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.
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
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
Lord †the priest shal account the price according to the number of yeares vnto the iubilee and he that had vowed shal geue that to the Lord. †but in the Iubilee it shal returne to the former owner that sould it and had it in the lotte of his possession †Al estimation shal be weighed by the sicle of the sanctuarie A sicle hath twentie oboles †The “ first borne which pertaine to the Lord no man may sanctifie and vow whether it be oxe or sheepe they are the Lordes †And if it be an vncleane beast he that offereth it shal redeme it according to thy estimatimation and shal adde the fift part of the price If he wil not redeme it it shal be sould to an other for how much soeuer it was estemed by thee †Anie thing that is consecrated to the Lord whether it be man or beast or field shal not be sould neither can it be redemed Whatsoeuer is once consecrated shal be holie of holies to the Lord. †And any consecration that is offered of a man shal not be redemed but dying shal die †Al tithes of the land whether of corne or of the fruites of trees are the Lordes and are sanctified to him †And if anie man wil redeme his tithes he shal adde the fift part of them †Of al the tithes of oxen and sheepe and goates that passe vnder the sheepheardes rodde euerie tenth that commeth shal be sanctified to the Lord. †It shal not be chosen neither good nor bad neither shal it be changed for an other If anie man change it both that which was changed and that for the which it was changed shal be sanctified to the Lord and shal not be redeemed †These are the precepts which our Lord commanded Moyses vnto the children of Israel in the mount Sinai ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXVII 26. The sirst borne God here forbiddeth to vow the sirst borne and geueth the reason for that they are the Lordes shewing that those things wherto we are already bound are not properly matter of vow But a vowe properly is a religious promise voluntarily made to God of a good thing vnto which we were not bound And that the same is verie gratful to God appeareth not only in this chapter and in manie other places of Moyses law but also in the law of nature Gen. 28. Iacob vowed and God accepted therof Gen. 31. v. 13. And the royal Prophet in diuers Psalmes pertaining to the new Testament commendeth vowes It is certaine also manifest 1. Tim. 5. that widowes did lawfully vowe chastitie in the primitiue Church and such as did afterward breake the same did violate their promise to God Innumerable also most lerned and most godlie fathers haue euer from Christs time both taught and practised religious vowes of obedience to superiors who otherwise had no authoritie ouer them and of perpetual chastitie and voluntarie pouertie It is likewise and continually hath benne a most common practise in the Church to vow other good workes of pietie as to visite holie places to build Churches Collegies Hospitals and the like being no way bound therto but of mere deuotion See Annotations 1. Tim. 5. THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF NVMERI IN this booke called Numeri are contained saieth S. Hierom the Mysteries of al Arithmetike or numberiug of the Prophecie of Balaam and of the fourtie two Mansions of the Israelites in the desert VVhich mystical sense the same great Doctor as also S. Augustin and other Fathers do gather of the literal written by Moyses VVho here prosecuteth the sacred historie after Genesis and Exodus Leuiticus also containing one moneth from the second moneth of the second yeare after the deliuerie of the Israelites out of Aegypt nere 39. yeares to the last of Moyses life First therfore he reportetâ— how al the men of twelue tribes of the age of twentie yeares and vpward were numbered Likewise the tribe of Leui was numbered and imployed parth in priestlie function the rest to assist the priests He describeth also the oraer of marching and encamping the Leuites alwayes next and round about the Tabernacle the other twelue tribes in circuite of them on al sides He moreouer recordeth certaine notable murmurings tumults schismes and rebellions with the euents therof and miserable endes of chief seducers VVhose great iniuries Moyses mekely sustained with singular patience stil executing his owne function with heroical fortitude Among which diuers precepts and lawes are partly repeated partly added as wel concerning Religion and Gods seruice as godlie policie and ciuil gouernment of the people with chastisment of offenders How also their enemies endeuoured to annoy them Balaâ— king of Moab procuring Balaam the sorcerer so much as in him lay to curse them but al in vaine Yet by carnal fornication manie were drawen to spiritual Both which being punished God againe prospered his people in diuers encounters and battailes against Infidels Finally the promised Land of Chanaan on both sides lordaine is described by limites which they shal parte amongst them by loâ—t the Leuites mingled in euerie tribe with their appointed cities and commodities for habitation and the tithes first fruites oblations and abundant prouision for their maintenance Cities also of refuge are designed for casual manslayers and a law established that al shal marie within their owne tribes to avoide confusion of inheritances So this booke may be diuided into three partes In the first the principal and most perfect sort of the people are numbered and disposed in order according to diuers states and offices before they depart from the desert of Sinai in the nine first chapters Then are related sundrie thinges which happened vnto them in the rest of their iourney especially manie and great impediments through al which God punishing some brought the residue to enioy the promised land from the 10. chap. to the end of the 33. Lastly the countrie of Chanaan is againe promised with order so to possâ—sse and enioy it that euerie tribe may haue and keepe their seueral partes in the three last chapters THE BOOKE NVMERI OR NVMBERS IN HEBREW VAIED ABBER CHAP. I. Al the men of twelue tribes of Israel of the age of twentie yeares and vpwardes but not vnder nor wemen are numbred 20. and are sound in al six hundred thirtie thousand fiue hundred fiftie 47. The Leuites not yet numbred are designed to serue about the Tabernacle AND our Lord spake to Moyses in the desert of Sinai in the tabernacle of couenant the first day of the second moneth the second yeare of their going out of Aegypt saying †Take the summe of the whole assemblie of the children of Israel by their kinredes houses and the names of euerie one whatsoeuer of the male sexe †from the twentith yeare and vpward of al the strong men of Israel and you shal number them by
him bread to eate and water to drink †and also a peece of a masse of drie figges and two bunches of resinnes Who when he had eaten his spirite returned and he was refreshed for he had not eaten bread nor drunken water three daies and three nightes †Dauid therefore sayd to him Whose art thou or whence and whither goest thou who sayd I am a yong man of Aegypt the seruant of an Amalacite and my maister hath leift me because I began to be sicke three daies agone †For we brake forth at the south side of Cerethi and against Iuda and at the south of Caleb and burnt Siceleg with fire †And Dauid sayd to him Canst thou bring me to this companie Who sayd Sweare to me by God that thou wilt not kil me nor deliuer me into the handes of my lord and I wil bring thee to this companie And Dauid sware to him †Who when he had brought them behold they sate vpon the face of al the earth eating and drinking and as it were keping festiual day for al the praye and spoiles which they had taken out of the Land of the Philistijms and out of the Land of Iuda †And Dauid stroke them from euening vntil the euening of the next day and there escaped not anie of them but foure hundred yong men which had gotten vpon camels and were fled †Dauid therefore reskewed al thinges that the Amalecites had taken and he reskewed his two wiues †Neither was there anie wanting from litle to great as wel of their sonnes as of their daughters and of the spoiles and what thinges soeuer they had taken Dauid brought al againe †And he tooke al the flockes heardes and draue them before his face and they sayd This is the praye of Dauid †And Dauid came to the two hundred men which being wearie had staied neither were able to folow Dauid and he had bidden them to rest in the Torrent Besor who came forth to meete Dauid and the people that were with him And Dauid coming to the people saluted them peaceably †And euerie naughtie and wicked felow of the men that had gone with Dauid answering sayd Because they came not with vs we wil not geue them anie thing of the praye which we haue recouered but let their wife and children suffice euerie man whom when they haue receiued let them depart †But Dauid sayd You shal not doe so my brethren of these thinges which our Lord hath deliuered to vs and hath kept vs and hath geuen the theeues that were broken out against vs into our handes †neither shal anic man heare you vpon this talke For there shal be equal portion of him that went downe into battel and of him that abode at the baggage they shal diuide alike †And this hath beene downe from that day and euer after it was decreed and ordained as a law in Israel †Dauid therefore came into Siceleg and sent giftes of the praye to the ancientes of Iuda his neighboures saying Take a benediction of the praye of our Lords enemies †To them that were in Bethel and that were in Ramoth toward the South and them that were in Gether †and them in Aroer and them in Sephamoth and them in Esthamo †and them in Rachal and them in the cities of Ierameel and them in the cities of Semi †and them in Harama and them in the lake of Asan and them in Athach †and them in Hebron and to the rest that were in those places in the which Dauid had taried and his men CHAP. XXXI Saul with his sonnes are slaine in battel 7. The Philistijms possesse the place and hang the dead bodies on a wal 11. but valiant men of Iabes Galaad take them away and burne them burie their bones and fast seuen dayes AND the Philistijms fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled before the face of the Philistijms and fel being slaine in mount Gelboe †And the Philistijms fel vpon Saul and vpon his sonnes and they stroke Ionathas and Abinadab and Melchisua the sonnes of Saul †and the whole weight of the battel was turned vpon Saul and the archers ouertooke him and he was sore wounded of the archers †And Saul sayd to his esquier Drawe out thy sword and strike me lest perhaps these vncircumcised come and kil me mocking me And his esquier would not for he was frighted with exceding feare Saul therefore caught his sword and fel vpon it †Which when his esquier had seene to wit that Saul was dead himselfe also fel vpon his sword and died with him †Saul therefore died and his three sonnes his esquier and al his men in that day together †And the children of Israel that were beyond the valley and beyond Iordan seing that the men of Israel were fled and that Saul was dead and his sonnes they left their cities and fled and the Philistijms came and dwelt there †And when the next day was come the Philistijms came to spoile them that were slaine and they found Saul and his three sonnes lying in mount Gelboe †And they did cut of Saules head and spoiled him of his armour and sent into the land of the Philistians round about that it should be declared in the temple of their Idols and among their people †And they did put his armour in the temple of Astaroth but his bodie they hung on the wal of Bethsam †Which when the inhabiters of Iabes Galaad had heard whatsoeuer the Philistijms had done to Saul †al the most valiant men arose walked al the night and tooke the bodie of Saul and the bodies of his sonnes from the wal of Bethsam and they came to Iabes Galaad and burnt them there †and they tooke their bones and buried them in the wood of Iabes and fasted seuen daies THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF KINGES BESIDES a great part of the first booke and beginning of the third this second booke is wholly of King Dauid VVhos 's manie laudable Actes as also his faultes which were fewer with his true repentance and punishment are related not in such method as may easily be diuided into distinct partes in order of the chapters but according to the distinction of thinges conteined his succession to the royal crowne first in Iuda and after in al Israel with the declination and death of his competitour Isboseth are recorded in the 2. 3. 4. and 5. chapters His vertues and praises to wit his solemne mourning for Saul and that familie his deuotion fortitude pietie and gratitude are specially touched in the 1. 6 7. 8. 9. and 10. chapters His sinnes of adulterie with Bethsabee of killing her husband Vrias of pride in numbering his people with his hartie repentance and temporal punishment for the same are written from the 11. chapter to the 21 together with the 24. The 22. and 23. chapters
his hand to day and offer what he wil to our Lord. †The princes therfore of the families promised and the nobles of the tribes of Israel the tribunes also and the centurions and the princes of the kinges possessions †And they gaue vnto the workes of the house of our Lord of gold fiue thousand talentes and ten thousand solidos of siluer ten thousand talentes and of brasse eightene thousand talentes of yron also an hundred thousand talentes †And with whomsoeuer were found stones they gaue them into the treasures of the house of our Lord by the hand of Iahiel the Gersonite †And the people reioysed when they promised vowes of their owne accord because they did offer them to our Lord with al their hart yea and Dauid the king reioysed with great ioy †And he blessed our Lord before al the multitude and he sayd Blessed art thou ô Lord the God of Israel our father from eternitie vnto eternitie †Thine ô Lord is the magnificence and might and glorie and victorie to thee is the prayse for al thinges that be in heauen and in the earth are thine thine ô Lord is the kingdom and thou art ouer al princes †Thine are riches and thine is glorie thou hast dominion ouer al in thy hand is power might in thy hand greatenesse and the empire of al thinges †Now therfore our God we confesse to thee and we prayse thy glorious name †Who am I and what is my people that we can promisse thee al these thinges al are thine and thinges that we receiued of thy hand we haue geuen thee †For we are pilgrimes before thee and strangers as al our fathers Our daies are as a shadow vpon the earth and there is noe abyding †Lord our God al this plentie which we haue prepared that a house might be built to thy holie name is of thy hand and al thinges are thine †I know my God that thou prouest the hartes and louest simplicitie wherfore I also in the simplicitie of my hart gladly haue offered al these thinges and thy people which is here found I haue sene with great ioy offer thee donaries †Lord God of Abraham and Isaac and Israel our fathers keepe for euer this wil of their hart and let this mind reinayne al waies to the honour of thee †To Salomon also my sonne geue a perfect hart that he keepe thy commandementes thy testimonies and thy ceremonies and doe al thinges and build the house the expenses whereof I haue prepared †And Dauid commanded the whole assemblie Blesse ye our Lord God And al the assemblie blessed our Lord the God of their fathers and they bowed themselues and adored God and then the king †And they immolated victime to our Lord and they offered holocaustes the day folowing oxen a thousand rammes a thousand lambes a thousand with their libamentes with al rite most abundantly for al Israel †And they did eate and drinke before our Lord in that day with great ioy And they anoynted the second time Salomon the sonne of Dauid And they anoynted him to our Lord for the prince and Sadoc for the high priest †And Salomon sate vpon the throne of our Lord as king for Dauid his father and he pleased al al Israel obeyed him †Yea and al the princes and men of might and al the sonnes of king Dauid gaue their hand and were subiect to Salomon the king †Our Lord therfore magnified Salomon ouer al Israel and gaue him the glorie of akingdom such as no king of Israel had before him †Dauid therfore the sonne of Isai reigned ouer al Israel †And the daies that he reigned ouer Israel were fourtie yeares in Hebron he reigned seuen yeares and in Ierusalem three and thirtie yeares †And he died in a good age ful of daies and riches and glorie And Salomon his sonne reigned for him †But the actes of king Dauid the first and the last are writen in the Booke of Samuel the Seer in the Booke of Nathan the prophete in the Volume of Gad the Seer †and of al his kingdom and strength and of the times that passed vnder him either in Israel or in al the kingdomes of the earth THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON AS the former booke sheweth how after manie generations from the beginning of the world God selecting one special nation for his peculiar people and the same being afterwardes made a kingdome the Scepter therof both by Gods and the peoples election came to Dauid and his sonne Salomon See this booke declareth that first Salomon reigned peaccably ouer the whole kingdom in the nine first chapters Then in the other twentie seuen chapters relateth how the same kingdom was diuided tenne tribes being taken away the historie wherof is but here briefly touched and two only with the title of the kingdom of Iuda were possessed by succession of ninetenne kinges al of Dauids and Salomons issue in royal estate til the captiuitie in Babylon THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON IN HEBREW DIBRE HAIAMIM CHAP. I. Salomon establiâ—hed in the throne offereth a thousand hostes of sacrifice 7. asking wisdome 12. it is geuen him with richesse and temporal glorie which he asked not 14. He prouideth manie chariottes and horsemen SALOMON therfore the sonne of Dauid was strengthened in his kingdom and our Lord was with him and magnified him on high †And Salomon commanded al Israel the tribunes and the centurious and the dukes and iudges of al Israel and the princes of the families †and he went with al the multitude into the Excelse of Gabaon where was the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord which Moyses the seruant of God made in the wildernesse †For Dauid had brought the Arke of God from Cariathiarim into the place which he had prepared for it and where he had pitcht a tabernacle for it that is in Ierusalem †The altar also of brasse which Beseleel the sonne of Vri the sonne of Hur had made was there before the tabernacle of our Lord which also Salomon sought and al the assemblie †And Salomon went vp to the altar of brasse before the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord and offered on it a thousand hostes †And behold in that verie night God appeared to him saying Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee †And Salomon sayd to God Thou hast done great mercie with my father Dauid and hast made me king for him †Now therfore Lord God be thy word fulfilled which thou hast promised to Dauid my father for thou hast made me king ouer thy people great in number which is so innumerable as the dust of the earth †Geue me wisdom and intelligence that I may come in goe out before thy people for who can worthely iudge this thy people which is so great †And
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
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
and patterne of a sincere and hartie penitent bewayling confessing and punishing his owne sinnes The ninth is the end and renouation of this world with the general Resurrection and Iudgement The tenth is eternal felicitie and punishment according as euerie one deserueth in this life These are the tenne keyes of this holie Booke and tenne stringes of this Diuine Psalter Moreouer to finde which of these is the proper key and principal string of euerie Psalme lerned Diuines vse foure especial wayes First by the title added by Esdras or the Seuentie two Interpreters for an introduction to the sense of the same Psalme So it appeareth that the third Psalme treateth literally of Dauids danger and deliuerie from his sonne Absalon which is the eight key though mystically it signifieth Christs Persecution Passion Resurrection which is the fifth key Secondly if there be no title or if it declare not sufficiently the key or principal matter conteyned it may some times be found by allegation and application of some special part thereof in the new Testament So it is euident Act. 4. v. 25. c. 13. v. 33. Heb. 1. v. 5. Heb. 5. v. 5. that the second Psalme perteyneth to Christ impugned and persecuted by diuers aduersaries VVhich is the fiftkey Thirdly when greater thinges are affirmed of anie person or people as of Dauid Salomon Iewish nation or the like then can be verified of them it must necessarily be vnderstood of Christ or his Church in the new Testament or in Heauen So the conclusion of the 14. Psalme He that doth these thinges shal not be moued for euer can not be verified of the tabernacle nor temple of the Iewes but of eternal Beatitude in heauen VVhich is the tenth key Though the greater part of the Psalme sheweth that iust and true dealing towards our neighboures is necessarie for attayning of eternal Glorie Fourtly when both the title and Psalme or part thereof seme hard and obscure some part being more cleare the true sense of al may be gethered by that which is more euident According to S. Augustins rule li. 2. c. 9. li. 3. c. 26. Doct. Christ So the title and former part of the fifth Psalme being more obscure are explaned by the last verses shewing plainly that God wil iustly iudge al men both iust and wicked in the end of this world VVhich is the ninth key By these and like meanes the principal key being found it wil more easily appeare what other keyes belong to the same and what other stringes are also touched At least the studious may by these helpes make some entrance and for more exact knowlege search the iudgement of ancient Fathers and other learned Doctours But besides this singular great commoditie of compendious handling much Diuine matter in smal rowme this booke hath an other special excellencie in the kind of stile and maner of vttering which is Meeter and Verse in the original Hebrew tongue And though in Greke Latin and other languages the same could not in like forme be exactly translated yet the number and distinction of verses is so obserued that it is apt for musike as wel voices as instruments and to al other vses of Gods seruants Neither is musical maner of vttering Gods word and praises lesse to be esteemed because profane Poetes haue in this kind of stile vttered light vaine and false thinges For the abuse of good thinges doth not derogate from the goodnes therof but rather commendeth the same which others desire to imitate And clere it is that this holie Psalmodie was before anie profane poetrie now extant For Homer the most ancient of that sorte writte his poeme at least two hundred and fourtie yeares after the destruction of Troy as Apolidorus witnesseth others namely Solinus Herodotus and Cornelius Nepos say longer VVheras kind Dauid our Diuine Psalmist reigned within one hundred years after the Troianes warres There were in dede Amphion Orpheus and Muscus before Dauid but their verses either were not written or shortly perished only a confuse memorie remaining of them recited altered and corrupted by word of mouth but before them were the sacred Historie of Iob almost al in verse and the two Canticles of Moyses Exodi 15. and Deut. 32. It is moreouer recorded that Iâ—bal long before Noes floud was the father of them that sang on harpe and organ Musike therfore is maruelous ancient But sacred Poetrie is in manie other respectes most excellent and most profitable This holie Psalmodie saith S. Augustin is a medecine to old spiritual sores it bringeth present remedie to nev vvvoundes it maketh the good to perseuere in vvel doing it cureth at once al predominating passions vvhich vexe mens soules A little after Psalmodie driueth avvay euil spirites iuuiteth good Angels to helpe vs it is a shield in night terrors a refreshing of day trauels a guard to children an ornament to yongmen a comforte to oldmen a most seemlie grace to vvemen Vnto beginners it is an introduction an augmentation to them that goe forvvard in vertue a stable firmament to the perfect It conioyneth the vvhole Church militant in one voice and is the spiritual eternal svvete perfume of the celestial Armies al Sainctes and Angels in heauen To al this we may adde other causes which moued the Royal Prophete to write this diuine poetrie First he had from his youth by Gods special prouidence a natural inclination to Musike wherin he shortly so excelled that before al the Musitians in Israel he was selected to recreate king Saul whom an euil spirite vexed And his skil together with his deuotion had such effect that vvhen he playde on the harpe Saul vvas refreshed and vvaxed better For the euil spirite departed from him saith the holie text VVherfore he made these Psalmes that him selfe and others might by singing them imploy this gift of God to his more honour Secondly verse being more easie to lerne more firmly kept in mind and more pleasant in practise for as wine so musike doth recreate the hart of man the Holie Ghost condescending to mans natural disposition inspired Dauid to write these Psalmes in meeter mixing the povvre of diuine doctrin vvith delectable melodie of song that vvhiles the eare is allured vvith svvete harmonie of musike the hart is indued vvith heauenlie knovvlege pleasant to the mind and profitable to the soule Thirdly Dauid singularly illuminated with knowlege of great and most diuine Mysteries indued also with most gracious disposition of mind the man chosen according to Gods ovvne hart 1. Reg. 13. would vtter the same Mysteries with godlie instructions and praises of God in the most exquisite kind of stile that is in verse For otherwise he was also very eloquent in prose as wel appeareth by sundrie his excellent and effectual discourses in the books of Kinges and Paralipomenon For which cause Moyses also described the
passage of Israel forth of Aegypt through the read sea in a Canticle after that he had related the same whole historie more at large in prose that al might sing and so render thankes with melodious voice and musical instruments praising God Likewise in an other Canticle he comprised the whole law a litle before his death So also Barac and Debora and after them Iudith song praises to God for their victories in verse Salomon writte the end of his Prouerbes and a whole booke intituled Canticles the Prophet Ieremie his Lamentations in verse Anna hauing obtained her prayer for a sonne gaue thankes to God with a Canticle The like did king Ezechias for recouerie of health The Prophets Isaias Ezechiel Ionas A bacuc and the three children in the fornace againe in the new Testament the B. virgin mother iust Zacharie deuout Simeon gaue thankes sang praises to God in Canticles Fourthly albeit the holie King was not permitted to build the gorgious Temple for Gods feruice as he greatly desired to haue done yet he prouided both store of muâ—itians foure thousand in number of which 288. were maisters to teach made these Psalmes as godlie dirties for this holie purpose in al solemnities of feastes and daylie sacrifice when the Temple should afterward be built Fiftly he made these Psalmes not only for his owne others priuate deuotion nor yet so especially for the publique Diuine seruice in the Temple and other Synagogues of the Iewes but most principally for the Christian Catholique Church which he knew should be spred in the whole earth Forseing the maruelous great and frequent vse therof in the Christian Clergie and Religious people of both sexes As he prophecieth in diuers Psalmes Al the earth sing to thee sing Psalmes to thy name Againe I vvil sing Psalmes to thee ô God in the Gentiles in al peoples and Nations VVhich him selfe neuer did but his Psalmes are euer since Christ song by Christians conuerted from gentilitie as we see in the Churches Seruice For the whole Psalter is distributed to be song in the ordinarie office of our Breuiarie euerie weke And though extraordinarily for the varietie of times and feastes there is often alteration yet stil the greater part is in Psalmes Certayne also of the same Psalmes are without change or intermission repeted euerie day And such as haue obligation to the Canonical Houres must at least read the whole Office priuatly if they be not present where it is song The Office also of Masse ordinarily beginneth with a Psalme In Litanies and almost al publique Prayers and in administration of other Sacraments and Sacramentals either whole Psalmes or frequent verses are inserted Likewise the greatest part of the Offices of our B. Ladie and for the dead are Psalmes Besides the seuen Poenitential and fiftene Gradual Psalmes at certaine times So that Clergie mens daly office consisteth much in singing or reading Psalmes And therfore al Byshops especially are strictly bond by a particular Conon Dist 38. cap. Omnes psallentes to be skilful in the Psalmes of Dauid and to see that other Clergiè men be wel instructed therin According to the Holie Ghosts admonition by the pen of the same Royal Prophet Psal 46. Psallite sapienter Or intelligenter that is Sing Psalmes vvith knovvlege and vnderstanding them Not that euerie one is bond to know and be able to discusse al difficulties but competently according to their charge vndertaken in Gods Church Otherwise euerie one that is or intendeth to be a Priest may remember what God denounceth to him by the Prophet Osee c. 4. Because thou hast repelled knovvlege I vvil repel thee that thou do not the function of Priesthood vnto me Thus much touching the Author the contentes the poetical stile final cause of this holie Psalter As for the name S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers â—each that wheras amongst innumerable musical instruments six were more specially vsed in Dauids time mentioned by him in the last Psalme Trumpet Psalter Harpe Timbrel Organ and Cimbal This booke hath his name of the instrument called Psalter which hath tenne strings signifying the tenne commandements and is made in forme as S. Ierom and S. Bede suppose of the Greke letter Λ delta because as that instrument rendreth sound from aboue so we should attend to heauenlie vertues which come from aboue Likewise vsing the harpe which signifyeth mortification of the flesh other instruments which signifie and teach other vertues we must finally referre al to Gods glorie reioyce spiritually in hart and render al praise to God Concerning interpretation of holie Scriptures AS Prophecie or other holie Scripture was not at anie time by mans wil but the Prophetes holie men of God spake inspired by the Holie Ghost so no prophecie nor explication of Scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1. but by the same Spirite wherwith it was written which our Sauiour gaue to the Church to abide for euer the Spirite of truth to teach al truth Ioan. 14. 16. Neither perteyneth it to euerie one to discerne the true spirite but to some 1. Cor. 12. Holie Scriptures consist not in reading but in vnderstanding S. Ierom Dialogo aduers Luciferianos The wordes of holie Scripture are so to be vnderstood as holie men the Sainctes of God haue vnderstood them S. Aug Ser. 18. de verb. Domini Men must lerne of men not expect knowlege immediatly of God nor only by Angels Idem in prologo Doct. Christ There be some thinges mentioned in holie Scripture which God wil haue hidden and those are not to be curiously searched S. Amb. li. 1. c. 7. de vocat Gentium By those thinges which to vs are hidden in holie Scripture our humilitie is proued S. Greg. ho. 17. super Ezech. THE BOOKE OF PSALMES PSALME I. The Royal prophet Dauid placed this Psalme as a Preface to the rest conteyning 1 true happines which consisteth in flying sinnes and seruing God 3. The good doe prosper 5. not the wicked 6. as wil appeare in the end of this world BLESSED is the man that “ hath not gone in the counsel of the impious hath not “ stoode in the way of sinners and hath not “ sitte in the chayre of pestilence †But his “ wil is in the way of our Lord and in his law he wil meditate day and night †And he shal be as a tree that is planted nigh to the streames of waters which shal geue his fruite in his time †And his leafe shal not fal and al thinges whatsoeuer he shal doe shal prosper †The impious not so but as dust which the winde driueth from the face of the earth †Therfore the impious shal not rise againe in iudgement nor sinners in the councel of the iust