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. †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. †And the people answered and said God forbid we should leaue our Lord and serue strange goddes †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 †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 †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 †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 †And the people said to Iosue No it shal not be so as thou speakest but we wil serue our Lord. †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 †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 †And the people said to Iosue We wil serue our Lord God and wil be obedient to his preceptes †Iosue therfore in that day made a couenant and proposed to the people preceptes and iudgementes in Sichem †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 †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 †And he dismist the people euerie one into their possession †And after these thinges Iosue the sonne of Nun the seruant of our Lord died being a hundred and ten yeares old †and “ 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 †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 †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 †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
the tabernacle he drew before it the veile to fulfil the commandement of our Lord. †He sette the table also in the tabernacle of testimonie at the north side without the veile †ordering the bread of proposition before it as our Lord had commanded Moyses †He sette the candlesticke also in the tabernacle of testimonie ouer against the table on the south side †placing the lampes in order according to the precept of our Lord. †He set also the altar of gold vnder the roofe of testimonie against the veile †and burned vpon it the incense of spices as our Lord had commanded Moyses †He put also the hanging in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie †and the altar of holocauste in the entrie of the testimonie offering on it the holocauste and the sacrifices as our Lord had commanded †The lauer also he set betwen the tabernacle of testimonie and the altar filling it with water †And Moyses and Aaron and his sonnes washed their handes and feete †when they entred the roofe of couenant and went to the altar as our Lord had commanded Moyses †He erected also the court round about the tabernacle and the altar drawing the hanging in the entrie therof After al thinges were perfited †the cloude couered the tabernacle of testimonie and the glorie of our Lord filled it †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 †If at anie time the cloud did leaue the tabernacle the children of Israel went forward by their troupes †If it hong ouer they remained in the same place †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 puâ—ishments 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 vâ—stments 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 †Speake to the children of Israel thou shalt say to them “ The man of you that shal offer an hoste to our Lord of beastes that is of oxen sheepe offering victimes †if his oblation be “ 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 †and he shal put his handes vpon the heade of the hoste and it shal be acceptable and profitable to his expiation †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 †And the skinne of the hoste being plucked of the ioyntes they shal cut into peeces †and shal put fire vnderneth in the altar hauing before laid a pyle of wood in order †and the ioyntes that are cut out laying in order thereupon to wit the head al thinges that cleane to the liuer †the entralles and feete being washed with water and the priest shal burne them vpon the altar for an holocauste and “ sweete sauoure to our Lord. †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 †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 †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 †but the entrales and the â—eâ—te 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. †But if the oblation of holocaust to our Lord be of birdes of turtles and young pigions †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 †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 †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
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. d◠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 †eleuen daies from Horeb by the way of mount Seir to Cadesbarne †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 †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 †beyond Iordan in the Land of Moab And Moyses began to expound the law and to say †The Lord our God spake to vs in Horeb saying It is sufficient for you that you haue stayed in this mountaine †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 †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 †And I said to you at that time †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 †The Lord God of your fathers adde to this number manie thousandes and blesse you as he hath spoken †I alone am not able to susteyne your businesses and the charge of you and your quareles †Geue from among you wise and skilful men and such whose conuersation is approued in your tribes that I may appoint them your princes †Then you answered me The thing is good which thou meanest to do †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 †And I commanded them saying Heare them and iudge that which is iust whether he be the same countrie man or a stranger †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 †And I commanded al thinges that you ought to do †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 †I said to you You are come to the mountaine of the Amorrheite which the Lord our God wil geue to vs. †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 †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 †And because the saying pleased me I sent of you twelue men one of euerie tribe †Who when they had gone
of an vnicorne in them shal he winow the Nations euen to the endes of the earth these are the multitudes of Ephraim and these the thousandes of Manasses †And to Zabulon he said Reioyse Zabulon in thy going out and Issachar in thy tabernacles †They shal cal the peoples to the mountaine there shal they immolate the victimes of iustice Who shal sucke the inundation of the sea as milke and the hidden treasures of the sandes †And to Gad he said Blessed be Gad in breadth as a lion hath he rested and taken the arme and the toppe of the head †And he saw his principalitie that in his part the doctor was reposed which was with the princes of the people and did the iustices of our Lord and his iudgement with Israel †To Dan also he said Dan a lions whelpe he shal flow largely from Basan †And to Nephthali he said Nephthali shal enioy abundance and shal be ful of the blessinges of our Lord the sea and the south he shal possesse †To Aser also he said Blessed be Aser in children be he acceptable to his brethren and dippe he in oile his foote †His shoe yron and brasse As the daies of thy youth so also thy old age †There is no other God as the God of the rightest the mounter of heauen is thy helper By his magnificence the cloudes runne hither and thither †his habitation is aboue and vnder the euerlasting armes he shal cast out the enemie from thy face and shal say Be destroyed †Israel shal dwel confidently and alone The eie of Iacob in the land of corne and wine and the heauens shal be mistie with dew †Blessed art thou Israel who is like to thee o people that art saued in our Lord the shield of thy helpe and the sword of thy glorie thy enemies shal denie thee and thou shalt treade their neckes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXIII 2. Came from Sinai According to the historie Moyses recounteth here three benefites First that God gaue the Law in Sinai Exod. 20. Secondly he cured those which were bitten with serpentes nere to Seir. Num. 21. Thirdly in mount Pharan he appointed Seuentie ancientes to assist Moyses in iudgementes Num. 11. But according to the Mysterie which specially is intended S. Augustin q. 56. in Deut. saieth this prophecie is not to be negligently passed ouer For it euidently appeareth that this benediction perteineth to a new people whom Christ our Lord hath sanctified in whose person Moyses spake and not in his owne So in this prophetical and proper sense saieth this Doctor our Lord and Sauiour cometh from Sinai which is interpreted tentation when he passed the tentation of his passion and death Heb. 2. v. 18. Christ riseth from Seir interpreted hearie for that in the similitude of the flesh of sinne eâ—en of sinne he damned sinne in the flesh Rom. 8. v. 3. He appeareth from mount Pharan interpreted fruitful mountaine in that he geueth abundance of grace in his Church of the new Testament which is a citie set vpon a hil Mat. 5. CHAP. XXXIIII Moyses seeth the promised land but is not suffered to goe into it 5. He dieth at the age of 120. yeares God burieth his bodie secretly and al Israel mourne for him thirtie dayes 9. Iosue replenished by imposition of Moyses handes with the spirite of God succedeth 10. But Moyses for his special familiaritie with God and for most wonderful miracles is commended aboue al other Prophetes MOYSES therfore went vp from the champion of Moab vpon mount Nebo into the toppe of Phasga against Iericho and our Lord shewed him al the land of Galaad as farre as Dan †and al Nephthali and the land of Ephraim and Manasses and al the Land of Iuda vnto the vtmost sea †and the south part and the bredth of the plaine of Iericho a citie of palmetrees as farre as Sego◠†And our Lord said to him This is the Land for the which I sware to Abraham Isaac and Iacob saying To thy seede wil I geue it Thou hast seene it with thyne eies and shalt not passe ouer to it †And Moyses the seruant of our Lord died there in the land of Moab our Lord commanding it †and he buried him in the valley of the Land of Moab against Phogor and no man hath knowne his sepulchre vntil this present day †Moyses was an hundred and twentie yeares old when he died his eie was not dimme neither were his teeth moued †And the children of Israel mourned him in the champion countrie of Moab thirtie daies and the daies of their mourning that mourned for Moyses were accomplished †And Iosue the sonne of Nun was replenished with the spirit of wisedome because Moyses did put his handes vpon him And the children of Israel obeied him and did as our Lord commanded Moyses †And there rose no more a prophete in Israel as Moyses whom our Lord had knowen face to face †in al signes and wonders which he sent by him to doe in the Land of Aegypt to Pharao and to al his seruantes and to his whole Land †and al the strong hand and great meruailes which Moyses did before al Israel The end of the fiue bookes of Moyses conteining the Law THE SECOND PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTEINING HISTORICAL BOOKES The argument of the booke of Iosue VVHETHER Iosue himself writ this booke which is the common opinion or some other it was euer held vndoubtedly by al for Canonical Scripture and according to the distribution of the whole Bible into Legal Historical Sapiential and Prophetical Bookes this is the first of the historical sorte But as the fiue procedent called Legal besides the Law comprehend also the historie of the Church from the beginning of the world nere 2500. yeares and withal conteine much diuine Wisdome Prediction of thinges to come so these bookes now folowing called Historical and likewise the Sapiential and Prophetical ensuing after participate each with others in their seueral argumentes euerie one more or lesse inducing Gods seruantes to keepe his Law recording thinges donne teaching what is most meete to be donne and foreshewing before hand thinges donne afterwardes or which yet shal come to passe So this booke doth not only set forth the Actes of Iosue who succeded Moyses in teÌ„poral gouernment of Gods people commanding and directing them by lawe and wisedome but also the same thinges donne by him and his verie name as S. Hierom other Fathers teach prefigure our Lord IESVS Christ For in Hebrew IEHOSVA is the name both of this Capitaine General the leader of The Israelites ouer Iordan into the Land of promise and of our Lord and SAVIOVR who by his Baptisme and other Sacramentes bringeth his people of al Nations into the true Land of the liuing where is life and felicitie euerlasting Touching thâ—fore the historie these foure special thinges are here described
punishing oftenders in that behalfe 3. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 18. 23. they did the same without preiudice of the High Priestes supremâ—cie 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 haÌ„d 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 plaâ—nlie 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 plaâ—eth 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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †And this is the number of them Phials of gold thirtie phials of siluer a thousand kniues twentie nine goblettes of gold thirtie †goblettes of siluer of the second order foure hundred tenne other vessels a thousand †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.
â—yp â—â—p 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 instrumeÌ„ts 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 coÌ„sanguinitie 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. 〈◊〉 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. â—p 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 TestameÌ„t 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. 〈◊〉 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 measurinâ—g 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 woâ—dering at the duble quaÌ„titie 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. 〈◊〉 :: This Relique was put in a golden vessel Heb 9. though it was infinitly inferior to Christs flesh â—â— 6 yea inferior to the fleshâ—â— anie glorified Sainct Manna so called of Man-hu It was a figure of the Eucharist li. 3. c 37. â—o 45 Tâ—â—â—26 Ioan. 6. v. 25. 41. 49. 51. 55. Twelue miracles in Manna Psal 77. v 25 〈◊〉 li. 1. c 12 cont Occolâ—m◠◠〈◊〉 li. â— c 12 parâ—â—m 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 extenâ—ion of his handes prefigured the Crosse of Christ And now it representeth the same :: Cohen in Hebrew signifieth Priâ—â—e oâ— Pâ—â—â—st 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 aâ—â—e man that which is good 5. Chrysostom â—o de ferâ—ndâ—s reprehensioâ—â—bâ— â— :: To this place which was their 12 mansion they came the 47. day after they parted from Aegypt And the third day folowiÌ„g which was the â—o 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 〈◊〉 Diuine Lawes M 〈…〉 l and Iudicial :: In Hebrew 〈◊〉 in Greke 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This com 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 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 coÌ„mandments of the first table pertaining to God Protestants charge al Catholiques to be Idolaters They abuse their
Ser 1. de S. Andrea S. Beda 〈◊〉 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 Scriptuâ—es Iob. 4â— How Sainctes knâ—w mens prayers Titles geuen to men in office and to Sainctes lib. de mortalitate Angels adâ—â—ed Reliqués Images Exequies fâ—â— 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. Co◠◠〈◊〉 dowries of glorified bodies presigured 1 Cor. 〈◊〉 Cathâ— câ—â—s 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 〈…〉 Church Murmure Idolatrie 〈…〉 e. 〈…〉 〈…〉 * Iudic. 3. Ordinarie meanes of conseruing the Church No participation with infiâ—els No 〈…〉 But one Tabernacle One Altar 〈◊〉 〈…〉 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 â—â—â—ing in Religion Math. 16. 28. Luc. 22. Ioan 14. 16. Eph. 4. â— Tâ—m 3. Not anie temporal but Christs kingdom is in al nations and perpetual S. Aug. li. 17. â—â— de â—â—uit S. â—â—pipâ—â— 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. câ—nâ— 2. Collat. Carthag at cont Donatist Ibidem The beginning of the fifth age * Firmnes * in strength :: A vessel so 〈…〉 for the 〈…〉 being 〈…〉 :: â—atus contayned 〈…〉 :: 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 coÌ„mandments 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 dâ—â—odon VVherfore S. Augustin sayth God is worshipped in faith hope and charitie Enchirid c. â— :: Salomon did not â—el 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. paâ—â—ten 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— â—â— 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 coÌ„firmed 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 breakiÌ„g Gods coÌ„mandment :: 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 settiÌ„g 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. â—â—â—â—l 34. :: The aâ—â—â—ouâ— 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
hinder their increasing to keepe them in bondage and seruitude But God almightie who had chosen them for his peculiar people did not only so conserue and multiplie them that of seuentie persons which came into Aegypt in the space of two hundred and fiefteene yeres there were six hundred thousand men able to beare armes besides wemen children and old men which by estimation might be three millions in al but amongst other most strange and miraculous workes especally deliuered one Hebrew infant from drowning whom afterwards he made the Guide and supreme Gouernour of the same people by him admonished the King to cease persecuting and diuers waies plagued him his people for their obdurat and obstinate crueltie In fine called away and mightily deliuered his owne people drowned that king and al his armie in the red sea the Israelites wonderfully passing through as in a drie chanel the waters standing on both sides like two walles In the desert fed them miraculously with Manna and gaue them al necessaries defending them also from enimies Then God hauing thus selected and seuered his people from al other nations gaue them a written law as wel of Moral as Ceremonial and Iudicial preceptes with the maner of making the Tabernacle erecting Altares consecrating Priects with the institution of daylie sacrifice and of al vestures veselles other holie things belonging to the seruice of God So this booke may be diuided into three partes First is declared the Israelites seruile affliction in Aegypt vvith their deliuerie from thence in the fieftene first chapters Then how they were maintained in the desert and prepared to receiue a law in the foure next chapters In the other 21. chapters the lavv is prescribed instructing them hovv to liue tovvards God and al men THE BOOKE OF EXODVS IN HEBREW VEELLE SEMOTH CHAP I. The smal number of Israelites much increasing in Aegypt 6. especially after the death of Ioseph and his brethren 8. a new king that knew not Ioseph in vaine striueth to hinder their multiplication 11. by imposing workes vpon them 15. and by commanding to kil 22. and to drowne al the malchildren of them God in the meane time rewardeth the midwiues that fearing him killed not the children THESE be the names of the children of Israel that entred into Aegypt with Iacob they did enter in euerie one with their houses †Ruben Simeon Leui Iudas †Issachar Zabulon and Beniamin †Dan and Neptali Gad and Aser †Therfore al the soules that came out of Iacobs thigh were seuentie and Ioseph was in Aegypt †Who being dead and al his brethren and al that generation †the children of Israel increased and as it were springing vp did multiplie and growing strong exceedingly filled the land †In the meane time there arose a new king ouer Aegypt that knew not Ioseph †and he said to his people Behold the people of the children of Israel is much and stronger then we †Come let vs wisely oppresse the same lest perhaps it multiplie and if there shal be anie warre against vs it ioyne with our enemies and we being ouerthrowne they depart out of the land †Therfore he set ouer them maisters of the workes to afflict them with burdens and they built vnto Pharao cities of tabernacles Phithom and Ramesses †And the more they did oppresse them so much the more they multiplied and increased †and the Aegyptians hated the children of Israël and deriding afflicted them †and they brought their life into bitternes with the hard workes of clay and bricke and with al seruice wherewith they were pressed in the workes of the earth †And the King of Aegypt said to the mid wiues of the Hebrewes of whom one was called Sephora the other Phua †commanding them When you shal be midwiues to the Hebrew wemen and the time of deliuerie is come if it be a manchild kil it if a woman reserue her †“ But the midwiues feared God and did not according to the commandement of the king of Aegypt but preserued the menchildren †To whom being called vnto him the king said What is this that you ment to do that you would saue the men-children †Who answered The “ Hebrew wemem are not as the Aegyptian wemen for they haue the knowledge to play the mindwife them selues and before we come to them they are deliuered †God therfore did wel to the midwiues and the people encreased and became strong exceedingly †And “ because the midwiues feared God 〈…〉 e built them houses †Pharao therfore commanded al his people saying Whatsoeuer shal be borne of the male seâ— cast it into the riuer whatsoeuer of the female reserue it ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 17. But the midvviues feared God In commendation of the midwiues not obeying the kings commandment Moyses opposeth the feare of God to the feare of Princes shewing therby that when their commandments are contrarie the subiects must feare God and not do that the Prince commandem So did our Sauiour himself teach and that for feare of damnation saying Feare him vvho hath povver to cast into het And so his Aporâ—les indued with the Holie Ghost practised answering in this case that they must heare God rather then men Againe God must be obeyed rather then men Alwayes vnderstood when they are contrarie For otherwise both S. Peter and S. Paul teach vs that Princes yea Infidels of whom they especially speake must be obeyed 19. Hebrevv vvemen are not Herein the midwiues sinned For it is neuer lawful to lye Because the lavv of God is truth wherby S. Augustin proueth li. coot mend c. 10 that whatsoeuer varieth from truth is vnlawful VVhen therfore saith he examples of lying are proposed to vs out of holie Scripture either they are not lies but are thought to be whiles they are not vnderstood oâ— if they be lies they are not to be imitated because they are vnlawful â— Gregorie teacheth the same li. 18. Moral c. 20. Qâ—â—a proseltâ— ab 〈◊〉 discrep it quitquidâ—â—eritate discordâ—t Because assuredly vvhatsoeuer disagreeth from veritie differeth from equitie Yet these fathers hold such an officious lye as this was to be a lesse sinne and more easily pardoned and purged by good workes folowing 21. Because the midwiues feared God Feare of God â—s 〈◊〉 is properly taken in holie Scripture is that holie feareâ— by which the children of God reâ—â—aine from sinne and that with temporal dangeâ— lest they should ofend the diuine Maiestie So these midwiues endangering their owne liues by not fullfiling Pharaos commandment had the true feare of God and for the same were rewarded as is most probable eternally though mention be here made only of temporal reward afteâ— the 〈…〉 of the old 〈◊〉 VVhere such promises were made to Abraham and other most godlie Patriarches
and there is none other †Keepe his preceptes and commandementes which I command thee that it may be wel with thee and thy children after thee and thou mayest remayne a long time vpon the Land which the Lord thy God wil geue thee †Then Moyses separated three cities beyond Iordan at the east side †that he might flee to them which should kil his neighbour not voluntarily neither was his enemie a day or two before and he might scape to some of these cities †Bosor in the wildernesse which is situated in the champion countrie of the tribe of Ruben and Ramoth in Galaad which is in the tribe of Gad and Golan in Basan which is in the tribe of manasses †This is the law that Moyses sette before the children of Israel †and these are the testimonies and ceremonies and iudgementes which he spake to the children of Israel when they came out of Aegypt †beyond Iordan in the valley against the temple of Phogor in the land of Sehon king of the Ammorrheite that dwelt in Hesebon whom Moyses stroke The children of Israel also comming out of Aegypt †possessed his land and the land of Og the king of Basan the two kinges of the Amorrheites which were beyond Iordan toward the rysing of the sunne †from Aroer which is situated vpon the banke of the torrent Arnon vnto the mountaine Sion which is also Hermon †al the plaine beyond Iordan at the east side vnto the sea of the wildernesse and vnto the foote of mount Phasga ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 2. You shal not adde Moyses can not meane that no more should be written nor commanded for then the last chapter of this booke and the rest of the Bible should not haue benne written after his death neither ought the Priestes or Prophetes to haue commanded anie thing not expressed in the law And wheras Protestantes say that al other Scriptures are included in the lawe or pertaine to the explicatioÌ„ or performance therof we also answer that vnwritten TraditioÌ„s both in the old and new Testament are likewise implied included or perteine to the explication or performance of the law For euen as the written doctrin of the Prophetes yea and of Christ and his Apostles in general is conteined in the law of Moyses so also are certaine fastes feastes rites ceremonies and other traditions proued and confirmed by general speaches and axiomes written in holie Scriptures as by our Sauiours wordes to his Apostles Luc. 10. He that heareth you heareth me S. Paules to other Christians 1. Cor. 10. other things vvhen I come I vvil dispose 2. Thess 2. Hold the traditions vvhich you haue lerned and the like VVherupon S. Augustin Li. 1. cont Crescon c. 33. geueth this rule that albeit an euident example can not be produced of holie Scripture yet the truth of the same Scriptures is holden by vs vvhen vve do that pleaseth the vvhole Church vvhich the authoritie of Scriptures commendeth The same he teacheth Epist 80. and in manie other places So do S. Epiphanius in compend sides Cathol S Hierom. Dialog cont Lucifer c. 4. S. Chrysost ho. 4. in 1. Thessal 4. S. Basil de Spiritu Sancto c. 39. S. Ireneus li. 3. c. 4. CHAP. V. The tenne commandements are repeted and explaned 23. with commemoration of their dread and feare When they heard the voice from the clowde and saw the mountaine burne AND Moyses called al Israel and said to them Heare Israel the ceremonies iudgements which I speake in your eares this day lerne them and fulfil them in worke †The Lord our God made a couenant with vs in Horeb. †Not with our fathers did he make the couenant but with vs at this present and doe liue †Face to face did he speake to vs in the mount out of the middes of the fyre †I was arbiter and mediatour betwixt our Lord and you at that time to shew you his wordes for you feared the fire and went not vp into the mount and he said †I the Lord thy God that brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of seruitude †Thou shalt not haue strange goddes in my sight †“ Thou shalt not make to thee a thing grauen nor the similitude of any thinges that are in heauen aboue and that are in the earth beneath and that abide in the waters vnder the earth †Thou shalt not adore them and thou shalt not serue them For I am the Lord thy God a Iealouse God tendering the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation to them that hate me †and doing mercie vpon manie thousandes to them that loue me and keepe my preceptes †Thou shalt not vsurpe the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for he shal not be vnpunished that taketh his name vpon a vaine thing †Obserue the day of the Sabbath to sanctifie it as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee †Six dayes shalt thou worke and shalt doe al thy workes †The seuenth is the day of the Sabbath that is the rest of the Lord thy God Thou shalt not doe any worke therin thou and thy sonne and daughter man seruant and woman seruant and oxe and asse and al thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy gates that thy man seruant may rest and thy woman seruant euen as thy selfe †Remember that thou also didest serue in Aegypt and the Lord thy God brought thee out from thence in a strong hand and stretched out arme Therfore hath he commanded thee that thou shouldest obserue the Sabbath †Honour thy father and mother as our Lord thy God hath commanded thee that thou mayst liue a long time and it may be wel with thee in the Land which the Lord thy God wil geue thee †Thou shalt not murder †Neither shalt thou committe aduoutrie †And thou shal not steale †Neither shalt thou speake against thy neighbour false testimonie †Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife Nor house nor field nor man seruant nor woman seruant nor oxe nor asse and al thinges that are his †These wordes spake our Lord to al your multitude in the mount out of the middes of the fiâ—e and the cloude and the darkenes with a loude voice adding nothing more and he wrote them in the two tables of stone which he deliuered vnto me †And you after you heard the voice out of the middes of the darkenes and saw the mount burne came to me al the princes of the tribes and the elders and you said †Behold the Lord our God hath shewed vs his maiestie and greatnes for we haue heard his voice out of the middes of the fire and haue proued this day that God speaking with man man hath liued †Why shal we die therfore and this exceding great fire deuoure vs For if we heare the voice of the Lord our God any more we
with shippes into Aegypt by the way wherof he said to thee that thou shouldest see it no more There shalt thou be sould to thine enemies for bondmen and bondweomen and no man shal bye you CHAP. XXIX A couenant and oath is made betwen God and his people with commemoration of sundrie benefites by them receiued that keping his law they shal be more blessed and breaking the same shal susteine the threatned punishmentes THESE are the wordes of the couenant which our Lord commanded Moyses to make with the children of Israel in the Land of Moab beside that couenant which he made with them in Horeb. †And Moyses called al Israel and said to them you saw al thinges that our Lord did before you in the Land of Aegypt to Pharao and to al his seruantes and to his whole land †the great tentations which thine eies haue seene those mightie signes and wonders †and our Lord hath not geuen you a hart to vnderstand and eies to see and eares that can heare vnto this present day †He hath brought you fourtie yeares by the desert your garmentes are not worne out neither are the shoes of your feete consumed with age †Breade you haue not eaten wine and sicer you haue not drunke that you might know that I am the Lord your God †And you came to this place and there came forth Sehon the King of Hesebon and Og the King of Basan meeting vs to fight And we stroke them †and tooke their land and deliuered it in possession to Ruben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasses †Keepe therfore the wordes of this couenant and fulfil them that you may vnderstand al thinges that you doe †You stand this day al before our Lord your God your princes and tribes and ancientes and doctors al the people of Israel †your children and your wiues and the strangers that abide with thee in the campe besides the cutters of wood and them that carie water †that thou mayest passe in the couenant of our Lord thy God and in the oath which in this day our Lord thy God maketh with thee †that he may rayse thee vp a people to him selfe and he be thy God as he hath spoken to thee and as he sware to thy fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob †Neither with you onlie doe I make this couenant and confirme these oathes †but with al that be present and absent †For you know how we dwelt in the Land of Aegypt and how we haue passed through the middes of nations which passing through †you haue seene their abominations and filth that is to say their Idols wood and stone siluer and gold which they worshipped †Lest perhaps there be among you man or woman familie or tribe whose hart is turned away this day from our Lord God to goe and serue the goddes of those Nations and there be among you a roote bringing forth gal and bitternes †And when he shal heare the wordes of this oath he blesse him selfe in his hart saying I shal haue place and walke in the prauitie of my hart and the drunken take to her the thirstie †and our Lord forgeue him not but then his furie most specially fume and his zeale against that man and al the curses sitte vpon him that be written in this volume and our Lord abolish his name vnder heauen †and consume him vnto perdition out of al the tribes of Israel according to the curses that are conteyned in the Booke of this law and couenant †And the generation folowing shal say and the children that shal be borne from thence forth and the strangers that shal come from a farre seeing the plagues of that Land and the infirmities wherwith our Lord hath afflicted it †burning it with brimstone and heate of the salt so that it can no more be sowen nor any grene thing spring therof after the example of the subuersion of Sodom and Gomorrha Adama and Seboim which our Lord subuerted in his wrath and furie †And al the Nations shal say Why hath the Lord done thus to this Land what is this exceding wrath of his furie †And they shal answer Because they forsooke the couenant of the Lord which he made with their fathers when he brought them out of the Land of Aegypt †and they haue serued strange goddes and adored them whom they knew not and to whom they had not beene designed †therfore the furie of the Lord was wrath against this Land to bring vpon it al the curses that are written in this volume †and he hath cast them out of their land in wrath and furie and in verie great indignation and hath throwen them into a strange land as this day it is proued †Thinges hidden to our Lord God which are manifest to vs and to our children for euer that we may doe al the words of this Law CHAP. XXX If the children of Israel offending and falling into the forsaide curses shal repent God wilrestore them to his blessings againe 11. leauing it in their powre to serue him if they wil 17. and therfore warneth them that the impenitent shal assuredly perish because hauing life and death blessing and cursing proposed they choose the worse THERFORE when al these wordes shal be come vpon thee the blessing or cursing which I haue sette forth before thee thou be touched with repentance of thy hart in al nations into which our Lord thy God dispersed thee †and shalt returne to him and obey his commandmentes as I this day command thee with thy children in al thy hart and in al thy soule †our Lord thy God wil bring thee againe from thy captiuitie and haue mercie vpon thee and gather thee againe out of al the peoples into which he dispersed thee besore †If thou be dispersed as farre as the poles of heauen thence wil our Lord thy God draw thee backe †and wil take thee to him and bring thee into the Land which thy fathers possessed and thou shalt obteyne it and blessing thee wil make thee to be of a greater number then were thy fathers †Our Lord thy God wil circumcile thy hart and the hart of thy seede that thou mayest loue oure Lord thy God in al thy hart and in al thy soule that thou mayest liue †And al these curses he wil turne vpon thine enemies and them that hate and persecute thee †But thou shalt returne and heare the voice of our Lord thy God and shalt doe al the commandmentes which I command thee this day †and our Lord wil make thee abound in al the workes of thy handes in the issue of thy wombe and in the fruite of thy cattel in the fertilitie of thy ground and in the plentie of al thinges For our Lord wil returne to reioyse vpon thee in al riches as he reioysed in thy fathers †yet so if thou heare the voice
garder therof †And Eliseus sayd to him fetch a bow and arrowes And when he had brought him a bow and arrowes †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 †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 †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 †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 †Eliseus therfore died and they buried him And the rouers of Moab came into the land the same yeare †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 †Hazael therfore the king of Syria afflicted Israel al the daies of Ioachaz †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 †And Hazael the king of Syria died and Benadad his sonne reigned for him †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 †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 †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 †but this onlie that he tooke not away the excelses for yet the people immolated and burnt incense in the excelses †And when he obtayned the kingdom he smote his seruantes which had slaine the king his father †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †And Iuda was strooken before Israel and euerie man fled into their tabernacles †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 †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 †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 †And Ioas slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kinges of Israel Ieroboam his sonne reigned for him †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 †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 †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 †And they caried him away vpon horses and he was buried in Ierusalem with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid †And al the people of Iuda tooke Azarias sixtene yeares old and made him king for his father Amasias †He built Aelath and restored it to Iuda after that the king slept with his fathers †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 †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 †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 seruaÌ„t Ionas the sonne of Amathi the prophete who was of Geth which is in Opher †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 †Neither did our Lord determine that he would destroy the name of Israel from vnder heauen but he sâ—ued them in the hand of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas. †But the rest of the wordes of Ieroboam and al that
wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda †And they buried him in his sepulchre in the garden of Oza and Iosias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXII Iosias repayreth the temple and Diuine seruice 8. The booke of law is found 11. wherupon they consult our Lord 15. and are foretold that much euil shal fal vpon them 18. but the good king shal dye in peace EIGHT yeares old was Iosias when he began to reigne he reigned one and thirtie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Idida the daughter of Hadaia of Besecath †And he did that which was liked before our Lord and walked in al the waies of Dauid his father he declined not to the right hand or to the lefte †And in the eightenth yeare of king Iosias the king sent Saphan the sonne of Aslia the sonne of Messulam the scribe of the temple of our Lord saying to him †Goe to Helcias the high priest that the money may be gathered into a summe which hath beene brought into the temple of our Lord which the porters of the temple haue gathered of the people †and let it be geuen to the workemen by the ouerseers of the house of our Lord who also shal destribute it to them that worke in the temple of our Lord to make the reparations of the temple †that is to the carpenters and masons and to them that mend broken places and that timber may be bought and stones out of the quarries to repayre the temple of our Lord. †Yet let not the money which they receiue be accounted to them but let them haue it in their powre and vpon their fidelitie †And Helcias the highe priest sayd to Saphan the scribe I haue found the Booke of the law in the house of our Lord and Helcias gaue the volume to Saphan who also did reade it †Saphan also the scribe came to the king and reported vnto him that which he had commanded and sayd Thy seruantes haue gathered into a summe the money which is found in the house of our Lord and they haue geuen it to be destributed to the workemen by the ouerseers of the workes of the temple of our Lord. †Saphan also the scribe told the king saying Helcias the priest hath geuen me a Booke Which when Saphan had read before the king †and the king had heard the wordes of the law of our Lord he rent his garmentes †And he willed Helcias the priest and Ahicam the sonne of Saphan and Achobor the sonne of Micha and Saphan the Scribe and Asaia the kinges seruant saying †Goe and consult our Lord for me and for the people and for al Iuda concerning the wordes of this volume which is found for the great wrath of our Lord is kindled agaynst vs because our fathers haue not heard the wordes of this Booke to doe al that is writen for vs. †Helcias therfore the priest and Ahicam and Achabor and Saphan and Asaia went to Holda a prophetesse the wife of Sellum the sonne of Thecua the sonne of Araas keeper of the garmentes who dwelt in Ierusalem in the second and they spake to her †And she answered them Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel Tel the man that sent you to me †Thus sayth our Lord Behold I wil bring euils vpon this place and vpon the inhabitantes therof al the wordes of the law which the king of Iuda hath read †because they haue forsaken me and haue sacrificed to strange goddes prouoking me in al the workes of their handes and my indignation shal be kindled in this place and shal not be quenched †But to the king of Iuda that sent you to consult our lord thus you shal say Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel For that thou hast heard the wordes of the volume †and thy hart is striken with feare and thou art humbled before the Lord hearing the wordes agaynst this place and the inhabitantes therof to witte that they should become a wonder and a curse and hast rent thy garmentes and wept before me and I haue heard it sayth our Lord †therfore I wil gather thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be gathered to thy sepulchre in peace that thy eies may not see al the euils which I wil bring in vpon this place CHAP. XXIII Iosias reading the law before the people they al promise to serue God 4. Al thinges belonging to Idolatrie are cast forth of the temple 8. and other places of Iuda 15. He also destroyeth the altar in Bethel not remouing the bones of a prophet 19. and other altares in Samaria killeth the false priestes 21. And maketh a notorious great Pasch 26. Yet God threatneth the captiuitie of Iuda for their sinnes 29. Iosias is slaine in battle by the king of Aegypt and his sonne Ioachaz reigneth VVho after three monethes is deposed by the king of Aegypt and his brother Eliacim henceforth called Ioakim made king AND they reported to the king that which she had sayd Who sent and al the ancientes of Iuda and Ierusalem were assembled to him †And the king went vp to the temple of our Lord and al the men of Iuda and al that dwelt in Ierusalem with him priestes and prophetes and al the people from litle to great and in hearing of al he read al the wordes of the Booke of the couenant which was found in the house of our Lord. †And the king stood vpon the steppe and made a couenant with our Lord to walke after our Lord kepe his preceptes and testimonies and ceremonies with al their hart and with al their soule and to performe the wordes of this couenant which were writen in that booke the people agreed to the couenant †And the king willed Helcias the high priest the priestes of the second order al the porters that they should cast out of the temple of our Lord al the vessels that had bene made to Baal and in the groue and to al the host of heauen he burnt them without Ierusalem in the Valley cedron and caried the dust of them into Bethel †And he destroyed the Southsayers which the kinges of Iuda had appointed to sacrifice in the excelses in the cities of Iuda and round about Ierusalem and them that burnt incense to Baal and to the Sunne and to the Moone and to the twelue signes and to al the host of heauen †And he caused the groue to be caried forth out of the house of our Lord without Ierusalem in the Valley cedron he burnt it there and brought it into dust and threw it vpon the sepulchres of the common people †He destroyed also the litle houses of the effeminates which were in the house of our Lord for the which the wemen woue as it were litle houses of the groue †And he gathered together al the priestes of the cities of Iuda and he contaminated the excelses where
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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †And he brake in peces the statues and cut downe the groues and he filled their places with the bones of dead men †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †as in the eightenth yeare of king Iosias this Phase was made to our Lord in Ierusalem †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. †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †Three and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne and he reigned three 〈…〉 in Ierusalem the name of his mother was A 〈…〉 the daughter of Ieremie of Lobna †And he did euil before our Lord according to al thinges which his fathers had done †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 reuolâ—eth 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 †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
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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †which when Baasa had heard he ceased to build Rama and intermitted his worke †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †But the workes of Asa the first the lasl are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel †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 †And he slept with his fathers and he died the one and fouâ—teth yeare of his reigne †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 odoriâ—erous 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 †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 †And our Lord was with Iosaphat because he walked in the first waies of Dauid his father and he trusted not in Baalim †but in the God of his father and went forward in his preceptes and not according to the sinnes of Israel †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 †And when his hart had taken courage for the waies of our Lord he tooke away also the Excelses and groues out of Iuda †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †Iosaphat therfore grewe and was magnified on high and he built in Iuda houses like to toures and walled cities †And he prepared manie workes in the cities of Iuda there were also men of warre and valiant in Ierusalem †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 †After him Iohanan the prince and with him two hundred eightie thousand †After him also Amasias the sonne of Zechri consecrated to our Lord and with him two hundred thousand of valiant men †Him followed Eliada valiant to battels and with him of them that held bow shield two hundred thousand †After this man also Iozabad and with him an hundred eightie thousand readie souldiars †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. †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 †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 †Iosaphat sayd to the king of Israel Consult I besech thee presently the word of our Lord. †Therfore the king of Israel
of Israel should bring it in into the tabernacle of testimonie †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 †The king therfore commanded and they made a chest and set it by the gate of our Lord on the out side †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †But Ioiada became old being ful of dayes and died when he was an hundred and thirtie yeares old †And they buried him in the citie of Dauid with the kinges because he had done good with Israel and with his house †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 †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 †And he sent them prophetes that they should returne to our Lord whom protesting they would not heare †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 †Who being gathered agaynst him they threw stones according to the kinges commandement in the court of the house of our Lord. †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 †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 †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 †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 †And there conspired against him Zabad the sonne of Semmaath an Ammonitesse Iozabad the sonne of Semarith a Moabitesse †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 †And he did good in the sight of our Lord but yet not in a perfect hart †And when he saw his kingdom strengthned he put to death the seruantes that had slayne the king his father †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 †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 †He hyred also for wages of Israel an hundred thousand strong men for an hundred talentes of siluer †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 †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 †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 †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 †Moreouer Amasias brought forth his people confidently and went into the Vale of salt pittes and stroke the children of Seir ten thousand †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 †But
the face our Lord as Manasses his father did reuerence it and he committed farre greater sinnes †And when his seruantes had conspired agaynst him they slewe him in his owne house †Moreouer the rest of the multitude of the people hauing slaine them that stroke Amon made Iosias his sonne king for him CHAP. XXXIIII Iosias destroyeth idolatrie 8. repaireth the Temple 14. The booke of the law found in the Temple is redde before him 19. wherby vnderstanding the sinnes of the people 23. a prophete foresheweth their punishment 26. but not in his daies 29. He reneweth the couenant betwen God and the people EIGHT yeares old was Iosias when he began to reigne he reigned thirtie and one yeares in Ierusalem †And he did that which was right in the sight of our Lord and walked in the waies of Dauid his father he declined not neither to the right hand nor to the left †And in the eight yeare of his reigne when he was yet a child he began to seeke the God of his father Dauid and the twelfth yeare after he began to reigne he cleansed Iuda and Ierusalem from excelses and groues and idols sculptils †And they destroyed before him the altars of Baalim and the idols that had bene set vpon them they destroyed the groues also and sculptils he cut downe and brake in peeces and ouer their tombes that were accustomed to immolate vnto them he strawed the fragmentes †Moreouer the bones of the Priestes he burnt on the altars of the idols and he clensed Iuda and Ierusalem †Yea and in the cities of Manasses and of Ephraim and of Simeon vnto Nepthali he ouerthrew al. †And when he had destroyed the altars and the groues and had broken the idols into peces and had ouerthrowen al profane temples out of al the land of Israel he returned into Ierusalem †Therfore in the eightenth yeare of his reigne the land now clensed and the temple of our Lord he sent Saphan the sonne of Eselias and Maasias the gouernour of the citie and Ioha the sonne of Ioachaz Commenter that they should repayre the house of our Lord his God †Who came to Helcias the high priest and taking of him the money which had bene brought into the house of our Lord and which the Leuites and porters had gathered together of Manasses and Ephraim and of al the remnant of Israel of al Iuda also and Beniamin and the inhabiters of Ierusalem †they deliuered in their handes that ouersaw the workemen in the house of our Lord that they should repayre the temple and mend al weake partes †But they gaue it to the artificers and to the masons that they should bye stones out of the quarries and timber for the ioyntures of the building and for making the roofe of the house which the kinges of Iuda had destroyed †Who did al thinges faithfully And the ouerseers of the workemen were Iahath Abdias of the children of Merari Zacharias and Mosollam of the children of Caath which vrged the worke al Leuites skilful to sing on instrumentes †But ouer them that caried burdens to diuerse vses were scribes and masters of the Leuites and porters †And when they caried forth the money that had bene brought into the temple of our Lord Helcias the Priest found the Booke of the law of our Lord by the hand of Moyses †And he sayd to Saphan the Scribe I haue found the booke of the law in the house of our Lord and deliuered it to him †But he brought in the volume to the king and told him saying Al thinges which thou gauest into the hand of thy seruantes loe are accomplished †The siluer that was found in the house of our Lord they haue gathered into a masse and it was geuen to the ouerseers of the artificers and of them that make diuerse workes †Moreouer Helcias the Priest deliuered me this booke Which when he had read in the kinges presence †and he had heard the wordes of the law he rent his garmentes †and he commanded Helcias and Ahicam the sonne of Saphan and Abdon the sonne of Micha Saphan also the scribe and Asaa the kinges seruant saying †Goe and pray our Lord for me and for the remnant of Israel and Iuda concerning al the wordes of this Booke which is found for the great furie of our Lord hath distilled vpon vs for that our fathers haue not kept the wordes of our Lord to doe al thinges that are writen in this volume †Helcias therfore went and they that were sent together by the king to Olda a prophetesse the wife of Sellum the sonne of Thecuath the sonne of Hasra keeper of the garmentes who dwelt in Ierusalem in the second part and they spake to her the wordes which we haue aboue mentioned †But she answered them Thus sayth out Lord the God of Israel Tel the man that sent you to me †Thus sayth our Lord Behold I wil bring euils vpon this place and vpon the inhabitantes therof and al the curses that are writen in this Booke which they redde before the king of Iuda †Because they haue forsaken me and haue sacrificed to strange goddes that they might prouoke me to wrath in al the workes of their handes therfore shal my furie droppe vpon this place shal not be extinguished †But to the king of Iuda that sent you to beseche our Lord thus speake ye Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel Because thou hast heard the wordes of this volume †and thy hart is mollified and thou art humbled in the sight of our Lord for these thinges which are spoken against this place and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem and reuerencing my face hast rent thy garmentes and wept before me I also haue heard thee sayth our Lord. †For now wil I gather thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be brought into thy graue in peace neither shal thyne eies see al the euil that I wil bring in vpon this place and vpon the inhabitantes therof They therfore reported to the king al thinges that she had sayd †But he calling together al the ancientes of Iuda and Ierusalem †went vp into the house of our Lord and al the men of Iuda and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem Priestes and Leuites and al the people from the least to the greatest In whose hearing in the house of our Lord the king read al the wordes of the volume †And standing on his tribunal seate he made a couenant before our Lord that he would walke after him and keepe his preceptes and testimonies and iustifications in al his hart and in al his soule and would do the thinges that were writen in that volume which he had read †He adiured also vpon this al that were found in Ierusalem and Beniamin and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem did according to the couenant of our Lord the God of their fathers †Iosias
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 †And he appoynted the Priestes in their offices and exhorted them that they would minister in the house of our Lord. †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 †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 †And minister ye in the Sanctuarie by families and Leuitical companies †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 †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 †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 †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 †And the ministerie was prepared and the Priestes stood in their office the Leuites also in companies according to the kinges commandement †And the Phase was immolated and Priestes sprinkled the blood with their hand and the Leuites drew of the skinnes of the holocaustes †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 †And they rosted the Phase vpon fyre according to that which is writen in the law but the pacifique hostes they bâ—vled in caudrons and kettles and pottes and in hast they distributed it to al the people †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 †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 †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 †And the children of Israel that were found there made the Phase at that time and the solemnitie of Azymes seuen daies †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 †In the eightenth yeare of the kingdom of Iosias was this Phase celebrated †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 †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 †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 †And there being wounded of the Archers he sayd to his seruantes Carie me out of the battel because I am sore wounded †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 †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 †But the rest of the wordes des of Iosias of his mercies which are commanded by the law of our Lord †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 †Taree and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne and he reigned three monethes in Ierusalem †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 †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 †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 †Agaynst him came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of the Chaldees and brought him bound in chaynes into Babylon †Whither he transported also the vessels of
Senaa three thousand nine hundred thirtitie †The Priests The children of Idaia in the house of Iosue nine hundred three †The childeren of Emmer a thousand fiftie two †The childeren of Phashur a thousand two hundred fourtie seuen †The children of Arem a thousand seuentene The Leuites †The children of Iosue Cedmiel the children †of Cenia seuentie foure The singing men †the childeren of Asaph an hundred fourtie eight †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 †The Nathineites The childeren of Soha the childeren of Hasupha the childeren of Tebbaath †the childeren of Ceros the childeren of Siaa the childeren of Phadon the childeren of Lebana the childeren of Haguba the childeren of Seimai †the childeren of Hanan the childeren of Geddel the childeren of Gaher †the childeren of Raaia the childeren of Rasin the childeren of Necoda †the childeren of Gesem the childeren of Aza the childeren of Phasea †the childeren of Besai the childeren of Munim the childeren of Nephussim †the childeren of Bacbuc the childeren of Hacupha the childeren of Harur †the childeren of Besloth the childeren of Mahida the childeren of Harsa †the childeren of Bercos the childeren of Sisara the childeren of Thema †the childeren of Nasia the childeren of Hatipha †the childeren of the seruantes of Salomon the childeren of Sotai the childeren of Sophereth the childeren of Pharida †the childeren of Iahala the childeren of Darcon the childeren of Ieddel †the childeren of Saphia the childeren of Hatil the chideren of Phohereth who was borne vnto Sabaim the sonne of Amon. †Al Natheneites and the childeren of the seruantes of Salomon three hundred nyntie two †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 †The children of Dalaia the childeren of Tobia the childeren of Necoda six hundred fourtie two †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 †These sought their writing in the register and found it not they were cast out of the Priesthood †And Athersatha said to them that they should not eate of the Holies of holies vntil there stood vp a Priest learned and cunning †Al the multitude as it were one man fourtie two thousand three hundred sixtie †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 †Their horses two hundred fourtie six their mules two hundred fourtie fiue †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †Moerouer Iosue Bani and Serebia Iamin Accub Septhai Oâ—ia Maasia Celita Azarias Iozabed Hanan Phalaia Leuites made silence in the people to heare the law and the people stoode in their degree †And they read in the booke of the law of God distinctly and playnly for to vnderstand and they vnderstood when it was read †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 †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 †And the Leuites made silence in al the people saying Hold your peace because the day is holie and be not sorowful †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 †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 †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 †and that they should proclame and publish a voice in al their cities and in Ierusalem saying
Goe ye forth into the mount and fetch branches of the oliue tree and branches of the most fayre tree branches of the mirtle tree and boughes of the palme trees and branches of the thicke leaued tree that tabernacles may be made as it is written †And the people went forth and brought And they made themselues tabernacles euery man in his house toppe and in his courtes and in the courtes of the house of God and in the streate of the water gate and in the streate of the gate of Ephraim †Therefore al the church of them that were returned from the captiuitie made tabernacles and dwelt in tabernacles For from the daies of Iosue the sonne of Nun the children of Israel had not done it in such sort vntil that day and there was exceeding great ioy †And he reade in the booke of the law of God day by day from the first day til the last and they made the solemnitie seuen dayes in the eight day a collect according to the rite CHAP. IX The people repenting in fasting and sakcloth put away their wiues of strange nations 5. Esdras confesseth Gods benefites and the peoples ingratitude 32. prayeth for them and maketh league with God AND in the foure and twenteth day of the moneth the children of Israel came together in fasting and sackeclothes and carth vpon them †And the seede of the children of Israel was seperated from euerie strange childe and they stood and confessed their sinnes and the iniquities of their fathers †And they rose vp to stand and they read in the volume of the law of our Lord their God foure times in a day and four times they confessed and adored our Lord their God †And there arose vpon the steppe of the Leuites Iosue and Bani Cedminel Sabania Bonni Sarebias Bani and Chanani and they cried with a lowde voice to our Lord their God †And the Leuites Iosue and Cedmihel Bonni Hasebnia Serebia Odaia Sebnia and Phathahia said Arise Blesse our Lord your God from eternitie to eternitie and let them blesse the high name of thy glorie in al blessing praise †Thou the same o Lord alone thou hast made heauen al the host therof the earth al thinges that are in it the seas and al thinges that are therin and thou dost giue life to al these thinges and the host of heaueÌ„ adoreth thee †Thou the same o Lord God which didst choose Abram broughtest him out of the fire of the Chaldees and gauest him the name Abraham †And thou didst finde his hart faithful before thee and thou madest a couenante with him that thou wouldest geue him the land of the Chananite of the Hetheite and of the Amorrheite and of the Pherezeire and of the Iebuseite of the Gergeseite to geue vnto his seede and thou hast fulfilled thy wordes because thou art iust †And thou sawest the afflicton of our fathers in Aegypt their crie thou didst hearâ— vpon the Read sea †And thou gauest signes wonders in Pharao and in al his seruants and in al the people of his land for thou didst know that they had done proudly against them and thou madest thyself a name as also at this day †And thou didst diuide the sea before them and they passed througth the midst of the sea in drie land but their persecutors thou threwest into the depth as a stone into the rough waters †And in a piller of a cloude thou wast their leader by day and in a piller of fire by night that the way might appeare to them by the which they went †To mount Sinai also thou didst descend and spakest with them from heauen and thou gauest them right iudgements and the law of truth ceremonies and good preceptes †Thy sanctified Sabbath thou didst shew them and the commandements and ceremonies and the law thou didst command them in the hand of Moyses thy seruant †Bread also from heauen thou gauest them in their hunger and water out of the rocke thou didst bring forth to them thirsting and thou saidest to them that they should enter in and possesse the land vpon which thou didst lift vp thy hand to diliuer it them †But they and our fathers did proudly and hardned their neckes and heard not thy coÌ„mandements †And they would not heare and they remembred not thy merueylous workes which thou hast done to them And they hardned their neckes and gaue the head to returne to their seruitude as it were by contention But thou a propitious God and gratious and merciful long suffering and of much compassion didst not forsake them †Yea and when they had made to them selues a molten calfe and had said This is thy God which brought thee out of Aegypt and they did great blasphemies †But thou in thy manie mercies didst not leaue them in the desert the piller of the cloude departed not from them by day to lead them into the way and the piller of fire by night to shew them the way by which they should goe †And thou gauest them thy good spirite which should teach them and thy Manna thou didst not withhold from their mouth and thou gauest them water in thirst †Fourtie yeares didst thou feede them in the desert and nothing was wanting to them their garmentes waxed not old and their feete not worne †And thou gauest them kingdomes and peoples and didst part lottes vnto them and they possessed the land of Sehon and the land of the king Hesebon and the land of Og the king of Basan †And thou didst multiplie their children as the starres of heauen brought them to the land wherof thou hadst said to their fathers that they should enter and possesse it †And the children came and possessed the land and thou didst humble before them the inhabiters of the land the Chananâ—ites and gauest them into their hand and their kinges and the peoples of the land that they might doe to them as it pleased them †They therfore tooke the fensed cities and fatte ground and possessed houses ful of al goodes cesternes made by others vineyardes and oliuetes manie trees that bare fruite and they did eate and were filled and became fatte and abounded with delicious thinges in thy great goodnes †But they prouoked thee to wrath departed from thee and threw thy law behind their backes they killed thy prophetes which admonished them ernestly to returne to thee and they did great blasphemies †And thou gauest them into the handes of their enemies and they afflicted them And in the time of their tribulation they cried to thee thou from heauen didst heare and according to thy manie coÌ„passions gauest them sauiours that should saue them from the hand of their enemies †And when they had rested they returned to do euil in thysight thou didst leaue them in the hand of their enemies and they possessed them And they
Catullus and Cerenus soundeth out Christ vvith harpe tenne stringed Psalter rising vp from hel so attributing the summe of this whole booke to the Royal Prophet Dauid as if he supposed no other author Touching therfore the argument or contentes of this diuine Psalter al Catholique Doctors vniformly agree that it is the abridgement summe and substance of al holie Scriptures both old and new Testament As may first be probably collected by that Christ himselfe often comprehending al the old Testament by the termes of the Law and Prophetes in one place Luc. 24. v. 44. semeth not onlie to reduce al to the Lavv and Prophetes iointly but also to the Psalmes alone or seuerally But whether this be our Sauiours diuine meaning or no in that place out of this and manie other places al the ancient Fathers teach expresly that the Psalmes are an Epitome of al other holie Scriptures For example S. Denys li de Eccles Hierar contemplat 2. after brief recital of the contents of other holie Scriptures saith This sacred booke of diuine Canticles doth exhibite both a general song and exposition of diuine thinges S. Basil calleth the Psalmodie of Dauid the common and most plentiful storehouse of al sacred doctrine the treasure of perfect Theologie S. Ambrose accounteth it the register of the vvhole Scripture Origen S. Cyprian S. Ierom S. Chrysostom S. Gregorie S. Beda S. Bernard Cassiodorus Eutimius and others vse the same or very like termes S. Augustin particularly distinguishing al the Scriptures into foure sortes of bookes sheweth that the Psalmes conteyne al The Lavv saith he teacheth somethinges the Historie somethinges the Prouerbes also and Prophetes teach somethinges but the Booke of Psalmes teacheth al. It proposeth the lavv recounteth thinges of old prescribeth the due ordering of mens actions and prophecieth thinges to come Briefly it is a common treasure of good doctrine aptly administring that is necessarie to euerie one And a litle after exemplifying in particular points Is not here saith he al greatnes of vertue and is not here the right square of iustice is not the comlines of chastitie the consummation of prudence is not vvhatsoeuer may be called good lerned in the Psalmes Here is the knovvlege of God the clere prenounciation of Christ to come in flesh the hope of general Resurrection feare of torments promise of glorie reuelation of mysteries Euen al good thinges are here as in a common great treasure laide vp and heaped together See then and obserue here Christian reader the admirable wisdom and goodnes of God The meanes of mans saluation being so disposed that his owne free consent and cooperation is therto necessarily required according to that most approued doctrin of the same S. Augustin Qui creauit te sine te non iustificat te sine te He that created thee vvithout thee doth not iustifie thee vvithout thee to helpe our weaknes and sweetly to draw our mindes otherwise auerse from trauel and paine the Holie Ghost hath ordained that in smal rowme and in pleasant maner we may attaine necessarie knowlege of God our selues easely kepe the same in memorie and dayly put in practise our chiefest dutie in seruing and praising God by singing reading or hearing these diuine Psalmes which one booke as euerie one shal be able to lerne it more or lesse perfectly openeth and sheweth the way to vnderstand al other Scriptures and so to finde enioy the hidden treasures of Gods word in like maner as a key openeth a lock For the whole sacred Bible is a sealed Booke and not rightly vnderstood til the seale or lock be opened by the key of Gods spirite geuing knowlege which the Holie Ghost amongst other wayes inspireth very often by sacred Musike or Psalmodie As S. Gregorie noteth in holie Scripture 4. Reg. 3. v. 15. where Eliseus not yet knowing Gods wil in a particular case called for a Psalmist or player on instruments and vvhen the Psalmist sang the hand of our Lord came vpon Eliseus and presently he prescribing what should be donne procured plentie of water without rayne where was none before and prophecied victorie against the enimies Reason also and experience teach that as men of cheerful hart are apt to sâ—â—g so the exercise of reading singing or playing Psalmes is a conuenient and a special meanes to attaine quietnes or cheerfulnes of mind But as this holie Psalter is the key of other Scriptures so it selfe is most especially a sealed and locked Booke requiring manie keyes Euerie Psalme saith S. Hilarie hath a peculiar key and oftentimes there be so manie lockes and keyes of one Psalme as there be diuers persons that speake to diuers endes and purposes For albeit diuers mysteries are sometimes connected and so require sundrie keyes yet there is but one principal proper key of ech Psalme otherwise it should be diuided into manie Psalmes Our first endeuour therfore must be to find the proper key of euery Psalme that is to know what is principally therein conteyned To this purpose the lerned Expositers of this booke haue obserued tenne general pointes or seueral matters to which al the contents may be reduced as it were so manie keyes and meanes of entrance into the sense and true vnderstanding of al the Psalmes And the same may likewise be called the tenne stringes of this diuine instrument Vpon one of which euery Psalme principally playeth touching the rest more or lesse as cause requireth for more melodious harmonie and perfect musike The first key or string is God himself One in Substance Three in Persons Almightie Alperfect Powre VVisdom Goodnes Maiestie Iustice Mercie other Diuine Attributes The second is Gods workes of Creation Conseruation and Gouerning of the whole world The third Gods Prouidence especially towards man in protecting and rewarding the iust in permitting and punishing the wicked The fourth is the peculiar calling of the Hebrew people their beginning in Abraham Isaac and Iacob their maruelous increase in Aegypt diuers estates manie admirable and miraculous thinges donne amongst them with their ingratitude reiection and reprobation The fifth principal key and string is Christ the promised Redemer of mankind prophecying his Incarnation Natiuitic Trauels Sufferings Death Resurrection Ascension and Glorie The sixt is the propagation of Christs name and Religion with Sacrifice and Sacramntes in the multitude of Gentiles beleeuing in him euen to the vttermost coastes of the earth the Catholique Church euer visible The seuenth is the true maner of seruing God with sincere faith and good workes The eight holie Dauid interposeth manie thinges concerning himselfe As Gods singular benefites towards him for which he rendereth thankes and diuine praises recounteth his enimies dangers and afflictions of mind bodie namely by Saul Absalon and others humbly beseeking and obtaining Gods protection He also expresseth in himselfe a perfect image
eares thou hast perfited to me Holocaust and for sinne thou didst not require †then said I Behold I come In the head of the booke it is written of me †that I should doe thy wil my God I would and thy law in the middes of my hart †I haue declared thy iustice in the great Church loe I wil not stay my lippes Lord thou hast knowen it †Thy iustice I haue not hid in my hart thy truth and thy saluation I haue spoken I haue not hid thy mercie and thy truth from the great councel †But thou ô Lord make not thy commiserations farre from me thy mercie and thy truth haue alwayes receiued me †Because euils haue compassed me which haue no number mine iniquities haue ouertaken me I was not able to see They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head and my hart hath forsaken me †It may please thee ô Lord to deliuer me Lord haue respect to helpe me Let them be confounded and ashamed together that seeke my soule to take it away Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that wil me euils Let them forth with receiue their confusion that say to me Wel wel †Let al that seeke thee reioyce and be glad vpon thee and let them that loue thy saluation say alwayes Our Lord be magnified †But I am a begger and poore Our Lord is careful of me Thou art my helper my protector my God be not slacke PSALME XL. The prophet pronounceth them happie that wil beleue in Christ coming in humilitie and pouertie 5. Christ describeth his owne poore afflicted state in this life by reason he is to satisfie for the sinnes of the world the malice of his aduersaries 10. especially of Iudas 11. and by way of prayer prophecieth his owne Resurrect on †Vnto the end a Psalme to Dauid him selfe BLESSED is the man that vnderstandeth concerning the needie and the poore in the euil day our Lord wil deliuer him †Our Lord preserue him and geue him life and make him blessed in the land and deliuer him not vnto the wil of his enemies †Our Lord helpe him vpon the bed of his sorow thou hast turned al his couche in his infirmitie †I said Lord haue haue mercie on me heale my soule because I haue sinned to thee †Mine enemies haue spoken euils to me When shal he die and his name perish †And if he came in to see he spake vayne thinges his hart hath gathered together iniquitie to him selfe He went forth and spake together †Al mine enemies whispered against me they did thinke euils to me They haue determined an vniust word against me Shal not he that sleepeth adde to ryse againe †For the man also of my peace in whom I hoped who did eate my breades hath greatly troden me vnder foote †But thou ô Lord haue mercie vpon me and raise me vp againe and I wil repay them †In this I haue knowen that thou wouldest me because mine enemie shal not reioyce ouer me †But me thou hast receiued because of innocencie and thou hast confirmed me in thy sight for euer †Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel from the beginning of the world and for euermore Be it be it PSALME XLI The feruent desire of the iust 6. much afflicted in this life 12. and assured hope of eternal ioy †Vnto the end vnderstanding to the sonnes of Core EVEN as the harte desireth after the fountaines of waters so doth my soule desire after thee ô God †My soule hath thirsted after God the strong liuing when shal I come and appeare before the face of God †My teares haue beene breades vnto me day and night whiles it is said to me dayly Where is thy God †These thinges haue I remembred and haue powred out my soule in me because I shal passe into the place of a meruelous tabernacle euen to the house of God In the yoyce of exultation and confession the sound of one feasting †Why art thou sorowful my soule and why dost thou truble me Hope in God because yet I wil confesse to him the saluation of my countenance †and my God My soule is trubled toward my selfe therfore wil I be mindful of thee from the land of Iordan and Hermoniim from the litle mountaine †Depth calleth on depth in the voice of thy flould-gates Al thy high thinges and thy waues haue passed ouer me †In the day our Lord hath commanded his mercie and in the night a song of him With me is prayer to the God of my life †I wil say to God Thou art my defender Why hast thou forgotten me and why goe I sorowful whiles mine enemie afflicteth me †Whiles my bones are broken mine enemies that truble me haue vpbrayded me Whiles they say to me day by day Where is thy God †Why art thou heauie ô my soule wh◠dost thou truble me Hope in God because yet I wil confesse to him the saluation of my countenance and my God PSALME XLII The iust inuocateth Gods sentence against the deceiptful that seeke his spiritual ouerthrow 4. acknowledgeth his helpe from almightie God the B. Trinitie in whose vision glorie consisteth †A Psalme of Dauid IVDGE me ô God discerne my cause from the nation not holie from the vniust and deceitful man deliuer me †Because thou art God my strength why hast thou repelled me and why goe I sorowful whiles the enemie afflicteth me Send forth thy light and thy truth they haue conducted me and haue brought me into thy holy hil and into thy tabernacles †And I wil goe in to the altar of God to God which maketh my youth ioyful †I'wil confesse to thee on the harpe ô God my God why art thou sorowful ô my soule and dost thou trubel me †Hope in God because yet wil I cōfesse to him the saluation of my countenance and my God PSALME XLIII The prophet describeth the first calling and difficulte state of the Iewish nation 6. their prosperitie at other times 10. Againe their afflictions in captiuitie and persecutions †Vnto the end for the sonnes of Core to vnderstanding O GOD we haue heard with our eares our fathers haue declared to vs. The worke that thou hast wrought in their dayes and in the dayes of old †Thy hand destroyed the nations and thou didst plant them thou didst afflict the peoples and expel them †For not by their owne sword did they possesse the land and their owne arme did not saue them But thy right hand
the Sabbath which is the seuenth day in the new we kepe our Lords day after the sabbath that is the eight which seuen and eight making fieftene multiplied by tenne signifying the Law of tenne commandments rise vnto 150. Againe euen multiplied by seuen make 49. wherto one to witte the eight being added make fieftie which multiplied by three signifying the B Trinitie make 150 Neither semed it without cause to this great Doctor that the fiâ—â—â— fieftie end with a Psalme of Paenance crauing mercie remission of sinnes the second with Mercie and Iustice which God ioyneth in the Redemption Iustification and Saluation of men the last with Diuine Praises signifying that by condemning sinnes in our selues through Gods mercie we may be iustified and so beginne in this life which is to be perfected in the next to praise our Lord as S. Paul admonisheth with Psalmes Hymnes and Spiritual Songues Concluding with the tvvo verses appointed by S Dama us Pope to be added in the end of al Psalmes and is obserued euer since his time by tradition in the vvhole Church Glorie to the Father and to the Sonne and to the Holie Ghost As it was in the beginning and now and euer into worldes of worldes in eternitie vvithout end Amen THE THIRD PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTEINING SAPIENTIAL BOOKES The argument of Sapiential Bookes Hitherto the Law and Historie of Gods peculiar people are set forth in the former partes of the holie Bible after which folowed the Booke of Psalmes which in maner of stile being al in verse is a distinct part but in substance of matter is an Epitome or briefe Summe of al holie Scripture most conueniently therfore placed in the middes of the rest as the Sunne amongst other Planetes a shining great light in a large house Now ensueth the third part conteining Diuine Instructions or Rules of good life A doctrine most agreable to Gods hiegh wisdom and most fitly commended to Man his reasonable creature in earth But besides this principal subiect as before is noted that each part participateth with others in their proper contents so here be manie precepts of the Law renewed sundrie examples of men and thinges past repeted and diuers prophecies vttered of thinges to come though in this part more specially is shewed the ground and as it were the very life or soule of the Law which is Reason the true Rule or Directorie wherin al good lawes are grounded For it both sheweth what ought to be done or auoided directeth mans iudgement to embrace that is good and to flee from al euil not only illuminating the vnderstanding to see that is right and iust but also disposing the internal affection to desire loue choose and preferre the right path of Gods law before whatsoeuer otherwise semeth pleasant or profitable so notwithstanding al dangers difficulties distresses worldlie calamites and death it self effectually perswading to perseuere to the end in holie conuersation Al which by a general name is called Wisdom comprising in one word al good desires holie vertues supernal giftes godlie endeuoures and the whole meanes wherby God is rightly knowen duly serued wherof these fiue Bookes teaching this most excellent and most necessarie maner of life are called Sapiential Neuertheles foure of them haue also other particular names as appareth in their titles Only the fourth is called the Booke of Wisdom by appropriation of the general name Al fiue are Canonical and assured holie Scripture as is shewed before and may be further proued of the two later which Protestants denie It is also euident that King Salomon was Auctor of the three former as S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers proue by the holie text it selfe As it is likewise certaine that he either writte or at least by diuine inspiration vttered much more then is now extant For the holie Scripture 3. Reg. 4. testifieth that he spake three thousand Parables and his Songes were a thousand and fiue He disputed of the trees from the ceder that is in Libanus vnto the hyssop which cometh out of the wal and he discoursed of beastes and foules and creeping wormes and fishes Iosephus li. S. c. 2. Antiq. folowing some other Edition saith his songes were fiue thousand and parables as the ordinarie text hath three thousand For he deduced a parable saith Iosephus through out euerie kinde of trees from the hyssop to the ceder In the same maner he treated of beastes and other liuing creatures of the earth water and ayre For he was not ignorant of anie natural thing neither omitted to treate therof but clerly explicated al their natural proprieties Most briefly S. Ierom declareth both the Auctor and matter of these three bookes saying Salomon the Peaceable and amiable of our Lord correcteth maners teacheth the nature of creatures ioyneth the Church and Christ and singeth the swete bridal song of the holie Mariage THE ARGVMENT OF THE PROVERBES THE first booke called Prouerbes that is common vsual pithie sentences shorte in wordes ample in sense and Parables signifying likenes or similitudes wherby more important thinges are vnderstood then expressed instructeth and exhorteth new beginners to lerne and practise al sortes of vertues the only right way to true wisdome and eternal happines It may be diuided into foure partes In the first nine chapters the auctor interposing certaine general preceptes produceth wisdom her selfe inuiting al men to seeke her for the spiritual profite they shal therby enioy From thence to the 25. chap. he geueth sundrie more particular precepts as wel for embracing vertues as shunning of vices In the next fiue chapters more like precepts of the same auctor are added by the care of King Ezechias In the two last chapters either an other Auctor or rather the same vnder an other title commendeth to al men certaine most excellent precepts receiued of his mother wherto he adioyneth the praise of a right wise woman prophetically the Catholique Church THE BOOKE OF PROVERBES WHICH THE HERBREWES CAL MISLE CHAP. I. Parables are profitable to those that loue and wil lerne wisdom 10. Al are admonished not to folow the alurements of sinners 20. but to embrace wisdome 24. and ruine is threatned to the contemners THE Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid king of Israel †To know “ wisdom and discipline †to vnderstand the wordes of prudence and to receiue instruction of doctrine iustice and iudgement and equitie †that subtilitie may be geuen to litle ones knowlege and vnderstanding to the youngman †The wise man hearing shal be wiser and he that vnderstandeth shal possesse gouernementes †He shal vnderstand a parable and interpretation the wordes of the wise and their darke sayings †The feare of our Lord is the begynning of wisdom Fooles despise wisedom and doctrine †My sonne f heare the discipline of
intreating they had cast forth them they pursued as fugitiues †for worthie necessitie brought them to this end and they lost the remembrance of those thinges which had chanced that punishment might fulfil the thinges that wanted to the torments †and that thy people certes might passe through meruelously but they might finde a new death †For euerie creature according to his kind was fashioned agayne from the begyning seruing thy precepts that thy children might be kept without hurt †For a clowde ouer shadowed their campe and out of the water which was before there appeared drie land and in the redsea a way without impediment and of the great depth a springing filde †through the which al the nation passed which was protected with thy hand seing thy meruelous thinges and wonders †For euen as horses they fed on meate and as lambes they reioyced magnifying thee ô Lord which didst deliuer them †For they were mindful of those thinges which had bene done in their seiourning how for the nation of beasts the earth brought forth flies and for fishes the riuer yelded a multitude of frogges †And last of al they saw a new creature of birdes when allured by concupiscence they desired meates of deliciousnes †For in comfort of their desire there came vp to them the quaile from the sea and vexations came vpon the sinners not without those arguments which were made before by the force of lightninges for they suffered iustly occording to their wickednes †For they instituted a more detestable in hospitalitie some certes receiued not the vnknowen strangers and other some brought the good strangers into seruitude †And not onlie these thinges but in deede there was an other respect also of them for they against their wil receiued the strangers †But they that receiued them with gladnes did afflict them with most cruel sorowes that vsed the same rightes †but they were striken with blindnes as they in the dores of the iust when they were couered with sodaine darkenes euerie man sought the passage of his doore †For whiles the elements are turned in themselues as in an instrument the sound of the qualitie is changed and al keepe their sound wherfore it may be certainly iudged by the very sight †For the thinges of the fild were turned into thinges of the water and what soeuer were swimming thinges passed into the land †The fyre had force in water aboue his powre and the water forgot her quenching nature †On the contrarie the flames vexed not the flesh of corruptible beasts walking therewith neither did they melt that good meate which was easely dissolued euen as yce For in al thinges thou didst magnifie thy people ô Lord and didst honour them and didst not despise them at al time and in euerie place assisting them THE ARGVMENT OF ECCLESIASTICVS IN what sense this Booke is sometimes called Salomons we haue shewed in the argument before the Booke of wisdom As likewise that it is Canonical Scripture Wherto we might adde more testimonies of ancient Fathers as S. Clement of Alexandria li. 1. c. 8. Pedagogi Origen ho. 8. in Numer ho. 1. in Ezech. S. Cyprian de opere eleemos S. Athanasius in Synopsi li. de virginitate S. Basil in regul disput resp 104. S. Gregorie Nazianzen Orat. 2. aduers Iulian. S. Epiphanius haer 76. in Ancorato S. Hilarie in Psal 144. S. Ambrose de bono mortis c. 8. Ser. 22. in Psal 118. S. Chrysostom ho. 33. ad populum Antioch S. Augustin li. 2. ca. 8. Doct. Christ li. 17. c. 20. de Ciuit. S. Gregorie the great in Psal 50. and manie others expresly cite this booke as holie Scripture But chiefly we reâ—ie vpon the auctoritie of the Church defining that it is Canonical It was written by Iesus the sonne of Sirach in Hebrew about the time of Simon Iustus otherwise called Priscus and translated into Greke by the auctors Nephew as the same Translator testifieth in his Prologue but expresseth not his owne name It is called Ecclesiasticus which signifieth a Collector or Gatherer as a common title of euerie ordinarie preacher instructing and exhorting the multitude gathered to a sermon with difference from Ecclesiastes Which signifieth The Preacher as a greater title of the chief or principal Preacher of anie Church Citie or Prouince and agreeth most eminently to Christ our Sauiour Who preached and sendeth preachers to the whole world And for the excellent contents it may also rightly be called Panaretos that is a Receptacle or storehouse of al vertues for the instruction of al in general to cooperate with Gods grace in this life and so enherite eternal glorie In fourtie and three whole chapters are mixtly the commendations and precepts of al sortes of vertues sometimes in particular but more often vnder the general names of wisdom and Iustice In the other eight chapters are recited manie excellent examples of most renowmed holie men with praises and thankes to God THE PROLOGVE VPON ECCLESIASTICVS OF IESVS THE SONNE OF SIRACH THE knowlege of manie and great thinges hath bene shewed vs by the Law and the Prophetes and others that folowed them in which we ought to prayse Israel for doctrine wisdom because not onlie they in speaking must nedes be cunning but strangers also both lerning writing may become most lerned My grandfather Iesus after he gaue himselfe more amply to the diligence of reading the Law and the Prophetes and other Bookes that were deliuered vs from our fathers himself also would write some of those thinges which perteyne to doctrine and wisdom that such as are desirous to lerne and to be made counning in the same thinges may more and more be attent in minde and be confirmed to the life that is according to the law I exhort you therfore to come with beneuolence and to read with attent studie and to pardon vs for those thinges wherein we seming to folow the image of wisdom may fayle in the composition of wordes for the Hebrew wordes also fayle when they shal be translated to an other tongue And not onlie these but the Law also itself and the Prophetes and the rest of other bookes haue no smal difference when they are spoken within themselues For in the eight and thirteth yeare in the time of Prolomee Euergetes the king after I came into Aegypt and when I had bene there much time I found there bookes leaft of no smal nor contemptible doctrine Therfore myself also thought it good and necessarie to adde some diligence and labour to interprete this booke and with much watching I brought forth this doctrin in space of time that men may lerne those thinges which teach them that wil applie their minde how they ought to order their maners them that purpose to lead their life according to the Law of our Lord. ECCLESIASTICVS CHAP. I. Wisdom procedeth from God
†and shal open her mouth in the churches of the Highest and shal glorie in the sight of his power †and in the middes of her people she shal be exalted and in the holie assemblie she shal be admired †and in the multitude of the elect she shal haue praise and among the blessed she shal be blessed saying †I come forth from the mouth of the Highest the first begotten before al creatures †I made that in the heauens there should rise light that faileth not and as a cloud I couered al the earth †I dwelt in the highest places and my throne is in the pillar of a cloude †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 †and stood in al the earth and in al people †and in euerie nation I haue had the primacie †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. †Then the creatour of al commanded and said to me he that created me rested in my tabernacle †and he said to me Inhabite in Iacob and inherite in Israel and take roote in myne elect †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 †And so in Sion was I established and in the sanctified cittie likewise I rested and my power was in Ierusalem †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 †I am exalted as a cedar in Libanus and as a cypres tree in mount Sion †As a palme tree in Cades am I exalted and as a rose plant in Iericho †As a faire oliue tree in the fieldes and as a plane tree by the water in the streates am I exalted †I gaue an odout as cinnamon aromatical balme as chosen myrrhe haue I geuen the sweetenes of odour †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 †I haue spred out my boughes as the terebinth and my boughes are of honour and grace †I as a vine haue fructified sweetenes of odour and my flowers are fruite of honour and honestie †I am the mother of beautiful loue and of feare and of knowledge and of holie hope †In me is al grace of way and truth in me al hope of life and vertue †Passe to me al ye that desire me and be filled of my generations †For my spirit is sweete aboue honie and myne inheritance aboue honie and the honie combe †My memorie is vnto generations of worldes †They that eate me shal yet hunger and they that drinke me shal yet thirst †He that heareth me shal not be confounded and they that worke in me shal not sinne †They that explicate me shal haue life euerlasting †Al these thinges are the booke of life and the testament of the Highest the knowlege of truth †Moyses commanded a law in the preceptes of iustices and an inheritance to the house of Iacob and the promises to Israel †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 †Who filleth wisdom as Phison and as Tigris in the daies of new fruites †Who replenisheth vnderstanding as Euphrates who multiplieth it as Iordan in the time of haruest †Who sendeth discipline as the light and assisting as Gehon in the day of vintage †Who first hath perfect knowledge of it a weaker shal not searche it out †For her cogitation shal abound aboue the sea and her counsels aboue the greate depth †I wisdom haue powred out riuers †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 †I said I wil water my garden of plantes and wil inebriate the fruite of my medow †And hehold my sluse was made aboundant and my riuer came neere to a sea †Because I illuminated doctrine to al as the morning light I wil declare it far †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. †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 †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 †The concord of bretheren and the loue of neighboures and man and wife wel agreeing together †Three sortes my soule hateth and I am greatly greeued at their life †A poore man proud a rich man a lyer an old man a foole and doting †The thinges that thou hast not gathered in thy youth how shalt thou find them in thy old age †How beautiful is iudgement for a grey head and for ancientes to know counsel †How beautiful is wisdom for the aged vnderstanding glorious and counsel †Much cunning is the croune of old men and the feare of God is their glorie †Nine thinges not to be imagined of the hart haue I magnified and the tenth I wil tel vnto men with my tongue †A man that hath ioy in his children liuing and seeing the subuersion of his enemies †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 †Blessed is he that findeth a true freind and that declareth iustice to an eare that heareth †How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowlege but he is not aboue him that feareth our Lord. †The feare of God hath set it self aboue al thinges †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 †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 †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 †Shal not yet within a litle while and in a short time Libanus be turned into Charmel Charmel reputed for a forest †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 †And the meeke shal adde ioyfulnesse in our Lord and the poore men shal reioyce in the holie one of Israel †Because he hath fayled that did preuaile the scorner is consumed and they are al cut downe that watched vpon iniquitie †that made men sinne in word and supplanted him that reproued them in the gate and declined in vayne from the iust †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 †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 †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 †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 †And the strength of Pharao shal be a confusion to you and the confidence of the shadow of Aegypt an ignominie †For thy princes were in Tanis and thy messengers came euen to Hanes †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 †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 †For Aegypt shal helpe in vaine and to no purpose therfore haue I cried vpon this It is pride onlie cease †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 †For it is a people prouoking to wrath and lying children children that wil not heare the law of God †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. †Take from me the way turne away the path from me let the holie one of Israel cease from our face †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †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 †and thyne oxen as the asse coltes that til the ground shal eate mingled prouender as it was fanned in the floore †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 †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 †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 †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 †There shal be a song vnto
hadst walked in the way of God thou hadst verely dwelt in peace euerlasting †Learne where wisedom is where strength is where vnderstanding is that thou mayst know withal where is the long continuance of life and liuing where the light of the eyes and peace is †Who hath found the place therof and who hath entered into the treasures therof †Where are the princes of the Gentiles and they that rule ouer the beasts that are vpon the earth †that play with the birdes of the heauen †that treasure vp siluer and gold wherin men haue confidence and is there no end of their getting which fashion siluer are careful neither is there invention of their workes †They are destroyed and are gone downe to hel and others are risen vp in their place †Yong men saw the light and dwelt vpon the earth but the way of discipline they knew not †neither vnderstood they the pathes therof neither haue their children receiued it it is made farre from their face †It hath not bene heard in the Land of Chanaan neither hath it bene seene in Theman †The children of Agar also that seke out the prudence that is of the earth marchants of Merrhe and of Theman and fablers and searchers of prudence and vnderstanding but the way of wisedom they haue not knowne neither haue they remembrēd the pathes therof †O Israel how great is the house of God and how great is the place of his possession †It is great and hath no end high and vnmesurable †There were the Giants those renowned that were from the beginning of big stature expert in warre †These did not our Lord choose neither found they the way of discipline therfore did they perish †And because they had not wisedom they perished through their follie †Who hath ascended into heauen and taken her and brought her downe from the clowdes †Who hath passed ouer the sea and found her and brought her aboue chosen gold †There is none that can know her waies nor that can search out her pathes †but he that knoweth al thinges knoweth her hath found her out by his prudence he that prepared the earth in time euerlasting and replenished it with cattel and fourefooted beastes †he that sendeth forth light and it goeth and hath called it and it obeyeth him with trembling †And the starres haue geuen light in their watches and reioyced †they were called and they said here we are and they haue shined to him with cheerfulnes that made them †This is out God and there shal none other be estemed against him †He found out al the way of discipline and deliuered it to Iacob his seruant and to Israel his beloued †After these thinges he was sene vpon the earth and was conuersant with men CHAP. IIII. Gods people neglecting his grace offered to them more then to other nations 6. are seuerely punished 15. by captiuitie 18. but are reserued 22. and repenting shal be released 31. and their enimies destroyed THIS is the booke of the commandments of God and the law that is for euer al that hold it shal come to life but they that haue forsaken it into death †Returne Iacob and take hold of it walke by the way to the brightnes of it against the light therof †Deliuer not thy glorie to an other dignitie to a strange nation †We are blessed ô Israel because the thinges that please God are manifest to vs. †Be of good comfort ô people of God memorable Israel †you are sold to the Gentiles not into perdition but for that in anger you prouoked God to wrath you are deliuered to the aduersaries †For you haue exasperated him that made you the eternal God immolating to diuels and not to God †For you haue forgotten God who hath nourished you and your nource Ierusalem you haue made sorowful †For she saw the wrath comming from God to you and she sayd Heare ye confines of Sion for God hath brought me great mourning †For I haue sene the captiuitie of my people and of my sonnes and daughters which the euerlasting hath brought vpon them †For I nourished them with ioyfulnes but I haue left them with weeping and mourning †Let no man reiovce ouer me a widow and desolate I am forsaken of manie for the sinnes of my children because they haue declined from the law of God †And his iustices they haue not knowne nor walked by the wayes of Gods commandments neither haue they entered by the pathes of his truth and iustice †Let the borderers of Sion come and remember the captiuitie of my sonnes daughters which the euerlasting hath brought vpon them †For he hath brought vpon them a nation from a farre a wicked nation and of an other tongue †which haue not reuerenced the ancient nor pitied the children haue led away the beloued of the widow and made the sole woman desolate of children †But as for me what can I helpe you †For he that hath brought the euils vpon you he wil deliuer you out of the handes of your enemies †walke children walke for I am left alone †I haue put of the stole of peace and I haue put vpon me the sackcloth of prayer and I wil crie to the Highest in my dayes †Be of good comfort my children crie to our Lord and he wil deliuer you out of the hand of the princes your enemies †For I haue hoped in the euerlasting for your saluation ioy is come to me from the holie one vpon the mercie which shal come to you from our euerlasting sauiour †For I sent you forth with mourning and weeping but our Lord wil bring you backe to me with ioy and gladnes for euer †For as the neighbours of Sion haue seene your captiuitie from God so shal they see also with celeritie your saluation from God which shal come vpon you with great honour and euerlasting brightnes †Children patiently sustaine the wrath which is come vpon you for thyne enemie hath persecuted thee but thou shalt quickly see his destruction and thou shalt get vp vpon his necke †My delicate ones haue walked rough waies for they are led as a flocke taken violently of the enemies †Be of good comfort children and crie out to our Lord for there shal be remembrance of you with him that hath led you away †For as your minde hath bene to stray from God ten tymes so much shal you returning againe seeke him †For he that hath brought the euils vpon you he againe wil bring vnto you euerlasting ioy with your saluation †Be of good comfort Ierusalem for he exhorteth thee that named thee †The wicked afflicters shal perish that haue vexed thee they that haue reioyced in thy ruine shal be punished †The cities which thy children haue serued shal be punished
that had bene at Rome an hostage and he reigned in the hundreth and seuen and thirteth yeare of the kingdom of the Greekes †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. †And the talke semed good in their eyes †And some of the people determined and went to the king and he gaue them leaue to doe the iustice of the Gentils †And they built a schoole in Ierusalem according to the lawes of the Nations †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 †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 †And he entered into Aegypt with great multitude with chariots and elephants and horsemen and a copious multitude of shippes †And he made warre agaynst Ptolomee the king of Egypt and Ptolomee was afrayd at his presence and fled and manie fel wounded †And he tooke the fensed cities in the land of Aegypt and he tooke the spoiles of the land of Aegypt †And Antiochus turned after he strooke Aegypt in the hundreth and three and fourtith yeare and he went vp to Israel †and went vp to Ierusalem with a great multitude †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 pâ—eces †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 †And he made a slaughter of men and spake in great pride †And great lamentation was made in Israel and in euerie place of theirs †and the princes and the ancients mourned and the youngmen and the virgins were weakned and the beautifulnes of the wemen was changed †Euerie husband tooke lamentation and the wemen that sate in the mariage bed mourned †and the land was moued vpon the inhabitants therein al the house of Iacob did put on confusion †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 †And he spake vnto them peaceable wordes in guile and they beleued him †And he fel vpon the citie sodenly and stroke it with a great plague and destroyed much people in Israel †And he tooke the spoiles of the citie and burnt it with fyre and destroyed the houses therof and the walles therof round about †and they led the wemen captiue and the children and the cattel they possessed †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 †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 †and layd them vp there and they became a great snare †And this was made for an embushment of the sanctification and to be an il deuil in Israel †And they shed innocent bloud round about the sanctification and contaminated the sanctification †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 †Her sanctification was desolate as a wildernes her festiual dayes were turned into mourning her sabbaths into reproche her honours into naught †According to her glorie was her ignominie multiplied and her highnes was turned into mourning †And king Antiochus wrote to al his kingdom that al the people should be one and euerie one should leaue his owne law †And al Nations consented according to the word of king Antiochus †and manie of Israel consented to his seruice and they sacrificed to idols and defiled the sabbath †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 †and should prohibite holocausts and sacrifices placations to be made in the temple of God †and should prohibite the sabbath to be celebrated and the solemne dayes †And he commanded the holie places to be defiled and the holie people of Israel †And he commanded altars to be built and temples and idols and swines flesh to be immolated and common beasts †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 †And whosoeuer had not done acording to the word of king Antiochus they should dye †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 †And they commanded the cities of Iuda to sacrifice †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 †and they chased forth the people of Israel in hidden corners and in the secret places of fugitiues †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 †and before the gates of houses and in the stretes they burnt frankincense sacrificed †and the bookes of the law of God they burnt with fyre cutting them †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 †In their powre did they these thinges to the people of Israel that was found in euerie moneth and moneth in the cities †And the fiue and twentith day of the moneth they sacrificed vpon the altar that was agaynst the altar †And the wemen that circumcided their children were murdered according to the commandment of king Antiochus †and they hang vp the children by the necks through out al their houses and those that had circumcided them they murdered †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 †they would not breake the
riuer Euphrates euen to the riuer of Aegypt †and that he should bring vp Antiochus his sonne til he returned †And he deliuered to him half the armie and Elephants and he gaue him in commandment concerning al thinges that he would concerning the inhabitants of Iurie and Ierusalem †and that he should send an armie to them to destroy and roote out the powre of Israel and the remnant of Ierusalem and to take away the memorie of them out of the place †and that he should appoynt inhabitants in al their costs children strangers should by lot distribute their land †And the king tooke the part of the armie that remayned and went forth from Antioch the citie of his kingdom in the yeare an hundreth and seuen and fourtie and he passed ouer the riuer Euphrates walked through the higher countries †And Lysias chose Ptolomee the sonne of Doryminus and Nicanor and Gorgias mightie men of the kings freindes †And he sent with them fourtie thousand men and seuen thousand horsemen that they should come into the land of Iuda and should destroy it according to the word of the king †And they went forth with al their power and came and ioyned nere to Enimaum in the champaine countrie †And the merchants of the countries heard the name of them and they tooke siluer and gold exceding much and seruants and they came into the campe to take the children of Israel for slaues and there were added to them the armie of Syria and of the land of the strangers †And Iudas saw and his bretheren that the euils were multiplied and the armies approched to their borders and they knew the kings words which he commanded to doe to the people vnto destruction and consummation †and they sayd euerie one to his neighbour Let vs set vp the abasing of our people and let vs fight for our people and our holies †And an assemblie was gathered that they should be readie vnto battel and that they should pray and desire mercie and miserations †And Ierusalem was not inhabited but was as a desert there was none that came in and went out of her children and the holie place was conculcated and the children of strangers were in the castel there was the inhabitation of the Gentils and pleasure was taken away from Iacob and there failed their pipe and harpe †And they gathered together and came into Maspha against Ierusalem because the place of prayer in Israel was in Maspha before †And they fasted that day and clothed themselues with heareclothes and put ashes on their head and they rent their garments †and they layd open the bookes of the law out of which the Gentils searched the similitude of their idols †and they brought the ornaments of priests and first fruites and tithes and raysed vp Nazareits that had fulfilled their dayes †and they cried with a lowd voice to heauen saying What shal we doe with these whither shal we carie them †And thy holies are conculcated and they are contaminated and thy priests are brought into mourning and into humiliation †And behold the Nations are come together against vs to destroy vs thou knowest what thinges they intend against vs. †How shal we be able to stand before their face vnles thou ô God doe helpe vs †And with trumpets they cried out with a lowd voice †And after these thinges Iudas appointed captaynes of the people tribunes and centurions and a seargents and decurions †And he sayd to them that built houses and despoused wiues and planted vyneyards and to the fearful that euerie one should returne into his house according to the law †And they remoued the campe and pitched at the South of Emmaum †And Iudas sayd Gird vp your selues and be mightie sonnes and be readie agaynst the morning that you may fight against these nations which are assembled against vs to destroy vs and our holies †because it is better for vs to dye in battel then to see the euils of our nation and of the holies †but as it shal be the wil in heauen so be it done CHAP. IIII. Gorgias with six thousand souldiars wel appointed intending sudenly to destroy the Israelites armie of three thousand not wel armed 8. is defeated halfe of his men slaine the rest running away 16. Iudas staying his men from spoyling til the enemies were out of sight then they take rich prayes and render thankes to God 28. The next yeare Lysias with three score thousand foote and six thousand horsemen inuading Iurie Iudas with tenne thousand making his prayer to God killeth fiue thousand 35. the rest flying Lysias gathereth more souldiars 36. Iudas with his bretheren and others clense the temple and renew holie thinges 55. Offer Sacrifice 58. and institute a feast of the dedication of a new Altar AND Gorgias tooke fiue thousand chosen horsemen they remoued the campe by night †that they might approch to the campe of the Iewes and might strike them sodenly and the children that were of the castel were their guides †And Iudas heard and arose he and the mighties to strike the powre of the kings armie that were in Emmaum †For as yet the armie was dispersed from the campe †And Gorgias came into the campe of Iudas by night and found no man and he sought them in the mountaynes because he sayd These flee from vs. †And when the day was come Iudas appeared in the filde with three thousand men onlie which had not harnes and swords as they would †and they saw the campe of the Gentils strong and the men in brigantines and horsemen round about them and these were skilful to battel †And Iudas sayd to the men that were with him Feare not the multitude of them of their assault be not afrayd †Remember in what sort our fathers were saued in the redsea when Pharao with a great armie folowed them †And now let vs crie towards heauen and our Lord wil haue mercie on vs and wil be mindful of the testament of our fathers wil destroy this armie before our face this day †and al Nations shal know that there is one that redemeth and deliuereth Israel †And the aliens lifted vp their eyes and saw them coming against them †And they went out of the campe into battel and these that were with Iudas sounded with the trumpet †And they mette together and the Gentils were discomfited and fled into the playne †but al the hi◠most fel by the sword and they pursewed them as far as Gezeron and euen to the playnes of Idumea and of Azotus and of Iamnia and there fel of them euen to three thousand men †And Iudas returned and his armie folowing him †And he sayd to the people Couet not the spoiles because there is battel against vs †and Gorgias and his
holie land and from the kingdom †They burnt the gate and shed innocent bloud and we prayed to our Lord and were heard and we offered sacrifice and fine floore and lighted the lampes and serforth there breades †And now celebrate ye the dayes of Scenopegia of the moneth Cesleu †In the yeare one hundreth eightie eight the people that is at Ierusalem and in Iurie and the senate and Iudas to Aristobolus the maister of Ptolomee the king who is of the stocke of the annointed priestes and to those Iewes that are in Aegypt health and welfare †Being deliuered by God out of great dangers we geue him thankes magnifically as who haue fought against such a king †For he made them swarme out of Persis that haue fought against vs and the holie oiâ—ie †For when he was captaine in Persis with him a very great armie he fel in the temple of Nania being deceiued by the counsel of Nanâ—aâ—s priestes †For Antiochus his freindes came to the place as to dwel with her that he might receiue much money vnder the title of a dowrie †And when Naneaes priestes had layde it forth and he with a few was entered within the compasse of the temple they shut the temple †when Antiochus was entered in a secrete entrance of the temple being opened casting stones they stroke the duke and them that were with him and diuided them in peeces and cutting of their heades they threw them forth †Blessed be the God in al thinges who hath deliuered vp the impious †We therefore meaning to keepe the purification of the temple the fiue and twentith day of the moneth Casleu thought it necessary to signifie vnto you that you also may kepe the day of Scenopegia and the day of the fire that was geuen when Nehemias after the temple was built and the altar offered sacrifice †For when our fathers were caryed into Persis the priestes that then were the worshippers of God taking the fire from the altar hid it secretly in a valley where there was a pitte deepe and dry and therin they saued it so that the place was vnknowne to al men †But when manie yeares had passed and iâ— pleased God that Nehemias should be sent of the king of Persis he sent the nephewes of those priestes that had hid it to seeke our the fire and as they told vs they found not fire but thicâ—ke water †And he bad them draw bring vnto him and the sacrifices that were layd on the priest Nehemias commanded to be sprinckled with the same water and the wood and the thinges that were layde therupon †And as this was done the time was come that the sunne shone forth which before was in a cloude there was kindled a great fire so that al merueiled †And al the priestes made prayer whiles the sacrifice was consuming Ionathas beginning and the rest answering †And the prayer of Nehemias was in this maner O LORD God creatour of al dreadful and strong iust and mereiful which only art the good king †only giuer only iust and omnipotent and eternal which deliuerest Israel from al euil which madest the fathers elect and didst sanctifie them †Receiue the sacrifice for al thy people Israel and kepe thy part and sanctisie it †Gather together our dispersion deliuer them that serue the Gentils and regard the contemned abhorred that the Gentils may know that thou art our God †Afflict them that oppresse vs and that doe contumelie in pride †Place thy people in thy holie place as Moyses sayd †And the priestes sang hymnes til the sacrifice was consumed †And when the sacrifice was consumed of the rest of the water Nehemias coÌ„manded the greater stones to be throughly washed †Which thing as it was done out of them was kindled a flame but by light also that shined from the altar it was consumed †And as the thing was made manifest it was told the king of the Persians that in the place wherin those priestes that were transported had hid fire there appeared water with the which Nehemias and they that were with him purified the sacrifices †And the king considering and diligently examining the matter made a temple for it that he might approue that which was done †And when he had approued it he gaue to the priestes manie good thinges and diuerse giftes and taking them with his owne hand he gaue to them †And Nehemias called this place Nephthar which is interpreted purification But it is called with manie Nephi CHAP. II. Holie fire and the booke of the law were conserued by Ieremie the prophet in the transmigration into Babylon 4. Likewise the Tabernacle of Moyses the Arke and Altar of incense in a secrete place 8. As Moyses had dedicated the Tabernacle and Salomon the Temple 14. so Iudas Machabeus â—lensing the Temple and making a new Altar instituted a feast of the Dedication therof 20. The Preface of the Auctor abridging the historie of the Machabees written by Iason in fiue bookes AND it is found in the descriptions of Ieremie the prophet that he commanded them that went in transmigration to take the fire as it was signified as he commanded them that were caried away in transmigration †And he gaue them a law that they should not forget the precepts of our Lord and that they should not erre in their mindes seing the idols of gold and siluer and the ornaments of them †And saying other like thinges he exhorted them that they would not remoue the law from their hart †And it was in the same writing how the propher commanded by the diuine answer made to him that the tabernacle the arke should folow in company with him til he came forth into the mount in which Moyses ascended and saw the inheritance of God †And Ieremie coming thither found a place of a caue he brought the tabernacle and the arke and the altar of incense in thither and stopped the doore †And there came certaine withal that folowed to marke the place for themselues and they could not finde it †And as Ieremie vnderstood it blaming them he sayd that the place shal be vnknowne til God gather together the congregation of the people and become propicious †and then our Lord wil shew these thinges and the maiestie of our Lord shal appeare there shal be a cloude as it was also madâ—manifest to Moyses and as when Salomon prayed that the place might be sanctified to the great God he did manifest these thinges †For he handled wisedom magnifically as hauing wisedome did he offer the sacrifice of the dedication and of the consummation of the temple †As Moyses also prayed to our Lord and as Salomon prayed and fire came downe from heauen and consumed the holocaust †And Moyses sayd Because that which was for sinne was
wombe Ch. 33. v. 14. Behold the dayes wil come sayth our Lord and I wil rayse vp the good word v. 15. I wil make the spring of iustice to bud forth vnto Dauid he shal do iudgement and iustice in the earth Ieremies Lamentations are in greatest part of Christ and his Church And some part can hardly be applied to anie other ch 3. v. 30. He shal geue the cheke to him that striketh him he shal be filled with reproches ch 4. v. 20. Christ our Lord is taken in our sinnes Baruch 2. v. 35. God promising to reduce the people from Babylon addeth And I wil establish vnto them an other testament euerlasting by Christ whose kingdom is for euer that I be their God and they shal be my people Ch. 3. v. 36. This is our God and there shal none other be esteemed against him v. 38. After these thinges he was sene vpon the earth and was conueâ—sant with men Ezechiel peculiarly called by an Angel the sonne of man was therin a special figure of our Sauiour who so calleth him self And the same prophet hath in plaine termes foreshewed the office of Christ the true Pastor of al pastors eh 34. v. 25. I wil sayth God by this prophet rayse vp ouer them one Pastor who shal feede them my seruant Dauid that is Christ prefigured by Dauid His admirable visions in the three first chapters and nine last perteyne properly and principally to the new Testament of Christ and his Church shewing the abundance of grace and glorie geuen by him to the elect Daniel 7. v. 13. With the cloudes of heauen there came in as it were the Sonne of man and he came euen to the ancient of dayes and in his sight they offered him He came euen to the ancient of dayes because in his Diuinitie he is equal to the Father and in his humanitie he is offered to God in Sacrifice v. 14 His powre is eternal and his kingdom shal not be corrupted ch 9. v. 24. Seuentie wekes of yeares are abridged that sinnes may be forgeuen grace be infused prophecies be fulfilled and the Holie one of holies be annointed Al which belong only to Christ. v. 26. After sixtie two wekes Christ shal be slaine Aggeus 2. v. 8. The desired of al nations shal come Zach. 3. v. 8. I wil bring my seruant the Orient ch 13. v. 7. Strike the Pastour and the shepe shal be dispersed fulfilled in Christs Passion Mat. 26. v. 21. Malaâ—h 3. v. 2. Forthwith shal come to his temple the Dominator whom you seke the Angel of the testament whom ye desire The booke of wisdom ch 2. v. 12. describeth the malice of the wicked against Christ Let vs say they circumuent the iust because he is vnprofitable to vs and he is contrarie to our workes and reprochfully obiecteth to vs the sinnes of the law v. 13. He boasteth that he hath the knowlege of God and nameth him self the Sonne of God Ecclesiasticus 24. v. 34. God appointed to Dauid his seruant to raise vp a king of him most strong and sitting in the throne of honour for euer Which eternal king proceeding from Dauid can be none but Christ our Sauiour And al the praises of Paâ—riarches and Prophetes in the last eight chapters consist in their fayth and expectation of Christ Likewise the Priestes and people 1. Mach. 14. v. 28. 35. and 49. shewed their fayth of Christ to come when they established Simon and his progenie in the gouernment and highpriesthood for euer til there rise the faithful Prophet to witte the Prophet of whom al the prophetes did speake Luc. 24 v. 27. Amongst the rest Ieremie ch 31. v. 23. and Ezechiel ch 44. v. 2. make also especial mention of some singular priuileges of the most excellent virgin Mother of God Of whom also Iudith and Esther were apparent figures who receiued special graces for the benefite of their nation and so did this singular Virgin receiue of God most eminent giftes aboue al other mere creatures for the benefite of the whole Church Of Angels the celestial spirites is frequent mention in the holie Scriptures of this age Their multitude is innumerable and therfore are insinuated to men by general termes Daniel 7. v. 10. Thousandes of thousandes ministered to him and tenne thousand hundred thousandes assisted him And their powre is most great and to men most profitable An Angel defended the three children in the fornace walking with them in the fire Daniel 3. v. 49 95. Another defended Daniel from the lions ch 6. v. 22. The same or an other caried Habacuc from Iurie into Babylon Dan. 14. v. 35. and restored him in his place againe v. 38. The Archangel Gabriel instructed Daniel ch 8. v. 16. 17. ch 9. v. 21. And ch 10. v. 13. 20. Other Angels the Patrones or Guardians of the Persians and Grecians prayed for those countries and S. Michael v. 21. for the Iewes An Angle spake in Zacharie ch 1. v. 9. An other Angel went to mete him ch 2. v. 3. And in respect of Angelical offices both S. Iohn Baptist and our Sauiour himself are figuratiuely called Angeles Malach. 3. v. 1 No meruel therfore that Iudas Machabeus and his armie 2. Machab. 11. v 6. prayed for the assistance of a good Angel which was granted them v. 8. And so they went promptly hauing an helper from heauen v. 10. Their like prayer had the same effect in an other battel 2. Machab. 15 v. 27. Contrarie to these glorious Angeles are other spirites at first created in grace which falling into pride and most obstinate malice are perpetual enimies to God their Creator and to al mankind continually calumniating the workes of God and of al his seruantes wherof they are called Diuels or calumniators They neuer cease tempting al they can to euil so to bring men to eternal death For by the enuie of the diuel Sap. 2. v. 7. death both of soule bodie came into this world The iust stipend of sinne Al sinnes offend God and please the diuels But more particularly they desire to be honored as God with Sacrifice Which therfore they require to themselues and their idols And for this sinne of Idolatrie aboue al others God is most prouoked to wrath for the same most especially punished his people as the Prophet Baruch chap. 4. v. 6. signifieth to the people saying You are sold to the Gentils c. You are deliuered to their aduersaries and geuing the reason why he addeth v. 7. For you haue exasperated him that made you the eternal God immolating to diuels And not to God The same al the Prophetes teach and withal that Sacrifice is the souereigne seruice due to God only and not to any creature how excellent soeuer But of Sacrifice there is so much written that it were ouer long and nedeles to recite the places It importeth more
to obserue the predictions of the most excellent and perfect Sacrifice of the new Testament Malachie 1. v. 11. From the rising of the sunne sayth God by this Prophet euen to the going downe there is sacrificing and there is offered in my name a cleane oblation In the old testament they offered cattel birdes by powring out their bloud about the altar and drawing forth their bowels For purging and clensing wherof there was much washing and labour but now in the Church of Christ is the cleane Sacrifice of our Lords bodie and bloud in formes of bread and wine It is also in itself so pure that it can not be polluted as the old sacricrifices were v. 12. by vnworthie Priestes but is alwayes auaylable to some or other ex opere operato According to that the same Prophet testifieth ch 3. v. 4. The Sacrifice of Iuda and Ierusalem shal please our Lord. which is necessarily vnderstood of the Christian sacrifice for els this place were contrarie to that which God sayd to the Iewish priestes ch 1. v. 10. I haue no wil in you and I wil not receiue gift at your hand Daniel also prophecieth ch 9â— v. 27. that in the half of the weke the hoste and the sacrifice shal fayle Ch. 12. v. 11. The continual sacrifice shal be taken away therby signifying that not only after the figure the Sacrifice prefigured should succede for els there should be no daylie Sacrifice at al in the new Testament which Malachie sâ—yth plainly there shal be not in one or in fewe places but from the rising of the sunne euen to the going downe c. but also that both the old and new sacrifices should be taken away in their seueral times For so our Sauiour Mat. 24. v. 15. applieth the next wordes of this prophecie and abomination of desolation shal be set vp not only as a signe before the destruction of Ierusalem but also of the end of the world Verified in part as in the figure when the temple was destroyed diuers prophanations made in the same place but more especially shal be fulfilled by Antichrist abolishing the holie Sacrifice of Christs bodie and bloud so much as he shal be suffered as S. Hyppolitus writeth lib. de Antichristo in oratione de consummatione mundi Agreable to S. Ireneus li. 4. c. 32. li. 5. in â—ine S. Ierom. in Dan. 12. Theodoretus in eundâ—m locum and S. Chrisostom in opere imperfecto Yea some Hebrew Rabbins acknowlege Transsubstantion in the Eucharist as R. Dauid Kimhi witnesseth vpon these wordes of Osee 1â— v. 8. They shal liue with wheate and shal spring as a vine Manie of our Doctores sayth he expound this that there shal be mutation of nature in wheate in the times of our Redemer Christ This Rabbi Dauid also and the Chaldee Paraphrasis expound Ezechiels prophecie ch 36. v. 25. I wil powre out vpon you cleane water of the remission of sinne though they signifie not by what particular meanes Which Christian Doctors vndoubtedly explicate of the Sacrament of Baptisme And like wise his other prophecie ch 47. v. 1. waters issued forth vnder the threshold of the house towards the East can not be vnderstood of anie other waters then of Baptisme The purifications oblations and other workes of penance practised by the people after their returne from captiuitie written 2. Esd 9. 10. 13. testifie their obseruation of the law in this point by which the Sacrament of penance in the new testament was prefigured In like sorte the continuance of Priesthood and priestlie functions is manifest in the bookes of Esdras and of other Prophetes which prefigured the Sacrament of holie Orders in the Church of Christ In these times also the feastes instituted by the law were obserued with more or lesse solemnitie as time place and other opportunities serued As Esdras testifieth li. 1. c. 3. v. 2. Iosue the highpriest and Zorobabel the duke after their returne from captiuitie built an altar notwithstanding the threates of infidels and offered vpon it holocaust to our Lord morning and euening And they made the solemnitie of tabernacles and other feastes as wel in the Calendes as in al the solemnities of our Lord though the temple was not yet built againe v. 6. And afterwards upon new occasion Iudas Machabeus 1. Mach. 4. 2. Mach. 10. instituted a new feast which our sauiour obserued Ioan. 10. v. 12. The like obseruation was kept of fastes For amongst the feastes which were al duly performed 1. Esd 3. v. 5. one was of Expiation which consisted in fasting from euen to euen Leuit. 23. Num. 29. And besides the ordinarie Esdras appointed a peculiar fast for special purposes 1. Esd 8. v. 21. And I proclamed sayth he a fast beside the riuer Ahaua that we might be afflicted before the Lord our God and might desire of him a right way for vs and our children And v. 23. we fasted and besought our God hereby and it fel our prosperously vnto vs. Againe 2. Esd 9. v. 1. The children of Israel came together in fasting and sackclothes and earth vpon them see more of fasting Iudith 4. 9. Esther 5. 14. Zachar. 8. And of abstinence from certayne meates according to the laâ— Daniel â— 9. Iudith 10. 12.2 Mach. 6. 7. More generally the whole forme of good life is excellently prescribed in the bookes of wisdom and Ecclesiasticus Where vnder the general vertues of wisdom and Iustice al are admonished to seeke diligently to know God and to serue him As much as to say to haue fayth and good workes the two feete and legges on which the godlie walke vnto life euerlasting Let one shorte sentence here serue for example wishing al men to reade more in the bookes themselues Sap. 6. v. 18. 19. 20. is this gradation The beginning of wisdom is the true desire of discipline the care of discipline is loue loue is the keeping of her lawes and the keping of the lawes is the consummation of incorruption incorruption maketh to be next to God These are the steppes from earth to heauen from this vale of miseries to eternal happines first A true and sincere desire of discipline or of Gods true seruice 2. This desire or care of discipline bredeth loue of God 3. loue is the keping of lawes the commandments of God for he that sayth he â—oueth God and kepeth not his commandments is a liar 4. keping the lawes is the consummation of incorruption making the soule perfect in vertues and free from corruption of sinnes 5. and this incorruption maketh to be next to God ioyning man with God which is the perfect beatitude of eternal life And so he concludeth v. 22. Therfore from first to last by degrees desire of wisdom leadeth to the euerlasting kingdom Yet must we vnderstand that neither the first steppe of good
celebrated the Phase and the festiual day of Azymes for seuen dayes †and there was not celebrated such a Phase in Israel from the times of Samuel the prophet †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 †In the eightenth yeare Iosias reigning was the Phase celebrated †And the workes of Iosias were directed in the sight of his Lord in a hart ful of feare †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 †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 †And the king of Aegypt sent to Iosias saying What is there betwen me thee king of Iuda †I was not sent of the Lord to fight against thee for my battel is vpon Euphrates goe downe in hast †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 †but he made battel against him in the field of Mageddo And princes went downe to king Iosias †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 †And he went vp into his second chariote comming to Ierusalem dyed and was buried in his fathers se pulchre †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 †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 †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 †And he reigned ouer Israel three monethes And the king of Aegypt remoued him that he should not reigne in Ierusalem †and he put a taxe vpon the nation of siluer an hundred talentes and of gold one talent †And the king of Aegypt made Ioacim his brother king of Iuda and Ierusalem †and he bound the magistrates of Ioacim and Zaracel his brother and taking them brought them backe into Aegypt †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. †And after this man came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and binding him with a bande of brasse brought him into Babylon †And Nabuchodonosor tooke the sacred vessels of our Lord and carried away and consecrated them in his temple in Babylon †For his vncleanes and lacke of religion is written in the booke of the times of the kinges †And Ioachin his sonne reigned for him And when he was made king he was eightene yeares old †And reigned three monethes and ten dayes in Ierusalem and did euil in the sight of our Lord †and after a yeare Nabuchodonosor sending transported him into Babylon together with the sacred vessels of our Lord. †And he made Sedecias king of Iuda and Ierusalem when he was one and twentie yeares old and he reigned eleuen yeares †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 †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 †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 †And the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to reclame them for that he would spare them and his tabernacle †But they scorned at his messengers and in the day that our Lord spake to them they were mocking his prophetes †Who was moued euen vnto wrath vpon his nation for their impietie and commanded the kinges of the Chaldees to come vp †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 †but al were deliuered into their handes taking al the sacred vessels of our Lord and the kinges treasures they caried them into Babylon †and burnt the house of our Lord and threwe downe the walles of Ierusalem and the towres therof they burnt with fire †and consumed al their honorable thinges and brought them to naught and those that were left of the sword they led into Babylon †And they were his seruants vntil the Persians reigned in the fulfilling of the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie †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 †our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians and he proclaymed in al his kingdomes and that by writing †saying Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians The Lord of Israel the high Lord hath made me king ouer the whole earth †and hath signified to me to build him a house in Ierusalem which is in Iurie †If there be any of your kinred his Lord goe vp with him into Ierusalem †Whosoeuer therefore dwel about the places let them helpe them that are in the same place in gold and siluer †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 †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 †did helpe them with al their gold and siluer and beastes and
hand †and on the left Faldeus Misael Malachias Ambusthas Sabus Nabadias and Zacharias †And Esdras tooke the booke before al the multitude for he was chiefe in glorie in the sight of al. †And when he had ended the law they stood al vpright and Esdras blessed our Lord the most high God the God of Sabaoth omnipotent †And al the people answered Amen And lifting vp their handes falling on the ground they adored our Lord. †Iesus and Banaeus and Sarebias and Iaddimus and Accubus and Sabbathaeus and Calithes Azarias and Ioradus and Ananias and Philias Leuites †who taught the law of our Lord and read the same in the multitude euerie one preferred them that vnderstood the lesson †And Atharathes sayd to Esdras the high priest and the reader and to the Leuites that taught the multitude †saying This day is sanctified to our Lord. And they al wept when they had heard the law †And Esdras sayd departing therfore eate ye al the fattest thinges drinke al most swete things and send giftes to them that haue not †For this is the holy day of our Lord be not sad For our Lord wil glorifie you †And the Leuites denounced openly to al saying This day is holie be not sad †And they went al to eate and drinke and make merie and to geue giftes to them that had not that they might make merie for they were excedingly exalted with the wordes that they were taught †And they were al gathered in Ierusalem to celebrate the ioy according to the testament of our Lord the God of Israel THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ESDRAS CHAP. I. Esdras is sent to expostulate with the vngratful Iewes for neglecting Gods manie great benefites THE second booke of Esdras the prophet the sonne of Sarei the sonne of Azarei the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Sadanias the sonne of Sadoch the sonne of Achitob †the sonne of Achias the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Heli the sonne of Amerias the sonne of Asiel the sonne of Marimoth the sonne of Arna the sonne of Ozias the sonne of Borith the sonne of Abisei the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar †the sonne of Aaron of the tribe of Leui who was captiue in the countrie of the Medes in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of the Persians †And the word of our Lord came to me saying †Goe and tel my people their wicked deedes and their children the iniquities that they haue done against me that they may tel their childrens children †because the sinnes of their parentes are increased in them for they being forgetful of me haue sacrified to strange goddes †Did not I bring them out of the land of Aegypt from the house of bondange But they haue prouoked me haue despised my counsels †But doe thou shake of the heare of thy head and throw al euils vpon them because they haue not obeyed my law And it is a people without discipline †How long shal I beare with them on whom I haue bestowed so great benefittes †I haue ouerthrowen manie kinges from them I haue stroke Pharao with his seruantes and al his hoste †Al nations did I destroy before their face in the East I dissipated the peoples of two prouinces Tyre and Sidon and I slew al their aduersaries †But speake thou to them saying Thus sayth our Lord †I made you passe through the sea and gaue you fensed streates from the beginning I gaue you Moyses for your gouernour and Aaron for the Priest †I gaue you light by the piller of fire did manie meruelous things among you but you haue forgotten me sayth our Lord. †Thus sayth our Lord omnipotent The quayle was a signe to you I gaue you a campe for defense and there you murmured †And you triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies but yet vntil now you haue murmured †Where are the benefites that I haue geuen you Did you not crie out to me when you were hungrie in the desert †saying Why hast thou brought vs into this desert to kil vs it had bene better for vs to serue the Aegyptians then to dye in this desert †I was sorie for your mournings gaue you manna to eate You did eate bread of Angels †When you thirsted did not I cleaue the rocke waters flowed in abundance for the heates I couered you with the leaues of trees †I deliuered vnto you fatte landes The Chananeites and Pherezeites and Philistheans I threw out from your face what shal I yet doe to you sayth our Lord †Thus sayth our Lord omnipotent In the desert when you were thirstie in the riuer of the Amorrheites and blaspheming my name †I gaue you not fire for blasphemies but casting wood into the water I made the riuer swete †What shal I doe to thee Iacob Thou wouldest not obey ô Iuda I wil transferre my self to other nations and wil geue them my name that they may keepe my ordinances †Because you haue forsaken me I also forsake you when you aske mercie of me I wil not haue mercie †When you shal inuocate me I wil not heare you For you haue defiled your handes with bloud and your fete are quicke to commit murders †Not as though you haue forsaken me but yourselues sayth our Lord. †Thus saith our Lord omnipotent haue not I desired you as a father his sonnes and a mother her daughters and as a nurce her litle ones †that you would be my people and I your God and to me for children and I to you for a father †So haue I gathered you as the henne her chickenes vnder her winges But now what shal I doe to you I wil throw you from my face †When you shal bring me oblation I wil turne away my face from you For I haue refused your festiual dayes new moones and circumcisions †I sent my seruantes the prophetes to you whom being taken you slew and mangled their bodies whose bloud I wil require sayth our Lord. †Thus sayth our Lord omnipotent your house is made desolate I wil throw you away as the winde doth stubble †and your children shal not haue issue because they haue neglected my commandment and haue done that which is euil before me †I wil deliuer your houses to a people comming who not hearing me do beleue to whom I haue not shewed signes they wil do the thinges that I haue commanded †The prophetes they haue not sene and they wil be mindful of their iniquities †I cal to witnes the grace of the people comming whose litle ones reioyce with ioy not seing me with their carnal eyes but in spirit beleuing the thinges that I haue sayd †And now brother behold what glorie and see people comming from the cast †to whom I wil geue the conduction of Abraham
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. Amrā 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 mūdi 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 rebellīg 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 ◠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 accoūted 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
deeds a. 429. 969. 100. ofâ—â—n commended in the sapiential bookes b 288. 296. 297. 300. 302. also 784. Alphabet â—n Hebrewe is mystical and very hard b. 215. 650. Altares erected for sacrifice a. 47. 51. 94. 101. 227. 685. 720. 947. b. 905. Amâ—n 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. 3â—8 Angels offer mens prayers to God a. 214 1006. resist the diuel a. 13. and wicked men a. 369. b. 9â—3 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. 8â—3 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 coÌ„minatorie 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. 10â—0 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
a. 28. by the tabernacle a 259. by the Israelites in the desert a. 465. 467. by the coming of the Quene of Saba to Salomon a. 718. by Iudith Esther many other persons and thinges a. 1051 b. 872. It is the proper inheritance of Christ b. 16. 166. 281. 870. 873. 882. The Church is perpetual and visible from the beginning of the world a. 19. 35. 48. 203. 649. 714. 937. b. 17. 88. 119. 125. 163. 337. 455. 497. 528. 539. 555. 556. 601. 604. 607. 608. 687. 692. 704. 709. 768. 775. 801 839. 868. 884. 997. See the Historical table b. 1073. c. The Church of Christ is vniuersal consisting of al nations a 65. 206. 317. 576. 716. 728. b 42. 50. 90. 121. 161. 211. 537. in manie other places of Isai other prophetes It is more conspicuous and more glorious then the Church of the old testament a 205. 943. b 336. 432. 485. 999. It cannot erre a. 74. 434. 715. 803. 943. b. 163. 335. 340. 456. 515. 536. 573. 1001. It is the onlie fold of Christs shepe b. 744. Out of the Church is no saluation a. 28. b. 536. 698. 882. Circumcision instituted a 65. 198. renewed a. 477. Circumstances doe aggrauate sinnes b. 717. 815. Cleane and vncleane a ceremonial distinction before Moyses law a. 26. more distinguished by the law a. 281. 283. c. Clergie men must be orderly called to their function a. 274. c. b. 588. and for their vertues b 546. They ought not to serue for temporal reward a 502. v. 7. b 36. 737. 885. They ought aboue others to haue compassion on the poore b. 8â—5 Their office is to water the whole world with true doctrine a. 709. Commandments of God are possible to be kept a 458. 604. b 15. and in manie Psalmes especially the 118. and in al the Sapiential bookes and Prophetes See Grace Communion of Protestantes is no Sacrament neither hath any miracle in it a 210. See Eucharist Communities and al common wealthes require vnity obseruation of lawes and eminent vertue of the superiors b 951. Concubines in the old Testament were lawful wiues a 62. 534. 557. 664. Concupiscence without consent is not sinne a 12. Confession of sinnes a 32. 333. b 400. Confidence in God most necessarie a 106. 605. b 20. 53. and in manie Psalmes item 478. 491. 493. 858. 900. Conscience guiltie of wickednes tormenteth the sinner a. 1046. Consideration directeth good workes b 319. 420. Constancie in good shal reape reward b 381. In freindshipe is most necessarie b 386. Consuls in Rome gouerned by entercours of dayes b 918. Contempt of admonition aggrauateth sinne b 807. Contrition a part of penance a 32. 722. b 21. 32. 101. 735. 827. Conuersation requireth honest discrete and profitable speach b 403. Couenant betwen God and man a 214. 449. 515. Couenant with men must also be kept b 814. Crosse of Christ prefigured a 47. 145. 146. 195. 211. 279. 364. b 546. 687. 996. Crueltie not mercie to spare an obstinate or impenitent sinner b 390. Curses for enormious sinnes a 450. 452. He that maliciously curseth is cursed of God b 345. Custome in sinne is hardly cured b 17. 101. 577. 822. 836. D. Daies dedicated to Gods seruice a 7. see Fastes and Feastes Damnation after this life is extreme miserie b 349. and remediles ibid. Daniels whole booke is Canonical b 769 Daniel with other three children of the royal bloud of Iuda were caried into Babylon b 772. 997. He discouered the false accusation of SusaÌ„na at the age of twelue yeares b 803. And continued to prophecie to his old age b 806. He was of singular wisdome b 725. He was also most holie b 697. 772. He and the other three were aduanced b 776. 998. He was zelous and with al diserete in Gods seruice b 789. was defended by an Angel from the lions b 790. Prophecied of foure Monarchies b 791. He was called the Man of desires b 796. He had the vision of Christs comming within seuentie weekes of yeares b 796. Darknes other priuations are to the beautie and profite of the vniuersal state of creatures b 780. Dauid the youngest sonne of Iesse was called from keeping shepe and annointed to be king a 604. b 148. By playing on his harpe king saul was refreshed a 604. He killed Goliath a 608. He was singularly protected by God a 610. 612. b 38. 54. c. He had amitie with Ionathas a 609. 611. 613. He would not drinke the water that was procured with danger a 683. His zele deuotion great a 648. 848. 855. 865. b 55. 115. 441. He danced before the Arke a 647. He wisely feaned him self to be mad a 617. b 69. Spared Sauls life a 621. 627. He was the second time annointed king a 639. the third time a 645. He sometimes sinned a 654. 684. 853. Manie of his issue slaine a 656. His posteritie conserued til Christ a 740. 849. 904. b 244. 408. 440. 442. 462. 464. 579. 880. 1004. He was in manie respectes a figure of Christ a 606. c. b 18. 19. 59. He made al the Psalmes b 3. 4. 19. 34. Of him is vvritten al the second booke of kinges part of the first and third from the eleuenth chapter to the end of the first of Paralipomenon Debora a prophetesse and figure of the Church a 523. Deceipt sometimes lawful a 92. 483. Dedication of thinges to God a 787. 850. 862. 969. See Altar Temple c. Delta the Greke letter representeth the forme of the musical instrument called the Psalter b 14. Detraction is as bad in the hearer as speaker b 415. Diueles were created in grace b 431. They require sacrifice a 371. b 992. They tempt men euen to the end of this life a 10. b 992. They delude their seruantes a 554. Doctrine doth fructifie in the wel disposed a 461. It is bread of the minde b 419. Dreames of diuets kindes and often from God a 116. 124 301. 530. 1052. b 422. 773. 985. Drunkennes detestable b 303. dangerous deceiptful beastlie hurtful to others sensles vnfatiable b 304. E Ecclesiastes signifieth eminently The Preacher b 373. Ecclesiasticus signifieth a Preacher ib. The booke of Ecclesiasticus is Canonical Scripture a 989. b 343. 372. 398 It is a storehouse of al vertues b 373. Ecclesiastical auctoritie a 332. 433. See Supreme head of the Church Eleazar a valiant souldiar offered himself to present death b 913. Elias had a distinct habite and rule of life a 761. His zele in religion a 747. 761. His miracles a 939. He is yet huing a 19. 33. 762. b 444. His letters to king Ioram after his translation a 903. 935. He shal returne preach before the day of Iudgement b 888. 996. Eliu an arrogant disputer a 1096. preferred his priuate spirite aboue al others a 1097. peruerted the state of the controuersie a 1099. 1100. 1113. Elizeus had the two spirites of prophecie and of working miracles as
promised land S. Hierom. de Mans 42. to 3. :: They were retained in the ayre til the earth broken vnder them was closed againe :: Amram maried his aunt which sheweth that the second degree in consanguinitie is not forbid by the law of nature though it was after prohibited by a positiue law Leuit 18. :: For the general murmuring wherof al the people were guiltie cha 14. â— 29. :: Temporal Princes are also pastors or shepheards of the people but this made not Iosue supreme in spiritual causes For it is clere in the next lines that he had but part of Moyses his glorie or office and that was to be temporal prince Eleazar being chief in causes spiritual before vvhom and the multitude he was ordained Duke but Eleazar consulted God for him and directed his principal actions called here his going out and going in :: Varietie of Sacrifices for diuers times :: Euerie day twise 1. 2. :: On the Sabbath day 3. :: The Neomenia or new moone :: Pasch or Phase 4. 5. :: Pentecost 6. :: Feast of Trumpets 7. :: Feast of Expiation :: For remissioÌ„ of sinnes the penitents did cooperate by penal workes of fasting and abstinence from euen vntil euen Leuit. 23. 〈◊〉 â—2 S. Aug. q. 57. in Num. Theod. q. 32. in Leuit. :: Feast of Tabernacles 8. 9. :: Feast of Assemblie and Collection :: He that voweth abstinence from a thing lawful maketh it vnlawful to him selfe by his vow S. Aug. q. 56. in Num. :: In this case God wil not impute it to her for a siÌ„ne S. Aug. q. 58. :: By afflicting of the souleâ— here vnderstood restraining sensual delectation S. Aug. q. 57. in Num. :: The husbaÌ„d reuoking his consent once geuen by word or by silence to his wiues vow sinned but the wife was bound to obey him and so was excused Vowes of things not commanded S. Aug q. 57. in Num. :: VVith whoÌ„ he sinned with them he was also iustly punished :: These wemen bringing imagies of Beelphogot caused the Israelites to offer sacrifice to him before they should committe fornication with them :: In more detestation of the parents sinne God coÌ„manded to kil these children so they were preuented from committing the like crimes But ordinarily wemen children ought not to be slaine after the victorie Deut. 20. v. 14. :: A right figure of those that would possesse heauen without labour or danger But none shal be crovvned vnles he striue lavvfully 2. Tim. 2. :: These remonings and camping places signifie by what degrees christians leauing sinnes and folowing Christ our guide may come to perfect pietie S. Hierom. de mans 42. ad Fahiol :: Danger to those that destroy not infidelitie and al enormious sinnes which dwelt in their soules before their conuersion Two handes which worke saluation :: Otherwise called the dead sea where Sodom and Gomort had stood :: A mountaine so called of the multitude of scorpions which were in it :: Mediterraneal sea called great in respect of the lakes in the holie Land :: Mount of Libanus :: Yet not before sentencâ— of death â— 12. 24. S. Aug. q. 65. in Num. :: Mystically this signified that the way to true life was not open before Christs death Theodor. q. 51. in Num. S. Grig ho. 6. in Ezechielem :: Al were not bound by this law to marie but al that would marrie must contract within their owne tribe Restrant in Mariages also for a temporal cause â—â—◠◠◠〈◊〉 Tradition Christ a King and a Priest This booke is a repetition explication and suplement of the Law S. Aug. q. 49. in Deuteroâ— It presigured the Gospel et princ Leutero Mans vlt. Conteineth fiue partes Chap. 1. 4. 12. 27. 31. 34. The first part A repetition of Gods benefites the peoples ingratitude and punishment :: God so helpeth his seruantes that they also must cooperate S. Aug. q. 1. in Deut. :: Difference of sinnes :: God is also angrie with his good seruantes and punisheth theÌ„ temporally for smal sinnes S. Aug. q. 1. in Iosue :: These were men of very great stature but not equal to the giantes before the sâ—ould :: By this we are instructed to fight agaâ—st inâ—ideles but not without special cause against christians signified by the childreÌ„ of Lot and Esau :: The I dumeans once denied them passage Num. 20. v. 20. but afterwards granted therto :: God permitted him for his former sinnes to indurate him selfe See Exod. 7. v. 3. :: Longer sorte of cubites are a foote and 9 inches so this bed was 15. foote and nine inches long and 7. foote brode Vitruuius Agricola :: Esdras adding these wordes and often times the like did not against the law because such additions are agreable and not contrarie to that which was written before :: See Num. 〈◊〉 â— 12. The second part A repetition explication of the law :: To kepe Gods coÌ„mandments is counted by al nations the most excellent wisdome :: Here and in other places it is manifest that the commandments called the Decalogue are iust tenne :: Venial and least sinnes passe not with out temporal punishment :: This was also a Mysterie that the old law signified by Moyses could not bring to heauen the true land of promise but the law of Christ signified by Iosue Theodoret q. 43. in Deut. :: Conuersion of the Iewes in the end of the world As other Scriptures are included in the law so also TraditioÌ„s are conteined in the Scriptures Brentius KeÌ„nisius Caluin The Church commended by Scriptures approueth Traditions :: It is not ynough to beleue only or to know the commandments but necessarie also to fulfil them in â—vorâ—e :: The title of mediator lawfully ascribed to Gods lieuâ—enant in â—â—rth :: Coueting as other mans wife and coueting his goodes differ as much as the exterior actes of adultry and of theft And so these two commandments are as distinct as the former two Images of Idols forbid but not of other things :: Some adoration agreeth to creatures but seruice of Latria to God onlie S. Aug. q 61. in Gen. Not withstanding this commination God ofrentimes differreth punishment expecting the sinners repentance :: Gods promises coÌ„ditional if his people serue him :: God is able to make foode of what he plesse or to sustaine men without â—â—cate :: A serpent lesse then a scorpion making those whom he byteth to die of thirst Solâ—â—us in polyhist cap. de Africa :: Holie Scripture vseth the figure Hyperbola folowing the vulgar maner of speakiÌ„g as wel to helpe the vnderstanding as to moue affectioÌ„ in great and extraordinarie things :: The similitude of a calfe and called it their god Exed 32. :: This Mosera where Aaron died is more commonly called Hor. Num. 20. 33. :: VVhen iust cause requireth an oath it must be made in the name of God not of false goddes :: Raine after seeding and before haruest signifieth Gods grace first stirring
1. Paâ— 25 :: By their weping they testified that the new temple was not so excellent as the former And therfore Aggâ—u prophetie c. 2. can not be vnderstood of this temple but of the Church of Christ â— Aug li. 18. ciâ—it â— 45. :: Schismatikes and Here-tikes may not be admitteâ— to communicate in sacrifice with Catholiques :: God geuing corege to his seruantes stricke their enemies with terrour and so made them cease from hinderuig his worke as they before intended :: The hart of the king is in the hand of our Lord. Prouerb 21. The second part Esdras instructeth the people :: Esdras came with the fâ—â—â—â— from Babylon 〈◊〉 â—sd 12 â—â—ut returned thither and now ascended the second time â—o Ierusalem :: This great number which by Esdras perswasion came from Babylon signified the greatfiuict of soules conuerted from sinne by the exhortation of holie preachers S. Beaa li. 2. in Esara c. 10. :: It suffice not to part from Babylon that is from sinne but we must also doe workes of satisfaction and therfore Esdras here proclamed an extraordinarie fast to those that were come from captiuitie :: Malachias the Prophet complaineth also of this fault c. 2. v. 11. threatning Gods punishment both to superiors and subiectes for not correcting it ◠〈◊〉 :: In respect oâ— their greatiniquities Esdias presumeth not to aske the conseruation of the whole people but some reliques or â—â—raÌ„ lest part as it were a little post or a naile of a whole house towards the reedifying therof â—Esdras being extraordinarily sent by God to correct the people repayreth to the high Priests sonne by his authoritie calleth the people together and so procedeth to make reformation â—o S. Paus conferred with other Apostles Gal. 2 :: Their â—inne was punished by ouer much rayne v. 13. And so affliction gaue them more feeling of their faultes :: Amongst other inconueniences of vnlawful mariages one is that children are borne illegitimate Duble title of this booke The coÌ„tentes S. Ierom. Epist ad Paulin. Diuided into three partes The first part Nehemias his coÌ„miseration of his countrie :: Nehemias by his legacie being sent from a king by his name which signifieth comforter from our Lord and by his building againe the walles of Ierusalem prefigured our Sauiour who was sent from God the Father himselfe being the comforter of mankind and the sendâ—â— of an other comforter the Holie Ghost to remaine with his Church S. Beda prolog in Nehemiam :: Infideles Heretikes are greued that others endeuoure to repayre the ruines of the Church in any countrie :: Gods hand was clearly shewed in the effect of obtaining the kings fauourable letters The second part How the citie was repayred with walles people :: Finishing the gate they dedicated it to Gods seruice being for defence of his holie citie and so sanctified it :: It was Gods prouidence that the enemies mocking at the reparation of Ierusalem did not so furiously resist til the worke was performed so sometimes heretikes scoffe at the endeâ—â—â—â—â—â— of poore priestes laboring to restore Catholique religion but whether they scoffe or rage Gods holie worke procedeth and prospereth :: S Beda in his time lamented that some spiritual Superiors neglected to feede their flock either spiritually or temporally and yet exacted temporal reuenewes and oppressed the poore people li 3. c. 21. in â—sd How much more may we with him wish an other Nehemias that is a comforter from our Lord to correct this fault to releeue poore Catholiques distressed A right propertie of a true pastor to do that good which he preacheth to others S. Beda ibidem :: A good conscience hath great confidence in God and iustly hopeth for reward :: VVhen heretikes other aduersaries of the Church finde them selues not able to suppresse Catholiques they offer conditions of peace and libertie to al so when protestaÌ„tes beganne where they are weake they would haue none persecuted for anie opinions in religion but where they are stroÌ„g they hardly grant toleration to Catholiques :: Three special defences of a citie are the strength of walles shutâ—ing and opening the gates in due time diligeÌ„t watchmen so to the custodie of faithful soules three thinges are necessarie the grace of God due regard of the outward â—enses and continual watch against out inuisible enemies S. Ierom here noteth wheÌ„ce he receiued eech part of this booke which is al Canonical Scripture being al alike so declared by the Church :: The people requested Esdras to bring the booke of the law and he brought it neither is there anie mention that he writte the whole law out of his memorie or by miracle which maketh it probable that al copies were not burned or lost but some reserued by Ieremias Eze chiel Daniel Aggeus Zacha rias or by him selfe or others out of which he collected one intire volume correcting faultes committed by scribes adding some thinges for explication sake supplement of the histories and that either by tradition oâ— reuelation :: Athersatha priuâ—â—egâ—â— by reason of his fauour with king Artaxerxes Chap. 2. 1. Esd 2. :: True repentance requireth wâ—â—kes of penance especially the renâ—ouâ—â—g of occasions of sinne as seperation from euil con panie abandoning of euil cogitations and of much wordly pleasure :: Changing of names importeth â—ome beneficial mysterie Gen. â—7 :: Free wil in sinners Num 14. :: In al leagues couenantes of peace those articles are specially mentioned wherin breach hath bene made in former times :: Because Ierusalem was most impugned by enimies fewe were willing to dwel there :: yet many valient men of the tribes of Iuda Beniamin and Leui offered them selues of other tribes the tenth part were chosen by lottes wherby is gathered that many of the tenne tribes returned also into Chanaan though the holie Scripture doth not so expresly record what became of them as of the other tenne tribes because Ierusalem pertained to the lote of Beniamin Iuda was the Kinglie tribe and Leui the Priestlie S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 31 in Esdr Esdras went againe to babylon and obtayning a fauorable commission of the King brought manie with him into Ierusalem â— â—â—aâ— 7. :: The genealogie oâ—â—â—gn Pâ—â—â—â—â—s 〈◊〉 Iosue to leddoa otherwise called Iaddus :: As others gaue tithes to the Leuites so they gaue to Priestes Num. 18. â— 21. 28. The third part Correction of faultes Deut. 23. Num. 22. :: This Tobias was an Ammo nite a persecuter c. 14. to whom Eliasib being akine by reason of vnlawful mariages ioyned felowshipe with him for wicked lucre which therfore Nehemias corrected prefiguring therin ouâ— Sauiours zele who threw byers and sellers out of the temple Mat. 21. And these persecuters prefigured heretikes in their wordes and actes as venerable Beda expoundeth li 〈◊〉 Esd c. 19. :: A iust man that hath merited by good workes may pray with great confidence for reward THE THIRD AND FOVRTH BOOKES OF ESDRAS
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 pareÌ„t 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 prâ—uâ—tly exercised by the father and his seruants at their masters coÌ„mandment 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 â—râ—or 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 diueâ—s sortes of idols and â—dolaters 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 〈…〉 s â—â—â—â—a knes thâ—er dayes together Exo 10. v. 22. Morally they other gâ—nâ— 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 â—gnorance :: An other example of difference in Gods punishing his people for their â—mendment and of the obstinate vnto their â—uine Exo 14. â— â—8 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. â—â— 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 seâ—se 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
his sore he was cured †And Ezechias had sayd to Isaie What signe shal there be that our Lord wil heale me and that I shal goe vp the third day to the temple of our Lord †To whom Isaie sayd This shal be the signe from our Lord that our lord wil doe the word which he hath spoken Wilt thou that the shadow goe forward ten lines or that it goe backe soe many degrees †And Ezechias sayd It is an easie matter for the shadow to goe forward ten lines neither wil I that this be done but that it returne back ten degrees †Isaie therfore the prophet inuocated our Lord and brought backe the shadow by the lines by the which it was now gone downe in the dial of Achaz backward ten degrees †In that time Berodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan the king of the Babilonians sent letters and giftes to Ezechias for he had heard that Ezechias had bene sicke †And Ezechias reioysed in their coming and he shewed them the house of aromatical spices and gold and siluer and diuerse precious odours oyntementes also and the house of his vessels and al that he had in his treasures There was not any thing which Ezechias shewed them not in his house and in al his powere †And Isaie the prophete came to king Ezechias and sayd to him What sayd these men or from whence came they to thee To whom Ezechias said From a far countrie they came to me out of Babylon †But he answered What saw they in thy house Ezechias sayd They saw al things whatsoeuer are in my house there is nothing that I haue not shewed them in my treasures †Isaie therfore said to Ezechias heare the word of our Lord †Behold the daies shal come al things shal be taken away that are in thy house and that thy fathers haue layd vp vntil this day into Babylon there shal not anie thing remayne sayth our Lord. †Yea of the children also that come forth of thee whom thou shalt beget shal be taken away and they shal be eunuches in the palace of the king of Babylon †Ezechias said to Isaie The word of our Lord which thou hast spoken is good be there peace and truth in my daies †But the rest of the wordes of Ezechias and al his strength and how he made a poole and a conduite and brought waters in to the citie are not these things writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda †And Ezechias slept with his fathers and Manasses his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXI For the enormious impietie of Manasses 10. God threatneth destruction of the kingdom 16. He spilleth innocent bloud 18. dieth and his senne Amon reigneth also wickedly 23. is slaine by his seruantes and his sonne Iosias reigneth TWELVE yeares old was Manasses when he began to reigne he reigned fiue and fiftie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was haphsiba †And he did euil in the sight of our Lord acording to the idols of the Nations which our Lord destroyed from the face of the children of Israel †And he was turned and built the excelses which Ezechias his father had destroyed and he sette vp altars to Baal and made groues as Achab the king of Israel had done and he adored al the host of heauen and worshipped it †And he built altars in the house of our Lord of the which our Lord sayd In Ierusalem I wil put my name †And he built altars to al the host of heauen in the two courtes of the temple of our Lord. †And he made his sonne pasâ—e through fyre and he vsed sooth saying and obserued diuinations and made pithones and multiplied inchanters to doe euil before our Lord and to prouoke him †He sette also the idol of the groue which he had made in the temple of our Lord concerning the which our Lord spake to Dauid and to Salomon his sonne In this temple and in Ierusalem which I haue chosen out of al the tribes of Israel I wil put my name for euer †And I wil noe more make the foote of Israel to be moued out of the land which I gaue to their fathers yet so if in worke they shal keepe al things that I haue commanded them al the law which my seruantes Moyses commanded them †But they heard not but were seduced by Manasses to doe euil aboue the Nations which our Lord destroyed before the face of the children of Israel †And our Lord spake in the hand of his seruantes the prophetes saying †Because Manasses the king of Iuda hath done these most wicked abominations passing al thinges that the Amorrheites did before him and hath made Iuda also to sinne in his filthes †therfore thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel Behold I wil bring in euils vpon Ierusalem and Iuda that whosoeuer shal heare it both his eares shal tingle †And I wil stretch out vpon Ierusalem the corde of Samaria and the weight of the house of Achab and I wil wipe out Ierusalem as tables are wont to be wiped out and wyping out I wil turne it and draw often the pencil vpon the face therof †But I wil leaue remnantes of mine inheritance and wil deliuer them into the handes of their enemies and they shal be vnto waste and vnto spoile to al their aduersaries †because they haue done euil before me and haue continewed prouoking me from the day that their fathers came out of Aegypt vntil this day †Moreouer Manasses shed also innocent bloud exceding much til he filled Ierusalem euen to the mouth beside his sinnes wherin he made Iuda to sinne to doe euil before our Lord. †But the rest of the wordes of Manasses and al that he did and his sinne which he sinned are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda †And Manasses slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house in the garden of Oza and Amon his sonne reigned for him †Two and twentie yeares old was Amon when he began to reigne two yeares also he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Messalemeth the daughter of Ieteba †And he did euil in the sight of our Lord as Manasses his father had done †And he walked in al the way by the which his father had walked and he serued the filthes which his father had serued and he adored them †and forsooke our Lord the God of his fathers and walked not in the way of our Lord. †And his seruantes lay in wayte agaynst him and slewe the king in his house †But the people of the land stroke al them that had conspired agaynst king Amon and made Iosias his sonne their king for him †But the rest of the wordes of Amon which he did are not these writen in the Booke of the