Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	aaron_n	chief_a	high_a	13	3	5.3333	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36033	Pious annotations, upon the Holy Bible expounding the difficult places thereof learnedly, and plainly: vvith other things of great importance. By the reverend, learned and godly divine, Mr. Iohn Diodati, minister of the gospell; and now living in Geneva. It is ordered this 11. of Ianuury, 1642, by the committee of the House of Commons in Parliament, concerning printing, that this exposition of the book of the Old and new Testament, be printed by Nicholas Fussel, stationer. Iohn White.; Annotationes in Biblia. English	Diodati, Giovanni, 1576-1649.; Hollar, Wenceslaus, 1607-1677, engraver.	1643 (1643)	Wing D1510; Wing D1509A; ESTC R5893	1,521,231	922

contrarywise the letting down of the hands did snew the slacking of prayer and therewithall the slacking of Gods working The stone signifieth Christ the only prop of faith which he also as high Priest of the Church like Aaron and her chief head and King like Hur strengtheneth in all sights by his interceslion Luke 22. 32. V. 14. I● a Booke The Italian hath it In the Book which thou w●i●est by mine appointment Exo. 34. 27. Deut. 31. 9. 22. which is nothing else but the volume of the five books of Moses Rehearse it The Italian Put it cause him to understand it well that he and all other heads of the people which shall be his successors may put this my command in execution when I shall give them occasion so to do as I did to Saul who neglected it V. 15. An Altar according to the custome aswel for to give Gods thankes for his deliverance as to leave a monument of it behind him Called the name not for to attribute Gods incōmunicable nameto the Altar but to make it beare this Mott● as it were for a title or inscription Or because he would now professe this thankfulnesse and erect in this altar a lusting monument thereof See Judg. 6. 24. Jer. 23. 6. and 33. 16. Ezech. 48. 35 Je●ovah-Nissi The Italian hath it The Lord is my banner he under whom and by whose power I fight and is also the only authour of my victories through which I erect banners and trophies Psa. 20. 6 and 60. 6. V. 16. Because the Lord hath sworne The Italian hath it Certain it is that there is a hand upon the throne of the Lord That is to say the power of God spread from his celestrall throne is it which hath given his people this wonderfull victory I did but only shew it by lifting up my hand from the stone which I sate upon Others expound it the Lord upon his throne hath lifted up his hand that is to say hath sworne he will for ever have war against Amaleck See Deut 32. 40. CHAP. XVIII VERS 2. AFter he had Which is conjectured to have hapned upon the occasion set down Exod. 4. 24 25. Others after her dowry that is to say bringing his daughter to Moses and sending before him 〈…〉 tell and other goods which he gave for a dowry or for a present to Moses as Gen. 32. 16. V. 4. Eliezer That is to say God is my help V. 11. For in the thing that is to say the Egyptians harmes have not befallen them by chance out they were a just punishment of God upon the oppressors of his people through which he hath been exalted above all their false gods which could not escape him V. 12. Sacrifices To give thanks with which Sacrifices feasts were made in the presence of God Deu. ●2 7. and 27. 7 Before God before the pillar in which God appeared V. 15. To enquire that is to say to desire of mee the determination of doubtfull and litigious cases that are amongst them whether there were any speciall revelation required for the doing of it or whether the ordinary guide of the Spirit of God in Moses was sufficient to resolve them See Exod. 31. 7. 〈◊〉 Sam 9. 9. V. 16. Matters That is to say a cause or a suite V. 18. Both th●● and this Thou for the greatnesse of the labour and the people for the tediousnesse in expecting and for want of decisions to rule them in their doubts V. 19. God shall be Thou mayest hope for a blessing from God who accompanieth a good order and holy wisdome Be thou that is to say it is enough for thee to be a meanes between God and the people to 〈◊〉 Gods answer in highest and obsourest businesses and to relate from him to the people not only the determinations of particular causes but his generall laws also V. 23. Shall also go Thou being thus eased and the people maintained in peace and good order by the easie and speedy administration of justice it may under thy conduct happily arrive into the land of Canaan which God hath promised them and prepared for them V. 24. Harkened namely with Gods approbation Numbers 11. 16. and the peoples consent Deuter. 1. 14. V. 25. Rulers Succeeding in order to one another Of thousands of men and their families CHAP. XIX VERS 3. VVEnt up unto God To mount Sinai where God had brought the pillar of cloud wherein he was present V. 4. Ba●e you Taken you into my charge and government conducted and defended you as the eagle curieth her young ones upon her wings Deut. 32. 11. Unto my selfe to this place where I appear unto you and communicate my self unto you in grace and blessing as to my children into my house and consequently into the land of Canaan where I have established my firme residence on earth and finally to heaven the seat of my glory and last marke of your vocation V. 5. Treasure A people esteemed above all other to whom I will communicate my most peculliar favours and of whom I will take a particular care The Hebrew word signifieth a store house of rare and precicus things All the earth And therefore also have I freely chosen that people which it pleased mee to chuse V. 6. A kingdom not a prophane state but sanctifed for the true service of God over which the Son of God raigneth not only as a King to command and threaten but as a Priest also to reconcile expiate pardon c. Psal. 110. 4. tempering the one office with the other V. 7. The ●llers See Exo. 〈◊〉 16. V. 10. Sanctifie them Give them order to cleanse themselves from all corporall and spirituall uncleannesse and bid them prepare themselves to receive my Law with all manner of devotion See Gen. 35 2. Jo● 3. 5. and 7 13. V. 11. Will come down He will appeare here below in the likenesse of that glory in which he dwelleth ●n heaven V. 12. Set Bounds not only to keep the people in awe and feare of God 1 Sam. 6. 19. but also to teach them that through the Law there is no accesse to God by grace Heb. 12. 2. there being always between the bar of mans sin and Gods justice Isa. 59. 2. and that betwixt God proceeding according to his Law and sinneful man there needeth a Mediator for satisfaction and expiation as Moses was for relation and communication Gal. 3. 19. V. 13. Soundeth namely with an even and sweet sound opposite to a loud and rough sound V. 16. by which was signified the voyce of the law which thunders terrifies and beates off as by the other the voyce of the Gospel which calleth and gathereth together See Num. 10. 7. 1 Kings 19. 12. Heb. 12. 19. To the drawing neer the foot thereof v. 17. V. 15. Your wives The Italian hath it To a woman though it be your lawfull wife the use of which doth not contaminate the conscience Heb. 13. 4. Yet it having much sensuality in it

specified Num. 35. 5. V. 16. Two Tribes Namely Judah and Simeon verse 9. V. 27 The other halfe Tribe Besides that half which had its share beyond Jordan CHAP. XXII VERS 3. THese many dayes See upon Jos. 14. 10. V. 8. With your brethren With those of your Tribes which stayed behind for the safeguard of the countrey according to Moses his order Num. 31. 27 see 1 Sam. 30. 24. V. 10 To the borders Others to the bounds Others doe keep the Hebrew word Gheliloth as it were a proper name as Ios. 18. 17. V. 11 At the passage The Italian On the side of On this side Iordan in the other Tribes Countrey V. 14 Each chiefe house Namely the chief in every Tribe Now the halfe Tribe of Manasseh which was on this side Iordan is here set downe for a whole tribe V. 16 Rebell For as much as this Altar had been built to offer ordinary Sacrifices upon as it was very likely seeing it was not slightly built as your extraordinary Altars were which were not built to endure Exodus 20. 24 25. It would have beene a mark and occasion of Schisme and division in the Church and a disobedience and alienation from Gods true service which was not acceptable to him but onely upon one altar Deut. 12. 26 27. for a figure of Christ his Crosse which was the onely true Altar V. 17 From which For many which were guilty thereof whom God spared at that time when the evill was committed did notwithstanding suffer for it many yeares after as Numbers chapt 14. vers 20 22. V. 19 Be uncleane In your judgement and opinion as having not in it the holy signes of Gods presence in the instruments of his service Of the Lord Which the Lord hath acquired and consecrated to himselfe for his Churches habitation and a place of the si●nes of his presence such as the Altar the Tabernacle and the Arke were Against us Severing your selves from the communion of the Church in which alone is the true service of God and the participation of his grace and Covenant V. 20 Wrath The discomfiture before Ai Ioshua chapter 7. verse 5. That man Namely the thirty men which were slaine by the enemies and the whole family of Achan which was put to death with him causeth us to feare lest all Israel bee entangled in the punishment of your sin V. 24 What have you to doe You are not of Gods people being separated from the holy land by the river of Iordan V. 25. Make our children They might coole their zeale in the service which is yielded unto him in the place which he hath chosen and consecrated V. 26 Build us By graving some inscription upon it or keeping in our treasurie of Monuments some publike record when by whom or to what end that Altar was built V. 27 Before him Before the Ark the place by him chosen to shew his presence in grace and power V. 31 Among us With his grace and blessing by not suffering so grosse an abuse Delivered Have not drawne upon them some severe judgement of God V 34 Ed We have so set it up in the middest of the Tribes which are on both sides Iordan for a token that we doe all equally acknowledge and worship the same God whom we all can ought and will serve in his Temple CHAP. XXIII VERS 4. THat remaine Whose countrey hath not yet been conquerod V. 7 Come not among You joyne not your selves carnally with them in marriages or otherwise Cause to sweare The Italian Use them in oathes in oathes which you shall make of your selves or swear them at other mens requests V. 8. As ye have done Since you came into the Land of Canaan under my conduct V. 11 To your selves The Italian Upon your soules as you tender the welfare of your owne persons and especially the salvation of your soules Or upon paine of most grievous punishment upon your persons V. 14 I am going I shall shortly dye 1 Kings 2. 〈◊〉 as it is appoynted for all men once to dye Hebr. 9. 27. CHAP. XXIV VERS 1. SHichem In Silo which was within the Territories of Shechem where the Tabernacle and the Arke were V. 2 The floud Namely Euphrates V. 3 Multiplyed By Hagar and Keturah Gave him For heire and partaker of my Covenant by speciall grace and power V. 10 Out of his hand Namely Balak V. 12 The two Sihon and Og. V. 15 And if This is spoken not to free the people from their service to God but to trye them and binde them more strictly unto him as having chosen him to bee their God of their owne free will and so come within his Covenant as your pleasingest bonds are the strongest See Ruth chapter 1. verse 8. 1 Kings chapt 18. verse 21. Psal. 119. verse 173. Prov. chap. 1. verse 29. Ezech. chap. 20. ver 37. V. 19 Ye cannot Take care what you promise because you must religiously observe it and one can hardly hope for that at your hands knowing your naturall rebellion and inclination to Idolatry which will provoke Gods wrath V. 25 Ioshua Who representing Gods person in the quality of his servant and in his name renewed and confirmed his Covenant with the people V. 26 In the Book Ioyning it by Gods order and inspiration to the book of the Law written by Moses Deuteronomy chapter 31. verse 9. 26. Set it up As the custome of those dayes was to set up such stones or pillars for signes and monuments either with or without inscriptions Genesis chapt 28. verse 18. and chap. 31. verse 45. and chapter 35. verse 14. Exodus chapter 24. verse 4. Deuteron chap. 27. verse 2. Ioshua chapter 4. verse 3. and chapter 8. verse 32. By the Sanctuary Within the precinct of the Court which was about the Tabernacle 〈◊〉 27. It hath heard It shall represent unto your Consciences the promises you have this day made as a living witnesse would doe that had been desired to be present at the making of a contract V 33 Given him By some particular and speciall liberality for the commodiousnesse of Gods Service established in Siloh a place of Ephraim to the end that the high Priest might dwell neare For otherwise all the Priests Cities were taken out of Iudah Simeon and Benjamin Ioshua chap. 21. verse 4. THE BOOK OF JVDGES THE ARGVMENT THIS Book which seemeth to have beene gathered by some Prophet 〈◊〉 of publike Records and the treasures where they were kept containeth the Historie of the chiefe things which happened to the people of God after the death of Ioshua untill the dayes of Eli high Priest The sum of which is that God after Ioshua's death having left many of the accursed people remaining for a continuall proof and exercise of his people they by their unlawfull practises contracts and marriages with them were thereby misled into severall great corruptions in the service of God and into a boundlesse Idolatry and corruption of Life and Manners Whereupon

over to his posterity by teachings and traditions from Father to Sonne yet questionlesse Moses had thereof a new full and most certaine knowledge by the inspiration of the holy Ghost which likewise guided him in the histori all relation of the beginning and continuance of the Church to hinder the forgetfulnesse ignorame and falsification of those things whe●ein are contained the grounds of her being and the rules and drections of her continuance in all ages He declarcth therefore how the world was by God created of nothing and by him was distinguished into its parts and by him appointed to his uses adorned enriched and filled with creatures very great in number and variety in a most admirable order And all this for man who was especially created for the service and glory of God according to his image and likenesse in innocency wisdom and justice and by him established as his deputy on earth for the governement of his creatures joyned with a holy and free use of them with the enjoyment of a most happy contented equall and immortall life after the course of which he should have been without old age paines sicknesses drooping or death transported into the celestiall and eternall And all this if he persevered in his obedience to God whereof he had asufficient grant in the originall justice wherein he was created if he would have practised it But be having transgressed the commandement of triall which had been given him is fallen into death and condemnation and hath lost his spirituall gifts totally and a great part of his naturall ones and hath been deprived of the lawfull right he had over Gods creatures and dispossessed of the quiet and sweet possession of them and hath lost the Sacraments of life and happinesse which were the inhabiting of earthly Paradice and the free use of the fruit which grew upon the tree of life Again● Moses declareth Gods infinite mercy in restoring man into a new state of grace and hope of life by the promise of a Saviour which promise with all its signes stamps and dependencies of sacrifices and other Religious acts being made unto Adam did notwithstanding not indifferently belong to all his progenie as sin and the sentence of condemnation was generally passed against them all but it was Gods pleasure to appropriate it only to part of his race So that after the said promise there came two branches from Adam the one by Cain and the other by Abel and afterwards by Seth. The first of the sonnes of men accursed abandoned in his sin and condemnation having the Divell for his head The other of the sons of God blessed holy adopted by the heavenly Father reconciled unto him through his sonne and sanctified by his spirit Whose chief head is and hath alwayes been Christ Iesus even at that time promised and embraced through a lively Faith by all believers These two bodies have even from the beginning continued in enmitie trained up in much cruelty and fiercenesse of the evill against the good one the first alwayes strengthening himself and increasing in power and number and exceeding in wickednesse and unrighteousnesse The second contrary wise being oppressed by the other and to its greater losse corrupted by his enticements and conversation whereby it hath decayed and even quite degenerated Which provoked Gods Iustice to drown the first world by an universall deluge which being spared only for Gods elect whose number was so decreased that as it appeareth it was included in Noahs Family which God only saved out of the universall destruction not so much to preserve mankind or beasts and plants as for the preservation of the seed of his Children But soone after the deluge there sprung out of Noahs race againe two generations with the same contrarieties as the former For the accursed one quickly grew mighty and powerfull in the world by setting up great and tyrannicall empires and was corrupted by idolatries pride violences and other vices So that amongst all those Nations which Noahs posterity was divided into the knowledge and pure service of God was almost utterly extinguished Untill it pleased God to cause the holy stock to sprout out againe in Abraham severed from the rest of the world by an especiall calling new promises of grace and a most peculiar covenant sealed with the Sacrament of Circumcision a token of the regeneration of Gods Children in the spirit and of their separation from the world This blessing was continued in Isaac though somewhat interrupted in its beginnings by the buds of the accursed race which sprouted out of the Godly one namely Ismael and Esau. But the blessed one began to take body and being in ●acob and his numerous famil●● under the new name of Israel none of his Children being rejectéd as some of the others were Yet was the Church his posterity alwayes a wanderer and a stranger in the world full of defects and infirmities within and many oppositions and molestations without having none of her side but only her God who pardoning and correcting its sius hath continually comforted it guided it provided for it defended it and increased it giving it a promise also of a firm● and happy dwelling in the World in the Land of Canaan And from time to time visiting it by visible apparitions of the sonne of God its head in proper person under shape of an Angell under whose conduct it was at last all brought into Aegypt where it was kept untill the death of Ioseph with which this book endeth ANNOTATIONS VPON GENESIS CHAP. I. VERS 1. IN the beginning God giving the world its first being began with the creation of the two generall parts of it and then went to the particulars The Heaven that is the highest and aethereall part under which it is very likely the Angels are comprehended Gen. 2. 1. The Earth The lower and elementall part of the Universe here indifferently called earth waters and abysse because it was a consused masse of all the Elements V. 2. Without forme Without any particular or distinct creature without order forme or ornament The Spirit that is the 3d person of the most holy Trinity immediatly and through its proper operation which is to preserve and maintaine all things in their being which they have received by the supreame will of the Father and the productive action of the Son see Psal 104. 2. 29. 30. Moved the Hebrew terme signifieth the moving or beating of the wings which a bird useth over her young ones to signifie the action of the holy Ghost in maintaining and cherishing of that shapelesse masse to prepare it for the subsequent productions V. 3. Let there be It is likely that the light was at first imprinted in some part of the heaven whose turning made the first three dayes and the fourth it was restrained into the body of the Sun or of all the other Stars but in a different degree V. 4. God saw he liked and approved of his work and took delight in it

a great number of spirituall Canticles penned by Solomon this was by him or by the Church after him called the Canticle of Canticles for the excellency of it as being a president to all the rest Whereupon also the ancient Jewes comparing these three sacred bookes which go in Solomons name to the three parts of the Temple which he built They liken the Proverbs to the Court Ecclesiastes to the Holy Place and this Canticle to the most Holy Place To signifie that it is the treasurie of the most sacred and highest mysteries of holy Scripture For indeed the subject thereof is not so much concerning the ordinary state of the elect nor of the common actions of their faith and piety nor of Gods ordinary benefits bestowed upon them as of the first-fruits of the vertues of the age to come of the inward infusion of Gods grace into their hearts and of the unspeakable comforts of his Spirit with the lifting up of the soule and minde and of the strong effects of faith in its greatest endeavours and of the divine love purged from all worldly thoughts and affections All these things are by Solomon represented in this booke bringing in by prophetick spirit Christ dead and risen againe and ascended into heaven after he had contracted a spirituall mariage with his Church and every faithfull soule comming from time to time whilest she was yet in this world expecting the accomplishment of this mariage in heaven to visit her with new assurances of his love and the enjoyment of his presence with inward excitements to yeeld unto him all duties of love faith perseverance and invocation and especially to follow him with her heart up to heaven where he resides in glory and whither in his appointed time he will gather her up unto him Now he d●scribes and sets downe these visits two wayes In the one the Church and the faitfull soule prevents him with her desires and prayers In the other she is prevented by Christ who presents himselfe unto her unawares To shew that on the one side it is fitting for her to desire with ferventnesse to relish these first fruits and on the other side that the times and meanes to obtaine them are at Christ free appointment and when it pleaseth him though he never quite deprives his elect of them in this world so they be desired with a holy zeale and the soule doe dispose it selfe thereunto with religious preparations If the Church receive them readily and with an interchangeable fervency there ●nsueth all manner of joy and comfort But if she be slack and negligent therein the occasion is lost and there follow great troubles and afflictions Both Wayes there alwayes appeareth Christ his infinite charity and the Churches lively faith and enterchangeable love Whereupon the Church bursts forth into divine praises and admirations of her bridegroomes perfections and Christ also on his side by his approbation authorizeth and exalteth the gifts and graces which he hath conferred upon his Church by the Spirit of regeneration and exhorteth her to aime lively and continually at the marke of her heavenly vocation Which the Church also protests for her part to desire conditionally that the Lord will keepe his prefixed time praying him alwayes to strengthen her in her weaknesses Christ is brought in accompanied by his friends and the Church by her companions Christs friends are the holy Angels and the glorified spirits The Churches companions are the particular Churches or the faithfull soules or those which desire to joyne themselves unto her by faith Christ makes the Angels partakers of his rejoycing because of the worke of his grace The whole body of the Church communicates her knowledge instruction and light to the faithfull soules or to the particular Churches extending her care even to the Gentiles of whose calling she hath been informed and instructed by the Lord. Now it is to be considered that whatsoever is spoken in this booke in poeticall and figurative termes must be directly referred to spirituall meanings to which it perfectly and properly belongeth whereas if it should be turned any other way there would be nothing but monstrous absurdities ANNOTATIONS CHAP I. VERS 1. OF songs Namely the most divine and excellent Canticle of all those that Solomon penned 1 Kings 4. 32. V. 2. Let him kisse me The Bride namely the Church desires that Christ who hath contracted a spirituall mariage with her the accomplishment of which is deferred untill eternall life should come in the meane while at severall times to give her more expresse assurances of his grace should draw neerer unto her with more intimate approaches of his presence and power and should give her more lively inspirations of his Spirit which is as it were the breath of his mouth Then Wine Whose property is to comfort the heart to engender new spirits purge them warme them and refine them So Gods grace infused into a faithfull mans heart doth comfort it and inflame it to heavenly things V. 3. Of the savour all the faithfull soules which are like so many chaste Virgins whereof the universall Church is composed are enticed to love thee fervently by reason of the gifts of the holy Ghost wherewith the Father hath anointed thee Psa. 45. 7. 9 133. 2. Isay 11. 3. which gifts thou powrest upon them by the preaching of the Gospell 〈◊〉 Cor. 2. 14. 16. Thy name Namely the knowledge of thee V. 4. D●aw me Cause mee by vertue of thy Spirit to raise my selfe from the earth up to heaven where thou dwellest and where the end or marke of my heavenly vocation is that where thou art I may also be perfectly united with thee See Hosea 11. 4. John 12. 32. 17. 24. We will runne That is to say thy Spirit shall not worke in us with an insensible motion without any interchangeable or voluntary action on our side like unto weights which are drawne up with engines But it shall cause us to will and move as thou doest and after thee For Gods grace doth not destroy the manner of rationall working in man but onely addeth a supernaturall vertue to it Philip. 3. 12. 14. The King Namely Christ Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father hath by his death and resurrection given me right to come into heaven which is as it were the bride-groomes chamber John 14. 2. And by faith I am assured one day to be really brought into it Ephes. 2. 6. We will remember That is to say I and all my true members will voluntarily renounce all carnall delights that our only joy may be in thee who hast so loved us and that hast within thy selfe the true object and cause of love The upright This seemeth to be added for to exclude hypocrites which are in the externall Church from these holy desires and meditations V. 5. I am black If you will judge rightly of me and be joyned to me looke not upon my outward wretchednesse and deformitie with the eyes

sendeth him both one onely God and everlasting Lord as Isa. 48. 16. and Zech. 2. 8. V. 10. For who A reproofe of many Jewes prophane contempt in those weake beginnings of the Churches restauration For they shall Notwithstanding all their disdaine and diffidencie they shall one day have occasion to rejoyce seeing the worke perfected Those seven Of which Zech. 3. 9. and 5. 6. the meaning is my providence shall as soveraigne architect over-see this work whose director Zerubbabel is to blesse it direct it and accomplish it V. 12. And I It seemes that in this vision when the mystery of the institution of the Church by the Messias was shewen to the Prophet Hee saw two great olive trees v. 3. But when God called him backe to that which belonged to the re-edifying of the materiall temple by Zerubbabel the resemblance of these two trees was suddenly changed into the resemblance of two small branches to signifie Zerubbabel and Jerusalem figures of Christ in his Kingdome and Priesthood wherefore likewise it is no more said that they give oyle into the great bowle but onely to the lamps two little spouts to shew the difference that there is between Christ the Author Possessor and Distributor of the fulnesse of the goods of the spirit in inward efficacie and his Ministers as well in the Ecclesiasticall as Politique order which are the two spoutes who have but a small measure of gifts nor no property nor power to administer by vertue of these two foresaid orders any thing but the externall meanes of the influence of Christs mysticall universall and effectuall conduct of his Church The golden namely The pure yellow oyle which did shine like Gold V. 14. These Hee doth not answer concerning the question of the Olive trees but onely concerning the Olive branches for by understanding of these it is an easie matter to comprehend the meaning of the Olive trees by comparison and proportion The two namely Zerubbabel and Joshua two sacred persons by reason of the holy unction to be Gods Ministers and figures of Christ. CHAP. V. Verse 1. AFlying roll Of paper or other stuffe to write upon after the ancient manner This roll or booke signified Gods judgements upon his people pronounced by his Prophets the flying of it the generall execution of them the greatnesse the weight and long lastingnesse of them V. 3. The curse Gods curse throwne upon all the land of Israel and Judah For every one God hath punished all the times as well those which were against the second table of the Law as those that were against the first all comprehended under these two kindes of swearing and theft others expound it on that side that is to say according to the prediction happened the execution V. 5. That goeth forth That appeares againe to thee in vision V. 6. An Ephah A figure of the just measure of Gods judgements This is It seemes that the Angel turned himselfe towards some apparition of the Lords which did represent his providence and shewed it to the Prophet Their resemblance the Italian The eye namely of the three persons of the most holy Trinity as Gen. 1. 26. and 3. 22. and Isa. 6. 8. By this resemblance or eye is meant Gods universall providence Zech. 8. 9. and 4. 10. and 9. 1. 2 Chron. 16. 9. which presideth over his judgements V. 7. A talent The woman sitting in the Ephah is sinne which by little and little filleth up the measure and the same woman throwne into the middest of it is sinne punished and beaten downe the talent of Lead is the immoveable decree for the punishing of the wicked V. 9. Two women A figure as it should seem of Gods two properties namely Mercy towards his Elect and Justice towards his Enemies wherewith hee transports upon these last the judgements by which he had punished his owne people which is done with admirable celerity V. 11. Of shinar Of Babylon Gen. 10. 10. and 11. 2. Wherby are meant all Gods and the Churches enemies It shall be Hereby is shewne the irrevocable eternity of the punishments of the wicked opposite the termined and short lasting punishments of the Church figured before by the flying booke or roll CHAP. VI. Ver. 1. FOure charrets whereby are signified as it were foure squadrons of Angels which execute Gods judgements upon the Churches enemies See Zech. 1. 8. Two mountaines whereby it seemes is meant the Heaven the high and firme habitation of Angels opened and as it were cleft to give way for the comming out of these spirits V. 2. Red houses A signe of execution of wrath Zech. 1 8. Rev. 6. 4. Blacke horses A signe of execution of death Rev. 6. 5. V. 3. White horses See upon Zech. 1. 8. V. 5. The foure Spirits foure principall Angels as it were Commanders of squadrons V 6. The blacke the greatest execution of my judgements hath been done upon Babylon which lyeth Northward from Judea v. 8. The white the Angels of peace and deliverance which goe with them that are to destroy Babylon to deliver my Church out of it Of the grizled to signifie that the punishments of Egypt which lay Southward from Judea should be mixed with some clemency which should not be so with Babylon V. 7. To goe to make as it were a generall survay of the world and punish other Nations which had no communion with the Church And he said namely the Son of God Commander of all the Angels Zech. 1. 8. V. 8. Have quieted perfectly executed their charge and given me satisfaction V. 10. Take the aime of all this action is to shew that as Joshua and Zerubbabel restorers of the Church which was at that time were each one for their severall part in their severall office figures of the Messias so Christ should for ever enjoy the two offices of King and Priest which he shall enter into possession of by his death and passion Heldai it is not certainly knowne who these were but it is very likely that they were some heads of the people who were induced by Zechariah to make this offering of gold and silver which was bestowed in making of these crownes which were to remaine in the Temple for a remembrance of this solemne promise which God had made And goe into to have from him a part of this offering V. 11. Make Crownes two to signifie the two foresaid offices Joshua not upon Zerubbabel also to shew in the spirituall application to Christ that he was crowned with glory and had taken the possession of the heavenly Kingdome by reason of the accomplishment of his Priesthood upon earth in so much as concerned the offering of himselfe Heb. 2 7. V. 12. Behold in Christ who shall appeare in the flesh at the appointed time shall be verefied that which is taught and consirmed unto thee by this action Grow up like a plant that sprouts up and growes by vertue of its living root even ●o shall Christ by his owne power without

And thereupon he sets downe how that the just and beleevers are oftentimes grievously afflicted in this world chorow Gods providence who reserveth their reward for them in the life everlasting and that contrariwise the wicked do triumph tyrannize and afflict the righteous but that their unhappy end and their everlasting damnation shall manifest the vanity of their thoughts and the perversenesse of their deeds And that notwithstanding oftentimes God doth even in this world take in hand the defence of his Church and freeing it from her enemies causeth his judgements to fall upon the wicked as he formerly did in Aegypt by the hands of Moses by prodigies and workes memorable in all ages described here in a most high and illustrious manner with an intent to pierce the Egyptians of his time who did imitate their forefathers in persecuting the lewes And he enterlaceth his discourses with grave admonitions to the Kings and Princes of the world for to feare Gods judgements and be obedient to his justice and wisdome which also seemes to be directed to the Roman Emperour and Covernours who did seeme to nourish and soment the hatred and thorow their connivance did kindle the Egyptians rage against the Iewes And by a solemne prayer he desires of God the gift of wisdome for all beleevers Doctrines and discourses which are indeed very rare and profitable and laid open with a singular eloquence But yet are such as doe not goe beyond the measure of humane un derstanding enlightned by Gods law and do not reach to the high pitch of the light and vertue of the Spirit and of his word immediately inspired And therefore this booke in the best ages of the Christian Church was likewise held for Apocry pha First in regard of the author who was neither Prophet nor inspired by the holy Ghost which doth also more plainely appeare if it were Philo who after the Messias his comming remained in the Jewish incredulity and blindnesse without Faith in Christ without which the Spirit of grace and much lesse that of speciall revelation was never conferred upon any one And because that he hath falsly taken upon him Solomons name contrary to the holy Ghosts simple truth in his true instruments and that he doth every where shamefully flatter his owne nation extenuating and almost annihilating their most grievous sinnes set downe in Scripture In the second place in regard of the matter it selfe wherein without any ground of truth many things are added and mixed for to please with the plaine narration of holy Scripture by descriptions and beautifyings altogether Poeticall In the third place in regard of the style which savours too much of affectation and of the vanity of secular wisdome art and eloquence to be attributed to the Spirit of God whose Majesty and holinesse doth in all the holy Scripture beare characters much differing from these And finally by reason of the Greek tongue in which this book was undoubtedly written and endited and yet that language was never made use of in the times of the ancient Prophets to write any holy or divine book The Book of Ecclesiasticus of Jesus the Sonne of Sirach THis Book without contradiction is the most excellent and most profitable amongst all the Apocrypha And therefore also according to the opinion of some the name of Ecclesiasticall which was common to all the Apocryphall bookes which were accepted of to be read publickly in the Church was attributed to it for excellency as containing a rich treasure of sentence precepts advices corrections and exhortations to all manner of vertues befitting all manner of living and condition of persons written in the ancient stile of short and popular sentences seasoned with much understanding and height of grace with much sweetnesse and very piercing drawing as neer as humane spirit can doe to the Spirit of God and to Solomons divine sentences But yet the author having been no Prophet nor inspired by God by that supernaturall vertue and light of the infallible Spirit and ●uving in so great a mul●●●de and variety 〈◊〉 many things contrary to the authenticall truth of holy books too low and unworthy of the Majesty of Gods Spirit this his book was not receaved by the ancient Jewish Ch●●ch and in the best ages of the Christian Church was alwayes taken sor Apocrypha The Booke of Baruch AS it hath already beene observed in some other Apocryphall bookes that it is likely they were written after Christs comming by some Christian Jewes under the name of holy ancient writers to cause some doctrines and comforts to penetrate into the mindes of their obstinate and suspicious nation the like may be said of this For by Chap. 3. 38. it plainly appeares that it was written by some good Jew which was a Christian upon the subject of the Jewes desolation by the Romans In which booke after he hath given glory to God for his most just judgements and desired pardon and deliverance at his hands and described their extreme inisery he returneth to comfort the people and exhort them to a lively repentance and to denounce unto them their restauration in grace knowledge and salvation of God according to the prophesies revealed to the Christian Church from the Apostles time and to foretell the ruine of the Roman Empire according to the same revelations And though the end were good and holy and the doctrine sound and godly and the termes excellent and effectuall yet seeing there was no certainty of the authors vocation to write a book of divine authority and that he hides himselfe under a feigned name contrary to the custome of all sacred writers And that even in the very beginning he speaks of one Joachim high Priest and of the sacred vessels brought back from Babylon and of the burning of Jerusalem as of things happened under King Jechoniah contrary to the truth of sacred History it hath by very good reason been repated Apocrypha The addition to the Book of Esther THese parts joyned to the authenticall book of Esth●r are indeed ancient seeing I●sephus a Jewish Historian hath inserted some of them in his writings though it can not certainly be knowne that it was he that did first frame them of his owne minde according to the liberty he hath taken to vary in this kinde in other parts of the sacred History Yet by the conferring of them with the Canonical History it plainly appeares that by very good reason they have beene taken out of the Catalogue of holy Scripture Which is also the more confirmed because that the author by a po●ipous and affected stile and by seeking out of circumstances seemeth to have taken delight in beautifying and painting of the simplicity of the true narration The Song of the Three Children THis Song was also in the first beginnings of the Christian Church held for Apocrypha though it was read as a formulary of pious conceipts confessions and prayers in the middest of the most extreame calamities and deadly dangers