dauid said vnto him What is the matter that is done tel me Who said The people is fled out of the battel and many of the people are ouerthrowen and dead yca Saul also and Ionathas his sonne are dead â And Dauid said to the yong man that told him How knowest thou that Saul is dead and Ionathas his sonne â And the young man that told him sayd By chance I came into mount Gelboe and Saulleaned vpon his speare moreouer the chariots and horsemen approched vnto him â and turning backward and seing me he called To whom when I had answered here I am â he said to me Who art thou And I said to him I am an Amalecite â And he said to me Stand vpon me and kil me because anguishes hold me and as yet al my life is in me â And standing vpon him I killed him for I knewe that he could not liue after the fal and I tooke the Diademe that was on his head the bracelette from his arme and haue brought to thee my lord hither â And Dauid taking his garments rent them and al the men that were with him â and they mourned and wept and fasted vntil euening vpon Saul and vpon Ionathas his sonne and vpon the people of our Lord and vpon the house of Israel because they were fallen by the sword â And Dauid said to the yong man that had told him Whence art whou Who answered I am the sonne of a man a stranger of Amalec â Dauid said to him Why didst thou not feare to put to thy hand to kil the annointed of our Lord â And Dauid calling one of his seruants said Goe runne vpon him Who stroke him and he died â And Dauid said to him Thy bloud be vpon thine owne head for thyn owne mouth hath spoken against thee saying I haue slaine the annointed of our Lord. â And Dauid mourned this kind of mourning vpon Saul and vpon Ionathas his sonne â and he commanded that they should teach the children of Iuda the bowe as it is written in the Booke of the iust And he said Consider o Israel for them that be dead wounded vpon thy high places â The Nobles ô Israel are slayne vpon thy mountaynes how are the valiants fallen â Tel it not in Geth neither tel ye it in the high waies of Ascalon lest perhaps the daughters of the Philisthijms be gladde lest the daughters of the vncircumcised reioice â Mountaines of Gelboe let neither dew nor rayne come vpon you neither be they fields of the first fruits because there was the shield of the valiantes cast away the shield of Saul as though he were not annointed with oyle â From the bloud of the slaine from the fatte of the valiants the arrowe of Ionathas neuer returned backward and the sword of Saul did not returne emptie â Saul and Ionathas amiable and comely in their life in death also were not diuided swifter then eagles stronger then lyons â Yee daughters of Israel weepe vpon Saul who clothed you with scarlet in delicaces who gaue golden ornaments to your attyre â How haue the valiantes fallen in battel Ionathas bene slayne in thy high places â I am sorie for thee my brother Ionathas exceeding beautiful and amiable aboue the loue of wemen As the mother loueth her onlie sonne so did I loue thee â How haue the strong fallen and the weapons of warre perished CHAP. II. Dauid is receiued and annointed King of Iuda 5. He commendeth those of Iabes Galaad which buried Saul 8. Isboseth the sonne of Saul reigneth ouer the rest of Israel 12. whereby riseth sharpe warre betwen Abner and Ioab chief captaines of the two kinges 30. Manie more are slaine of Abners partie then of Ioabs THEREFORE after these thinges Dauid consulted our Lord saying Shal I goe vp into one of the cities of Iuda And our Lord said to him Goe vp And Dauid said Whit her shal I goe vp And he answered him Into Hebron â Dauid therefore went vp and his two wiues Achinoam the Iezrahelite and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel â yea and the men also that were with him Dauid brought euery one with his houshould and they abode in the townes of Hebron â And the men of Iuda came and annoynted Dauid there to reigne ouer the house of Iuda And it was told Dauid that the men of Iabes Galaad had buried Saul â Dauid therefore sent messengers vnto the men of Iabes Galaad and sayd vnto them Blessed be you to our Lord which haue done this mercie with your lord Saul and haue buried him â And now our Lord certes wil render you mercie and truth but I also wil requite you the good turne for that you haue done this thing â Let your handes be strengthned and be yee stout men for although your lord Saul be dead yet the house of Iuda hath annointed me to be their king â But Abner the sonne of Ner prince of Sauls armie tooke Isboseth the sonne of Saul led him about through the campe â and ordained him king ouer Galaad and ouer Gessuri and ouer Iezrahel ouer Ephraim and ouer Beniamin and ouer al Israel â Fourtie yeares old was Isboseth the sonne of Saul when he began to reigne ouer Israel and he reigned two yeares and only the house of Iuda folowed Dauid â And the number of the daies that Dauid abode reigning in Hebron ouer the house of Iuda was seuen yeares and six monethes â And Abner the sonne of Ner went forth and the seruantes of Isboseth the sonne of Saul out of the campe into Gabaon â Moreouer Ioab the sonne of Saruia and the seruants of Dauid went forth and mette them beside the poole of Gabaon and when they were come together into one place they sate one ouer against an other these on the one side of the poole and they on the other â And Abner said to Ioab Let the yong men rise and play before vs. And Ioab answered Let them rise â There rose therefore and passed twelue in number
sicke thus and thus shalt thou speake to her When she therfore entered in and dissembled to be that she was â Ahias heard the sound of her feete entring in at the doore and sayd Come in Ieroboams wife Why doest thou fayne thy self to be an other woman But I am sent to thee a heauie messenger â Goe and tel Ieroboam Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel Because I haue exalted thee out of the middes of the people and made thee prince ouer my people Israel â and haue rent the kingdom of the house of Dauid and geuen it to thee and thou haft not beene as my seruant Dauid who kept my commandementes and folowed me in al his hatt doing that which was wel liked in my sight â but hast wrought euil aboue al that haue beene before thee and hast made thee strange and molten goddes that thou mightest prouoke me to anger and hast reiected me behind thy backe â therfore behold I wil bring in euils vpon the house of Ieroboam and wil strike of Ieroboam him that pysseth to the wal and the inclosed and the vilest in Israel and I wil cleanse the remaynes of the house of Ieroboam as dung is wont to be cleansed til al be pure â They that shal die of Ieroboam in the citie them the dogges shal eate and they that shal die in the field them the foules of the ayre shal deuoure because our Lord hath spoken â Thou therfore arise and goe into thy house and in the verie entrance of thy feete into the citie the childe shal die â and al Israel shal mourne for him and shal burie him for this onlie of Ieroboam shal be brought into the sepulchre because vpon him hath beene found a good word from our Lord the God of Israel in the house of Ieroboam â And our Lord wil appoynt to him self a king ouer Israel that shal strike the house of Ieroboam in this day and in this time â and our Lord the God of Israel shal strike it as a reede is went to be moued in the water and he shal plucke out Israel from this good countrie which he gaue to their fathers and shal scatter them ouer the Riuer because they haue made to them selues groues to prouoke our Lord. â And our Lord shal deliuer Israel for the sinnes of Ieroboam who hath sinned made Israel to sinne â The wiâe therfore of Ieroboam arose and departed and came into Thersa and when she entered the threshold of the house the childe died â and they buried him And al Israel mourned for him according to the word of our Lord which he spake in the hand of his seruant Ahias the prophete â But the rest of the wordes of Ieroboam how he fought and how he reigned behold they are written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â And the daies that Ieroboam reigned are two and twentie yeares and he slept with his fathers and Nadab his sonne reigned for him â Moreouer Roboam the sonne of Salomon reigned in Iuda one and fourtie yeares old was Roboam when he began to reigne seuentene yeares reigned he in Ierusalem the citie which our Lord chose to put his name there of al the tribes of Israel And his mothers name was Naama an Ammonite â And Iudas did euil before our Lord and prouoked him aboue al thinges that their fathers had done in their sinnes which they sinned â For they also built them altars and statues and groues vpon euerie high hil and vnder euerie tree ful of grene leaues â yea and effeminates were in the land and they did al the abominations of the gentiles which our Lord destroyed before the face of the children of Israel â And in the fifth yeare of the reigne of Roboam Sesac the king of Aegypt came vp into Ierusalem â and tooke the treasures of the house of our Lord and the kinges treasures and al thinges he spoyled the shieldes also of gold which Salomon had made â for the which Roboam made brasen shieldes deliuered them into the hand of the captaynes of shield bearers and of them that kept watch before the doore of the kinges house â And when the king went into the house of our Lord they that had the office to goe before caried them and afterward they recaried them to the armourie of the shield bearers â And the rest of the wordes of Roboam al that he did behold they are written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda â And there was warre betwen Roboam and Ieroboam alwaies â And Roboam slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the citie of Dauid and his mothers name was Naama an Ammonite and Abias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XV. Abias reigneth wickedly in Iuda three yeares 8. After him his sonne Asa succeding destroyeth idolatrie reigning fourtie one yeares 16. VVho hauing wârres with the king of Israel maketh league with the king of Syria 24. Asâ dying Iosaphat succedeth 25. Nadab reigneth wickedly two yeares in Israel is then slaine by Baasa of the tribe of Issachar 29. and his whole familie is destroyed 33. Baasa also reigneth wickedly twentie foure yeares THERFORE in the eightenth yeare of king Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat Abias reigned ouer Iuda â Three yeares reigned he in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Maacha the daughter of Abessalom â And he walked in al the sinnes of his father which he had done before him neither was his hart perfect with our Lord his God as the hart of Dauid his father â But for Dauids sake our Lord his God gaue him a lampe in Ierusalem that he might rayse vp his sonne after him and establish Ierusalem â because Dauid had done right in the eies of our Lord and had not declined from al thinges which he commanded him al the daies of his life except the matter of Vrias the Hetheite â But there was warre betwen Roboam and Ieroboam al the time of his life â And the rest of the wordes of Abias and al that he did are they not written in the Booke of the wordes of the kinges of Iuda And there was warre betwen Abias and Ieroboam â And Abias slept with his fathers and they buried him in the citie of Dauid and Asa his sonne reigned for him â In the twenteth yeare therfore of Ieroboam the king of Israel reigned Asa the king of Iuda â And he reigned one fourtie yeares in Ierusalem His mothers name was Maaca the daughter of Abessalom â And Asa did right before the sight of our Lord as Dauid his father â and he tooke away the effemmare out of the land and he purged al the filth of the idols which his fathers had made â Moreouer he remoued also Maaca his mother that she should not be princesse in the sacrifices of Priapus and in the groue which she had consecrated and
he destroyed her denne and brake the most filthie idol and burnt it in the torrent cedron â but the excelses he did not take away Otherwise the hart of Asa was parfect with our Lord al his daies â and he caried in those thinges which his father had sanctified and vowed into the house of our Lord siluer and gold and vessels â And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies â Baasa also the king of Israel went vp into Iuda and built Rama that no man might go out or come in of Asaes side the king of Iuda â Asa therfore taking al the siluer and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of our Lord and in the treasures of the kinges house gaue it into the handes of his seruantes and he sent to Benadad the sonne of Tabremon the sonne of Hezion the king of Syria which dwelt in Damascus saying â There is a league betwen me and thee betwixt my father and thy father therfore I haue sent thee giftes siluer and gold and I desire thee that thou come and make void the league that thou hast with Baasa the king of Israel and he may retire from me â Benadad agreing to king Asa sent the princes of his armie into the citiees of Israel and they stroke Ahion and Dan and Abeldomum of Maacha and al Cenneroth to witte al the Land of Nephthali â Which when Baasa had heard he intermitted to build Rama and returned into Thersa â But king Asa sent word into al Iuda saying Let no man be excused and they tooke stones from Rama and the timber therof wherwith Baasa had built and Asa of it built Gabaa Beniamin and Maspha â But the rest of al the wordes of Asa and al his forces and al that he did the cities that he built are not these written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda How beit in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feete â And he slept with his fathers was buried with them in the citie of Dauid his father And Iosaphat his sonne reigned for him â But Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam reigned ouer Israel the second yeare of Asa the king of Iuda and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares â And he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord and walked in the waies of his father and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne â And Baasa the sonne of Ahias of the house of Issachar lay in wayte against him and stroke him in Gebbethon which is a citie of the Philistimes for Nadab and al Israel besieged Gebbethon â Baasa therfore slew him in the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda and reigned for him â And when he reigned he stroke al the house of Ieroboam he leaft not so much as one soule of his seede til he destroied him according to the word of our Lord which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias the Silonite â for the sinnes of Ieroboam which he had sinned and wherwith he had caused Israel to sinne and for the offence wherwith he prouoked our Lord the God of Israel â But the rest of the wordes of Nadab and al that he wrought are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies â In the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Baasa the sonne of Ahias ouer al Israel in Thersa foure and twentie yeares â And he did euil before our Lord walked in the waies of Ieroboam and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne CHAP. XVI Iehu for prophecying the destruction of Baasa and his house 7. is slaine 8. yet his sonne Ela reigneth tvvo yeares 9. Then Zambri rebelleth killeth Ela and reigneth 16. Part of the people choosing Amri prince of the armie their king 18. Zambri desperatly burneth himselfe and the kings palace 21. an other part folow Thebni as king til his death 23. Amri reigneth tvvelue yeares vvickedly 29. His sonne Achab succedeth marieth Iezabel and serueth Baal 34. In the meane time Hiel repairerâ Iericho AND the word of our Lord came to Iehu the sonne of Hanani agaynst Baasa saying â For so much as I haue exalted thee out of the dust sette thee duke ouer my people Israel but thou hast walked in the way of Ieroboam and hast made my people Israel to sinne that thou mightest anger me with their sinnes â behold I wil cut downe the posteritie of Baasa and the posteritie of his house and I wil make thy house as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat â Whosoeuer of Baasa shal die in the citie him shal the dogges eate and whosoeuer of his shal die in the countrie him shal the fowles of the ayre deuoure â But the rest of the wordes of Baasa and whatsoeuer he did and his battels are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â Baasa therfore slept with his fathers and was buried in Thersa and Ela his sonne reigned for him â And when the word of our Lord came in the hand of Iehu the sonne of Hanani the prophete agaynst Baasa and agaynst his house and agaynst al the euil that he had done before our Lord to anger him in the workes of his handes that it should be made as the house of Ieroboam for this cause he slew him that is to say Iehu the sonne of Hanani the prophete â In the sixe and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Ela the sonne of Baasa ouer Israel in Thersa two yeares â And his seruant Zambri rebelled agaynst him the captayne of the halfe part of the horsemen and Ela was in Thersa drinking and dronken in the house of Arsa the gouernour of Thersa â Zambri therfore rushing in stroke and slew him in the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda he reigned for him â And when he teigned and sate vpon his throne he stroke al the house of Baasa and he leaft not of it one that could pysse agaynst a wal his kinsfolke and frendes â And Zambri destroyed al the house of Baasa according to the word of our Lord that he had spoken to Baasa in the hand of Iehu the prophet â for al the sinnes of Baasa and the sinnes of Ela his sonne who sinned and made Israel to sinne prouoking our Lord the God of Israel in their vanities â But the rest of the wordes of Ela and al that he did are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â In the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Zambri seuen daies in Thersa moreouer the armie besieged Gebbethon a citie of the Philisthines â And
when they heard that Zambri had rebelled and slayne the king al Israel made Amri their king who was General of the warfare ouer Israel that day in the campe â Amri therfore went vp and al Israel with him from Gebbethon and they besieged Thersa â And Zambri seing that the citie should be taken he went into the palace and burnt him self with the kinges house and he died â in his sinnes which he had sinned doing euil before our Lord and walking in the way of Ieroboam and in his sinne wherwith he made Israel to sinne â But the rest of the wordes of Zambri and of his treason and tyrannie are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel â Then was the people of Israel diuided into two partes the halfe part of the people folowed Thebni the sonne of Gineth to make him king and the halfe part Amri â But the people that was with Amri preuayled ouer the people that folowed Thebni the sonne of Gineth and Thebni died and Amri reigned â In the one and thirteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda Amri reigned ouer Israel twelue yeares in Thersa he reigned six yeares â And he bought the mount of Samaria of Somer for two talentes of siluer and he built it and he called the citie which he had built by the name of Semer the lord of the mount of Samaria â And Amri did euil in the sight of our Lord and wrought wickedly aboue al that were before him â And he walked in al the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne that they might anger our Lord the God of Israel in their vanities â But the rest of the wordes of Amri and the battels he made are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the battels that he made are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â And Amri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria and Achab his sonne reigned for him â But Achab the sonne of Amri reigned ouer Israel the eight and thirteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda And Achab the sonne of Amri reigned ouer Israel in Samiaria two and twentie yeares â And Achab the sonne of Amri did euil in the sight of our Lord aboue al that were before him â Neither did it suffice him that he walked in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat besides he tooke to wife Iezabel the daughter of Ethbaul the king of the Sidonians And he went and serued Baal and adored him â And he sette an altar to Baal in the temple of Baal which he had built in Samaria â and he planted a groue and Achab added in his worke prouoking our Lord the God of Israel aboue al the kinges of Israel that were before him â In his daies Hiel of Bethel built Iericho in Abiram his first borne he founded it and in Segub his last he sette vp the gates therof according to the word of our Lord which he spake in the hand of Iosue the sonne of Nun. CHAP. XVII Elias by his prayer âhutteth the heauen from raining 2. Is fed by a crovv 8 and by a vvidovv of Sareptha 13. vvhose potte of meale and barrel of oyle diminisheth not 17. Her sonne dieth and is raysed to life AND Elias the Thesbite of the inhabiters of Galaad said to Achab Our Lord liueth the God of Israel in whose sight I stand if there shal be these yearer dew and rayne but according to the wordes of my mouth â And the word of our Lord came to him saying â Depart from hence and goe agaynst the East and be hidde in the Torrent carith which is agaynst Iordan â and there thou shalt drinke of the torrent and I haue commanded the rauens that they feede thee there â He therfore went and did according to the word of our Lord and when he was gone he sate in the Torrent carith which is against Iordan â The rauens also brought him bread and flesh in the morning in like maner bread and flesh in the euening and he dranke of the torrent â But after certayne daies the torrent was dried for it bad not rayned vpon the earth â Therfore the word of our Lord came to him saying â Arise and goe into Sareptha of the Sidonians and thou shalt tarie there for I haue commanded a wydow woman there to feede thee â He arose and went into Sareptha And when he was come to the gate of the citie the wydow woman appeared to him gathering stickes and he called her and sayd to her Geue me a litle water in a vessel that I may drinke â And when she went to fetch it he cried after her saying Bring me also I beseche thee a morsel of bread in thy hand â Who answered Our Lord thy God liueth I haue no bread but so much meale in a potte as a hand can hold and a litle oile in a vessel behold I gather two stickes that I may goe in and dresse it for me and my sonne that we may eate and die â To whom Elias sayd feare not but goe and doe as thou hast sayd but first make for me of the same meale a litle harth cake and bring it to me and for thy self and thy sonne thou shalt make afterward â For thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel The potte of meale shal not fayle nor the vessel of oile be diminished vntil the day wherin our Lord wil geue rayne vpon the face of the earth â Who went and did according to the word of Elias and he did eate and she and her house and from that day â the pot of meale fayled not and the vessel of oyle was not diminished according to the word of our Lord which he spake in the hand of Elias â And it came to passe after these thinges the sonne of the woman the goodwife of the house fel sicke and the sickenesse was verie vehement so that there remayned no breath in him â She therfore sayd to Elias What is to me and thee thou man of God comest thou vnto me that myne iniquities might be remembred and thou mightest kil my sonne â And Elias sayd to her Geue me thy sonne And he tooke him from her bosome and caried him into the vpper chamber where him self abode and layd him vpon his bed â And he cried to our Lord and sayd O Lord my God what the widow also with whom I am after a sort susteyned hast thou afflicted that thou wouldest kil her sonne â And he stretched forth measured him selfe vpon the childe three tymes he cried to our Lord and sayd O. Lord my God let the soule of this childe I beseche thee returne into his bodie â And our Lord heard the voice of Elias and the soule of the child returned into him and he reuiued
prophetes about foure hundred men and he sayd to them Shal I goe into Ramoth Galaad to fight or sitte stil Who answered Goe vp and our Lord wil geue it into the kinges hand â And Iosaphat sayd Is there not here some prophete of our Lord that we may aske by him â And the king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat There is one man leaft by whom we may aske our Lord but I hate him because he doeth not prophecie vnto me good but euil Micheas the sonne of Iemla To whom Iosaphat sayd Speake not so ô king â The king of Israel therfore called a certaine eunuch and sayd to him Make hast and bring hither Micheas the sonne of Iemla â And the king of Israel and Iosaphat the king of Iuda sate eche in his throne clothed with royal attyre in a court beside the doore of the gate of Samaria and al the prophetes prophecied before them â Sedecias the sonne of Chanaana made him self hornes of yron and sayd Thus sayth our Lord With these shalt thou strike Syria til thou destroy it â And al the prophetes in like maner prophecied saying Ascend into Ramoth Galaad and goe prosperousely our Lord wil deliuer it into the Kinges handes â But the messenger that went to cal Micheas spake to him saying Behold the wordes of the prophetes with one mouth preach good thinges to the king let thy word therfore be like to theirs and speake good thinges â To whom Micheas sayd Our Lord liueth whatsoeuer our Lord shal tel me that wil I speake â He therfore came to the king and the king sayd to him Micheas shal we goe into Ramoth Galaad to sight or sitte stil To whom he answered Ascend and goe prosperousely and our Lord wil deliuer it into the kinges handes â But the king sayd to him I adiure thee agayne and agayne that thou speake not to me but that which is true in the name of our Lord. â And he sayd I saw al Israel dispersed in the mountaynes as sheepe not hauing a shepeheard and our Lord sayd These haue no maister let euerie man returne into his house in peace â Therfore the king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat Did I not tel thee that he doeth not prophecie me good but alwaies euil â But he adding sayd Therfore heare the word of our Lord I saw our Lord sitting vpon his throne and al the hoste of heauen assisting him on the right hand and on the left â and our Lord sayd Who shal deceiue Achab the king of Israel that he may goe vp and fal in Ramoth Galaad And one sayd these maner of wordes and an other otherwise â And there came forth a spirit and stood before our Lord and sayd I wil deceiue him To whom our Lord spake Wherein â And he sayd I wil goe forth and be a lying spirit in the mouth of al his prophetes And our Lord sayd Thou shalt deceiue and shalt preuayle goe forth and doe so â Now therfore behold our Lord hath geuen the spirite of lying in the mouth of al thy prophetes that are here and our Lord hath spoken euil agaynst thee â And Sedecias the sonne of Chananna came and smote Micheas on the cheeke and sayd Hath the Spirit of our Lord leaft me and hath it spoken to thee â And Micheas sayd Thou shalt see in that day when thou shalt enter into thy chamber within the chamber to be hid â And the king of Israel sayd Take Micheas and let him tarie with Amon the gouernour of the citie and with Ioab the sonne of Amelech â and tel them Thus sayth the king Cast this man into prison and feede him with bread of tribulation and water of distresse til I returne in peace â And Micheas sayd If thou returne in peace our Lord hath not spoken in me And he sayd Heare al ye peoples â Therfore the king of Israel went vp and Iosaphat the king of Iuda into Ramoth Galaad â The king of Israel therfore sayd to Iosaphat Take armour and goe into the battel and put on thyne owne garmentes Moreouer the king of Israel changed his habite and went into the battel â And the king of Syria had commanded the princes of his chariotes thirtie and two saying You shal not fight agaynst any lesser or greater but agaynst the king of Israel onlie â When therfore the princes of the chariotes had seene Iosaphat they suspected that he was the king of Israel and making a violent assault they fought agaynst him Iosaphat cried out â And the princes of the chariotes perceiued that he was not the king of Israel and they ceased from him â And a certaine man bent his bow directing the arrow at al aduenture and by chance he stroke the king of Israel betwen the lunges and the stomacke But he sayd to his cochere Turne thy hand and carrie me out of the armie because I am greuousely wounded â The battel therfore was fought that day and the king of Israel stood in his chariote agaynst the Syrians and he died in the euening the bloud of the wound ranne into the middes of the chariote â and the herauld sounded in al the armie before the sunne sette saying Euerie man returne into his citie and into his countrie â And the king died and was carried into Samaria and they buried the king in Samaria â and washed his chariote in the poole of Samaria and the dogges licked his bloud and they washed the raynes of the bridle according to the word of our Lord which he had spoken â But the rest of the wordes of Achab and al that he did and the house of yuorie that he built and of al the cities that he built are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â Achab therfore slept with his fathers and Ochozias his sonne reigned for him â But Iosaphat the sonne of Asa began to reigne ouer Iuda the fourth yeare of Achab the king of Israel â Fiue and thirtie yeares old was he when he began to reigne and fiue and twentie yeares he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Azuba the daughter of Salai â And he walked in al the way of Asa his father and he declined not from it and he did that which was right in the sight of our Lord. â But yet he tooke not away the excelses for as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense in the excelses â And Iosaphat had peace with the king of Israel â But the rest of the wordes of Iosaphat and his workes which he did and his battels are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda â Yea and the remnant of the effeminate which remayned in the daies of Asa his father he tooke out of the land â Neither was there then a king appoynted in Edom. â But king Iosaphat had made nauies
on the sea which should saile into Ophir for gold and they could not goe because they were broken in Asiongaber â Then sayd Ochozias the sonne of Achab to Iosaphat Let my seruantes goe with thy seruantes in the shippes And Iosaphat would not â And Iosaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the Citie of Dauid his father and Ioram his sonne reigned for him â And Ochozias the sonne of Achab began to reigne ouer Israel in Samaria in the seuententh yeare of Iosaphat the king of Iuda and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares â And he did euil in the sight of our Lord and walked in the way of his father and his mother and in the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne â He serued also Baal and adored him and prouoked our Lord the God of Israel according to al thinges which his father had done THE ARGVMENT OF THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF KINGES THIS fourth booke prosecuteth the historie of the two Kingdomes of Iuda and Israel to the seueral captiuities of them both Shewing manie special vertues and heroical actes of good Kinges Prophetes and other godlie persons and diuers crimes of the wicked For in Iuda were some good kinges highly commended some euil whom God spared in this world for Dauids sake So that in both sortes King Dauids seede continued in his throne and royal state first in the twelue tribes afterward in two nere foure hundred fourscore yeares And after the captiuitie as wil appeare in the age ensuing it was conserued in honour and estimation til Christ our Sauiour But in the Kingdome of Israel or tenne tribes which stood about two hundred fiftie yeares was great change by raysing and extirpating royal families Al their kinges were bad yet partly were set vp by God himself partly suffered to reigne and in both Kingdomes were true and false prophetes God vsing the ministerie of al to his owne glorie the good of his Church and punishment of others and sometimes of themselues So this booke may be diuided into two partes In the seuentene former chapters are recorded ioyntly and mixtly the principal thinges donne in both kingdomes til the captiuitie of the tenne tribes The other eight chapters conteine other thinges donne in Iuda vntil their captiuitie in Babylon THE FOVRT BOOKE OF KINGES ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWES THE SECOND OF MALACHIM CHAP. I. Ochozias King of Israel consulting Beelzebub for his sicknes is blamed by Elias and fortold that he shal die 9. Fire from heauen deuoureth two capitaines with ech of them fiftie men 13. The third by his more modestie escapeth the like danger 15. With him Elias cometh to the King 17. The same King dieth and his brother Ioram succedeth AND Moab moued warre agaynst Israel after that âchab was dead â And Ochozias fel through the âanchions of his vpper chamber which he had in Samaria and was sicke and he sent messengers saying to them Goe consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron whether I may liue of this my infirmitie â And an Angel of our Lord spake to Elias the Thesbite saying Arise and goe vp to meete the messengers of the king of Samaria and thou shal say to them What is there not a God in Israel that ye goe to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron â Wherfore thus saith our Lord From the bed on which thou art ascended thou shalt not goe downe but dying thou shalt die And Elias went away â And the messengers returned to Ochozias Who said to them Why are you returned â But they answered him A man mette vs and sayd to vs Goe and returne to the king that sent you and you shal say to him Thus saith our Lord Doest thou therfore send to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron because there was no God in Israel Therfore from the bed which thou art vpon thou shalt not goe downe but dying thou shalt dye â Who said to them What shape and habite had that man which mette you and spake these wordes â But they said A hearie man and girded about his raines with a girdle of lether Who said It is Elias the Thesbite â And he sent vnto him a captaine of fiftie men and the fiftie that were vnder him Who went vp and sayd to him sitting in the toppe of the mount Man of God the king hath commanded that thou come downe â And Elias answering sayd to the captaine of fiftie men If I be a man of God let fyre come downe from heauen and deuoure thee and thy fiftie Fyre therfore came downe from heauen and deuoured him and the fiftie men that were with him â And he sent againe vnto him an other captaine of fiftie men and his fiftie with him Who spake to him Man of God Thus saith the king Make hast come downe â Elias answering said If I be a man of God let fyre come downe from heauen and deuoure thee and thy fiftie Fyre therfore came downe from heauen and deuoured him and his fiftie â Agayne he sent a third captaine of fiftie men and the fiftie that were with him Who when he was come bowed his knees toward Elias and prayed him and sayd Man of God despise not my life and the liues of thy seruantes that are with me â Behold fyre came downe from heauen and hath deuoured the two first captaynes of fiftie men and the fifties that were with them but now I besech the that thou haue mercie on my life â And an Angel of our Lord spake to Elias saying Goe downe with him feare not He therfore arose and went downe with him to the king â and spake to him Thus saith our Lord Because thou hast sent messengers to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron as though there were not a God in Israel of whom thou mightest aske the word therfore from the bed which thou art ascended vpon thou shalt not descend but dying thou shalt die â He died therfore according to the word of our Lord which Elias spake Ioram his brother reigned for him in the second yeare of Ioram the sonne of Iosaphat the king of Iuda for he had no sonne â But the rest of the wordes of Ochozias which he wrought are not these written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel CHAP. II. Eliseus wil not part from Elias 7. Fiftie disciples folow them to Iordan 8. The water is diuided by Elias cloke and they two passe the drie chanel 9. Elias is assumpted in a firie chariote and his duble spirite is geuen to Eliseus 13. Who returning by like miraculous meanes ouer Iordan the disciples receiue and honour him as their religious Superiour 16. They seeke Elias but find him not 19. Eliseus amendeth the waters by casting in salt 23. Boyes are torne by bearâs for mocking Eliseus AND it came to passe when our Lord would take vp Elias by a hurle winde into heauen Elias and
sonne of Iosaphat the king of Iuda â He was two and thirtie yeares old when he began to reigne and he reigned eight yeares in Ierusalem â And he walked in the waies of the kinges of Israel as the house of Achab had walked for the daughter of Achab was his wife and he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord. â But our Lord would not destroy Iuda for Dauid his seruant as he had promised him to geue him a lampe to him and to his children alwaies â In his daies reuolted Edom from being vnder Iuda and made to it self a king â And Ioram came to Seira and al the chariotes with him and he arose in the night and stroke the Idumeans that had beset him and the captaynes of the chariotes and the people fled into their tabernacles â Edom therfore reuolted from being vnder Iuda vntil this day Then Lobna also reuolted at that time â But the rest of the wordes of Ioram and al that he did are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the kinges of Iuda â And Ioram slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the Citie of Dauid and Ochozias his sonne reigned for him â In the twelfth yeare of Ioram the sonne of Achab the king of Israel reigned Ochozias the sonne of Ioram the king of Iuda â Two and twentie yeares old was Ochozias when he began to reigne and he reigned one yeare in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Athalia the daughter of Amri the king of Israel â And he walked in the waies of the house of Achab and he did that which is euil before our Lord as the house of Achab for he was the sonne in lawe of the house of Achab. â He went also with Ioram the sonne of Achab to fight agaynst Hazael the king of Syria in Ramoth Galaad and the Syrians wounded Ioram â Who returned to be cured in Iezrahel because the Syrians wounded him in Ramoth fighting agaynst Hazael the king of Syria Moreouer Ochozias the sonne of Ioram the king of Iuda went downe to visite Ioram the sonne of Achab into Iezrahel because he was sicke there CHAP. IX Iehu is anointed king of Israel 7. to destroy the house of Athab and Iezabel 14. He presently killeth Ioram king of Israel 27. Likewise Ochozias king of Iuda 30. also Iezabel who is eaten by dogges AND Eliseus the prophete called one of the children of the prophetes and sayd to him Girde thy loynes and take this litle boxe of oyle in thy hand and goe into Ramoth Galaad â And when thou shalt come thither thou shalt see Iehu the sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Namsi and going in thou shalt rayse him out of the middes of his brethren and shalt bring him into an innter chamber â And holding the litle boxe of oyle thou shalt powre vpon his head and shalt say Thus sayth our Lord I haue anoynted thee king ouer Israel And thou shalt open the doore and flee and shalt not stay there â The yongman therfore the childe of a prophete went into Ramoth Galaad â and entered in thither and behold the captaynes of the armie sate and he sayd I haue a word to thee o prince And Iehu sayd to whom of vs al But he sayd To thee o prince â And he arose and went into the chamber but he powred oyle vpon his head and sayd Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel I haue anoynted thee king ouer the people of the Lord of Israel â and thou shalt strike the house of Achab thy maister and I wil reuenge the bloud of my seruantes the prophetes and the bloud of al the seruantes of the Lord of the hand of Iezabel â And I wil destroy al the house of Achab and wil kil of Achab him that pisseth agaynst a wal and the shut vp and the meanest in Israel â And I wil make the house of Achab as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat and as the house of Baasa the sonne of Ahias â Iezabel also the dogges shal eate in the field of Iezrahel neither shal there be anie to burie her And he opened the doore and fled â And Iehu went forth to his maisters seruantes Who said to him Are al thinges wel Why came this madde man to thee Who sayd to them You know the man and what he spake â But they answered It is false but rather doe thou tel vs. Who sayd to them Thus and thus he spake to me and he sayd Thus sayth our Lord I haue anoynted thee king ouer Israel â They therfore made hast and euerie man taking his mantel layd it vnder his feete after the similitude of a iudgement seate they sounded the trumpet and sayd Iehu hath the kingdom â Iehu therfore the sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Namsi conspired agaynst Ioram Moreouer Ioram had besieged Ramoth Galaad he and al Israel agaynst Hazael the king of Syria â and was returned to be cuted in Iezrael of the woundes for the Syrians had wounded him fighting against Hazael the king of Syria And Iehu sayd If it please you let no man goe forth fugitiue out of the citie leât he goe and tel in Iezrahel â And he mounted and went into Iezrahel for Ioram was sicke there and Ochozias the king of Iuda was come downe to visite Ioram â The watchman therfore that stood vpon the toure of Iezrahel saw the troupe of Iehu coming said I see a troupe And Ioram said Take a Chariote and send to meete them and let him that goeth say Are al thinges wel â He went therfore that was gotten vp into the chariote to meete him and sayd Thus saith the king Are al thinges peaceable And Iehu sayd What hast thou to doe with peace passe and folow me The watchman also told saying The messenger came to them returneth not â He sent also the second chariote of horses and he came to them and said Thus sayth the king Is there peace And Iehu sayd What hast thou to doe with peace passe and folow me â And the watchman told saying He is come as far as they returneth not and it is the pace as it were the pace of Iehu the sonne of Namsi for he goeth amayne â And Ioram sayd Make readie the chariote And they made readie his chariote and Ioram the king of Israel went forth and Ochozias the king of Iuda ech in their chariotes and they went forth to meete Iehu and found him in the field of Naboth the Iezrahelite â And when Ioram had seene Iehu he sayd Is there peace Iehu But he answered What peace The fornications of Iezabel thy mother and her manie sorceries are in their vigour â And Ioram turned his hand and fleing sayd to Ochozias Treason Ochozias â Moreouer Iehu bent his bow with his hand and stroke Ioram betwen the shoulders and the arrow went out through his hart and immediatly he fel in his chariote â
them forth garmentes â And Iehu going in and Ionadab the sonne of Rechab into the temple of Baal sayd to the worshippers of Baal Search and see leât perhaps there be any with you of the seruantes of the Lord but that there be the seruantes of Baal onlie â They therfore went in to make victimes and holocaustes but Iehu had prepared him without fourescore men and sayd to them Whosoeuer shal escape of these men whom I wil bring into your handes his life shal be for the life of him â And it came to passe when the holo causte was ended Iehu commanded his souldiars and captaynes Goe in and strike them let none escape And the souldiars and captaynes stroke them in the edge of the sword and cast them forth and they went into the citie of the temple of Baal â and brought forth the statue out of Baals temple and burnt it â and brake it in peeces They destroyed also the temple of Baal and made a iakes for it vntil this day â Iehu therfore destroyed Baal out of Israel â but yet from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne he departed not neither forsooke he the golden calues that were in Bethel and Dan. â And our Lord sayd to Iehu Because thou hast diligently done that which was right and that pleased in mine eies and hast done al thinges that were in my hart against the house of Achab thy children shal sitte vpon the throne of Israel to the fourth generation â Moreouer Iehu obserued not to walke in the law of our Lord the God of Israel in al his hart for he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam who had made Israel to sinne â In those daies our Lord began to be wearie of Israel and Hazael smote them in al the costes of Israel â from Iordan agaynst the East quarter al the land of Galaad and Gad and Ruben and Manasses from Aroer which is vpon the Torrent Arnon and Galaad and Basan â But the rest of the wordes of Iehu al that he did and his strength are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel â And Iehu slept with his fathers and they buried him in Samaria and Ioachaz his sonne reigned for him â And the dayes which Iehu reigned ouer Israel be eight and twentie yeares in Samaria CHAP. XI Athalia killing al the kinges progenie except loas who is saued by his aunt vsurpeth the kingdome 4. But the seuenth yeare Ioiada the high priest crowneth loas king 13. causeth Athalia to be slaine 17. and maketh couenant betwen God the king and the people BVT Athalia the mother of Ochozias seing her sonne dead arose and slew al the kinges seede â But Iosaba king Iorams daughter the sister of Ochozias taking Ioas the sonne of Ochozias stole him out of the middes of the kinges children that were slaine and his nurce out of the bedchamber and hid him from the face of Athalia that he should not be slaine â And he was with her sixe yeares secretly in the house of our Lord. Moreouer Athalia reigned ouer the land â And in the seuenth yeare Ioiada sent and taking the centurions and the souldiars brought them in to him into the temple of our Lord and made a couenant with them and adiuring them in the house of our Lord shewed them the kinges sonne â and commanded them saying This is the thing which you must doe â Let the third part of you goe in on the Sabbath and keepe the watch of the kinges house And let a third part be at the gate Sur let a third part be at the gate behind the dwelling of the shildebearers and you shal keepe the watch of the house of Messa â But let two partes of you al that goe forth on the Sabbath keepe the watch of the house of our Lord about the king â And you shal gard him round about hauing weapons in your hands if anie man shal enter the precinct of the temple let him be slaine and you shal be with the king coming in going out â And the centurions did according to al thinges that Ioiada the priest had commanded them euerie one taking their men that went in on the Sabbath with them that went out in the Sabbath came to Ioiada the priest â Who gaue them the speares the weapons of king Dauid which were in the house of our Lord. â And they stood euerie one hauing their weapons in their hand on the right side of the temple vnto the leaft side of the altar of the temple about the king â And he brought forth the kinges sonne and put vpon him the diademe and the couenant and they made him king and anoynted him and clapping with the hand sayd God saue the king â And Athalia heard the voice of people running and she going in to the multitudes into the temple of our Lord â saw the king standing vpon the tribunal seate according to the maner and the singers and trumpettes nere him and al the people of the land reioysing and sounding the trumpettes and she rent her garmentes and cried A conspiracie a conspiracie â But Ioiada commanded the centurions that were ouer the armie and sayd to them Lead her forth without the precinct of the temple and whosoeuer shal folow her let him be striken with the sword For the priest had sayd Let her not be slaine in the temple of our Lord. â And they layd handes on her and threw her by the way of the entrance of the horses beside the palace and she was slaine there â Ioiada therfore made a couenant betwen our Lord and the king and betwen the people that it should be the people of our Lord and betwen the king and the people â And al the people of the land entered into the temple of Baal and destroyed his altars and his images they brake in peces stoutly Mathan also the priest of Baal they slew before the altar And the priest sette gardes in the house of our Lord. â And he tooke the centurious and the legions of Cerethi and Phelethi and al the people of the land and they brought the king from the house of our Lord and they came by the way of the gate of the shildebearers into the palace and he sate vpon the throne of the kinges â And al the people of the land reioysed and the citie was quiet but Athalia was slaine with the sword in the kinges house â And Ioas was seuen yeares old when he began to reigne CHAP. XII Ioas vvilleth the priestes to repaire vvhat needeth in the temple receiuing al the money offered there 6. vvhich they not performing the high priest prouideth that al is amended 16. the priestes receiuing only the money due to themselues 17. Hazael king of Syria taking Geth and threitning Ierusalem is pacified vvith money 19. Ioas is
traitarously slaine by his seruantes and his sonne Amasias reigneth IN the seuenth yeare of Iehu reigned Ioas and he reigned fourtie yeares in Ierusalem The name of his mother was Sebia of Bersabee â And Ioas did right before our Lord al the daies that Ioiada the priest taught him â But yet the excelses he tooke not away for the people immolated burnt incense in the excelses â And Ioas sayd to the priestes Al the money of the sanctified thinges which is brought into the temple of our Lord by the passengers which is offered for the price of a soule and which of their owne accord and of their owne free hart they bring into the temple of our Lord â let the priestes take it according to their order and maynteine reparations of the house if they shal see any thing that needeth reparation â Therfore vntil the three and twenteth yeare of king Ioas the priestes did not make reparations of the temple â And king Ioas called Ioiada the high priest and the priestes saying to them Why make you not the reparations of the temple Take you therfore money no more according to your order but render it to the reparation of the temple â And the priestes were prohibited to take money anie more of the people and to make the reparations of the temple â And Ioiada the high priest tooke a treasurie and opened a hole in the toppe and sette it by the altar at the right hand of them that goe into the house of our Lord and the priestes that kept the doores did cast into it al the money that was brought to the temple of our Lord. â And when they saw that there was very much money in the treasurie the kinges scribe and the high priest went vp and powred it out and counted the money that was found in the house of our Lord â and they gaue it according to number and measure into their hand which did ouersee the masons of the house of our Lord who bestowed it on carpenters and on masons such as wrought in the house of our Lord â and made reparations and on them that hewed stones and that they should bye trees and stones that were hewed so that the reparation of the house of our Lord was accomplished in al thinges which had neede of cost to vphold the house â But yet there were not made of the same money the watter pottes of the temple of our Lord and the fleshhookes and censars and trumpets and euerie vessel of gold and siluer of the money that was brought into the temple of our Lord. â For it was geuen them that did the worke that the temple of our Lord might be repayred â and there was no account made with those men that receiued the money to distribute it to the craftes men but vpon their fidelitie they bestowed it â But the money for offence the money for sinnes they brought not into the temple of our Lord because it was the priestes â Then Hazael the king of Syria went vp and fought agaynst Geth and tooke it and directed his face to goe vp to Ierusalem â For which cause Ioas the king of Iuda tooke al the sanctified thinges which Iosaphat and Ioram and Ochozias his fathers the kinges of Iuda had consecrated and which him self had offered and al the siluer that could be found in the treasures of the temple of our Lord and in the kinges palace and sent it to Hazael the king of Syria and he retyred from Ierusalem â But the rest of the wordes of Ioas and al that he did are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda â And his seruantes arose and conspired among them selues and stroke Ioas in the house of Mello in the descent of Sella â For Iosachar the sonne of Semaath and Iozabad the sonne of Somer his seruantes stroke him and he died and they buried him with his fathers in the citie of Dauid and Amasias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XIII Ioachaz King of Israel is afflicted by the Syrians 4. and deliuered 6. Yet destroyeth not idolatrie 8. dieth and his sonne Ioas foloweth his euil steppes â4 Eliseus being sicke willeth the king to shoote 18. and to strike the earth who striking thrise is told that he shal thrise strike the Syrians 20. Eliseus dieth and a dead men is reuiued touching his bones 22. Ioas recouereth that which the Syrians âad taken from Israel IN the three and twenteth yeare of Ioas the sonne of Ochozias the king of Iuda reigned Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu ouer Israel in Samaria seuentene yeares â And he did euil before our Lord and folowed the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne and declined not from them â And the furie of our Lord was wrath agaynst Israel and he deliuered them into the hand of Hazael the king of Syria and into the hand of Benadad the sonne of Hazael alwaies â But Ioachaz besought the face of our Lord and our Lord heard him for he saw the distresse of Israel that the king of Syria had broken them â and our Lord gaue a sauiour to Israel and they were deliuered out of the hand of the king of Syria and the children of Israel dwelt in their tabernacles as yesterday and the day before â But yet they departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam who made Israel to sinne but they walked in them for the grone also remayned in Samaria â And there were leaft to Ioachaz of the people but fiftie horsemen and ten chariotes and ten thousand footmen for the king of Syria had slaine them and had brought them as dust by threshing in the barne floore â But the rest of the wordes of Ioachaz and al that he did and his strength are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â And Ioachaz slept with his fathers they buried him in Samaria and Ioas his sonne reigned for him â In the seuen and thirteth yeare of Ioas the king of Iuda reigned Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz ouer Israel in Samaria sixtene yeares â and he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord he declined not from al the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne but he walked in them â But the rest of the wordes of Ioas and al that he did and his strength how he fought agaynst Amasias the king of Iuda are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel â And Ioas slept with his fathers but Ieroboam sate vpon his throne Moreouer Ioas was buried in Samaria with the kinges of Israel â And Eliseus was sicke of an infirmitie wherof also he died and Ioas the king of Israel went downe to him and wept before him and sayd My father my father the chariote of Israel and the
garder therof â And Eliseus sayd to him fetch a bow and arrowes And when he had brought him a bow and arrowes â he sayd to the king of Israel Put thy hand vpon the bow And when he had put his hand Eliseus put his handes ouer the kinges handes â and sayd Open the east window And when he had opened it Eliseus sayd Shote an arrow And he shot And Eliseus sayd The arrow of the saluation of our Lord and the arrow of saluation agaynst Syria and thou shalt strike Syria in Aphec til thou consume it â And he sayd Take vp the arrowes Who when he had taken them agayne he sayd to him Strike the earth with a iauelin And when he had striken three times and stood stil â the man of God was angrie with him sayd If thou hadst striken fiue or six or seuen times thou hadst striken Syria euen to destruction but now three times shalt thou strike it â Eliseus therfore died and they buried him And the rouers of Moab came into the land the same yeare â And certayne persons burying a man saw the rouers and threw the bodie in the sepulchre of Eliseus Which when it had touched the bones of Eliseus the man reuiued and stood vpon his feete â Hazael therfore the king of Syria afflicted Israel al the daies of Ioachaz â and our Lord had mercie on them and returned to them for his couenant which he had with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and he would not destroy them nor vtterly cast them away vntil this present time â And Hazael the king of Syria died and Benadad his sonne reigned for him â Moreouer Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz tooke the cities out of the hand of Benadad the sonne of Hazael which he had taken out of the hand of Ioachaz his father by the right of warre three times did Ioas strike him and he deliuered the cities to Israel CHAP. XIIII Amasias king of Iudakilleth those that had slaine his father 7. and striketh Edom. 8. Prouoking Ioas king of Israel to warre receiueth a contemtible answer 11. prouoking againe is beaten in battle and Ierusalem is ransact 15. Ioas dieth and his sonne Ieroboam foloweth the bad steppes of the first Ieroboam yet recouereth manie places lost before and dying his sonne Zacharias reigneth IN the second yeare of Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel reigned Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda â Fiue and twentie yeares old was he when he began to reigne and nine and twentie yeares he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ioadan of Ierusalem â And he did right before our Lord but yet not as Dauid his father He did according to al thinges which Ioas his father did â but this onlie that he tooke not away the excelses for yet the people immolated and burnt incense in the excelses â And when he obtayned the kingdom he smote his seruantes which had slaine the king his father â but their children that killed him he did not put to death according to that which is written in the booke of the law of Moyses as our Lord commanded saying The fathers shal not die for the children neither shal the children die for the fathers but euerie one shal die in his owne sinne â He smote Edom in the Vail of Salt pittes ten thousand and tooke the rocke in battel and called the name therof Iectehel vntil this present daye â Then Amasias sent messengers to Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu the king of Israel saying Come let vs see one an other â And Ioas the king of Israel sent agayne to Amasias the king of Iuda saying A thistle of Libanus sent to a cedar tree which is in Libanus saying Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife And the beastes of the forest that are in Libanus passed and trode the thistle â Thou striking hast preuayled ouer Edom and thy hart hath puffed thee vp be content with the glorie and sit in thy house Why prouokest thou euil that thou mayst fal and Iuda with thee â And Amasias agreed not And Ioas the king of Israel went vp and they saw eche other he and Amasias the king of Iuda in Bethsames a towne of Iuda â And Iuda was strooken before Israel and euerie man fled into their tabernacles â But Ioas the king of Israel did take Amasias the king of Iuda the sonne of Ioas the sonne of Ochozias in Bethsames and brought him into Ierusalem and he brake downe the wal of Ierusalem from the gate of Ephraim vnto the gate of the corner fowre hundred cubites â And he tooke al the gold and siluer and al the vessel that were found in the house of our Lord and in the kinges treasures and hostages and returned into Samaria â But the rest of the wordes of Ioas which he did and his strength wherwith he fought against Amasias the king of Iuda are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â And Ioas slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kinges of Israel Ieroboam his sonne reigned for him â And Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda liued after that Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel was dead fifetene yeares â But the rest of the wordes of Amasias are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda â And there was a conspiracie made against him in Ierusalem but he fled into Lachis And they sent after him into Lachis and killed him there â And they caried him away vpon horses and he was buried in Ierusalem with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid â And al the people of Iuda tooke Azarias sixtene yeares old and made him king for his father Amasias â He built Aelath and restored it to Iuda after that the king slept with his fathers â In the fiftenth yeare of Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda reigned Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas the king of Israel in Samaria one and fourtie yeares â and he did that which is euil before our Lord. He departed not from al the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne â He restored the borders of Israel from the entrance of Emath vnto the Sea of the wildernesse according to the word of our Lord the God of Israel which he spake by his seruaÌt Ionas the sonne of Amathi the prophete who was of Geth which is in Opher â For our Lord saw the afliction of Israel exceding bitter and that they were consumed vnto the imprisoned meanest persons and that there was none to helpe Israel â Neither did our Lord determine that he would destroy the name of Israel from vnder heauen but he sâued them in the hand of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas. â But the rest of the wordes of Ieroboam and al that
he did and his strength wherwith he fought and how he restored Damascus and Emath to Iuda in Israel are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â And Ieroboam slept with his fathers the kinges of Israel and Zacharias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XV. Azarias beginneth wel 4. afterward for offering incense on the altar 2 Paralip 26. is strooken with leprosie cast out of the temple and from conuersation weth the people his sonne Ioathan ruling the kingdom 8. Sellum killeth Zacharias king of Israel and reigneth in his place 14. After one moneth Manahem killeth Sellum reigneth also Wickedly 19. Maketh league With the Syrians 22. dieth and his sonne Phaceia reigneth 25. Phacee killeth him and reigneth 29. The Assyrians spoyle the countrie and carie away manie captiues 30. Osee killeth Phacee and reigneth 32. In the meane time Ioathan regning in Iuda is infested With enemies 38. dieth and his sonne Achaz reigneth IN the seuen and twenteth yeare of Ieroboam the king of Israel reigned Azarias the sonne of Amasias the king of Iuda â He was sixtene yeares old when he began to reigne and two and fiftie yeares he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Iechelia of Ierusalem â And he did that which was liked before our Lord according to al thinges that his father Amasias did â But the excelses he destroyed not as yet the people sacrificed and burnt incense in the excelses â And our Lord stroke the king and he was a leper vntil the day of his death and he dwelt in a free house a part but Ioathan the kinges sonne gouerned the palace and iudged the people of the land â But the rest of the wordes of Azarias and al that he did are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda â And Azarias slept with his fathers and they buried him with his ancetors in the citie of Dauid and Ioathan his sonne reigned for him â In the eight and thirteth yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda reigned Zacharias the sonne of Ieroboam ouer Israel in Samaria sixe monethes â and he did that which is euil before our Lord as his fathers had done he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne â And Sellum the sonne of Iabes conspired against him and smote him openly killed him and reigned for him â But the rest of the wordes of Zacharias are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel â This is the word of our Lord which he spake to Iehu saying Thy children shal sit vnto the fourth generation vpon the throne of Israel And so it came to passe â Sellum the sone of Iabes reigned the nine and thirteth yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda and reigned one moneth in Samaria â And Manahem the sonne of Gadi went vp from Thersa and he came into Samaria and smote Sellum the sonne of Iabes in Samaria and slew him reigned for him â But the rest of the wordes of Sellum his conspiracie wherwith he wrought treason are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel â Then Manahem stroke Thapsa and al that were in it and the borders therof from Thersa for they would not open vnâo him and he slew al wemen therof that were withchilde and ripped them â In the nine and thirteth yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda reigned Manahem the sonne of Gadi ouer Israel ten yeares in Samaria â And he did that which was euil before our Lord he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne al his dayes â Phul also the king of the Assyrians came into the land and Manahem gaue to Phul a thousand ralentes of siluer that he should ayde him establish his kingdom â And Manahem put a taxe of siluer vpon Israel on them that were mightie and riche to geue the king of the Assyrians fiftie sicles of siluer euerie man and the king of the Assyrians returned and taried not in the land â But the rest of the wordes of Manahem and al that he did are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel â And Manahem slept with his fathers and Phaceia his sonne reigned for him â In the fifteth yeare of Azarias the king of Inda reigned Phaceia the sonne of Manahem ouer Israel in Samria two yeares â and he did that which was euil before our Lord he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne â And Phacee the sonne of Romelia his captaine conspired against him and stoke him in Samaria in the towre of the kinges house beside Argob and beside Arie and with him fiftie men of the children of the Galaadites and he slewe him and reigned for him â But the rest of the wordes of Phaceia al that he did are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kings of Israel â In the two and fifteth yeares of Azarias the king of Iuda reigned Phacee the sonne Romelia ouer Israel in Samaria twentie yeares â And he did that which was euil before our Lord he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne â In the daies of Phacee the king of Israel came Theglath phalasar the king of Assur tooke Aion and Abel the house of Maachat and Ianoe and Cedes and Asor and Galaad and Galilee and al the land of Nepthali and transported them vnto the Assyrians â And Osee the sonne of Ela conspired and lay in wayte against Phacee the sonne of Romelia and stroke him and slew him and he reigned for him the twentith yeare of Ioatham the sonne of Ozias â But the rest of the wordes of Phacee and al that he did are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kings of Israel â In the second yeare of Phacee the sonne of Romelia the king of Israel reigned Ioatham the sonne of Ozias the king of Iuda â Fiue and twentie yeares old was he when he began to reigne and sixtene yeares he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ierusa the daughter of Sadoc â And he did that which was liked before our Lord according to al things which Ozias his father had done did he worke â Howbeit the excelses he tooke not away as yet the people immolated and burnt incense in the excelses he built the highest gate of the house of our Lord. â But the rest of the wordes of Ioatham and al that he did are not these things written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kings of Iuda â In those dayes
our Lord began to send into Iuda Rasin the king of Syria and Phacee the sonne of Romelia â And Ioatham slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the citie of Dauid his father and Achaz his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XVI Achaz king of Iuda besides other idolatrie sacrificeth his owne sonne to idoles 5 The kinges of Israel and Syria besiegeing Ierusalem the Assyrians are hyred to releue it 10. Achaz causeth Vrias to make an altar like to one in Damascus 14. in place of Gods altar 17. remoueth diuers other things perteyning to diuine seruice 19. dieth and his sonne Ezechias reigneth IN the seuenteth yeare of Phacee the sonne of Romelia reigned Achaz the sonne of Ioatham king of Iuda â Twentie yeares old was Achaz when he began to reigne and he reigned sixtene yeares in Ierusalem he did not that which was pleasing in the sight of our Lord his God as Dauid his father â But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel moreouer also he consecrated his sonne making him passe through fire according to the idols of the Gentils which our Lord destroyed before the children of Israel â He immolated also victimes and burnt incense in the excelses and on the hilles and vnder euery tree full of greene leaues â Then went vp Rasin the king of Syria and Phacee the sonne of Romelia the king of Israel into Ierusalem to fight when they besieged Achaz they were not able to ouercome him â At that time Rasin the king of Syria restored Aila to Syria and threw out the Iewes out of Aila and the Idumeians came into Aila and dwelt there vnto this day â And Achaz sent messengers to Theglathphalasar the king of the Assyrians saying I am thy seruant and thy sonne come vp and saue me out of the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel which are risen together against me â And when he had gathered together the siluer and gold that could be founde in the house of our Lord and in the kings treasures he sent giftes to the king of the Assyrians â Who also agreed to his wil for the king of the Assyrians went vp into Damascus and wasted it and he transferred the inhabitants therof to Cyrene but Rasin he slew â And king Achaz went forth to meete Theglathphalasar the king of the Assyrians into Damascus and when he had seene the altar of Damascus king Achaz sent to Vrias the priest a paterne of it and a similitude according to al the worke therof â And Vrias the priest built an altar according to al things which king Achaz had commanded from Damascus so did the priest Vrias whilest king Achaz came from Damascus â And when the king was come from Damascus he saw the altar and worshipped it and went vp and immolated holocaustes and his sacrifice â and offered libamentes and powred the bloud of the pacifiques which he had offered vpon the altar â Moreouer the altar of brasse that was before our lord he remoued from the face of the temple and from the place of the altar and from the place of the temple of our Lord and he sett it at the side of the altar toward the North. â King Achaz also comanded Vrias the priest saying Vpon the greater altar offer the morning holocaust and the euening sacrifice and the kings holocaust and his sacrifice and the holocaust of the whole people of the land and their sacrifices and their libamentes and al the bloud of the holocaust and al the bloud of the victime thou shalt powre out vpon it but the altar of brasse shal be prepared readie at my pleasure â Vrias therfore the priest did according to al things which king Achaz had commanded him â And king Achaz tooke the engrauen feete and the lauatorie that was vpon them and he tooke downe the sea from the oxen of brasse that held it vp and put it vpon the pauement paued with stone â The Musach also of the Sabbath which he had built in the temple and the entrie of the king outward he turned into the temple of our Lord because of the king of the Assyrians â But the rest of the wordes of Achaz which he did are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda â And Achaz slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the citie of Dauid and Ezechias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XVII Salmanazar king of Assyrians maketh Osee king of Israel tributarie and perceuing his endeuour to be deliuered therof imprisoneth him after three yeares siege taketh Samaria and carieth the people captiue into Assiria 7. Al which God permitteth for diuers great sinnes here recited 25. The new inhabitantes of the countrie not knowing God are deuoured by lions VVherupon a true priest is sent to instruct them 29. but they lerning the rites of true religion do mixt the same with idolatrie IN the twelfth yeare of Achaz king of Iuda reigned Osee the sonne of Ela in Samaria ouer Israel nine yeares â And he did euil before our Lord but not as the kinges of Israel that had bene before him â Against him came vp Salmanasar king of the Assyrians and Osee was made seruant to him and payd him tributes â And when the king of the Assyrians had found that Osee endeuoring to rebel had sent messengers to Sua the king of Aegypt that he might not pay tributes to the king of the Assyrians as euery yeare he was accustomed he besieged him and cast him blound into prison â And he ranged through al the land and going vp to Samaria he besieged it three yeares â And in the ninth yeare of Osee the king of Assyrians tooke Samaria and transferred Israel vnto the Assyrians and he put them in Hala and in Habor beside the riuer of Gozan in the cities of the Medes â For it came to passe when the children of Israel had sinned to our Lord their God which brought them out of the land of Aegypt and out of the hand of Pharao the king of Aegypt they worshipped strange goddes â And they walked according to the rite of the Gentiles which our Lord had consumed in the sight of the children of Israel and of the kings of Israel because they had done in like maner â And the children of Israel offended our Lord their God with wordes not right built them excelses in al their cities from the Towre of watchmen vnto the fensed citie â And they made them statues groues on euerie high hil and vnder euerie thicke woddie tree â and burnt there incense vpon the altars after the maner of the Gentiles which our Lord remoued from their face and they did wicked things prouoking our Lord. â And they worshipped the filthes wherof our Lord commanded them that thou should not doe this thing â And our Lord testified in Israel and in Iuda by the hand of
the priestes did sacrifice from Gabaa vnto Bersabee and he destroyed the altars of the gates in the entrance of the doore of Iosue chief of the citie which was on the left hand of the gate of the citie â Howbeit the priestes of the excelses went not vp to the altar of our Lord in Ierusalem but only they did eate azimes in the middes of their brethren â He contaminated also Topheth which is in the Valley of the sonne of Ennom that no man should consecrate his sonne or daughter by fyre to Moloch â He tooke away also the horses which the kinges of Iuda had geuen to the Sunne in the entrance of the temple of our Lord beside the chamber of Nathanmelech the eunuch who was in Pharurim and the chariotes of the Sunne he burnt with fire â The altars also that were vpon the roofes of the vpper chamber of Achaz which the kinges of Iuda had made and the altars which Manasses had made in the two courtes of the temple of our Lord the king destroyed and he ranne from thence and sprinkled the ashes of them into the Torrent cedron â The excelses also that were in Ierusalem on the right side of the Mount of offence which Salomon the king of Israel had built to Astaroth the idol of the Sidonians and to Chamos the scandal of Moab and to Melchom the abomination of the children of Ammon the king destroyed â And he brake in peces the statues and cut downe the groues and he filled their places with the bones of dead men â Moreouer the altar also that was in Bethel and the excelse which Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat had made who made Israel to sinne and that altar and excelse he destroyed and burnt and brake into powder and the groue also he burnt â And Iosias turning saw there sepulchres that were in the mount and he sent and tooke the bones out of the sepulchres and burnt them vpon the altar and polluted it according to the word of our Lord which the man of God spake who had foretold these thinges â And he sayd What title is that which I see And the citizens of that citie answered It is the sepulchre of the man of God which came from Iuda and foretold these thinges which thou hast done vpon the altar of Bethel â And he sayd Let him alone let no man moue his bones And his bones remayned vntouched with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria â Moreouer al the temples of the excelses which were in the cities of Samaria which the kinges of Israel had made to prouoke our Lord Iosias tooke away and he did to them according to al the workes which he had done in Bethel â And he slew al the priestes of the excelses that were there vpon the altars and he burnt mens bones vpon them turned into Ierusalem â And he commanded al the people saying Make a Phase to our Lord your God according as it is writen in the booke of this couenant â For there was not such a Phase made from the daies of the Iudges which iudged Israel and of al the daies of the kinges of Israel and of the kinges of Iuda â as in the eightenth yeare of king Iosias this Phase was made to our Lord in Ierusalem â Yea and the Pythones and Southsayers and the images of idols and the filthes and the abominations that had bene in the land of Iuda and Ierusalem Iosias tooke away that he might establish the wordes of the law that were writen in the Booke which Helcias the priest found in the temple of our Lord. â There was no king before him like to him that returned to our Lord in al his hart in al his soule and in al his powre according to al the law of Moyses neither after him did there arise the like to him â But yet our Lord was not auerted from the wrath of his great furie wherwith his furie was wrath agaynst Iuda for the prouocations wherwith Manasses had prouoked him â Our Lord therfore sayd Iuda also wil I take away from my face as I haue taken away Israel and I wil reiect this citie which I chose Ierusalem and the house wherof I sayd My name shal be there â But the rest of the wordes of Iosias and al that he did are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda â In his dayes came vp Pharao Nechao the king of Aegypt agaynst the king of Assyrians to the riuer Euphrates and Iosias the king went to meete him and was slaine in Mageddo when he had seene him â And his seruantes caried him dead from Mageddo they brought him into Ierusalem and buried him in his sepulchre And the people of the land tooke Ioachaz the sonne of Iosias and they anoynted him and made him king for his father â Three and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne and he reigned three ãâ¦ã in Ierusalem the name of his mother was A ãâ¦ã the daughter of Ieremie of Lobna â And he did euil before our Lord according to al thinges which his fathers had done â And Pharao Nechao bound him in Rebla which is in the land Emath that he should not reigne in Ierusalem and he lette a penaltie vpon the land an hundred talentes of siluer and a talent of gold â And Pharao Nechao made Eliacim king the sonne of Iosias for Iosias his father and turned his name Ioakim Moreouer he tooke Ioachaz and brought him into Aegypt and he died there â And Ioakim gaue the siluer and the gold to Pharao when he had taxed the land vpon euerie man that it might be payd according to the precept of Pharao and he exacted of euerie man according to his abilitie as wel siluer as gold of the people of the land to geue vnto Pharao Nechao â Fiue and twentie yeares old was Ioakim when he began to reigne and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was zebida the daughter of Phadaia of Ruma â And he did euil before our Lord according to al thinges which his fathers had done CHAP. XXIIII Ioakim serueth the king of Babylon three yeares 2. Manie rouers infest his countrie 5. He dieth and his sonne Ioachim reigneth 10. The king of Babylon carieth king Ioachim and al the chief persones and treasures into Babylon 17. appointing Matthanias whom he nameth Sedecias king of Iuda 20. VVho reuolâeth from the king of Babylon IN his daies came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and Ioakim was made his seruant three yeares and he rebelled agaynst him againe â And our Lord senr in vpon him the rouers of the Chaldees and the rouers of Syria and the rouers of Moab the rouers of the children of Ammon and he sent them into Iuda to destroy it according to the word of our Lord which he had spoken by his seruantes
kinredes that dwelt in Gabaa which were transported into Manahath â And Naaman and Achia and Gera he transported them and begat Oza and Ahiud â Moreouer he begat Saharaim in the countrie of Moab after he dismissed Husim and Bara his wiues â And of Hodes his wife he begat Iobab and Sebia and Mosa and Molchom â Iehus also and Sechia and Marma. these are his sonnes princes in their families â And Mehusim begat Abitob and Elphaal â Moreouer the sonnes of Elphaal Heber and Misaam and Samad this man built Ono and Lod and her daughters â And Baria and Sama princes of their kinredes that dweltin Aialon these droue away the inhabitantes of Geth â And Ahio and Sesac and Ierimoth â and Sabadia and Arod and Heder â Michael also and Iespha and Ioha the sonnes of Baria â And Zabadia and Mosollam and Hezeci and Heber â and Iesamari and Iezlia and Iobab sonnes of Elphaal â and Iacim and Zechri and Zabdi â and Elioenai and Selethai and Eliel â and Adaia and Baraia and Samarath the sonnes of Semei â And Iespham and Heber and Eliel â and Abdon and Zechri and Hanan â and Hanania and Aelam and Anathothia â and Iephdaia and Phanuel the sonnes of Sesac â and Samsari and Sohoria and Otholia â and Iersia and Elia and Zechri the sonnes of Ieroham â these be the patriaches and princes of their kinredes which dwelt in Ierusalem â And in Gabaon dwelt Abigabaon and the name of his wife Maacha â And his first begotten sonne Abdon and Sur and Cis and Baal and Nadab â Gedor also and Ahio and Zacher and Macelloth â and Macelloth begat Samaa and they dwelt ouer agaynst their brethren in Ierusalem with their brethren â And Ner begat Cis and Cis begat Saul Moreouer Saul begat Ionathas and Melchisua and Abinadab and Esbaal â And the sonne of Ionathas Meribbaal and Meribbaal begat Micha â The sonnes of Micha Phithon and Melech Tharaa and Ahaz â And Ahaz begat Ioada and Ioada begat Alamath and Azmoth and Zamri moreouer Zamri begat Mosa â and Mosa begat Banaa whose sonne was Rapha of whom was borne Elasa who begat Asel â Moreouer Asel had six sonnes of these names Ezricam Bochru Ismahel Saria Obdia and Hanan al these the sonnes of Asel â And the sonnes of Esec his brother Vlam the first begotten and Iehus the second and Eliphalet the third â And the sonnes of Vlam were most strong men and archers of great force and hauing many sonnes and nephewes vnto an hundred fiftie Al these the children of Beniamin CHAP. IX VVho of Israel after the captiuitie first inhabited Ierusalem 10. VVho exercised the offices of Priestes 14. and Leuites 35. with repetition of part of Sauls progenie AL Israel therfore was numbred and the summe of them was written in the Booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda and they were transported into Babylon for their sinne â And they that dwelt first in their possessions and in their cities Israel and the Priestes and the Leuites and the Nathineans â There dwelt in Ierusalem of the children of Iuda and of the children of Beniamin also of the children of Ephraim and Manasses â Othei the sonne of Ammiud the sonne of Amri the sonne of Omrai the sonne of Bonni of the sonnes of Phares the sonne of Iuda â And of Siloni Asaia the first begotten and his sonnes â And of the sonnes of Zara Iehuel and their brethren six hundred ninetie â Moreouer of the sonnes of Beniamin Salo the sonne of Mosollam the sonne of Odiua the sonne of Asana â and Iobania the sonne of Ieroham and Ela the sonne of Ozi the sonne of Mochori and Mosollam the sonne of Saphatias the sonne of Rahuel the sonne of Iebania â and their brethren by their families nine hundred fiftie six Al these princes of their kinredes by the houses of their fathers â And of the priestes Iedaia Ioiarib and Iachin â Azarias also the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Mosollam the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Maraioth the sonne of Achitob high priest of the house of God â Moreouer Adaias the sonne of Ieroham the sonne of Phassur the sonne of Melchias and Maasai the sonne of Adiel the sonne of Iezra the sonne of Mosollam the sonne of Mosollamith the sonne of Emmer â their brethren also princes by their families a thousand seuen hundred three score most able men of strength to the worke of the ministerie in the house of God â And of the Leuites Semeia the sonne of Hassub the sonne of Ezricam the sonne of Hasebia of the sonnes of Merari â Bacbacar also a carpenter and Galal and Mathania the sonne of Micha the sonne of Zechri the sonne of Asaph â and Obdia the sonne of Semeia the sonne of Galal the sonne of Idithun and Barachia the sonne of Asa the sonne of Elcana who dwelt in the courtes of Netophati â And the porters Sellum and Accub and Telmon and Ahimam and their brother Sellum the prince â vntil that time in the kinges gate toward the east wayted by their courses of the children of Leui. â But Sellum the sonne of Core the sonne of Abiasaph the sonne of Core with his brethren and his fathers house these are the Corites ouer the workes of the ministerie keepers of the entrances of the tabernacle and their families in course keeping the entrance of the campe of our Lord. â And Phinees the sonne of Eleasar was their prince before our Lord. â Moreouer Zacharias the sonne of Mosollamia porter of the gate of the tabernacle of testimonie â Al these chosen men for porters at euerie gate two hundred twelue and appointed out in their proper townes Whom Dauid and Samuel the Seer appointed vpon their fidelitie â as wel them as their sonnes in the doores of the house of our Lord and in the tabernacle by their courses â By the foure windes were the porters that is to say toward the East and toward the West and toward the North and toward the South â And their brethren dwelt in villages and came vpon their Sabbathes from time to time â To these four Leuites was committed al the number of porters and they were ouer the chambers and treasures of the house of our Lord. â Also round about the temple of our Lord they abode in their watches that when it was time they in the morning might open the doores â Of these mens stocke there were also ouer the vessels of the ministerie for by number the vessels were both brought in and caried out â Of them also they that had the implements of the sancturie committed vnto them did ouersee the floure and wine and oile and frankincense and spices â And the sonnes of priestes made oyntementes of the spices â And Mathathias a Leuite the firstbegotten of Sellum the Corite was ouerseer of those thinges which were fryed in the srying panne â Moreouer of the children of Caath their brethren there were
his hand to day and offer what he wil to our Lord. â The princes therfore of the families promised and the nobles of the tribes of Israel the tribunes also and the centurions and the princes of the kinges possessions â And they gaue vnto the workes of the house of our Lord of gold fiue thousand talentes and ten thousand solidos of siluer ten thousand talentes and of brasse eightene thousand talentes of yron also an hundred thousand talentes â And with whomsoeuer were found stones they gaue them into the treasures of the house of our Lord by the hand of Iahiel the Gersonite â And the people reioysed when they promised vowes of their owne accord because they did offer them to our Lord with al their hart yea and Dauid the king reioysed with great ioy â And he blessed our Lord before al the multitude and he sayd Blessed art thou ô Lord the God of Israel our father from eternitie vnto eternitie â Thine ô Lord is the magnificence and might and glorie and victorie to thee is the prayse for al thinges that be in heauen and in the earth are thine thine ô Lord is the kingdom and thou art ouer al princes â Thine are riches and thine is glorie thou hast dominion ouer al in thy hand is power might in thy hand greatenesse and the empire of al thinges â Now therfore our God we confesse to thee and we prayse thy glorious name â Who am I and what is my people that we can promisse thee al these thinges al are thine and thinges that we receiued of thy hand we haue geuen thee â For we are pilgrimes before thee and strangers as al our fathers Our daies are as a shadow vpon the earth and there is noe abyding â Lord our God al this plentie which we haue prepared that a house might be built to thy holie name is of thy hand and al thinges are thine â I know my God that thou prouest the hartes and louest simplicitie wherfore I also in the simplicitie of my hart gladly haue offered al these thinges and thy people which is here found I haue sene with great ioy offer thee donaries â Lord God of Abraham and Isaac and Israel our fathers keepe for euer this wil of their hart and let this mind reinayne al waies to the honour of thee â To Salomon also my sonne geue a perfect hart that he keepe thy commandementes thy testimonies and thy ceremonies and doe al thinges and build the house the expenses whereof I haue prepared â And Dauid commanded the whole assemblie Blesse ye our Lord God And al the assemblie blessed our Lord the God of their fathers and they bowed themselues and adored God and then the king â And they immolated victime to our Lord and they offered holocaustes the day folowing oxen a thousand rammes a thousand lambes a thousand with their libamentes with al rite most abundantly for al Israel â And they did eate and drinke before our Lord in that day with great ioy And they anoynted the second time Salomon the sonne of Dauid And they anoynted him to our Lord for the prince and Sadoc for the high priest â And Salomon sate vpon the throne of our Lord as king for Dauid his father and he pleased al al Israel obeyed him â Yea and al the princes and men of might and al the sonnes of king Dauid gaue their hand and were subiect to Salomon the king â Our Lord therfore magnified Salomon ouer al Israel and gaue him the glorie of akingdom such as no king of Israel had before him â Dauid therfore the sonne of Isai reigned ouer al Israel â And the daies that he reigned ouer Israel were fourtie yeares in Hebron he reigned seuen yeares and in Ierusalem three and thirtie yeares â And he died in a good age ful of daies and riches and glorie And Salomon his sonne reigned for him â But the actes of king Dauid the first and the last are writen in the Booke of Samuel the Seer in the Booke of Nathan the prophete in the Volume of Gad the Seer â and of al his kingdom and strength and of the times that passed vnder him either in Israel or in al the kingdomes of the earth THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON AS the former booke sheweth how after manie generations from the beginning of the world God selecting one special nation for his peculiar people and the same being afterwardes made a kingdome the Scepter therof both by Gods and the peoples election came to Dauid and his sonne Salomon See this booke declareth that first Salomon reigned peaccably ouer the whole kingdom in the nine first chapters Then in the other twentie seuen chapters relateth how the same kingdom was diuided tenne tribes being taken away the historie wherof is but here briefly touched and two only with the title of the kingdom of Iuda were possessed by succession of ninetenne kinges al of Dauids and Salomons issue in royal estate til the captiuitie in Babylon THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON IN HEBREW DIBRE HAIAMIM CHAP. I. Salomon establiâhed in the throne offereth a thousand hostes of sacrifice 7. asking wisdome 12. it is geuen him with richesse and temporal glorie which he asked not 14. He prouideth manie chariottes and horsemen SALOMON therfore the sonne of Dauid was strengthened in his kingdom and our Lord was with him and magnified him on high â And Salomon commanded al Israel the tribunes and the centurious and the dukes and iudges of al Israel and the princes of the families â and he went with al the multitude into the Excelse of Gabaon where was the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord which Moyses the seruant of God made in the wildernesse â For Dauid had brought the Arke of God from Cariathiarim into the place which he had prepared for it and where he had pitcht a tabernacle for it that is in Ierusalem â The altar also of brasse which Beseleel the sonne of Vri the sonne of Hur had made was there before the tabernacle of our Lord which also Salomon sought and al the assemblie â And Salomon went vp to the altar of brasse before the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord and offered on it a thousand hostes â And behold in that verie night God appeared to him saying Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee â And Salomon sayd to God Thou hast done great mercie with my father Dauid and hast made me king for him â Now therfore Lord God be thy word fulfilled which thou hast promised to Dauid my father for thou hast made me king ouer thy people great in number which is so innumerable as the dust of the earth â Geue me wisdom and intelligence that I may come in goe out before thy people for who can worthely iudge this thy people which is so great â And
and the vessels of the house of the forest of Libanus of most pure gold For siluer in those daies was reputed for nothing â For the kinges shippes went into Tharsis with the seruantes of Hâram once in three yeares and they brought from thence gold and siluer and yuorie and apes and pecockes â Salomon therfore was magnified aboue al the kinges of the earth for riches and glorie â And al the kinges of the earth desired to see Salomons face that they might heare the wisedom which God had geuen in his hart â And they brought him giftes vessels of siluer and gold and garmentes and armour and spices horses and mules euerie yeare â Salomon also had fourtie thousand horses in the stables and of chariotes and horsemen twelue thousand and he placed them in the cities of the chariotes and where the king was in Ierusalem â He exercised also authoritie ouer al the kinges from the riuer Euphrates vnto the land of the Philisthines and vnto the borders of Aegypt â And he made so great plentie of siluer in Ierusalem as it were of stones and of cedres so great a multitude as of sicomores which grow in the champayne â And horses were brought him out of Aegypt and al countries â But the rest of of the workes of Salomon the first and the last are writen in the wordes of Nathan the Prophet and in the bookes of Ahias the Silonite in the Vision also of Addo the Seer agayast Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat â And Salomon reigned in Ierusalem ouer al Israel fourtie yeares â And he slept with his fathers and they buried him in the citie of Dauid and Roboam his sonne reigned for him CHAP. X. Roboam requested by Ieroboam and the people to lighten their yoke of seruice 6. leauing the counsel of the ancient and folowing young counsellers threatneth to presse the people 16. Wherupen manie reuolt from him AND Roboam went forth into Sichem for thither al Israel was assembled to make him king â Which when Ieraboam the sonne of Nabat had heard who was in Aegypt for he was fled thither from Salomon forthwith he returned â And they called him he came with al Israel spake to Roboam saying â Thy father pressed vs with a most hard yoke do thou command lighter thinges then thy father who layd vpon vs a heauie seruitude and ease thou a litle of the burden that we may serue thee â Who sayd After three daies returne ye to me And when the people was gone â he tooke counsel with the Ancientes which stoode before his father Salomon whiles he yet liued saying What counsel geue you that I may answer the people â Who sayd to him If thou wilt please this people and pacific them with wordes of clemencie they wil serue thee at al times â But he forsooke the counsel of the Ancientes and began to treat with yongmen that had beene brought vp with him and were in his trayne â And he sayd to them What semeth to you or what shal I answer this people which hath sayd to me Ease the yoke which thy father layd vpon vs â But they answered as yongmen and brought vp with him in delicanesse and sayd Thus shalt thou speake to the people that sayd to thee Thy father aggrauated our yoke doe thou ease it and thus shalt thou answer them My least finger is thicker then the loynes of my father â My father layd vpon yow an heauie yoke and I wil adde a greater weight my father bette you with scourges but I wil beate you with scorpions â Ieroboam therfore came and al the people to Roboam the third day as he had commanded them â And the king answered rough wordes leauing the counsel of the Ancientes â and he spake according to the yongmens wil My father layd vpon you a heauie yoke which I wil make heauier my father bette you with scourges but I wil beate you with scorpions â And he condescended not to the peoples requestes for it was the wil of God that his word should be accomplished which he had spoken by the hand of Ahias the Silonite to Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat â And al the people when the king spake rough wordes sayd thus vnto him We haue no part in Dauid nor inheritance in the sonne of Isai Returne into thy tabernacles ô Israel and do thou feede thy house Dauid And Israel went into their tabernacles â But ouer the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Iuda Roboam reigned â And king Roboam sent Aduram who was ouer the tributes and the children of Israel stoned him and he died moreouer king Roboam made hast to get vp into his chariote and fled into Ierusalem â And Israel reuolted from the house of Dauid vntil this day CHAP. XI Roboam intending by force to reduce âl Israel to his subiection is Warned by a Prophet to cease from that enterprise 5. He maketh Walles about diuers cities 11. âurnisheth them With Victuals and munition 13. Priestes Leuites and manie others repaire to Ierusalem because Ieroboam maketh a new religion and new priestes 18. Roboam taketâ manie Wiues and concubines 22. preferreth Aâias aboue al his other sonnes AND Roboam came into Ierusalem and called together al the house of Iuda and Beniamin an hundred fourescore thousand chosen men and warriers to fight agaynst Israel and to conuert his kingdom vnto him â And the word of our Lord came to Semeias the man of God saying â Speake to Roboam the sonne of Salomon the king of Iuda and to al Israel that is in Iuda and Beniamin â Thus sayth our Lord You shal not goe vp neither shal you fight agaynst your brethren let euerie man returne into his house because this thing is done by my wil. Who when they had heard the word of our Lord returned neither went they forward agaynst Ieroboam â And Roboam dwelt in Ierusalem and built walled cities in Iuda â And he built Bethlehem and Etam and Thecue â Bethsur also and Socho Odollam â moreouer also Geth and Maresa and Ziph â yea and Aduram and Lachis and Azeca â Saraa also and Aialon and Hebron which were in Iuda and Beniamin most fensed cities â And when he had inclosed them with walles he put in them princes and store houses of victuals that is of oile and wine â Yea and in euerie citie he made armories of shieldes and speares and he strengthened them with great diligence and reigned ouer Iuda and Beniamin â And the Priestes and Leuites that were in al Israel came to him out of al their seates â leauing their suburbes and their possessious and passing to Iuda and Ierusalem because Ieroboam had cast them of and their posteritie that they should not execute the priesthood of our Lord. â Who made vnto him selfe priestes of the excelses and of diuels and of the calues which he had made â Yea and of al the tribes of Israel
thinges which his father had vowed and him self he brought into the house of our Lord gold and siluer and of vessels diuers furniture â And there was no warre vnto the fiue and thirteth yeare of the reigne of Asa CHAP. XVI Agaynst the king of Israel king Asa procureth helpe of the Assyrians 7. which a prophet reprouing is put in fetters 11. Asa dieth with disease of his feete and is buried with pompe AND in the six and thirteth yeare of his reigne came vp Baasa the king of Israel into Iuda and with a wall compassed Rama that none could safely goe out and come in of the kingdom of Asa â Asa therfore brought forth siluer and gold out of the treasures house of our Lord and of the kinges treasures and he sent to Benadad the king of Syria who dwelt in Damascus saying â There is league betwen me thee my father also and thy father had concord wherfore I haue sent thee siluer and gold that breaking the league which thou hast with Baasa the king of Israel thou make him retire from me â Which being knowen Benadad sent the princes of his hostes to the cities of Israel who stroke Ahion and Dan and Ablemaim and al the walled cities of Nephthali â which when Baasa had heard he ceased to build Rama and intermitted his worke â Moreouer Asa the king tooke al Iuda and caried away the stones out of Rama and the timber that Baasa had prepared for the building and he built of them Gabaa Maspha â At that time came Hanani the prophete to Asa the king of Iuda and sayd to him Because thou hast had confidence in the king of Syria and not in our Lord thy God therfore hath the armie of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand â Were not the Aethiopians and Libyians manie moe in chariotes and horsemen and a multitude exceding great whom when thou didst beleue in our Lord he deliuered into thy hand â For the eies of our Lord behold al the earth and geue strength to them that with perfect hart beleue in him Thou therfore hast done foolyshly for this cause from this present time shal battels arise agaynst thee â And Asa being angrie agaynst the Seer commanded him to be cast into fetters for he tooke indignation excedingly vpon this thing and he slewe of the people at that time verie manie â But the workes of Asa the first the lasl are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel â Asa also fel sicke in the nine and thirteth yeare of his reigne of a most vehement payne of his feete and neither in his infirmitie did he seeke our Lord but rather trusted in the arte of Phisitians â And he slept with his fathers and he died the one and fouâteth yeare of his reigne â And they buried him in his sepulchre which he had digged for himsels in the Citie of Dauid and they layd him vpon his bed ful of spices and odoriâerous oyntementes which were made by the arte of apothecaries and they burnt it ouer him with exceding ambition CHAP. XVII Iosaphat succeding in the kingdom preuaileth in battel agaynst the king of Israel 6. destroyeth Idolaters and sendeth Priestes and Leuites to instruct the people 11. The Philistians and Arabians send presentes to king Iosaphat 13. the leaders of the armie and souldiars are numbred AND Iosaphat his sonne reigned for him grew strong agaynst Israel â And he appoynted numbers of souldiars in al the cities of Iuda that were compassed with walles And he placed garrisons in the land of Iuda and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken â And our Lord was with Iosaphat because he walked in the first waies of Dauid his father and he trusted not in Baalim â but in the God of his father and went forward in his preceptes and not according to the sinnes of Israel â And our Lord confirmed the kingdom in his hand and al Iuda gaue giftes to Iosaphat and there grew to him infinite riches and much glorie â And when his hart had taken courage for the waies of our Lord he tooke away also the Excelses and groues out of Iuda â And in the third yeare of his kingdom he sent of his princes Benhail and Abdias and Zacharias and Nathanael and Micheas that they should teach in the cities of Iuda â and with them Leuites Semeias and Nathanias and Zabadias Asael also and Semiramoth and Ionathan and Adonias and Tobias and Thobadonias Leuites and with them Elisama and Ioram Priestes â And they taught the people in Iuda hauing the booke of the law of our Lord and they went about al the cities of Iuda and instructed the people â Therfore the dread of our Lord came vpon al the kingdomes of the landes that were round about Iuda neither durst they make battel agaynst Iosaphat â Yea and the Philistians brought giftes to Iosaphat and tribute of siluer the Arabians also brought cattel of rammes seuen thousand seuen hundred and buckegoates as manie â Iosaphat therfore grewe and was magnified on high and he built in Iuda houses like to toures and walled cities â And he prepared manie workes in the cities of Iuda there were also men of warre and valiant in Ierusalem â of whom this is the number by the houses and families of euerie one In Iuda princes of the armie Ednas duke and with him most valiant men three hundred thousand â After him Iohanan the prince and with him two hundred eightie thousand â After him also Amasias the sonne of Zechri consecrated to our Lord and with him two hundred thousand of valiant men â Him followed Eliada valiant to battels and with him of them that held bow shield two hundred thousand â After this man also Iozabad and with him an hundred eightie thousand readie souldiars â Al these were at the hand of the king beside others whom he had put in walled cities in al Iuda CHAP. XVIII Iosaphat ioyned in affinitiâ with wicked Achab king of Israel goeth with him against Ramoth Galaad four hundred false prophetes promising victorie 14. Micheas prophecying the contrarie 25. is put in prison 28. Achab notwithstanding he changeth his attire and leaueth Iosaphat in danger 33. is slaine IOSAPHAT therfore was rich and verie glorious and was ioyned in affinitie to Achab. â And he went downe to him after certaine yeares into Samaria at whose coming Achab killed muttons and oxen very manie for him and the people that came with him and he perswaded him to goe vp into Ramoth Galaad â And Achab the king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat the king of Iuda Come with me into Ramoth Galaad To whom he answered As I am thou also as thy people so my people also and we wil be with thee in battel â Iosaphat sayd to the king of Israel Consult I besech thee presently the word of our Lord. â Therfore the king of Israel
his mother was Azuba the daughter of Selahi â And he walked in the way of his father Asa neither declined he from it doing the thinges that were pleasing before our Lord. â But yet the excelses he tooke not away and as yet the people had not directed their hart to our Lord the God of their fathers â But the rest of the actes of Iosaphat the first and the last are writen in the wordes of Iehu the sonne of Hanani which he disposed into the Bookes of the kinges of Israel â After these thinges Iosaphat the king of Iuda entered frendshipe with Ochozias the king of Israel whose workes were most impious â And he was partaker to make shippes which should goe into Tharsis and they made a nauie in Asiongaber â And Eliezer the sonne of Dodau of Maresa prophecied to Iosaphat saying Because thou hast had a league with Ochozias our Lord hath strooken thy workes and the shippes are broken neither could they goe into Tharsis CHAP XXI Iosaphat dieth and Ioram succeding killeth his owne brethren and some other chiefe men 6. reigneth wickedly 8. Edom and Lobua reuolt from him 12. Elias by letters forwarneth him of plagues 16. which falling vpon him he dieth after two yeares languishing and horrible disease AND Iosaphat slept with his fathers was buried with them in the Citie of Dauid and Ioram his sonne reigned for him â Who had brethren the sonnes of Iosaphat Azarias and Iahiel and Zacharias and Azarias and Michael and Saphatias al these were the sonnes of Iosaphat the king of Iuda â And their father gaue them manie giftes of siluer and of gold and pensions with the most fensed cities in Iuda but the kingdom he deliuered to Ioram because he was the first begotten â And Ioram rose ouer the kingdom of his father and when he had established himself he slew al his brethren with the sword and certain of the princes of Israel â Two and thirtie yeare old was Ioram when he began to reigne and he reigned eight yeares in Ierusalem â And he walked in the waies of the kinges of Israel as the house of Achab had done for Achabs daughter was his wife and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. â But our Lord would not destroy the house of Dauid for the couenant which he had made with him and because he had promised that he would geue him a lampe and to his sonnes for euer â In those daies Edom rebelled from being subiect to Iuda and made them selues a king â And when Ioram had passed with his princes and al the horsemen that were with him he rose in the night and stroke Edom which had compassed him and al the captaynes of his horsemen â But yet Edom rebelled from being vnder the dominion of Iuda vntil this day at that time Lobna also reuolted from being vnder his hand For he had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers â moreouer he built also excelses in the cities of Iuda and he made the inhabitantes of Ierusalem to fornicate and Iuda to transgresse â And there were letters brought him from Elias the prophete in which was Writen Thus sayth our Lord the God of Dauid thy father Because thou hast not walked in the waies of Iosaphat thy father in the waies of Asa the king of Iuda â but hast gone by the waies of the kinges of Israel and hast made Iuda to fornicate and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem hauing imitated the fornication of the house of Achab moreouer also hast killed thy brethren the house of thy father better men then thou â behold our Lord wil strike thee with a great plague with al thy people and children and thy wiues and al thy substance â And thou shalt be sicke of a very sore disease of thy bealie til thy vital partes come forth by litle and litle euerie day â Our Lord therfore raised vp agaynst Ioram the spirit of the Philisthianes and of the Arabians which are borderers to the Aethiopians â and they went vp into the Land of Iuda and wasted it and they spoyled al the substance that was found in the kinges house moreouer also his sonnes and wiues neither was there a sonne left him but Ioachaz who was the yongest â And beside al these thinges our Lord stroke him with an incurable disease of the bealie â And when day succeded day and the spaces of times passed about the circuite of two yeares was complete and soe being wasted with a long comsumption soe that he voyded euen his very bowels he was ridde of the disease and of his life together And he died in an exceding vile infirmitie the people made him not exequies according to the maner of burning as they had done to his anceters â He was two and thirtie yeares old when he began to reigne and he reigned eight yeares in Ierusalem And he walked not rightly and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid but yet not in the sepulchre of the kinges CHAP. XXII Ochozias reigning one yeare 3. is slaine together with Ioram king of Israel by king Iehu 10. Athalia killeth the kinges children onlie Ioas being saued by his aunt and vsurpeth the kingdom six yeares AND the inhabitantes of Ierusalem made Ochozias his least sonne king for him for al the elders that had bene before him the rouers of the Arabians had slayne which inuaded the campe and Ochozias the sonne of Ioram the king of Iuda reigned â Two and fourtie yeares old was Ocohzias when he began to reigne and he reigned one yeare in Ierusalem and the name of his mother was Athalia the daughter of Amri â But he also went by the waies of the house of Achab for his mother forced him to doe impiously â He therfore did euil in the sight of our Lord as the house of Achab for they were his counselers after the death of his father to his destruction â And he walked in their counfels And he went forth with Ioram the sonne of Achab king of Israel into battel agaynst Hazael king of Syria into Ramoth Galaad and the Syrians wounded Ioram â Who returned to be cured into Iezrael for he had taken manie woundes in the foresayd battel Therfore Ochozias the sonne of Ioram king of Iuda went downe te visit Ioram the sonne of Achab in Iezrael being sicke â For it was the wil of God agaynst Ochozias that he should come to Ioram and when he was come he should goe out also against Iehu the sonne of Namsi whom our Lord anoynted to destroy the house of Achab. â When Iehu therfore ouerthrew the house of Achab he found the princes of Iuda and the sonne of the brethren of Ochozias which serued him and he slewe them â Searching also for Ochozias himself he tooke him lying hid in Samatia and being brought vnto him he killed him and they buried him because he was the sonne of Iosaphat who had sought our Lord in
of Israel should bring it in into the tabernacle of testimonie â For the most impious Athalia and her children haue destroyed the house of God and of al thinges that had bene sanctified in the temple of our Lord they adorned the temple of Baalim â The king therfore commanded and they made a chest and set it by the gate of our Lord on the out side â And it was proclaymed in Iuda and Ierusalem that euery man should bring the price to our Lord which Moyses the seruant of God appoynted ouer al Israel in the desert â And al the princes reioysed and al the people and going in they contributed into the chest of our Lord and cast in so that it was filled â And when it was time that they should bring the chest before the king by the handes of Leuites for they saw much money the kinges Scribe went in and he whom the high priest had appoynted they powred out the money that was in the chest recaried it to his place and so did they from day to day and there was gathered infinite money â Which the king and Ioiada gaue to them that ouersaw the workes of the house of our Lord but they hired with it hewers of stones and artificers of al workes to repayre the house of our Lord smithes also of yron and brasse that that which began to fal might be vpholden â And they that wrought did industriously and the breach of the walles was closed by their handes and they raysed the house of our Lord into the old state and made it stand firmely â And when they had accomplished al the workes they brought the rest of the money before the king and Ioiada of the which were made vessels of the temple to the ministerie and for holocaustes phials also and other vessels of gold and siluer and holocaustes were offered in the house of our Lord continually al the daies of Ioiada â But Ioiada became old being ful of dayes and died when he was an hundred and thirtie yeares old â And they buried him in the citie of Dauid with the kinges because he had done good with Israel and with his house â And after that Ioiada was dead the princes of Iuda went in and adored the king who being altered by their seruiceablenesse agreed to them â And they forsooke the temple of our Lord the God of their fathers and serued groues and sculptilles and there came wrath agaynst Iuda and Ierusalem for this sinne â And he sent them prophetes that they should returne to our Lord whom protesting they would not heare â The spirit of God therfore inuested Zacharias the sonne of Ioiada the Priest he stood in the sight of the people and sayd to them Thus sayth our Lord God Why transgresse you the precept of our Lord which thing shal not profit you haue forsaken our Lord that he should forsake you â Who being gathered agaynst him they threw stones according to the kinges commandement in the court of the house of our Lord. â And Ioas the king did not remember the mercie that Ioiada his father had done with him but he killed his sonne Who when he died sayd Our Lord see and require it â And when a yeare was come about the armie of Syria came vp against him it came into Iuda Ierusalem slewe al the princes of the people and al the pray they sent to the king into Damascus â And wheras there was come a very smal number of the Syrians our Lord deliuered into their handes an infinit multitude for that they had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers on Ioas also they exercised ignomious iudgementes â And departing they left him in great diseases and his seruantes rose agaynst him for reuenge of the bloud of the sonne of Ioiada the priest they slewe him in his bed he dyed and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid but not in the kinges sepulchres â And there conspired against him Zabad the sonne of Semmaath an Ammonitesse Iozabad the sonne of Semarith a Moabitesse â Moreouer his children and the summe of money which was gathered vnder him the repayring of the house of God are writen more diligently in the Booke of kinges and Amasias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXV Amasias killeth those that slew his father 5. Besides his owne people hyreth souldiars of Israel but by aduise of a Prophete dismisseth them 11. and with his owne owerthroweth the Idumeans whose idols taken in battel 13. the dismissed souldiars in the meane time spoyling his countrie he adoreth 15. Contemning admonition 17. and prouoking the king of Israel to warre 22. is taken in battel and spoyled 27. Fearing treason in Ierusalem fleeth and is slaine in Lachis FIVE and twentie yeares old was Amasias when he began to reigne and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ioaden of Ierusalem â And he did good in the sight of our Lord but yet not in a perfect hart â And when he saw his kingdom strengthned he put to death the seruantes that had slayne the king his father â but their children he slew not as it is writen in the Booke of the law of Moyses where our Lord commanded saying The fathers shal not be slayne for the children nor the children for their fathers but euerie one shal die in his owne sinne â Amasias therfore gathered together Iuda and appoynted them by families and tribunes and centurions in al Iuda and Beniamin and he numbred from twentie yeares vpward and found three hundred thousand of yong men that went forth to battel and held speare and shielde â He hyred also for wages of Israel an hundred thousand strong men for an hundred talentes of siluer â But a man of God came to him and sayd O king let not the host of Israel goe forth with thee for our Lord is not with Israel and al the children of Ephraim â and if thou thinke that battels consist in the force of an armie God wil make thee to be ouercome of the enemies for it perteyneth to God both to helpe and to put to flight â And Amasias sayd to the man of God What shal become then of the hundred talentes which I haue geuen the souldiars of Israel And the man of God answered him Our Lord hath wherby he is able to geue thee much more then this â Amasias therfore seperated the host that came to him out of Ephraim that they should returne into their place but they being wrath excedingly agaynst Iuda returned into their countrie â Moreouer Amasias brought forth his people confidently and went into the Vale of salt pittes and stroke the children of Seir ten thousand â And other ten thousand men did the children of Iuda take and bring to the steepe of a certaine rocke and cast them down headlong from the toppe who burst in sunder euerie one â But
that armie which Amasias had sent backe from going with him to battel was spred in the cities of Iuda from Samaria vnto Bethhoron killing three thousand tooke away a great praye â But Amasias after the slaughter of the Idumeans sette vp the goddes of the children of Seir which he had brought thence for his goddes and adored them and burnt incense to them â For which thing our Lord being angrie against Amasias sent a prophete vnto him which should say to him Why hast thou adored goddes that haue not deliuered their owne people out of thy hand â And when he spake these thinges he answered him Art thou the kinges counseler be quiet lest I kil thee And the prophet departing sayd I know that God is minded to kil thee because thou hast done this euil and besides hast not agreed to my counsel â Therfore Amasias the king of Iuda taking verie il counsel sent to Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu the king of Israel saying Come let vs see one an other â But he sent backe the messengers saying A thistle that is in Libanus sent to a cedar of Libanus saying Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife behold the beastes that were in the wood of Libanus passed and trode downe the thistle â Thou hast sayd I haue stroken Edom and therfore thy hart is extolled into pryde sitte in thy house why dost thou prouoke euil against thee that both thou mayest fal and Iuda with thee â Amasias would not heare because it was our Lordes wil that he should be deliuered into the handes of the enemies for the goddes of Edom. â Ioas therfore the king of Israel went vp and they gaue themselues one the sight of the other and Amasias the king of Iuda was in Bethsames of Iuda â and Iuda fel before Israel and fled into their tabernacles â Moreouer Amasias the king of Iuda the sonne of Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz did take Ioas the king of Israel in Bethsames brought him into Ierusalem and destroyed the wal therof from the gate of Ephraim to the gate of the corner foure hundred cubites â Al the gold also and siluer and al the vessels that he found in the house of God and with Obededom in the treasures also of the kinges house moreouer he brought backe the sonnes of the hostages into Samaria â And Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda liued after that Ioas died the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel fiftene yeares â But the rest of the wordes of Amasias the first and the last are Writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel â Who after he reuolted from our Lord they lay in waite agaynst him in Ierusalem And when he had fled into Lachis they sent and slew him there â And carying him backe vpon horses buried him with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid CHAP. XXVI Ozias seruing God 6. preuaileth in battel against the Philistians Arabians and Ammonites 9. prospereth in honour and wealth 16. Then wâixing proud offereth incense on the altar is striken with leprosie expelled out of the Temple and citie 20. and his sonne Ioathan ruleth the kingdom AND al the people of Iuda made his sonne Ozias sixtene yeares old king for Amasias his father â He built Ailath and restored it to the dominion of Iuda after that the king slept with his fathers â Sixtene yeares old was Ozias when he began to reigne and he reigned two and fiftie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Iechelia of Ierusalem â And he did that which was right in the eies of our Lord according to al thinges which Amasias his father had done â And he sought our Lord in the daies of Zacharias that vnderstood and saw God and when he sought our Lord he directed him in al thinges â Moreouer he went forth and fought against the Philisthijms and destroyed the wal of Geth and the wal of Iabinia and the wal of Azotus he built also townes in Azotus and among the Philisthijms â And God did helpe him against the Philisthijms and against the Arabians that dwelt in Garbaal and against the Ammonites â And the Ammonites gaue giftes to Ozias and his name was renowmed vnto the entrance of Aegypt for his often victories â And Ozias built towers in Ierusalem ouer the gate of the corner and ouer the gate of the valley and the rest in the same side of the wal and strengthened them â He built towers also in the wildernesse and digged manie cesternes because he had much cattel as wel in the champaine as in the vastitie of the desert he had also vineyardes dressers of vines in the mountaynes and in Carmel for he was a man geuen to husbandrie â And the host of his warriers which went forth to battels was vnder the band of Iehiel the scribe Maasias the doctor and vnder the hand of Hananias who was of the kinges dukes â And al the number of the princes by families of valiant men was two thousand six hundred â And vnder them al the host of three hundred seuen thousand fiue hundred which were apt to battels and fought for the king against the aduersaries â Ozias also prepared for them that is to say for al the armie shildes and speares and helmettes and coates of mayle and bowes and slinges to cast stones â And he made in Ierusalem engines of diuerse kind which he placed in the towers and in the corners of the walles to shoote arrowes and great stones and his name went forth farre for that our Lord did ayde him and had strengthned him â But when he was strengthned his hart was eleuated to his destruction and he neglected our Lord his God and entering into the temple of our Lord he would burne incense vpon the altar of incense â And incontinent Azarias the Priest going in after him with him the Priestes of our Lord eightie most valiant men â they resisted the king and sayd It is not thy office Ozias to burne incense to our Lord but of the Priestes that is of the children of Aaron which are consecrated to this kind of ministerie goe out of the Sanctuarie contemne not because this thing shal not be reputed to thee for glorie of our Lord God â And Ozias being angrie and holding in his hand the censar to burne incense threatned the Priestes And forthwith there rose a leprosie in his forehead before the Priestes in the house of our Lord vpon the altar of incense â And when Azarias the high Priest had beheld him and al the rest of the Priestes they saw the leprosie in his forehead and in hast they thrust him out Yea and him self being sore afrayd made hast to goe out because he felt by and by the plague of our Lord. â Ozias therfore the king was a leper vntil the day of his death and he dwelt in a house apart ful of the
leprosie for the which he had bene cast out of the house of our Lord. Moreouer Ioathan his sonne gouerned the kinges house and iudged the people of the land â But the rest of the wordes of Ozias the first and the last wrote Isaias the sonne of Amos the prophet â And Ozias slept with his fathers and they buried him in the kings sepulchres field because he was a leper and Ioathan his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXVII Ioathan a godlie king 5. preuaileth in battel against the Ammonites 7. dieth and his sonne Achaz succedeth FIVE and twentie yeares old was Ioathan when he began âo reigne and he reigned sixtene yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ierusa the daugter of Sadoc â And he did that which was right before our Lord according to al thinges which Ozias his father had done sauing that he entered not into the temple of our Lord and as yet the people did sinne â He built the high gate of the house of our Lord and in the wal of Ophel he built manie thinges â Cities also he built in the mountaynes of Iuda and castelles and towres in the forrestes â He fought agaynst the king of the children of Ammon and ouercame them and the children of Ammon gaue him at that time an hundred talentes of siluer and tenne thousand cores of wheate and as manie cores of barley the children of Ammon gaue him these thinges in the second and third yeare â And Ioathan was strengthened because he had directed his waies before our Lord his God â But the rest of the wordes of Ioathan and al his battels and workes are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda â He was fiue and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne and he reigned sixtene yeares in Ierusalem â And Ioathan slept with his fathers and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid and Achaz his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXVIII For his great wickednes Achaz is taken in battel his countrie spoyled and manie âââyne by the kinges of Syria and Israel 9. yet God suffereth not the kingdom to be subdued 16. Then requiring helpe of the Assyrians 17 is spoyled by the Idumeans Philisthians and Assyrians 22. After al which plâânes he committeth more idolatrie 26. dieth and his sonne Ezechias reigneth TWENTIE yeares old was Achaz when he began to reigne he reigned sixtene yeares in Ierusalem he did not right in the sight of our Lord as Dauid his father â but walked in the wayes of the kinges of Israel moreouer also he did cast statues to Baalim â He it is that burnt incense to the Valebenennom and he consecrated his sonnes in fire according to the rite of the nations which our Lord slewe in the coming of the children of Israel â He sacrified also burnt incense in the excelses on hilles and vnder euerie tree ful of grene leaues â And our Lord his God deliuered him into the handes of the king of Syria who stroke him and tooke a great praye out of his kingdom brought into Damascus to the handes also of the king of Israel was he deliuered and striken with a great plague â And Phacee the sonne of Romelia slewe of Iuda an hundred twentie thousand in one day al men of warre for that they had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers â At that time Zechri a mightie man of Ephraim slewe Maasias the kinges sonne and Ezricam the gouernour of his house Elcana also second from the king â And the children of Israel tooke of their brethren two hundred thousand of wemen of boyes and of wenches and an infinite praye and they brought it into Samaria â At that time there was a Prophete of our Lord named Oded who going forth to meete the armie coming into Samaria sayd to them Behold our Lord the God of your fathers being angrie against Iuda hath deliuered them into your handes and you haue slayne them cruelly so that your crueltie did reach to heauen â Moreouer the children of Iuda and Ierusalem you wil subdue vnto you for bondmen and bondwemen which nedeth not to be done for you haue sinned hereupon to our Lord your God â But heare ye my counsel and carie backe the captiues that you haue brought of your brethren because the great furie of our Lord hangeth ouer you â There stood therfore princes of the children of Ephraim Azarias the sonne of Iohanan Barachias the sonne of Mosollomoth Ezechias the sonne of Sellum and Amasa the sonne of Hadali against them that came out of the battel â and they sayd to them You shal not bring in the captiues hither lest we sinne to our Lord. Why wil you adde vpon our sinnes and heape vp old offences for it is a great sinne and the anger of the furie of our Lord hangeth ouer Israel â And the men of warre dismist the pray al the thinges that they had taken before the princes and al the multitude â And the men whom we mentioned aboue stood and taking the captiues and al that were naked they clothed and shod them with the spoyles and when they had clothed and refreshed them with meate and drinke and annoynted them because of their labour and had looked carefully to them as manie as could not walke and were of a weake bodie they set on beastes and brought them to Iericho the Citie of palme trees to their brethren and themselues returned into Samaria â At that time king Achaz sent to the king of the Assyrians asking helpe And the Idumeans came and stroke manie of Iuda and tooke a great praye â The Philisthijms also were spred abroad by the cities of the champayne and toward the South of Iuda and they tooke Bethsames Aialon and Gaderoth Socho also Thamnan and Gamzo with their villages and dwelt in them â For our Lord had humbled Iuda because of Achaz the king of Iuda for that he had made it naked of helpe and had contemned our Lord. â And he brought agaynst him Theglathphalnasar the king of the Assyrians who also afflicted him and spoyled him no man resisting â Therfore Achaz spoyling the house of our Lord and the house of the kinges and of the princes gaue giftes to the king of the Assyrians and yet it did nothing profite him â Moreouer also in the time of his distresse he increased contempte agaynst our Lord king Achaz himself by himself â immolated victimes to the goddes of Damascus that stroke him and sayd The goddes of the kinges of Syria doe helpe them whom I wil pacifie with hostes and they wil ayde me wheras on the contrarie part they were his ruine and al Israels â Achaz therfore hauing spoyled al the vessels of the house of God and broken them shut the gates of the temple of God and made him altars in al the corners of Ierusalem â In al the cities also of Iuda he built altars to burne frankincense and
he prouoked to wrath our Lord the God of his fathers â But the rest of his wordes al his workes the first and the last are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel â And Achaz slept with his fathers and they buried him in the Citie of Ierusalem for they receiued him not into the sepulchres of the kinges of Israel And Ezechias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXIX Ezechias repayreth the Temple and diuine seruiee 5. zelously exhorteth offenders to repentance 12. the Temple is purified in sixtene daies 18. the king and nobles offer hostes which the Priestes immolate 25. with solemne musick ordained by king Dauid and great ioy of al the people THERFORE Ezechias began to reigne when he was fiue and twentie yeares old and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Abia the daughter of Zacharias â And he did that which was pleasing in the sight of our Lord according to al thinges that Dauid his father had done â He in the first yeare and moneth of his reigne opened the doores of the house of our Lord and repayred them â And he brought the Priestes and the Leuites and assembled them in the East streate â And he sayd to them Heare me ye Leuites and be sanctified cleanse the house of our Lord the God of your fathers and take away al vncleannes out of the Sanctuarie â Our fathers haue sinned and done euil in the sight of our Lord God forsaking him they haue turned away their faces from the tabernacle of our Lord and geuen the backe â They haue shut the doores that were in the porch and put out the lampes and haue not burnt incense and haue not offered holocaustes in the Sanctuarie of the God of Israel â Therfore was the furie of our Lord stirred vp vpon Iuda and Ierusalem and he hath deliuered them into commotion and into destruction to be hissed at as your selues see with your eyes â Behold our fathers haue fallen by the swordes our sonnes and our daughters and wiues are led captiue for this wickednesse â Now therfore it pleaseth me that we make a couenant with our Lord the God of Israel and he wil turne away the furie of his wrath from vs. â My children be not negligent our Lord hath chosen you to stand before him and to minister to him and to worshipe him and to burne incense to him â The Leuites therfore arose Mahath the sonne of Amasai and Ioel the sonne of Azarias of the children of Caath moreouer the children of Merari Cis the sonne of Abdi and Azarias the sonne of Ialaleel And of the children of Gerson Ioah the sonne of Zemma and Eden the sonne of Ioah â But of the children of Elisaphan Samri and Iahiel Also of the children of Asaph Zacharias and Mathanias â Moreouer also of the children of Heman Iahiel Semei yea and of the children of Idithun Semeias and Oziel â And they gathered together their btethren and were sanctified and went in according to the commandment of the king and the precept of our Lord to purge the house of God â The Priestes also going into the Temple of our Lord to sanctifie it brought out al vncleannes which they sound within the entrance of the house of our Lord which the Leuites tooke and caried to the Torrent cedron without â And they began to clense it the first day of the first moneth and in the eight day of the same moneth they entred into the porche of the temple of our Lord and they purged the temple in eight dayes and in the sixtenth day of the same moneth they accomplished that which they began â They entered in also to Ezechias the king and sayd to him We haue sanctified al the house of our Lord and the altar of holocaust and the vessels therof moreouer also the table of proposition with al the vessels therof â and al the furniture of the temple which king Achaz in his reigne had polluted after that he transgressed and behold al thinges are set forth before the altat of our Lord. â and Ezechias the king rising early assembled al the princes of the citie and went vp into the house of our Lord â and they offered together seuen oxen and seuen rammes seuen lambes and seuen buckgoates for sinne for the kingdom for the sanctuarie for Iuda and he sayd to the Priestes the children of Aaron that they should offer them vpon the altar of our Lord. â They killed therfore the oxen and the Priestes tooke the bloud and powred it vpon the altar they killed also the rammes and their bloud they powred also vpon the altar and they immolated the lambes and powred the bloud vpon the altar â They brought the buckgoates for sinne before the king and the whole multitude and they put their handes vpon them â and the Priestes immolated them and sprinkled their bloud on the altar for an expiation of al Israel for the king had commanded for al Israel that holocaust should be made and for sinne â He appoynted also the Leuites in the house of our Lord with cymbals and psalteries and harpes according to the disposition of Dauid the king and of Gad the Seer and of Nathan the Prophete for it was the precept of our Lord by the hand of his prophetes â And the Leuites stoode holding the instrumentes of Dauid and the Priestes trumpettes â And Ezechias commanded that they should offer holocaustes vpon the altar and when holocaustes were offered they began to sing prayses to our Lord and to sound with trumpettes and on diuerse instrumentes which Dauid the king of Israel had prepared for to sound â And al the multitude adoring the singing men and they that held the trumpettes were in their office whiles the holocaust was accomplished â And when the oblation was ended the king bowed and al that were with him and adored â And Ezechias and the princes commanded the Leuites that they should prayse our Lord in the wordes of Dauid and Asaph the Seer who praysed him with great ioy and bowing the knee adored â But Ezechias added these wordes also You haue filled your handes to our Lord come and offer victimes and prayses in the house of our Lord. Al the multitude therfore offered hostes and prayses and holocaustes with a deuout minde â Moreouer the number of the holocaustes which the multitude offered was thls oxen seuentie rammes an hundred lambes two hundred â And they sanctified to our Lord oxen six hunered sheepe three thousand â But the Priestes were few neither could they suffise to draw of the skinnes of the holocaustes wherfore the Leuites also their brethren holpe them til the worke was accomplished and the Priestes were sanctified for the Leuites are sanctified with an easier rite then the Priestes â There were holocaustes therfore verie many the fatte of pacifiques and the libamentes of the holocaustes and the seruice of the house of
that sate on the walles of Ierusalem that he might terrifie them and take the citie â And he spake agaynst the God of Ierusalem as agaynst the goddes of the peoples of the earth the workes of mens handes â Ezechias therfore the king and Isaias the prophet the sonne of Amos prayed agaynst this blasphemie and cried out euen to heauen â And our Lord sent an Angel which stroke euerie strong man and warryer and prince of the armie of the king of the Assyrians and he returned with ignominie into his countrie And when he was entered into the house of his God his sonnes that were come forth of his wombe slewe him with the sword â And our Lord saued Ezechias and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem out of the hand of Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians and out of the hand of al gaue them rest round about â Manie also brought hostes and sacrifices to our Lord into Ierusalem and giftes to Ezechias the king of Iuda who was exalted after these thinges before al nations â In those daies Ezechias was sick euen to death and he prayed our Lord and he heard him and gaue him a signe â But not according to the benefites which he receiued did he recompense because his hart was eleuated and wrath came agaynst him and agaynst Iuda and Ierusalem â And he was humbled afterward because his hart had bene exalted both he and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem and therfore the wrath of our Lord came not vpon them in the daies of Ezechias â And Ezechias was rich and glorious excedingly and gathered to himself great treasures of siluer and of gold and of pretious stone of spices and of armour of al kinde and of vessels of great price â Storehouses also of corne of wyne and of oyle and stalles of al beastes and foldes of cattel â and six cities he built to him self for he had flockes of sheepe and of heardes innumerable because our Lord had geuen him substance exceding much â The same is Ezechias that stopped the vpper fountaine of the waters of Gihon and turned them away vnderneth toward the West of the Citie of Dauid in al his workes he did prosperously what he would â But yet in the embassie of the princes of Babylon that were sent to him to aske of the wonder that had chanced vpon the earth God leift him that he might be tempted and al thinges might be made knowen that were in his hart â But the rest of the wordes of Ezechias and of his mercies are writen in the vision of Isaias the sonne of Amos the prophete and in the booke of the kinges of Iuda Israel â And Ezechias slept with his fathers and they buried him in the chiefe sepulchres of the children of Dauid and al Iuda celebrated his funeralles al the inhabitantes of Ierusalem and Manasses his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXXIII Manasses for his manifold wickednes is led captiue into Babylon 12. repenteth in prison is restored to his kingdom and destroyeth idolatrie 18. dieth 21. Amon succeding 24. is slayne by his seruantes and Iosias reigneth TWELVE yeares old was Manasses when he began to reigne and he reigned fiftie fiue yeares in Ierusalem â And he did euil before our Lord according to al the abominations of the nations which our Lord ouerthrew before the children of Israel â and being turned he reedified the excelses which Ezechias his father had destroyed and he built altars to Baalim and made groues and he adored al the host of heauen and worshipped it â He built also altars in the house of our Lord wherof our Lord had sayd In Ierusalem shal my name be for euer â And he built them to al the host of heauen in the two courtes of the house of our Lord. â And he made his sonnes to passe through fyre to the Valebenennom he obserued dreames folowed southsayings gaue him self to magike artes he had with him magicians inchaunters and he wrought manie euils before our Lord to prouoke him â Also a grauen and a molten signe he put in the house of God wherof our Lord spake to Dauid and to Salomon his sonne saying In this house and in Ierusalem which I haue chosen al the tribes of Israel Wil I put my name for euer â And I wil not make the foote of Israel to moue out of the land which I haue deliuered to their fathers yet so if they shal obserue to doe that I haue commanded them and al the law and the ceremonies and iudgementes by the hand of Moyses â Manasses therfore seduced Iuda and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem that they did euil aboue al the nations which our Lord had ouerthrowen before the face of the children of Israel â And our Lord spake to him and to his people and they would not attend â Therfore he brought vpon them the princes of the host of the king of the Assyrians and they tooke Manasses led him bound with chaynes and fetters into Babylon â Who after that he was in distresse prayed our Lord his God and did penance excedingly before the God of his fathers â And he desired him and besought him earnestly and he heard his prayer and brought him agayne to Ierusalem into his kingdom and Manasses knew that our Lord he was God â After these thinges he built a wal without the citie of Dauid on the west of Gihon in the valley from the entrance of the fish gate round about vnto Ophel and raysed it excedingly and he appoynted princes of the host in al the fensed cities of Iuda â and he tooke away strange goddes and the idol out of the house of our Lord the altars also which he had made in the mount of the house of our Lord and in Ierusalem and he threw al without the citie â Moreouer he reedified the altar of our Lord and immolated vpon it victimes and pacifiques and prayse and he commanded Iuda to serue our Lord the God of Israel â Neuerthelesse as yet the people immolated in the excelses to our Lord their God â But the rest of the actes of Manasses and his obsecration to his God the wordes also of the Seers that spake to him in the name of our Lord the God of Israel are conteyned in the wordes of the kinges of Israel â His prayer also and his obtayning and al his sinnes and contempt the places also wherein he built excelses and made groues and statues before he did penance are writen in the wordes of Hozai â Manasses therfore slept with his fathers and they buried him in his house his sonne Amon reigned for him â Ammon was two and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne and he reigned two yeares in Ierusalem â And he did euil in the fight of our Lord as Manasses his father had done and he immolated to al the idols which Manasses his father had made and serued them â And he did not reuerence
therfore tooke away al abominations of al the countries of the children of Israel and made al that were left in Israel to serue our Lord their God Al his daies they reuolted not from our Lord the God of their fathers CHAP. XXXV Iosias celebrateth a most Solemne Pasch 20. Is slaine by the king of Aegypt al Iudalamenting him 25. most specially Ieremias AND Iosias made in Ierusalem a Phase to our Lord which was immolated the fourtenth day of the first moneth â And he appoynted the Priestes in their offices and exhorted them that they would minister in the house of our Lord. â To the Leuites also at whose instruction al Israel was sanctified to our Lord he spake Put the Arke in the Sanctuarie of the temple which Salomon built the sonne of Dauid the king of Israel for you shal carie it no more but now minister to our Lord your God and to his people Israel â And prepare your selues by your houses and kinredes in the diuisions of euerie one as Dauid the king of Israel commanded and Salomon his sonne described â And minister ye in the Sanctuarie by families and Leuitical companies â and being sanctified immolate the Phase prepare also your brethren that they may doe according to the wordes which our Lord spake in the hand of Moyses â Moreouer Iosias gaue to al the people that was found there in the solemnitie of the Phase lambes and kiddes of the flockes and of the rest of the cattel thirtie thousand of oxen also three thousand al these thinges of the kinges substance â His dukes also voluntarily offered that which they vowed as wel to the people as to the Priestes and the Leuites Moreouer Helcias and Zacharias and Iahiel princes of the house of our Lord gaue to the Priestes to make the Phase cattel one with an other two thousand six hundred and oxen three hundred â And Chonenias and Semeias also Nathanael his brethren moreouer Hasabias and Iehiel and Iozabad princes of the Leuites gaue to the rest of the Leuites to celebrate the Phase fiue thousand sheepe and oxen fiue hundred â And the ministerie was prepared and the Priestes stood in their office the Leuites also in companies according to the kinges commandement â And the Phase was immolated and Priestes sprinkled the blood with their hand and the Leuites drew of the skinnes of the holocaustes â and they seperated them to geue them by the houses and families of euerie one and to be offered to our Lord as it is writen in the Booke of Moyses of oxen also they did in like maner â And they rosted the Phase vpon fyre according to that which is writen in the law but the pacifique hostes they bâvled in caudrons and kettles and pottes and in hast they distributed it to al the people â And for themselues and for the Priestes they prepared afterward for in oblation of holocaustes and of fatte the Priestes were occupied vntil night wherfore the Leuites prepared for themselues and for the Priestes the children of Aaron last â Moreouer the singing men the children of Asaph stood in their order according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph and Heman and Idithun the prophetes of the king and the porters watched at euerie gate so that they departed not a moment from the ministerie for the which cause also their brethren the Leuites prepared meates for them â Therfore al the seruice of our Lord was ritely accomplished that day so that they made the Phase and offered holocaustes vpon the altar of our Lord according to the precept of king Iosias â And the children of Israel that were found there made the Phase at that time and the solemnitie of Azymes seuen daies â There was not a Phase like to this in Israel from the daies of Samuel the prophete neither did anie of al the kinges of Israel make a Phase as Iosias to the Priestes and the Leuites and to al Iuda and Israel that was found and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem â In the eightenth yeare of the kingdom of Iosias was this Phase celebrated â After that Iosias had repayred the temple came vp Nechao the king of Aegypt to fight in Charcamis beside Euphrates and Iosias went forth to meete him â But he sending messengers vnto him sayd What haue I to doe with thee king of Iuda I come not agaynst thee this day but I fight agaynst an other house to the which God hath commanded me to goe in hast leaue to doe agaynst God who is with me lest he kil thee â Iosias would not returne but prepared battel agaynst him neither did he agree to the wordes of Nechao from the mouth of God but went forward to fight in the fielde of Mageddo â And there being wounded of the Archers he sayd to his seruantes Carie me out of the battel because I am sore wounded â Who remoued him from one chariote into an other chariote that folowed him after the maner of kinges and they caried him away into Ierusalem he died and was buried in the monument of his fathers and al Iuda and Ierusalem mourned for him â Ieremie most of al whose lamentations al the singing men and singing wemen repeate vntil this present day vpon Iosias and it is growen as it were a law in Israel Behold it is sayd to be writen in the lamentations â But the rest of the wordes des of Iosias of his mercies which are commanded by the law of our Lord â his workes also the first and the last are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel CHAP. XXXVI Ioachaz reigneth three monethes 4. His brother Eliakim named loakim eleuen yeares 9. his sonne Ioachin three monethes 11. his vncle Sedecias eleuen yeares 14. Most Priestes and people contemning the admonitions of Prophetes 17. manie are slaine by the Chaldees the Temple and Ierusalem spo led and burnt 20. The sayd kinges successiuely and people are caryed captiue into Babylon 22. After seuentie yeares Cyrus king of Persia releaseth the captiuitie and geueth leaue to reedifie the Temple THE people therfore of the land tooke Ioachaz the sonne of Iosias and made him king for his father in Ierusalem â Taree and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne and he reigned three monethes in Ierusalem â And the king of Aegypt when he came into Ierusalem deposed him and condemned the land in an hundred talentes of siluer and a talent of gold â And he made Eliakim his brother king for him ouer Iuda and Ierusalem and he turned his name Ioakim but he tooke Ioachaz himself with him and caried him away into Aegypt â Fiue and twentie yeares old was Ioakim when he began to reigne and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem and he did euil before our Lord his God â Agaynst him came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of the Chaldees and brought him bound in chaynes into Babylon â Whither he transported also the vessels of
our Lord and put them in his temple â But the rest of the wordes of Ioakim and of his abominations which he wrought and the thinges that were found in him are contayned in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel And Ioachin his sonne reigned for him â Eight yeares old was Ioachin when he began to reigne and he reigned three monethes and ten dayes in Ierusalem and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. â And when the compasse of a yeare was come about Nabuchodonosor the king sent some that brought him in to Babylon the most precious vessels of the house of our Lord being caried away withal But he made Sedecias his vncle king ouer Iuda and Ierusalem â One twentie yeares old was Sedecias when he began to reigne he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem â And he did euil in the eies of our Lord his God neither did he reuerence the face of Ieremie the prophet speaking to him from the mouth of our Lord â He reuolted also from king Nabuchodonosor who had adiured him by God he hardened his necke his hart that he would not returne to our Lord the God of Israel â Yea al the chiefe of the Priestes and the people transgresled vnlawfully according to al the abominations of the Gentiles and they polluted the house of our Lord which he had sanctified to him in Ierusalem â And our Lord the God of their fathers sent to them by the hand of his messengers rysing by night and daily admonishing them for that he spared his people and his habitation â But they mocked the messengers of God and litle estemed his wordes and scorned the prophetes vntil the furie of our Lord ascended vpon his people and there was no amendment â For he brought vpon them the king of the Chaldees and slewe their yong men with the sword in the house of his sanctuarie he pitied not yong man and virgin and old man no neither him that stouped for age but he deliuered al into his handes â And al the vessels of the house of our Lord as wel greater as lesser and the treasures of the temple and of the king and the princes he transported into Babylon â The enemies set fyre on the house of God and destroyed the wal of Ierusalem al the towres they burnt and what soeuer was pretious they destroyed â If anie man escaped the sword being led into Babylon he serued the king and his sonnes til the king of the Persians reigned â That the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie might be accomplished and the land might celebrate their Sabbathes for al the daies of the desolation she kept a Sabbath til the seuentie yeares were expyred â But in the first yeare of Cyrus king of Persians to fulfil the word of our Lord which he had spoken by the mouth of Ieremie our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians who commanded to be proclaymed in al his kingdom yea by writing saying â Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians Al kingdomes of the earth hath the Lord the God of heauen geuen me and he hath commanded me that I should build him a house in Ierusalem which is in Iewrie who of you is there in al his people The Lord his God be with him and let him goe vp THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION IN THE FIFTH AGE From the fundation of the Temple to the captiuitie in Babylon The space of 430. yeares ALBEIT there were greater Schismes Heresies and more reuoltes from Gods law and seruice in this fifth age then in the former Yet the true Church and Religion continued stil and were no lesse conspicuous then before VVhich being clere and euident touching manie principal Articles we wil here only remitte the reader to some special places for confirmation therof neither wil we be prolixe in declaring other pointes denied or called into controuersie at this time by the impugners of Catholique Religion Beleefe in one God appeareth plainly in building adorning dedicating the Temple with so great solemnitie of the Priestes Leuites and al the Tribes and particularly by king Salomons prayer 3. Reg. 7. 8. 2. Paral. 2. c. Also Prouerb 8. Eccle. 12. Isaie 41. 44. 45. The Mysterie of the B. Trinitie Prouer. 12. Isaiae 6. 48. 49. Ose 11. Ioel. 2. Of Christ our Redemer Isaie 7. 8. 9. 11. 28. 53. Ierem. 23. 30. 33. Ezech. 17. 34. 37. Dan. 7. 9. Osee 6. 11. 14. Ioel. 2. Sophon 2. Aggoei 2. Zachar. 2. c. Sacrifices Sacramentes other Rites the same as before But more frequent Prophecies that they should be changed into better and perfecter by Christ Prou. 9. Isai 12. 52. 55. 61. In the meane time for more signification of the singular vertue of Christs Sacramentes the effect of penitential workes is often recorded For example wicked Achab by hairecloth fasting and other humiliation escaped part of his deserued punishment 3. Reg. 21. Manasses recouered Gods fauoure and his temporal kingdom 2. Par. 33. VVho yet was punished in his posteritie 4. Reg. 23. And the Niniuites by such penance auoided destruction Ione 3. Yea nothing is more frequent in the Prophetes then preaching of penance Isa 1. 2. 3. 30. Iere. 3. 18. c. and others al ascribing the cause of plagues and afflictions to the want of repentance And false Prophetes condemned of errour and false doctrine for promising the people peace and securitie in their sinnes Ierem. 14. Lamen 2. Besides abstinence from diuers sortes of meates counted vncleane Isaiae 66. and ordinarie fastes according to the law other fastes were appointed sometimes vpon occasions requiring not only to subdue and mortifie the flesh but also to obtaine mercie at Gods handes in special distresses 2. Par. 20. Ioel. 1. 2. Ione 3. Elias fasting fourtie dayes 3. Reg. 19. prefigured Christs fast VVhich the Church imitateth in Lent of fourtie daies according to humane habilitie for the fastes of Christ Elias and Moyses were miraculous To the Feastes instituted before was added the Dedication of the Temple 3. Reg. 7. 2 Par. 3. Which was built in Mount Moria 2. Par. 3. the special place designed long before for this purpose when Abraham was directed thither by God was there readie to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. where Dauid also offered sacrifice 2. Reg. 24. 1. Par. 21. This being the onlie ordinarie place for Sacrifice there were for other vses of daylie prayer reading preaching and hearing the word of God other Synagogues built as it were Parish churches in great number in Ierusalem it self foure hundred and foure score and manie more in the whole kingdom as the Hebrew Traditions testifie Of al which places especially of the Temple there was venerable respect had For which cause when Ioiada the High Priest gaue order to kil Athalia he suffered it not to be donne in
of God calues an hundred rammes two hundred lambes foure hundred buckgoates for the sinne of al Israel twelue according to the number of the tribes of Israel â And they set the Priestes in theyr orders and the Leuites in theyr courses ouer the workes of God in Ierusalem as it is writen in the booke of Moyses â And the children of Israel of the transmigration made the Phase the fourtenth day of the first moneth â For al the Priestes and the Leuites were purified as it were one man al cleane to immolate the Phase for al the children of the transmigration and for theyr brethren the Priestes and them selues â And the children of Israel that were returned from the transmigration did eate and al that had separated them selues from the coinquination of the Gentiles of the earth vnto them to seeke our Lord the God of Israel â And they made the solemnitie of Azymes seuen dayes in ioy because our Lord had made them ioyful and had turned the hart of the king of Assur to them that he should helpe theyr handes in the worke of the house of our Lord the God of Israel CHAP. VII Esdras with manie other Priestes and Leuites ascendeth to âerusalem to teach and assist the people 11. bringing Artaxerxes Edict declareth it to the people 27. and geueth thankes to God AND after these thinges in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of Persians Esdras the sonne of Saraias the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Helcias â the sonne of Sellum the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Achitob â the sonne of Amarias the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Maraioth â the sonne of Zarahias the sonne of Ozi the sonne of Bocci â the sonne of Abisue the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the Priest from the begynning â The same Esdras came vp from Babylon and he was a quicke scribe in the law of Moyses which our Lord God gaue to Israel and the king gaue him according to the hand of our Lord his God vpon him al his petition â And there came vp of the children of Israel and of the children of the Priestes and of the children of the Leuites and of the singing men and of the porters and of the Nathineites into Ierusalem in the seuenth yeare of Artaxerxes the king â And they came into Ierusalem the fifth moneth that is the seuenth yeare of the king â For in the first day of the first moneth he began to goe vp from Babylon and in the first day of the fifth moneth he came into Ierusalem according to the good hand of his God vpon him â For Esdras prepared his hart to search the law of our Lord and to doe and to teach in Israel preceptes and iudgement â And this is the copie of the epistle of the edict which king Artaxerxes gaue to Esdras the Priest the learned scribe in the wordes and preceptes of our Lord and his ceremonies in Israel â Artaxerxes the king of kings to Esdras the Priest the most learned scribe of the law of God of heaueÌ greeting â It is decreed by me that whoÌsoeuer it shal please in my kingdom of the people of Israel and of the Priestes and Leuites to goe into IerusaleÌ let him goe with thee â For thou art sent from the face of the king and of his seuen counselers that thou mayst visite Iewrie and Ierusalem in the law of thy God which is in thy hand â And that thou maist carie the siluer gold which the king his counselers haue voluntarily offered to the God of Israel whose tabernacle is in Ierusalem â And al the siluer and gold whatsoeuer thou shalt finde in al the prouince of Babylon and the people wil offer and of the Priestes that shal voluntarely offer to the house of theyr God which is in Ierusalem â take freely and bye diligently of this money calues rammes lambes and the sacrifices and libamentes of them and offer them vpon the altar of the temple of your God that is in Ierusalem â Yea and if it shal please thee and thy brethren to doe any thing with the rest of the siluer and gold doe ye according to the wil of your God â The vâââels also which are geuen thee for the ministerie of the house of thy God deliuer thou in the sight of God in Ierusalem â Yea and other thinges wherof neede shal be for the house of thy God how much soeuer is necessarie for thee to spend thou shalt geue it out of the treasure and excheker of the king and from me â I Artaxerxes the king haue appointed and decreed to al the keepers of the common coffer that are beyond the Riuer that whatsoeuer Esdras the Priest the scribe of the law of God of heauen shal aske of you you geue it without delay â vnto an hundred talentes of siluer and vnto an hundred cores of wheat and vnto an hundred bates of wyne and vnto an hundred bates of oyle but salt without measure â Al that pertayneth to the rite of the God of heauen let it be geuen diligently in the house of the God of heauen lest perhaps he be angrie agaynst the kingdom of the king and of his sonnes â We doe you also to vnderstand concerning al the Priestes and Leuites and the singers and the porters the Nathineites and ministers of the house of this God that you haue no authoritie to put tolle and âribute and yearlie rentes vpon them â And thou Esdras according to the wisedom of thy God which is in thy hand appoyât iuâges and presidentes that they may iudge for al the people that is beyond the Riuer that is for them which know the law of thy God yea and the ignorant teach ye frely â And euerie one that shal not doe the law of thy God and the law of thy king diligently there shal be iudgement of him either vnto death or into banishment or to the confiscation of his substance or at the least into prison â Blessed be our Lord the God of our fathers which hath put this in the kinges hart that he would glorifie the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem â and hath inclined his mercie toward me before the king and his counselers and al the mightie princes of the king and Itaking courage by the hand of our Lord my God which was on me gathered together out of Israel princes that should goe vp with me CHAP. VIII Esdras reciteth those that came with him from Babylon 21. the fast which âe appointed 33. and how they brought the holie vessel into the Temple THESE therfore are the princes of the families and the genealogie of them that came vp with me in the reigne of Artaxerxes the king out of Babylon â Of the children of Phinees Gersom Of the children of Ithamar Daniel Of the children of Dauid Hattus â Of the children of Sechenias the children of Pharos Zacharias and with him were
Senaa three thousand nine hundred thirtitie â The Priests The children of Idaia in the house of Iosue nine hundred three â The childeren of Emmer a thousand fiftie two â The childeren of Phashur a thousand two hundred fourtie seuen â The children of Arem a thousand seuentene The Leuites â The children of Iosue Cedmiel the children â of Cenia seuentie foure The singing men â the childeren of Asaph an hundred fourtie eight â The porters The childeren of Sellum the childeren of Ater the childeren of Telmon the childeren of Accub the childeren of Hatita the childeren of Sobai an hundred thirtie eight â The Nathineites The childeren of Soha the childeren of Hasupha the childeren of Tebbaath â the childeren of Ceros the childeren of Siaa the childeren of Phadon the childeren of Lebana the childeren of Haguba the childeren of Seimai â the childeren of Hanan the childeren of Geddel the childeren of Gaher â the childeren of Raaia the childeren of Rasin the childeren of Necoda â the childeren of Gesem the childeren of Aza the childeren of Phasea â the childeren of Besai the childeren of Munim the childeren of Nephussim â the childeren of Bacbuc the childeren of Hacupha the childeren of Harur â the childeren of Besloth the childeren of Mahida the childeren of Harsa â the childeren of Bercos the childeren of Sisara the childeren of Thema â the childeren of Nasia the childeren of Hatipha â the childeren of the seruantes of Salomon the childeren of Sotai the childeren of Sophereth the childeren of Pharida â the childeren of Iahala the childeren of Darcon the childeren of Ieddel â the childeren of Saphia the childeren of Hatil the chideren of Phohereth who was borne vnto Sabaim the sonne of Amon. â Al Natheneites and the childeren of the seruantes of Salomon three hundred nyntie two â But these be they which came vp from Thelmela Thelharsa Cherub Addon and Emmer and could not shew the house of their fathers and their seed whether they were of Israel â The children of Dalaia the childeren of Tobia the childeren of Necoda six hundred fourtie two â And of the Priests the childeren of Habia the childeren of Accos the childeren of Berzellai who tooke a wife of the daughters of Berzellai a Galeadite and he was called by their name â These sought their writing in the register and found it not they were cast out of the Priesthood â And Athersatha said to them that they should not eate of the Holies of holies vntil there stood vp a Priest learned and cunning â Al the multitude as it were one man fourtie two thousand three hundred sixtie â beside their men seruants and wemen seruantes which were seuen thousand three hundred thirtie seuen and among them singing men singing wemen two hundred fourtie fiue â Their horses two hundred fourtie six their mules two hundred fourtie fiue â their camels foure hundred thirtie fiue asses six thousand seueÌ hundred twentie Hitherto is reported what was written in the Register From this place forward goeth on in order the historie of Nehemias â And certaine of the princes of families gaue vnto the worke Athersatha gaue into the treasure of gold a thousand drachmas phials fiftie tunikes for Priestes fiue hundred thirtie â And of the princes of families there gaue into the treasure of the worke of gold twentie thousand drachmas and of siluer two thousand two hundred pound â And that which the rest of the people gaue of gold twentie thousand drachmas and of siluer two thousand pound and tunikes for Priestes sixtie seuen â And the Priestes and Leuites and porters and singing men and the rest of the common people and the Nathineites and al Israel dwelt in their cities And the seuenth moneth was come and the childeren of Israel were in their cities CHAP. VIII Esdras readeth the law before the people 9. Nehemias conforteth them 13. They celebrate the feast of tabernacles seuen dayes 13. of collection the eight day AND al the people was gathered togethor as it were one man to the streate which is before the water and they sayd to Esdras the scribe that he should bring the booke of the law of Moyses which our Lord had commanded Israel â Esdras therfore the priest brought the law before the multitude of men and wemen and al that could vnderstand in the first day of the seuenth moneth â And he read it playnly in the streate that was before the water gate from morning vntil midday in the presence of the men and wemen and of these that vnderstood and the eares of al the people were attent to the booke â And Esdaas the scribe stood vpon a steppe of wood which he made to speake vpon and there stood by him Mathathias and Semeia and Ania and Vria and Helcia and Maasia on his right hand and on the left Phadaia Misael and Melchia and Hasum and Hasbadana Zacharia and Mosollam â And Esdras opened the booke before al the people for he appeared aboue al the people and when he had opened it al the people stood â And Esdras blessed our Lord the great God and al the people answred Amen amen lifting vp their handes and they bowed and adored God flatte on the earth â Moerouer Iosue Bani and Serebia Iamin Accub Septhai Oâia Maasia Celita Azarias Iozabed Hanan Phalaia Leuites made silence in the people to heare the law and the people stoode in their degree â And they read in the booke of the law of God distinctly and playnly for to vnderstand and they vnderstood when it was read â And Nehemias said the same is Athersatha and Esdras the Priest and scribe and the Leuites interpreting to al the people It is a day sanctified to the Lord our God mourne ye not and weepe not For al the people wept when they heard the wordes of the law â And he said to them Goe eate fat thinges and drinck the sweete wine and send portions to them that haue not prepared for themselues because it is the holie day of our Lord and be not sadde for the ioy of our Lord is our strength â And the Leuites made silence in al the people saying Hold your peace because the day is holie and be not sorowful â Therefore al the people went to eate and drinck and to send portions and to make great ioy because they vnderstood the wordes that he had taught them â And in the second day were gathered the princes of the families of al the people the Priests and Leuites to Esdras the scribe that he should interpret vnto them the wordes of the law â And they found written in the law that our Lord commanded in the hand of Moyses that the children of Israel should dwel in tabernacles on the solemne day the seuenth moneth â and that they should proclame and publish a voice in al their cities and in Ierusalem saying
And she abode in her husbands house an hundred fiue yeares and dismist her abra free and she died and was buried with her husband in Bethulia â And al the people mourned for her seuen dayes â And in al the space of her life there was not that trubled Israel and after her death manie yeares â But the day of the festiuitie of this victorie is receiued of the Hebrewes in the number of holie daies and is worshiped of the Iewes from that time vntil this present day ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 26. After that her husband vvas dead As yong Toblas and Sara were notable patterns to maried persons so Iudith is a like good example to deuout widowes excelling most partin manie respectes For first she professed this holie state of life in the old Testament when it was most rare the law prouiding that the brother or next kinsman should marie the widow of him that died without children as it semeth she had none the Greke text affirming that she gaue al her goodes before her death to other kinred ch 16. v. 24. Secondly she was only once maried ch 15. v. 13. ch 16. v. 26. wheras it is also commendable after twise or oftenner mariage at last to abstaine Thirdly she was yong about 36. yeares for three yeares and a half after that her husband was dead she was called a yong maide ch 12. v. 12. Fourtly she was of excellent beautie ch 8 v. 7. Fiftly exceeding rich ibidem Sixtly very noble especially after the deliuerie of the people from such distresse ch 15. v. 10. Seuently for this renowmed fact and for her other great vertue ch 8. v. 8 manie principal men desired to marie her ch 16. v. 22 Eightly al the people wished much issue of so noble a stock ch 16. v. 25. Nintly she liued long in the state of widowhood about threescore and nine yeares from 36. to 105 ch 16. v. 28. Tently there was great and long peace in al Israel after that she had releeued Bethulia ch 16. v. 30. Al which might easely haue inuited an other to haue maried but her great deuotion and feruent desire to serue God in a retired austere life fasting praying ch 8. v. 6. cutte of al incitements to mariage and made her before the Gospel to embrace Euangelical counsel not commanded but for better attaining to perfecton counseled by our Sauior and S. Paul Mat. 19. 1. Cor. 7. THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ESTHER OF the authoritie of this booke only two or three ancient writers doubted before the councels of Laodicea and Carthage declared it to be Canonical Al the rest did euer esteme it as diuine Scripture For albeit S. Ierom in his time found not certaine partes therof in the Hebrew and therfore transposed the same to the end of the booke as now we haue them yet in the Greeke he found al these sixtenne chapters conteyned in tenne And it is not vnprobable that these parcels were sometimes in the Hebrew as were diuers whole bookes which are now lost But whether they were at anie time in the Hebrew or no the Church of Christ accounteth the whole Booke of infallible authoritie reading as wel these partes as the rest in her publique office And the councel of Trent sess 4. For more expresse declaration defiueth that al the bookes recited in the same Decree amongst which is Esther with al the partes therof as they are accustomed to be read in the Catholique Church and be conteyned in the old vulgare latin Edition are sacred and Canonical Scripture It conteyneth a particular great danger of the people of Israel hapening as is probable shortly after their general relaxation returne of some from the captiuitie of Babylon and their deliuere from it through the godlie Zele and other vertues of Quene Esther directed herein by Mardocheus who being also in imminent danger was deliuered aduanced and finally writ the historie which may be diuided into foure partes not by order of the chapters as hey are here transposed but in order of time first the author reporteth some thinges going before the peoples danger in the 11. 1. 2. 12. chapters and part of the 3. Secondly their danger and distresse in the rest of the 3. and part of 13. chapters Thirdly their deliuerie from the 4. chapter to the middes of the. 9. and rest of the 13. and in the 14. 15. and 16. Fourtly the thinges that ensued hereupon in the other half of the ninth chapter the 10. chapter and first verse of the eleuenth VVho soeuer vvil please to read this historie in order of the time as the thinges happened adioyning the latter chapters vvhich are in the Greke and not in the Hebrevv may folovve the letters of the Alphabet as here vve haue placed them in the margent beginning at the second verse of the 11. chapter vvhere he findeth the letter A. and vvhen he cometh to B. returne vvhere the same letter is noted ch 1. And so in the rest folovv the same direction THE BOOKE OF ESTHER CHAP. I. King Assuerus celebrateth a great banket to shew his glorie 10. calleth quene Vasthi therto who refusing to come is by aduise of his counsel deposed IN the daies of Assuerus who reigned from India vnto Aethiopia ouer an hundred twentie seuen prouinces â when he sate in the throne of his kingdoÌ the citie Susá was in the begynning of his kingdom â In the third yeare therfore of his empyre he made a great feast to al the princes and to his seruantes to the most valiant of the Persians and the nobles of the Medes and the rulers of the prouinces in his sight â that he might shew the riches of the glorie of his kingdom and the greatnes vaunting of his might a great time to witte an hundred foure score dayes â And when the daies of the feast were accomplished he inuited al people that was found in Susan from the greatest to the least and commanded seuen daies a feast to be prepared in the entrance of the garden and of the wood which was planted with royal garnishing and with hand â And there hong on euerie side hangings of skie colour and grene and hyacinthine colour held vp with cordes of silke and of purple which were put into rings of yuorie and were held vp with marble pillers Beddes also of gold and siluer were placed in order vpon the floore paued with the emerauld and the touch stone which paynting adorned with meruelous varietie â And they that were inuited dranke in golden cuppes and the meates were brought in change of vessels Wine also plenteous and the best was set downe as was worthie of a kings magnificence â Neither was there that compelled them to drinke that would not but as the king had appointed making ech of his princes ouerseer of euerie table that euerie man might take what he would â Vasthi also the
â and shal open her mouth in the churches of the Highest and shal glorie in the sight of his power â and in the middes of her people she shal be exalted and in the holie assemblie she shal be admired â and in the multitude of the elect she shal haue praise and among the blessed she shal be blessed saying â I come forth from the mouth of the Highest the first begotten before al creatures â I made that in the heauens there should rise light that faileth not and as a cloud I couered al the earth â I dwelt in the highest places and my throne is in the pillar of a cloude â I alone haue gone round about the compasse of heauen and haue penetrated into the bottome of the depth and haue walked in the waues of the sea â and stood in al the earth and in al people â and in euerie nation I haue had the primacie â and I haue by strength troden downe the hartes of al the excellent and the base and in al these thinges I sought rest I shal abide in the inheritance of our Lord. â Then the creatour of al commanded and said to me he that created me rested in my tabernacle â and he said to me Inhabite in Iacob and inherite in Israel and take roote in myne elect â From the beginning and before the worlds was I created and vnto the world to come I shal not cease and in the holie habitation I haue ministred before him â And so in Sion was I established and in the sanctified cittie likewise I rested and my power was in Ierusalem â And I tooke roote in an honorable people and in the portion of my God his inheritance and my abiding is in the ful assemblie of saintes â I am exalted as a cedar in Libanus and as a cypres tree in mount Sion â As a palme tree in Cades am I exalted and as a rose plant in Iericho â As a faire oliue tree in the fieldes and as a plane tree by the water in the streates am I exalted â I gaue an odout as cinnamon aromatical balme as chosen myrrhe haue I geuen the sweetenes of odour â and as storax and galbanum and onyx and aloes and as Libanus not cut haue I perfumed myne habitation and myne odour is as baulme non mingled â I haue spred out my boughes as the terebinth and my boughes are of honour and grace â I as a vine haue fructified sweetenes of odour and my flowers are fruite of honour and honestie â I am the mother of beautiful loue and of feare and of knowledge and of holie hope â In me is al grace of way and truth in me al hope of life and vertue â Passe to me al ye that desire me and be filled of my generations â For my spirit is sweete aboue honie and myne inheritance aboue honie and the honie combe â My memorie is vnto generations of worldes â They that eate me shal yet hunger and they that drinke me shal yet thirst â He that heareth me shal not be confounded and they that worke in me shal not sinne â They that explicate me shal haue life euerlasting â Al these thinges are the booke of life and the testament of the Highest the knowlege of truth â Moyses commanded a law in the preceptes of iustices and an inheritance to the house of Iacob and the promises to Israel â He appointed to Dauid his seruant for to raise vp a king of him most strong and sitting in the throne of honour for euer â Who filleth wisdom as Phison and as Tigris in the daies of new fruites â Who replenisheth vnderstanding as Euphrates who multiplieth it as Iordan in the time of haruest â Who sendeth discipline as the light and assisting as Gehon in the day of vintage â Who first hath perfect knowledge of it a weaker shal not searche it out â For her cogitation shal abound aboue the sea and her counsels aboue the greate depth â I wisdom haue powred out riuers â I as a sluse of a mightie water out of the riuer I as the riuer Dioryx as a water coundite I came out of paradise â I said I wil water my garden of plantes and wil inebriate the fruite of my medow â And hehold my sluse was made aboundant and my riuer came neere to a sea â Because I illuminated doctrine to al as the morning light I wil declare it far â I wil penetrate al the inferiour partes of the earth and wil behold al that sleepe and wil illuminate al that hope in our Lord. â I wil yet powre out doctrine as prophecie and wil leaue it to them that seeke wisdom and wil not cease vnto their progenies euen to the holie age â See ye that I haue not laboured for myself only but for al that seeke out the truth CHAP. XXV Concord betwen bretheren neighboures and man and wife much pleaseth God 3. A poore man proud a richman a lier and an old man doting in carnal or worldlie thinges are very hateful 9. He that seeth his children good and his enemies ouerthrowne hath a good wife offendeth not in speach consenteth not to sinne hath a true freind teacheth good doctrine hath sacred and humane knowlege hath vndoubtedly nine happie thinges but to feare God conteyneth 14. and excelleth al. 17. A wicked woman heresie is very detestable 30. and most vntolerable if she haue supreme dominion IN three thinges my spirit is pleased which are approued before God and men â The concord of bretheren and the loue of neighboures and man and wife wel agreeing together â Three sortes my soule hateth and I am greatly greeued at their life â A poore man proud a rich man a lyer an old man a foole and doting â The thinges that thou hast not gathered in thy youth how shalt thou find them in thy old age â How beautiful is iudgement for a grey head and for ancientes to know counsel â How beautiful is wisdom for the aged vnderstanding glorious and counsel â Much cunning is the croune of old men and the feare of God is their glorie â Nine thinges not to be imagined of the hart haue I magnified and the tenth I wil tel vnto men with my tongue â A man that hath ioy in his children liuing and seeing the subuersion of his enemies â Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman that hath not offended with his tongue and that hath not serued such as are vnworthie of him â Blessed is he that findeth a true freind and that declareth iustice to an eare that heareth â How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowlege but he is not aboue him that feareth our Lord. â The feare of God hath set it self aboue al thinges â blessed is the man to whom is geuen to haue the feare of God he that holdeth it to
shal perish from their wise men and the vnderstanding of their prudent shal be hid â Woe vnto you that are deepe of hart to hide your counsel from our Lord whose workes are in darkenes and they say Who seeth vs and who knoweth vs â This your cogitation is peruerse as if the clay should thinke against the potter and the worke should say to the maker therof Thou madest me not or the thing formed should say to the fashioner therof Thou vnderstandest not â Shal not yet within a litle while and in a short time Libanus be turned into Charmel Charmel reputed for a forest â And in that day the deafe shal heare the wordes of the booke and out of the darkenes and mist the eies of the blinde shal see â And the meeke shal adde ioyfulnesse in our Lord and the poore men shal reioyce in the holie one of Israel â Because he hath fayled that did preuaile the scorner is consumed and they are al cut downe that watched vpon iniquitie â that made men sinne in word and supplanted him that reproued them in the gate and declined in vayne from the iust â For this cause thus sayth our Lord to the house of Iacob he that redemed Abraham Iacob shal not now be confounded neither shal now his countenance be ashamed â but when he shal see his children the workes of mine handes in the middes of him sanctifying my name and they shal sanctifie the holie one of Iacob and shal preach the God of Israel â and they that erre in spirit shal know vnderstanding and the mutteters shal learne the law CHAP. XXX The Iewes are blamed for seeking counsel and helpe of the Aegyptians 18. but if they repent they shal find releefe and spiritual riches of the soule 27. Gods iudgement wil be strict 33. and hel is most horrible VVOE vnto renegate children sayth our Lord that you would take counsel and not of me would beginne a webbe and not by my spirite that you might adde sinne vpon sinne â which walke to goe downe into Aegypt haue not asked my mouth hoping for helpe in the strength of Pharao and hauing confidence in the shadow of Aegypt â And the strength of Pharao shal be a confusion to you and the confidence of the shadow of Aegypt an ignominie â For thy princes were in Tanis and thy messengers came euen to Hanes â Al were confounded vpon the people that could not profite them they were no helpe nor to any profite but to confusion and to reproch â The burden of the beastes of the South In a land of tribulation and distresse the lionesse and the lion of them the viper the flying basiliscus carying their riches vpon the shoulders of beasts and their treasures vpon the bunch of camels to a people that can not be able to profite them â For Aegypt shal helpe in vaine and to no purpose therfore haue I cried vpon this It is pride onlie cease â Now therfore going in write to her vpon boxe and drawe it diligently in a booke and it shal be in the latter day for a testimonie for euer â For it is a people prouoking to wrath and lying children children that wil not heare the law of God â Which say to the seers See not and to them that behold Behold vs not those thinges that are right Speake vnto vs pleasant thinges see errours vnto vs. â Take from me the way turne away the path from me let the holie one of Israel cease from our face â Therfore thus sayth the holie one of Israel For that you haue reiected this word haue hoped in calumnie and tumult and haue leaned therevpon â therfore shal this iniquitie be vnto you as a breach that falleth and is found lacking in an high wal because sodenly whiles it is not hoped shal come the destruction therof â And it shal be broken smal as the potters vessel is broken with mightie breaking there shal not a shread be found of the fragments therof wherein a litle fyre may be caried from the burning or a litle water be drawen out of the pitte â Because thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel If you returne and be quiet you shal be saued in silence and in hope shal your strength be And you would not â and you haue sayd No but we wil flee to horses therfore shal you flee And we wil mount vpon swift ones therfore shal they be fwifter that shal persecute you â A thousand men at the face of the terrour of one and at the face of the terrour of fiue shal you flee til you be leaft as the mast of a shippe in the toppe of a mountaine and as a signe vpon a litle hil â Therfore our Lord expecteth that he may haue mercie on you and therfore shal he be exalted sparing you because our Lord is the God of iudgment blessed are al they that expect him â For the people of Sion shal dwel in Ierusalem weeping thou shalt not weepe pitying he wil pitie thee at the voice of thy crie as soone as he shal heare he wil answer thee â And our Lord wil geue you straite bread and short water and wil not make thy doctor to flee away from thee any more and thine eies shal see thy master â And thine eares shal heare the word of him that behinde thy backe admonisheth thee This is the way walke in it and decline ye not neither to the right hand nor to the left â And thou shalt contaminate the plates of the sculptils of thy siluer and the garment of the molten of thy gold and shalt scatter them as the vncleannes of a menstruous woman Thou shalt say to it Get thee hence â And rayne shal be geuen to thy seede wheresoeuer thou shalt sow in the land and the bread of the corne of the land shal be most plentiful and fatte The lambe in that day shal feede at large in thy possession â and thyne oxen as the asse coltes that til the ground shal eate mingled prouender as it was fanned in the floore â And there shal be vpon euerie high mountayne and vpon euerie litle hil eleuated riuers of running waters in the day of the killing of manie when the towres shal fal â And the light of the moone shal be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sunne shal be seuenfold as the light of seuen daies in the day when our Lord shal bind vp the wound of his people shal heale the stroke of their wound â Behold the name of our Lord commeth from farre his burning furie and heauie to beare his lippes are filled with indignation and his tongue as a deuouring fire â His spirite as a torrent ouerflowing euen to the middes of the necke to destroy the nations to nothing and the bridle of errour that was in the iawes of peoples â There shal be a song vnto
Behold I to the prophets dreaming lies saith our Lord which haue told those thinges and haue seduced my people in their lying and in their miracles when I had not sent them nor commanded them who haue not profited this people saith our Lord. â If therefore this people or the prophet or the priest shal aske thee saying What is the burden of our Lord thou shalt say to them We are the burden for I wil cast you forth saith our Lord. â And the prophet and the priest and the people that saith The burden of our Lord wil I visite vpon that man and vpon his house â Thus shal you say euerie one to his brother neighbour What hath our Lord answered and what hath our Lord spoken â And the burden of our Lord shal no more be mentioned because euerie mans burden shal be his owne word you haue peruerted the wordes of the liuing God the Lord of hostes our God â Thus shalt thou say to the prophet What hath our Lord answered thee and what hath our Lord spoken â But if thou shalt say the burden of our Lord for this thus saith our Lord Because you haue said this word The burden of our Lord and I haue sent to you saying Say not The burden of our Lord â Therefore behold I wil take you away carying you and wil forsake you the citie which I haue geuen to you and to your fathers from before my face â And I wil geue you into euerlasting reproch and into eternal ignominie which shal neuer be put away by obliuion CHAP. XXIIII By a parable of good and euil figges is signified 5. the reduction of the penitent from captiuitie 8. and the vexation of those that stayed in Ierusalem or fled into Aegypt OVR Lord shewed me and behold two baskets ful of figges set before the temple of our Lord after that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon transported Iechonias the sonne of Ioakim the king of Iuda and his princes and the craftesman and incloser of Ierusalem and had brought them into Babylon â One basket had very good figges as the figges of the prime time are wont to be and one basket had very naughtie figges which could not be eaten because they were naught â And our Lord said to me What seest thou Ieremie And I said Figges the good figges exceeding good and the naughtie figges exceeding naught which can not be eaten because they are naught â And the word of our Lord was made to me saying â Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel As are these good figges so wil I know the transmigration of Iuda which I haue sent forth out of this place into the land of Chaldees vnto good â And I wil set mine eies vpon them to be pacified I wil bring them againe into this land and I wil build them and not destroy and I wil plant them and not plucke them vp â And I wil geue them an hart to know me that I am the Lord and they shal be my people and I wil be their God because they shal returne to me in al their hart â And as are the very naughtie figges that can not be eaten because they are naught thus saith our Lord so wil I geue Sedecias the king of Iuda and his princes and the rest of Ierusalem that haue remained in this citie and that dwel in the Land of Aegypt â And I wil geue them into vexation and affliction to al the kingdomes of the earth into reproch and to be a parable and into a prouerbe and into malediction in al places to which I haue cast them out â And I wil send among them the sword famine and pestilence til they be consumed out of the land which I gaue them and their fathers CHAP. XXV After the peoples contemning to heare Ieremie and other Prophets preaching three twentie yeares 8. he denounceth their assured captiuitie seuentie yeares in Babylon 12. and then the ruine of their enemies 15. Al which wrath of God Ieremie forshsweth to the Iewes 19. and Gentiles 29. Which shal first happen to Gods proper people 36. and so extend to al nations 34. the principal gouerners bewayling their common miserie THE word that was made to Ieremie concerning al the people of Iudain the fourth yeare of Ioakim the sonne of Iosias king of Iuda the same is the first yeare of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon â Which Ieremie the prophet spake to al the people of Iuda and to al the inhabitants of Ierusalem saying â From the thirteenth yeare of Iosias the sonne of Amon king of Iuda vntil this day this is the three twentith yeare the word of our Lord was made to me and I haue spoken to you rising in the night and speaking and you haue not heard â And our Lord hath sent al his seruants the prophets rysing early and sending and you haue not heard not inclined your eares to heare â when he said Returne ye euerie one from his euil way and from your most wicked cogitations and you shal dwel in the land which our âord hath geuen you and your fathers from euerlasting for euermore â And goe ye not after strange goddes to serue them adore them nor prouoke me to wrarh in the works of your handes and I wil not afflict you â And you haue not heard me saith our Lord so that you prouoked me to anger in the workes of your handes to your euil â Therfore thus saith the Lord of hostes For that you haue not heard my wordes â behold I wil send and take al the kinreds of the North saith our Lord and Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon my seruant and I wil bring them vpon this land and vpon the inhabitants thereof and vpon al the nations that are round about it and I wil kil them and make them into astonishment and hyssing and into euerlasting desolations â And I wil destroy out of them the voice of ioy and the voice of gladnes the voice of the bridegroome and the voice of the bride the noise of the mil and the light of the lampe â And al this land shal be in desolation and into astonishment and al these nations shal serue the king of Bebylon seuentie yeares â And when the seuentie yeares shal be expired I wil visite vpon the king of Babylon and vpon that nation saith our Lord their iniquitie and vpon the land of Chaldees and I wil make it into euerlasting desolations â And I wil bring vpon that land al my wordes that I haue spoken against it al that is written in this booke whatsoeuer Ieremie hath prophecied against al nations â because they haue serued them whereas they were manie nations great kinges and I wil repay them according to their workes and according to the deedes of their handes â Because thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Take the cuppe of wine of this
ye the transmigration which I haue sent out from Ierusalem into Babylon â Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel to Achab the sonne of Colias and to Sedecias the sonne of Maasias which prophecie vnto you in my name falsely Behold I wil deliuer them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and he shal strike them in your eies â And of them a malediction shal be taken vp by al the transmigration of Iuda that is in Babylon saying Our Lord make thee as Sedecias and as Achab whom the king of Babylon fryed in the fire â for that they haue done follie in Israel and committed adulterie with their freindes wiues and haue spoken the word in my name falsely which I commanded them not I am the iudge and the witnes saith our Lord. â And to Semeias the Nehelamite thou shalt say â Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel For that thou hast sent in thy name bookes to al the people that is in Ierusalem and to Sophonias the sonne of Maasias the priest to al the priestes saying â Our Lord hath made thee priest for Ioiada the priest that thou shouldest be ruler in the house of our Lord vpon euerie man rauing and prophecying to put him into the stockes and into prison â And now why hast thou nor rebuked Ieremie the Anathothite which prophecieth vnto you â Because vpon this he hath sent into Babylon to vs saying It is long build ye houses and inhabite them and plant gardens and eate the fruities of them â Sophonias therefore the priest reade this booke in the eares of Ieremie the propher â And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie saying â Send to al the transmigration saying Thus saith the Lord to Semeias the Nehelamite Because Semeias hath prophecied to you and I sent him not and hath made you to trust in a lie â Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil visite vpon Semeias the Nehelamite and vpon his seede there shal not be vnto him a man sitting in the middes of this people and he shal not see the good that I wil doe to my people saith our Lord because he hath spoken preuarication against our Lord. CHAP. XXX The prophet is commanded to write the same which he preacheth 4. first pensiue thinges 8. Then ioyful 9. Especially in the new Testament when God wil raise Dauid towitte Christ 16. Who shal destroy al enemies 19 And whose Church shal be great glorious and perpetual THIS is the word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord saying â Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel saying Write vnto thee al the wordes that I haue spoken to thee in a booke â For behold the daies come saith our Lord and I wil conuert the conuersion of my people Israel and Iuda saith our Lord and I wil make them returne to the land which I gaue their fathers and they shal possesse it â And these are the wordes that our Lord hath spoken to Israel and to Iuda â Because thus saith our Lord We haue heard a voice of terrour there is feare and no peace â Demand and see if a man beare childe wherefore then haue I seene euerie mans hand vpon his loyne as a woman that is in trauel and al faces are turned into the iaundice â Alas because that is a great day neither is there the like to it and it is the time of tribulation to Iacob and he shal be saued out of it â And it shal be in that day saith the Lord of hostes I wil breake his yoke from of thy necke and wil breake his bandes and strangers shal no more rule ouer him â but they shal serue our Lord their God and Dauid their king whom I wil raise vp to them â Thou therefore my seruant Iacob feare not saith our Lord neither be thou afrayd Israel because loe I wil saue thee out of a farre countrie and thy seede out of the land of their captiuitie and Iacob shal returne and be at rest flow with al good thinges and there shal be none whom he may feare â because I am with thee saith our Lord to saue thee for I wil make a consumation in al the Nations in which I haue dispersed thee but thee I wil not make into consummation but I wil chastice thee in iudgement that thou maist not seme to thy selfe innocent â Because thus saith our Lord Thy wound is vncurable thy stripe is very sore â There is none to iudge thy iudgement to binde it vp there is no prosite of medicines for thee â Al thy louers haue forgoten thee and wil not seeke thee for with the stroke of an enemie I haue striken thee with cruel chastisment for the multitude of thine iniquitie thy sinnes are hardened â What criest thou vpon thine affliction thy sorow is vncurable for the multitude of thine iniquitie and for thine hardned sinnes I haue done these thinges to thee â Therefore al that eate thee shal be deuoured and al thine enemies shal be led into captiuitie and they that waste thee shal be wasted and al thy spoilers wil I geue to the spoile â For I wil close vp thy wound and wil heale thee of thy woundes saith our Lord. Because they haue called thee ô Sion an out cast This is she that had none to seeke after her â Thus saith our Lord Behold I wil conuert the conuersion of the tabernacles of Iacob and wil haue pitie on his houses and the citie shal be built in her high place and the temple shal be founded according to the order thereof â And out of them shal come forth praise and the voice of them that play and I wil multiplie them and they shal not be diminished and I wil glorifie them they shal not be lessened â And his children shal be as from the beginning and his assemblie shal be permanent before me and I wil visite against al that afflict him â And his duke shal be of himself and the prince shal be brought forth from the middes of him and I wil bring him nere and he shal come to me For who is this that applieth his hart to approch vnto me saith our Lord â And you shal be my people and I wil be your God â Behold the whirle wind of our Lord the furie going forth the storme violently falling it shal light vpon the head of the impious â Our Lord wil not turne away the wrath of indignation til he haue done and accomplished the cogitation of his hart in the latter daies you shal vnderstand these thinges CHAP. XXXI God wil reduce Israel from captiuitie 4. and geue them abundance of al thinges 9. after their tribulation 15. Rachel The afflicted Church shal cease from mourning 18. confessing that she is iustly chastised 20. Christ a perfect man shal be conteyned in his mothers wombe 26. He rising from slepe death wil build
and the citie shal be built to our Lord from the tower of Hananeel euen to the gate of the corner â And the rule of the measure shal goe out farder in his sight vpon the litle hil Gareb and it shal compasse Goatha â and al the valley of carcasses and of ashes and al the countrie of death euen to the torrent of Cedron and to the corner of the East gate of horses the Holie of our Lord shal not be plucked vp and it shal no more be destroyed for euer CHAP. XXXII Nabuchodonosor besieging Ierusalem Ieremie in prison 7. byeth by Gods commandment a field of his cosin 17. Prayeth for the whole nation reciting Gods former benefites 26. Prophecieth their captiuitie in Babylon 30. for their idolatrie 36. and deliuerie from thence 40. With a new couenant to serue God sincerely THE word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord in the tenth yeare of Sedecias the king of Iuda the same is the eightenth yeare of Nabuchodonosor â Then the armie of the king of Babylon besieged Ierusalem and Ieremie the prophet was shut vp in the court of the prison that was in the house of the king of Iuda â For Sedecias the king of Iuda had shut him vp saying Why doest thou prophecie saying Thus saith our Lord Behold I wil geue this citie into the hand of the king of Babylon and he shal take it â And Sedecias the king of Iuda shal not escape out of the hand of the Chaldees but he shal be deliuered into the handes of the king of Babylon and he shal speake with him mouth to mouth and his eies shal see his eies â And he shal leade Sedecias into Babylon and he shal be there til I visite him saith our Lord. But if you wil fight against the Chaldees you shal haue nothing prosperous â And Ieremie said The word of our Lord was made to me saying â Behold Hanameel the sonne of Sellum thy cosin shal come to thee saying Bye vnto the my field which is in Anathoth for it apperteyneth to thee by kinred to bye it â And Hanameel myne vncles sonne came vnto me according to the word of our Lord to the enterie of the prison and said to me Possesse my field which is in Anathoth in the land of Beniamin because the inheritance perteineth to thee and thou art nere of kinne to possesse it And I vnderstood that it was the word of our Lord. â And I bought the field of Hanameel myne vncles sonne which is in Anathoth and I weyed him the siluer seuen staters and ten peeces of siluer â And I wrote it in a booke and signed it and tooke witnesses I weighed the siluer in balance â And I tooke the booke of the possession signed and the stipulations and the thinges ratified and the signes on the out side â And I gaue the booke of the possession to Baruch the sonne of Neri the sonne of Maasias in the sight of Hanameel my cosin and in the sight of the witnesses that were written in the booke of the purchase in the sight of al the Iewes that sate in the court of the prison â And I commanded Baruch before them saying â Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Take these bookes this booke of the purchase signed and this booke that is open and put them in an earthen vessel that they may continew manie daies â For thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Yet shal houses and fieldes and vineyardes be possessed in this land â And I prayed to our Lord after that I deliuered the booke of the possession to Buruch the sonne of Neri saying â Alas alas alas ô Lord God behold thou hast made heauen and earth in thy great strength and in thy stretched out arme no word shal be hard to thee â Which doest mercie on thousandes and rendrest the iniquitie of the fathers into the bosome of their children after them ô Most strong great mightie the Lord of hostes is thy name â Great in counsel and incomprehensible in cogitation whose eies are open vpon al the waies of the children of Adam to render vnto euerie one according to his waies and according to the fruite of his inuentions â Which hast put signes and wonders in the land of Aegypt euen vntil this day and in Israel and in men and hast made thee a name as is this day â And thou didest bring forth thy people Israel out of the Land of Aegypt in signes and in wonders and in a strong hand and in a stretched out arme and in great terrour â And thou gauest them this land which thou swarest to their fathers that thou wouldst geue them a land flowing with milke and honie â And they entered in and possessed it and they obeyed not thy voice and in thy law they walked not al that thou didst command them to doe they did not and al these euils are befallen them â Behold munitions are built against the citie that it may be taken and the citie is geuen into the handes of the Chaldees which fight against it at the presence of the sword and of famine and of pestilence and what thinges soeuer thou hast spoken are come to passe as thy self seest â And sayst thou to me ô Lord God Bye the field for siluer and take witnesses whereas the citie is geuen into the handes of the Chaldees â And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie saying â Behold I am the Lord the God of al flesh shal anie word be hard for me â Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil deliuer this citie into the handes of the Chaldees and into the handes of the king of Babylon and they shal take it â And the Chaldees shal come fighting against this citie and shal set in on fire and burne it and the houses in whose toppes they did sacrifice to Baal and offered libaments to strange goddes to prouoke me vnto wrath â For the children of Israel and the children of Iuda were continually doeing euil in myne eies from their youth the children of Israel which euen vntil this present exasperate me in the worke of their handes saith our Lord. â Because in furie and in myne indignation this citie is made to me from the day that they builded it vntil this day wherein it shal be taken out of my sight â For the malice of the children of Israel and of the children of Iuda which they haue done prouoking me to wrath they and their kinges their princes and their priestes and their prophets the men of Iuda and the inhabitants of Ierusalem â And they haue turned the backes to me and not the faces when I taught them early and instructed them and they would not heare that they might take discipline â And they haue set their idols in the house wherein my name is inuocated that they might pollute it â And they haue built the
builded not houses to inhabite and vineyard and filde and seede we haue not had â but we haue dwelt in tabarnacles and haue bene obedient according to al thinges that Ionadab our father commanded vs. â But when Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon was come vp to our Land we said Come and let vs goe into Ierusalem from the face of the host of the Chaldees and from the face of the host of Syria and we haue taried in Ierusalem â And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie saying â Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Goe say to the men of Iuda and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem Why wil you not receiue discipline to obey my wordes saith our Lord â The wordes of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab haue preuailed which he commanded his sonnes not to drincke wine and they haue not drunke vntil this day because they haue obeyed the commandment of their father but I haue spoken to you early rysing and speakeing and you haue not obeyed me â And I haue sent to you al my seruants the prophetes rising early and sending and saying Returne ye euerie one from his most wicked way and make your studies good and folow not strange goddes nor worship them and you shal dwel in the land which I gaue you and your fathers and you haue not inclined your eare nor heard me â The children therefore of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab haue firmely kept the precept of their father which he commanded them but this people hath not obeyed me â Therefore thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Behold I wil bring vpon Iuda and vpon al the inhabitants of Ierusalem al the affliction which I haue spoken against them because I haue spoken to them and they haue not heard I haue called them and they haue not answered me â But to the house of the Rechabites Ieremie said Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel For that you haue obeyed the commandment of Ionadab your father and haue kept al his commandments and haue done al thinges that he commanded you â Therefore thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel There shal not want a man of the stocke of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab standing in my sight al daies ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXV 1. The house of Rechabites VVe haue here according to the state of Gods Church in the old Testament a cleare example of religious life by professing and performing good workes of supererogation not commanded by God but piously instituted by a holie man called Ionadab VVhich not only himself and his proper children but also their posteritie manie ages after him voluntarily obserued by a prescript Rule Not to builde houses nor dwel in anie but in tentes not to sow seede nor to plant nor haue vinyardes nor to drinke wine A like rule but not the same in al pointes was prescribed by God himself Num 6 for such as would voluntarily embrace it And Elias and Elizens with then disciples obserued an other forme of religious life as appeareth 4. Reg. 1. 2. c. Al which vvere figures of more perfect Religious Orders in the Church of Christ consisting in three essential vowes of voluntarie Pouertie Chastitie and Obedience not commanded but commended and for the better attayning to perfection counseled by our Sauiour vvherof they are called Euangelical Counsels observed by the Apostles leauing al their worldlie substance and al desire of hauing anie proper possessions such also as had wiues leauing them the rest noâ marying al renouncing their owne willes subiected the same to Christs wil folovving him VVhose example others imitating this holie maner of life hath stil continued in the Church as is euident by the Ecclesiastical histories euen from the Apostles time But al obserued not the same particular rules nor were called by the same titles For as in the time of Moyses law some were called Nazareites some the Children of the Prophetes and some Rechabites after the name of their founders father Rechab a renowmed godlie man so now some are called Eremites some Monkes some Freares and some Religious Clerkes And of ech of these kindes diuers sortes are distinguished by varietie of rules habites special functions and titles either of their first Institutors or of the Institutes themselues or of the places or other occasions As Carmelites Augustines as wel Monkes as Canons Regular Benedictins Bernardins Carthusians Dominicans Fraâc scans Iesuiâes Theatines Capuchines and the like As also manie distinct Orders of Nunnes But none of them al differ from the rest nor from other Catholique Christians in pointes of faith nor make anie Sectes of Religion as Heretikes ridiculously obiect For al beleue and confesse the self same Catholique Faith in al the Articles therof al vse and acknowlege the same and no other holie Sacraments and al are vnited in one vniuersal Church vnder one visible Head Euerie Order good and holie in their profession al together excellently aâoâing the whole bodie with sacred semelie varieties make the same vniuersal Church more glorious CHAP. XXXVI Ieremie in prison sendeth Baruch by Gods commandment to read a booke of comminations before the people 7. exhorting them to repent 9. which being read in a porch of the Temple 11. Micheas reporteth it to the Nobles in the court 14. whither Baruch being called readeth the same before them 20. they informe the king 21. who hearing part therof causeth the booke to be burned 26. and commandeth to apprehend Baruch and Ieremie 27. The booke is write againe by them with addition of more AND it came to passe in the fourth yeare of Ioakim the sonne of Iosias king of Iuda this word was made to Ieremie from our Lord saying â Take a volume of a booke and thou shalt write in it al the wordes that I haue spoken to thee against Israel and Iuda against al Nations since the day that I spake to thee from the daies of Iosias euen to this day â If perhaps the house of Iuda hearing al the euils that I meane to doe vnto them let euerie man returne from his most wicked way and I wil be propicious to their iniquitie and to their sinne â Ieremie therefore called Baruch the sonne of Nerias and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Ieremie al the wordes of our Lord which he spake to him in the volume of the booke â And Ieremie commanded Baruch saying I am shut vp neither am I able to goe into the house of our Lord. â Goe thou in therefore and read out of the volume wherein thou hast written from my mouth the wordes of our Lord in the hearing of al the people in the house of our Lord on the fasting day moreouer also in the hearing of al Iuda which come out of their cities thou shalt read it to them â if perhaps their prayer may fal in the sight of our
the prophetes in the night rysing sending and saying Doe not the word of this manner of abomination which I hated â And they heard not nor inclined their eare to returne from their euils and not to sacrifice to strange goddes â And myne indignation and my furie is powred out it is kindled in the cities of Iuda in the streetes of Ierusalem they are turned into desolation and waste according to this day â And now thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Why doe you this great euil against your owne soules that there should dye of you man and woman child and suckling out of the middes of Iuda and nothing be left remayning vnto you â prouoking me in the workes of your handes in sacrificing to strange goddes in the Land of Aegypt into which you are entred to inhabite there and that you should perish and be a malediction and a reproch to al the nations of the earth â Why haue you forgotten the euils of your fathers and the euils of the kinges of Iuda and the euils of the wiues and your euils and the euiles of your wiues that they haue done in the Land of Iuda and in the countries of Ierusalem â They are not clensed euen to this day and they haue not feared and they haue not walked in the lawe of the Lord and in my precepts which I haue geuen before you and your fathers â Therefore thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Behold I wil set my face vpon you to euil and I wil destroy al Iuda â And I wil take the remnant of Iuda which haue set their face to goe into the Land of Aegypt and to dwel there and they shal be al consumed in the Land of Aegypt they shal fal by the sword and by famine and they shal be consumed from the least euen to the greatest by the sword and by famine shal they dye and they shal be for an othe and for a miracle and into malediction and into reproch â And I wil visite the inhabitants of the Land of Aegypt as I haue visited vpon Ierusalem in sword and famine and pestilence â And there shal be none that shal escape and be remayning of the remnant of the Iewes that goe to seiourne in the Land of Aegypt that shal returne into the Land of Iuda to the which they eleuate their soules for to returne and dwel there there shal none returne but they that shal flee â But al the men that knew that their wiues sacrificied to strange goddes and al the wemen of whom there stood a great multitude and al the people of the inhabitants in the Land of Aegypt in Phatures answered Ieremie saying â The word which thou hast spoken to vs in the name of our Lord we wil not heare of thee â but doing we wil doe euerie word that shal procede out of our owne mouth to sacrifice vnto the queene of heauen and to offer libaments vnto her as we and our fathers haue done our kinges our princes in the cities of Iuda and in the stretes of Ierusalem and we were filled with bread and it was wel with vs and we saw no euil â But from that time since we ceassed to sacrifice to the queene of heauen and to offer libaments vnto her we lacke al thinges we are consumed with sword and famine â And if we sacrifice to the queene of heauen and offer libamentes to her why haue we without our husbandes made her cakes to worshipe her and to offer libamentes to her â And Ieremie said to al the people against the men and against the wemen and against al the people that had answered him the word saying â Why the sacrifice that you haue sacrificed in the cities of Iuda and in the streetes of Ierusalem you and your fathers your kinges and your princes and the people of the land is not our Lord mindful of them and hath it not ascended vpon his hart â And our Lord would beare no longer for the malice of your studies and for the abominations which you haue done and your land is brought into desolation and into astonishment and into malediction for that there is not an inhabiter as is this day â Because you haue sacrificed to idols and haue sinned to our Lord and haue not heard the voice of our Lord and haue not walked in his law and in his precepts and in his testimonies therefore are these euils fallen to you as is this day â And Ieremie said to al the people and to al the wemen Heare you the word of our Lord al Iuda which are in the Land of Aegypt â Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel saying You and your wiues haue spoken with your mouth and haue accomplished with your handes saying Let vs performe our vowes which we haue vowed to sacrifice to the queene of heauen and to offer libaments to her you haue fulfilled your vowes and haue done them in worke â Therefore heare ye the word of our Lord al Iuda which dwel in the Land of Aegypt Behold I haue sworne by my great name saith our Lord that my name shal no more be called by the mouth of euerie man of Iuda saying Our Lord God liueth in al the Land of Aegypt â Behold I wil watch vpon them to euil and not to good and al the men of Iuda that are in the Land of Aegypt shal be consumed with sword and famine til they be vtterly consumed â And they that shal escape the sword shal returne out of the Land of Aegypt into the Land of Iuda a few men and al the remnant of Iuda that goe into the Land of Aegypt to dwel there shal know whose word is accomplished mine or theirs â And this shal be a signe for you saith our Lord that I visite vpon you in this place that you may know that my wordes shal be accomplished in deede against you to euil â Thus saith our Lord Behold I wil deliuer Pharao Ephree the king of Aegypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of them that seeke his life as I haue deliuered Sedecias the king of Iuda into the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon his enemie and that seeketh his life CHAP. XLV Ieremie reprehendeth Baruch for lamenting in affliction THE word that Ieremie spake to Baruch the sonne of Nerias when he had written these wordes in a booke from the mouth of Ieremie in the fourth yeare of Ioakim the sonne of Iosias king of Iuda saying â Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel to thee Baruch â Thou hast said Woe is me wretch because our Lord hath added sorow to my sorow I haue laboured in my mourning and haue not found rest â Thus saith our Lord Thus shalt thou say to him Behold them whom I haue builded I doe destroy and whom I haue planted I doe pluck vp and al this
that had bene at Rome an hostage and he reigned in the hundreth and seuen and thirteth yeare of the kingdom of the Greekes â In those dayes there went forth of Israel wicked children perswaded manie saying Let vs goe and make a couenant with the Gentils that are about vs because since we departed from them manie euils haue found vs. â And the talke semed good in their eyes â And some of the people determined and went to the king and he gaue them leaue to doe the iustice of the Gentils â And they built a schoole in Ierusalem according to the lawes of the Nations â and they made to them selues prepuces and reuolted from the holie testament and were ioyned to the Nations and were solde to doe euil â And the kingdom was prepared in the sight of Antiochus he begane to reigne in the land of Egypt that he might reigne ouer two kingdoms â And he entered into Aegypt with great multitude with chariots and elephants and horsemen and a copious multitude of shippes â And he made warre agaynst Ptolomee the king of Egypt and Ptolomee was afrayd at his presence and fled and manie fel wounded â And he tooke the fensed cities in the land of Aegypt and he tooke the spoiles of the land of Aegypt â And Antiochus turned after he strooke Aegypt in the hundreth and three and fourtith yeare and he went vp to Israel â and went vp to Ierusalem with a great multitude â And he entered into the sanctification with pride tooke the golden altar and the candlesticke of light and al the vessels therof and the table of proposition and the libatories and the phials and the litle morrers of gold and the vele and the crownes and the golden ornament that was in the face of the temple and he brake al into pâeces â And he tooke the siluer and gold and the desiderable vessels and he tooke the hidden treasures which he found and carying away he departed into his owne land â And he made a slaughter of men and spake in great pride â And great lamentation was made in Israel and in euerie place of theirs â and the princes and the ancients mourned and the youngmen and the virgins were weakned and the beautifulnes of the wemen was changed â Euerie husband tooke lamentation and the wemen that sate in the mariage bed mourned â and the land was moued vpon the inhabitants therein al the house of Iacob did put on confusion â And after two yeares of dayes the king sent a prince of tributes into the cities of Iuda he came to Ierusalem with a great multitude â And he spake vnto them peaceable wordes in guile and they beleued him â And he fel vpon the citie sodenly and stroke it with a great plague and destroyed much people in Israel â And he tooke the spoiles of the citie and burnt it with fyre and destroyed the houses therof and the walles therof round about â and they led the wemen captiue and the children and the cattel they possessed â And they built the citie of Dauid with a great wal and a strong and with firme towers and it was made a castel for them â and they placed there a sinful nation wicked men and they waxed strong therein And they layd armour and victuals and gathered together the spoiles of Ierusalem â and layd them vp there and they became a great snare â And this was made for an embushment of the sanctification and to be an il deuil in Israel â And they shed innocent bloud round about the sanctification and contaminated the sanctification â And the inhabitants of Ierusalem fled by reason of them and it became the habitation of strangers and she became stranger to her owne seede and her children forsooke her â Her sanctification was desolate as a wildernes her festiual dayes were turned into mourning her sabbaths into reproche her honours into naught â According to her glorie was her ignominie multiplied and her highnes was turned into mourning â And king Antiochus wrote to al his kingdom that al the people should be one and euerie one should leaue his owne law â And al Nations consented according to the word of king Antiochus â and manie of Israel consented to his seruice and they sacrificed to idols and defiled the sabbath â And the king sent bookes by the handes of messengers into Ierusalem into al the cities of Iuda that they should folow the law of the Nations of the earth â and should prohibite holocausts and sacrifices placations to be made in the temple of God â and should prohibite the sabbath to be celebrated and the solemne dayes â And he commanded the holie places to be defiled and the holie people of Israel â And he commanded altars to be built and temples and idols and swines flesh to be immolated and common beasts â and to leaue their children vncircumcised and their soules to be contaminated in al vncleannesses and abominations so that they should forget the law and should change al the iustifications of God â And whosoeuer had not done acording to the word of king Antiochus they should dye â According to al these words wrote he to al his kingdom and he appoynted princes ouer the people that should force these thinges to be done â And they commanded the cities of Iuda to sacrifice â And manie of the people were gathered to them they that had forsaken the law of our Lord and they did euils vpon the land â and they chased forth the people of Israel in hidden corners and in the secret places of fugitiues â The fiftenth day of the moneth Casleu the hundreth fiue and fourtith yeare king Antiochus built the abominable idol of desolation vpon the altar of God and through out al the cities of Iuda round about they builded altars â and before the gates of houses and in the stretes they burnt frankincense sacrificed â and the bookes of the law of God they burnt with fyre cutting them â and with whomsoeuer were found the bookes of the testament of our Lord and whosoeuer obserued the law of our Lord they murdered him according to the edict of the king â In their powre did they these thinges to the people of Israel that was found in euerie moneth and moneth in the cities â And the fiue and twentith day of the moneth they sacrificed vpon the altar that was agaynst the altar â And the wemen that circumcided their children were murdered according to the commandment of king Antiochus â and they hang vp the children by the necks through out al their houses and those that had circumcided them they murdered â And manie of the people of Israel determined with themselues that they would not eate the vncleane thinges they chose rather to dye then to be defiled with vncleane meates â they would not breake the
celebrated the Phase and the festiual day of Azymes for seuen dayes â and there was not celebrated such a Phase in Israel from the times of Samuel the prophet â and al the kinges of Israel did not celebrate such a Phase as Iosias did and the Priestes and the Leuites and the Iewes and al Israel that were found in their abode at Ierusalem â In the eightenth yeare Iosias reigning was the Phase celebrated â And the workes of Iosias were directed in the sight of his Lord in a hart ful of feare â and the thinges concerning him are writen in the ancient times touching them that sinned and were irreligious against our Lord aboue al nations and that sought not the wordes of our Lord vpon Israel â And after al this fact of Iosias came vp Pharao the king of Aegypt comming in Charcamis from the way vpon Euphrates and Iosias went forth to meete him â And the king of Aegypt sent to Iosias saying What is there betwen me thee king of Iuda â I was not sent of the Lord to fight against thee for my battel is vpon Euphrates goe downe in hast â And Iosias did not returne vpon his chariote but endeuoured to ouerthrow him not attending the word of the prophet from the mouth of our Lord â but he made battel against him in the field of Mageddo And princes went downe to king Iosias â And the king said to his seruantes Remoue me from the battel for I am weakned excedingly And forth with his seruantes remoued him out of the battel â And he went vp into his second chariote comming to Ierusalem dyed and was buried in his fathers se pulchre â And in al Iurie they mourned for Iosias the rulers with their wiues lamented him vntil this day And this was geuen out to be done alwayes vnto al the stocke of Israel â But these thinges were writen before in the booke of the histories of the kinges of Iuda and al the actes of the doing of Iosias and his glorie and his vnderstanding in the law of our Lord and the thinges that were done by him and that are not writen in the booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda â And they that were of the nation taking Iechonias the sonne of Iosias made him king for Iosias his father when he was three and twentie yeares old â And he reigned ouer Israel three monethes And the king of Aegypt remoued him that he should not reigne in Ierusalem â and he put a taxe vpon the nation of siluer an hundred talentes and of gold one talent â And the king of Aegypt made Ioacim his brother king of Iuda and Ierusalem â and he bound the magistrates of Ioacim and Zaracel his brother and taking them brought them backe into Aegypt â Ioacim was fiue and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne in the land of Iuda and Ierusalem and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. â And after this man came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and binding him with a bande of brasse brought him into Babylon â And Nabuchodonosor tooke the sacred vessels of our Lord and carried away and consecrated them in his temple in Babylon â For his vncleanes and lacke of religion is written in the booke of the times of the kinges â And Ioachin his sonne reigned for him And when he was made king he was eightene yeares old â And reigned three monethes and ten dayes in Ierusalem and did euil in the sight of our Lord â and after a yeare Nabuchodonosor sending transported him into Babylon together with the sacred vessels of our Lord. â And he made Sedecias king of Iuda and Ierusalem when he was one and twentie yeares old and he reigned eleuen yeares â And he did euil in the sight of our Lord and was not afraid of the wordes which were spoken by Ieremie the prophet from the mouth of our Lord â and being sworne of king Nabuchodonosor forsworne he did reuolt and his necke being hardened his hart he transgressed the ordinances of our Lord the God of Israel â And the princes of the people of our Lord did manie thinges wickedly and they did impiously aboue al the vncleannes of the nations and they polluted the temple of our Lord that was holie in Ierusalem â And the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to reclame them for that he would spare them and his tabernacle â But they scorned at his messengers and in the day that our Lord spake to them they were mocking his prophetes â Who was moued euen vnto wrath vpon his nation for their impietie and commanded the kinges of the Chaldees to come vp â These slewe their yong men with the sword round about their holie temple and spared not yong man and old man and virgin and youth â but al were deliuered into their handes taking al the sacred vessels of our Lord and the kinges treasures they caried them into Babylon â and burnt the house of our Lord and threwe downe the walles of Ierusalem and the towres therof they burnt with fire â and consumed al their honorable thinges and brought them to naught and those that were left of the sword they led into Babylon â And they were his seruants vntil the Persians reigned in the fulfilling of the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie â as long as the land quietly kept her sabbathes al the time of her desolation she sabbathized in the application of seuentie yeares CHAP. II. Cyrus king of Persia permitteth the Iewes to returne into their countrie 10. and deliuereth to them the holie vessels which Nabuchodonosor had taken from the temple 16. Certaine aduersaries writing to king Artaxerxes hinder those that would repayre the ruines of Ierusalem CYRVS king of the Persians reigning for the accomplishment of the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie â our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians and he proclaymed in al his kingdomes and that by writing â saying Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians The Lord of Israel the high Lord hath made me king ouer the whole earth â and hath signified to me to build him a house in Ierusalem which is in Iurie â If there be any of your kinred his Lord goe vp with him into Ierusalem â Whosoeuer therefore dwel about the places let them helpe them that are in the same place in gold and siluer â in giftes with horses and beastes and with other thinges which by vowes are added into the temple of our Lord which is in Ierusalem â And the princes of the tribes of the villages and of Iurie of the tribe of Beniamin the Priestes and the Leuites standing vp whom our Lord moued to goe vp and to build the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem and they that were round about them â did helpe them with al their gold and siluer and beastes and
was receiued â A copie of the letter which they sent to Darius SISENNES deputie of Syria and Phenice and Satrabuzanes and his felowes in Syria and Phenice presidents to king Darius greeting â Be al thinges knowen to our Lord the king that when we came into the countrie of Iurie and had entered into Ierusalem we found them building the great house of God â And the temple of polished stones and of great and precious matter in the walles â And the workes to be a doing earnestly and to succede and prosper in their handes and in al glorie to be perfited most diligently â Then we asked the ancients saying by whose permission build ye this house found these workes â And therfore we asked them that we might doe thee to know the men the ouerseers and we required of them a rolle of the names of the ouerseers â But they answered vs saying We are the seruantes of the Lord which made heauen and earth â And this house was built these manie yeares past by a king of Israel that was great and most valiant and was finished â And because our fathers were prouoking to wrath and sinned agaynst God of Israel he deliuered them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon king of the Chaldees â And throwing downe this house they burnt it and they led the people captiue into Babylon â In the first yeare when Cyrus reigned the king of Babylon Cyrus the king wrote to build this house â And these sacred vessels of gold and siluer which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the house which is in Ierualsem and had consecrated them in his owne temple Cyrus brought them forth agayne out of the temple which was in Babylon and they were deliuered to Zorobabel to Salmanasar the deputie â And it was commanded them that they should offer these vessels lay them vp in the temple which was in Ierusalem and build the temple of God itself in his place â Then did Salmanasar lay the fundations of the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem and from that time vntil now it is a building and is not accomplished â Now therfore if thou thincke it good ô king let it be sought in the kings liberaries of Cyrus the king which are in Babylon â and if it shal be found that the building of the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem begane by the counsel of Cyrus the king and it be thought good of our Lord the king let him write to vs of these thinges â Then Darius the king commanded search to be made in the libraries and there was found in Ecbatana a towne that is in the countrie of Media one place wherin were writen these wordes â IN THE FIRST YEARE of the reigne of Cyrus king Cyrus coÌmanded to build the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem where they did burne incense with dayly fire â the height wherof shal be of ten cubits the bredth three score cubites foure square with three stones polished and with a loft galerie of wood of the same countrie one new galerie and the expenses to be geuen out of the house of Cyrus the king â And the sacred vesseles of the house of the Lord as wel of gold as of siluer which Nabuchodonosor tooke from the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem where they were layed that they be put there â And he commanded Sisennes the deputie of Syria Phoenice and Satrabuzanes and his felowes them that were ordayned presidentes in Syria Phoenice that they should refraine themselues from that place â And I also haue geuen commandment to build it wholly and haue prouided that they helpe them which are of the captiuitie of the Iewes til the temple of the house of the Lord be accomplished â And from the vexation of the tributes of Coelesyria Phoenice a quantitie to be geuen diligently to these men for the sacrifice of the Lord to Zorobabel the gouernour for oxen and rammes and lambes â And in like maner corne also and salt and wine and oyle continually yeare by yeare according as the priestes which are in Ierusalem haue prescribed to be spent dayly â that libamentes may be offered to the most high God for the king his children that they may pray for their life â And that it be denounced that whosoeuer shal transgresse anie thing of these which are writen or shal despise it a beame be taken of theyr owne they be hanged their goodes be confiscate to the king â Therfore the Lord also whose name is inuocated there destroy euery king nation that shal extend their hand to hinder or to handle il the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem â I Darius the king haue decreed that it be most diligently done according to these thinges CHAP. VII The house of God is finished 7. and dedicated 10. the feast of Pasch is also celebrated seuen dayes with Azimes THEN Sisennes the deputie of Coelesyria and Phaenice and Satrabuzames and their felowes obeying those thinges which were decreed of Darius the king â applied the sacred workes most diligently working together with the ancientes of the Iewes the princes of Syria â And the sacred workes prospered Aggeus Zacharias the prophetes prophecying â And they accomplished al thinges by the precept of our Lord the God of Israel and by the counsel of Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes the king of the Persians â And our house was a finishing vntil the three and twentith day of the moneth of Adar the sixth yeare of Darius the king â And the children of Israel and the Priestes and Leuites and the rest that were of the captiuitie which were added did according to those thinges that are written in the booke of Moyses â And they offered for the dedication of the temple of our Lord oxen an hundred rammes two hundred lambes foure hundred â And kiddes for the sinnes of al Israel twelue according to the number of the tribes of Israel â And the Priestes and Leuites stood clothed with stoles by tribes ouer al the workes of our Lord the God of Israel according to the booke of Moyses and the porters at euerie gate â And the children of Israel with them that were of the captiuitie celebrated the phase the fourtenth moone of the first moneth when the Priestes and Leuites were sanctified â Al the children of the captiuitie were not sanctified together because al the Leuites were sanctified together â And al the children of the captiuitie immolated the phase both for their brethren the Priestes and for them selues â And the children of Israel did eate they that were of the captiuitie al that remayned apart from al the abominations of the nations of the land seeking our Lord. â And they celebrated the festiual day of Azymes seuen dayes feasting in the sight of our Lord. â Because he turned the counsel of the king of the
prophecied of al his twelue sonnes and in Iudas of Christ Gen. 49. v. 10. And then dyed  Iob either of the progenie of Nachor or as semeth more probable of Esau liued the same time in which the children of Israel were pressed with seruitude in Aegypt Himselfe writte the historie of his affliction in the Arabian tongue which Moyses translated into Hebrew m 2286. AmraÌ Esron n Ioseph buried his father in Chanaan and nourished his bretheren with their families as their patron superior Gen. 50. v. 18.   o 2340.   o He dyed at the age of 110. yeares Gen. 50. After his death the Superioritie of the children of Israel descended not to his sonnes but to his bretheren and rested in Leui the third brother liuing longest of al the twelue to the age of 137. yeares Exodi 6. v. 16. whose genealogie is there declared to shew the descent of Aaron and Moyses About this time was Atlas the great Astronomer brother of Prometheus grandfather to Mercurius the elder whose nephew Mercurius otherwise called Tris megistus the master of moral philosophie must nedes be a good while after Moyses S. Aug. li. 18. c. 39. de ciuit Also Cecrops the first king and builder of Athens was in Moyses time after him Cadmus built Thebes and the first that brought letters into Grece more ancient then manie Pammes goddes S. Aug. li. 18. c. 8. c. The booke of Exodus conteyneth the affliction and deliuerie of the children of Israel precepts of Gods law p 2401. Aaron borne Aram. r Moyses an infant of three monethes was put in a basket on the water taken thence by Pharaos daughter nurced by his owne mother and brought vp in Pharaos court Exod. 2.   q 2404. Moyses borne  s At the age of fourty yeares he went to his bretheren to comfort them Where killing an Aegyptian that oppressed an Israelite he was forced to flee into Madian Exod. 2.   s 2244.   t After other fourtie yeares God appeared to Moyses in a bush burning not wasting Sent him into Aegypt with powre to worke miracles to bring the children of Israel out of that bondage   t 2484.  Aminadab v Pharao and the Aegyptians resisting were plaged with tenne sundrie afflictions At last the Israelites were deliuered and Pharao with al his armie drowned Exo. 3. to 15.   THE END OF THE THIRD AGE THE BEGINNING OF THE FOVRTH AGE Anni muÌdi High-priests The line of Iudas The sacred historie Schismes and infidelitie Scriptures    w The law was geuen in Mount Sina the fifteth day after their going out of Aegypt Exod. 19. 20. In the absence of Moyses the people forcing Aaron to consent made adored a golden calfe for God Exod. 32.   x 2485.   x The tabernacle with al thinges perteyning therto was prepared in the first yeare and erected the first day of the second yeare of their abode in the desert Exod. 40.     Aaron  y In the same second yeare Aaron was consecrated Highpriest and his sonnes Priestes for an ordinarie succession Moyses remayning Superior extraordinarie during his life Leuit. 8. Nadab Abiu offered strange fire in sacrifice and were burnt to death Leuit. 10. Leuiticus conteyneth the Rites of Sacrifices Priestes Feastes Fastes and Vowes Numeri so called because in it are numbered the men of twelue tribes able to beare armes also the Leuites deputed to Gods seruice about the tabernacle and the mansions of the people in the desert with other thinges happening in the 40. yeares of their abode there     z Balaam a sorcerer hyred by Balac king of Moab to curse the Israelites was forced by Gods powre to prophecy good things of them Num. 22. 23. 24. Chore Dathan Abiron with manie others murmuring rebelliÌg against Moyses Aaron were partly swalowed aliue into the earth others burnt with fire from heauen Num. 16.      a Moyses and Aaron doubting that God would not geue water out of a rock to the murmuring people were foretold that they should dye in the desert and not enter into the promised land Num. 20.    b 2523. Eleazar  b Aaron dyed in the mount Hor and his sonne Eleazar was made Highpriest Num. 20.    c 2524.   c Moyses repeted the law commending it earnestly to the people Then dyed and was secretly buried by Angels in the valley of Moab Deut. 34.      To whom Iosue succeded in temporal gouernment his spiritual remayning in the Highpriest Nu. 27. v 20. d Al the children of Israel that came forth of Aegypt aboue the age of twentie yeares dyed in the desert except two Iosue Caleb Num. 26. v. 64. 65. Al nations generally besides the Iewes seruing many false goddes those thought themselues most religious that were most supersticious studious of art Magike Nigromancy the like And euerie countrie yea almost euerie towne village had their peculiar imagined goddes as S. Athanasius discourseth Orat contra idola Deuteronomie is an abridgement and repetition of the law conteyned more largely in the former bookes    e Presently after Moyses death Iosue brought the people ouer Iordan into Chanaan Iosue â And in the space of seuen yeares conquered the land Iosue 6. c.   f 2531   f And diuided the same amongst the tribes Iosue 13.   g 2533.   g The tribes of Ruben Gad and half Manasses hauing receiued enheritance on the other side of Iordan Num. 32. v. 33. and now returning thither made an altar by the riuer side which the other tribes suspecting to be for sacrifice and so to make a schisme prepared to fight against them but they answering that it was only for a monument al were satisfied Iosue 22.  The booke of Iosue is the first of those which are properly called Historical declaring how the Israelits conquered possessed the land of Chanaan it conteyneth the historie of 32. yeares   Naasson  The Romanes otherwise most prudent accouÌted al inuenters of artes conqueroures of countries al archiuers of great explores at least after their deathes to be goddes And not only men but also manie other thinges were held for goddes  h 2556. h Iosue at the age of 110. yeares dyed Iosue 24. v. 29. had no proper successor     i 2556.   i Eleazarus the Highpriest dyed the same yeare Iosue 24. v. 33. And his sonne Phinees succeded    Phinees  k After the death of Iosue the people were afflicted by forreine nations God so permitting for their sinnes but repenting he raised vp certaine captaines who were called Iudges of diuers tribes without ordinarie succession to deliuer defend the countrie from inuasions These were in al fourtenne
in the space of nere 300. yeares   l 2564.   l Othoniel the first Iudge of the tribe of Iuda deliuered the Israelites from molestation of the king of Syria He gouerned comprehending also the intermission fourtie yeares Iudic. 3. v. 11. Neither did it suffice their phancies to coÌmend themselues and their goodes to the protection of few goddes but diuers thinges yea and the same thinges according to diuers state to diuers goddes and goddesses As S. Augustin noteth li. 4. c. 8. de ciuit that they thought it not sufficient to coÌmend their landes possessions to one god or goddesse but the fieldes to one mouÌtaines to an other little hilles to an other valleys or medowes to an other Likewise their corne not al to one but the sede newly sowne to one beginning to brewerd to an other when it riseth beginneth to haue knottes to an other when it bladeth to an other when the eare springeth to an other when it is ripe readie to be reaped to an other And so without end more and more vaine goddes were imagined by the diuels suggestion The booke of Iudges sheweth the state of the people of God the space of nere three hundred yeares after the death of Iosue when they had sometimes temporal gouerners of diuers tribes some times none m 2588.   m Aod of the tribe of Beniamin the second Iudge killed Eglon king of Moab and so deliuered Israel and slew tenne thousand Moabites Iud. 3. v. 20. 29.      n Samgar a husbandman the third Iudge killing six hundred Philisthimes with the culter of a plough defended Israel Iudic. 3. v. 31. He with Aod and the times wanting iudges gouerned seuentie fiue yeares   o 2663.   o Barach by direction of Debora a prophetesse fighting against Sisara chiefe captaine of Iabin king of Asor Iahil a stout woman slew the same captaine striking a naile in his head Iud. 4. They gouerned 38. yeares    Abisue Salmon p Gedeon confirmed by miracles that he was sent of God ouertherw the Madianites and deliuered Israel gouerning fourtie yeares Iudic. 6. 7. 8.   p 2701.   q Abimelech the base sonne of Gedeon vniustly vsurping auctoritie killed his seuenty bretheren one only escaping but within three yeares was hated of his folowers and slaine by a woman Iud 9.   q 2741.   r Thola defended the countrie from inuasion of enimies three yeares Iud. 10.   r 2744.   s Iair a potent noble man defended the people twentie two yeares Iud. 10. v. 3.   s 2767. Bocci  t Iepte first reiected but afterwards intreated by the ancientes of the people fought for them and ouerthrew the enemies And vpon an vndiscrete vow offered his daughter in sacrifice Iud. 11.   t 2789.  Booz   who so deluding men brought them to eternal ruine    v He killed in ciuil warre fourtie two thousand Ephraimites and gouerned six yeares Iud. 12.   w 2795.   w Abesan a fortunate good man ruled in peace seuen yeares Iudic. 12. v. 9. About this time Booz of the tribe of Iuda maried Ruth a Moabite by whom the right line of Iudas descended by Phares to Dauid Ruth 4. v. 18. c. The people in this time of peace fel againe to idolatrie For which God suffered the Philistimes to afflict them Iud. 13. The tribe of Dan set vp idolatrie Iud. 18.  x 2802.   x Ahialon gouerned likewise in peace tenne yeares Iud. 12. v. 11. A hainous crime being committed in the tribe of Beniamin and not punished the other Israelites made battle against them being themselues also great sinners lost manie men in two conflictes but in the third the tribe of Beniamin was almost destroyed Iud. 19. v. 20. The booke of Ruth amongst other mysteries sheweth the genealogie of Dauid of whose sede Christ was borne y 2812.  Obed. y Abdon an other nobleman gouerned eight yeares Iud. 12. v. 13.   z 2820. Ozi  z Samson from his birth a Nazareite of admirable streingth did manie heroical actes killed manie Philistimes in his life more by his owne death He gouerned twentie yeares Iud. 13. v. 5. c. ch 16. v. 31.   a 2840. Hei otherwise Zaraias  a Heli of the stocke of Aaron by the line of Ithamar was High priest and gouerned Israel fourtie yeares 1. Reg. 4. v. 18.     Isai or Iesse b Samuel whose mother being long barren had presented him an infant in the temple according to her vow was a Nazareire and a prophet from a child 1.  The foure bookes of kings shew the state of the Church from the b 2880.     first kinges of Gods people to their captiuitie And the two bookes of Paralipomenon do repete briefly some thinges written before partly adde thinges omitted in other bookes  Maraioth Dauid b. Reg. 1. 3. And after the death of Heli gouerned the people of Israel before Saul twentie yeares And with him twentie yeares more About the yeare of the world 2830. Troy was taken and destroyed by the Grecians In which battel were Agamemnon Vlisses Achilles Nestor many others not in dede so renowmed for anie vertues or factes of their owne as Homer Horace Viâgil Onid others by poetical libertie flatterie sette them forth But most follie appeareth in that the citie of Rome was afterwards commended to those goddes which were taken in Troy not able to defend them selues from inuasion and spoile S. Aug. li. 1. c. 3. ciuit The psalmes written by Dauid a summarie of al holie Scriptures c 2900. Achimelech or Amarias Dauid king c By the importunitie of the people to haue a king God appointed Samuel to annoint Saul 1. Reg. 10. who at first gouerned wel but afterwards declining from God was deposed Dauid annointed by the same prophet Samuel 1. Reg. 16. Yet Saul was not actually depriued of the scepter so long as he liued 1. Reg. 31.   d 2920. Abiathar or Achitob Salomon d Dauid king prophetââ led his kingdom as a right parterne of al good kinges made the booke of Psalmes ful of al diuine knowlege prepared meanes for building the temple ordained diuers sortes of musitians and reigned fourtie yeares 2. Reg. totus 2. Par. 23 c.   e 2960. Sadoc  e Salomon excelling in wisdom prospered in this world 3. Reg. 3. c.   f 2964.   f He built the temple and adorned the same with al excellent furniture requisite for Gods seruice disposing al in order as Dauid had ordained   THE END OF THE FOVRTH AGE THE BEGINNING OF THE FIFTH AGE AnnimuÌdi High-priests kinges of luda The sacred Historie Schismes and infidelitie Scriptures g 2972.   g The temple being finished in seuen yeares was
theâ dedicated most solemnly with exceding deuotion of the king and al the people with abuÌdance of sacrifices And afterwardes the same king Salomon writte three sapiential bookes The Prouerbes Ecclesiastes the CaÌâicle of Canticles But in his old age fel from God and it is vncertaine whether he dyed penitent or no. He reigned fourtie yeares 3. Reg. 11. Ieroboam the first king of the tenne tribes made a wicked schisme setting vp two golden calues in Bethâl and Dan which most of the people serued as their goddes  h 3000. Achimaas Roboam h King Roboam leauing the aduise of ancientes and folowing young counselers âffended the people and âs seruant Ieroboam was made king of tenne tribes only Iuda Benâamin remayning to him He reigned seuentene yeares 3. Reg. 14. v. 21. He reââned 22. yeares 3. Reg. 12 After him were these kinges of diuerse families of the same tenne tribes The Prouerbes Ecclesiâst s. Canticle of Canticles i 3017.  Abias i His sonne Abias reigned wickedly three yeares 3. Reg. 15. v. 2. Nadab sonne of Ieroboam reigned two yeares 3. Reg. 14. Basa of the tribe of Issachar reigned 24 yeares 3. Reg. 15. Ela two yeares 3. Reg. 16.  k 3020. Azarias Asa k Asa a good king destroyed idolatrie and reigned 41. yeares 3. Reg. 15. v. 10. Zambri but seuen dayes 3. Reg. 16. v. 15. Amri 12. yeares wherof The bni reigned in ciuil warre against him three yeares v. 22. Achab maried Iezabel a Sidonian and serued Baal reigning 21. yeares 3. Reg. 10. c.  l 3061.  Iosaphat l Iosaphat gouerned the kingdom wel 25. yeares 3. Reg. 22. v. 42. 43. sauing that he ioyned affinitie with Achab king of Israel and with Iezabel 2. Paral. 18. v. 1.    Iohanam     m 3086.  Ioram m Ioram reigned wickedly eight yeares 4. Reg. 8. v. 17. 18. 2. Paral. 21. v. 5. 6. The three next are omitted by S. Mathew Ochozias reigned two yeares 3. Reg. 22. v 52. Elias Elizeus and diuers other Prophetes preached did manie miracles in the kingodm of Iuda and Israel not writing any particular bookes n 3094. Ioiada * Ochozias n By the euil counsel of his mother Athalia Ochozias gouerned wickedly one yeare was slaine by Iehu together with Ioram king of Israel 4. Reg. 8. v. 27. ch 9. v. 27. 2. Paral. 22. v 3. 9. Ioram twelue yeares 4. Reg. 3. Iehu killed Ioram and Iezabel destroying the whole house of Achab reigned 8. yeares 4. Reg. 9. 10.  o 3095.   o Quene Athalia murthering the children of her owne sonne the late king vsurped the kingdom six yeares 4. Reg. 11. v. 1. Ioachaz reigned 17. yeares 4. Reg. 13.  p 3101.  * Ioas. p The youngest sonne of Ochozias called Ioas being saued from the slaughter was made king by meanes of Ioiada Highpriest and Athalia slaine 4. Reg. 11. v. 4. Ioas reigned sixtene yeares 4. Reg. 13. v. 10. Ieroboam 41. yeares 4. Reg. 14. v. 23.   Zacharias  He gouerned wel during the life of Ioiada But afterwards fel to idolatrie caused Zacharias the High-priest and sonne of Ioiada to be slaine 2. Paral. 24. v. Zacharias reigned but six monethes 4. Reg. 15. v. 8.   Sadoc or Ioathan  22. And shortly after the sameking was trecherously slaine when he had reigned 41. yeares 4. Reg. 12. v. 20. 2. Paral. 24. v. 25. Sellum but one moneth 4. Reg. 15. v. 15.  q 3142. Sellum * Amasias q Amasias beginning wel did some good thinges 4. Manahem reigned 10. yeares 4. Reg. 15. v. 17. Phaceia two yeares 4. Reg. 15. v. 23.  Helcias  Reg. 14. v. 3. But after the spoile of the Idumeans he worshipped their idols 2. Paral. 25. v. 14. And reigned 29. yeares ibidem Phacee reigned 20. yeares 4. Reg. 15. v. 27.  r 3171.  Ozias or Asarias r Ozias sometime reigned wel 4. Reg. 15. v. 3. but afterwards presuming to offer incense on the altar was repelled by the Highpriest presently strooken with leprosie and cast out of the temple and citie He liued after that he was king 52. yeares 2. Par. 26. v. 16. Osee reigned nine yeares 4. Reg. 17.   Azarias  s Ioathan a godlie king gouerned a great part of his fathers time and after his death sixtene yeares 4. Reg. 15. 2. Par. 27. The kingdom of Israel hauing stood aboue two hundred and fifetie yeares was subdued by the Assitians much people caried captiue into Assyria 4. Reg. 17. v. 6. In the dayes of king Ozias was Isaias the Prophet Likewise Osee Ioel Amos Abdias and Ionas s 3223.  Ioathan t Achaz a wicked king after manie benefits receiued from God fel to idolatrie reigning sixtene yeares destroyed holie thinges shut vp the temple and peruerted manie of the people 4. Reg. 16. 2. Paral. 28. The Grecians euerie fourth yeare set forth enter Iudes in honour of Iuppiter Olimpius wherof begane the count of Olimpias about the yeare of the world 3247. Micheas prophecied in the reigne of Ioathan the former prophetes yet liuing  Vrias  v Ezechias a most godlie king aduanced true religioÌ which was much decayed He recouered health being mortally sicke which was confirmed by miracle in the sunne returning backe and made a Canticle of praise with thankes to God and reigned 29. yeares 4. Reg. 18. 2. Paral. 29. 30. 31. 32. And after six Olimpiades that is 24. yeares Rome was built  t 3239.  Achaz  New inhabitantes being sent from Assiria into Iurie mixed their paganisme with the Israelites religion made manie wicked and detestable Sectes 4. Reg. 17. v. 29. Nahum and Habacuc prophecied after the captiuitie of the tenne tribes v 3255.  Ezechias    w 3284.  Manasses w Manasses for his great sinnes was caried captiue into Babylon where he repented and was restored to his kingdom he reigned liued in captiuirie 55. yeares 4. Reg. 21. â Par. 33.  About this time happened the historie of To bie who liued in al 102. yeares Tob. 14. v. 2. x 3339.  Amon. x Amon reigned euil two yeares 4. Reg. 21. 2. Par. â3  Sophonias prophecied in the reigne of Iosias king of Iuda y 3341.  Iosias y Iosias a very good king purged the Church of idolatrie repayred the temple celebrated a most solemne Pasch was slaine in battel by the king of Aegypt which al the people much lamented especially Ieremie the prophet when he had reigned 31. yeares 4. Reg. 22. 23. 2. Par. 34 35. In the time of Numa the second king of the Romanes Pithagoras taught transmigratioÌ of soules from one bodie to an other Ieremie also begane to prophecie beiÌg a child in the dayes of Iosias continued in the captiuity of the two tribes Baruch was his Scribe and also a Prophet z â372  Ioachaz or Iechonias z Ioachaz otherwise
deeds a. 429. 969. 100. ofâân commended in the sapiential bookes b 288. 296. 297. 300. 302. also 784. Alphabet ân Hebrewe is mystical and very hard b. 215. 650. Altares erected for sacrifice a. 47. 51. 94. 101. 227. 685. 720. 947. b. 905. Amân required diuine honour a. 1040. he fauoured traytors a. 1053. persecuted the Iewes a. 1041. and him selfe was hanged a. 1046. Ambition breedeth sedition a 663. it deceiueth and ouerthroweth a. 670. 1045. Ambition abundance and idlenes are the cause of much corruption b. 701. Amos a heardesman prophecied before the captiuitie of the tenne tribes b. 829. Amram nephew of Leui and father of Moyses and Aaron lawfully maried his aunt a. 168. 299. 3â8 Angels offer mens prayers to God a. 214 1006. resist the diuel a. 13. and wicked men a. 369. b. 9â3 especially Antichrist b 802. their ministerie in the Church a 47. 161. 242. 249. 545. 546. 935. 1061. 1072. b 781. they protect men and places a. 147. 193 478. 519. 527. 924. 995. 996. 1007. 1029. b. 323. 670 798. 973. 992. they are exceding many b. 792. 992. they learne secretes one of an other b. 794. Antichrist probably supposed to come of the tribe of Dan a. 150. the Iewes wil receiue him b. 801. He is prefigured a. 534. 538. 1014. b. 794. 801. 895. 970. He shal be strong and cruel for a short time b 792. to witte three yeares and a halfe b. 803. He shal then be ouerthrowne b 747. Antiochus his cruel edict b. 894. 1001. his repentance in sicknes was not sincere not fruictful b. 911 969. He died miserably b. 911. 968. 1002. he was a figure of Antichrist b 970. Antiquitie a note of true doctrine b. 331. Aod by especial inspiration killing Eglon is not to be imitated a. 522. Apostasie from faith first happened in Cain a. 16. after in Nemrod a. 45. 48. in Ieroboam a 734. and others Arke of Noe how great a 25. it was a figure of the Church a 28. Arke of the Testament much reuerenced a. 336. 360. 579. 583. 584. 647. 843. 876. 882 b. 147. 949. 996. It ouerthrewe Dagon a. 581. Arphaxad king of the Medes vainly boasted a 1012. Ashes a holy ceremonie a 12. 32. 1019. 1023. 1042. 1108. b 533. 559. 795. 844. 902. 904. Assidians professed a religious rule of life b 898. 915. 972. 977. 982. Threescore of them martyres b. 915. Auarice a detestable sinne especially in Clergie men a 576. 585. b 530. 558. 562. Aureola an especial accidental glorie of Martyres holy Doctors Virgins b 802. B Baal the false god of the Moabites Madianites Sidonians and other nations a 370. worshipped some times by Iewes was once ouerthrowne by Gedeon a 528. againe his prophetes destroyed by Elias a 747. Iehu also killed many worshippers of Baal a 783. and king Ioas destroyed his temple a 906. Babylon built a 45. was long potent and glorious but at last destroyed b 469. 518. 639. 642. c. 713. 8â3 Balaam the sorcerer first refused afterwardes attempted to curse Gods people a 389. His asse spake a 370. He prophecied true and good thinges of Israel a 371. c. he was slaine together with the Madianites a 386. Baptisme prefigured a 4. 32. 199. b. 197. 740. 994. It taketh away al sinnes a. 193. b. 197. S. Iohn Baptist precursor of Christ b. 887. Baruchs prophecie is Canonical Scripture b. 661. Beda most modest in expounding holie Scripture a 46. Behemoth an elephant or an other greater beast is subiect to Gods ordinance a 1106. Belus Iuppiter imagined by idolaters to be the greatest god a. 42. b. 1076. Beza corrupteth the Gospel a 46. sayth God created man to falle a 171. b 394. Blessing of creatures operatiue a. 5. 47. 90. 93. It belongeth to the greater to blesse the lesse a. 59. 48â 524. 721. Blessing by a sette forme of wordes a. 35. Blinde leaders excuse not their folowers a 572. Brasen serpent erected a. 336. was afterwardes broken in peeces a. 799. how it healed those that were hurt b 366. Brothers are foure maner of wayes a. 53. 570. Burden of Babylon the like sigsignifieth doleful coÌminatorie prophecie of ruine b 469 c. 854. C Caath the sonne of Leui. father of Amram and grandfather of Aaron and Moyses a 167. Caluin contemneth al the fathers a 59. maketh God the auctor of sinne a. 171. carpeth at Moyses a 245. chargeth the booke of Wisdome with error b. 364. Canon of the Church of Christ is an infallible rule declaring which are diuine Scriptures a 989. and of more auctoritie then the Iewes Canon ibidem Canticle of Canticles is a sacred Colloquium or Enterlude b 334. it perteyneth to three spouses b. 335. Captiuitie of the tenne tribes in Assyria a. 798. Captiuitie of the two tribes in Babylon had three beginninges a. 813. 932. b. 649 Ierem. 52. v. 28. 29. 30. and b. 77â Dan. 1. and the same captiuitie was released by degrees at diuers times a. 944. c. 1. Esd 1. 2. 6. 2. Esd â Catholique name designeth true Christians and the true Church a. 22. Catholiques are spiritual souldiars a. 10â0 Al Catholiques participate of the prayers and other good workes of al the iust b 223. Ceremonies in the law of nature a. 32. 211. obserued by Salomon not expressed in the writteÌ law a 877. Prescribed to Ezechiel to lye on one side a certaine time b 685. ceremonial lawes at large from the middes of Exodus and the greatest part of Leuiticus continually vsed in diuine seruice b 959. ordayned for three especial causes a. 264. 283. Children of the Church are the spiritual seede of Abraham a. 53. Choise to be made of desires wordes and deedes b 425. Christ our Redemer promised a. 10. 12 359. 364. 768. 963. b 244. He was prefigured by Abel a. 13. by Noe a. 28. by Abraham a. 51. by Melchisedech a. 55. and others innumerable and forshewed by al the Prophetes 449. His Incarnation other mysteries folowing especially in these places a. 31. 47. 197. 373. 703. 934. b. 16. 16. 45. 113. 158. 202. 203. 313. 325. 462. 463. 464. 494. 495. 506. 536. 542. 601. 603. 609. 667. 702. 790. 841. 850. 860. 871. 872. 874. 941. 990. 991. His genealogie from Phares the sonne of Iudas to Dauid a 571. from Dauid to the captiuitie a. 939. from the captiuitie to Ioseph and consequently to his B. mother of the same familie b. 1004. Christ being in Aegypt the idoles lost their power b 476. His Passion and Resurrection more particularly a. 13. 88. 362. 366. 553. 1060. b. 26. 46. 49 at large 70. 256. 540. 568. 580. 636. 877. His Resurrection the third day b. 816. He was sould for thirtie pence a. 117. b. 880. Christ a Priest and a King a. 56. 397. b. 36. 204. He came in humilitie b. 511. He wil come in Maiestie b. 888. Christians called fishes a. 4. and are of three states a 709. Church of Christ prefigured by the Arke of Noe
âyp ââp 76. in fine S. Aug. Tract 12. 13. in Ioan. :: The same credite is geuen to God speaking by Moyses as if he had spoken immediatly by himself S. Hiero. in Epist ad Philem. :: The first of al Canticles sacred or prophane Origen ho. 6. in Exod. :: God only suffered them to goe into the sea For they went of their owne accord supposing they might folowe where the Israelites went before S. Aug. ser 89. de temp :: Musical instrumeÌts vsed before the law of Moyses in the seruice of God :: These things chanced to them in figure 1. Cor. 10. :: The wholsome wood of the Crosse made the bitter sea of gentiles swete Theodoret. q. 26. in Exod. The same Church Religion in this age as in the former Beleefe in one God Three diuine Persons Strength or power the Father vvisdome the Sonne Spirite the Holie Ghost Christ promised to Abraham Rom. 9. To Isaac And to Iacob Christ prefigured by Abraham By Melchisedech By Isaac Iacob Ioseph Iob. Moyses And manie other things Prophecie of Christ Iob. 19. Sacrifice Altares Churces dedicated Vowes Priesthood Priuilege of Priests VVhere is no sacrifice no priest is required Circumcision Penance Gen. 44 Mariage Degrees of coÌsanguinitie Pluralitie of wiues lawful sometimes neuer of husbands Blessings Signe of the Crosse Ceremonies Musical instruments Baptisme prefigured 1. Cor. 10. The B. Sacrament Priesthood of the new Testament Traditions Tythes Forme of iustice Precepts Raising seede to the brother Abstinence Freewil Mans industry necessarie God tempteth nor to euil Faith and good workes together iustifie and are meritorious but neither of them alone Iet 2. Heb. 11. Heb. 1â Perfection in this life Foure principal merites of Abraham 1. Prompt obedience 2. Faith without staggering 3. Propagation of faith and religion 4. Perfect obedience Other iust men Isaac Iacob He spake truth in mystical sense Ioseph Iob. Moyses Nu. 12. Exo. 32. Election is of Gods mercie Predestination excludeth not ordinary meanes Sinne is the cause of reprobation Pharao and other Aegyptians hardned their owne harts God did only permitte them to obdurate themselues Protection Inuocation of Angels and Patriarches S. Aug li 16 c. 36. ãâã Adoration of creatures Swearing by creatures Ominous speach Dreames Images Reliques Deuotion to holie places Figure of Christ crosse Iosue 24. Funeral offices 2. Reg. â Place dedicated for burial Mourning 40 dayes Exequies of seuen dayes Special place of burial rightely desired No soule before Christ entred into heauen Diuers places in hel Act. 7. v. 16. Luc. 16. Resurrection Mat. 22 General Iudgement â Pet. 2. âp Iud. Eternal punishment of the wicked and ioy of the blessed Heb. 11. Continuance of the Church notwithstanding breathes from it Abraham neuer contaminate in Religion Thare and Nachor reduced from idolatrie Abraham publikly professed his faith Sem. Sale Heber Melchisedech Manie professors of true Religion Breaches from the Church Moabites and Ammonites Nachors progenie Ismaelites Gal. 4. 2. Paral. 12 16. 28. Madianites Idumeans Heb. 12. Idolatrie stil increasing yet the Church continued yea also increased The Church of Christ in the new TestameÌt alwayes visible and great The same Scriptures forshew Christ and his Church Multitude of progenie promised to Abraham pertaineth to the Church of Christ Gen. 13. ãâã 17. 22. Apoc. 7. Very absurde to say the Church of Christ was at anie time obscure Succession of spiritual gouernets during the law of nature Iob. 19. Priesthood Moyses law established in Aarons seede Ex. 28. Nu. â Moyses chiefe in spiritual and temporal gouernment The beginning of the fourth age The second parte of this booke How the Israelites were sustained in the desert prepared to receiue the Law :: God least it in their wil to be content with ynough or to couere more yet suffered them not to haue more when it came to measurinâg v. 18. 2. Cor. 8. :: These birdes by Gods prouidence came from other places to the children of Israel Nu. 11. v. 31. :: By their woâdering at the duble quaÌtitie it appeareth they intended not to gather so much :: By anticipation Moyses writeth here the commadment geuen when the Tabernacle and Arck were finished Exo. ãâã :: This Relique was put in a golden vessel Heb 9. though it was infinitly inferior to Christs flesh ââ 6 yea inferior to the fleshââ anie glorified Sainct Manna so called of Man-hu It was a figure of the Eucharist li. 3. c 37. âo 45 Tâââ26 Ioan. 6. v. 25. 41. 49. 51. 55. Twelue miracles in Manna Psal 77. v 25 ãâã li. 1. c 12 cont Occolâmâ â ãâã li. â c 12 parââm 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. No miracle in Protestants Communion Al the said miracles are more eminent in the B. Sacrament 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. :: If this ceremonie of holding vp his handes was of such importance in the law of nature why do Heretikes deride the same and the like in the Catholique Church VVheras also our Sauiour lifting vp his hands blessed his disciples Luc. 24 S Damascen also teacheth li 4. c. 12 Oxthox that this extenâion of his handes prefigured the Crosse of Christ And now it representeth the same :: Cohen in Hebrew signifieth Priââe oâ Pâââst which offices in the law of nature were often ioyned in one person :: Manifold wisdome wherof Daniel prophecieth c. 12. v. 4 in Christian gentils was here prefigured in Iethio a gentil :: To whom Moyses willingly yelded Origen in hunc locum Morally Superiors are admonished by Moyses example to lerne of aââe man that which is good 5. Chrysostom âo de ferândâs reprehensioââbâ â :: To this place which was their 12 mansion they came the 47. day after they parted from Aegypt And the third day folowiÌg which was the âo the law was geuen in mount Sinay S. Hierom. Epist 1. ad Fabiolam :: God would haue their free consent els it were not a perfect couenant Theodoret. q 35 in Exod. :: In this couenant God promiseth particular loue Priestlie function wherby they might better serue him and effectual grace and sanctitie :: The people promise loyaltie to God and to keepe his commandements :: So Angels Saincts offer our prayers other good workes to God though he know al things before hand :: The people and al inferior clergie also are to kepe their limites and to lerne Gods wil of their superiors Agreement of old and new mysteries The third part of this booke ãâã Diuine Lawes M ãâ¦ã l and Iudicial :: In Hebrew ãâã in Greke ãâã in ãâã ãâã ãâã in English a ãâã ãâã ãâã This com ãâ¦ã and ãâ¦ã e one of the nine folowing Catech. Ro. p 3 q. 9. The Epistle on wenesday in the third weeke of Lent :: This and other ceremonial precepts are determinate lawes for obseruing the coÌmandments of the first table pertaining to God Protestants charge al Catholiques to be Idolaters They abuse their
cursed in the old Testament but such as now serue not God rightly and yet prosper in this world shal in a moment descend into hel Iob. 21. :: After manie other plagues and punishments at last the Iewes refusing and persecutiÌg Christ were reiected and Gentiles called into the Church and aduanced aboue them Theod q. 34. in Deut. :: For sinnes past God letteth some runne into reprobate sense permitting them to their owne freewil who being voide of grace wilfully obdurate them selues Theod. q. 37. in Deut. :: A mind secretly infected with idolatric :: The appetite drunken with pleasures thirsteth stil more :: Secrete thinges are knowne to God manifest thiÌges to men Theod. 9. 38. in Deut. :: Some sinners through great repentance become more vertuous and are more rewarded then some that offended lesse :: God gaue man libertie to choose what he would folow S. Aâb in Psal 40. v. 10 By grace men are made able to kepe Gods coÌmandments So the commandmentes are not impossible S. Aug. denat et grat c. 69. et q. 54. in Deut. rheod q. â8 in Deut. S. Cypri li. 3. c. 52. ad Quir. S. Amb. in Psal 40. Freewââ The fourth part An exhortation to serue God with predictioÌ of their often sinnes and punishmentes :: He meaneth that he caÌ not exercise the office of a captaine general and bring the people into the promised land :: Mââter is more easily kept in memorie then prose :: And so by this Canticle they are conuinced that they were abundantly for warned not to breake couenaÌt with God The eleuenth prophecie in the office before Masâe on Easter eue And the third on whitsuneue The canticle at Laudes on Saturday a Al thinges in heauen and in cartâ testifie that God dealeth wel with his people b Doctrine doth fructifie in good soules as raine dew in the ground c Mans first dutie is to praise God d The next to acknowledge his owne sinnes defectes c At the towre of Babel f Israel being but one people possessed the inheritance of seuen other nations g God choise Israel to be his peculiar people of mere grace and protected them h Bees without mens industrie made honie in the rockes i Oliue trees prospered in stonie places k Temporal prosperitie occasion of the Iewes reuolting from God l Noueltie allureth carnal people to idolatrie and heresie m For their peruersnes God withdrew his helpe from them n God first loueth before anie man loueth him but men first for sake God before he forsake them o The Iewes reputed most GeÌtiles foolish yet now they are inferior to al. p For iust causes God some times differreth punishment q True wisdome considereth thinges past vnderstandeth things present and prouideth for things to come r Al infideles confesse more Maiesty in the true God and in his ReligioÌ then in their owne Å¿ Euen such offenders as thinck them selues secure escape not t It is vnpossible that false goddes should helpe theirfolowers in necessitie v The vaine counsel of the wicked being detected shal be punished Caluin contradicteth the holie Scripture Alwaies some good in the Church of the old TestameÌt :: The ancient fathers expound these blessinges rather of the Church of Christ then of the Iewes Synagogue s. Aug. q. 56. Theod. q. 44. in Deut. :: The priestlie tribe must especially preferre Gods seruice before their neerest kinred :: The Temple was built in the tribe of Beniamin which God more specially protected and so they dwelt more securely Theod. q. 45. in Deut. :: Epthaim is preferred before his elder brother agreable to their granfathers prophetical blessing Gen. 48. :: The sinne of ZaÌbri a prince of Simeons tribe in fresh memorie Nu. 25. semeth to be the cause why this tribe is not partilarly blessed but only in general with al Israel The prophetical sense of these blessiÌges is more certaine more euident then the historical The fifth part The death burial and singular praise of Moyses :: God eleuated his visiue powre aboue nature to see so farre :: Onlie Angels whose ministerie God vsed herein knew the place of his burial lest the Iewes prone to idolatrie might haue honored him for God Histor Scholast VVhosoeuer was author the authoritie of this booke is certaine Bookes of holie Scripture principally treating of seueral argumentes yet in the same participat ech sorte with others The côtentes of this books S. Hiero. Epist ad Paulin. S. Amb. in Psal 47 S. Aug. li. 12 c. 31. li. 16. c. 19. contra Faust Manich. Diuided into foure partes The first part Of the passage of Israel ouer Iordan :: Besides Man na which yeâ câassed not they might ãâã they would prouide other meate prefiguring that in the primitiue Church it should be lawful to vse legal ceremonies with euangelical rites for a time til the old law were buried with honour :: Notwithstanding this officious lie which is a venial sinne S. Paul Heb. 11. and S. Iames c. 2. testifie that she was iustified by her faith in God and by good workes towards these men S. Aug. cont Mâudac â 17. See Annot Iac. 2. v. 25. :: In place of the cloud and piller of fire the arke is now caried for their guid and direction :: It perteined to the Leuites office to carie the arke Num. 4 but in this special seruice miraculous passage the Priestes did carie it so the greater may do the office of the lesse not contrariwise :: God shewed by this miracle that Iosue had special commission from him and that vnder his gouernment the people should prosper An obiection for laiheadship of the Church Answer Moyses chief both in spiritual and temporal authoritie which was after diuided betwen the high Priest temporal Prince The high priest superiour Iosue executed Gods wil not by spiritual iurisdictioÌ but with subordination to the high priest Exod. 4. 5. 6. c. Deut. 17. Chap. 5. 8. 22. 23. 24. Other good princes haue also much aduanced religion but not taken supramacie in spiritual causes Veniam âetiturus For maintaining Catholique religion against heretikes the kings of Spaine haue the title Catholique The French Kinges most Christian Kinges of England Defenders of the saith ân Do. 1521. :: Is not the forme of a crosse as conuenieÌt a signe to put christians in mind how our Sauiour redemed vs as these stones were to the Iewes how God brought their fathers ouer Iordan :: See annotations annotations c. 3. v. 8. :: CircuÌcision had bene omitted sourtie yeares whiles they were in the deserte alwayes vncertaine when to march so it is now commanded the second time * Fuâmenâie :: Not God but of Gods hoste Religious honour due to Angels See Annot Exâ 20. Holie places The second part Of conqueâing the Land of promise :: God appointed this long and solemne procession to the end it might appeare that the walles of Iericho âel not by chance noâ by force of mans industrie
Gen. 24. :: Iosue being a prophet saw some of their hartes inclined to idoles though exteriorly they then had none among them S. Aug. q. 29. in Iosue :: This renouation of the same couenaÌt presigured the law of the new Testament S. Aug. q. 30. in Iosue :: To the more confusion of reasonable creatures wilfully offending vnsensible things are made witnesses because they euer obey Gods wil which is the best maner of hearing Theod. q. 19. in Iosue :: If Iosue writ the rest of this booke then Samuel added these last verses Hist Sâhol :: Iosephs Mausoleum oâ famous sepulchre remained in Sichem in S. Hieroms time as he wit nesseth Tradit Hebra in Gen. prope sinem Gen. 5â âxo 13. Thare sometime serued false goddes but Abraham neuer Before Christ none entered into heauen A rule for reading historical bookes The Iudges of Israel figures of Christs Apostles They were al finally holie men Eââli 4â The Contents of this booke Diuided into three partes The first part A geneâal recapitulation of the peoples state :: The maner of consulting our Lord was by the High priest praying in the tabernacle Exo. 29. v. 42. :: The first general captaine after Iosue and diuers of the Iudges were of the tribe of Iuda but not al as appeareth in this booke :: Strong weapons crooked like sickles made fast to the chariottes which cut in peeces men horses and other chariottes that came in their way :: An Angel taking the forme of a man as before to Iosue ch 5. so now appearing to the people spake to them in the name of God whose messenger he was :: By special dispensation sacrifice was sometimes lawfully offered in other places though the Tabernacle and afterward the Temple was the onlie place commanded Deut. 12. Iosue 22. S. Aug. q. 36. in Iudic. :: These Iudges were extraordinarily raised vp to deliuer the people repenting when they were fallen into afflictioÌs for their sinnes The second part Of the common peoples often falling to idolatrie their repentance and deliuetie :: In manie places we see the worde sauiour and like titles geuen to men as the seruantes and officers of God who is the proper and principal Sauiour of al. S. Aug. q. 18. in Iudic. :: In these 40. yeares are included the eight yeares of their seruitude v. 8. so in the rest of this historie otherwise the number of yeres agreeth not with the count 3. Reg. 6. v. 1. :: Aod hauing special inspiration from God to do this fact as S. Augustin noteth vpon these wordes q 20. in Iudic. is not to be imitated by priuat men See Num. 25. v. 11. :: Being a prophetesse she resolued hard and obscure thinges but exercised no iurisdiction in anie causes for that belonged to the councel of Priestes and of seuentie ancientes where the high priest was the chief Iudge Num. 11. Deut. 17. Spiritually Debbora signified the Church Barac christian Princes who are directed in their warres and other actions by spiritual superiors as Origen and other ancient writers expouud this historie :: VVho is this woman ful of confidence piercing the temples of the enimies head with a naile but the faith of the Church destroying the diuels kingdomes with the crosse of christ S. Aug. li. 12. â 32. cont Iaust Manich. Iabel also prefigured our B. Ladie who crushed the serpentes head :: The greater blesse the lesse by imparting spiritual benefites so God and superiors blesse their subiectes Men blesse God the lesse their betters by geuing thankes and prayses :: She inculcateth that she must so much more praise God for this victorie because he forshewed it by her by her directed the general captaine Barac lest it might be ascribed either to wisdome or valure of anie man :: Those that subdew their bodies to the spirite ride vpon fayre asses Origen hom 6. in c. 5. Iudic. :: Iahel the figure was blessed amongst wemen much more the most holie virgin mother of God is blessed aboue alwemen :: S. Augustin q 31. in Iudic. supposeth that this messenger sent from God called a man a prophete for the forme wherin he appeared was the same Angel which sate vnder the oke and sent Gedeon to deliuer Israel v. 11. 12. c. :: He meant not to offer sacrifice to the Angel but that either the Angel or himselfe in presence of the Angel should offer it to God and so in dede the Angel partly directed him what to do partly executed the office himselfe by touching the oblation with his rodde and miraculously bringing fire to consume the sacrifice :: An altar for a monument not for sacrifice :: The strength of Baal or stronger then Baal :: Dew first in the fleece and after on the ground signified grace and true religion first in one people after in al nations Sainct Amb. Ser. 13. de Natal Dom. Venr Beda qq in Iudic. c. 4. Also Christs Incarnation without detriment of his mothers virginitie of whose grace al are replenished S. Bernard ho. 2. in Missus est :: Obseruation of dreames is generally forbid Leuit. 19. v. 26. Deut. 18 v. 10. yet here and in other places it is euident God would haue some obserued See Annot. Gen. 40. :: These thinges were ridiculous saieth venerab Beda c. 5. qq in Iudic. if they had not bene terrible to the enemies :: It is no derogation to God that honour is also geuen to his seruantes :: Trumpetes signified preachers of Christ pitchers the bodies of Martyres lampes their vertues and miracles Vener Beda qq in Iudic. c. 5. :: A soft answer breaketh anger hard speach stirreth vp furie Prou. 15. :: Zebee and Salmana were not of anie of the seuen nations whom God commanded to destroy and therfore Gedeon might haue spared their liues if he would :: Kinges may do ante thing not contrarie to the law but Iudges Dukes may onlie do according to the law See 1. Reg. 8. :: His handmaide oâ seruant not a harlotte to wit such a one as had not the priuiledge of a wife as Gen. 25. v. 6. :: This sonne of Gedeon by his seruant prefigured Antichrist who wil persecute the Church and reigne for a while but in the end shal be destroyed S. Beda c. 6. qq in Iudic. :: True pastores in the time of Antichrist wil still auouch the truth and the right of the Church :: Oyle spiritually signifieth the grace of the Holie Ghost making peace of conscience in mens soules towardes God :: The swetnes of Gods law producing good workes :: Contemtible in outward shew but bringing forth liquour of meruelous force which sorte of workes God is most delighted withal and men most admire Psal 85 :: The rhamnus signifieth base and ambicious men * brierre bramble ârthistle :: God doth suggest only good cogitations as remoââe of conscience in the secheââtes for their ingratitude towardes Gedeon and for so wicked and cruel a murder of his sonnes
Ser 1. de S. Andrea S. Beda ãâã 4. S. Aug. cont Faust S. Greg. in li. 1. Reg. et in Iob. Inuocation of Patriarches S. Hiere Ep. 12. ad Gauden Obiections answered by holie Scriptuâes Iob. 4â How Sainctes knâw mens prayers Titles geuen to men in office and to Sainctes lib. de mortalitate Angels adââed Reliqués Images Exequies fââ the dead Purgatorie To. 2. in sept Psal paeuitent Limbus pattâ No entrance into heauen before Christ Resurrection Iudgement Eternal paine of the damned and glorie of the blessed 1. Coâ â ãâã dowries of glorified bodies presigured 1 Cor. ãâã Cathâ cââs Rom p. 1. c 12. q 9. The Church more knowen to other nations then before The Ecclesiastical and temporal states more distinguished Succession of High Priestes Distinction of offices in Priestes Leuites Succession of temporal princes interrupted Dukes Iudges Kinges M ãâ¦ã Church Murmure Idolatrie ãâ¦ã e. ãâ¦ã ãâ¦ã * Iudic. 3. Ordinarie meanes of conseruing the Church No participation with infiâels No ãâ¦ã But one Tabernacle One Altar ãâã ãâ¦ã 8. Chris orat 1. aduers Iudeos One supreme Iudge of controuersies Al bound to obey him His sentence infallible The Church of Christ preserued from âââing in Religion Math. 16. 28. Luc. 22. Ioan 14. 16. Eph. 4. â Tâm 3. Not anie temporal but Christs kingdom is in al nations and perpetual S. Aug. li. 17. ââ de ââuit S. ââpipââ here 's 2â The Church of Christ vniuersal Act. 4. in hunc Psalm The Iewes wil not see Christ 2. Cor. 3. And Heretikes wil not see the Church which yet is alwayes visible S. Aug. in Psal 30. cânâ 2. Collat. Carthag at cont Donatist Ibidem The beginning of the fifth age * Firmnes * in strength :: A vessel so ãâ¦ã for the ãâ¦ã being ãâ¦ã :: âatus contayned ãâ¦ã :: Had designed and dedicated to holie vses :: There was no more with in the arke Deut. 10. but on the outside was the rodde of Aaron Nu. 17. Heb. 9. the golden potte with Manna Exod 16 Heb 9. and the booke of the law repeted by Moyses Deut. 31. :: Prices blesse their people parentes their children :: Salomon knew wel Gods conditional promise but perseuered not in keping his coÌmandments and therfore a great part of the kingdom was takeÌ from his children yet the right of the kingdom of Iuda remayned to his seede euen to Christ our Sauiour :: Reward of good workes :: External workes of penance except they proceede from the hart suffice not for remission of sinne :: External worship is not acceptable to God except it procede from internal sinceritie and dââodon VVherfore S. Augustin sayth God is worshipped in faith hope and charitie Enchirid c. â :: Salomon did not âel these cities for he could not alienate them but let the king of Tyre haue the vse and reuenewes in payment for timber for the gold which he sent * dirtie or disples sing :: a monument :: Part of Arabia is called Saba nere to Iurie but this Saba is beyond Arabia as S. Hierom testifieth in Esaiae 60 li. 17 it semeth to be in Aethiopia for our Sauiour saith Mat. 12. The quene of the South came froÌ the endes of the earth to heare the vvisdom of Salomon :: As this quene had no spirite when she saw Salomons wisdom so the Church gathered of gentiles knowing Christs grace finding the masters of Euangelical doctrin casting away the spirite of pride and laying of al hautinesse of mind lerned to distrust in her self and to trust in the great mercie of her king S. Greg in Psal 7. paââten to 2. * A wonderful thing that a Quene vpon fame of a mans wisdom traueled so farre to heare him speake and to see his gouernment but it was Gods inspiration to signifie by this figure that the Church of Christ should be gathered of the Gentiles in al nations Kiges Quenes noâ potent Princes also submitting themselues to Christ Isaae c. 49. :: Though pluralitie of wiues was then alowed yet it was forbid to multiplie manie Deut. :: The tribe of Iuda :: By Ierusalem is vnderstood the tribe of Beniamin wherin it stood so there remained two tribes to Salomons heyres 2. Reg. â ââ Reg. 10. :: From the time that Salomon fel to idolatrie he was more impugned by three perpetual aduersaries Adad Razon and Hieroboam mystically signifying the flesh the world and the diuel :: This fact coÌfirmed his wordes that he spoke seriously fained not :: VVhether he repented and was saued or no is vncertaine The third part The diuision of the Kingdom Seueral reigues of certaine kinges and preaching of special prophetes :: This pharaise noteth the sequel not the final cause As chap. 14. â â :: A diuelish policie to make a religion conformable to the temperal state :: For such a religion such priestes were fittest :: Places on hilles where they sacrificed calues and other thinges to the images of calues :: This foreshewing long before the name of a childe that should be borne importeth that he should do great thinges See 4. Reg. 2â :: This man of Bethel was indeede a prophet of God but in this lied wickedly and so deceiuing the other prophet made him to breake Gods commandment for which he was slaine VVhervpon Hieroboam swhom the wiked prophet sought to please was lesse afeard to procede in idolatrie :: Not only the deceiuer but also he that is deceiued is guiltie and punishable for breakiÌg Gods coÌmandment :: By this it appeareth to be Gods worke and punishment :: Ieroboam did not wittingly and of purpose set vp false goddes to the end he might prouoke God to anger for his intention only was to kepe the people froÌ going to Ierusalem left by that occasion they should returne to Roboam their Lord king of Iuda ch 12. v. 27. But by settiÌg vp idols he did prouoke God consequently to anger So here and in other places this phrase that he might prouoke that it might be fulfilled and the like signifieth not the final cause but the sequele of other factes without direct intention :: Dauids postetitie conserued for his sake :: Those altares which Salomon had made for his wiues that were idolaters Asa destroved not but al which RoboaÌ and Abias had made or suffered to be made for their owne people he pulled downe Iosias afterward destroyed also those which Salomon had made 2. ââââl 34. :: The aâââouâ of schisme punished in his posteritie :: Al those that were in the campe chose their general to be their king and preuailed therin though an other half of Israel chose and folowed an other for a time :: Thebni being then dead he reigned peaceably for he began his reigne the 27. yeare of Asa â 15. 16. and reigned in al 12. yeares :: VVhen Hiel began to build Iericho his eldest sonne died so the rest successiuely that the last died when he finished the building because God by the mouth of
Iosue had forbid the building therof Iosue â The Epistle ãâã Teusday in the 2. weke of Lent The epistle ãâã Friday in the 4. weke of Lent To this question sayth S. Augustin the prophet answered in spirite No. For God killed not this childe to afflict so good a mother but to confirme her in true religion comforte her by raysing him from death So Lazarus died not to remaine dead but to be raysed to life for Gods more glorie Ioan. 11. v. 4. S. Aug li. 2. q. 5. ad Simplicia :: Abdias adored Elias as the prophete of God and a holie man not with ciuil honour for in the world Abdias was the greater person nor with diuine honour for that had benne idolatrie It was therfore religious honour called dulia due to spiritual excellencie of Gods seruantes :: Such zelous expostulation is necessarie to al Nentrals in religion who are neither hoto nor cold but luke vvaâme such as Angels detest Apoc. 3. :: VVhen miracles are attempted for trial of the truth the diuels powre is restrayned only the truth is testified Our Lord vvorking âââthal confirming the doctrin vvith sigâââ folovving ãâã vlt. :: Elias knew no other at that instant in the tenne tribes that were not partakers in idolatrie but there were in deede seuen thousand v. 18 that bowed not their knees to Baal And the whole kingdom of Iuda obserued true religion where Asa then reigned and after him Iosaphat both good kinges chap. 15. v. 11. 22 v. 43. 2. Par. 15. 17. :: Elias prophecied that these two should be kinges and cast his cloke ouer Elizeus v. 19. Elizeus declared to Hazael that he should be king 4. Reg. 8. an other prophet annointed Iehu 4. Reg. 9. Those that are girded strongly armed do not wisely in trusting their owne strength and contemning their aduersaries for by so doing they are often ouerthrowne And those that distrusting them selues trust in God one way or other alwaies preuaile A necessarie lesson both in temporal and spiritual warfayre :: Manie victories and other benefites were besiâwed vpon Achab to make him knowe God but he coÌtemning them al remained in his impietie and finally was slaine ch 22 v. 38. :: Foolish pittie in sparing a dangerous common enimie is offensiââe to God seuerely punished by his iustice :: If no subiect were lord of anie land but only at the kings pleasure kinges were proper lordes of al the landes in their kingdomes then Achab might haue taken Naboths vinyard especially geuing him a better or money for it Neither was it a vaine scruple in Naboth to conserue his ancesters inheritance For both his denial is here iustified and Achabs extortion coâââmned S. Ambrose li. 3. offic c. 9. counteth Naboth a Martyr See Annot. 1. Reg. 8. :: To auoide horrore of blasphemie holie scripture often vseth the terme blessing for cursing * chap. 22. v. 38. :: So addicted to wickednes as if he had solde him selfe to the diuel for some temporal profite or pleasure In your iniquities you are solde Isaiae 50. S. Aug. q. 102. ex vtro test S. Greg. ãâã 10. in Ezech. :: The godlie King Iosaphat iustly suspecting the schismatical sâââe prophetes aduised the other King to coÌsult a true prophet of God :: Fals prophetes imitate true prophetes in some exterior thinges to make their prophecies seme more authentical Such hornes appeared in a prophetical vision to Zacharie the prophet Zach. 1. v 18. :: The prophet geueth not this for a resolute answer but seing the king wil goe he prayeth he may go prosperously And the king conceiueth no otherwise of his answer and therfore vrgeth him to answer resolutly in the next wordes I adiure thee c. :: The coherence of the text sheweth that God only permitted but commanded not the diuel to deceiue Achab So S. Augustin li. 2. q. vlt. ad Simplic S. Greg. li. 2. c. 21. Moral and other fathers explicate this like places VVhen this false prophet heard that the kiÌg was slaine he hidde him selfe fearing the kings sonnes that they would kil him Iosephus li. 8. c. 14 Antiq :: It happened by chance in respect of the archers intentioÌ but otherwise by Gods prouidence directing his hand So Achabs craftic perswading Iosaphat to put on his kinglie attyre v. 30. him self fighting in vulgar armour saued him not from iust reuenge The kingdom of Iuda conserued in Dauids seede Many royal families beguÌne and destroyed in the kingdom of Israel This booke diuided into two partes The first part Of thinges donne in both kingdomes with the declination and ââine of Israel :: Elias was knowen by his much hayre and distinct habite from ordinary men :: In zele of iustice Elias procured fire from heauen to burne these proud capitaines and their men as he procured fire to burne the holocaust and then âlew the falsprophetes 3. Reg. 18. apud Aug. li. 2. c. 20. de mirabil â Script * ayre or lovver heauen VVhither Elias was carried being taken vp into the ayre is vncertain but certaine that he yet liueth and must dye As S. Augustin teacheth li. 9. c. 6. de Gen. ad lit See Annot. in Gen. 6 Apocalip 11. :: He desired not duble spirite to his master but the duble spirite of prophecying and of working miracles which Elias had v. â5 :: They adored him for his ho lines and because God had geuen him the spirit of so great a prophete not for wordlie but spiritual excel lencie therfore not with ciuil but religious honour :: It was forbiâ Deut. 20. to cut downe fruict trees in the land of Chanaan which the Israelite should possesse but the land of Moab perteyned not to them and âoâ was âot prohibited to anây that countrie vpon iust offence The Epistle on Teusday in the third weke of Lent The Epistle on Thursday in the 4. weke of Lent :: God sent his law by his seruant and it auailed not to mankinde dead in sinnes But he coming accommodating himself to our infirmitie participating our death we are quicned So S Augusting mystically applieth this figuratiue miracle to Christ and his Church li. 1â c. â5 cont Fast Manich and manielike thinges of the old Testament he sheweth to be figures of the new The Epistle on Munday in the 3 weke of Lent :: In respect of Gods special electing and saÌctifying the land of Chanaan by his true religion Naaman rightly estemed that earth fitter for an altar then the earth of his owne countrie :: Giezi prefigured Iudas the false Apostle of Christ and al those that buy or sel spiritual thinges for money who by their auarice lose Gods grace and gaine infamie in this world and eternal damnation in the next S. Aug. ser 208. de tempore The case of going to heretical seruice and Naamans going to the temple of an idol differ in diuers respectes Difference of times Mat. 10. Of places Rom. 1. 2. Pet. 1. Of
Mystically the Gentiles were iudged by Salomon better then the Iewes S. Ierom. :: Base vicions meâ mixt with the good corrups the whole companie much more a mortal sinne in a mans soule destroyeth al the vertues that were there before :: Euil men aduanced seme to prosper :: But they fal into their owne trappes :: Such as seke by sense and reason to obtaine true knowlege enter not into the citie the Church They labour in vaine and are afflicted in studie of Scriptures when they walke in the desert and can not finde the citie S. Ierom. This text and manie others haue two senses 1. In kinges and al superiors are required mature age diligent care of the coÌmon good 2. Antiquitie in matter of faith and religion is to be folowed not noueltie Iya. 8. Dan 7. Apoc. 1. Iere. 1. Also mortification and labour is required in Pastors not delicacie nor ease The B. Virgin Marie more free from sinne then the Patriarches Cant. 2. The 3. part An exhortation to beginne quickly and perseuere in Gods seruice a Of al vertues the workes of mercie corporal and spiritual most auaile for obtaining eternal felicitie Mat. 25. b So the same be grounded in true faith beleuing al that is written in the old and new testament signified by seuen eight c After deâth none ca ãâ¦ã either ââerite or demerite d Both in youth and old age do good workes :: An admonition to al in general to liue wel in this world remembring the day of general iudgement before which such signes shal come as are described here and by our Sauiour Mat. 24. And likewise euerie one is admonished in particular to serue God diligently whiles he hath time before death come when al his senses former helpes shal faile * The preachet :: This is the brife summe of al proficable doctrine Feare God kepe his commandments * Hidden or obscure thing Proem in Eccle. King Salomon according to his three names writte and intitled his three bookes Salomon Pacifier king of Israel Ecclesiastes Preacher king of Ierusalem Idida Beloued This Canticle doth excel other Canticles Al are not mete to read it Heb. 5. Best methode in lerning is to beginne with doctrine of good life then studie to know natural thinges and finally contemplate diuine mysteries A sacred dialogue or Enterlude * Forma dramatis God Christ the Spous or Bridgrome Three spouses The General The special and Singular Ephes 5. Origen S. Ierom. S. Aug. lib. 8. de Gen. adli S. Greg. S. Beda S. Tho. Aâbor Geneb Del Rio. The particular contents are sette in the margent of euerie chapter a The Church of the old testament desireth Christs coming in flesh and the Christian Church prayeth for his coming in glorie b The Church outwardly afflicted is inwardly fayre c Christ encorageth his spouse the Church d She meditateth of his Passion and Resurrection e Christ praiseth his spouse f She againe praiseth him g VVith thankes for her repose and present consolation a Christ professeth himself the floure of mankinde yea Lord of al creatures b The Church excelleth al other societies In the Church the godlie excel sinners Among the innocent and holie the virgin Marie surpasseth al. c The Church praising Christ resteth secure vnder his protectioÌ d He for the weakes sake permitteth her not to be molested til she be prepared to suffer vvith patience e She feeling Christs assistance confesseth preacheth boldly his Gospel truth against al Paganes and Heretikes f VVho though he shew not himself visibly g yet encorageth her to approch vnto him h commandeth his pastors to destroy heresies i And so she reposeth in him a The Church finding Christ not in darke ignorance nor in philosophie but by his reueâling him selfe to her holdeth him for euer b euen til the lewes shal at last also find him c Christ speaketh as before ch 2. v. 7 d The Church of Christ admireth her owne conuersion from Gentilitie e now ful of good workes f She also professeth that the ascending to eternal rest is by fighting manfully in obseruing the ten commandments in the six dayes of this life g euen to bloud if nedâ be h which is the highest degree of charitie i And inuiteth al others to come vnto Christ k who in the flesh which he tooke of his mother was crowned in heauen after his Passion a Christ againe praiâeth the beautie of his Church b Sincere and simple intention c Al her temporal occupations directed to Gods glorie d Pastors who like nurces geue bread of good doctrine to litle ones e Faith and good workes f Preaching Christs passion g And not ashamed to professe Christ Crucified h Administration of Sacraments wherby the Church Christs mystical bodie is ioyned to him her head i which is an inexpugnable fortresse k Both Iewes and Gentiles are fed with the principles of Christian doctrin l Christ dwelleth in mortified and deuout mindes m The Church triumphant is without spotte and euerie particular soule entring into heauen the B virgin mother was also in this life alwayes immaculate n Al tentations whether they be in manifest crueltie or in flatering sureltie make constant soules more gratful to God a The spouse condescending to Gods vvil is vvel content to suffer persecution b Christ againâ shevveth his good liking in his spouses patience c and vvilleth the glorious Sainctes to congratulate vvith the patient d The spouse desireth to rest in meditation e but is called vpon to helpe others f and vrged by Christs owne example working for al mankind g And so she imployeth herself also in actiue life h Stil conseruing a desire to returne vnto contemplation i The deuout confer together describing the excellencies of Christ k And resolue to seke him whersoeuer he be a The Church teacheth her children that Christ is delighted with the godlie desires and fructful vvorkes of the faithful b Christ gââââe commendeth his Church wel composed of distinct orders some gouerning some retired in cloâsters from this world the rest also exercising vvorkes of mercie in the trubles of this life al together making a complete armie terrible to al enimies c The more anie contemplate Gods Maiestie the better they perceiue that he is incomprensensible d Manie true pastores e more hyrelinges that also preach truth but for temporal commoditie f And innumerable faithful soules in the Church g Al vvhich are but one bodie in vnitie of âaith h The voice of the old synagogue admiring the beautie of Christs Church i The Church of Christ exhorteth the Synagogue of the Ievves to returne to Christ a Christ interposeth his commendation of the Ievves vvho at last shal returne to him vvith great seruoure of faith and deuotion b And so iointly praiseth his Church consisting of both peoples c The Church as it vvere taking the vvoid out of Christs mouth vvhiles he
certaine that Salomon was sometime innocent and holie but was peruerted by wemen 3. Reg. 11. 3 Reg. 3. v 9. 12. :: Here againe it is euident that the Auctor reporteth Salomons speaches 1. Paral. 28. v. 5. 2. Par. 1. v. 9. :: VVisdom increated is with God yea is God him selfe Prou. 8. v. 22. :: VVisdom vvhich is geuen to men procedeth from God as a gift created :: Mans wisdom vvithout special wisdom from God is not sufficient to gouerne ourselues much lesse others The 3. part The excellent effectes of wisdom iustice :: Adam Gen. 1. v. 27. :: By this it is certaine that our first pareÌt Adam truly repented and had remission of his sinne Gen. 4. v. 8. Gen. 6. :: Noe. :: Abraham Gen. 19. :: Lot :: In al trees about Sodom there is only shew of fruite which when it is touched falleth into dust :: Lots wife an example of inconstancie :: Iacob Gen. 28. Gen. 37. :: Ioseph Gen. 41. :: Gods peculiar people Exo. 1. Exo. 3. Exo. 14. Exo. 12. Exo. 15. :: Moyses Exo. 16. Exo. 27. :: The Amalachites Exo. 17. Num 20. :: VVhen the Israelites wanted water God gaue them abundance out of rockes :: But turned the Aegyptians waters into blood :: After affliction the benefite of peace is more gratful :: Moyses was reiected when he iudged betwen his bretheren Exo. 2. :: 14. but was afterwards the deliuer of the whole people Act. 7. v. 45. Leuit. 26. v. 22. Iere. 8. v. 17. â Aegyptians seruing beasts for goddes were plaged by frogges stuiphes flees and locustes :: God made no creature euil as the Manichees foolishly imagined neither is there any God but one who alone created al thinges :: From the land of Iurie called sacred because God was there tightly serued in the old testament and mans redemption vvas wrought there by Christ Exo. 23. Deut. 7. :: By custom malice became as it were natural after that nature was corrupted :: Gods powre being almightie is only limited by his vvil Rom. 1. v. 23. :: Serpents battes moles like beastes which seme not only super fluous in the world but also hurtful yet were estemed as goddes :: Knowing him to be the only true God by vvhom they saw their false goddes destroyed yet they did not serue him as God :: Gods most proper name is HE WHICH 1â Exo. 3. v. 14. Rom. 1. Deut. 4. :: Seing no creature how excellent soeuer is or may be estemed a god it is more foolish to thinke an Image or statua or anie thing framed by mans handes can be God Isa 4. Iere. 10. God is the beginning of al thinges absolute and independing :: Great madnes to inuocate a wodden idol more base commonly more corruptible then the wood of a shippe :: As the Israelites went through the redsea :: The auctor prophetically alludeth to the wood of the Crosse on which our Sauiour redemed mankind :: From whole death procedeth mans iustification :: Inuention of Idols brought men to spiritual fornications corruption of maners :: This first idolatrie was only prâuâtly exercised by the father and his seruants at their masters coÌmandment by which occasion publique idolatrie came into the world wicked custom in time preuailing :: The name GOD in the proper signification can not be geuen to anie creature Manie enormious crimes procede from dolatrie :: Two sort es of periurie swearing by false goddes and swearing vntruthes Caluin falsly chargeth this booke vvith ârâor Gen. 31. Images of false goddes are rightly called idols Idolatrie begane by vvorshipping images of dead men vvith diuine honour Priuate idolatrie was before publique :: Of the diueâs sortes of idols and âdolaters see our brife Annotion vpon the 113. Psal :: Idolaters hauing forsaken and forgot the onlie true God become as Atheists making their temporal gaine of false goddes :: And so waxing insolent contemte and persecute the seruants of God :: Some idolaters worshipped brute beastes for goddes as being better then sensles images but al are abominable :: The Aegyptians were plagued for their idolatrie :: And that by beastes because they worshipped beastes for goddes and by death of their first begotten for their crueltie against Gods people :: God punished his owne people as a father for their amendment :: The brasen serpent not by anie vertue inherent but as a signe of Gods fauoure vvas the meanes of curing the people Num. 21. :: VVith the plague of haile there vvas also fire mixed Exo. 9. v. 24. VVhich destroyed the profitable cattle :: But burnt not other beastes that plagued the Aegyptians :: Haile did not extinguish the fire by Gods povvre aboue nature :: See the miracles of Manna Annoe Exod 16. :: He speaketh againe of Manna :: The vaine imagination of the vvicked that himself shal be saued vvil faile him Exo. â 10. :: Literally the ãâ¦ã s ââââa knes thâer dayes together Exo 10. v. 22. Morally they other gânâ les vvere in darknes vvithout faith in God til Christs Resurrection the third day :: A trubled conscience is a great torment :: This signified the conuersion of al nations to Christ :: The Church is called holie because it professeth holines and hath alwayes some holie men without the Church there is no sanctitie :: VVhen the Aegyptians drowned the Hebrews children Moyses was saued and reserued to guide the Israelites when the Aegyptians were drowned :: A prophecie of Christ comming into this world when there was temporal peace but extreme darkenes of âgnorance :: An other example of difference in Gods punishing his people for their âmendment and of the obstinate vnto their âuine Exo 14. â â8 Num. 16. â 46. Num 10 :: God foreseing the Aegyptians malice permitted them to persecute his people but was no way the cause nor auctor of their sinne Exo. 14. Exo. 16. :: The Amorrheites refused to grant them passage Num 21. v. 21. The Aegyptians brought them into seruitude Exo. 1. God changing the natural properties of elementes by them wrought iustice on sinners S. Greg. ââ 35. in Euang. Exo. 9. v. 24. Exo. 16. v. 2â Particular testimonies that this booke is holie Scripture It was written in Hebrew translated into Greke Difference betwen Ecclesiasticus and Ecclesiastes Panaretos The contents diuided into two partes By reason of a more perfect law the people of Israel were more renowmed then anie other nation in the world Deut. 4. :: Translations into other languages hardly expresse the seâse of the original tongue The 1. part Praises and preceptes of vvisdom :: Mans vvisdom is not able to comprehend the vvorkes of God :: Eternal glorie is the fruicte of the feare of our Lord not that this one vertue sufficeth but it is the beginning grounded in true faith and bringeth forth other vertues diuine giftes vvith the fruites of the Holie Ghost a ioyful crowne in the end Prou. 1. 9. :: Men drowned in
other especially the wicked afflicting the good which our Sauiour describeth Mat. 24 saying Nation shal rise against nation You shal be odious to al nations for my sake Iniquitie shal abound c. :: This ioyful propagation of Gods glorie and name is either vnderstood to be prophecied of the Church in general which is as an iland of the whole world or properly and particularly amongst other gentiles of âlaâdes conuerted to Christ as great Britannie others Iere. 48. :: The prophet and faithful people confessing Gods benefites and perfect performance of whatsoeuer he promiseth or determineth conforming their desires to his pleasure say Amen as wel in prosperitie when he deliuereth and blesseth them as in aduersitie when he punisheth by the destruction of Ierusalem which is here prophecied and the like :: After the reiection of the Iewes al Gentiles shal be conuerted to Christ Apoc. 7. â1 :: In the time of grace geuen by Christ his whole Church singeth this and other like canticles of praises :: Other peoples haue their peculiar proper cities Babylon Damascus Tyrus Sidon c. but al Christians haue one citie the Catholique Church signified by Sion :: Fensed vvith vval and bul vvorke of faith good vvorkes S. Ierom here noteth that the sense of this Canticle is hard by reason of often and sudaine inter locutions of diuers persons consisting in questions and ansvvers To vvhose lerned commentaries vve remitte the studious readers :: A prophecie of the general resurrection of al men :: Some in glorie :: Some in miserie Mich. 1 Iob. 40. :: Tyrants are called serpents for their suttle poysenful malice and barres because they hold men fast inclosed in bondage And for the same reasons the diuel is called a serpent and a barre The fourt part Prophetical admonitions to both the kingdomes of Israel and Iuda :: By Ephraim is vnderstood the kingdom of Israel whose first king Ieroboam was of that tribe :: After that the tenne tribes were caried captiues 4 Reg. 17. God deliuered the two tribes out of imminent danger 4. Reg 18. 19 :: geuing peace to their people :: spirite of iudgement to king Ezechias :: and victorie to the souldiars :: Because Isaias other holie prophetes often and much vrged not only the people but also priestes vvhich had rule ouer the people to kepe Gods commandments and to expect his mercie and goodnes they scornfully repete the same wordes deriding such exhortations desperatly geuing themselues to al wickednes as if they neither feared death nor hel v. 15. Mat. 21. v 42. Act. 4. 1. Pet. 2. Rom. 9. 2. Reg. 5. 1. Par. 14 Iosue 10 :: As husbanmen dispose their workes in order so God sometimes worketh miracles sometimes geueth benefites sometimes sendeth afflictions and greater to some then to others :: But none are continually afflicted without intermission :: Ari signifieth a lion El God So Ierusalem called the lion of God to witte a strong citie is threatned with destruction which happened first by the Babylonians 4. Reg. 25 againe more miserably by Titus Vespasian 40. yeares after Christs death 2. Reg. 5. 1 Par. 11 Luc. 19. :: Scribes and Pharises pretending knowlege of Scriptures can not read Christ in the Prophets because these bookes are sealed or loeked and they haue not the key Apoc. 3. :: The Gentiles could not read Christ in these bookes because they knew not letters of the holie Scriptures S. Ierom Praemio in Isaiam Mat. 15. Mar. 7. 1. Cor. ââ Eccli 29. :: You that trust in your owne counsels and forces or in other mens and not in God shal finde the miserable euent of your follie as is before noted chap. 2â * Apostatae or denyers :: Either Isaias was commanded to write this which should be fulfilled manie yeares after or els he speaketh prophetically to Ieremie nere 200. yeares before he prophecied signifying that he should hen write it as in dede he did Iere. 41 c. Psal â3 :: This claritie in sunne and moone shal be after the general resurrection :: Christ wil exercise his seuere iustice in the general iudgement when he shal bid the damned goe into euerlasting fire Mat. 25. :: If often happeareth that when eâil men seme most secure they âal into sodaine calamities * Hel. Iere. 42. :: Both this Prophet and afterwards âereââe admonished the Iewes not to trust in the Aegyptians but they contemning this admonition shewed in their deedes that they distrusted God not be leuing nor obeying his prophetes for the same were at last punished :: In the meane time God destroyed the armie of Sennacaââb be seging Ierusalem 4 Reg. 19. But they forgote this and manie other examples of Gods powre and loue Isai 2. The fift part Of the captiuitie and relaxation of the kingdom of Iuda with other afflictions and comfortes but especially of Christ and his Church :: Albeit manie thinges in this and other places perteyne first and literally to the old testament yet al are in figure and some thinges haue no other literal sense but of the new testament As this prophecie of maffling or vnperfect tongues to speake readily is fulfilled in the Church of Christ plainly and distinctly confessing al Mysteries of Catholique faith and religion and the like which can not be verified in the Iewish people * Noble cities of Iuda This manie other prophecies perteyne to the old testament as in figure alluding to the historie but principally to Christ and his Church Pref. of prophetical bookes VVhat the wordes Iudgement and Iustice signifie Definition of Iudgement and Iustice as they are vsed in the holie Scriptures Both applied to Gods and mens actions Explication of the text :: Sennacarib spoyled al the kingdom of Israel and al Iuda sauing Ierusalem which he also beseged reproching and despising God but himself was therfore spoyled and despised :: Fidelitie in performing promises of good thinges temporal and spiritual :: Messengers sent to procure peace shal mourne because they can not obtaine it Psal 14 1. Cor 1. :: Both prophecies histories testifie that terrene Ierusalem was subiect to destruction and was destroyed and therfore this is necessarily to be vnderstood of the Church of Christ against vvhich heâ gates shal neuer preuaile :: God willeth as vvel the gentiles that were farre of to come neere :: As Iso the Iewes that were his pecular people al to attend that he wil destroy this whole world before the general Iudgement :: No defence of strong places signified by Bosra shal saue anie men from destruction in the day of Iudgement :: In the meane time as a figure therof Sion shal be destroyed and therfore the metaphorical destruction folovving rather perteyneth to the state of the damned in the next vvorld then to the afflicted in this life :: An euident prophecie of the conuersion of Gentiles In whom the Church shal continually spring florish :: Christ leaning al logical
38. VVith promise to prosper if he serue God 42. Salomon dieth AND king Salomon loued manie wemen strangers the daughter also of Pharao and Moabites and Ammonites Idumeians and Sidonians and Hetheians â of the nations wherof our Lord sayd to the children of Israel You shal not goe in vnto them neither shal anie of them come in vnto yours for they wil most certainly turne away your hartes to folow their goddes To these therfore was Salomon copled in most seruent loue â And he had wiues as it were queenes seuen hundred and concubines three hundred and the wemen turned away his hart â And when he was now old his hart was depraued by wemen that he folowed strange goddes neither was his hart perfect with our Lord his God as the hart of Dauid his father â But Salomon worshipped Astarthee the goddesse of the Sidonians and Moloch the idol of the Ammonites â And Salomon did that which was not liked before our Lord and he accomplished not to folow our Lord as Dauid his father â Then built Salomon a temple to Camos the idol of Moab in the mount that is agaynst Ierusalem and to Moloch the idol of the children of Ammon â And in this maner did he to al his wiues that were strangers which burnt frankencense and immolated to their goddes â Therfore our Lord was wrath with Salomon because his minde was turned away from our Lord the God of Israel who had appeared vnto him the second tyme â and had commanded him concerning this word that he should not folow strange goddes he kept not the thinges which our Lord commanded him â Our Lord therfore sayd to Salomon Because thou hast done this and hast not kept my couenant and my preceptes which I haue commanded thee breaking I wil rent asunder thy kingdom and wil geue it to thy seruant â Neuerthelesse in thy dayes I wil not doe it because of Dauid thy father out of the hand of thy sonne I wil rent it â neither wil I take away the whole kingdom but one tribe I wil geue to thy sonne for Dauid my seruant and Ierusalem Which I haue chosen â And our Lord raysed vp an aduersarie to Salomon Adad an Idumeite of the kinges seede who was in Edom. â For when Dauid was in Idumea and Ioab the general of the warfare was gone vp to burie them that were slayne and had slayne al malekind in Idumea â for Ioab taried there six monethes and al Israel til he slew al malekind in Idumea â Adad him self fled and men of Idumea of his fathers seruantes with him to goe into Aegypt and Adad was a litle boy â And when they rose out of Madian they came into Pharan and they tooke with them men of Pharan and entered into Aegypt to Pharao the king of Aegypt who gaue him a house and appoynted him meates and assigued him land â And Adad found grace before Pharao excedingly in so much that he gaue him to wife the germane sister of his wife Taphnes the queene â And the sister of Taphnes bare him a sonne Genubath and Taphnes brought him vp in the house of Pharao and Genubath was dwelling at Pharaoes house with his children â And when Adad in Aegypt had heard that Dauid slept with his fathers and that Ioab the general of the warefare was dead he sayd to Pharao Dismisse me that I may goe into my countrie â And Pharao sayd to him For what lackest thou with me that thou seekest to goe into thyne owne countrie But he answered Nothing yet I besech thee that thou dismisse me â God also raysed vp to him an aduersarie Razon the sonne of Eliada who had fled Adarezer the king of Soba his lord â and he gathered men agaynst him and he became the captayne of theues when Dauid killed them and they went to Damascus and dwelt there and they made him king in Damascus â and he was an aduersarie to Israel al the dayes of Salomon and this is the euil of Adad and hatred agaynst Israel and he reigned in Syria â Ieroboam also the sonne of Nabath an Ephratheite of Sareda the seruant of Salomon whose mother was called Serua a woman widow lifted vp his hand agaynst the king â And this is the cause of his rebellion agaynst him because Salomon built Mello and filled vp the breache of the citie of Dauid his father â And Ieroboam was a strong man and mightie and Salomon seing the youngman of a good witte industrious had made him chief ouer the tributes of al the house of Ioseph â It came to passe therfore at that tyme that Ieroboam went out of Ierusalem and the prophete Ahias the Silonite found him in the way couered with a new cloke and they two onlie were in the field â And Ahias taking his new cloke wherwith he was couered cut it into twelue partes â And he sayd to Ieroboam Take vnto thee ten pieces for thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel Behold I wil rent the kingdom out of the hand of Salomon and wil geue thee ten tribes â But one tribe shal remayne to him for my seruant Dauid and Ierusalem the citie which I haue chosen of al the tribes of Israel â because he hath forsaken me and hath adored Astarthee the goddesse of the Sidonians Chamos the god of Moab and Moloch the god of the children of Ammon and hath not walked in my waies to doe iustice before me and my preceptes and iudgementes as Dauid his father â Neither wil I take away al the kingdom out of his hand but I wil make him prince al the daies of his life for Dauid my seruant whom I chose who kept my commandmentes and my preceptes â But I wil take away the kingdom out of his sonnes hand and wil geue thee ten tribes â and to his sonne I wil geue one tribe that there may remayne a lampe to Dauid my seruant at al times before me in Ierusalem the citie which I haue chosen that my name might be there â And thee wil I take and thou shalt reigne ouer al thinges that thy soule desireth and thou shalt be king ouer Israel â If therfore thou wilt heare al thinges that I shal command thee and wilt walke in my waies and doe that which is right before me keeping my commandmentes and my preceptes as Dauid my seruant did I wil be with thee and wil build thee a faythful house as I built a house to Dauid and I wil deliuer Israel to thee â and I wil afflict the seede of Dauid vpon this but yet not alwaies â Salomon therfore would haue killed Ieroboam who arose and fled into Aegypt to Sesac the king of Aegypt and was in Aegypt vntil the death of Salomon â And the rest of the wordes of Salomon and al that he did and his wisedom behold they are al written in the Booke of the wordes of the
daies of Salomon â And the daies that Salomon reigned in Ierusalem ouer al Israel are fourtie yeares â And Salomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the citie of Dauid his father and Roboam his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XII Roboam folowing youngmens counsel 16. Ieroboam possesseth ten tribes of his Kingdom 21. VVhich he endouoring to recouer by warre is admonished by a prophet to cease 26. Hieroboam setteth vp golden calues to be adored making temples altares and priestes fitte for his purpose AND Roboam came into Sichem for thither was al Israel gathered together to make him king â But Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat when he was yet in Aegypt fugitiue from the face of king Salomon hearing of his death returned out of Aegypt â And they sent and called him Ieroboâm therfore came and al the multitude of Israel and they spake to Roboam saying â Thy father layd a most hard yoke vpon vs thou therfore diminish now a litle of thy fathers most hard empire and of the most heauie yoke that he layd vpon vs and we wil serue thee â Who sayd to them Goe vntil the third day and returne to me And when the people was gone â king Roboam tooke counsel with the ancientes that assisted before Salomon his father whiles he yet liued and he sayd What counsel doe you geue me that I may answer this people â Who sayd to him If this day thou wilt yeld to this people and condescend to them and graunt to their petition and wilt speake to them gentle wordes they wil be thy seruantes alwaies â Who leaft the counself of the ancientes which they had geuen him and admitted yongmen that had bene brought vp with him and wayted on him â and he sayd to them What counsel geue you me that I may answer this people which haue sayd to me Make the yoke lighter which thy father hath put vpon vs â And the yongmen that had bene brought vp with him sayd Thus speake to this people which haue spoken to thee saying Thy father aggrauated our yoke doe thou ease it Thus shalt thou speake to them My least finger is grosser then the backe of my father â And now my father layd vpon you a heauie yoke but I wil adde vpon your yoke my father bette you with scourges but I wil beate you with scorpions â Ieroboam therfore came and al the people to Roboam the third day as the king had spoken saying Returne to me the third day â And the king answered the people rough wordes leauing the counsel of the ancientes which they had geuen him â and he spake to them according to the counsel of the youngmen saying My father made your yoke heauie but I wil adde to your yoke my father bette you with whippes but I wil beate you with scorpions â And the king condescended not to the people because our Lord was turned away from him that he might rayse vp his word which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias the Silonite to Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat â The people therfore seing that the king would not heare them answered him saying What part haue we in Dauid or what inheritance in the sonne of Isai Goe into thy tabernacles Israel now see to thy house Dauid And Israel went into their tabernacles â But ouer the children of Israel whosoeuer dwelt in the cities of Iuda Roboam reigned â King Roboam therfore sent Aduram who was ouer the tributes and al Israel stoned him and he died moreouer King Roboam in hast went vp into his chariote and fled into Ierusalem â and Israel reuolted from the house of Dauid vntil this present day â And it came to passe when al Israel had heard that Ieroboam was returned they sent and called him an assemblie being gathered and they made him king ouer al Israel neither did any man folow the house of Dauid beside the tribe of Iuda onlie â And Roboam came to Ierusalem and gathered together al the house of Iuda and the tribe of Benjamin an hundred fourescore thousand chosen men warriers to fight agaynst the house of Israel and to reduce the kingdom to Roboam the sonne of Salomon â But the word of our Lord came to Semeias the man of God saying â Speake to Roboam the sonne of Salomon the king of Iuda and to al the house of Iuda and Beniamin and the rest of the people saying â Thus sayth our Lord You shal not goe vp neither shal you fight agaynst your brethren the children of Israel let euerie man returne into his house for this word is done by me They heard the word of our Lord and returned from their iourney as our Lord had commanded them â And Ieroboam built Siehem in mount Ephraim and dwelt there and departing thence he built Phanuel â And Ieroboam sayd in his hart Now wil the kingdom returne to the house of Dauid â if this people shal goe vp to make sacrifices in the house of our Lord into Ierusalem and the hart of this people wil be turned to their lord Roboam the king of Iuda and they wil kil me and returne to him â And finding out a deuise he made two golden calues and sayd to them Goe vp no more into Ierusalem Behold thy goddes Israel which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt â And he put one in Bethel and the other in Dan â and this thing was an occasion of sinne for the people went to adore the calfe as farre as Dan. â And he made temples in the excelses and priestes of the abiectes of the people which were not of the children of Leui. â And he appoynted a solemne day in the eight moneth the fiftenth day of the moneth after the similitude of the solemnitie that was celebrated in Iuda And going vp he made in like maner an altar in Bethel to immolate to the calues which he had framed and he ordayned in Bethel priestes of the excelses which he had made â And he went vpon the altar which he had built in Bethel the fiftenth day of the eight moneth which he had âorged out of his owne hart and he made a solemnitie to the children of Israel and went vp vpon the altar to burne incense CHAP. XIII A prophet sent from Iuda to Bethel fortelleth the birth of Iosias and destruction of Ieroboams altar 4. whose hand being sudenly withered 6. is restored by the prophets prayer 11. The same prophet is deceiued by an other prophet and slame by a lion 33. Hieroboam proceedeth in impictie AND behold a man of God came out of Iuda in the word of our Lord into Bethel Ieroboam standing vpon the altar and censing â And he cried out against the altar in the word of our Lord and sayd Altar altar thus saith our Lord Behold a child shal be borne to the house of Dauid named Iosias and he shal immolate vpon thee priestes of the excelses
and patterne of a sincere and hartie penitent bewayling confessing and punishing his owne sinnes The ninth is the end and renouation of this world with the general Resurrection and Iudgement The tenth is eternal felicitie and punishment according as euerie one deserueth in this life These are the tenne keyes of this holie Booke and tenne stringes of this Diuine Psalter Moreouer to finde which of these is the proper key and principal string of euerie Psalme lerned Diuines vse foure especial wayes First by the title added by Esdras or the Seuentie two Interpreters for an introduction to the sense of the same Psalme So it appeareth that the third Psalme treateth literally of Dauids danger and deliuerie from his sonne Absalon which is the eight key though mystically it signifieth Christs Persecution Passion Resurrection which is the fifth key Secondly if there be no title or if it declare not sufficiently the key or principal matter conteyned it may some times be found by allegation and application of some special part thereof in the new Testament So it is euident Act. 4. v. 25. c. 13. v. 33. Heb. 1. v. 5. Heb. 5. v. 5. that the second Psalme perteyneth to Christ impugned and persecuted by diuers aduersaries VVhich is the fiftkey Thirdly when greater thinges are affirmed of anie person or people as of Dauid Salomon Iewish nation or the like then can be verified of them it must necessarily be vnderstood of Christ or his Church in the new Testament or in Heauen So the conclusion of the 14. Psalme He that doth these thinges shal not be moued for euer can not be verified of the tabernacle nor temple of the Iewes but of eternal Beatitude in heauen VVhich is the tenth key Though the greater part of the Psalme sheweth that iust and true dealing towards our neighboures is necessarie for attayning of eternal Glorie Fourtly when both the title and Psalme or part thereof seme hard and obscure some part being more cleare the true sense of al may be gethered by that which is more euident According to S. Augustins rule li. 2. c. 9. li. 3. c. 26. Doct. Christ So the title and former part of the fifth Psalme being more obscure are explaned by the last verses shewing plainly that God wil iustly iudge al men both iust and wicked in the end of this world VVhich is the ninth key By these and like meanes the principal key being found it wil more easily appeare what other keyes belong to the same and what other stringes are also touched At least the studious may by these helpes make some entrance and for more exact knowlege search the iudgement of ancient Fathers and other learned Doctours But besides this singular great commoditie of compendious handling much Diuine matter in smal rowme this booke hath an other special excellencie in the kind of stile and maner of vttering which is Meeter and Verse in the original Hebrew tongue And though in Greke Latin and other languages the same could not in like forme be exactly translated yet the number and distinction of verses is so obserued that it is apt for musike as wel voices as instruments and to al other vses of Gods seruants Neither is musical maner of vttering Gods word and praises lesse to be esteemed because profane Poetes haue in this kind of stile vttered light vaine and false thinges For the abuse of good thinges doth not derogate from the goodnes therof but rather commendeth the same which others desire to imitate And clere it is that this holie Psalmodie was before anie profane poetrie now extant For Homer the most ancient of that sorte writte his poeme at least two hundred and fourtie yeares after the destruction of Troy as Apolidorus witnesseth others namely Solinus Herodotus and Cornelius Nepos say longer VVheras kind Dauid our Diuine Psalmist reigned within one hundred years after the Troianes warres There were in dede Amphion Orpheus and Muscus before Dauid but their verses either were not written or shortly perished only a confuse memorie remaining of them recited altered and corrupted by word of mouth but before them were the sacred Historie of Iob almost al in verse and the two Canticles of Moyses Exodi 15. and Deut. 32. It is moreouer recorded that Iâbal long before Noes floud was the father of them that sang on harpe and organ Musike therfore is maruelous ancient But sacred Poetrie is in manie other respectes most excellent and most profitable This holie Psalmodie saith S. Augustin is a medecine to old spiritual sores it bringeth present remedie to nev vvvoundes it maketh the good to perseuere in vvel doing it cureth at once al predominating passions vvhich vexe mens soules A little after Psalmodie driueth avvay euil spirites iuuiteth good Angels to helpe vs it is a shield in night terrors a refreshing of day trauels a guard to children an ornament to yongmen a comforte to oldmen a most seemlie grace to vvemen Vnto beginners it is an introduction an augmentation to them that goe forvvard in vertue a stable firmament to the perfect It conioyneth the vvhole Church militant in one voice and is the spiritual eternal svvete perfume of the celestial Armies al Sainctes and Angels in heauen To al this we may adde other causes which moued the Royal Prophete to write this diuine poetrie First he had from his youth by Gods special prouidence a natural inclination to Musike wherin he shortly so excelled that before al the Musitians in Israel he was selected to recreate king Saul whom an euil spirite vexed And his skil together with his deuotion had such effect that vvhen he playde on the harpe Saul vvas refreshed and vvaxed better For the euil spirite departed from him saith the holie text VVherfore he made these Psalmes that him selfe and others might by singing them imploy this gift of God to his more honour Secondly verse being more easie to lerne more firmly kept in mind and more pleasant in practise for as wine so musike doth recreate the hart of man the Holie Ghost condescending to mans natural disposition inspired Dauid to write these Psalmes in meeter mixing the povvre of diuine doctrin vvith delectable melodie of song that vvhiles the eare is allured vvith svvete harmonie of musike the hart is indued vvith heauenlie knovvlege pleasant to the mind and profitable to the soule Thirdly Dauid singularly illuminated with knowlege of great and most diuine Mysteries indued also with most gracious disposition of mind the man chosen according to Gods ovvne hart 1. Reg. 13. would vtter the same Mysteries with godlie instructions and praises of God in the most exquisite kind of stile that is in verse For otherwise he was also very eloquent in prose as wel appeareth by sundrie his excellent and effectual discourses in the books of Kinges and Paralipomenon For which cause Moyses also described the
passage of Israel forth of Aegypt through the read sea in a Canticle after that he had related the same whole historie more at large in prose that al might sing and so render thankes with melodious voice and musical instruments praising God Likewise in an other Canticle he comprised the whole law a litle before his death So also Barac and Debora and after them Iudith song praises to God for their victories in verse Salomon writte the end of his Prouerbes and a whole booke intituled Canticles the Prophet Ieremie his Lamentations in verse Anna hauing obtained her prayer for a sonne gaue thankes to God with a Canticle The like did king Ezechias for recouerie of health The Prophets Isaias Ezechiel Ionas A bacuc and the three children in the fornace againe in the new Testament the B. virgin mother iust Zacharie deuout Simeon gaue thankes sang praises to God in Canticles Fourthly albeit the holie King was not permitted to build the gorgious Temple for Gods feruice as he greatly desired to haue done yet he prouided both store of muâitians foure thousand in number of which 288. were maisters to teach made these Psalmes as godlie dirties for this holie purpose in al solemnities of feastes and daylie sacrifice when the Temple should afterward be built Fiftly he made these Psalmes not only for his owne others priuate deuotion nor yet so especially for the publique Diuine seruice in the Temple and other Synagogues of the Iewes but most principally for the Christian Catholique Church which he knew should be spred in the whole earth Forseing the maruelous great and frequent vse therof in the Christian Clergie and Religious people of both sexes As he prophecieth in diuers Psalmes Al the earth sing to thee sing Psalmes to thy name Againe I vvil sing Psalmes to thee ô God in the Gentiles in al peoples and Nations VVhich him selfe neuer did but his Psalmes are euer since Christ song by Christians conuerted from gentilitie as we see in the Churches Seruice For the whole Psalter is distributed to be song in the ordinarie office of our Breuiarie euerie weke And though extraordinarily for the varietie of times and feastes there is often alteration yet stil the greater part is in Psalmes Certayne also of the same Psalmes are without change or intermission repeted euerie day And such as haue obligation to the Canonical Houres must at least read the whole Office priuatly if they be not present where it is song The Office also of Masse ordinarily beginneth with a Psalme In Litanies and almost al publique Prayers and in administration of other Sacraments and Sacramentals either whole Psalmes or frequent verses are inserted Likewise the greatest part of the Offices of our B. Ladie and for the dead are Psalmes Besides the seuen Poenitential and fiftene Gradual Psalmes at certaine times So that Clergie mens daly office consisteth much in singing or reading Psalmes And therfore al Byshops especially are strictly bond by a particular Conon Dist 38. cap. Omnes psallentes to be skilful in the Psalmes of Dauid and to see that other Clergiè men be wel instructed therin According to the Holie Ghosts admonition by the pen of the same Royal Prophet Psal 46. Psallite sapienter Or intelligenter that is Sing Psalmes vvith knovvlege and vnderstanding them Not that euerie one is bond to know and be able to discusse al difficulties but competently according to their charge vndertaken in Gods Church Otherwise euerie one that is or intendeth to be a Priest may remember what God denounceth to him by the Prophet Osee c. 4. Because thou hast repelled knovvlege I vvil repel thee that thou do not the function of Priesthood vnto me Thus much touching the Author the contentes the poetical stile final cause of this holie Psalter As for the name S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers âeach that wheras amongst innumerable musical instruments six were more specially vsed in Dauids time mentioned by him in the last Psalme Trumpet Psalter Harpe Timbrel Organ and Cimbal This booke hath his name of the instrument called Psalter which hath tenne strings signifying the tenne commandements and is made in forme as S. Ierom and S. Bede suppose of the Greke letter Î delta because as that instrument rendreth sound from aboue so we should attend to heauenlie vertues which come from aboue Likewise vsing the harpe which signifyeth mortification of the flesh other instruments which signifie and teach other vertues we must finally referre al to Gods glorie reioyce spiritually in hart and render al praise to God Concerning interpretation of holie Scriptures AS Prophecie or other holie Scripture was not at anie time by mans wil but the Prophetes holie men of God spake inspired by the Holie Ghost so no prophecie nor explication of Scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1. but by the same Spirite wherwith it was written which our Sauiour gaue to the Church to abide for euer the Spirite of truth to teach al truth Ioan. 14. 16. Neither perteyneth it to euerie one to discerne the true spirite but to some 1. Cor. 12. Holie Scriptures consist not in reading but in vnderstanding S. Ierom Dialogo aduers Luciferianos The wordes of holie Scripture are so to be vnderstood as holie men the Sainctes of God haue vnderstood them S. Aug Ser. 18. de verb. Domini Men must lerne of men not expect knowlege immediatly of God nor only by Angels Idem in prologo Doct. Christ There be some thinges mentioned in holie Scripture which God wil haue hidden and those are not to be curiously searched S. Amb. li. 1. c. 7. de vocat Gentium By those thinges which to vs are hidden in holie Scripture our humilitie is proued S. Greg. ho. 17. super Ezech. THE BOOKE OF PSALMES PSALME I. The Royal prophet Dauid placed this Psalme as a Preface to the rest conteyning 1 true happines which consisteth in flying sinnes and seruing God 3. The good doe prosper 5. not the wicked 6. as wil appeare in the end of this world BLESSED is the man that â hath not gone in the counsel of the impious hath not â stoode in the way of sinners and hath not â sitte in the chayre of pestilence â But his â wil is in the way of our Lord and in his law he wil meditate day and night â And he shal be as a tree that is planted nigh to the streames of waters which shal geue his fruite in his time â And his leafe shal not fal and al thinges whatsoeuer he shal doe shal prosper â The impious not so but as dust which the winde driueth from the face of the earth â Therfore the impious shal not rise againe in iudgement nor sinners in the councel of the iust